Angels Shade Read online

  “Okay class, we have a new student joining us today,” Ms. Gray announces. “This is Tristen Blake. Would you like to say a few words, Tristen?”

  Tristen turns, scowling at Ms. Gray.

  “No,” he says in a low pissed-off tone.

  I watch as he turns back to the class. I already know this guy is in for it. He has only just walked through the doors, and his enemy list is growing fast.

  His eyes catch mine. He has spectacular eyes, dazzling hazel with a copper glow. Now I can see his face: his perfect shaped cheekbones, his full lips, and a light stubble. He’s kind of hot, but standoffish. I shouldn’t be gawping, but I am. I’m freaking ogling. I gulp down and try to slow my heart rate. I’m blushing. I can feel the heated blood flowing up into my neck, and beneath my cheeks. He gives me this tiny smirk, like he knows how awkward I feel. Jeez, he’s an ass. But my god, he’s a hot ass.

  I look down on my desk at my biology folder, plucking the corner of the card with my fingers. I’m not going to allow myself to fancy the pants off Tristen Blake. He’s clearly a jerk.

  “Do we have a volunteer to show Tristen around?” Ms. Gray asks.

  The room goes silent and I can hear the movement of every student, sliding down into their chair.

  “Nobody?” Ms. Gray looks around the class for a victim.

  My bag vibrates, and as if the gods are looking down laughing, my cell phone rings in my bag. I’m going to explode with shame any second. I always have my cell on silent. But my little innocent looking Brother, has decided to make the Barney theme tune my god damn ringtone.

  Everyone is laughing at me as I curse under my breath, yanking my bag open to root for my cell. I grab and whip it out, stabbing at the screen hard. Giggles and snorts echo around the class as I toss my cell back into my bag. Ms. Gray yells for silence, then her sinister eyes land on me.

  “Well, looks like we have a willing volunteer after all,” she says. “Beth will show you around after registration, Tristen. Now go and take a seat.”

  Oh. My. God. This cannot be happening. I shake my head, closing my eyes.

  ***

  Kim pats my back giggling, as she makes her way to English studies. I linger outside registration, tempted to just go straight to biology class, and forget about Tristen. But if Gray sees I’m not doing what she wants, I’ll be on detention all damn week. She’s a bitch that way. All I’ve got to do is show the guy to biology, then we can part ways.

  He’s the last one out of class, and again I notice his strong arms. I see he’s inked beneath the short sleeve of his t-shirt, but I can’t make out what it is. Jeez, I have to stop frigging staring. I mean, what the hell is it about a guy’s arms that affects me so much. I’m so simple.

  I form a small tense phony smile as he walks toward me. Everything around me slows and blurs. I open my mouth, about to introduce myself properly, but he completely blanks me, turns, and walks down the hall. What an asshole.

  Against better judgment, I push through the crowd and catch up with him. He’s tall and my tiny steps have to shuffle fast, trying to keep up with his huge strides.

  “I’m supposed to be showing you around,” I say in a huff.

  He frowns at me briefly. “I know my way around,” he says as I jog beside him.

  “Really?”

  “Yeah, really.”

  “You’re not getting off to a good start on your first day.”

  I wasn’t intending on speaking to him again, but that observational comment kind of fell out of my mouth.

  “I’m not here to make friends, or meet approval.”

  I notice that he does know his way around the school. We are now only meters from biology class.

  “What are you here for then?” I almost yell and come to a stop.

  He stops also and turns to me. He takes a step closer and stares down.

  “I’m here because I have to be,” he states. “So don’t worry your pretty little head about making me feel welcome, because I really,” he smirks, “don’t give a fuck.”

  Speechless, I stand still, watching as he walks through the door of biology class. I give him until lunch before he’s back in Masters Office. He will either get into another fight, piss-off a teacher, or maybe both.

  ***

  Kim waves me over as I walk through the cafeteria with my tray containing: one wholegrain bagel, a fruit salad, and a carton of fresh orange. It is like she thinks I have lost my memory. Every day we sit at the same table in the same seats. It’s our routine. Everyone has a routine at this school.

