Ethereal

Nina's POV

My thoughts had melted. There weren't any. Not mine—and soon I wasn't sure who I was supposed to be. Because I was slipping into a memory, but it was different. I wasn't simply watching, I was playing a part in it... I was this person. I felt everything—emotions. Happy, sad, pain, hate—everything. My Power was so strong... Overwhelming me into unconsciousness.

I couldn't fight it.

I let it take the wheel.

***

England

1868

Mother had ordered us to stay inside when darkness started taking the horizon. It had been nearly a month since the incident and nothing had happened. It did not ease my parents' worry.

I did not understand why everyone was so concerned with what Angels might do. I had not touched one of their own. And Mother had been their family before she became human, before meeting Father, having me and Elia.

I watched the edge of the woods from the ballroom's window. Our estate was large, sitting on a hill. Every piece of land surrounding it had been thoroughly explored by my sister and me as children. Because unlike other children Elia and I... we had this taste for freedom, one could say we took after our Mother.

Biting my lip, I dragged a hand across the seamless window. Dinner was still hours away, Mother and Father would not notice my absence for the next hour. Elia was off in her chambers, reading a love letter from Christian.

I rolled my eyes. My sister never shared anything about his romantic words, so I would not share my quick escapade, either.

Easing the golden knob, I opened the balcony door. I felt glad for wearing an older gown, this way, I did not need to worry about ripping or dirtying it. It tended to happen with my expensive dresses. Walking out into September's hot air, I breathed deeply. I looked over a shoulder feeling the unease of disobeying my parents. But if Angels were really angry with my wrongdoing they could as easily get me inside the house.

Bracing a hand on the carved railing, I jumped over it, landing with perfect grace.

Running like me and Elia was reserved for only a few and none of those were human. I ran for the woods, enjoying the soft breeze, the brown and yellow leafs spinning in a whirling of joy whenever I ran though them—I let out a laugh when a squirrel scampered off, climbing a twisted tree limb.

"Hey, little fella." I whispered softly, watching him stop on a branch just above my head. "I did not mean to scare you." I looked around the ground, spotting an acorn. Bending, I picked it up. "Here, a peace offering."

I lifted the nut the tallest I could—standing on the tips of my toes—the little creature stretched forward, whisking its nose...

It scurried away.

I whirled, having caught the crushing of branches. The woods weren't a part of our estate, of course, but people rarely came to its edges. Hunting game was only worth if you delved deeper.

A shroud of doubt assaulted me. Perhaps I should have stayed inside.

Behind a large tree, a woman looked at me. Her skin was deadly pale in the dim autumn's light, flawless, also. I was in awe. I'd seen Angels' beauty. They were perfection. Elia and I had a spark of that perfection thanks to Mother. But this woman... Her eyes—they were pulsing.

I felt something cold cover my body. I possessed it, too. Power.

What was this girl? I wondered as she approached.

Brown waves were scattered over her face, as if she had been running, just as I had.

"Hello, young one." Young? She was not much older!

"Good afternoon." I bid politely.

A small smile graced her, "My, what a pleasant little thing you are. It is a shame that I... I am so hungry."

My eyes widened as the woman sprang for me. Get out of the way, a voice in my mind whispered. But I was mystified by the change in the girl's face. Veins sprouted around her eyes and cheeks and her teeth... they had become animalistic!

The cry that echoed throughout Sherwood was not mine. Admired, I peeked open my eyes, realizing that in my fright I had stepped against a tree. Before me laid the woman's body. Headless. But everything about her was quickly turning into ash.

"You are aware you possess inhuman strength as well as speed, right? You could have killed the Vampire instead of waiting for her to bite your neck."

"A... Vampire?"

The boy—young man wiped his hands on dark trousers.

"Yes, Vampire. What has your Mother taught you?" Mother did not like to indulge me and my twin sister with supernatural. She had, however, told us about all creatures. Only I had never seen a Vampire before. "Please tell me you know what a Vampire looks like."

Embarrassed by my lack of knowledge, I jutted out my chin.

