Above and Beyond - The return

was your boy upstars, beating on that kid.”Enrique dropped his head.“What is it you want?” Griffin asked calmly, though his heart was pounding hard and fast.Darien looked over at the Coffee Shop, at Kaley. “I think you already know that. This will be ust like high school.”“Of all the people in the world, why her?”“Because you chose her,” Darien said with a smile.“I want you to leave her alone.”“You know you can’t tell me what to do. She’s a tossup and she’s mine. My boss approves. e likes to keep old rivalry’s going at it. So what do you say? Is it a game?”“No. It was never just a game. It’s her soul.” Griffin consciously made sue his back was straight, and his stance gave off an air of bravery.Darien sighed. “You always have to see the bigge picture, don’t you? It doesn’t get as personal if you think of it the way I do. Griffin, my an, it’s only a game and we’re only the players.”“This oneis very personal to me.”Darien studied Griffin’s face. “I see. Well, even better. She is beautiful; I mean she’s orgeous. I can see why you like her. You know it’s personal to me, too. You see, I’m going to ake her mine. Damn, she’s some hot piece of ass. I really had no idea you were hitting omething so fine. But what she’s really looking for is a man who knows what to do with her. on’t worry, Griff. I’ll show her a wonderful time when she leaves you for me.”Griffin’s jaw dropped, but he recovered before his fist went flying. “It’ll never happen. She’s ot anything like you.”“I can make her lik me. It wouldn’t be that hard. She’s got it in her already. All she needs is someone to bring i out, and she could be just like me. She’s special, you know. She sees the way we do. That’s ery rare in someone like her – one that’s caught between both sides.” Darien turned his atention to Kaley as she began her way over to the booth then he turned back to Griffin. “Letthe games begin,” and he walked away.“Who was that?” Kaley asked Griffin.Enrique answered for him. “He went to our rival school, Mueller-Brown Academy. He was the ootball captain of their team the same two years that Griffin was at ours.”Kaley watched as Darien walked off. “What’s his name?”“Darien Banks.”Griffin looked at Kaley. He saw what Darien was after in her. It was so small, that he could ust barely see it, but it scared him. Darien had been correct – Kaley did have the potential to e like him. She was pure and bright now, but she had a dark side to her that hadn’t surfaced et. Darien could bring it out in her and she would be a completely different person. She didn’t now it and probably wouldn’t want to let it happen, but it was a possibility. Griffin now knew hy he was here for her. Kaley was watching Darien with fascination. She had no idea that he ould make her fall, that he would be her ruin. It wasn’t always easy working for God. ometimes Griffin just wanted Kaley to be his girlfriend and not his assignment as well. That ay he wouldn’t always be worried about what condition her soul was in.Two o’clock rolled around and Nina was taking care of her last customer before she clocked ut. Once she was done, she let Mary take over for her and walked around the bed and bath department waiting for Kaley to show up. When fifteen minutes had passed, she decided to go downstairs to look for her sister. She made her way to the mall security stand, where she saw her sister carrying on a conversation with a man she had never seen before. Nina walked up to Kaley and the young man.Kaley jumped, and then looked at her watch. “I’m so sorry! I forgot.”“It’s okay, Kaley. At least you were here this time. Where’s Griffin?”“He went to go get something to eat. One of the guys showed up late and he had to fill in. He ust got off.”Nina took a closer look at the Latino sitting beside her sister. He was glancing at her. Nina lushed.“Um, Nina, this is Enrique Rodriguez. He went to high school with Griffin.”“Hi,” Nina said somewhat shyly. “Enrique, this is my older sister, Nina,” Kaley finished.“Hello,” Enrique said.“You know, I was beginning to think that Griffin didn’t have any friends,” Nina said to Enrique.“Actually, he was very popular in school.”