Chapter 8
1405 Words
I was late.
Sam had arrived while I had still been in bed, and he now sat downstairs with Soul while I hurriedly got dressed.
He had said to dress comfortably but to wear warm shoes and to bring a warm jacket, that alone confused me but he wouldn't tell me any more about where he was taking me.
Pulling on a pair of warm, fluffy leggings I paired it with a long-sleeved shirt, jacket slung over my arm I rushed down the stairs and shoved my feet into a pair of boots.
He stood, giving Soul a look, "Oh, look, she's finally gracing us with her presence."
I rolled my eyes at him, "I didn't take that long."
He made his way towards the door and Soul followed him.
"Let me just get Soul sorted out."
"No need, I have a car today, he can come with us."
I gave him a sideways glance before nodding and getting Soul's harness and leash ready, I preferred to double leash him for safety reasons.
"Are you going to tell me where we are going yet?"
He shook his head, "No."
I shook my head faking annoyance with him before heading for the door with Sam holding Soul's leash.
We hadn't been driving for very long when he instructed that I need to put a blindfold on.
I raised a brow at him, "This is sounding an awful lot like it's about to turn into a horror movie of some sort, Sam."
"I wouldn't need to keep you blinded for that."
I gave him a strange look, what an odd thing to say.
Against my better judgment I tied the soft cloth he handed me around my eyes and waited.
The car pulled to a stop and he got out before coming to my side to help me out.
Once I was out he got Soul out the back and placed a hand in my shoulder, guiding me in the right direction.
"Sam? I know this is you trying to be all nice, but this is seriously not how it's done-" I yelped as my foot sunk into something cold and... wet?
He lifted the cloth from my head and my mouth dropped in amazement and awe as I took in the scene.
It was a large park type of area, but it had walls around it, and the ground and trees were covered in snow.
He let go of Soul and came up beside me, "Do you like it?"
"How did you do this?" I crouched down, running my hands through the soft sludge.
"I have my ways."
Without thinking I jumped to my feet and slung my arms around his neck, "Thank you, Sam, this is so amazing."
He smiled at me and I was sure I had seen worry cross his eyes.
Placing a hand on my back he leaned his face down close to my ear and whispered, "Look."
I turned and was surprised to see snow falling.
How? This was all very strange to me.
We hadn't driven long enough to be somewhere it snowed, so how was this place not only covered in snow but currently snowing?
He took my hand, surprising me, and led me over to a table with a white tablecloth and a single red rose, the red so deep it reminded me of blood.
Soul was running around in the snow, clearly enjoying himself too.
"This is truly beautiful, Sam."
We sat and he pulled out food from under the table, I assumed it was in a warmer as it wasn't cold.
Again I marveled at what a strange man he was.
××
I had spent the entire day with Sam at the strange yet wonderful winter wonderland he had somehow created.
He had dropped me off at home a few minutes earlier and I was getting myself a mug of coffee when my phone rang.
Seeing that it was Laura I answered, "Hey, what's up?"
"Stephi."
I frowned, she sounded somewhat frantic, "Laura, what's going on? Are you okay?"
"That... guy, the big one. Sam?"
"Yes, Sam. Laura, tell me what's going on."
"Accident. He's had an accident right outside the diner."
"Fvck. I'm coming."
Throwing on a jacket, I raced out of the house as fast as I could.
Running at full speed, I was out of breath by the time I reached the diner.
The first thing I noticed was the piece of bike, I wasn't sure where the rest of it was as I stepped over it.
A few officers were standing around what I assumed to be Sam.
One of them came up to me, "Excuse me, miss, but this is a crime scene."
"I know. I know the guy who was hurt. Sam."
"Lili."
Hearing him call my name I walked around the officer and over to Sam.
He was sitting with his back propped up on one of the railings in front of the diner.
I breathed a sigh of relief to see that he didn't look to be too hurt.
I sat down next to him, "What happened?"
He gave me a look before responding, "I can't tell you that."
"Are you hurt?"
He shrugged a shoulder, "I'll make it. Just a few scratches."
He had a huge, deep cut running across his face, it reminded me of Soul's scar actually.
I sighed, "Where's Laura?"
"I don't know."
He suddenly seemed very closed off again.
"Well, do you need any help?"
"No. I didn't ask Laura to call you."
"What's gotten into you?"
"Nothing. You should go home. It's late, you shouldn't even be here."
I stood, "I don't know what's gotten into you, but this hot-cold thing you do is getting tiring, Sam."
"Just go, Stephi."
I sighed and walked away, phoning Laura when I was in the parking lot.
"Where are you?"
"In my car, I'll be there now."
I sighed and turned, yelping at the man standing in front of me.
He was another strangely tall person, he stood awkwardly and dressed strangely in a white leather vest and white pants.
"Stephanie Lili-"
"How do you know my name?"
"It is of no importance. I am here to tell you to stay away from Samael."
"Who? The demon angel dude from the book? I don't understand?"
He narrowed his eyes at me and I turned as Laura called.
When I turned back to the strange man, he was no longer there.
"Laura, did you see a man dressed in white standing here?"
She looked at me like I had grown a second head, "No?"
I turned back but suddenly couldn't remember what I was looking for.
What a strange night.
SAM
I looked up, watching her as she spoke to Laura in the distance.
I had never regretted much in my lifetime, but I deeply regretted how I had just treated her.
I wanted to go over and apologize but I couldn't.
She was distracting me.
I still had several souls to collect before I could return to my true home and I couldn't have distractions.
I had been busy with a soul collection tonight, but I had been so focused on her that I wasn't paying attention to what I was doing and ended up crashing my bike.
It could have ended much worse for me and I hated that I had become so careless, I couldn't afford to be careless.
I looked over at my cat and she tilted her head, I knew she was scolding me for how I had treated Stephi, so I rolled my eyes and turned away.
My eyes back on the human woman causing me such turmoil and annoyance, I got to my feet and went over to her.
Yet again, asking myself what I was doing.
But before I got to her, I felt his presence, pausing, I frantically looked around until my eyes found his.
He was dangerous, I couldn't have him knowing that I cared for Stephi, he would certainly use that against me.
As the head of the board of angels, he wanted nothing more than to see me fail.
I glanced down at Mids, my cat, and she hissed.
I couldn't put Stephi in danger with him, so I walked past her as if she meant nothing to me.
And that was the first time that I felt my heartache.
- Writer