"Of course I know."

"Ah, then you are a suicidal Nephilim."

I said nothing. He knew what I was. Offspring of an Angel with a human. I chanced a quick glimpse at his neck—no mark. He was no Angel.

"What are you?" Suspicion made me step aside, so I could run back, outside the forest.

He smiled petulantly. I could not avoid the route my gaze took. I thought I stopped breathing for a minute. Dark locks of hair adorned the edges of his face, but his hair, unlike some men, wasn't long, reaching a little more than the middle of his neck. Rich cheekbones, nose with a slight crook. Lips a lovely coral hue, metal-gray eyes shining with an impetuous glee.

It was the most handsome man I had ever seen.

"I am someone who is very interested in you." I stopped rubbing the back of my neck. It was tingly, maybe from a mosquito bite? "You look surprised."

Standing my ground, I said, "There is nothing special about me."

Tilting his head, he stepped forth. A twig snapped under his boot causing me to jump. His smile turned into a smirk.

"I beg to differ, sweetheart."

I became red-faced.

"Do not call me that." My eyes slit as he approached. "If you know what I am, surely you know my name."

He was standing a mere foot from me. Without noticing, my hands had curled into fists and my knuckles were turning white.

"You are smart. I like that." My chest rose once his eyes fell from mine to somewhere lower. I cursed the deep, wide, cleavage of my blue gown. I cleared my throat once. When it did not work, I slapped him.

I stood there, holding up my stinging hand. I'd never slapped anyone before. The young man's face had snapped aside with the force I had put behind it. He turned towards me, working his jaw in a funny manner. I refused to laugh, feeling alert to his movements. I knew he had Power, after all he had torn a Vampire's head off and withstood a slap that would have knocked a human unconscious. Yet, I could not feel his Power.

Could he conceal it?

"Do you always slap people after they save your life?"

"My life would have been fine." I rebuffed, watching as he stepped around me in a circle. A strange string of hotness ran down my spine.

He chuckled behind me, "Simmer down, kitten." I twisted, aiming another hand at his face. Suddenly he was gone. "You are a fiery little thing, Etna. But you are slow." I turned on my heel and saw he was leaning on the squirrel tree.

"What do you want?" I bit in frustration. I did not expect my late evening stroll to be this... eventful.

"That," he said, kicking away from the oak. "Is something you will find out if you come back tomorrow. Maybe."

"What? I am not meeting with you. I do not know you!"

"I saved your life." The handsome stranger sung. Argh. "Alright. I will give you a reason to come back. Remember what you did to that poor man about a month ago?"

My bones chilled.

"Well, you did not kill him." My own gray eyes grew. "And he was not a man. Not only."

I did not understand what this man was telling me. Because I had seen it, with my own eyes, as the man I had touched became encased in light, his body had gone very bright before... before disparaging. As if he had turned to small specks of dust.

"What do you..." I trailed off.

He was gone.

***

Next day, at the same hour, I left the house. I had barely slept last night thinking about what had been said. The stranger said I had not killed the man. But... what had I done? Elia had been hard to lose this time. I ended up telling her I had reading to do and did not want to be interrupted. I hoped she did not walk into my bedroom and saw me gone. I knew my sister would alert Mother and Father. Or come after me herself.

I had not told anyone about my encounter. It would not bode well if Elia was to find me with a complete stranger inside Sherwood.

Tucking blond hair behind my ears, I walked into the forest, pulling my red cape closer. Stretching out my hearing, I listened for breathing or footfalls. At first, there was nothing coming back, but squeezing my eyes tightly I focused deeply. I found more than breaths, I found a heartbeat.

Guided by sound I followed my instincts, savoring the rhythmic thumping. Until it was so close I did not need to strain to hear. Prying open my eyes, I gazed upon the gorgeous face from yesterday. He had on a black shirt that stretched across a taut chest, wore the same black trousers with a new-looking leather belt and boots.

I crossed my arms, looking up. He was lazily sitting on a thick oak branch, one arm over his chest and another dangling off it. How... charming. I meant it as sarcasm but... but something flipped inside me. And because that wasn't peculiar enough, my stomach tightened as his stormy eyes shot open, meeting mine.

