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Angel of Darkness

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!!...ARC I...!!
Chapter One: Guardian Angel

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It's impossible to believe that what's sitting not too far from me is real.

But there he is, in all his mixed beauty. Yeah, his beauty is like a mixture of dark and light. His hair is blond, though has brown roots and dark eyebrows. His bangs almost cover over his left eye, but not completely, maybe if he combed all his bangs to one side. His hair is a bit longer than most boys and looks almost rock-starish. His eyes are brown and dark, his skin is in between tan and pale. He has a perfect skin texture. He's wearing a black sweatshirt—you can see the skin of his collar bone and the chain that's hanging around his neck—and black, loose cargoes.

On one of the wooden benches outside of our school he sat playing his guitar and listening to my friend, Seth, rant at the same time with ease. He seems completely comfortable with his surroundings. Yet I wouldn't say he's happy. Because I have never once seen him smile. I've seen him smirk and grin, but never smile.

Seth is my best friend, who is also best friends with the boy of mixed beauty known as Cameron. Seth usually drags me over to sit with him and Cameron. He does this often yet whenever I'm around Cameron I just sit quietly and let my eyes roam over his figure.

I never really pay attention to what Seth talks about with him, nor do I really talk much around him and Cameron but he still brings me. I'm basically his rag doll. Maybe he can sense that I have a thing for him and is trying to hook us up somehow? Eh, doubt it. Seth isn't exactly sensitive to things like that in the first place.

Well, we're at school, of course, and it's lunch time. Our High School has off campus lunch. If only I had a car. . . Seth's car is in the shop due to an accident with a drunk driver. His arm is broken but thankfully that's it.

Cameron has a car too but Seth never asks him for a ride, and of course, neither do I.

Seth has a sandwich he brought from home, I have a bottle of water, and Cameron has nothing. Sometimes I wonder if he eats at all. I don't think I've ever seen him eat. Maybe that's how he stays so fit. No excess body fat at all. . .

Cameron's a lot like a jigsaw puzzle. Very complicated and hard to understand. For me anyway. Maybe that's why I'm practically obsessed with him. I want to be the one to figure him out, piece by piece.

“Hey, Lily?”

“Huh?” Seth's voice snaps me back to reality. I stare at him dumbly as I attempt to collect myself. I must look dazed because he gives me a weird look. One that usually makes me want to kick him, but not today.

“Cam and I are going to a club tonight. Do you want to come too?”

“Ah, sure, I'll go.” Thank god I didn't stutter. My voice was clear and understandable. Even if I am infatuated with Cameron I don't really have a speech problem. And I'm very thankful for that. I pity girls who stutter and mumble when around their crush.

“Alright! Cameron's driving, so we'll pick you up around seven or eight okay? Be ready by then.” Seth seems to be pretty excited about this.

“Ready?” What, I have to dress up? For a club? What the hell is that about?

“Yeah, like eat dinner, and do your homework, and you know, all that shit. Take a bath if you want, I don't know what you like to do.” The ending statement made it sound like I do weird things, or perverted things, or, god only knows what else he's thinking.

I give him a light punch on the shoulder and he laughs. Cameron says nothing, much to my disappointment. He has a beautiful dark, husky voice. But he just put his guitar away and stood up.

“Bell rang.”

I blink. Wow, I didn't even notice. Time just seems to fly by when I'm around Cameron. Even though the only activity I take up is ogling him. Oh well, it's not like I'm the only girl. He is pretty much an angel, with his looks. But sometimes I think he's too dark to be an angel.

Maybe a dark angel.

When I get home no one is there. My mother went to go to a doctors appointment, and my father's still at work. There's a note on the kitchen table when I walk in, telling me I have to make my own dinner. I consider ordering take-out, like, Chinese or something, but decide to just eat a salad instead.

After I took a shower I did my homework, I only had homework in math. All the time wondering what Cameron would be wearing. Also how he drives. I've never been in a car with him and wonder if he drives smoothly or like a lunatic. I mean really, how the hell do most of these psychopaths even get their license? Threaten their instructor?

I have my license but I don't have a car. Mom and dad are 'thinking' about it. They'd say, “Maybe for your birthday.”. Yeah, next year. My birthday for this year has already passed. They picked that date on purpose I swear.

My mother came home before Cameron and Seth picked me up, which is good. I'm not sure how she'd react to me merely leaving her a note saying I'm going out. She's in the kitchen putting things away now, she had apparently gone shopping after getting out of the doctors office.

