Death of Innocence

By Lauren Santaniello

Death of Innocence begins the morning after the conclusion of Lauren's first Stories To Tale book Death of Ignorance.

Alex Sharrock our main character, now twenty years old, has finally come into his powers as a Seer but his problems aren't over quite yet. Satan, Lord of the Underworld, has issued a death warrant sending daemons after him, his guardian angel, Ellie, and the young God, Hermes.

As the trio tries to battle and with little support from the elder Gods, Hermes begins training Alex to use his new powers, while Alex begins to suffer from crippling headaches and frequent nose bleeds. The cause unclear but, we discover that Alex has developed foresight which makes him an even more desirable target by his enemies.

In the Underworld, Satan is preparing for war, but news about Ellie's new powers have him concerned so as he begins searching through ancient scrolls looking to unravel this mystery.

In the Home of the Gods, the tyrannical God of War, Ares, has taken complete control and has claimed himself to be the new Almighty. He wants to instigate war with the Underworld, and Alex still weak on his powers is not ready to confront Satan.

Will Alex be able to defend himself and those he loves against these new threats, or will one fatal mistake cost him everything?

• Language: English
• Publisher: storiestotale
• Release date: Apr 6, 2012
• ISBN: 9798224880652

Lauren Santaniello

Lauren Santaniello is a Literature major at Ramapo College of New Jersey and a true lover of the written word. Every since she was a little girl she loved listening to stories and telling her own to friends. However, reading did not always come easy to her. Lauren was diagnosed with Dyslexia when she was in the fourth grade and struggled to keep up with her classmates for many years. Yet, after much help from her parents and spending endless hours with reading specialists, Lauren was able to overcome her disability and excel in school. Now an active member in her college's Literature Honor Society and an unfailing addition to the Dean's List, Lauren has come far from her days as a struggling student. Death of Ignorance will be Lauren's first published novel, although many of her short stories and poems have been published in school literary magazines throughout the years. She has long hoped to one day be given the opportunity to share her larger works with the world so that she many inspire others with her words and help imaginations soar, in which Stories To Tale has given her that opportunity. Lauren fervently promotes reading and hopes that her book may not only entertain, but encourage others to continue reading for the rest of their lives.

Book preview

Death of Innocence

Lauren Santaniello

Cover Design by Stacy Ragen and Michael Morris

Smashwords Edition

Copyright 2012 Stories To Tale

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people.  If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient.  If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author

ISBN 10: 0982436386

ISBN 13: 978-0-9824363-8-7

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in whole or in part,

or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission

of the publisher.

Copyright © 2012 by Stories to Tale. All rights reserved.

Published by Stories To Tale, a division of ACM Records, Inc.

Stories to Tale and associated logos are registered trademarks of ACM Records, Inc. For information regarding permission, or to order additional copies of this book, write to:

Stories to Tale, PO Box 195,

Fair Lawn, New Jersey, 07410

U.S.A.

Table of Contents

Prologue

Chapter 1

Chapter 10

Chapter 15

Chapter 20

Chapter 25

Chapter 30

Epilogue

Acknowledgements

About the Author

Dedicated to my family.

Grazie mille. Vi amerò per sempre.

***

To see a world in a grain of sand

And a heaven in a wild flower,

Hold infinity in the palm of your hand

And eternity in an hour.

-William Blake

Prologue

It was the sound of a thunderous bang from the adjacent room that woke Timothy Caster up from a sound sleep with a jolt. He reached over to the nightstand beside his bed, grabbed his dark, rectangular glasses, and fixed them upon his face.

Another crash sent him stumbling out of the bed, dragging the majority of the blankets with him. Tim slid across the wooden floor to his closet and hastily swung the door open, pushing aside his shirts and slacks that were ordered neatly by season. He reached in the back corner and pulled out the crutch he was forced to use after a cyclist in Midtown knocked him over and broke his ankle a year and a half ago. He created a bit of a racket in the process and Melissa stirred in the bed. Groping for the blankets, she opened her eyes partway and asked groggily, What are you doing?

"Shhhh, he hissed in warning. Someone’s in here."

What! Melissa bolted upright, panic evident in her wide brown eyes.

Tim gripped the crutch tightly and held it like a baseball bat as he moved towards the door. Stay here, he told her.

You’re going to go out there with a crutch? Are you out of your mind? Tim!