"You found me," he sounded pleased. "There might be hope for you, kitten."

"Not this again..." I mumbled, hearing a laugh as he jumped onto firm ground.

"I am sorry, does 'kitten' annoy you?"

"Yes!"

A row of impeccable teeth showed.

"Good, I will keep using it." Exasperated I huffed. Calm down, Etna, you want something from him. If he can give you the truth petty insolence is nothing.

"Tell me what happened to that man I touched. If he did not die, what happened?"

Without a word, he walked up to me. He was a head taller, so I was forced to look up. The boy bent his head, leaning in. Warm breath worked over my neck as he spoke.

"How straightforward of you."

I shifted trying to hold his gaze, defying his want to make me uncomfortable. "I am impatient."

"Children often are."

My lips pursed. I was reminded I knew nothing of this person, not his name and most important, what he was.

"Are you a Vampire?" He scoffed. "A Cambion...?"

"If I were a Cambion it would be very foolish of you to be here with me." I thought it was foolish being alone with him not matter what he was. "No. You know what I am, Etna. You have known since you laid your pretty eyes on me."

Heart thrumming wildly, I whispered, "A Fallen." As the words sunk in, he straightened. I breathed in. "You should not be here. My Mother says Angels have been keeping an eye on me and Elia. If they come and you are here, they will kill you."

His lips tipped, "I doubt they would succeed." I did not know where it came from, the warning. I should want Angels to find him and rid the Earth of his kind. It was probably because he had helped me yesterday. "Your Mother is right, Etna, they have been keeping a close eye. But not on your sister. Just you."

I flickered my eyes to his, frowning, "How do you know that?"

"Because I told my right hand to keep an eye on you, too."

I couldn't help a giggle, "Your right hand? What are you, a Prince or something?"

"The man you touched weeks ago? He was a Fallen Angel. Like me. Not nearly as dashing and Powerful, of course." Any humor left me. "Your Mother did not tell you, did she? She knew."

"How can you be so sure?" I was quick to defend, I could not believe my Mother had kept something like that from me.

"I just am." He shrugged. "He is not dead. That glow you saw, what consumed him, was not fire. It was his body breaking down, transforming itself into light. That is an ability only Angels have, because of their wings."

"But you said he was a Fallen... You do not have wings."

"Exactly, Etna, that is the beauty of it." No. It could not be. I could not have... "You did," he said, as if reading my thoughts. "You redeemed him, Etna. You made him an Angel again. Gave him his wings back."

I looked down at my hands, seeing them shake. I had not meant to use Power, I had not known my ability until... until a month ago. What if it happened again? What if I could not control it and it affected more than Fallens?

"I can teach you," I looked at him through hooded eyes. "How to control it."

I closed my hands, holding my head high.

"And what do you get out of it?"

His lips twisted in a wry line, "So much for ingenuity. I will make you a deal." I slit my eyes. "I will help with your Power and when we are finished, I will tell you what I want."

I hesitated knowing very well Fallens were not trustworthy. Especially ones you found lurking the woods of your home. Yet, for some stupid reason, I did not feel afraid. I felt he was dangerous, but not in a way that frightened me. It was exhilarating. Unlike anyone else I ever met.

"The one you redeemed was not happy with the choices he had made. He spent his life trying to make up for his sins after the Fall. The Angels did not mind his return. But... if you were to accidentally redeem a Fallen that seeks vengeance against them... They would not be happy." The young man mussed, tapping a finger on his chin. "Angels can take things to the extreme when they are not happy."

I swallowed thickly. I think I understood what extreme meant, even if I did not believe they would do such a thing because of a mistake.

He leaned forward, strands of hair dangled over his forehead, "Do we have a deal?"

"Yes," I whispered caught in his tornado eyes. "We have a deal."

A subtle smile spread over his face and before I stole it away, my hand was in his grasp and he kissed it.

