Revelation: Trinity Part 1 Read online

  “Okay, Rose, everything is going to be okay,” Ana said, ignoring him. “You’re fine, there’s nothing wrong with your vision – you’re just seeing auras for yourself, that’s all. But you’ve got it turned up too high – you need to control it, okay?”

  “How do I do that?” Rose asked, as Christian huffed in frustration.

  “Well, that’s the hard bit,” Ana said. “I’m not entirely sure.”

  Rose almost smiled. “Very helpful…”

  “I do know,” Ana continued, “that fighting it won’t help – you have to embrace it.”

  “I don’t want to embrace it,” Rose hissed, turning away again. “I want it to go away.”

  “I know,” Ana said. “And it will – I think, but you have to be the one to make it go away.”

  “I can’t, Ana, I don’t know how –” Rose stood, intending to make for the door, but Christian blocked her path. Rose buried her head into his shoulder, frustrated tears soaking into the fabric of his tee-shirt.

  “Rose,” he said, softly, “just breathe.” He held her tightly, and Rose shut her eyes, listening to the beat of his heart.

  When the ache in her head had lessened, and she could think rationally once more, she braced herself, and opened her eyes. This close to Christian, the glow was a faint line along her periphery, and she leaned back to look at it. The glow intensified as, carefully, cautiously, she focused in on Christian’s outline, forcing herself to look at the bright glow around him. To watch how it flickered and followed the movements he made.

  After a long while, her eyes tearing and stinging, Rose found the pain lessened, the glow faded, until she could see it glimmer and shine, but the glaring intensity had diminished.

  Christian had released her as he’d sensed her calming, and Rose tipped her head up to look at him, in awe.

  Now that she could stand to look at it, the glow was beautiful – an inner light that seemed to push out from the centre of him.

  “Well done,” Ana said, coming up to stand beside her. Rose turned to look at her friend, taking her in.

  “It’s different,” she said, eventually. “Than what you showed me,” she clarified, at Ana’s questioning look. Ana’s colour was also blue – but the colour was much lighter than those she’d seen on the people in the street.

  “The colour I showed you was my perception of it,” Ana said. “I guess you have your own interpretation, although the gist of it should be the same.”

  “You see this all the time?” Rose asked, wincing a little as she considered it. “How do you deal with it?”

  Ana shrugged. “It’s always been there for me,” she said. “I’ve never known anything different.”

  “How do I turn it off?” Rose asked, keen to get rid of the headache that was pounding through her brain.

  “I honestly have no idea,” Ana said, apologetically. “How did you turn it down?”

  “I don’t know,” Rose admitted. “I just focussed on it until I could see it properly.”

  “Okay,” Ana said. “Give that a shot – try to make it fade until it’s gone.”

  Rose nodded resolutely, squaring her shoulders as she turned her gaze to the blue of Ana’s aura. It seemed to have a different feel to it than Christian’s, she realised. Whereas his seemed to flow and follow his form, Ana’s seemed to bounce, almost glittery, against her skin.

  She stared for a long time, trying to make it fade until, frustrated at her lack of progress, she shut her eyes, determined to make it go away.

  There was a strange click that echoed through her head, and her eyes popped open in surprise – before she grinned, relief flooding through her.

  The colours had gone, the light faded.

  Rose sank onto her bed, thoroughly exhausted, and Ana sat next to her, smiling.

  “I knew you’d figure it out,” she said, nudging Rose with her shoulder.

  “That sucked,” was Rose’s only reply.

  Christian chuckled, relief in his tone, and Rose looked up at him.

  “Why?” she asked, simply. “Why can I suddenly see auras?”

  Christian frowned, his gaze darkening. “I don’t know,” he admitted, eventually. “Perhaps knowing who I am, and seeing Ana’s aura,” he shot Ana a frustrated glare, “has opened your perception?” He shrugged. “It’s a long shot, but it’s all I’ve got.”