  As I set my tray down and take my seat, Marcus, with his usual double cheese burger and fries, joins us. He smiles at me. A normal smile that tells me he’s forgotten all about this morning. Good. My day has been shit so far. I don’t think I can handle another awkward fiasco.

  “Hey, you two met the new guy?” he asks.

  Oh great. This is a conversation I don’t want.

  Marcus gestures his head to the wall of windows. I look across the cafeteria to see Tristen Blake sitting alone. I can sense the invisible wall he has created around himself. It’s a line that shouldn’t be crossed, unless you want a bloody nose. He’s made himself an outcast. But the thing is, he fascinates me. He’s stunning and has a dark depth. There’s a hidden side to him that tugs on my curiosity.

  He looks across to our table and his eyes stay on me. It is like he knows he’s being discussed, but he doesn’t care. As long as no one steps over that boundary of his, he is content with being gossiped about.

  “Yeah, Beth here has had the privilege of his company. Worked out well, didn’t it?” Kim sniggers.

  I turn back to my tray. Marcus is looking at me, wanting details. I stab the straw into my carton of orange, rolling my eyes at him.

  “He’s just moved here from Salem,” Marcus says. “Trailer trash. Lives with his mom in the woods, apparently.”

  I’m not liking this conversation. It is borderline bullying. We’ve always been close-knit. We are never mean and nasty. So why, all of a sudden, do my friends feel the need to pull apart the new guy they don’t even know.

  “Can we talk about something else?” I grumble.

  “Aww, you found a new friend?” Marcus chuckles.

  “No,” I snap at him. “You’re being an asshole today!”

  His brow line creases as he arches over the table, and crosses his arms. I hear Kim huffing and puffing at my side.

  “You have the hots for him?” Marcus smiles.

  I have never wanted to punch someone in the face so much. Marcus has never been a dick with me. He’s supposed to be my friend, and now he’s made me feel so uncomfortable. Friends don’t do that.

  I slam my carton down on my tray. I have now completely lost my appetite.

  “Marcus, go screw yourself!”

  I shoot up from my seat, noticing I have caused a scene. My legs shake, ready to run. I swoop up my bag, and leave my lunch to charge through the cafeteria.

  I make my way down the empty corridor, passed the trophy cabinet, and arrive at my locker. I don’t know why I’m here. I guess I just want to stick my head inside, and hide for a while.

  “Beth,” Marcus calls.

  I slam my locker door shut and glare right at him.

  “Sorry,” he says. “I’m in a dick mood. Think it’s cause you blew off my invite to the prom.”

  “Jeez Marcus. I’m not going to the damn prom, and it’s not because of you. I just don’t want to go.”

  “I know.” He smiles sweetly and drops to his knee.

  “What the hell are you doing? Get up Marcus!”

  “If you forgive me.” He laughs as I nudge him with my foot.

  “Okay, you’re forgiven. Now get the hell up,” I hiss down at him.

  He stands back up, still smiling. “So do you want to do something else on prom night? We could go get smashed, drink to our upcoming graduation?”

  I lock the door of my locker, and drop the keys in the bottom of my bag.
>
  “I’ll think about it,” I say, just to shut him up.

  Chapter Three: Warning

  Beth

  I’m back in the darkness. I’m guessing it is around two a.m. It’s been a week since my last sleep paralysis attack, which is unusual. I may get the odd night here and there, free of a visit from the soul sucker, but a whole week is good going.

  I inhale the icy thick air, and sit up out of my lifeless body. I’m waiting for the whistling noise, but it doesn’t come. Something is different. This place is always quiet, but there’s a strange kind of silence, and it doesn’t scare me.

  I swing my legs out of bed and stand up on the frosty floor. I feel something on the other side of my bedroom door, but this isn’t the creature I’m accustom to. There is no menacing atmosphere.

  I move across the room and part my lips. “Who’s there?”

  I bring my hand up and cover my mouth. In all the years I have had to go through this, not once have I heard my own voice.