"Meet me here tomorrow." It was in that second, when he turned to leave, that I realized I did not know his name.

"Wait—What is your name?"

Barely glancing over, I heard him say, "Lucas."

***

For several days I snuck out of my house. It was better to sneak near dinner time, like the first time I met Lucas, Elia was usually writing correspondence to Christian and Mother and Father were either busy with business or doing leisure activities.

Lucas was... He was a prat. He enjoyed scaring my wits with his speed, not to mention he liked pushing my buttons when I could not reach for my Power. It was what we had been focusing on, teaching me how to grab hold of Power and lock it down. He was testing me under all circumstances. When I was calm, upset...

Today Lucas decided to move up the difficulty. He had decided to make me afraid. Of course I knew I should never lower my guard around a Fallen, especially one who kept dancing around any questions I asked.

For example, "How come I never feel your Power?"

Lucas sat on a thick old root, one leg pulled up. His gray eyes watched—followed—me.

"What is your worst fear?"

There it was. The avoidance. I fumed, scowling across the small meadow. A slow smirk cramped up my stomach.

"Why do I have to answer your questions? You run away from mine."

"Because, kitten, my questions have a point. They help me help you. Your questions about me are pointless." I disagreed. "What is your worst fear?"

Dropping my arms with a sigh, I shook my head. There was nothing I could think of.

"Nothing? Surely there is something. Everyone fears, Etna. People who do not, are fools."

"Oh, do tell." I sauntered over and felt Lucas staring at my swaying hips. I blushed fast. In contrast, his gaze danced upward inch by inch. "What is your worst fear?"

My mouth was dry once Lucas stood, towering as usual. A finger hovered close to my collarbone.

"Thunder,"

"What?"

It was mid-September, I'd been meeting him for almost two weeks, and in that time span the sky had never darkened with clouds, the temperature had never dropped. Suddenly, the weather had shifted. A black sky settled above us, when I glanced up, a flare of light rippled. A deafening noise came seven seconds later.

I did not think his fear was thunder. I think he... he was responsible for the sudden weather change and for the first time, I felt tendrils of Power. It was a massive wave blasting across hectares of land. Every pulse of Power had a mark of its own, something that tied it to its user. An unique feel.

Lucas' was... It was unlike anything I had ever felt. Heavy anger that made anyone's bones throb in pain, shiver in fear—a dangerous omen. I had been in the presence of Angels before, I had felt their Power, none had been this massive.

Who was he? Better yet, who had he been—before the Fall?

I was not afraid of thunder. But it was more than that. The trees were shaking violently, threatening to fall over. A storm of epic proportions was brewing. Lucas half smiled, hair smacked into his eyes violently but he seemed to enjoy it.

"What is this?" I yelled, hugging myself, trying to protect my exposed skin from sudden coldness.

Lucas glanced over a shoulder before returning full attention to me. What had he been looking for in the—now—shadowed bushes? Leafs rustled behind him, more strongly than anywhere else.

"I think it is obvious what is happening, kitten." Was it? I looked behind me. My house was too far. We'd moved too deep into Sherwood for me to run back in time—in time for what? Would he kill me if I ran off?

The angel blood inside me screamed curses at my intelligence, told me I had been a fool. Mother had always told us not to trust anyone—and I had trusted a Fallen.

Lucas stepped forward. My breathing hitched.

"Come forth," he lifted a hand. "Fenrir."

Confusion shattered once a large shadow jumped from behind him. From the thick bushes. A startled cry rang out and only when the snarling beast stop, did I realized I had been the one screaming. Before me was the deadliest looking creature I had ever seen and like its owner, it was disguised in overbearing beauty. The wolf was easily the size of a grizzly bear. Its fur was wavy, a mantle of blackness and his eyes were a muted red.

I edged a step back—the wolf's jaws pulled back, revealing sharp teeth.

"Now, now," Lucas taunted patting the beast's back. "Do not harm her. First, give her a chance to run."

