Broken (Book 1, The Watcher Chronicles, Paranormal Romance), page 5
“How?”
“I assume you’ve heard the legend about werewolves.”
“They’re real?” I ask, not hiding that I’m having a hard time believing everything Mason is saying. But, I know it’s the truth. I’m usually good at telling when people are lying to me, Owen being the exception to that rule. Even though everything Mason has said so far sounds outrageous, I know he’s telling me what he believes to be true.
“When the moon rises, the children of the Watchers would turn into werewolves. It wasn’t meant as a punishment for them exactly but for us, their fathers: a daily reminder that we failed them. That we shouldn’t have gone against God’s law.”
“So you lost your wives and your children were cursed to be werewolves. I’m afraid to ask but did your God do anything else to punish you?”
“We were also cursed with an insatiable hunger for human blood and designed to produce a pheromone which made it virtually impossible for us to be near human females without them becoming instantly attracted to us.”
“So, are you telling me you’re a vampire?” I ask, feeling like I should go grab some garlic from the kitchen.
“It’s where the legend comes from. Some of us were able to control the urge and some of us weren’t.”
“Which side of that fence did you fall on?”
Mason grins grimly. “I was able to control it, but it wasn’t easy. I spent a lot of time alone with my son in the beginning. Then as time went by, it became easier to be around humans again, to live something which resembled a normal life.”
“And your child?”
A genuine smile graces Mason’s face. “He was freed of the curse when the Tear was made. He and Angela are married now and they have a family of their own. They were granted human lives since neither Allan nor I let our children drink human blood during the time they shifted into their werewolf forms.”
“How did the Tear break their curse?”
“The Tear didn’t do it. God did. The Tear is a result of Lucifer trying to destroy the universe.”
“So, you’re not just telling me God is real but that the devil is real too?”
“Yes,” Mason pauses before saying his next words like he wants to make sure I hear them. “You just met him.”
I sit there staring at Mason unwilling to swallow this last bit of information but knowing I have to.
“Lucian is the devil?” I ask, but already know the answer to my question.
“Lucifer was able to find you,” Mason says gravely. “We have to assume he felt your presence just like I did earlier this evening. Now that he knows where you live, I felt you should know who he is because you will see him again. He’s curious about you now and if there is one thing Lucifer can’t stand it’s not knowing everything about everything. His presence is what made me decide to tell you the whole truth. I didn’t think you would believe he was Lucifer unless you knew the complete story. You did just tell me a couple of hours ago that you don’t believe in God, but I’m telling you He is real and Lucifer is real.”
Now I feel like I should have paid more attention in all those bible school classes Mama Lynn made me go to as a child. I feel sorely under prepared to handle what Mason is telling me. My mind is rebelling against the whole God is real thing even more so than the devil being real. Being a Watcher agent puts me in direct contact with people who seem to be made out of pure evil. Evil I can believe in. A benevolent God? Not so much.
“So how did you stop Lucifer from destroying the universe?”
“I didn’t. A woman by the name of Lilly did.”
“A human?
“Half human, half archangel.”
I feel my eyes narrow on Mason. “Is she the hybrid you were referring to when you asked Allen if he thought I was one? Is that what you think I am?”
“Lilly is the only human who has ever been able to kill like you did tonight. It seems a logical conclusion.”
Could that be what my father was? Is that why he always had a golden glow around him? I almost divulge this knowledge to Mason but decide not to. We will know in the morning if his suspicions are correct. If they are, which I sincerely doubt, I can always tell him my secret then.
“Faison would probably call you crazy for thinking there’s anything angelic about me. I’m about as far from an angel as you can get.”
Mason’s lips form a lopsided grin. “You’re more similar to us than you might think. We aren’t infallible. And who is Faison?”
“She’s my sister. Adopted sister I guess would be a better term. Mama Lynn had already adopted Faison when I went to live with her. We instantly bonded which is one reason I think Mama Lynn adopted me too. She didn’t want Faison to lose me. And by that time I couldn’t face losing either one of them.”
“I can tell they’re important to you. Your face lights up when you talk about them.”
“They’re my life,” I admit. “I can’t imagine not seeing them everyday or at least talking to them once a day.”
We’re silent for a while. Mostly because I’m still trying to absorb everything Mason has told me. I feel like he’s giving me time to get my thoughts in order so I can make sense of everything.
“So Lucifer’s the one I need to blame for the Tear,” I state, finding a new target for my anger.
“He’s the one responsible for its existence. I suppose if you want someone to blame it would be him.”
“How did this Lilly stop him from destroying the universe?”
“Her love for a brother Watcher is what saved us in the end. After she stopped Lucifer, God lifted the curse of hungering for human blood from those of us who never drank it and made the Watcher children who never drank human blood completely human so they can live out normal lives like they were meant to. He gave us, the Watchers, the task of finding a way to seal the tear Lucifer’s anger made.”
I sit up straighter. “So there is a way to seal it?”
Mason nods. “We’ve been searching for it since that day.”
“And you haven’t found anything in fifteen years?”
