Fallen 2. Torment(3)

huge responsibility to shoulder with Cam. Of course he would do it, he would do

anything for her ... he just wanted to make sure he did it right.

"We have to hide her somewhere safe," he said. "There's a school up north, near

Fort Bragg--"

"The Shoreline School." Cam nodded. "My side has looked into it as well. She'll

be happy there. And educated in a way that won't endanger her. And, most importantly,

she'll be shielded."

Gabbe had already explained to Daniel the type of camouflage Shoreline could

provide. Soon enough, word would spread that Luce was hidden away there, but for a

time at least, within the school's perimeter, she would be nearly invisible. Inside,

Francesca, the angel closest to Gabbe, would look after Luce. Outside, Daniel and Cam

would hunt down and kill anyone who dared draw near the school's boundaries.

Who would have told Cam about Shoreline? Daniel didn't like the idea of their

side knowing more than his. He was already cursing himself for not visiting the school

before they made this choice, but it had been hard enough to leave Luce when he did.

"She can start as early as tomorrow. Assuming"--Cam's eyes ran over Daniel's

face--"assuming you say yes."

Daniel pressed a hand to the breast pocket of his shirt, where he kept a recent

photograph. Luce on the lake at Sword & Cross. Wet hair shining. A rare grin on her

face. Usually, by the time he had a chance to get a picture of her in one lifetime, he had

lost her again. This time, she was still here.

"Come on, Daniel," Cam was saying. "We both know what she needs. We enroll

her--and then let her be. We can do nothing to hasten this part but leave her alone."

"I can't leave her alone that long." Daniel had tossed out the words too quickly.

He looked down at the arrow in his hands, feeling ill. He wanted to fling it into the ocean,

but he couldn't.

"So." Cam squinted. "You haven't told her."

Daniel froze. "I can't tell her anything. We could lose her."

" You could lose her," Cam sneered.

"You know what I mean." Daniel stiffened. "It's too risky to assume she could

take it all in without ..."

He closed his eyes to banish the image of the agonizing red-hot blaze. But it was

always burning at the back of his mind, threatening to spread like wildfire. If he told her

the truth and killed her, this time she would really be gone. And it would be his fault.

Daniel couldn't do anything--he could not exist--without her. His wings burned at the

thought. Better to shelter her just a little longer.

"How convenient for you," Cam muttered. "I just hope she isn't disappointed."

Daniel ignored him. "Do you really believe she'll be able to learn at this school?"

"I do," Cam answered slowly. "Assuming we agree she'll have no external

distractions. That means no Daniel, and no Cam. That has to be the cardinal rule."

Not see her for eighteen days? Daniel couldn't fathom it. More than that, he

couldn't fathom Luce's ever agreeing to it. They had only just found each other in this

lifetime and finally had a chance to be together. But, as usual, explaining the details could

kill her. She couldn't hear about her past lives from the mouths of angels. Luce didn't

12

know it yet, but very soon, she would be on her own to figure out ... everything.

The buried truth--specifically what Luce would think of it--terrified Daniel. But

Luce's uncovering it by herself was the only way to break free from this horrible cycle.

This was why her experience at Shoreline would be crucial. For eighteen days, Daniel

could kill as many Outcasts as came his way. But when the truce was over, everything

would be in Luce's hands again. Luce's hands alone.

The sun was setting over Mount Tamalpais and the evening fog was rolling in.

"Let me take her to Shoreline," Daniel said. It would be his last chance to see her.

Cam looked at him strangely, wondering whether to concede. A second time,

Daniel had to physically force his aching wings back into his skin.

"Fine," Cam said at last. "In exchange for the starshot."

Daniel handed over the weapon, and Cam slipped it inside his coat.

"Take her as far as the school and then find me. Don't screw up; I'll be watching."

"And then?"

"You and I have hunting to do."

Daniel nodded and unfurled his wings, feeling the deep pleasure of their release

all through his body. He stood for a moment, gathering energy, sensing the wind's rough

resistance. Time to flee this cursed, ugly scene, to let his wings carry him back to a place

where he could be his true self.

Back to Luce.

And back to the lie he would have to live a little while longer.