The Chosen

Chapter 2

Chapter Two

“Do you want to have breakfast together?”

Elizabeth swung her blue tote bag up her shoulders. “I can’t,” she said to her mother. “I have to head out to the resort to see the damage to the ballroom. We may have to change to another one. Or …” She shuddered. “We may have to find another venue altogether.”

Her mother glanced over her shoulder. “But it’s getting dark out. Why don’t you get Sally to do it?”

“She’s already meeting me there, but you know how making such decisions stresses her out.”

“All the more she should learn. She won’t remain an assistant project manager. She’ll become a project manager someday.”

“Which is why she’ll be there with me—working overtime on a Saturday, boss.”

Her mother laughed softly and pulled her close as she put her arm through Elizabeth’s. “Do you want me to drive you there?”

“No.”

Her mother’s smile remained, but her eyes darkened with concern.

“I’m okay, Mom.”

“I’m your mother, Lizzie. I’m always going to worry about you.” Especially when she thought her daughter was losing touch with reality.

Last night, Elizabeth had searched the streets for an hour. She wasn’t sure where she should go, but she’d continued walking. She had only one thought running through her mind: finding the man with those light gray eyes.

She had missed five of her parents’ calls. When she finally called them back, they were yelling frantically into the phone. First with concern, then with anger.

And she was wrecked with guilt when she finally got home and saw their shoulders slumped with relief.

She had expected anger to follow, but it never came. Her mother fetched her an electric heated blanket, while her father made her a cup of tea. They peppered her with questions on where she’d been. Not because they wanted answers, but because she looked pale and they wanted to know if she needed a doctor.

And that was why she had to pull herself together.

She had to stop doing this to them.

“Let me get your father. We’ll all go together. Your father and I can wait for you at the café, and we can have breakfast together.”

Elizabeth shook her head. “I’ll drive. I want to.” I need to.

Her mother’s brows twitched.

“I’m done letting the nightmare rule my life.”

“Did you dream about it again last night?”

Elizabeth nodded. “But screw it.”

Her mother frowned at her.

“The more I allow myself to obsess over it, the more I’ll keep dreaming about it.”

Her mother nodded slowly. “Okay.” She stopped halfway down the stairs. “I want you to promise me something. I don’t want you to go after strangers, no matter what color their eyes are. Do you hear me?”

Elizabeth pursed her lips.

“You said you’re done letting the nightmare rule your life,” her mother reminded her.

“Okay,” she said after a moment.

“And call me when you get to the resort.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

The doorbell rang just as they got downstairs. Her mother peered over at the security panel. “Nate.”

“I just left.”

Her mother chuckled. “You should just tell him you’re not interested. Men don’t get hints, darling.”

“I love you.”

Her mother leaned over and gave her a peck on her cheek. “Drive safe. Remember your seat belt.”

“Always do.” Elizabeth ran to her car. Once inside, she pulled out her phone and dropped her bag on the passenger seat. She was about to plug her phone into her car’s phone holder when the electric cello of Wonder Women’s theme broke the silence.

She stared down at the unknown number. Did Nate change his number?

She considered ignoring the call, but was worried it would be something important. “Hello?”

“Hi, I’m the guy from last night.”

She swallowed as she thought about those light gray eyes.

“The one you spilled coffee on,” he went on.

“Oh.” She sighed and shook her head. She needed to get those eyes out of her mind.

“You sound disappointed.”

“No.” She laughed nervously. “I—never mind. I’m so sorry about your jacket.”

“Ian. Ian Knight.”

“Elizabeth Summers.” She glanced over at the door that opened into the garage. “Oh, no,” she said when the door opened. “Hang on.” She plugged the phone into the holder and started her car as Nate jogged over to her.

Her mother remained at the threshold, giving her a I’m-sorry shrug.

Elizabeth swallowed her curse and plastered a smile when he knocked on the driver’s window.

She pressed on the button to roll up the garage door before lowering her window. “Sorry, Nate, I’ve got to go.” She glanced over at her escape route.

“I thought we could—”

“I’m running late already. Bye.” She clicked on the button to roll the window up and drove forward. She gave Nate the back of her hand without looking at him.

Once she was out of the house, she sighed.

“Sounds like you’ve just made a successful escape.”

Elizabeth had jumped at Ian’s voice, forgetting he was still on the line. “Yes, I did. And without a scratch to my car, too.”

Ian remained quiet.

It seemed he was ready to get down to business.

“I’m so sorry about your jacket. How much is it? How would you like me to transfer the money?”

