Page 9 of The Human Element (The Human Element Collection #1)

Lorelei

Standing in front of the mirror in the café bathroom, Lorelei finished washing her hands and then took a moment to look at herself.

Although she still looked tired, she still looked the same as she always had, even though now—everything was drastically changed.

Thoughts of her and Daemon’s conversation during breakfast were swimming through her head.

I don’t look like somebody who could save the world.

But from the moment she met Daemon and from all that he has told her so far, it was almost just as impossible to deny.

First, Daemon could fly. Really, fucking fly.

If he hadn’t scooped her in his arms and she had not experienced that first hand; Lorelei knew the rest of what he said to her would be far harder to believe.

Yet she had experienced it. Although absolutely terrifying, it was exhilarating, too.

And, most importantly, she can’t whisk that truth away easily no matter how many pints she had that evening.

At the same time, something inside her felt the words he spoke to be true.

A deep longing in the pit of her chest, a whisper of some kind, her intuition possibly?

She couldn’t be sure, but despite her not understanding the reasons and despite the nagging feeling in the back of her mind attempting to convince her otherwise, her curiosity was getting the best of her.

Wasn’t every human’s desire to know what their purpose was?

To know why they were created? Lorelei couldn’t help but want to know more about who she is, and why she is the one who was chosen to do this.

What could this mean for her? About her?

It was long since that she felt out of sorts, out of the loop since her father’s passing.

This experience, although incredibly new and outstandingly difficult to process, was feeling more right to her with each passing second, than her day-to-day life had in almost a year.

Something about Daemon, about what he explained to her about the workings of Heaven and Hell; it reminded Lorelei of her father.

The way he used to speak of these things, the way he used to hold her in his lap and tell her that there was no sure answer, but that when something came calling, something monumental, it was time to answer the call of the Universe; because it was taking you someplace better, somewhere you needed to go .

It was the closest she'd felt to her father since that awful day a year ago—and she couldn’t stop herself from chasing his words, to find out if this indeed was a calling for her to find herself again.

The darkness that slowly crept up on her in the last year was overbearing, and even with her days typically being alright, she felt a hole in her heart she couldn’t ignore.

A displacement in the city she adored. An echo in her mind of an endless unknown—an unknown of what would become of her if she stayed stuck in that pit.

The work kept her busy, sure. But she found herself more and more drawn to the idea that there must be something more for her than this, if she could only find a sign.

This was her sign.

It came in a bonus package of black wings and snarky attitude—but she was taking it as a sign nonetheless.

Could it end in hellfire and damnation? Yes.

But could it also end in something more?

Something fulfilling? Enlightening? She only hoped it was the latter, because she had no clue what to do, and the thought of failing made her insides ball into a million knots.

Bile threatened to come up the back of her throat, and she steadied herself on the sink with her hand, the surge of denial plaguing her thoughts, the headache she felt the night before beginning to resurface.

Lorelei gripped the sink harder, closing her eyes and forcing herself to breathe.

Deep breathes, come on, Lorelei. You can’t falter now. Remember the little voice…the one that has always guided you. Breathe and listen.

After a moment, Lorelei’s heartbeat finally relinquished to a steadier pace, allowing the pain in her head to dissipate—she was incredibly affected physically by her emotions, it was always that way.

A crying episode could result in being in bed for the whole day afterwards from the headache and racking pains her body often got.

Once the headache died down, she willed herself to clear her mind.

Finding the small, lit pathway she envisioned whenever she needed to connect with that guiding voice.

She called it her intuition, but wasn’t sure if it was that or something she made up—but it never steered her wrong if she only let herself hear it.

Reaching the end of the path in her mind, a clearing of blue and violet light came to her vision and she breathed.

There were no warning bells, no sirens of distress coming from her.

She didn’t need to listen to those negative, harmful voices now.

What she needed now, was to stay calm. She had to take the leap into whatever this journey might become, her father would’ve said so.