Tim opened the door a crack and peeked across the hall to Alex’s vacant room. The door was closed but that didn’t mean no one was inside. He turned back to Melissa and pointed to the phone on his dresser. Call the police and don’t come out. Before she could object he left the room and closed the door quietly behind him. He looked down the hall that opened up to the main room, and when he saw no one, he crept forward.

His palms were sweaty around the crutch and his legs shook slightly. He wasn’t sure what he was doing. Melissa was right. How did he expect to ward a burglar off with a crutch? What if the perpetrator had a knife? Or a gun? He truly must be out of his mind. If he were smart he would barricade himself in the bedroom with Melissa and wait for the police, but someone was in his home! He had to defend it, just like his Uncle Matthew had defended his own home thirteen years ago.

Tim’s heart was pounding in his chest and his mouth felt abnormally dry. He tried to swallow as he reached for the doorknob, but couldn’t seem to do so. The memory of what ultimately became of his uncle suddenly flashed in his mind, overpowering the instilled notion to defend his home at all costs. If anything he should have learned from his uncle’s murder-

But whoever is in here is in Al’s room, a stronger voice rebuked. Al was there when Matthew died. He saw it. He was never the same again. They were both lost that night...

Tim’s fear was replaced by anger. It was as if the very men who had ruined his family were in his apartment and now he could get revenge. He reasoned it was possible. After all, the men were never caught.

With his left hand tightly on the doorknob he imagined what the men might have looked like and held on to that image to fuel his anger and give him strength. He tightened his grip on the crutch and after releasing a breath, swung open the door and charged into the room. 

The scene inside made him freeze.

The room was a mess. A stack of sheet music that Alex kept on his desk had fallen to the floor and was now blowing like tumbleweed around his feet. Many of the novels in the tall bookcase were leaning haphazardly on the shelves while others were lying open on the floor, their pages fluttering. The posters of Alex’s band had peeled halfway off of the wall as if someone had tried to rip them down; the fist-sized holes that they were covering were now visible and revealed his cousin’s past fits of torment.

Tim lowered the crutch and stared in awe at the devastation. He scanned the room, not understanding what he was seeing. His eyes passed over the closet door that was hanging on its hinges with its contents inside rocking on the metal hangers; he looked past the bed and its windblown sheets, and then settled his eyes on the closed window, staring at it in befuddlement. 

A quick movement in the corner beside the bed brought his eyes back. His heart leapt and he instinctively lifted the crutch again, prepared to swing at anything that came toward him. Faster than he could comprehend, the figure hiding in the shadows bolted past him, sending the papers on the floor flying high in the air and spiraling around him as if a cyclone had just passed through.

He felt something brush his right shoulder and he spun on his heel, swinging wildly with the crutch. The person knocked into his left shoulder, forcing his upper body in the opposite direction in mid swing, and knocking him off balance. His legs tangled as he tried to right himself and he fell to the floor with such force that the glasses fell off of his face and the air filtered out of his lungs.

The intruder leapt over him as he desperately tried to catch his breath, and the speedy movement created such a fierce wind that his hair and clothes whipped around him and sent his glasses spiraling farther across the floor. There was a loud bang as the window was opened and Tim managed to lift his head. With his glasses off, his vision was blurred and obscured, but he was certain he saw the figure vault out of the window and a mane of long black hair trail out behind the person.

The air in the room suddenly settled and the loose papers flying across the room stilled. With a grunt, Tim pushed himself up and reached for his glasses. Slipping them on, he limped slowly towards the window while holding an arm around his bruised middle, and looked out. They were on the seventh floor of the apartment building. Below them was Lafayette Street. He saw men and women jogging, walking dogs, and hurrying off to class or work. There was no crowd gathered on the sidewalk, circled around a bloody corpse, wide-eyed and hysterical, as he had expected.

What the- He stuck his head further out and looked around. There was no fire escape leading out of any of the windows on this side of the building. It was only a straight drop down to the pavement below. Judging by the length of dark hair he was certain the burglar was a woman, so where did she go if not straight down to her death?

Timmy.

Melissa poked her head inside the room. When she saw him she let out a relieved breath and crept inside, hugging her arms around herself. I heard another crash and I had to know if you were okay, she explained. She suddenly stopped and looked about the room. Oh my God, who did this?

I don’t know, he told her as he looked around again. Whoever she was, she left, and really quick. Did you call the police?