“It’s nothing a dry wash can’t fix.”

“I’ll pay for that, then.”

“How about you buy me coffee instead?”

“Coffee?” She pursed her lips. She couldn’t remember much about Ian, her mind too focused on the man with the gray eyes.

“I could buy you coffee if you want. Or lunch. To celebrate your successful escape.”

Was Ian asking her out on a date? No one had asked her out before, except Nate. But her neighbor didn’t count.

“Now?” Elizabeth groaned when a drop of rain splattered on her windshield.

“I don’t think I’ve ever felt this rejected before.”

She laughed. “I wasn’t groaning about that. It’s raining here.” She looked up at the dark sky. “I hate driving when it rains.”

“Where are you? I’ll come and pick you up.”

“Oh, no. It’s okay. You don’t have to do that.”

“I want to.”

“You’re being awfully nice.” Elizabeth drew a breath through her nose. Was it because he knew who she was? Or specifically whose daughter she was? Her parents were both extremely successful in their industries, and people had tried to make use of her to get closer to them.

“I don’t mean to creep you out. You said you hate driving in the rain. I’m a good driver, I promise.”

She drummed her fingers against the steering wheel.

She would love to pull over by the side of the road and have Ian pick her up. Anything to avoid driving in the rain.

Elizabeth glanced down at the clothes she was wearing. She’d thrown on the first thing she pulled out from her closet. She didn’t give it much thought until now.

Black knitted sweater over a white collared shirt. Dark blue jeans. Black cashmere coat.

Elizabeth jammed on the brake.

“Elizabeth?” Ian called out, probably because of the piercing screech of her tires. “Elizabeth.”

She was wearing the exact ensemble she wore in her nightmare.

Elizabeth started to shrug off her coat. If she wasn’t wearing it, she wouldn’t get into the accident, right?

“Elizabeth Summers.”

She stopped and stared at the phone. “I’m sorry,” she muttered. “I keep forgetting you’re on the line.”

“Are you okay? What happened?”

“Nothing.” She looked over her shoulder, then up at the rear-view mirror. There weren’t any cars behind her. She was lucky she wasn’t on the highway.

Which was why she really needed to get a grip on reality.

The nightmare is nothing more than a nightmare. She relaxed her grip on the steering wheel. “There’s this resort—”

“I’d prefer to pick you up.”

“There’s no need. I have to drive myself there.” This would prove—once and for all—that her nightmare wasn’t anything she had to waste time on.

“Sounds like you’re trying to prove a point.”

“To myself, yes,” she said and stepped on her gas pedal. “If you’re up for it, I can text you the address of where I’m going. I can meet you there.”

“You sure I can’t drive you there?”

“I’m already in my car.”

“Don’t text and drive.”

She grinned and rattled off the name of the resort. “Just ask the concierge to direct you to the café. See you there.”

“See you soon, Elizabeth.”

She ended the call and adjusted her grip on the steering wheel. “I’ll be fine.”

Everything would be okay. Elizabeth kept telling herself that even as the rain grew heavier as she drove.

Soon, morning felt like night.

The rain, coupled with swirling dark gray clouds, drastically restricted her visibility. She could barely see what was outside her car, but stiffened as a sudden chill ran through her.

Instinct.

Or fear. Irrational fear.

Still, Elizabeth reduced the already nominal pressure she had on the gas pedal as thunder rumbled in the dark sky that lit up every time lightning struck.

Any time now, the car would flip. And she and the car would be hurled beyond the barrier before plummeting to the lake below.

“Stop it, Elizabeth,” she said to herself and rubbed her clammy hands down her jeans.

Elizabeth jumped when her car’s audio system cut from her playlist to her ringtone.

She glanced over at her car’s display panel. Nate Holloway, her neighbor who simply couldn’t get the hint.

Elizabeth decided to enjoy the momentary injection of courage from Wonder Woman instead of picking up his call.

When her eyes returned to the road ahead, she spotted a blotch of something white beyond the water pouring down her windshield.

She couldn't make out much, so she squinted and leaned forward.

The wiper brushed away the rain pouring down on the windshield. In that split second before the rain could blur her vision again, her brain registered what the blotch was.

A man.

“Jesus!” Elizabeth slammed on the brake pedal, and the screech of her locked rubber tires against the wet road made her cringe.

This is it. This was what her nightmares had been warning her.

Elizabeth’s eyes sprang open the moment her car came to a complete stop.

There was nothing in front of her car. She hadn’t felt a bump either.