  I turn to the bed to see my body still and lifeless. For a second, I thought this could be a dream, but it isn’t. This is sleep paralysis I have never felt before.

  My bedroom door squeaks open. I see a warm light. Normally there is no color or warmth here. A figure moves toward me. It’s hazy, and of human size. I close my eyes and re-open to focus on the entity.

  “Tristen?”

  “Beth, you need to listen very carefully to me.”

  I move a step back, thinking this is a trick to catch me off-guard.

  “No, this is no trick. I’m right here with you.”

  He reaches out and takes my hand. His fingers are soft and there’s this static energy coming from him, like what you’d feel on a fuzzy TV screen. This is so bizarre.

  “They’re coming for you, Beth.”

  He runs his hand up my neck, and his touch strangely lulls me. I rest my cheek against his hand, closing my eyes for a moment.

  “Don’t trust anyone, Beth.”

  “Who’s coming for me?” I whisper.

  “The Shade. They have followed you for years.”

  Rationality suddenly flashes through me. Tristen Blake is in my bedroom (well his soul is) and he’s warning me. Is this for real, or a figment of my imagination? I’m attracted to this bad boy, and maybe my stupid crazy psyche, has made him up. He’s touching me in a desirous way, and I’m enjoying it. I pull his hand away, taking another step back, closer to my bed.

  “What are you doing in my dream… my head?”

  “It’s my job.”

  “Your job?”

  “There isn’t much time left here. You just need to be aware, those around you are not what they seem. The Shade is waking with you. Be careful, Beth.”

  Like a literal puff of magician’s smoke, he’s vanished and I’m sitting up in bed, wondering what the hell just happened. I’ve never been so confused. I’ve learnt to handle the creature that attacks me. But grasping the concept of Tristen Blake entering my irrational mind, is impossible.

  Perhaps I’m developing a very unhealthy obsession. Dr. Bennett did tell me once about a sick patient of his, who had stalking syndrome. Maybe I’m clinging to some unrealistic idea that Tristen, because he’s new and different, understands what I’m going through.

  I flick on my lamp and grab my diary. I need to write down what just happened. I need to remember. I scribble the words: the Shade, Tristen, and waking, trying to make some sense out of it all. It is illogical. Tristen has done nothing all week, other than smirk at me, eyeball me, and he’s made it blatantly obvious he doesn’t like me. Then he’s in my head, all dark, broody, sexy, and chivalrous. I don’t get it. Who the hell is this boy?

  ***

  My head has been up my ass all morning. I’m in a fluster waiting for Marcus to pick me up. I’ve never been so eager to get to school. I bite my fingernail, standing on my front porch. I was dressed and ready at daybreak, and now I’m getting angry because he’s late.

  Mom and Jake come out of the door and I move aside to allow them by. Mom stops and studies my face.

  “Don’t bite your nails, Beth.” I bring down my hand and put on a fake smile. “Don’t forget we have an appointment with Dr. Bennett after school. Don’t be late.”

  “I won’t.”

  Jake jumps down the porch steps and opens the door to Mom’s black Nissan. He tosses his Barney backpack inside and waves at me, as Marcus pulls up at the curb.

  “Beth, are you okay?” Mom frets.

  “Yep, fine Mom. See you tonight.” I dash down the steps, before she begins to interrogate me more.

  I jump into Marcus’s car and slam the door. With speed I pull over my belt. I’m waiting to get going. I need to catch Tristen before school, but we remain stationary. I look at Marcus. He has his brow cocked and his lips are pursed.

  “What!”

  “You sleep alright?” he asks.

  “What sort of question is that?”

  “You seem over-hormonal, Beth.”

  “I’m fine Marcus. Come on will you,” I bark.

  “You know you can talk to me about anything. What’s bothering you?”

  Okay, he’s being very strange. I’d rather listen to him twittering on about last night’s football game, than listen to him being all caring.

  “Nothing is bothering me.”

  If I tell him I had a dream, and Tristen was in it, he’ll either laugh at me, or hit the roof. There is no in-between, and he’ll only go over the top.

  “Okay, I have to go and see my shrink after school. Happy now,” I snap.

