Beyond Judgement (Beyond Series): Book 1 Read online

  “I’m…” I stutter.

  “Allie. Her name is Allie.” Lindy answers for me. For once, I’m happy she is so talkative.

  “Allie,” I smile. “It’s Allie.”

  “Nice to meet you, girls,” Eve says, turning to face the stage in the front of the room as the teacher begins today’s lesson.

  I don’t know what is discussed in class. I’m too fixated on Eve. Who is she and where did she come from? Is she new here, or did she transfer from a different class? Her curly, red hair lays softly across her shoulders. She sits with her legs crossed and a book rests on her lap. I try to read the title, but her hands cover it. I want to talk to her, but I don’t know how to begin a conversation with someone who sparks so much excitement within me upon just meeting them.

  Chapter 2

  Eve

  I tried to stay away from Allie. I didn’t want to cause her more confusion or heartache by getting to know me, but I can’t stay away from her anymore. I’m not breaking any rules yet. I know I’m supposed to kill her, but the Creator has allowed me time. It has been a month and I know his patience will soon run thin. It might be stupid of me to talk to Allie, but by doing so, I hope to confuse the Creator. I plan to persuade him to believe that gaining her trust will make the task easier. I know it will do the opposite, but I’m striving for enough time to come up with another plan that will protect Allie from him once and for all.

  I’m sure I will hear about confronting her today, but I don’t care. I lean over to the side of the chair closer to Allie. I know she is having a hard time with her feelings right now. I can feel it. Sensing human emotions is part of my abilities. My connection with her is far deeper than that.

  She draws in a deep breath as our elbows touch on the armrest. I expected her to move her arm, but she doesn’t. I watch her nervous leg bounce. I know she’s uncomfortable. I need to back off.

  “Sorry,” I say, folding my hands together on my lap.

  I know more about her than she does me. I have to go slow. I don’t want to freak her out. Being an angel has given me many things. My favorite are my wings. They’re my camouflage when I need to be unseen and the best thing about me, for my wings hold my identity.

  Out of the corner of my eye, I catch her looking at me. She feels our connection. The tingling in my chest is all the proof I need to know. I turn my attention toward the professor and try to focus on her lecture. Not because I care, or that I even need to know it, but because I need to blend in. Act human. Be human.

  The professor dismisses us from class. Her voice pulls me back to reality. Allie and Lindy stand and shove their books back into their bags.

  “I’ll catch up with you, Lindy,” Allie says.

  I stand and watch Lindy leave the room. The room clears quickly. I rest my book on my hip and await the questions I know Allie has. I’ve felt them piling up in her head. She and I are now the only ones left in class.

  “Are you new here?” Allie asks.

  Her book bag is slung over her shoulder. She stands with one hand on her hip.

  “Yes. Well, kind of.” I shrug. “I’ve visited here before, but this is my first time living here.”

  “Where are you from?” she asks.

  “Someplace a long way away from here.” I smile.

  I move the book from my hip and cradle it in my arms in front of me.

  “That doesn’t tell me where.” She smiles. “But, you don’t know me, so I get if you don’t want to tell me.”

  “It’s not that I don’t want to tell you.”

  I do want to tell her, but I’m not supposed to tell anyone about myself. It is forbidden.

  “I just can’t.” I look down at my feet to break her eye contact.

  “Hey, it’s okay. You owe me nothing,” she says.

  The door squeaks open and Allie jumps at the sudden sound.

  “Are you okay?” Lindy asks, leaning on the door handle. “I was getting tired of waiting for you.”

  “Sorry, let’s go.” Allie nods to her friend. “Do you want to come with us, Eve?”

  “Oh, no. I have someplace to be,” I say.

  “Okay, see you later.”

  I nod and watch Allie head out the metal door with Lindy. I don’t know what it is about Allie. They have assigned me to kill and even watch over humans before, but there’s just something about her that gets to me.

  How was she able to bring out the angel in me when the demon side had laid claim to my body and mind? No human has flipped the switch inside of me before.

