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Beyond Judgement (Beyond Series): Book 1
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Beyond Judgement (Beyond Series)
Book 1
D.R. Bohannon
To all those who’ve crossed my path. You know who you are. I love you. Love is love. xo
Beyond Judgement
Words can be simple and insignificant. They are harmless if spoken with a gentle tongue, but if they fall from the mouth with vile intentions, the result can be catastrophic. We live in a world mixed with good and evil. Love and hate. Acceptance and rejection. As humans, we long to be loved and accepted for who we are as individuals. For it’s our individuality that houses our soul.
We teach children not to judge others and to be kind. It seems somewhere between childhood and adulthood some fall from this belief. Resulting in the misunderstood, lonely, heartbroken individuals that feel so alone in a world crawling with people. These individuals stay hidden when they should stand proud. They keep their gifts and uniqueness hidden when they deserve to express them.
None of us should ever feel so deeply alone. There is always someone willing to listen and to cheer you on. Believe what you believe and live your life in happiness. Love and kindness, the things we are taught as children, are the key to happiness.
PROLOGUE
Eve
Damion walks ahead of me. His muscular frame is enhanced by his dark wings. Their silhouette is only apparent by the cascading moonlight from above. He looks like a gentle creature, but I know better. The strength we both possess is unmatched. We’re the only two of our kind. We were created to dominate, and that’s what we do. Keeping the balance between good and evil. But fighting that fight internally is a continuous challenge.
I want to be more than just a player in this game. I want to make a difference. I want to be and do good. The Creator created us to be his ultimate weapon. I know I’m supposed to do as I’m told, and if I defy him, I will be stripped of my wings and identity. I will be living my life out on earth without a purpose at all, or even worse, stuck in the land of the in-between. Surrounded by darkness. I shake my head to clear my mind.
“Eve,” Damion’s voice is low. “Find the girl and complete what the Creator started 13 years ago.” He turns to face me.
I feel my eyes darken and my heart rate quicken in anticipation. My fight response kicks in along with my demon side.
“She’s human. How difficult can it be?” I say.
“With her father out of the way, we have a clear shot this time. He can’t interfere with the plan.” Damion says, with a sneer.
“Isn’t that why we were created? To finish what the Creator starts?” I ask.
“That’s not the only reason.” Damion pulls me in for a kiss. “We’re the force. Fire and Fury.” He kisses my neck.
I want to believe this is the right thing to do. That the Creator wishes this girl dead for a good reason, but is there one? The good and bad parts of me are always in a feud with each other. Eating away at me from the inside. Damion never seems to question anything. From which side he favors, to the demands of the Creator, he is the faithful servant. For me, the choices I make aren’t as simple.
“Where is her father now?” I ask.
“The Creator sent him away. He wanted to make sure there wouldn’t be any obstacles this time.” Damion presses his lips against mine. His eyes darken. I feel the change happening within me as well. The demon within us has won this time. “Don’t mess this up, princess.”
I nod and smile back at him.
Princess. I hate it when he calls me that. I’m nobody’s princess. I’m not sure what I am, but a princess, I know, isn’t it.
“Consider it done,” I say, stepping back and extending my wings out for flight. I inhale the cool air into my lungs and ascend into the midnight sky. My wings glide through the wind without hesitation as I begin my journey to find this girl, Allie. The human who has caused such a disruption in the Creator’s world.
It isn’t long before I catch her scent. I know she is near. A group of three people are leaving a movie theater below. Their laughter fills the air. I lower myself to the ground and fold my wings around myself to keep from being seen by the human eye. My dark wings hide me well in the shadows. I keep my distance at first. I have nothing to go on besides Allie’s scent, but it’s an unmistakable one.
There’s a guy and two girls. I have to figure out which girl is Allie. I can’t risk screwing this up or Damion will never let me live it down. He enjoys throwing my mistakes back into my face. I roll my eyes at the thought.
“Allie, come with us to get some coffee,” the other female says, excitedly.
I watch as the brunette-haired girl turns my way. Her eyes seem to see right through me. Her smile, though directed to her friends, weakens my knees. I feel my eyes lighten into the way they do when I’m compelled to favor my good side. The angel side.
“I can’t,” Allie says. “You know Mom will be waiting up for me.”
Good. This is my chance. She’ll be away from her friends and I can get to her before she goes into her house. Though my mind is pushing me to stay on task, I find myself questioning it.
I watch Allie climb into her car. She starts the engine and waves to her friends as she drives away. I extend my wings and take flight. I stay close behind her car, but high enough to remain unseen. She drives down the roads with ease. It’s late and the traffic below me is light. Within ten minutes Allie pulls into her driveway. I land just a few feet away from the parked car and wait for her to step out. My nerves fill my body with adrenaline. I’ll make my move quick. She’ll never see it coming.
Allie steps out and starts to make her way up the sidewalk to the front porch. I fold my wings just so, to keep them out of sight of the human eye. I reach for her, but I’m flooded by the memory of her electrifying smile. The way she lit up the dark night. The way she lit up the good part of me. I lower my arm back by my side and watch her stride up the porch steps and into the house.