“Not until today,” he says, looking pointedly at me like I hold the key to everything.
“I’m no one special,” I say shaking my head, not liking the way he’s looking at me. I’m no ones savior. “You’ve got the wrong girl. I’m nothing like this Lilly you’ve mentioned.”
“No, you’re not Lilly,” Mason agrees. “But there is something about you that’s different. You can’t deny that. You saw and felt for yourself what you were able to do to that demon tonight.”
I take a sip of my coffee as a distraction. I drain the cup dry and excuse myself saying I need another cup as a way to gain a moment to myself.
When I get into the kitchen, I sit my cup on the counter in front of the coffee machine and stare at it absently, not really seeing it. I suddenly realize I’ve just received too much information at once. I need time to process it all.
Mason comes into the kitchen with his now empty cup.
I look over at him. “Do you want some more?”
“No, I think I should be leaving.”
I feel myself do something I almost never do: panic.
“What if he comes back tonight?” I ask, not sure if my plasma pistol will be enough to fend off the devil himself.
“I don’t think he will. It’s not his style. But if it would make you feel better I could stay here with you for the rest of the night, just in case.”
Now I feel like a chicken. I shake my head. “No, you don’t have to do that. If you say he won’t come back tonight, I trust your judgment. If anyone should know his habits, it would probably be you.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah, I’ll be fine.”
“Then I’ll be here at eight in the morning to pick you up.”
I nod. “Ok, see you then.”
Mason goes back into the living room presumably to get his coat. I wait for the distinct pop which is normally associated with a Watcher’s phasing but never hear it. I walk into the living room to see if anything is wrong. When I get there, Mason’s already gone.
Chapter 5When I get up the next morning, I don’t feel like I slept at all the night before. It’s not far from the truth. The last time I looked at the clock it was three in the morning. I know I tossed and turned after that and finally fell into a troubled sleep. The red numbers of the digital clock by my bed say its seven, time to get up.
I take a quick shower and get ready. I’m not sure what Mason expects me to wear to my new job with him so I put on my Watcher uniform as a safe bet. I decide to hop in my car and grab some breakfast at Paw Paw’s before Mason is due to arrive. As I walk down the steps from my porch, I see my friend and neighbor, George Grady, walking to his white Ford F150 parked in his driveway.
“Hey there, Jess!” He calls out waving a white gloved hand.
I can’t help but smile at what George is wearing. George is a tearer who came from a planet where all the men resemble Santa Claus and all the children look like elves with pointy ears and rosy cheeks. During this time of year those tearers make a killing playing mall Santa or working at private parties for the rich. The planet they come from was dubbed the North Pole by the media and unfortunately it stuck in everyone’s head. I vaguely remember the real name of the planet actually being quite pretty but can’t remember what it is for the life of me. Every time I ask George if his planet is where our Santa Claus stories originated, he just smiles and says everyone should be allowed to believe in magic every once in a while.
“How’s the Santa Claus business?” I ask.
George chuckles making his little round belly shake like a bowl full of jelly.
“Can’t complain. I do love seeing all the kids get excited about Christmas on this planet, makes me feel almost like I’m home.”
I try to smile, knowing George and I have had a lot of talks about the family he left behind in his world. I wave goodbye and wish him a good day. When I get into my car, I feel even more determined to find a way to seal the Tear to prevent other families from being ripped apart but only after I rescue my parents. I know it’s completely selfish to think that way but getting my parents back has been my main goal for most of my life. I’ll either get them back or die trying.
Paw Paw’s parking lot is crowded when I get there. Everyone knows Beau makes his special yeast cinnamon rolls on Wednesday mornings. It’s almost a sin if you live in the neighborhood and don’t get one while they’re still fresh from the oven. I find half of my neighbors already standing in line for their share of the rolls when I walk through the door.
I know a lot of people who come into the store just passing through our quaint community find Beau unusual. Not a lot of pure blooded Chinese men have a thick southern drawl, but Beau’s family was one of the first to settle in Cypress Hollow. After his ancestors worked to construct the railroad system, they settled here and helped build a community with their hard work and perseverance.
Beau is standing behind the counter carefully putting half a dozen rolls into a white cardboard pastry box for Vern and Sadie Myrick. Vern and Sadie have always reminded me of the couple in the American Gothic painting except I’ve never actually seen Vern hold a pitchfork.
“Mornin’ Jess!” Beau says to me from his position behind the counter, which sets off a cacophony of greetings from the other people present.
Mama Lynn looks up from her phone and motions me over to her position in line.
Mama Lynn was forty years old when she adopted me. At fifty-five, she’s still a looker with her bobbed, slightly graying red hair and striking green eyes. She’s a little plumper than she would like to be around the middle, but when she complains about her weight, I just give her a big hug and tell her she’s perfect to my eyes. George, aka our friendly neighborhood Santa Claus, has had a crush on Mama Lynn since he was placed in Cypress Hollow by the Watcher agency. I think the only thing holding George back from asking Mama Lynn out on a real date is the outside chance he might get sent back home through the Tear one of these years. As things are, he said he felt like he would be cheating on his wife back on his planet if he acted on his feelings for Mama Lynn. So, he’s kept his feelings for her to himself, never allowing their relationship go beyond friendship.