“He was even captain of the football team,” Kaley added.Nina was a little surprised by this. Griffin had always seemed quiet and not very outgoing. ut she had only known him for a little over a month. She supposed that people could becomemore serious once out of high school – she had, and she hoped that Kaley would. Nina woried about her sister some times. Kaley was spoiled and carefree without any thought of her reponsibilities. Kaley was a good person, but she didn’t think. Nina supposed that she had conributed to that a little herself. She would always bail her sister out and never asked much ofher. Nina liked Griffin because he seemed to try and put some sense into Kaley’s thick, litle head.*g not to glance at Nina so much, but he found it hard. She glowed so brilliantly. He felt his pulse begin to rush when he thought of how close she was standing. He wanted to say something to her, but on the chance of embarrassing himself, he kept his mouth shut. Enrique found that he liked both the Embry girls; they were both very noble. He worried about Kaley because of the darkness he saw inside of her light, but Griffin would take care of her. Enrique only worried that Darien might have some real influence on Kaley. It was a wonderful thing that she could see for herself that Darien was a bad person. “You’re very quiet all of a sudden,” Kaley said to him.But before he could say anything, Griffin walked back up to them and drew Kaley’s attention away. “Griffin, can I talk to you for a minute?” Enrique asked. He wasn’t sure when he would see Griffin again.They walked away from the girls.Pardon me. I don’t understand you’re meaning.” “It’s not that I worship Satan your Priestlyness, it’s that I work for him.” “Forgive me, but I still…” Darien sighed impatiently. “I will explain it for you, then. I doubt you will believe it, but have aith Father in what I am to say. It’s the truth and it might just save your soul.” So Darien told the priest about Horns and Wings. He explained about the on-going battles hat Horns and Wings faced everyday – scrambling to collect as many souls as they could for heir side. He explained about the light they saw in people and he described the priest’s light o him. When Darien was finished he noticed that the priest looked pale. “Then it’s your kind who decides the fate for all humans?”  Darien laughed. “Of course not. It’s everyday people like yo and your father and mother who decide the next course. We do our best to influence you on way or the other, but in the end we’re only guides.”  “Are you working onsomeone right now? Is it me?” Darien laughed again. “I’m not here for you; I’m here for myself. You’ve probably been ssigned to some whore, am I right Father?” The priest lowered his eyes. “But you do have an assignment?” “Yes, and it’s more like she’s working on me. I suppose she’s the reason I’m here.” “Would you damn her soul?” “I don’t damn anything, Father. I told you. Kaley already has it in her, I’m only her guide.” “But why won’t you just give her up and let her… what did you call them… Wing takes care f her?” “Sata would just assign someone else, and he’s promised…” “You believe Satan?” “I want to be with her for all eternity. If we end up in Hell, so be it.” “Then you don’t love her.” “Father, I have no love in me. When my mother died, I was glad to see her go because she as a traitor to her kind.” “Why was she a traitor?” “She fell in love with a Wing and he saved her soul.” “And you hate her for that?” “I never said that I hated her. I just don’t feel any love for her, or anyone.” “But you care about this Kaley; you must or you wouldn’t want to spend all of eternity with er.” “Yes, I care about Kaley, like you care about your whore.” The priest straightened. “She’s not a whore.” “Kaley isn’t an assignment. Not the usual kind anyway. I asked for her because I watched her nd it was even more appealing when my high school rival was assigned to be her Wing.” “Then you’re obsessed with her.” Darien thought for a moment, “Yes, I’m obsessed. But let’s talk about you right now. Is this oman more important to you than God?” “Nothing is more important to me than God.” “Then there shouldn’t be any confusion.” “My… it’s not that simple. I…” the priest didn’t finish. “You’re not in love with this woman. Whoever she is, she only wants to tempt you. ‘Lead us ot into temptation,’ right Father?” “What gives you the right to