My muscles locked with tension before the seriousness of the situation set in. I was deep in the woods with a powerful Fallen, who happened to have a pet wolf—apparently—and there was no one to help me. My sister would never make it to me in time if she ever realized something was amiss, and I wish she did not try to come, because I feared for her safety as well.

I was alone.

Breathing deeply, I ran. I tapped into my Power and felt a rush of freedom swell in me—it was what my Power felt like, Lucas told me on one of our sessions "Your Power feels like freedom".

I ran for a long time. I could not see where I was going—I could, but it did not matter. I knew I had to leave, escape somehow. Going home meant delivering this animal to them. I would not put my family in danger—maybe more danger than they already were in.

I should stop, twist around and kill it. Wrestle it to the ground and shove my hand into the wolf's chest, tearing out his heart. I could—I was strong. But... I felt my stomach convulse with the thought of hurting it. Anything.

Thunder struck the path I was on, causing me to roll aside. It was too sudden. I lost my footing and rolled down a steep mound. My cape tore, skin bruised and scratched in some places. In the distance, I heard a howl—coughing, I hurried on my knees.

A hand wrapped around my arm.

It was not Lucas. His hands were broader, warmer—I blushed, telling myself to forget what his hands felt like. He was attempting to kill me.

"Michael will never believe when I tell him about this." A female voice greeted me. I stumbled back, looking at the girl's face. "But he better, otherwise I will never get away with killing you."

My eyes locked on her neck. She bared the Triquetra symbol—she was an Angel. A very strong one from the Power radiating off her.

"Michael—?" He was the Seraphim, the Prince Of Angels. The most powerful.

The Angel had long coal hair, all twisty waves. Gorgeous coffee bean complexion. Her face could have belonged to a frightening Queen.

"You returned one of our own, little one. Michael was happy with that. But once I tell him you have been consorting with the enemy—"

"He has been helping me control it—my Power. I know I should not have trusted a Fallen, but..."

"A Fallen?" she sputtered a laugh. Her grip slid to my wrist, becoming hard as stone. "Foolish halfling. He is not just a Fallen." The Angel pulled me close, her eyes were strange, changing in the dark from deep brown to flecked green. "The man you have been spending time with is the most vile creature to have ever walked the Earth. I told Michael we should have disposed of you from the start, Nephilims are always such hassle."

Disposed...? My throat tightened. Kill me—she meant kill me.

Thunder struck nearby, illuminating the bottom of the ravine.

"Do you think it is fair to interrupt my test? You were always such a pain, Uriel." Uriel? That was an Archangel.

She tilted her head, glancing left, where Lucas stood leaning on a tree. He looked impassive. Uriel's eyes sparked with something beyond hate.

"Lucifer," she spat. "Have you come to save your whore?"

Lucifer...?

She was talking to Lucas and moments ago she had described him as 'the most vile creature'. Then again, she had also called me a whore. Which I was not. Most certainly not his.

"I do not think Etna appreciates the terminology." He said, giving a push from the tree making his way over. "Now, for once in your long useless life do not be an idiot. You cannot outsmart me, nor overpower me. So, hand her over unharmed and I will let you go."

Uriel sneered.

"And let you manipulate this dimwit? Do you honestly think I would let you have her, knowing she can redeem an army of Fallen—an army that would invade Heaven and possibly kill us?"

Lucas shrugged, like none of it mattered. He looked fed up with all her talking, though.

"I am losing patience," his gray eyes narrowed as thunder rolled above. "Give her to me."

Uriel sent me crashing into the ravine's side, she moved fast. But Lucas had a hand up and all her movement was... frozen. She had stopped inches from punching him. My God.

"She is lucky I do not feel like getting blood over myself." He commented with a wild grin, making a detour for me.

As he crouched, I scrambled away, breathing quickly. Lucas' jaw worked.

"Etna," he raised his voice as warning, but already, I had gotten up and began running.

Etna, the wind carried in its whisper form.

I stopped, looking between trees and branches, all I saw was a dimming forest. The wind picked up, making the thin layer of fabric flow up, exposing my legs. I felt naked, vulnerable, watched.

I searched for another presence trying to figure out which way to go, which place would be safe. The wind blew with renewed force.

