Falling for The Fallen

Chapter 3

Having my morning coffee with Soul, I stared out of my kitchen window, my mind going back to Sam; how had he known my drink was spiked? And how did he even know where to find me?

My phone rang for the fifth time, it was Donnie.

I sighed and picked it up.

"Donnie, I'm not in the mood right now."

"Calm down, I just wanted to find out if you got home safely."

"A bit late to worry about that, don't you think?"

He sighed heavily, "Steph, come on, don't be like that."

"You know what? I need to speak to you. Can you meet me after my shift tonight?"

"Of course! I'll see you there."

I hung up without saying goodbye, his tone of voice telling me that he had no idea that I was going to break it off with him.

I glanced over at Soul who sat near the back door which I left open for him while I was at work.

"What's up with your friend Sam?"

Soul turned to me and whined.

Sighing I went over to sit on the floor next to Soul, "He's strange, he seems to know things without being told."

My phone rang again and I sighed, expecting it to be Donnie again.

I was surprised to see it was Laura.

"Hey, what's up?"

"Steph, I need a huge favor. Can you pick up some books on recipes from the library? I need to really wow in the test."

Laura was studying to be a chef, and she was rather desperate to get it right.

"Sure, I'll go through now and bring them with me to work."

"Thank you!"

Hanging up, I kissed the top of Souls' head before leaving the house.

The library was oddly empty today as I browsed the shelves, already holding quite a few cookbooks in one arm.

The lights had blown and were waiting to be repaired, the librarian had told me.

This gave the dimly lit hall of books a rather eery feel to it.

Grabbing one last book, I turned to leave, but a flicker caught my eye, and I walked over to the shelves in the direction in which it had come from.

Frowning when I found no one there or even nearby.

Suddenly a book behind me fell off the shelf with a loud bang, causing me to yelp and jump.

Looking down at the old book, I had to crouch to pick it up.

The heading expressed that it was a book about an archangel turned demon called Samael.

"Samael?" I lifted the book and opened it to a few pages in.

There is a drawing stood a giant figure, with long hair flowing behind him.

He wore a cloak.

His hair seemed to be dark, with lighter stripes.

Oh God

This drawing looked oddly familiar.

It looked an awful lot like Sam.

***

SAM

"Samael"

My eyes snapped open.

How did she know my name? How could a human know my name?

I could hear her say it as if she stood right next to me.

More importantly, why was I compelled to go to her?

Shaking my head, I turned to observe the humans around me, perhaps I could find someone to die, that should take my mind off-

"Samael?"

I let out an annoyed growl, startling a few people around me.

"Why won't she just leave me alone?!"

How could she know? I hadn't revealed myself, nor did I have any plan to.

She didn't seem the type to be attempting to summon me either.

What was she doing?

***

Steph

I rushed through the doors, a few minutes late, having gotten sidetracked by the book about Samael.

As I rushed in, I of course bumped into Sam, books dropping and flying across the floor.

"Oh, God, I'm so sorry," I scurried to pick up the books, I was fast enough to pick up all save for one, which he himself picked up.

Scanning the cover, he looked up at me and I could swear that I had seen a flash in his eyes.

"Not the average read."

I shrugged a shoulder, "Not at all, but I'm sure it will keep me busy."

He glanced back down at the book, "Why this?"

"Honestly, I don't have any idea, it fell from a shelf so I took it."

His face still held very little emotion as he spoke, "It fell from a shelf?"

"Yeah, right behind me," I confirmed with a nod.

"You shouldn't read it."

"Excuse me? I don't think you have the right to tell me that."

"Suit yourself."

I took the book from him, my fingers brushing against his gloved hand, and I noted how he frowned down at me.

"Thank you for getting me home last night."

He nodded.

I smiled at him before hurrying to the back to start my shift.

Laura raised a brow as she took her books from me, "What was that?"

"What was what?"

"I saw you talking to that strange guy."

"His name is Sam. And he was at the club Donnie took me to last night and he dropped me off at home when Donnie refused to."

"You let that guy take you somewhere alone?"

"He's a bit different sure, but I don't get the feeling that I'm unsafe around him, Laura."

"Steph, he's weird, are you sure you want to do this."