quote the Bible to me?” “I can see what’s going on, when you can’t. Don’t look at this woman admiring her beauty, but ook through that. Take my hand.” Darien held it out and the priest touched it. “Can you feel hat?” Darien asked as he let the evil rise to the surface. The priest jerked his hand away. “The next time you’re with this woman, touch her hand and see if you feel that.” Darien rose o leave. “Wait, your name? What’s your name?” the priest called after him. “Would you tell your god?” “He knows. You’re in His house; He knows.” “I work at a very successful and very expensive law firm. Let’s bring Derek into the kitchen and get him something to eat.”So Kaley picked Derek up again and carried the little Wing into the kitchenette, where Darien as pulling out some baby food. That was when Kaley realized how hungry she was. She’d kipped lunch. She was supposed to have had lunch with Griffin! Kaley could have kicked erself for letting that slip. He was probably worried about her, along with her parents and ina. She set Derek down on the counter.“What do you want today, Derek?” Drien asked holding up two choices.Derek pointed to the sliced carrots then shouted out “And O’s.”“Good choice.” Then Darien looked at Kaley. “Are you hungry?” he asked as he got down a an of Spaghetti O’s to serve with the carrots.“I’m starving.”“Would you also like some Spaghetti O’s? That or I could make something else.”“What are you having?”“I’ve already eaten.”“Spaghetti O’s is fine.”After Derek and Kaley had eaten, Darien took Derek back to his room and put him in the ddler bed he had. Kaley was surprised to see this. When Derek settled down, Darien took Kaley to the front room and they sat down on the ofa.“I don’t understand,” Kaley said, confused by the way Darien was acting.Darien took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Dee saved my life.”“How?”“He’s even more special than a Wing, Kaley. He can see when something bad is about to appen. One day I was coming home and Dee came running out of his apartment – I’m not ure how he got the door open – and he stopped me from going into mine. The little guy made e call the police, and when they came over they found my cousin waiting in my apartment. e was going to kill me. That was over a year ago. Dee didn’t talk much then.”Kaley was silent. “He says that Godtalks to him and tells him these things. Do you talk to God, Kaley?”“Don’t most Christians?”“Why did you come over?”“I forgot. I need to call Griffin. I was supposed to have lunch with him, but I forgot that, too.”“Phone’s in the kitchen.”Kaley got up and went to the kitchenette and called Griffin. She waited and waited while the hone rang. Finally the answering machine came on, but Kaley didn’t leave a message. She ent over to the sofa and sat back down with Darien.“He wasn’t home,” she said.“Do you want to leave?”“Why are you being so nice to me?”Darien laughed, then quickly shut up. “I’m trying to win you over. I can’t very well do that by eing rude to you.”“I don’t want to leave yet. I think we should talk.”“What do you want to talk about?”“What was it like in high school?”Darien smiled. “I suppose it was pretty much like any private high school; uniforms and all of hat. We had these special classes just for our ‘gift’ – as they called it. Our schools are also ear round, so those whose families don’t live close can visit longer over breaks. And we had ur cheerleaders and football games – as you’ve heard, I’m sure.”“Did you win against Griffin’s school?”“Never. It was the same game every time. We would play against other high schools and win nd sometimes lose. But when it came against Mueller-Brown and Christian Fellowship cademy, my team would be winning up until the very last moment. It’s been played that way ever since the schools were founded. We don’t do it on purpose.”“‘Good triumphs over Evil.’”“I suppose. That’s why I always think of our assignments as a game. Sometimes I know I will ose, but for now, I haven’t lost one. And I don’t plan on starting with you.”Kaley only smiled. She felt as though she knew something he didn’t, but she wasn’t sure hat it was.“Do you want me to win, to bring you down?”Kaley frowned the smile away. “No.”for you, Kay.” Then Darien leaned forward to kiss Kaley, but she jerked back.hen Darien sat back, Kaley eased. She looked at her watch; it was five o’clock.I should go.”