  Rose nodded, too tired to care. “And Nate?” she asked. “His aura was black –”

  She looked up in time to catch the concerned look Christian shared with Ana. “Why was his aura black?” she asked, hesitantly, “Unless…”

  Christian opened his mouth to speak, but Rose had already connected the dots, understanding in an instant why Nate’s aura would be the exact opposite to Christian’s angel-white. Her blood ran cold, her limbs freezing in shock.

  “Nate is Fallen,” Christian murmured, unwillingly. Rose lifted her head numbly, not understanding the term.

  “He’s a demon, Rose,” Ana qualified. “He fell from heaven in the Great Fall.”

  For a moment, Rose could only stare, unwilling and unable to process the connection.

  “But…” she mumbled, eventually, “Nate’s my friend…” She thought of all the time she’d spent with him, unable to connect the boy who made her smile with the demon they were telling her he was.

  “No, Rose,” Ana said, quietly. “He’s not.”

  Rose looked up, needing to deny her, but the look in Christian’s eyes told her the truth.”

  “Why did he act like it then?” she asked, a hollow opening in her chest. “The pubs, the club…?”

  Ana looked to Christian.

  “Because that’s what the Fallen do,” he said, apology in his eyes. “They play games, cause chaos. And if they find a Ward and Guardian –” he sighed, shaking his head.

  “So it was just a game,” Rose murmured. “All that he did…” Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes as a wave of sadness and shame rushed over her. “And I was falling for it,” she said, realising that all that Nate was – all that he could have been – had been a lie.”

  “Rose –” Christian stepped forward, but Rose cut him off with a glare, wiping angrily at her eyes.

  “And you would have let me.”

  “Rose, no,” Ana hastened to jump in, shooting a frustrated look to Christian, who remained resolutely silent, his mouth a thin line of disappointment. “Christian wouldn’t have let it get that far – I wouldn’t have,” she sighed, defeated. “We were trying to figure out what to do,” she said, helplessly.

  “That’s why you hated him,” Rose said, as it clicked into place. “Why you kept trying to get between us when –” Revulsion flooded through her as she realised exactly who – exactly what – she’d been so eager to kiss, before the sadness was back.

  “He can’t hurt you,” Christian said, seeming to read her mind.

  Rose looked up, tears in her eyes. “Can’t he?”

  “Physically,” Christian clarified, softly. “He relies on manipulation. Coercion. They like their prey to come to them,” he added, quietly.

  Rose felt sick again.

  “Don’t think about it,” Ana said, taking Rose’s hand in hers. “You’ll never have to see him again. Christian can get rid of him.”

  “Good,” Rose said. “I don’t want to.” Relief flooded through her, until she caught sight of Christian’s expression.

  “I can’t get rid of him,” he admitted.

  “What?” Ana stood, glaring at him. “But –”

  “You think I want it this way?” Christian cut her off. “I don’t, but I have to follow protocol,” he said, bitterly, before he sighed. “And, technically, he’s done nothing wrong.”

  “But Rose –”

  “As far as the Celestia are aware, Rose knows nothing about any of us,” Christian reminded her, sternly. “I’ve done enough damage already – if Nathaniel discovers Rose knows about him too…” He shook his head in defeat.

  “So I have to
act like I don’t know?” Rose asked. “Pretend like nothing has changed?” She shook her head as unease fluttered through her. “I’m not sure I can do that.”

  Christian sighed, coming to sit beside her. “I wish there were another way,” he said, his arm brushing hers in comfort as she looked up at him. “But he will never hurt you – I won’t let him.”

  Rose smiled at that, hearing the earnest sincerity in his tone.

  “You can ignore him, cut him out of your life – and frankly, I’d prefer it that way – but he must not know you know what he is.” He held her gaze, intently.

  “Okay,” she said. “I’ll do it – but,” she hesitated, unwilling to show her fear.

  Christian seemed to understand anyway, his hand touching hers for the barest moment. “I will always be there,” he said, softly. “You will never have to face him alone.”

  Rose nodded, relief seeping into her bones. She smiled, took a breath to say thank you – and Ana’s phone trilled loudly in the silence.

  Rose jumped, Christian’s hand reaching out to steady her as Ana fumbled for the device.

