"I still can't believe this hot guy is so into you." Linds sank into her chair, a dreamy glint in her eye.
Raea treasured that look. She couldn't believe all this was happening either.
"You're so lucky." Jess brushed her hair behind her ear and played with the silver earring dangling there.
"Yeah. Lucky that Josh isn't here to lecture me. Where is he?" Raea looked around the pizzeria. After lunch, they'd head over to The Game Spot for the afternoon. Some indoor mini-golf, maybe some air hockey—Jess owned that game—and a few video games. But that had been Josh's suggestion. Where was he to follow through?
The answer shot to the forefront. She'd been so busy with Pallin and now the Starfire that she had forgotten his big news. "No. He wouldn't."
"Yup. Stood up for some hot shot from his favorite TV show." Linds sat back from the table and folded her arms.
"Not Josh." Raea couldn't believe it, and yet she could.
"He did."
"But you can't blame him," Jess said. "I mean, who wouldn't pass up the chance for fame? And it's not like he isn't known for his Dark Angel obsession."
"True. But you'd think he'd put his friends first." Linds looked out at something and scowled. "I can't believe it."
"What?" Raea twisted in her seat. Josh and a middle-aged woman with wavy bleached-blonde hair—by the dark roots barely showing—and her leather jacket unzipped entered the restaurant. Was that the person he had expected to meet?
"Hey, guys. Sorry I'm late." Josh stopped at their table with the woman, who pushed her red sunglasses up to the top of her head like a headband to hold back the shoulder-length hair. "This is Nina Russet. She's here to check out the Dark Angel stories before the real crew comes." He introduced each of them.
The woman smiled pleasantly and offered to shake each of their hands. When she took Raea's, she stopped and stared at the marks.
Not good. That curious gaze gave Raea chills. Pull her hand away or let it go—Raea battled the urge to avoid questions with the desire to be polite. Nina let go before she could choose.
"I'd like to talk to you later."
"Uh...Sure, I suppose." What did she want? Raea glanced at Josh. What had he told this woman?
He shrugged. Did that mean he didn't understand her unspoken question or that he wouldn't talk about it in front his guest?
"Actually," Nina said. "I'd like to talk to all of you, if you have some time." Before anyone could object, she pulled up a chair and started asking questions. They answered them, to be nice, but Raea had only to meet the eyes of Jess or Linds to know they shared her feelings—the woman was pushy and out for her story. With questions about their different religious views and how they felt, and whether this Dark Angel might have a hidden agenda that no one was willing to discuss, even Josh looked a bit off.
In the end, Raea was glad to see her leave. She didn't want to discuss her marks. A couple days ago, she could easily have feigned innocence. Now...Now she might slip up and give away the truth.
The truth... Was Elis Dark Angel? If so, why?
She'd ask him later.
In the meantime, she'd enjoy being with her friends. Nothing had changed there. She was still Raea Dahlrich, human at heart.
Yet she wasn't. With her friends, she could forget yesterday ever happened. Or, rather, she could almost forget.
Her world had changed. Why did this woman have to come at that time? Why did the Starfire choose then to force this on her?
At least for an afternoon, her life was normal. Normal for a human. What would her friends think to learn otherwise? That was something she didn't intend for them to find out. If the Shirukan could come to Earth, she certainly didn't want to stand in any spotlight as if waving her arms and yelling, "I'm here! Come and get me!" Yeah, that would help.
She arrived home in time for a visit from Josh and Nina. Go away. Oh, how she wanted to say it. But she couldn't. Instead, she let them in the house and introduced them to her family, who sat in front of the TV on the sofa and chairs. Nina took the other free chair before Debbie had a chance to offer it.
Damn, the bitch was rude. Did she just expect everyone would welcome her?
Raea hated her already, and from the expression Josh gave her, he was having second thoughts also.
"Raea. Those marks on your hands. I've seen drawings resembling your hands, usually to depict healing hands, but I never imagined anyone would take it literally. I'm told you always had those marks. Is that true?"
Raea glanced at Debbie. What could she say? Debbie gave a slight shrug. She couldn't say anything without giving away some hint of her secret.
"Yeah. Everyone calls her a freak." Dave smirked as if he couldn't wait to say that.
That little brat. She'd make him pay for that with a lifetime of cold showers.
For a second, Raea touched the resonance inside her. Not now. Calm down. She took a deep breath and let it out. She could only hope everyone's attention had been on Dave.
"David Anthony Logan."
All right, Debbie. Let him have it. Raea waited for the rest.
"Go to your room."
"But, Mom—"
"Go."
Yes!
"But—"
"David!" Mike's snap of his name acted like a whip. His dad didn't usually discipline him, so when Mike spoke, Dave listened.
Dave tromped up to his room, grumbling under his breath about it being unfair and him only speaking the truth.
"So, you were born with those marks on your hands? They're not tattoos?" Nina sat forward, her eyes widening and her full attention on Raea as if the incident with Dave had never happened.
That didn't bother Raea as much as Josh's sudden interest in her hands. Had he seen the marks glow? Had they glowed when she accidentally touched the resonance? She hoped not.
"This is fascinating. Have you ever worked any miracles, like healing anyone?"