I let her go.
∞∞∞
“What have YOU done?” Damion’s voice echoes off the stone walls surrounding us.
“I couldn’t harm her,” I say, shaking my head.
“It’s not your place to make the judgement.” Damion grabs me around the neck and presses me up against the wall. “WE carry out the ruling!”
“I’m tired of doing his dirty work for him,” I growl, driving my leg in between his legs.
Damion releases his grip on my throat and falls to his knees.
“I guess you still have a few human weaknesses,” I hiss.
He recovers and stands tall over me. I know he’s trying to make me feel small in his presence, but I don’t feel anything except fear for Allie. For the light, she carries inside of her.
“If you won’t do it, I will.” Damion flies off without warning.
I chase after him into the dark night sky. I will not let him hurt Allie, even if it causes me to lose my wings. He’s stronger than I am, but I’m faster. I fly past him to reach Allie before he does. But when we get to her house, I’m surprised to find her car gone.
Damn it, Allie. Where have you gone? Then I remember her friends asking her to get coffee. There’s only one place open this time of night. Insomnia Beans. The local coffee shop is open 24/7 and I hope that’s where she is.
In a matter of seconds, I’m off into the night again. Damion is close behind me. I think to go elsewhere, but he’d figure out it’s a trick, and I can’t risk him getting to her before I do.
Suddenly, her scent fills the air. I see her car on the roadway below. She’s pulled over to the side of the road with her flashers on. Steam is coming from the hood of Allie’s car. Dammit. STAY in your car, Allie! Rain begins to fall
. I blink fast to keep my eyes clear. Damion catches up to me and knocks me out of the sky. I tumble onto the ground and feel the scrapes from the pavement claw at my skin. Warm blood flows from my wounds, but I pick myself up and charge after him.
Damion is inches from Allie’s car. I pin him to the ground behind her car. My knee rests on his neck. He reaches up and grabs my arm to pull me off of him. I’m saved by a set of headlights starting our way.
Our number one rule is to never be seen by humans in our supernatural form. I stand and shield myself with my wings. Damion rolls to the side and out of the light’s direct path. He growls at me and shoots straight up into the sky. I can feel his intense anger with me, but I no longer care.
Allie’s friends pull up to offer her their aid. I know Allie is safe, and for now that is good enough. Damion can’t harm her when she is not alone. I know the Creator won’t be happy with me, but maybe I can prolong Allie’s life by saying I need more time to complete the task. But will I be able to do it? Will I be able to end her life when the time comes?
Chapter 1
Allie
1 Month Later
My reflection stares back at me from the dresser mirror. I pull my hair up into a ponytail. A pair of blue jeans and a red and black flannel button-up shirt hugs what little figure I have. I don’t need makeup and my hair done to go out. I’ll put on some foundation from time to time, but I’m not a prissy girl. The simpler the better.
I check the time on my phone. 7:35 A.M. I slide it into the back pocket of my jeans before slipping my feet into a pair of Converse.
“Allie, Logan is here.” My mother’s voice trails into my room. “Hurry up, you’re going to be late!”
I take a deep breath and tighten the band around my brunette hair. My mom would love it if Logan and I would date, but it’s never going to happen. He’s my best friend and I have no longing for a boyfriend of any kind. Ever.
He’s my ride to campus because my car is in the shop. I tried to get my mom to let me live on campus. She refused. You get into enough trouble staying under my roof. I can only imagine the trouble you’d get into without me. I roll my eyes at the memory.
I’m not a troublemaker, but I would classify myself as stubborn. I just see things differently than she does. It bothers her to have a daughter who is outspoken, and in her eyes, rebellious. I’m not the perfect princess she had envisioned. I know she loves me, but we are just two very different people.
I hurry down the stairs, taking them two at a time to the living room where my mother stands with one hand on her hip in a form-fitted dress. Her hair is done up in a flawless bun. She’s a lawyer and dresses the part. My mom is the spitting image of the perfect businesswoman and wife. Everything about her is prim and proper. Too bad her perfectness is exactly why my parents separated, but they still find the time to fight with each other now and then.
“Let’s go.” I pat Logan’s arm.
I need to get out of this house before she starts in on my appearance.
“Honey, don’t you think you should wear your hair down?” Mom says, running her fingers through my ponytail. “Logan, tell her, her hair looks so much better when it’s down.”
“I like it this way, Mom,” I say, pushing her hand from me.
The tension between us builds and I nod toward the door.
Logan opens it with a half-smile stretched across his face.
My mom sighs. “Okay, have a good day.”
I turn and walk out the door toward Logan’s beat-up Chevy truck. He follows close behind and wraps his arm around my neck as his steps match mine.
“Controlling much?” he asks.
“Always,” I say.
This isn’t news to Logan. He has been my neighbor and close friend for years. We see each other as brother and sister and have never thought of it going beyond that. My mother, however, already has our marriage planned and our children named.
“Good thing I could break you out of prison.”
I smile.