  “Hey Ben,” she greeted, shooting them both an apologetic look. “Yeah, I’m with Rose now. Dinner? Umm…” She raised her eyebrows in question, letting Rose decided.

  Rose turned to Christian, unsure, but he nodded.

  “Go,” he said, with a smile. “Be normal. Have fun.” He nudged her shoulder. “Remember, nothing has changed but your perception.”

  Rose nodded, resolutely. He’d be there if she needed him, after all.

  “Sure,” Ana confirmed into the phone. “See you there in ten?” She ended the call, and reached out a hand to Rose.

  “Show time,” she said, with a smile.

  ***

  Rose was feeling better, she decided, as they headed back to campus. Ben had met them at a little Italian restaurant on Market Street – their current favourite place to eat pizza.

  None-the-wiser to Rose’s new and sudden insight, Ben had chatted about his latest experiment, making them laugh with his self-depreciating narrative, until the tight ball of tension in her chest had unwound itself. The entirely ordinary evening helped to remind her that life remained the same.

  Although, it looked as if that all was about to change, she realised, as she watched Nate cross the grass, heading in their direction. Ana spotted him too, and reached out to take her hand, pulled her closer and speeding up in an attempt to avoid him.

  Ben frowned in confusion but obligingly kept pace.

  “Rose!” Nate called, jogging to catch up, a smile on his face.

  Rose stopped, pulling Ana to a halt as she realised avoiding him was futile.

  “Hey,” Nate greeted as he reached them. “Where are you off to in such a hurry?” He stepped towards her, his arms sliding over her hips as he pulled her to him.

  “Hi,” Rose fought to keep her voice steady, smiling thinly as he kissed her cheek. He pulled back, and she imagined she could see dark shapes writhing in his gaze.

  “We’re just heading back, actually,” she said, stepping out of his arms and hoping it looked casual. “We’ve been out for pizza and…” she trailed off as Nate frowned.

  “Pizza?” he asked. “That was what you had to do this evening?”

  Rose, distracted by the comforting feel of heat as it washed down her back, belatedly recalled their earlier encounter.

  “Actually,” Ana eyed Nate coldly as she moved between them. “She’s been dealing with my drama,” she said, shrugging off his dark look. “Still is in fact, so if you’ll excuse us…” She tugged Rose by the hand as she led the still confused Ben away by the arm.

  “Wait,” Nate reached out to touch Rose’s arm, letting go in shock as she flinched away from his contact.

  Rose remembered how only the other night she’d wrapped herself around him– how he’d kissed her – and was unable to suppress a shudder. Nate’s eyes narrowed as he took in her reaction.

  “Did I do something wrong?” he asked, and Rose would have said he seemed sad if she hadn’t known better. “I thought we’d had a good time?”

  It was a moment before Rose could muster the courage to touch his wrist, ignoring Ana’s warning look as she gestured for him to move away from the others.

  “We did,” she said, realising that it was true, she had enjoyed herself, and she wondered if she was being too hasty as he continued to stare, his eyes wide and seemingly genuine in their confusion. After all, he hadn’t done anything to earn her distrust. Yet.

  “I’m sorry,” she offered. “I’m just dealing with some,” she stumbled over the lie, “Ana stuff right now and I can’t –”

  “What stuff?” Nate interrupted, his blue eyes igniting. “I don’t get it. You were fine before.” He reached out his fingers gripping the tops of her shoulders, an urgent look on his face. “What happened?”

  She caught her breath, the comforting tingle on her neck the only thing stopping her from wrenching out of his grasp as he continued to stare, his eyes blazing.

  Ben appeared at Rose’s side, looking as unlikely a hero as ever there was.

  “Hey,” he cautioned, with a fierce look that Rose knew he couldn’t follow up. “Back off.”

  Nate blinked, utterly confused, but let her go. He took a step back, pulling himself together, his face lined with resignation.

  “Whatever,” he muttered, raising his hands in surrender, before they dropped, uselessly, at his side. With a last look to Rose, he turned on his heel and stalked away from them.

