Death In Her Eyes - Erin Bedford Page 0,60
to ash.
Chapter 21
A part of me felt like I was walking to a guillotine. Each step that I took along the hallway was like a punch to my gut. Everyone stared and whispered as I walked by. No doubt talking about this weekend.
I tried to hold back an eye roll, but it was oh so hard.
Ayden followed along beside me chatting normally about what happened while I was gone, what I’d missed in class, and so on. Her voice became background noise and I stopped pretending to listen to her as Azazel’s office came into view.
“Hey,” I interrupted Ayden, placing a hand on her arm. “I just want you to know that whatever happens, I’m glad you became my friend.”
Then I did something I never did.
I hugged her.
Laughing slightly, Ayden hugged me back. “I don’t know what brought this on but I’m glad you’re my friend too.”
Releasing her, I walked over to the office door and knocked. Azazel’s voice answered telling me to come in. I twisted slightly back to Ayden and gave her a small wave and smile.
Confusion covered her face, but she returned both.
Entering Azazel’s office, I saw my dad sitting on the couch I had woke up on the first day here. I pushed back the need to run over to him and berate him with questions. I wasn’t a child. I wouldn’t get answers from these people by acting like one.
Walking up to Azazel’s desk where she waited, I held my arm out. “Can you remove this please?”
Azazel exchanged a look with my dad and for a moment I thought they weren’t going to do it. Then with a flick of her finger the bracelet fell off.
I kept the sigh of relief from coming out but couldn’t resist rubbing my wrist where it had been.
“Elle,” my dad began, standing from the couch to approach me. “I understand you wanted to speak to me.”
I scanned over my dad in his pristine suit and jacket, noticing there wasn’t a mark on him. “You don’t even look like you’ve been in battle.”
“I told you, he was fine,” Azazel interject with a disapproving frown. “Is that all you wanted him for? He has more important things to do than -”
“Azazel.” My dad’s voice stopped her, his gaze sharp on the other angel. To me, his face softened. “Elle, what’s wrong? I heard you’ve been fighting? And you caused another student to go into a coma?”
My jaw clenched tight and I wanted to glare at Azazel for tattling but knew it wouldn’t help me right now. “I’m not exactly the same as everyone else here, as you know.”
He nodded in understanding. “Yes, I know but you must try to get along with the others. You may need them in the future.”
My fingers curled into fists that I kept down at my sides. I kept my voice as neutral as possible as I bit out, “Fine. Can I have my phone back?”
This time my dad exchanged a look with Azazel and then gave me one of those looks parents do. The one that said, ‘I’m doing this for your own good even if you hate me for it.’ How he even knew that look was beyond me. He’d never acted like a parent one day in his life.
“Elle, Eleanor.” My dad sighed and placed his hands on my shoulders.
A flash of something hit me. Not like my other visions. It was only a small hit. A flash of lightning and a wing. Nothing else. It’d be disappointing except I’d never had a vision when touching my dad. Never. Not once.
“Are you alright?” My dad asked, rubbing my shoulders in what I guess he thought was a soothing manner. “Are you getting sick?”
“I’m fine." I swallowed thickly. He’d never even bothered to keep from touching me. Did he think that I couldn’t get visions of his death? Or did he just not care? Either way, I wasn’t about to share with him what I’d just seen. “My phone?”
“You don’t be needing it.” He dropped his hands from my shoulders and adjusted his suit jacket. “I’ve taken care of your friend problem. You don’t have to worry about her freaking out as you say.” He gave me a small smile obviously pleased with himself.
My heart fell to my stomach and my hands shook as I barely got out, “What do you mean, she’s been dealt with? What did you do?”
“Now, Eleanor,” my dad held a hand up and tried to explain or rather lie