  ∞∞∞

  I don’t have to stay at the college. I’m not even really a student. I’m just here to watch over Allie. I keep far enough away that she doesn’t know I’m following her, but close enough that I can get to her in a hurry. I don’t know where Damion is. He has been eerily MIA since the night I was sent to kill Allie. I know I can only get away with so much before the Creator catches on.

  Allie and Lindy talk and laugh together. They go through their daily motions, oblivious to me, which is how it’s supposed to be. Allie turns her head to the right and rolls her eyes. I see a tall, thin-framed girl headed their way. Her “I’m perfect” persona all too easy to read. I can only guess she’s the one the eye roll was directed toward.

  Little Miss Perfect edges closer to Allie and Lindy. I watch Allie shift her weight onto one leg and slide her hand upon her hip. I move in a little closer to see if I can hear them.

  “What do you want, Stacey?” Allie sounds annoyed.

  “Is that any way to greet a friend?” Stacey smiles.

  “We’re not friends,” Lindy retorts.

  “Allie and I used to be friends.” Stacey winks.

  “Maybe in another life, you were,” Lindy says.

  “Aren’t you tired, Allie?” Stacey says, tilting her head to the side.

  Allie sends a death glare to Stacey and shakes her head slightly. I can feel Allie’s emotions inside my stomach. The nervousness almost makes me sick. There’s something more, but I can’t place what is familiar about Stacey.

  “Allie-cat, it’s not good to keep your friends in the dark,” Stacey purrs. “But, then again, maybe Lindy here is just too dense to see it.” She flips her hair off her shoulder with her hand. “It’s really all too obvious.”

  Allie stares at the ground.

  Stacey turns and walks away from them. Lindy snaps her head around toward Allie.

  “What the hell is she talking about?” Lindy asks, “And, why is she calling you, Allie-cat?”

  “I don’t want to talk about it right now,” Allie says, walking away from Lindy.

  “Allie, wait,” Lindy yells.

  “Seriously, Lindy. Leave me alone.”

  “I’m not going to leave you alone until you tell me what Stacey means by all of that.”

  Lindy holds on to Allie’s arm to keep her from leaving. Allie’s eyes begin to tear up and she shakes her head. The shame and scared, nervous feeling fills my body and I know it’s from Allie’s emotions.

  “I can’t tell you. Not right now.” Allie wipes away the tears from her eyes. “Lindy, please let me go.”

  Lindy removes her hand from Allie and watches her run down the sidewalk. I sprint to catch up to Allie. I know if she won’t talk to her best friend she probably won’t talk to me either, but I have to keep my eyes on her.

  Chapter 3

  Allie

  I don’t know why I can’t tell Lindy about Stacey and me. Lindy is my best friend and I’ve been keeping this secret from her all summer. It’s not like I meant for any of it to happen. Stacey is the furthest from the kind of girl I want to be with, but that night at the party changed everything.

  ∞∞∞

  My eyes followed Lindy as she effortlessly made her way through the tightly packed room. Her hand entwined with a guy she claims she’d known forever, but I only just met that night. It didn’t make a difference to me if she’d known him for a long time or not. What I did mind is it left me looking
like an idiot with no friends to talk to while at this elaborate lets-drink-until-we-puke-our-guts-out party.

  She disappeared from sight long before her happy-go-lucky voice did. Lindy’s never met a stranger in her life and always has something to say to anyone she comes into contact with.

  I’ve always been a little self-conscious when it comes to crowds. It’s not because of my looks, but because I hate being the object of attention. I already had quite a few drinks before Lindy left me, and I knew I was stuck there until she was ready to go home. People were looking at me. I guess standing awkwardly in the corner of a room alone is not what normal people do. I let out the breath I hadn’t noticed I had been holding in and decided to go scout out a new location to hide until Lindy was ready to leave. I had my phone in my back pocket and knew Lindy would text me when she couldn’t find me. Only then would I come out of hiding.

  Sometimes I wish I was more like Lindy. She doesn’t care what anyone thinks of her. She just lives her life. If she cares, she hides her uncertainty better than I do.