  “Are you okay?” Ana asked, taking her hand once more. Rose nodded, watching him go.

  “What the hell was all that about?” Ben asked. He focused in on Rose. “Did he hurt you?”

  “No,” Rose sighed, “He didn’t. It’s fine,” she said, stepping away to escape his questions. She didn’t know how to lie to him, and knew if she tried he’d see straight through it. Ben turned to Ana, who shrugged helplessly.

  “Rose?” his tone was insistent, concern etched across his features.

  It’s complicated.” She frowned apologetically. “I can’t…” she shook her head, unsure of what she was saying, before she turned, and fled for the safety of her room.

  ***

  Ben was still staring when Ana decided that telling him the truth about Rose had been a bad idea.

  She hadn’t meant to. In fact, she’d been fully prepared to lie to his face, but the moment Rose had left, he’d turned to her, demanding answers.

  Ana had claimed no knowledge, and it was only then that she had realised two very important things about Ben: That he truly cared for Rose in the most altruistic, entirely platonic, incredibly deep and meaningful way – and that he was the world’s best over-thinker.

  She’d listened as he considered every possible reason Rose would have to lie to him, and the more he considered, the more he worried, until his aura – usually such a pretty apple green glow around the blue of his mortal colour – turned a sickly orange-yellow that she couldn’t stand to look at.

  He’d asked her opinion and she’d shrugged, mumbling something about how it wasn’t for her to say – before realising she’d effectively just confirmed that she knew what was going on.

  Ben realised too, and Ana had winced as his aura darkened, turning red in his frustration. That was the point that Ana discovered another two very important things about Ben: That he could do a remarkably accurate impression of an angry puppy, and that it was the most charming thing that she had ever seen.

  So she’d given in, knowing it was only a matter of time before Rose told him anyway and, because she was absolutely not equipped to deal with that level of cute.

  She’d kept it minimal, giving only the barest details, but it had still been enough to freak him out – as soon as he’d stopped laughing, of course.

  Ana sighed, allowing him another full minute before she clicked her fingers in front of his face. He blinked, surfacing from his introspection.

  “There you a
re,” Ana smiled in relief.

  He shook his head dazedly. “You’re serious aren’t you?” he mumbled, his colours fluttering a pale peach.

  “Is it really that unbelievable?”

  He raised an eyebrow, momentarily back to his usual self, and she laughed.

  “It’s just the same as when you were kids,” she said. “Rose has a friend who is her Guardian Angel. Only this time he’s real,” she shrugged. “I don’t see the problem.”

  Ben looked at her as if she’d lost her mind.

  “I don’t know what else to tell you,” she sighed.

  Ben stared hard, and Ana could practically see the cogs turning as he figured out a way to accept what she was telling him.

  He looked adorable when he was confused, and before she knew it, she’d kissed him.

  His eyes flicked to her face in shock, his aura quickly cycling through to his usual green, before he reached out and pulled her to him.

  Ana went willingly. Anything else would wait.

  ***

  Drums were pounding against her brain as Rose pushed open the door to her room. She threw herself onto her bed and shut her eyes, desperate to just not think about anything for a minute. Unfortunately, it seemed that Christian had other ideas.

  “Go away,” she groaned as she felt the familiar prickle of heat. She opened her eyes to find him leaning against the desk again.

  “Really?” he asked, looking confused.

  Rose smiled, despite herself. “No,” she admitted. “Although, we have got to work on your boundaries.”

  Christian chuckled ruefully. “Are you okay?” he asked, his expression turning kind. “I… I saw what happened.”

  “I know.” Rose rolled her eyes. “I’m fine, I just… I wasn’t expecting to see Nate so soon after…”

  Christian nodded in understanding.

  “Is he dangerous?” Rose asked, carefully. “Tell me the truth – can Nate hurt me?”

  Christian sighed. “I don’t know yet.”

  “But it’s likely?”

  Slowly, Christian nodded.

  Rose took a breath, steeling herself against her fear. “Is that why you… watch… whenever he’s near?” she asked, surprised when he smiled.