“I thought you wanted to stay,” Darien protested as Kaley stood. “Have you seen that old ovie – ‘The Picture of Dorian Gray?’ The one about the painting?”“I had to watch it in school. What about it?”“You remember when Dorian asks Sybil to tay?”“Yes, but she goes to the door, then changes her mind and the next day Dorian breaks up ith her and never wants to hear from her again. She kills herself.”“Why?”“Why des she kill herself?”“Yes.”“I suppose because he was her life, and she would never be able to live in peace.”“Stay with me, Kaley.”Kaley stared at Darien in horror.“I’m not Dorian. I won’t give you up.”“I need to call my parents and tell them.”Slowly, a smile spread across Darien’s face. “Of course.”Kaley went back to the phone and called her house. The answering machine came on and Kaley left a message saying that she was spending the night with a friend and would be back n time for church the next morning. Then she hung up, and went to sit down beside Darien gain.“I forgive you,” she said.“For what?”“For doing your best to corrupt me.”I forgive you for staying, when you shouldn’t.” won’t sleep with you, Darien.”“I know. May I kiss you?”Kaley’s chest tightened with the conflict she felt inside herself. “Yes.”*Nina was worried about Kaley. She’d heard the message her sister had left, but Griffin had alled saying that she never showed up for lunch. Nina looked at her clock then rolled over in er bed. The rest of the day had gone very well. Her parents absolutely approved of Enrique, ut wanted them to wait until Nina was through college before they were married. Nina greed. Enrique was polite and got along great with Nina’s father. So the shock of the call fro Griffin seemed to have ruined this almost perfect day. She wasn’t the least bit mad at Kale, but worried to death that something was wrong. It was the worry that kept her up at two ’clock in the morning. Nina hoped that her sister would return in the morning, unharmed. She ould nly imagine what Griffin was going through since he always jumped to conclusions,usually rely horrible conclusions.*Kley woke up early i Darien’s bed. Darien was asleep on the sofa. She got up and went over toDerek’s little bed; e was still asleep. It was only four-thirty and Kaley wasn’t tired, so she wlked around the rom – too insecure to leave it only wearing Darien’s T-shirt. Kaley looked bck at the bed and ondered why its aura was so dark, then ideas popped into her head and se turned to the winow. She sat down on the bed, after lifting the blinds, and watched the sn rise. Then Derek bean to stir and she watched him wake up. Once he was up, he wanted er to take him to the ktchenette. Kaley picked him up and without really thinking about it, she carried him out of th room, passed the sofa with Darien asleep on it, to the fridge. She set him down beside he while she rummaged through it, looking for food. The noise woke Darien and he came over to help feed Derek. After they had cleaned him up, meone knocked on Darien’s door.“Mommy,” Derek said.Darien picked Derek up and took him to the door to hand him over to his mother. Kaley didn’t et a chance to see Derek’s mother, but had an idea of what her aura was like.When Darien came back to sit down at the table, Kaley found herself embarrassed about the ay she was dressed.“I wanted to sleep beside you last night,” Darien said.“Thank you for not.”“What does it look like – people’s auras?”“Why?”“Just curious.”“It’s like a light that shines out from people. I only see it when I want to. I’d describe it as ooking into someone and seeing their soul.”Darien looked a little shocked. “Is there anyone else in your family that can see auras?”“I don’t know. I was adopted.”“Oh.”“You know, I’m not sure God wanted me coming here, but nothing’s happened.”“God?”“Yes.”“You talk to God, Kay?”“I told you I did last night.”“I know, but does God talk back to you? Do you have conversations with him?”Kaley was reluctant about answering this question.“I talk with Satan,” Darien stated as if urging her on.“Yes, I talk with God. Yes, He talks to me.”Darien jumped up from his chair. “Who are you?!”“I’m Kaley Embry, your assignment. Remember?”aley was silent. “Griffin broke up with you?”