  I walked up the stairs, moving around every couple kissing. They didn’t pay any attention to me. I could’ve just perched myself there on top of the staircase and not been noticed, but I didn’t want to watch all the boy and girl couples suck face. I kept pushing on with my mission to find solitude.

  I stumbled my way through the hallway to a cracked-open door and found an empty bed behind it. I crawled onto it and closed my eyes. I knew Lindy wouldn’t be too much longer, but I was tired from all the alcohol I had consumed.

  I must have fallen asleep, but for how long, I didn’t know. I felt someone lying beside me. Fingers slightly rubbing my arm, leaving goosebumps in their wake. I thought it was Lindy trying to wake me up without scaring me. I turned over to see Stacey staring back at me.

  “What are you doing?” I asked, startled and still half asleep.

  I sat up to get away from her.

  “Nothing. Don’t get so worked up.” Stacey grins. “I know your little secret.”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I said.

  Stacey’s eyes darkened, but I couldn’t tell if it was reality or if it was from the countless cups of beer I had drunk.

  “You aren’t into guys, are you?” she asked, sitting up.

  “What?” I whispered.

  “I remember the sleepovers, Allie. The way you stuttered when you were asked about boys. The avoidance. Your face flushed like it is now when I sat by you.” Stacey slid her hand over my thigh.

  I pushed it away.

  My body was telling me to run, but my mind was slow to process what was happening. Instead of getting out of dodge as fast as possible, I found myself cemented in place.

  Stacey’s lips met mine and I couldn’t help but kiss her back. I was in shock at first. Unsure of what was happening. My mind couldn’t process the situation fast enough. She is beautiful, even though her shitty personality can get in the way.

  “No. Stop. I… I can’t do this,” I said, standing up to put distance between us.

  “Don’t worry, Allie-cat.” Stacey winked. “I can keep your secret.”

  “I… I have to go find Lindy.”

  I rushed out of the room and down the stairs. My feet got tangled up just before I reached the last two stairs. I landed hard on my stomach, knocking the wind out of myself.

  “Are you okay?” Lindy asked, reaching for my arm to help me up.

  I was in such a hurry I didn’t see Lindy standing near the staircase.

  “I want to go home.” I cough.

  I know she suspected something, but I hoped my drunken state would provide the cover I needed and luckily it did.

  We left the party, and I spoke nothing more about it. Lindy didn’t seem to notice my awkwardness until today. I made it a point to avoid Stacey, but I guess my plan backfired. I knew I couldn’t hide from it forever, but I was hoping to for a while longer.

  ∞∞∞

  When I get home, I head inside and up to my room. The house is empty and quiet except for the sound of my feet on the floor. I shut my bedroom door and climb into bed, covering myself up with a blanket. I don’t know what I expected to happen. I knew deep down Stacey was trying to play me and she did. I would’ve never admitted to her that I liked girls, let alone kissed her if I’d been sober. I’ve been to countless parties with Lindy and seen girls kiss other girls without hesitation. That in itself doesn’t mean anything, but what happened between Stacey and me was different. What I do know is Lindy will not let this go and I will have to tell her the truth. I’m just afraid she isn’t going to like the truth.

  Lindy is the closest thing I have to a sister, and I hope she doesn’t leave me. I can’t stand the thought of not being friends with her anymore. I know it’s early afternoon, but I can’t keep my eyes open. They feel heavy from my tears. I close them and drift off to sleep.

  ∞∞∞

  I awake to a knock from outside my bedroom door. I know it’s Lindy. I pull the covers from my head and sit up.

  “Come in.”

  She walks in and sits beside me on my bed.

  “Are you all right?” she asks.

  Her voice is gentle and I know she already knows that I’m not okay.

  I shake my head as tears sting my eyes. I just let them fall.

  Lindy wraps me in a hug. She squeezes me tight. The way she always does. Her hugs make me feel safe and loved. It’s hard to keep things from her. We’ve helped each other through a lot of things. Broken hearts, parents on the verge of divorce; but this, this is more complicated for me. It’s the first time I feel like our friendship may be ending.

