Chapter Three

Eva gawked at the three strange girls.  Suddenly, the dynamic of the room had changed. At the bronze one’s words, it was almost as if everyone came to life. Eva stood frozen as the punk girl ran up to her and put her in a headlock.
“Dude, I am so pumped you’re here!” The girl laughed with a raspy chuckle. “Name’s Jewel.” She let go of Eva’s head long enough to mockingly shake her hand before returning her to the playful embrace. The pale girl, giggling, walked over and took Eva’s hand while she was trapped by Jewel.
“I’m Blaine.” Blaine’s voice was like the tinkling of a bell. Everything about her was pale and fragile. Her voice was delicate and full of innocence, but in her eyes Eva thought she caught a glance of something much more dangerous than that. But before Eva could really examine her, Jewel finally let go and gave Eva a playful push onto the couch. The gypsy girl didn’t move or even attempt to shake Eva’s hand.
“My name is Raven. Do you know why you’re here?” Stunned by the solitary rudeness of Raven, Eva shook her head slowly. Raven sighed exasperatedly, as if Eva should have known the answer to that question. She glanced at Eva and waved her hand at her.
“You’re here to save the world.” Eva just stared at her. Then Jewel snorted and Blaine started giggling. Eva looked around… was this a joke? Well, if it was, she certainly wasn’t going to fall for it… not in front of this Raven girl. Finally, Raven began to crack a smile, and then laughed. Her laugh was loud and confident. “I’m kidding. We’re not saving the world, only Atlanta. It’s our little joke.” She winked.
Eva attempted a smile. She didn’t know what to think. These people were insane. Who were these girls? How did they know about her? What the HECK was going on?
Before she had time to dwell on these thoughts, Jewel yanked her off the couch.
“Leave your bags here, we’re going shopping!”  Eva finally stuttered out her first words since her arrival.
“Sh-shopping?”
“Heck yes! Now c’mon!”
Blaine and Raven were already out the door as Jewel dragged Eva along behind her.
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The four girls strolled down the streets of Atlanta, casually glancing in the windows of clothing shops. The three natives had been chatting about this or that, but Eva remained thoughtfully silent, listening and watching. Raven, seeing her solemnity, addressed her.
“So, Eva, what was it like to bring your horse back to life?” Eva started, unprepared to be questioned.
“How did you know about that?” Raven grinned.
“Sophia told us.” Jewel grabbed onto Eva’s arm.
“So tell us! What was it like?” Eva couldn’t help but smile. Jewel’s round face was pierced in many places, and her hair died different colors, but it could not hide the childish joy as she questioned her. Eva shrugged.
“Well, it was like time kind of stopped… and my head started to spin and ache… and my hands got really hot… and my mother said there was a really bright light… and then Easter was back.” They all stared at her in amazement. Blaine’s huge pale blue eyes stuck out from underneath her hood.
“Wow. And you weren’t scared?”
“Sure I was. I still am.” Blaine hesitated, then reached over and grabbed her hand.
“Don’t worry. I was scared for a long time after the first time too.” Eva was taken aback.
“You bring things back from the dead too?” Blaine smiled slightly and shook her head slowly.
“No... I see demons.” Eva gasped. Raven began to chuckle and placed her hand on Eva’s shoulder. Now all three of them were touching her.
“Now, Eva, you didn’t think you were the only weird one did you? Blaine sees demons; she can find them, know who they are, and see them when we can’t. She’s pretty useful actually.” Raven looked at Blaine, who giggled slightly. Eva was lost in thought. Blaine could see beings from Hell? Did that mean she was evil? Now, looking at Blaine, Eva noticed her long, pale, stringy hair, her huge nervous eyes that darted back and forth, and that she had been wearing a hooded jacket this entire time and hiding behind it. Eva began to grow nervous. Maybe these girls weren’t as safe as she thought.
“Hey ladies, here it is!” Jewel gave a shout. Eva turned to see a clothing store: “The Rogue.” In the store windows were crazy, foreign, eccentric clothes on oddly posed mannequins. Eva swallowed nervously.