Opening her eyes, she unclenched her hands and released the sink.

She splashed a bit of water on her face, and whispered to herself.

“You can do this. Whatever happens, seek the truth, like Dad always said. It’s better than staying in the dark..”

Which is where she has been. Determined it was time to seek whatever came before her, she nodded to herself once more, slinging her bag over her shoulder, leaving the bathroom, and making her way back to the table where she thought Daemon would be waiting for her.

But when she saw that he wasn’t there, she looked out the window and saw Daemon’s well-built back facing her.

Finding her way outside, she thanked the hostess before hearing the tinkle of the bell above the door as she exited the café.

Before her was Daemon. And beyond him, standing nearby, was another man.

She stepped closer to Daemon and stood beside his shoulder.

He seemed tense, but not in the same way he did last night when they were leaving the pub.

Daemon's eyes didn't once turn to her, instead, they remained locked on the individual before them.

The man was tall, with a smaller frame than Daemon, but didn’t lack any of the strength.

Lorelei noted he sort of looked like one of those K-pop stars she used to listen to a few years back.

The suit he wore made him stand out from any other person around, which Lorelei thought might’ve been the point.

He had dark, almond-colored eyes and perfectly placed, blonde hair that flipped out in an intentionally haphazard manner.

There was tension in the air between them all, and Lorelei could tell Daemon had no intention of speaking first. Lorelei caught the man’s eyes and they gleamed with realization.

He gives a fierce look to Daemon, a mixture of surprise, and disappointment.

“So, the rumors are true. You are helping her.”

His voice was similar to Daemon’s, but it had more of a regal sounding nature about it.

A lovely combination of poise and intensity.

Whoever this was, Lorelei could tell he was important.

The way he carried himself, the outlandish outfit, and the way Daemon’s shoulders shifted uncomfortably, spoke volumes.

She hadn’t thought that anything could catch Daemon off guard.

“Yeah. What’s it to you?”

Daemon’s tone was harsher than she had heard it yet. But there was an underlying nervousness that made even Lorelei herself worried.

Who could this possibly be to make Daemon so nervous?

The man just shook his head as Daemon took another drag of the cigarette he was holding.

“Let’s walk. That courtyard over there, seems quiet enough for a little chat.”

Daemon didn’t say anything in response, merely followed reluctantly behind as the man in white walked across the street and into the courtyard.

Clearly, Daemon didn’t find being in the man’s presence enjoyable, but at the same time, didn’t offer any type of sarcastic remark or refusal to follow.

Daemon obeyed, and for some reason, this lack of fight, made Lorelei all the more hesitant—and frightened.

Who could possibly make Daemon so uncomfortable, at the same time, command such authority that Daemon didn’t even try to say no?

Lorelei silently followed the two men. There were a few benches around a large water fountain.

Shrubbery in different shapes and sizes lay in a semi-circular formation around it, although no flowers were blooming, it was a lovely spot.

The fountain had the image of a figure in a leaping position, its features were striking, its body built for the intricate movement it was performing, the eyes glaring down at them as they stood before it.

Much like the man’s eyes when he turned to face them, an eerily similar gaze that made Lorelei’s heart race again.

Nobody else was around, they were totally alone.

She wondered if this acquaintance of Daemon’s was making that the case.

Daemon was able to keep a barrier around them at breakfast so nobody heard their conversation; there must be other magic that allowed the vacancy they were experiencing.

Waiting a few moments, she was relieved when Daemon spoke.

“Have you come here to stop me, Raphael? Because the fact that you’re even speaking to me, could cost you.”

Raphael?

The name sounded familiar but she couldn’t explain the reason why. Raphael sighed before responding.

“Mind if I grab a cigarette from you?”

Daemon glared at him, but slid the pack out of his pocket, throwing it to him.

“I thought you kicked the habit?”

“Well, considering that I am violating the “no contact” policy with you, a smoke feels necessary.”