She nodded. They’re on their way. She walked over to the window and paused. You said ‘she.’ Tim, did you see someone?

Yeah, but only for a moment. She went out the window.

Melissa raised an eyebrow and cautiously looked outside. When she saw no one below she gave Tim a skeptical look. Are...are you sure?

Yeah. She- Tim suddenly halted.

Melissa touched his arm. She...what? Tim, what is it?

Tim walked over to the corner beside the bed where he first spotted the unnaturally fast woman. There was a standing silver birdcage where Alex kept his pet dove Fiona, or Yona as he sometimes affectionately called her, and it was empty. The latch was undone and the door stood wide open.

Tim heard Melissa gasp from behind him. Oh no, Fiona! She’s gone. Alley is going to be crushed. He’s had her for years, I can’t believe it! What kind of person breaks into a celebrity’s apartment and steals his pet bird?

Tim frowned in thought. He went over everything he had seen in his mind, from the woman’s speedy movements to her escape through the window. Can’t be a person, he heard himself say aloud.

"What? Tim, what do you mean ‘can’t be a person?’ What else could it be? You said yourself you saw a woman."

Tim removed his glasses and pinched the bridge of his nose as he closed his eyes, trying to remember exactly what he saw. I don’t know. I don’t know what I mean.

Outside, Tim could hear police sirens as they approached. Melissa stuck her head back out the window and pointed. Here come the police, maybe they can clear this up. I’m going to change. Be right back.

She left the room and Tim could hear her hastily pulling out some clothes from the drawer that was reserved especially for her when she stayed over.

The sirens outside were now directly beneath the window and he could hear car doors opening and closing forcefully. Tim did one more lap around the room, looking for any indication that something else was missing. He found nothing, only a single white feather. Stopping to pick it up between two fingers, Tim examined it, than put the feather in the pocket of his pajama bottoms and left the room to go and open the front door for the officers who were waiting outside.

Chapter 1

It was little after dawn.

Although usually at war for dominance, in a rare display of harmony both the rising sun and descending moon hung together, suspended in the sky. Their combined light made the Earth appear to glow a combination of crimson and chrome so that everything had an almost paranormal glow that appeared both beautiful and eerie to those few awake to witness it. 

Amongst those still sleeping and missing the spectacle was Alex Sharrock. He slept on his side with one hand beneath the pillow his cheek was pressed to, the other lying at his side and limply holding four colorful tarot cards that he had fallen asleep studying.

He slept peacefully, and for the first time in many years, dreamt of nothing. He breathed easily with the tranquility of a sound night’s rest, undisturbed by vivid images of blood, gore, and daemons.

The sound of his breath, heavy and slow, carried through the room he stayed in at the rehabilitation clinic, Centre de Rétablissement de Village de Quai, and joined with that of another’s.

Slouched at the desk adjacent to the bed was his Guardian Angel, Ellie. She too was asleep, her head pillowed on the pages of Les Miserables, her mass of curly, copper hair spread out on the surface of the desk. Normally she would stay awake while her Living slept. She required less sleep than he did and always wanted to be ready to rush to Alex’s side should he wake from one of his nightmares and need comforting, but both she and Alex were exhausted. They were still recovering from their redoubtable encounter with death two nights ago in Notre Dame when Alex turned twenty and at long last came into his powers as a Seer.

They were equally overtook by such deep sleep that not even the sound of the clumsy night watchman making his rounds and peeping into the room disturbed them as he typically did. So, it was no wonder neither of them stirred when one, not of Alex’s world, appeared in the room, shrouded in the darkness within.

The immortal approached silently, taking in the sight of Ellie, sleeping as she was at the desk, then Alex who had turned onto his back and was now frowning in his sleep. Turning from the Human, the immortal stepped over to the window and with two fingers, separated the blinds, looking out at the sky. Satisfied, the figure in the shadows approached the bed and looked down upon Alex.

The Seer turned back onto his side restlessly, his frown deepening and his brows drawing together, but otherwise he didn’t wake. With a sideways, callous grin, the immortal pulled out a long cylinder object. After checking first to make sure the Guardian hadn’t woken up, the immortal raised the object towards Alex. As the hand holding the cylinder neared him, Alex rolled onto his back with a groan, exposing his throat. A flash of white showed in the darkness, revealing teeth as the smile on the face grew. It would be easier than expected now.

Without a seconds more hesitation, the immortal pressed the cylinder against Alex’s throat, pushing it into the soft flesh just beneath his jaw.