Etna, it spread from deeper in the forest.

Turning endlessly, I backed up, colliding with a tree.

In one desperate release from paranoia I ran down a path, eyes never seeing where I was heading. Step after step my velocity increased and I began tripping—exhaustion was taking root. Then all of sudden my face hurt—no, my forehead did, and a bloody scream ruled over the wind.

"Etna."

I saw him. So beautiful, wearing the black cloak, the one made of panther's fur... so handsome, so devilish handsome. Devil. Lucifer.

"You liar!" I accused, shaking my arms. "You have been lying all this time! You are the Devil!"

"I did not lie," he deferred in a calm voice, but laughter was reflected in his metal eyes. "I omitted a fact, it is different than lying." I shook my hands but he would not answer my wishes of releasing me.

"Let go of me! Or I will make you regret it." Lucas pulled closer.

"Oh, do tell?" he teased leaning his forehead to mine. "What will you do?"

I couldn't help but shrink from his wide smirk, it was as captivating as it was dangerous.

"I will hurt you." I hissed with new found bravery. I had not been completely careless meeting a Fallen... My hand fell to the inside pouch of my cape.

Grabbing the dagger's hilt, I stabbed his side. He pushed me from him, sending me toppling to the ground. His face was contorted in pain for mere seconds. Lucas pulled the sharp object from his flesh, letting it fall to his feet. Gray irises shone with irritation making me fear for my safety and everyone else's.

"I did not know you were capable of that." He bent down on one knee. "I will forget about what you did this time." Now he was on both knees, edging toward me. "You are scared, after all." He set one hand on the ground, the dirt sunk under its weight.

"Stay away from me." My voice came out forced.

"I cannot do that or I can, but you would not last very long. Uriel will be unfrozen in minutes, I cannot hold her for much longer and Angels will start raining down on us..." He did a strange click of his tongue. "We should get going."

"Going? I am not going with you anywhere! You lying bastard! How could you have fooled me into... into..."

"Into what? I am a Fallen, kitten. I have been helping you master your Power."

"So you could use me later."

"Maybe," he grinned faintly. "But believe me, Etna, whatever I had planned for you was not death. Michael? He has been planning it for you."

"What? No. He is going to plan it now—because I have been associating with you... You..."

A strange smile coiled his lips, throwing my belly into a knot.

"It is sort of adorable how you stumble for words around me." I shut my mouth. "Believe me when I say my brother has been thinking about killing you since your ability revealed itself. He has been waiting for a reason—so it would seem like a fair death to everyone. Including your family."

His brother—Michael? And my family? Would Michael use this as a justifiable reason before my family? Fear gripped my heart in a vice-grip.

My startled eyes met his.

"I do not trust you."

"I do not recall asking you to." That did not make me feel any better. "But I will protect you, Etna. They will not harm you as long as you are with me." There was no doubt, with all his Power... I worried my lip, trying to shake the tingles in my neck.

I brushed fingers over his dark shirt, letting him know the closeness was too much and was not helping my dread. Lucas did not give me the desired space. He leaned in further, enough for my breasts to touch his lean-muscled chest.

"Where is your... pet?"

Lucas gave a look around us. Darkness, trees, occasional flashes of light—no growling wolf.

"Fenrir has run off," I could not tell if he was talking to me or himself. "He does that when I step in."

"It... It was scary." I felt stupid admitting it. To Satan, no less.

"It was meant to be," the storm was dying now, almost like its purpose had ended. "I wanted to see how you worked under pressure and fear, remember? I was never going to kill you." Oh. "You thought I was, did you not?"

I all but yelled, "Of course!"

"Boldness. What an interesting characteristic." I blushed, inching away.

We stared at one another for the longest time. Neither of us blinked. We were sitting on a pile of broken tree branches and autumn leaves, waiting for a mutter to cut the deep solitude in our ears.

Lucas caught my hand in his. In a swift manner he stood to his full height, jerking me up as well. He let go, before I knew it, his hand moved to my lower back.

"Walk."