The man had disappeared.

Had she imagined him?

Elizabeth pressed a hand against her chest, trying to ease the racing drum of her heartbeat.

She was sure she saw a man in white T-shirt and dark blue jeans standing right in the middle of the lane.

She ran her hand through her hair and twisted her torso to look out the rear window, but the rain was pouring so hard and fast it was impossible to see anything.

“Keep driving, Elizabeth.”

She swiveled around and screamed as she slammed herself back against the door.

She was supposed to be alone in the car. Yet there was now a man in a white T-shirt and dark blue jeans sitting next to her. “Oh, my god. Did I run over you? Are you a ghost?”

Did she believe in ghosts?

Elizabeth didn’t care.

She unbuckled her seat belt and reached for the door handle. The door had barely opened when a dark shadow zoomed past her car and slammed the door shut. “What the …” She stared at the door; her hands raised by her sides.

“Don’t be afraid, Lizzie. I wasn't the one on the road.”

Elizabeth turned back to the man—or ghost—in the passenger seat.

He was looking out of the window, gazing up at the sky. His sharp, defined nose was matched with high cheekbones and a strong chin. There was something achingly familiar about the handsome face, but Elizabeth simply couldn’t remember where she’d seen him.

“Put on your seat belt and drive, my dear Lizzie. They’re not going to let you get out of the car.”

“They?”

He turned to her, and her eyes widened at the distinctive light gray eyes. “You. You were in my nightmares.” Elizabeth couldn’t tear her gaze from the stranger. “Who are you?”

“Adniel,” he replied. Then more firmly, “Lizzie, I need you to put your seat belt on.”

Elizabeth did as she was told. Adniel.

He pointed to the steering wheel. “Drive, Lizzie.”

She pressed down on the gas pedal and the car rolled forward. “Only my parents call me Lizzie.”

She was still wondering why she was taking instructions from a stranger when he said, “It’s going to get bumpy.”

Just as he finished that sentence, a shadow covered the passenger side window.

Elizabeth turned. But before she could even see what had caused the sudden darkness, a loud explosion-like boom hurled her attention back to the road ahead.

Her car swerved violently to the left.

She sucked in a breath as her hands worked frantically to try and get her car back in the right lane.

The beams of her car’s headlights flashed across the road as the car got back in the lane, giving Elizabeth a glimpse of three men who had materialized in front of her car. The men, dressed just like Adniel, stood regally amid the pouring rain, calmly watching the car coming straight for them.

Elizabeth screamed, her hands working the steering wheel in hopes of avoiding the men.

Adniel reached over and held the steering wheel in place. “Ignore them.”

“No!” she screamed.

But a second before contact, something swooped down and rammed two of the men away, clearing a path for her car.

Her eyes widened at the sight of the majestic white wings on the creature that had just swooped down. The creature’s wings flapped, strong and unyielding against the heavy rain and strong wind.

Then it turned briefly toward the car before taking off toward the sky.

“Did you see that?” she asked. “Was that an angel?” She had clearly seen a face, one as beautiful as Adniel’s. “Are you an angel?”

Adniel continued to stare out of the window. “More’s coming.”

This time, two loud bangs came one after another, and her car was pushed violently up against the roadside barrier.

“Hang on,” Adniel said and jumped out of the car onto something outside.

Elizabeth’s jaw dropped. Adniel had gone through the door as if it didn’t exist.

The force pushing against her car seemed to ease, but only for a moment before another bump rammed against it. The car skidded right up the metal barrier, tilting it dangerously to the right.

She braced one of her hands against the roof and screamed.

“Hello, human.”

Another handsome creature with electric blue eyes appeared next to her. This time, the creature perched on the car door—like a perfectly balanced cat on the tip of a beam. He reached through the glass window and unbuckled her seat belt.

With a smirk, he hooked his hand under the roof and kicked himself off from the car.

The car flipped, and the driver side door flew open.

Elizabeth reached out, trying to grab something—anything—as she was flung from the car.

She felt every drop of the pouring rain that beat against her back and soaked through her cashmere coat.

She felt the biting December wind, cutting against her face like a whip.

She watched, in slow motion, as the distance between the car and herself grew farther. Einstein’s right: time is relative.

Elizabeth felt as if her mind had separated from her physical body. She felt an uncanny calm while she heard her never-ending scream—prolonged by the sudden slowing of time.

A pair of arms snaked around her, plucking her from her mid-air trajectory back toward the tarmac road.

She looked up at the light gray eyes. “You caught me.”

“Of course.”