“This is… where we’re going?”
“Yep!” Jewel replied. “C’mon in girl! We’re going to find you something fashionable to wear… not that old country girl outfit you’re sporting there!” Eva glanced down. She was in torn jeans, a flannel flowered top, and old boots. She supposed she did seem a bit worn out compared to the other’s trendy city-wear. She shrugged and followed the three inside. Immediately inside, Raven gave commands.
“Blaine, take Eva to the tops and find one that will make her ferocious.” Raven winked and she and Jewel ran off into the other side of the store. Eva turned to Blaine.
“Raven sure winks, a lot doesn’t she?” Blaine laughed.
“Yeah, she likes it, I suppose. Now c’mon, let’s find you that ‘ferocious’ top.” They both giggled and begin raking through the racks of tops. Maybe Blaine wasn’t so bad…
“How about this one, Blaine?” Eva held up a pink, lacy, long-sleeved shirt. Blaine shook her head.
“No, Raven won’t like it. And Jewel will say ‘No way, girl, this is not for church’. How about this?” Blaine produced a top from her rack that resembled a shimmery fish cut into pieces. Eva’s eyes widened.
“No way, no way, I could never wear that!” Blaine smiled gently. They slowly shifted through the clothes in silence for a few minutes. Blaine sighed and turned to Eva.
“Eva, are you freaked out that I can see demons?” Eva paused, her hand on a sweater.
“I guess not. I’m pretty weird too. Sorry I seemed freaked out.”
“Don’t worry about it. You know, we’re not weird alone. We all have supernatural abilities.” Eva raised an eyebrow so Blaine continued. “Raven has supernatural powers to combat possessed people. And Jewel can exhort demons right out of people’s bodies and send them back to hell.” Eva gasped. “Ha ha, I know, crazy right? This more your style?” A white tub top. Eva hesitated.
“Well… I guess I could do that.” Eva had so many more questions that she wanted answered, but just then Jewel and Raven arrived out of breath from the other side of the store.
“You’ll never believe the awesome stuff we found!!” Raven held up fire red spandex pants that had a psychedelic crazy shine, and Jewel showed off the full length, black leathered, high collared trench coat. Eva’s jaw dropped.
“You’ve got to be kidding me!” Eva cried.
“Nope!” exclaimed Jewel. “We found this awesome white knee high boots too… Blaine! That top rocks. This is all good, let’s purchase our items ladies!”
Eva stood helplessly as the girls raced to the counter to purchase her new “ferocious” outfit. What had she gotten into? These girls were crazy; and not only that, but freaky! They all had weird supernatural powers. But then, so did she… her thoughts were interrupted by their re-approach. Jewel wrapped her hand around one of her long pigtails and tugged.
“Ok, girl, now time for the hair salon.” Eva spun around.
“WHAT?!?”
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On the whole walk home, Eva nervously ran her hands through her new hair… or lack of. The girls had made her cut her red hair, which she had worked so hard to grow, from its point at her hips to her ears. And not only that, but her cheery red color was now a deep fiery auburn. She couldn’t believe it; she just kept touching it and touching it. Raven noticed.
“You like it?” Eva shrugged.
“Yeah, I guess. It’s just way different. I’ll have to get used to it.” Raven grinned and continued her conversation with Jewel about new local bands. Eva, still playing with her hair, discreetly studied each of the girls.
Raven was obviously in command. She was strong, authoritative, and confident. The other girls hung on her every word, and Raven liked it that way. Her ice blue eyes were always full of power, but in a “big sister” sort of way. She wasn’t afraid to show she was in control, but Eva could see showing emotions was a slight problem. When Jewel was right, Raven’s pride surfaced in plain view for all of them to see.
Jewel, on the other hand, was as playful and crazy as her physical appearance. She was always loud and jokingly crude, as well as throwing comments at Blaine to make her smile. She was approachable as well as outgoing, and wasn’t afraid to embarrass herself for the sake of anything. Her smile was always big, and her sparkling cerulean eyes danced every time she listened to someone speak to her.