“Hey mom, I was thinking about hanging out with Seth tonight. Can I?” I ask, sitting at the counter. Mom has a weak spot for Seth. She thinks he's. . . I believe her exact words were, “Damn, if I were a few years younger, and single I would grab me a piece of that fine ass.”. Yeah, imagine your mother saying that about your best friend. That's some scary shit.

“Seth? Where are you two going? I thought his car was still in the shop.” Yeah, she also keeps up with his life. I'm kinda worried they might have an affair. Though Seth really doesn't seem to notice that my mom thinks he has a nice ass.

“His friend, Cameron is going to be driving,” I said wryly, wondering if she'd be okay with it. She has never met Cameron before. If she had she probably would have left my dad. Then comes the divorce. . .

“Friend? Well. . . can I meet him?”

Uh oh. “He doesn't get along with others too well. We're just kinda using him for a ride. I'm not really sure where we're going, but Seth will be there too, so I'm pretty sure I'll be safe.”

“Alright then. So long as you're back before I wake up,” she winks. Wow, there are so many things I can say about that. But that'd be too easy.

“Okay.” And just for the hell of it I wink back. My mom and me are on good terms though. I'm on good terms with my dad too. I'm his precious little angel. As every girl is to her father. . .

It doesn't take long for Cameron and Seth to pick me up. Seth pounds on the door singing some weird ass song, and of course mom is the one to answer. Sometimes I wonder how old she really is. Or if someone put a teenagers soul in her body. She seems reluctant to say bye but eventually I just grab Seth's arm and dragged him back to Cameron's car.

I want so badly to call shot gun, but Seth playfully shoves me out of the way and hops in. I pout but it's probably for the best. I wouldn't have said anything anyway, and then we'd just go into an awkward silence. So I get in the back seat without complaining. He has a nice car, it's some sort of sports car, black—oddly enough. I'm not really a car expert though so I can't really say what kind of car it is. Maybe one day I'll gather up the balls to ask him.

I wonder what it'd be like to have balls. . .

Cameron's driving isn't bad at all. He drove smoothly and knew what he was doing. Unlike some idiot who turned on a one way road. Seth had shouted out how stupid he was and if he even knew how to drive. Cameron merely drove a bit to the side to avoid scrapping his car.

Well, we got to the club and the music's blasting through the speakers. I have the urge to plug my ears but manage to keep my hands down at my sides. The place is crowded and dark and filled with a bunch of teens and young adults. There is even a bar, and I see some underage drinking going on. I have never drunk before but I am a bit curious to see what the big deal is.

I mean really, what's so great about it? Is it really worth spending the next morning with a headache and puking? I wouldn't know. Seth got drunk a few times, but I never really asked him, and I have no idea if Cameron drinks or not.

“Hey Cameron, check out that hot piece of ass over there. . .” Seth said as we reach the bar. He points to this really pretty blond chick. Her clothes don't cover much and all I can see—other than her blond hair—is cleavage.

She's the definition of 'easy'. But I have to admit, she is pretty. I almost caught myself being jealous of it. Seth's drinking a glass of some sort of alcoholic beverage while eying miss pretty blond. But my eyes are focused on my own sexy blond. And this one is much more my type.

“I'm gonna go and talk to her.”

“Do what you want.” Is all Cameron says.

Seth then looks at me and sighs. “Alright, and why not ask her to dance or something? If you're here you mine as well have some fun. I don't think you'll go to hell for it.”

At this, Cameron smirks. “No, I don't believe I will. For dancing anyway.”

I stare at them both in confusion. Seth winks at both of us then turns to leave. We both watch as Seth makes his way through the crowd and to the blond slut, and leaving me alone with Cameron. He looks at me with an amused yet tired expression. He looks like has been missing some of his beauty sleep. I can see a faint shade of purple under his brown eyes.

He holds his hand out to me, the smirk still plastered along his lips.

“Shall we?”

I'm standing there in a daze. His eyes are brown, such a simple color, yet very hypnotizing. And he is asking to dance with me. Oh, shit. I suck. I really suck. And I can't keep up with this music. This beat is just. . . yeah. It's too fast for me to follow.

“Er, I'll pass,” I said with much disappointment.