Elizabeth didn’t notice Adniel’s wings until he set her back down on the ground. “What are you?” she asked as the magnificent white wings retracted and disappeared behind him.

“Run, Lizzie.” Adniel swung her behind him. “Go!”

Elizabeth couldn’t see where she was going, but she sprinted forward anyway. She wasn’t sure what she was running from or even why she was running.

She screamed again when she was snatched off the ground and thrown up toward the sky.

She crashed into something mid-air. Brushing the rain from her eyes, she squinted and realized she was in the arms of another creature. The one with electric blue eyes. The same one that had flipped her car.

The creature’s squarish jaw was matched with high cheekbones. His clean-shaven face glowed with a subdued light.

His white wings spread out behind him, and he hooked a finger under her chin as they floated in mid-air. His head tipped left and right as if he was studying her. “I wonder what they want with you.”

“That’s none of your business, Gedeon.” A blazing white sword shone amid the darkness around them as Adniel swung it toward them.

Adniel was no longer in his white T-shirt and jeans. Instead, he was clad in silver armor from his neck down. The sturdy breastplate and pauldrons made Adniel look bigger than before.

Gedeon dodged, and another creature in armor cut in with a sword in hand, blocking Adniel.

Gedeon brushed a thumb across her cheek, pulling her thoughts back to him. “So much effort for a human girl.”

Elizabeth frowned. She had no idea what Gedeon was talking about.

As if he understood her confusion, Gedeon opened his arm and swirled her around as if they were waltzing in the sky.

“Look at all of them fighting for you.”

The wind whipped her hair around her face as she turned to follow Gedeon’s line of sight. Her eyes widened at the clash of blazing white swords that roared through the sky with thunderous claps.

Elizabeth brushed her hair from her face as she stared out at the hundreds—thousands perhaps—of creatures fighting each other amid the swirling darkness of the clouds. All the creatures were in full silver armor, like the knights she’d seen in movies.

This cannot be real.

“He must have a special plan for you.” Gedeon’s lips curled into a sinister smile. “You’ll never be able to find out, though.” He flung her down, and Elizabeth caught sight of her crashed car as she plummeted toward it. Again, all she could do was scream.

Another creature swooped in and grabbed her before setting her on her feet and taking off.

Elizabeth’s knees gave way. She’d never been one for roller coaster rides, and all that being thrown around in the air was making her sick.

“Humans are such pathetic creatures.”

Elizabeth lifted her head and leaned away from Gedeon.

“Goodbye, human.” With one hand, the creature lifted her off the ground and threw her over the railing.

She didn’t have the strength to scream this time, not even when she splashed into the water.

Elizabeth felt herself sinking into the lake.

This was how her nightmare always ended—her drowning.

You said you’re done letting the nightmare rule your life. Elizabeth heard her mother’s voice in her head. Try, Lizzie.

She had to.

Elizabeth gritted her teeth and kicked herself upward.

Her fingers almost breached the surface of the water when a dark shadow, the shape of her car, loomed over her.

She was yanked away before it could smash right into her. Adniel was beside her again, in his T-shirt and jeans. They watched as her car dropped down to the bottom of the lake.

Then, his head tipped back as something on or beyond the surface of the water drew his attention. He let go of her and she felt herself getting sucked deeper into the lake.

Elizabeth reached out for Adniel, but he was gone.

She closed her eyes and tried to find the strength to get herself to the surface. She couldn’t, though. It seems the nightmare was right after all.

She felt a squeeze on her hand and struggled to open her eyes.

A man’s face came into view. It took her a moment to realize who he was.

Ian. He swam closer, looped his arm around her waist, and pulled them toward the surface.

She gasped when her face broke the surface, and Ian dragged her out of the lake.

Elizabeth couldn’t stand, not even with him holding her. All she could register was the intense pain in her chest as her starving lungs demanded more oxygen than she could take.

“Stay with me,” Ian said, his voice urgent and stern, yet laced with fear.

Elizabeth forced her eyes open.

No creature was near her now. Not Adniel. Not Gedeon. And Ian didn’t have wings on his back.

Darkness closed in on her eyes as Ian set her down.

“Elizabeth.” He cupped her face. The muscles along his jaws were taut, and water dripped from his hair. “Stay with me,” he repeated, his voice sounding far away. His dark brown eyes, with golden streaks like honey radiating from his pupils, stared at her, seemingly pleading with her to listen to him.

And she wanted to.

I can’t. She closed her eyes again, this time unable to find the strength to open them.