  “Tell me how I can help,” she says.

  “By staying with me,” I choke, “by still being my friend.”

  She releases me from her embrace but holds my shoulders in her hands. It’s the only thing that’s keeping me from losing it completely. I pray she doesn’t let go.

  “Allie, what is going on?” Her voice is firm. “What did Stacey do that has made you this upset?”

  I shake my head. “You don’t understand.”

  “Then make me understand. Tell me, Allie.”

  I take a deep breath and stare at the door across the room from me. I can’t look at Lindy’s face when I tell her. I don’t want to see her reaction.

  “I… I… I kissed Stacey at the party this past summer.” I cover my face with my hands.

  “Why does that matter? You were drunk. I’ve done worse things while drunk.”

  I keep quiet and wait for her to put the pieces together.

  “It’s not like you are into her, right?” Lindy asks.

  “Not exactly.” I sigh.

  “So, you like girls?” she asks softly. “Is that what this is about?”

  “Yes.” I slide my hands off my face and onto my lap. “But, I don’t like Stacey. I-”

  “She led you on, Allie. I’m not an idiot. That girl has venom for blood,” Lindy says.

  “It’s true. She’s part serpent.” I pause. “The only thing she’s missing is the scaly skin.”

  Lindy reaches for my hand. “Allie, how long have we been friends?”

  “I don’t know.” I wipe the tears from my cheeks with my other hand. “A long time.”

  “I don’t care that you like girls.” She smiles. “All I care about is that you’re happy.”

  “That’s a relief.” I sigh.

  My tingling muscles relax as I come to realize I’ve underestimated the love my best friend has for me.

  Lindy pulls me in close.

  “If I was going to abandon our friendship after all of these years, it would have to be for a much more earth-shattering reason than you prefer chicks to dudes,” Lindy says.

  “I’m scared, Lindy. What if Stacey starts spreading around that I kissed her?”

  She rubs my shoulder with her hand. “If she was going to do that, she would’ve done it already.” She releases me from her embrace. “Besides, who ha
sn’t kissed Stacey?”

  “Um…. You?”

  “Allie, you know what I mean. The girl gets around,” Lindy says, standing up beside the bed. “Now, let’s go get pizza because pizza fixes everything.”

  “Does it?” I ask.

  “It doesn’t, but it sure does sound good,” she says, pulling me up onto my feet.

  That’s Lindy. She never lets me wallow in self-pity for long. She pulls me out of my crippled mindset and points me in the direction I need to go.

  “Alright. Come on,” I say.

  Goosebumps arise, sending a chill throughout my body as I sense someone is staring at us. I look toward my window, but there’s nothing there. I’ve felt the feeling before but have just played it up as deja vu.

  Lindy puts her arm around my shoulders, oblivious to my reaction. “I’ll even buy.”

  I don’t deserve Lindy as my friend. I should try to listen to more of the things she says when she gets to yammering on about whatever it is she talks about. She’s kind-hearted and a genuine friend. She sees the best in me when all I can see is the worst.

  Chapter 4

  Eve

  I made sure to stay camouflaged within my wings as I stood in Allie’s room. I snuck in when she was sleeping and before Lindy came over. I don’t know what kind of danger is looming around her, but I stand at the ready if I need to intervene. The Creator or Damion could be anywhere.

  Listening to Allie tell Lindy her story both pulled at my heart and angered me. I wanted to help comfort her, and I’m envious of Lindy’s closeness with her. I know Lindy cares for Allie, but I want to be the one with Allie’s arm around me. And what do I do about Stacey? Why is there something familiar about her and why has she chosen to pick on Allie? It could just be a coincidence, but something inside me is telling me otherwise.

  I don’t want to hurt Allie, but that’s what I was sent here to do. The very thing I’m trying to avoid seems to be inevitable. I’m creating a recipe for disaster, but what a beautiful one it will be.