Alex’s eyes flashed open, his near-florescent irises and diamond-shaped pupils taking in the outline of a tall man leaning over him in the dark. Alex’s heart leapt into his throat and his entire body went rigid as little pinpricks of fear ran across his flesh, incapacitating him.

Say so much as a word and you will thoroughly regret it, came a rich-sounding voice from the shadowed figure above him.

The tension in Alex’s body released in a wave and he let out the breath he had been holding. Shit, Hermes, you nearly gave me a heart attack!

The Trickster laughed sadistically and in a moment too fast for any Human to see, the young God pulled the cylinder away from Alex’s throat and struck him on the head with it.

"Oww! Dammit, what the hell was that for?" Alex shouted as he sat up and rubbed his head.

I warned you would regret it. And be quiet, Ellie is sleeping. Humans are so inconsiderate.

Says the guy who sneaks up on a target while he’s sleeping! Alex whispered back harshly.

Hermes scoffed. Don’t flatter yourself. Ares already told you Satan will be too busy preparing for the Apocalypse to be bothered with you for a time.

Yeah well don’t take this the wrong way, but I think your brother is a dumbass.

Ares knows what he’s talking about. War is all that he cares about, trust me.

Alex rolled his eyes, not wanting to be bothered with Hermes’s pathetic need to be accepted by his family. Still rubbing his head, he moved to get out of the bed but paused. What time is it? Reaching over to the table beside his bed, Alex turned the alarm clock towards him and his jaw dropped. It was only five fifty-one in the morning.

Grinding his back molars, Alex glared up at the God. The entire planet had better be on fire if you’re waking me up this early.

All humor left the God’s voice. That’s not funny. At least my jokes are tasteful.

You’re biased! Now what do you want?

"Shhhh! It’s time to start your training."

Alex looked over to Ellie still sleeping at the desk and checked the level of his voice. "Let me get this straight. You want to start training now? Why now? Why this early? Go away and come back in a few hours."

You have counseling later. Besides, you chose me to be your teacher. You will do as I say.

Hmm let me think about that...No. Goodnight. Alex seized the blankets and threw them over his head and lay back down. Immediately Hermes pulled the blankets back, sending the tarot cards onto the floor, and grabbed Alex by his collar. Easily he pulled him out of the bed and dragged him over to the window as if he weighed nothing.

Look outside, Hermes commanded.

Alex let out a noisy breath, pulled himself from Hermes’s grasp, and peered through the blinds. The florescent glow in the sky silenced his complaining and he leaned closer so his nose was touching the glass. What the hell?

It’s a sign to the Gods, Hermes explained as if Alex was hopelessly stupid. It means a new Seer can be trained.

What did I tell you? Walking target! Just tattoo ‘Seer’ on my forehead so every daemon in the Underworld can come after me.

Hermes moved to hit him again with the cylinder, but a small white hand stopped him. Hermes turned at once and caught the hand, placing a kiss on it. "Dear one, did the Human wake you?"

Ellie smiled, blinking the sleep out of her eyes. You both did, she told him, unable to lie.

Forgive me, dear one. That was not my intention. Why don’t you go home and get some rest? Your training starts soon as well.

Ellie shook her head, the curls around her face bouncing with the movement. No, I’d like to be here for Alex, if you don’t mind. She turned to Alex and gave him one of her fondest smiles that erased his scowl and made him smile as well. She then reached across Hermes and pulled up the blinds. The sky does look stunning. The glow reminds me of your eyes, Alex. Is it really a sign, Lord Hermes?

Hermes nodded. Yes. You see, when the sun and moon hang in the sky together, it indicates a merging of opposites: Human and God, he explained to Ellie. It has always been a God’s duty to teach a Seer. It’s similar to how a God instructs a Guardian. Hermes pointed towards the sky. "This event represents unity in diversity, compromise instead of conflict, he added, staring directly at Alex. Before their extinction, Seers have always worked alongside the Gods, despite their differences, in order to rid the Earth of a common enemy."

Alex frowned in thought. Your theory is flawed, he said at length. I’ve seen the sun and the moon in the sky at the same time before.

It’s not a ‘theory.’ It’s a divine message, Hermes said pointedly. Besides, while you may have seen them together before, you would have never seen a full moon in correlation with the sun like today, only a crescent or quarter phase moon. In addition, since when have you ever seen them cast preternatural colors like that before? Simply put, you never have. This hasn’t occurred in nearly two thousands years when the Fates determined it was time for the last Seer to be trained.