"No."
"Then have you ever considered studying? I've heard of individuals like you performing miracles, but none have ever come forward. I'd love to learn more about you."
"No, you wouldn't." Raea didn't want the spotlight. Not now. Maybe, before all the stuff with the Starfire, and those wings. But no more.
A knock on the door interrupted the conversation. Buddy barked once but stayed by Mike. Saved by the door. "I'll get it." Raea jogged across the floor to answer the door. Who would show up at that time—besides Josh and Nina—Pallin? She could only hope.
Her heart leapt at the prospect that he might be there to rescue her.
Despite the fracturing caused by the design in the oval pane of the door, she recognized the tall, dark figure. It wasn't Pallin, but at least she had a good reason to leave. Elis. What perfect timing. She opened the door, and he stepped in from the cold. He didn't give her a chance to warn him not to enter. Couldn't he have called first?
Why did his coat bulge?
"Are you ready?"
She hadn't even noticed the time. Her training.
"Elis." Josh sounded surprised.
Oh, no. This couldn't be happening. Raea let out her breath, her shoulders sinking in defeat. No. Please, let us get out of here without trouble.
"This must be your boyfriend."
How had the woman reached them so quickly? Oh, man, she was nosy.
Raea's cheeks warmed. "No. No, he's not my boyfriend. Just...ah..." Josh's questioning look raised the temperature of the room. What was she doing with Elis when she was going out with Pallin? She read it all over his face. If he wasn't there, this would be so much easier. "We...are...working on a project together."
"You are?" Josh asked.
Raea gave him a look to shut up.
"Yeah, that one for Mister Maviar's class. That research project." Take a hint, Josh.
Josh shook his head. He didn't get it. He could be so dense sometimes. "That was a couple weeks ago."
Don't be so literal, Josh. I'm struggling here. Why couldn't he be on her side?
"This is a special project, for college," Elis said. "He's helping us to qualify for more advanced classes."
Impressive. Elis picked up on that quick enough.
Josh nodded, a crooked grin on his face. "Yeah. You two are way too smart. I'm sure you'll save some money and skip a year in your degrees."
"Really? Both of you are intellectually gifted?" Nina asked.
Did the woman have to pick apart everything they said?
"We really should be going." Elis looked about as uncomfortable as she felt.
Raea grabbed her shoes and coat. "You're right." She didn't want to stay any longer to be interrogated by the woman.
"They're co-valedictorians."
Raea cringed at Josh's affirmation, glad she had her back to them. Technically, Elis had the equivalent of a college degree already, but no one else knew he had already been educated on a more advanced world.
"While you're here, Elis, I'd like to hear your opinion of this mysterious angel. By the way, I'm Nina Russet of the Xplorer Channel. We're bringing a crew in next week for some on-location filming for our Miracles and Other Wonders special on this town's Dark Angel."
"I heard you were coming, but I don't believe in angels," he said.
"Oh, then you deny the reports of a person with black wings rescuing people?"
"No. They saw what they saw."
"Then you think there's a possibility of this person being real?"
"If people who saw your angel think he was real, then to them, he's real." A hint of frustration ground in his voice.
Good answer. He was quick on his feet.
Raea hurried to tie her shoes and zip up her coat while Nina questioned Elis. None too soon, she stood ready. "Let's go." She turned back and waved as Elis opened the door. "We gotta get some work done. Sorry to run out on you." As if. She was so, so glad to be out of there. "Bye."
The closing of the main door and the storm door cut off her dread. "That woman is annoying."
"Yes, she is." He descended the steps next to her, but he didn't turn to Mrs. Johnson's.
"Where're you going?"
"You wanted to learn to fly, right?"
Oh, yes! "Really? But—" She glanced back as they headed out to the field across the street. The snow had melted, exposing stubble and grass. Raea lowered her voice and jogged to keep up with his fast strides. "Won't growing out the wings hurt?"
"Yes."
He could have lied about that. That was one time she wouldn't mind.
"What about my clothes?"
He paused and unzipped his coat. So, that was the reason his coat bulged—he had another tucked inside. "I brought one of mine. Evelyn made some alterations for me."
And he had kept it warm. How thoughtful. "Won't it be a bit big on me? And how will I explain my shirt?"
He zipped his coat back up. "Unless you'd rather not."
"No. That'll be fine. All right. It's not like Debbie doesn't know." She had to learn, right? What was one ripped tee shirt?
One ripped tee shirt she liked. Oh, well. Too late to go back.
His smile warmed through her with her giddiness of the flying prospect, though her fear of heights turned that excitement down a notch. All her life she had wondered what it would be like to fly like a bird, before she knew that her dreams of flying as a child had been real. Now she had that chance.
She took his gloved hand when he offered it and ran alongside him to reach the other side of the hill.
* * *
The girl hid something from her, and the boyfriend helped. Not the boyfriend? Nina doubted that. Something interesting lingered in that girl, and she was determined to find out. "Cute couple."
"Yeah. Weird," Josh said. "She wouldn't talk to him two days ago. I'm surprised she'd work with him. Kinda odd since she's seeing someone else."
