Demon Kissed by H.M. Ward

my head, I said, “I knew it. I knew you weren’t dumb.”
    He leaned forward laughing and said, “What!”
    “In class,” I said leaning back into the booth, twirling a fry. “You act like you have no idea what’s going on, but whenever I was graced with some of your meager verbiage, you sounded too intelligent to be getting 70’s.” I raised my eyebrow and leaned forward pointing a fry at his chest. “You’re a faker. A really old faker.”
    In honor of my ridiculous statement, I received another wholehearted laugh. His caramel eyes sparkled and his face lit up. “Yeah, now you know. I’m really an underachiever—a really old underachiever.” He laughed as he bit a fry. “You’re gonna be fun. I can tell.”
    “So, you’ve been seventeen for almost 2,000 years? That’s got to be—weird.”
    Nodding he said, “Sometimes it is. Sometimes it’s not.”  
    “How’d it happen?” I asked.
    His eyes shifted toward the table, as his mood shifted to serious. “I was betrothed. The wedding was supposed to be a few days after I was marked.” His face darkened, “I barely survived.” He continued, “But I did survive, and after I found the rest of the Martis, I did better. They helped me, and gave me this,” he said lifting a silver X on a chain out from under his shirt. It was an old cross.
    My eyes lifted to his right brow. It looked perfect, no stardust. No pixie trail. “A cross?” I felt my eyebrow arch.
    Nodding, he replied, “ It’s celestial silver. It hides us, so no one can see our mark. It’s, also, our most powerful weapon. Only celestial silver can kill a Valefar. You need it so you can defend yourself.” He looked at my hair, gesturing, “How’d you get yours? I was trying to get you a piece, but I couldn’t get it that fast. It’s very rare, and held under lock and key.”
    My heart sank, as his words washed over me. “My sister sent it to me. I got it the same day you found me in the park.”
    “Your sister?” his eyebrows bunched together.
    “Yeah, she sent it back to my Mom, when she was in Italy last year, before she died. I don’t know where Apryl got it.” My fingers touched it gently. “Is it really celestial silver? That’s kind of weird, right?”
    Eric nodded. “Yes. To both questions. It is celestial silver; otherwise it wouldn’t hide your mark. And it is weird, since it’s so rare.” He zoned out, staring at the comb. After a pause he said, “So your mom hid it for a year?”
    “Yeah. It was a birthday present. She was supposed to hide it. Apryl always did stuff like that.” Looking at him, I saw his expression change, “What’s the matter? It’s just a coincidence.” I shrugged, popping a piece of chicken into my mouth.
    His amber eyes focused on my face, “There are no coincidences. Not when Valefar are around.”
    I bristled, “What are you saying? That Apryl was… what? Valefar?”
    He shook his head, “Oh, God no. I didn’t mean that.” He looked at his plate, shoving more fries into his mouth.
    It felt like he was hiding something from me. “Then, what did you mean?” My arms folded, defensively.
    “Ivy, I mean I personally don’t believe in coincidences. That’s all. I’ve learned to look at things from all angles. It’s kinda required to stay alive.” His amber eyes flicked to mine, “Listen. Your sister’s present was a blessing. It came right when you needed it most. While you may accept that’s all there is to it, and that may be all it was, I have to consider what else might have happened.”
    I said nothing. I couldn’t compare him to Jake, because Eric wasn’t Valefar, but my brains kept trying to draw the same conclusion, warning me not trust him. The problem was that I did trust him. He saved me. Of course I trusted him. I felt my arms loosen, as my offense faded. “Did you know her?” I asked softly.
    Looking up, he said, “Apryl? No, not really.” He patted the napkin across his lips, and then placed it on