I glanced back at him, he was slowly beginning to seem less and less strange to me.

***

Walking out and locking up, I scanned the parking lot for any sign of Donnie.

Of course, he would be late.

I noticed Sam once again, this time he stood next to his bike, his face up, almost like he was communicating with someone.

Sighing, I let my curiosity get the better of me, and I walked over to him.

He glared at me, "What do you want?"

I held up my hands, "I come in peace," I chuckled at my lame attempt at humor, "I'm waiting for Donnie, and in all honesty, I don't want to wait alone out here."

He stared at me for a few moments before turning his gaze back up at the sky.

I looked up, "What are you looking at?"

"The sky, was that not obvious?"

"Well, yeah, but for what? There's nothing up there."

He remained silent and I rolled my eyes before scanning the parking lot once again, and once again coming up empty.

"So... Nice bike."

"Yes."

"You don't talk much, do you?"

"No."

I sighed, "You're so difficult."

He glanced at me, he appeared to be slightly annoyed.

"Seriously, having a conversation won't kill you."

"I do not waste my time with small talk."

"Stand in silence. Got it."

After standing quietly for at least ten minutes I threw up my hands in frustration, "Where the hell is he?!"

"Perhaps he has forgotten to meet you."

"Or he figured out that I'm breaking up with him and now he's chickened out."

"Shall I take you home?"

"Yes please, it's getting a bit cold out here, and Soul is probably going crazy by now."

_____

SAM

"Thank you," she said as she got off my bike.

I nodded silently, forcing myself to do so.

I was already doing wrong by giving her lifts and speaking to her; I was breaking my own rule of not getting involved with humans.

Her dog began to howl from the house.

She sighed, "I don't know why he acts crazy whenever you're nearby. Would you want to come in and see him by any chance? I can make coffee."

No, say no, I thought.

"Yes." What the fvck was I doing?

Getting off the bike, I followed her into her house, her large black dog jumping on me the moment I entered.

This was a troubled soul, perhaps that was the reason he liked me; we were equally as dark and damaged.

I liked this dog.

I...liked this dog.

For the first time in all my thousands of years, I liked something with a soul, I liked something that had nothing to do with collecting souls. Something that had no connection to hurting anyone.

What was going on with me?

Was this even possible?

"How many sugars?"

Turning away from the dog, I turned my attention to this human woman, "None. Six spoons of coffee."

She wrinkled her nose and I laughed.

I laughed!

Perhaps I had been on earth for too long? That must have been it. I was beginning to become accustomed to the ways of these vermin.

______

STEPHI

I made the coffee and placed it on the counter, he appeared to be a bit confused as he sat at my counter, looking rather out of place with his size.

"Can I ask you something?"

"If I say no, are you still going to ask?"

"Probably."

"Then ask."

I sighed, "Why are you so withdrawn?"

"I will not be able to answer that."

I was just about to sit down when there was a knock at my door and Soul began to go crazy.

Sam lifted a hand, "Soul, sit."

To my amazement, Soul sat down and remained quiet.

"He won't move, you can open the door. He will not attack."

Frowning, I walked over to open the door.

Donnie glared at me, "I thought we were meeting? I went there like an i***t and you stood me up," he glanced around me, "What is he doing here?"

I turned back, going to Soul to put him outside, but Sam held up a hand.

Donnie walked in, eyeing Soul, "What happened to him?"

"He likes Sam."

Donnie glanced at Sam awkwardly before turning back to me, "So you stood me up to bring another man home?"

"She did not stand you up, boy. You did not show up while she waited."

Donnie narrowed his eyes, "Oh, lovely, now he answers for you too. What the hell is going on here? Are you sleeping with him?!"

"What?! No! God, Donnie. I invited him in to see Soul! And just by the way, it's none of your business because I asked to see you so that I can break up with you!"

"What?!" His eyes flashed with anger and he took a step towards me.

Sam stood, towering over us, "I would not take another step if I were you."

Donnie glared at him before turning back to me, "You're going to regret this."

He stormed out, slamming the door behind him.

I turned to thank Sam but he seemed to be frowning down at himself.

"I need to leave." And without another word, he left too.

He fled.

What was up with that guy? It was as if he was fighting against himself.