“Yes. Darien tried to see me, but I wouldn’t talk to him. He knew the baby was going to die.”“Have you talked to him since?”“He came to the funeral, but we didn’t talk. I didn’t know what to say to him, and I didn’t think hat he would want to talk to me. I know that he was praised and they even named a day after him at his school, but I could tell he was in trouble with his boss.”“I should go, now.” Kaley got up to leave.“I’m sorry. I probably should have told you what a horrible person he is and all about the bad hings he’s done to me. Griffin wanted me to do that.”“Why?”“Because he can’t tell you this himself. It’s against the rules.”“Do you still love him?”“Yes. Griffin and I were together for a long time. We would disagree sometimes, but nothing ompared to what happened when he found out I was pregnant.”Why are you telling me this?”“Do you love him? If you do, take care of him.”“And if I don’t?” Kaley regretted saying that the very second it left her mouth.“If you don’t, don’t break his heart.”“Who did you love more, Mariah?”Mariah sighed exasperatedly and shook her head. “Griffin.”“You cheated on him.”“Please leave.”“But you did, didn’t you?”“Yes, Kaley. I cheated. I never meant for Griffin to find out. I wanted to save Darien, and I new what he wanted. I thought that maybe if I gave, then…”“You wanted it too, Mariah. You know you did.”“Please leave,” Mariah begged. She was on the verge of tears and her voice was beginning o crack.“I won’ hurt him.”“Leave.”Kaley set the glass down on the coffee table, and walked to the front door.“Wait.” Then Mariah stood. Kaley turned around to face her.This isn’t exactly how I wanted this to go. Maybe you’re right about… well, I only wanted to alk to you about you. I was hoping that you wouldn’t be bringing that up. Actually I was oping that he hadn’t told you.”“I’ve cheated on Griffin. Im not sure if it was because I wanted to, but…”“Darien?”“I’ve kissed him twice.” “I suppose Griffin doesn’t know.”“Of course not. I have to go.”Mariah didn’t say anything as Kaley walked out the door.Griffin was watching Kaley carefully as she got into the car beside him.“She’s exactly how I thought she would be, Griffin.”“What did you talk about?”“Me, Darien, and you. I think she’s still in love with you. In fact, I don’t think she was ever out f love with you.”“She warned you about Darien then.”Not exactly. She wanted to talk more about me and I wanted to talk about what happened etween them, but she didn’t.”Griffin pulled out of the driveway. Kaley desperately wanted to tell Griffin about herself and how she was supposed to help arien; not because it was any kind of assignment, but because she cared about Darien and he thought that she might even love him. She knew that she wouldn’t go to Christian ellowship Academy. That was something she couldn’t do right now. She wanted to see arien again and scream and hit him for pretty much ruining Mariah’s life. What if he’d stayed way himself and what if Mariah hadn’t been so self-righteous? There were so many “what-ifs at the moment. What if Darien really had been a Wing instead of a Horn? Would God hav let Darien and Kaley find each other, because they were the same? They were both half-beeds, and the same unwanted creature.“You don’t love me anymore, do yu?” Griffin asked, disturbing the silence.“I’m really confused at the moment. I don’t want you to go away because I’m scared that I’ll ake some sort of mistake, and then Darien will drag me down. I want to tell you this, so you now some of what is going on. When I told you that I spent the night at Darien’s, you didn’t ay a thing.”“You said that nothing happened.”“What if I was lying?”“I knew you weren’t.”“I guess because you were looking at my light.”“I was.”“It’s not what it appears to be.”“I know. It’s much brighter than what I see. I always thought that Nina was the one who was he saintly one, not to say that she isn’t, but…”“I’m different from Nina, Griffin.”“I know.”No, I was adopted.”Griffin was silent for a long time. “Oh. How long have you known?”“Four years. I was told on my thirteenth birthday.”“What was that like?”“I think I always knew that I was different, and it was like I was aware and dying. I felt like I s living a lie until they told me and then everything seemed to make sense.” THE END