He opens the passenger door to his truck for me and I slide in, tossing my book bag on the floorboard. He walks around the front of the truck and climbs inside. Logan revs the engine before putting it into gear.
“Why do you do that? Does it make you feel more manly or something?” I ask.
“It does a little.” He winks. “I do it because it annoys you.”
I roll my eyes.
My phone buzzes and I take it from my back pocket.
“Lindy?” he asks.
“How’d you guess?”
Are you coming to class today?–L.
On my way. Mom had to put her two cents in about my hair.-A.
I slide my phone into my bag and try to keep from bouncing out of the seat as Logan drives the truck over the railroad crossing. I throw my arms out in front of me to keep from hitting my head on the dash.
“Sorry.” He laughs.
“Yeah. I bet you are.” I smile.
The college isn’t far from my house. I could walk the route easily, but again, my mother says no. I don’t know if she is afraid I will vanish or if her controlling issues are just that bad. My money is on the second one.
“Thanks for the ride,” I say.
“You’re such an inconvenience.” He teases.
“Whatever.” I laugh and roll my eyes.
We pull into the campus parking lot. Logan lets me out at the door and Lindy is there waiting for me. Her ever-bubbly-personality can be annoying at times, but like Logan, I’ve been friends with her since childhood. Frankly, I don’t want to take the time to meet new friends. I just don’t want to put forth the effort of learning someone else’s likes and dislikes. I have enough shit of my own to keep up with.
I open the door to the building and Lindy starts in on me.
“Are you dating him yet?” she asks.
“Who?” I scrunch up my eyebrows. “Logan?”
“Well, yes. HELLO. Who else would I be talking about?”
“Lindy. We have been over this a thousand times. I. Do. Not. Like. Logan.”
“But… you could?” She pokes my shoulder. “I mean, you guys already know everything about each other.”
“The answer is no, Lindy,” I say, continuing my pace down the hall to my first class.
“Allie.”
“Lindy.”
“Fine,” she huffs.
I know she wants to see me happy and in love, but my boat just doesn’t sail the way she thinks it does. I’ve never been into guys. I don’t care about them at all. I know I should just tell her that, but she wouldn’t understand. She is a bit blonder than I am personality-wise. Her hair is more of an auburn color. It is a conversation I just can’t bring up with her right now. It isn’t just Lindy. Nobody knows that part of me, and I don’t plan on sharing it with anyone anytime soon.
I’ve seen how humanity treats those of us who are different. Those of us with different views than those of the vast majority. The hostility, judgement, and grotesque faces they show along with the “that’s unnatural” remarks are enough to keep even the strongest of minds quiet about themselves.
As with any young girl, I grew up attending sleepovers. Most of the time, they were at Lindy’s. All the other girls would go on and on about the boys they had crushes on. I’d just go along with it. When they asked me, I’d pick a random guy. Often times it was Logan because he’s the only boy I’ve ever really talked to or cared about, even though it’s a completely platonic way.
I take my seat next to Lindy in the amphitheater. Our first class of the day is performing arts. For me, it’s a filler class, but Lindy adores it. I would’ve never signed up for it if she hadn’t begged me to. She sits beside me, yammering on about something. I’m not sure about what because she jumps from one thing to another faster than I can keep up. I just answer with a yes and okay every now and then and she seems to be fine with those answers. I used to try to keep up with her, but I always ended up more confused than if I just pretended to go a
long mindlessly.
The door on the side of the room opens and a girl about my age enters. Her bright red hair stands out in the dimly lit room. She has my attention from the very moment I lay eyes on her. I can’t help myself; I stare at her. She walks with such certainty. I look away for a second. I don’t want to make it obvious that I’m looking at her.
Lindy coughs beside me.
“Huh, what? Sorry,” I say, looking back at the mysterious girl. “What were you saying?”
Lindy starts chattering again. I’m even less interested now.
I can’t focus on anything except the curly-haired redhead walking my way. My eyes watch her intently as she makes her way over to us. She wears confidence on her face, but her eyes tell me something different. She smiles at me and I smile back. I can feel my face redden. She stops in front of me. I scoot myself up in my seat so I’m not a slouching puddle of a mess and try to gather myself.
“What is with you?” Lindy asks, still unsure what I’m so nervous about.
I hope she doesn’t figure it out.
The girl stands beside me and my heart races in my chest.
“Is this seat taken?” she asks, pointing to the one next to me.
“It’s yours,” I say, hoping I sound more sure of myself than I feel.
“Thanks,” she says, taking the seat beside me.
I try to take subtle breaths in and out. I calm myself the best I can, but I find myself looking at her out of the corner of my eye.
“Oh, hi!” Lindy says.
Great. This is not going to help me. I scrunch my eyes shut for a second. I love Lindy, but she never shuts up!
“Hi, I’m Eve,” the beautiful redhead says, reaching across me to shake Lindy’s hand.
“I’m Lindy.”
Eve holds her hand out to me. I shake it and try to find the letters to form my name, but my thoughts are clouded. All I can think of is how her touch is affecting me. I stare down at our joined hands. Her hand fits perfectly inside of mine.