Lord Hermes, Ellie began cautiously, forgive me, but if the Fates know this, how is it that neither the Almighty nor the Archangels know of Alex’s existence?

Hermes beamed with pride and touched her cheek with his fingertips. I’ve never had such an inquisitive student before, did you know that?

Ellie blushed and lowered her eyes. Alex made a face and turned away from the window to collect the tarot cards. He wondered briefly if he should tell Ellie that Hermes was in love with her, but determined it best that she find out on her own.

I don’t mean to be bothersome, Ellie said quietly. I know my incessant questions can be tedious.

Hermes brushed it off with a wave of the hand. Nonsense I-

Alex groaned loudly and turned back around knowing full well the trifling would only continue if he didn’t put an end to it. Just answer the damn question, Hermes. Ellie flinched at the curse, but didn’t reprimand him for a change. She was too busy trying to stifle the blush that painted her cheeks.

Regaining himself, Hermes cleared his throat and got back to business. I wish I had an answer for you, Ellie. We still have yet to hear from my father or his holy warriors. We’re stumbling in the dark at the moment, like peasants without a king, lost and uncertain of the future. If it weren’t for Ares, things would be in a state of complete disarray. He’s taken control of the situation back home, and as you know, his talents lie in warfare, not in the Fates or the ways of the Archangels and the Almighty.

Alex shuffled the cards in his hands as he walked back over to them. Well that’s just great. Everyone is clueless and your trigger-happy brother is calling the shots. Is he the one who had you wake me up at five in the morning?

Hermes frowned. No, Apollo did. He knows more about the sun then anyone else. He also gave me this to give to you so you may start your training. Hermes held out the cylinder and Alex took it from him, exchanging it with the tarot cards that Hermes motioned for in turn.

What is this thing? Alex asked, turning the heavy brown cylinder in his hands. He held it towards Ellie so he would be able to get a better look at it in the dazzling light she gave off.

It’s a missive capsule, Ellie stated. She took it from him and twisted the top off with a pop. Ellie turned it over and a rolled up scroll fell into her hand. She handed it to Alex and he unfurled it. Written upon the scroll was a list of names going down the parchment in a neat, elegant script.

It’s a list of Satan’s generals, Ellie whispered in awe, and trembled.

Daemons, Alex murmured and looked the scroll over. It’s so long. All of these are Satan’s top men? The ones Ares said I would have to kill?

Ellie pointed to a name close to the top of the list that had a line through it. Look, it’s Shax. He’s crossed out because you killed him.

I’d like to see a line through Berith’s name too, instead of a question mark. Do you know what happened to him? Hermes?

Huh? Hermes looked up from the cards. He had been looking over them carefully and only now lifted his eyes. I’m sorry I wasn’t listening. I was wondering why someone who doesn’t believe in magic would carry around tarot cards, especially ones as abstruse as these? He held up one card between his index and middle finger. It was the VIII of Cups, the card that worried Alex most. It indicated a course of action and meant that a great sacrifice would be asked of him. What that sacrifice was, he couldn’t imagine. 

Alex ripped the card away. Maxine gave them to me yesterday, he explained, fixing the cards’ bent corner. I’m trying to figure out what they mean.

Hermes looked at the remaining cards in his hands, frowning, than with a heavy sigh, handed them back to him. From what I gather, the meaning is ominous, but tarot reading is hardly my forte, and I would say the same for your woman. The telling of the future and fortunes is something only the Gods can truly cognize. Don’t waste your time over them any longer. Instead, study the scroll. It shouldn’t be too difficult for you. Ellie tells me you like to read. Learn about the daemons, their powers, and the legions under their command. That should be a fine start to your training.

Alex looked up in surprise. That’s it? That’s my training? Learning a bunch of names and numbers?

Hermes shrugged. For now.

But what good will a bunch of names on a piece of paper do-? He had to bite his tongue to stop himself from adding -To help me kill Berith. That was his real reason for agreeing to be trained by Hermes after all. I thought you were going to teach me how to use my powers and fight! 

Don’t presume to question me, Hermes snapped.

Drop the pretenses, Hermes, you sound even more like an idiot!

"Listen, Human, you will respect me or-"

"Or what? You can’t touch me, I’m the Seer!"