He cocks his head at me in question. Probably wondering why I've turned him down, no girl in her right mind would after all. I, myself, am wondering if I'm crazy. So what if I look like a complete idiot, I'd be touching him. But the embarrassment would be horrible.

“I'm going to go and get some fresh air. . .” mumbling I walk away. Some fresh air will do me good. Clear my suddenly foggy head.

I can feel his confused stare on me as I make my way towards the back exit. Walking out I find myself in an alley. It's already pretty dark outside, it's only around nine. We had left at eight. And because Seth didn't eat beforehand we stopped somewhere to pick him up something to eat on the way. He asked if Cameron ate and he just nodded.

Strange guy.

I lean on the building and look up at the night sky. It's really dark outside, dark and beautiful. Maybe that's why I think Cameron's so beautiful. Because he is more dark than anything else, at times, and I find it appealing. Alluring even. There's something pulling me to him. Though it's probably just the thrill of a mystery. And that I'd be the one to solve it.

That'll be my goal starting tonight. I'll have to talk to him more though, I'm pretty sure I can be friends with him if I stop staring long enough to form a sentence. I'm always around him at school anyway—courtesy to Seth.

Alright then, mind decided. Now to just go back in there and have my first real conversation with him. It shouldn't be too hard. I'm not really shy, and I'm always talking around Seth and everyone else. Cameron is just. . . an exception. I'd just rather hear him talk than myself. He's much more interesting than I am.

Turning around towards the door I make a move to grab the knob but the door suddenly slams open, making me shriek out. Loudly. I jump back, away from the door as three men, who look to be college students, come stumbling out. One's smoking and the other two are wincing from my loudness.

“Damn, babe. What are you squealing for?”

I huff. “I wasn't squealing! And you came from out of nowhere!!” I'm shouting now, feeling the urge to defend myself.

The men aren't even listening to me, instead they're eying my body like a predator, and I'm their prey. One even licks his upper lip suggestively. It doesn't take long for me to figure out why they're looking at me like that.

“Whatever, just let me through,” I try to sound irritated and annoyed. I make a move to pass them and walk back in the club but one of the boys' arms comes out and blocks my path. I shoot him a glare, doing my best to seem intimidating, but I have a small frame and there are three of them and one of me.

I am so very screwed.

Seth is probably trying to get laid, and Cameron is probably still at the bar thinking about how I'm such a complete freak. So it's clear to me that I'm on my own now. They don't know I need their help. Or what's happening. I wish I could communicate with them with my brain or something, get their asses over here. But unfortunately I don't have that gift.

The boy who's in front of me suddenly grabs me by my shoulders and slams me back against the brick wall. Wincing I feel my poor spine sting from the harsh contact, I try to wiggle my way out of his grip but he just smirks. I grit my teeth, my back is scrapping against the hard bricks now. I probably already have some bruises. Maybe even on my shoulders from his tight grasp. I bruise like a peach.

“You know that's a turn on.”

“Fuck'n prick, let me go!” I scream as loud as I can. The boy merely gets closer to me to whisper in my ear.

“Scream as loud as you want. The music's so loud, nobody will hear you. And besides, I like it when they scream. It's exciting. Arousing, too.”

What a fuck'n sicko!

“Oh, come on another one? You just got laid last night. Why not let us have this one?” asked one of the other boys. He's the one with the cigarette.

“Because this one's hot. I want her. You can have the next one.”

“Fuck, why don't we just share her?” asks one of them—I can't even tell which one is which anymore.

“Fine. But I'm first,” the one holding me said as he turns back around to face me. “This will be fun, don't worry, hun. They all complain and scream at first, but at the end, they like it.”

I'm definatly not going to like it!

I close my eyes, getting out is impossible. I don't want to give up but what else can I do? I've been squirming and wiggling and thrashing since he first grabbed a hold of me. And I haven't made any progress. I even try to knee him in the nuts but his body's pressed against mine making movement impossible.

I'm trapped. Stuck. I need help.

Suddenly the one holding me against the wall is thrown back and I'm released. I gasp out as my eyes open. My vision is oddly blurry at first, I can hear a bunch of yells and screams as I stumble over and fall on my ass. When I actually do look up I see Cameron fighting with two of the boys.

He punches one of them while holding the other one in his iron grasp and throwing him to the ground. The one who had been holding me against the wall just got up and ran towards him.

Shit. He's outnumbered.