  “Oh, you’ll be fine.” He pulls out onto the road. “Just play it down. Don’t want to end up on meds.”

  All the way here I have been in a world of my own. I’m trying to figure out what to say to Tristen. How the hell do you ask someone if they have entered your dreams; the alternate reality that screws you up? I have considered not asking him at all. But after years of going through hell, putting my mom through hell, I think I have the right to know the truth, no matter how foolish I look asking. If Tristen Blake has information, then I want to know about it.

  As soon as Marcus pulls up into his space, I have my belt off and the door open before he can stop me. But I’m not fast enough and he has hold of my wrist, tight. I turn to see this anger in his eyes.

  “Marcus, you’re hurting me.”

  He quickly releases, with the realization on his face of what he’s just done. I can’t continue to be friends with him if he’s going to be like this with me. This is not the Marcus I know.

  “See you at lunch,” he says in a sharp tone, like I have no say in the matter.

  I huff and yank my bag up from the foot-well, making sure he knows I’m pissed at him. I stagger out of the car and slam the door.

  I’m checking out the bike area. I’m being brave and venturing into unknown territory. The bikers here have a bad rep. They always gather in town around Brads Bar and Grill, looking for trouble. I’m presuming Tristen is more of the lone wolf of the biking kind. There is certainly no love lost between him and Jason.

  I find his vintage bike chained to the rail, but there is no sight of him. I look at the bespoke wheels and the black and gold paint work. Below the handlebars there’s a picture of a pair of wings, and in the center of the wings there’s some scrolled wording, Quoniam Deus.

  “Do you need a hand?” I turn to see Jason eyeing me up and down. “You looking for something in particular, or you just in the wrong place at the right time?”

  “I’m fine… thanks.”

  I quickly storm passed Jason. But the asshole has other ideas and has now got hold of my arm. What is with guys thinking it is okay to grab me today?

  “I wasn’t finished,” he says to me.

  “Yes you are.” Tristen suddenly appears behind me. “Jason, she’s not your type. We all know how you prefer more body hair.”

  Oh this is just great. Am I going to end up in the middle of a biker brawl?

  Jason
lets go of my arm, his attention now on Tristen. This is not good. I need Tristen’s jaw un-broken so he can speak. I need to defuse these testosterone fueled idiots.

  I bravely step in-between them. I look directly at Jason and try not to fidget. He’s in enough trouble with Masters, another macho bust-up, will only get him suspended before graduation.

  “Jason, he’s really not worth it,” I say. “Everyone knows he’s come here thinking he is something special. But we all know he’s just an egotistical ass-wipe. So don’t blow your chances of going to graduation. Only got to put up with him for a couple of month.”

  I wait as the nerves send a cool blast down my spine. Not only am I trying to pacify a Neanderthal with the brain the size of a pea, but I can feel Tristen’s eyes burning in the back of my head.

  “Stay out of my way.” Jason points his finger at Tristen.

  I blow out all the air I was holding in my lungs, and turn to face Tristen. Wow, I thought Jason was intimidating. Tristen seriously looks like he wants to kill me.

  “Egotistical?” He steps closer to me. “Ass-wipe?”

  I back away. “I got rid of him, didn’t I?”

  He shakes his head at me and turns to his bike. I need to speak, not stand here aimlessly gaping at his ass, as he bends over to remove the chain from the front wheel.

  “Have you had any weird dreams lately?”

  What in god’s name am I doing? And jeez, that question. I bite my cheek hard in punishment. He obviously isn’t some big mystery to solve, and I really must be going mad.

  He turns to me with a scowl set across his brow.

  “What do you want?” he asks.

  I swallow the choking sensation away. “Dreams, have you had any?”

  I watch as his brow un-creases and his lips part to release a wild laugh. Oh my god. I should be running away in shame right now, not making a fist in preparation to wallop him one. As devilishly good looking as he is, he deserves a black eye.

  He notes my anger and takes hold of my curled fist. He brings it up to his face, and rests my knuckles against his cheek. My jaw falls open in complete numbness.