And a lousy one you are at that.

Okay, sandal-boy, you-

"Enough! Ellie shouted, pressing a hand to each of their shoulders. Immediately, Alex felt her warmth seep through him and his anger diffused. If the two of you are going to bicker, you’ll not do it in my presence! Her sudden outburst of anger surprised not only Alex, who had only heard her raise her voice in anger once before, but Ellie herself. She pulled her hands away quickly and clasped them together. Panic flooded in her eyes and she turned to her mentor. Forgive me, Lord Hermes, I didn’t mean that. It’s not my place to tell you what to do. I don’t know what came over me-"

Hermes took her hands. It’s alright, dear one. You’re right. You shouldn’t have to listen to us argue. His eyes turned on Alex and his voice took on the same tone of high authority as when they first met. "When I deem you ready, I’ll teach you to use your powers, not before. Complain all you like, but you’re liable to get killed otherwise. We are doing this my way whether you like it or not."

Alex clenched his fists and opened his mouth to argue further, when a nagging, obtrusive thought abruptly entered his mind, telling him to accept Hermes’s conditions and to cease his quarreling. He fought back the urge to consent but it was like an itch that wouldn’t abate until he gave in, and he had no other choice but to give one jerk of a nod in compliance.

Hermes grinned, believing he had won. Good. Contented he turned back towards the window and looked outside. The moon was finally disappearing and the sun was rising high. The bizarre coloring that painted the sky was fading with the growing day. It’s finished, then, he said more to himself than to the Human or Angel. Turning back to Alex he ordered, Memorize that list. I’ll be back later to make sure you have.

You’re leaving? Alex blurted, overpowering the persistent thought. You wake me up to ‘train’ me at an absurd hour, stay for thirty minutes, and then bail?

Hermes’s habitual, mischievous smile spread across his face. Why, Alex, I had no idea you enjoyed my presence so much!

Anger swelled within him but when Alex tried to retort, the itch only worsened, so he remained silent with his arms crossed and his jaw locked as he fumed uncontrollably.

Still smiling, Hermes turned to Ellie and squeezed her hand. I have much to do. I must speak with your new teacher and I have a sudden task for Hephaestus- he glanced at Alex-so I can’t stay. I’ll return shortly, though. 

Ellie nodded. She still looked abashed from her atypical outburst and wouldn’t meet her mentor’s eyes.

Good. Until then, stay out of trouble, he said, pointing a finger at Alex. Then he was gone.

The oppressing thoughts lifted and Alex sank onto the bed, releasing a strained breath. He sat quietly for a few moments then grumbled, I don’t like when you do that, Ellie.

She lifted her head and gave him a questioning stare. What?

You were using your powers on me, I could feel it. You were playing my conscious, instructing me not to fight with Hermes.

A sheepish smile touched her lips and she spread her hands. I can’t lie to you, so yes, I was. I don’t like when you two fight. I’m surprised you felt it, though, it’s usually quite subtle.

Just don’t do it again, please, Alex said with a yawn, and laid back down with his legs hanging off the bed and his arms over his closed eyes.

Oh, no you don’t, Ellie scolded. Taking him by the hands, she pulled him back into a sitting position. He purposely let his body go limp, and with his eyes still closed he heard her grunt with the effort until he at last sat up. You need to study. He opened his eyes and she handed the rolled up scroll out to him. For a long moment he stared at her cross-eyed and glowering, but after a pout and a please from Ellie, he gave in and unraveled the parchment.

Chapter 2

Ellie was bustling about Alex’s room, tidying up his desk, closing his drawers, and making his bed while he was dressing for breakfast in the bathroom. With some effort on her part, she was able to keep Alex awake and have him memorize at least half of the names on the scroll early that morning. At seven the lesson had to come to an end so he would be ready for breakfast by eight. It was now seven fifty-five.

Alex, did you fall asleep in there? she called as she walked over towards the bathroom and knocked twice on the door.

She heard some grumbling and then the door opened and Alex shuffled out, yawning. I’m coming, I’m coming.

Well hurry up. If you’re late, Drew will come looking for you and then you’ll get it. 

Drew can shove it, he thought as he slipped his shoes on. Standing up straight to stretch, Alex looked around. Why is my room clean?

"Because I cleaned it."

But I don’t like clean rooms. He sighed dramatically. I’m just going to have to mess it up again. He took a step forward but Ellie pushed him back towards the door.