I frantically begin looking at my surroundings, trying to find some sort of weapon. A big stick, or a broken piece of glass, or. . . something! The ground is wet, there are random puddles just about everywhere. My jeans also end up getting wet and dirty. But at the time all I really care about is helping Cameron.

My heart just about jumped out of my chest when I hear him yelp out suddenly. I look over to see that one of the boys has large knife in his hand and had cut Cameron's arm. Had he been carrying that knife all along? Is it a pocket knife? I don't know much about tools but it looked like a big pocket knife.

Argh, I should have listened to my mom and bought pepper spray that time we went to the store. But I never really thought I'd need it. Exciting, or dangerous things like this never really happen to me. My life is usually normal, safe, and most of all, boring as hell.

And all this in one day? What were the chances?

I'm standing now, I hadn't been able to find anything. Not even a rock. Or a piece of brick. The dumpster is a ways away but I'm not about to go digging through it. I look to where Cameron's standing. To my surprise, two of the men are already on the ground with bloody noses and bruised faces.

Had he really done all that while I was looking for rocks?

My eyes are so fixated on the two boys who are now attempting to stand, that I almost miss the loud crashing sound. I jump, startled and surprised, and look up to see that Cameron had thrown the boy into the trash cans. He looks beat up, and Cameron has a gash on his arm. I'm worried that he might like, bleed to death or something. But it doesn't even seem to bother him. Like it isn't even there. And he isn't even out of breath or anything. He's just standing there as if nothing happened.

I stand in awe as the other two boys ran past Cameron and pick up their friend. He doesn't stop them and merely stands there, watching. Though you certainly can't tell by looking at him, I can see that he's still on the defense. If they make a move he'd counter it. But instead of trying to jump him again, they glare at both of us as I stand mute against the building.

My body pushes against the building for support, to hold me up and keep me from falling back on my ass. My eyes are wide and dilated. I'm scared. I have never even been in a cat fight before.

“You bastard! You broke my nose!!” the boy who was thrown shouts. Yeah, it does look a little pushed to the side. Blood smearing his upper lip and chin. His lip is cut too. I don't know how Cameron managed to do that but this really isn't time for me to think about it.

“Leave now, or I'll do more than just that,” Cameron threatens. His voice is very dark and murderous. Even I was scared of him for a second.

The one holding his nose was reluctant, his pride is ordering him to stay. Demanding it. But the other two boys—who had pushed their pride aside—carried their friend away and ran off. They ignored his kicking and complaining and turned out of the alleyway.

I watch. Still silent. Everything is silent now. It's as if time just froze.

What the hell just happened? It was so fast. He beat them all so fast. And made it look like it was nothing. I've seen Seth fight like that before, but never anyone else.

“That was. . . amazing,” I finally manage to gasp out.

Cameron turns to me with a wryly expression. He's probably wondering what they all did to me before he came to my rescue.

Just like a guardian angel. . . my guardian angel.

“Are you alright?” he slowly asks. His movement is hesitant as he steps toward me. I'm a bit worried because of that. For some reason it bothers me when people are hesitant towards me. As if I'm dangerous or something. It's only then that I remembered the gash on his arm.

“Oh shit! Are you alright?!” I grab his arm when he's in my reach. He tries to pull away but my grip is firm and tight. He probably could have yanked me off if he really wanted to, but instead he simply stops struggling against me and sighs.

“Please, just forget about it. It's nothing for you to worry about.” His voice is so calm and rational that I almost listened to it. But he had just gotten his arm slashed open.

“Like hell I'll just 'forget about it'! You're bleeding so bad! I have to get you to a hos. . . pi. . . tal. . .” my words trail off, my voice growing faint before disappearing all together.

I pull his arm closer, to get a better look. Cameron sighs again. I smear the blood on his arm, his black trench coat is ripped, torn right where he got cut. I can see the blood, smearing all over his arm and staining his coat. I saw him get slashed in the arm.

But where is the wound?

I'm not sure how long I stood their, studying his arm, before finally looking up. There is no wound, it has completely healed. I immediately drop his arm and step back, as if I'm afraid of him now.

There are so many things—so many questions I want to ask him now. But the one that is the most pressing and demanding is. . .

Just what the hell are you?

I wasn't going to post this until I was closer to being done with Angelic Voice but oh well. I wrote this chapter over and over again, never really satisfied with how it always turned out. Hopefully this was okay. I hope you enjoyed even just a little! Review? ;)