Blaine was very closed, but not in a harsh way; more of an insecure and unsure way. She always listened, rarely spoke, and when she did, it was quietly and gently. Her hood always kept her hidden unless she wished to reveal herself, and her pale blue eyes were always wide as if she were seeing a ghost… because often she literally was.
Suddenly, Eva realized something. They all had blue eyes. Was that a coincidence or not? Eva wasn’t sure.
As they approached the warehouse with their shopping bags, Blaine gave out a little cry.
“Malachi!” Raven, Jewel, and Blaine took off towards the warehouse.
“Who? Hey guys, wait up!” Eva struggled to follow with her heavy shopping bag with her new boots. When she finally reached the door, she was breathing heavily, saw the girls hugging on and ecstatically talking to a guy. She could only see his back, so she hovered in the doorway. As he turned to talk to Jewel, Eva gasped.
He was beautiful, unlike anyone Eva had ever seen. His skin was pale, almost white, but looked like magnificent porcelain. His sandy blonde hair shifted ever so slight at he inclined his head to Raven as she spoke. His pronounced jaw line only brought attention to his perfectly crafted lips. He was tall, statuesque, and was dressed in a melon-colored sweater that exemplified his muscular figure. Eva saw him smile for an instant; he looked as though his face was a painting some elderly artist rendered of a Greek god. He was flawless.
Then he turned to look at her.
Eva froze, unable to breathe, his eyes locked on hers. They were the most brilliant shade of green that Eva had ever seen, but that wasn’t it. They shook her to the very core of her body; she couldn’t think or even move. Eva stood there, stunned by this god with emerald eyes.
Jewel noticed the strange behavior from the newest member of their group.
“Eva, are you… alright?” The beautiful boy broke his gaze with Eva to look at the one who had just addressed her, and Eva felt herself freed from his captive viridian stare.
“Y-yeah… I’m fine.” That was all she could manage, she was still shaking. Jewel looked at her puzzled, then stepped forward.
“Okay… well, I’d like you to meet someone.” She indicated to the flawless creature to her left. Eva could not even bring herself to look up again, afraid of his penetrating gaze. She stuck out her hand and managed to remember her name.
“I’m Eva.” A pause.
“Malachi.” At the sound of his voice, her head snapped up involuntarily. His voice was like nothing she had ever heard, either. It was soft and rich, smooth and inviting. And she was once again trapped in his emerald eyes.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Eva.” His voice was simply intoxicating. She could feel herself drowning in the brilliant pools of his eyes. He was just so… stunning. She was jerked out of her hypnotized state by a hand on her shoulder.
“You alright?”  Raven’s voice was suddenly full of concern. Eva shook her head and noticed she was still holding out her empty hand that he had never taken. She dropped it and looked away. The other girls looked at each other awkwardly. Then Eva realized that Raven had not been asking her. Eva glanced up to see an indescribably strange look on Malachi’s face.
Malachi spoke softly to Raven.
“I was just on my way out. Please excuse me.”  He brushed passed Eva, only inches from her. She felt her chest seize up once again; he smelled something like lavender and roses together, only better. She heard him start his car and open the door to get in.
“Eva, what’s with you? You were acting like a mute person!” Jewel scoffed. Blaine whispered aside to Raven, but Eva could still hear her.
“Not only that, but did you seem him leave like that? He was acting very strange too.” Eva summoned the courage to turn around, to take one last look at the stunning god-man, as he sped off into the night.
“Eva… hello? Anybody home?” Eva finally gained the use of her vocal chords.
“He… was beautiful.” Jewel laughed.
“Yeah, well, you would be too if you were going to live forever.” Eva started.
“What? What do you mean?” The other girls exchanged smiles.
“Malachi isn’t your normal guy,” Jewel grinned at her. “That’s why he doesn’t look like one. In fact, it’s a wonder we even hang around him at all.”
“Why’s that?” Eva was confused. “Why shouldn’t we be?” Jewel snickered. Blaine tugged on Eva’s sleeve, pulling her aside. She leaned in close to her.
“Because,” Blaine whispered. “Malachi… is a demon.”