Stalling will do you no good. Now come on. She opened the door into the hall, and nudged him out.

Ellie, you’re going to be the death of me.

Still talking to yourself I see.

Alex pivoted on his heel. A dangerously thin young woman with bleached blond hair that was highlighted bright pink was standing in front of him with her arms crossed.

You know everyone thinks you’re crazy, Colette Perkins told him bluntly. They think you belong in a psychiatric hospital, not a rehabilitation clinic. If you’re not careful, that’s where you’ll be headed next. 

Still mad at me then, Colette? Alex asked as he started walking towards the elevator with Ellie close at his side.

After the shit you pulled on Max, what do you think? If I have it my way you’d never see her again.

I consider that a challenge.

If you want a challenge how about trying to keep your eyes open? she shot back as he yawned again.

Alex shrugged and pushed the down button on the elevator. When the doors opened they stepped inside beside three other patients. Colette forcefully jabbed the button for the first floor despite the fact that it was already glowing a dull orange color. After a few moments the doors closed, sealing them inside.

Maybe you should apologize to her again, Ellie suggested as the elevator began moving.

Alex began to respond, to tell Ellie that he had already tried to make amends and wouldn’t do so again, but closed his mouth and instead shook his head ‘no.’ Colette’s warning was still fresh in his mind and he knew she had a point. Too often he had slipped up and addressed his Guardian-who was only visible to his eyes-in the presence of others, earning himself the reputation of not only being hostile, but clinically insane. The patients and staff member’s opinion of him was evident enough. Their sideways glances and hushed whispers gave everything away. He had to be more careful and aware of who was around when he spoke with Ellie or else he really would find himself in a straightjacket.

The elevator doors opened and Alex could already hear the din of detached voices from down the hall. In a few short strides those voices sounded more like a roar as the dinning hall opened up before him. 

The spacious badge and white room was swarming with well-dressed patients from nearly every country. They were placing food on their plates at the chrome buffet tables, walking with friends across the spotless floors, or sitting at one of the many white-clothed tables, speaking their own languages, bragging about how much money and how many yachts they had, all the while pretending that there was absolutely nothing wrong with them; it was as though they were on vacation, not in rehab.

Now more than ever, with his new sight, their acts of stability and perfection seemed even more absurd to Alex. He could perfectly make out the flaws in their plastic surgery, the cheap material sewn into their supposed high-quality clothing, and the synthetic HPHT and CVD diamonds that sat on their fingers, in their ears, and on their cufflinks. Each and every one of the wealthy patients was adorned with some sort of embellished accessory; even the man who was walking beside him had hair plugs, although they were so obvious Alex was sure he would have been able to notice them before he grew into his powers. 

Alex and Colette walked towards the buffet tables without speaking, passing by two women and a man in green scrub-like uniforms. These were additional staff members who were separate from the advisors, therapists, and counselors at the clinic. Their jobs were to supervise the patients and help out their superiors, but really all they did was pester and beleaguer Alex to no end. He often thought of them as flies that buzzed around his face, and no matter how many times he swatted them away, they would continue to fly back to bedevil him. They never left him alone and drove him mad with their over-eagerness to talk about his problems and to give him support whenever they caught him alone between sessions, looking for a moment of privacy. Often he had to shove his clenched fists in his pockets so as to prevent himself from pushing them away or punching some of the more self-righteous ones.

While ignoring them usually worked and heated glares always sent them scurrying away, these methods proved useless against Drew, Diane and Jacob, his personal team of counselors. They were far worse then the fly-like employees because they held his future in their hands. If he didn’t perform for them and do what they asked, then his three month imprisonment at the clinic would turn into five and that was more then he would be able to stand. So, he had no other choice but to abide by their nonsensical rules and to please them, which was never an easy task for the inherently stubborn Seer.

The line leading to the tables of steaming hot food went rather quickly even though the silence between the former friends dragged on, and it wasn’t long before Alex was scooping scrambled eggs onto his plate. It was then when he got the overwhelming feeling that someone was staring at him. Slowly Alex lifted his eyes, looking for the source of his discomfort, and found it in the dead black eyes of a young man in his late twenties with spiky brown hair standing at the adjoining buffet table. The man was Colette’s lover, Rick. From the very first day of his arrival, Rick despised Alex and he was determined to make his life miserable, succeeding several times. Alex disliked the Australian domestic-abuser in kind, but rather than returning