“How did things go last night?” Mama Lynn asks, giving me a peck on the cheek when I come to stand by her. “You know these last two years you’ve been on call when the Tear opens have worried me to death.”
“Everything went fine,” I tell her, not feeling like going into a long discussion on what actually happened the night before. “In fact, I got a promotion of sorts.”
“Really?” Mama Lynn smiles at me with pride. “What kind of promotion?”
“I’ll be working with a group stationed out of Colorado.”
“Colorado!” Mama Lynn says in alarm.
“You’re not moving are you, Jess?” Sadie turns around to ask me.
Everyone else in line goes quiet, waiting to hear my answer.
“I’m not moving,” I answer Sadie and anyone else interested. I return my attention to Mama Lynn. “The Watcher in charge is supposed to pick me up and bring me home every day. So don’t worry. I’m not going anywhere.”
“Phew, you had me worried there for a minute.”
We reach the front of the line and Mama Lynn orders three cinnamon rolls.
“Faison still hasn’t made it back from the hospital,” Mama Lynn tells me with a shake of her head. “Poor thing will probably be starving by the time she gets back home.”
I hear the bell above the front door of the store ring as someone enters behind me. I notice Mama Lynn staring at the newcomer and turn to see who it is.
Mason is standing in front of the door. I look down at my watch and see that it’s exactly eight.
“Can I help you?” Beau asks Mason as he hands Mama Lynn her box of cinnamon rolls.
“He’s with me, Beau,” I say walking towards Mason. “Sorry,” I tell him. “I just came over to get a roll for breakfast.”
“I was worried,” he says in a low voice, not saying what he was worried about because we both know.
I find his concern for my welfare unexpectedly considerate.
“Who’s your friend?” Mama Lynn asks with a welcoming smile as she comes to stand beside me.
“Mama Lynn this is Mason Collier. He’s my new boss.”
Mama Lynn holds out her hand to Mason. “Nice to meet you, Mr. Collier.”
Mason shakes her hand. “Like wise. And please call me Mason. Jess has told me a lot about you.”
Mama Lynn hands me the box of cinnamon rolls all the while smiling like sunshine at Mason. “Take these to work with you. I’m sure Mason here would like to try one.”
“What about you and Faison?” I ask.
“Oh, I’ll just grab some more. I know you’re late for work.”
I kiss Mama Lynn on the cheek. “I’ll call you when I get home,” I promise her.
When Mason and I step outside, I say, “Sorry for not being at my house when you showed up. I thought I would make it back there before you came.”
“It’s not a problem. Are you ready to go?”
“Sure, but I need to drive my car back to my house.”
“I can move it for you.”
Before I can ask what he means, Mason walks over to my car and places his hand on the roof. He and the car both disappear for a fraction of a second before he reappears in the same spot.
“What can you guys not phase?” I ask, trying not to freak out that my car just magically dematerialized in front of my eyes.
Mason shrugs, a hint of a smile on his lips. “There isn’t much that can’t be moved.”
“How come I didn’t hear that popping noise you guys usually make when you phase?” I ask. It was something I had noticed last night as well.
“We only do it when we phase somewhere public or we want to make our presence known,” Mason tells me. “It’s a courtesy, not something which naturally happens when we phase. If we didn’t do it, people who weren’t looking for our arrival wouldn’t be aware we just phased in next to them.”
“I’m learning all kinds of secrets about you guys,” I say.
Mason shrugs. “We’re not as mysterious as most people make us out to be.”
He rests a hand on my shoulder and we’re instantly in the basement of his house again.
I see Joshua still sitting where he was last night, tapping the touch screen panel in front of him with incredible speed and coordination. There’s a small garbage can beside his chair filled with empty Red Bull cans and Snicker wrappers. Nick is no where to be seen for which I’m silently thankful. Allan and Angela see us phase in and walk out of the glass room together to greet us.
“What is that Heavenly scent?” Angela asks as she walks towards me.
“Cinnamon rolls,” I say holding out the box to her. “Would you like one?”
Angela takes the box and opens the lid letting the aroma of Beau’s cinnamon sugar perfections surround her completely.
“Man,” Joshua says standing up from his chair, “can I have one too? Those smell too good to pass up.”
“Sure,” I say, secretly hoping Mason and Allan don’t want one. There are only three rolls and five people, two of us will end up being very unhappy.
“Why don’t we wait just a minute,” Angela suggests, closing the lid before Joshua can put his hand in the box. “I’m sure Jess would like to know what we found out about her.”
I feel my heart sink into my stomach again but force myself to not let it show.
“What did you find out about me?” I ask.
“You’re human,” Allan says.
I wait for him to say more, some grand elaboration, but he doesn’t. Allan seems to be a man of very few words which I can appreciate but not when it has to do with what makes me different.