"It was a last-minute idea from Mister Maviar," Debbie said from the couch.
"You said both are gifted?" The boy had provided her with a lot of good information about the people in this town. She hadn't even scratched the surface of the story potential. This was why she asked for a few extra days; one never knew what they would find on these assignments.
"Yeah," Josh said. "You'd never have known it when he first came. Elis could barely speak English a year and a half ago. We all thought he was slow at first, but he always pulled the highest grades. He just never talked much. I think that was the most I've ever heard him say, just now." Josh's brow furrowed. "Totally weird."
"You'd never know he was foreign." The young man's English was too perfect for a foreigner. "Where's he from?"
Josh shrugged. "I don't remember if he ever said."
"It doesn't matter." She was there to investigate Raea. She could track down Elis later. Surely the aunt and uncle could tell her more. Why was the young woman in such a hurry to get away? "I was more interested in Raea. Who are her parents?"
"Miss Russet, we don't talk about them." Josh spoke in a somber tone. "See, her mom escaped a war when she was pregnant and came here. She married Scott, Debbie's brother, but they died in a tornado thirteen years ago. Raea survived because she was at a slumber party a few blocks away."
"I'm sorry to hear that." It explained why the girl lived with her aunt and uncle, anyway.
"My brother loved her as his own. I took her in when she was five."
"Did you meet her mother?"
"Padina and I were good friends. In fact, I think I was her closest friend here."
She had struck a nerve. The emotions flowed now. She would have to tread lightly. Most people became defensive if they perceived a threat. They'd close up if that happened and answer no more questions. "Did Raea's mother—Padina—ever perform any healing miracles?"
Debbie clamped her jaw and shook her head. A moment later, she relaxed. "No, but Padina was a loving woman. The only miracle I ever saw was the birth of her baby girl."
The aunt lied. Debbie Logan knew something but refused to share that secret. Did the girl have the healing touch? It would make a bigger story than the elusive angel. She could dig that up later, though. For now, she'd play along. "Babies are miracles, aren't they?"
Debbie smiled at the young boy next to her.
"I see you have a lot of love in your heart, Mrs. Logan...Debbie. But I think I've bothered you enough. Thank you for your time."
"It was a pleasure."
And that pleasure was all Nina's. This town had a few discoveries to be made. She'd have to contact Ted tomorrow.
Nina strode to the door, eager to catch up with Raea. The boy followed but hesitated before stepping out with her.
"Thanks, Mrs. Logan."
"Anytime, Josh."
Outside in the cold North Dakota air, Nina shivered and turned to Josh as he shut the door behind him. "I'd like to talk to Raea tonight yet. Where would they have gone?"
"Oh...here." He hurried down the steps and around a soupy, slushy mess of lawn to the house next door.
How convenient. "Next door?"
"Yeah. The old widow took him in. Now, Mrs. Johnson is someone you should talk to. She never misses church and is always early for the rosaries. She prays for everyone. I'll bet she could tell you about angels."
Interesting. An old Catholic widow with strong religious faith should make for quite the conversation. Even if it wasn't the conversation she wanted right now.
After he knocked, they waited a while for the door to open. While the kid rang the bell, Nina glanced around and shivered. How long did winter last in that area? Back home it was already pleasantly warm, and what little snow they had was long gone. She would gladly have done this in the summer, but her producer wanted the show to air during Holy Week.
When no one answered after a minute, the kid opened the door a crack. Didn't anyone lock their doors?
"Mrs. Johnson? Hello? Raea? Elis?"
"Yes. Yes. Just a minute, dear."
He stepped back and flashed a smile to Nina.
Soon, a gray-haired old woman hunched over a cane appeared in the doorway and adjusted her white cardigan. A smile lifted her sagging cheeks. "Josh. What can I do for you, dear?"
"Mrs. Johnson, this is Nina Russet of the Xplorer Channel. She's here to gather information for the Dark Angel special of Miracles and Other Wonders."
"It's nice to meet you, Mrs. Johnson."
"Evelyn, dear."
An old woman boarding a lone man who escaped from a foreign country at war. Wow! She had only scratched the surface of stories in this town. "It's my pleasure, Evelyn. I'd like to ask you a few questions about angels, but right now I'm more interested in speaking with Raea. Can I come in?"
"She's not here. I'm surprised you didn't catch her already."
Not there? Now she knew the girl was hiding something, and mister tall, dark, and non-boyfriend boyfriend helped her. None of their stories matched. "Do you know where they might have gone?"
"Out walking, probably. You'd be better off coming back after church in the morning."
"I'd love to sit down and chat with you."
Evelyn smiled. "I'll look forward to it. I'm sorry I couldn't help you more."
"Thanks, Mrs. Johnson," Josh said.
"Okay. Good night, dear." She shut the door.
"Sorry, Miss Russet. I don't know what to say. I thought I knew Raea better. I have no idea what's going on."
"That's okay. You gave me a lot of good leads, Josh. I have some thinking to do tonight, but I'll call you tomorrow if I have any more questions." She almost felt sorry for the kid. From all he had said, Raea was one of his best friends. Tough breaks that she lied to him to hide whatever it was Nina intended to find.