Other links:
Sapphire Angel, Superheroine (Book 1)
Power Play (Book 2)
Deconstruction (this book - Book 3)
When Beth and Conner returned to the townhouse, they found a note from Jack and Ross.
Ran to the grocery store. Back by 4 pm.
For the first time since Conner's arrival, Beth and Conner were alone. Beth studied Conner as he sat on the edge of the bed, with the hunger in his eyes unmistakable.
"So we’re alone,” he said.
“Yep,” she nodded and looked down, unable to meet his eyes. His words stuck in her head. If we’re going to work together, openness and honesty is key. She had been as far from openness and honesty as possible.
His other comment, after leaving Gavin Pierce’s apartment, stuck with her, too. I almost wish you had been lying to me about not working with Sapphire Angel. If you could somehow snap your fingers and make her appear, I’m sure he would talk to her.
Perhaps it was a sign — she needed to reveal her secret to him, to help locate Eric. Or was she just trying to justify the decision to herself? And what if he was furious with her for lying to him? She groaned, turned from him, and sat down near the end of the bed.
“Hey, what’s wrong?” he asked.
“You shouldn’t be with me,” she murmured, still unable to meet his gaze.
He remained silent for a moment, before asking, “What do you mean?”
Beth bit her lip and stared straight ahead. Her brain churned through the situation as she tried to decide on the right course of action. She had gone through the same dilemma with Ethan two months earlier, and that had turned out fine. But could she do it again? She couldn’t reveal her secret every time she felt a bit of guilt. At that rate, the whole world would know.
But she couldn’t go on like this. The lying wasn’t only killing their relationship; it was eating her alive inside. It came down to one question. Did she trust Conner? Not just now, but going forward, no matter what happened in their relationship? He needed to keep her secret, both for her, and for his own safety. After several moments, she turned to him, her face set in determination.
“I haven’t been honest with you,” she said.
He narrowed his eyes, but said nothing.
“About everything,” she continued. “About where I go at night, about how I get information. About who I am.”
“About... huh? You’re gonna have to explain.”
Beth took a long breath, lowered her head and raised it, looking into his eyes. She took his hands in hers.
“Conner, I’m Sapphire Angel.”
He stared at her, not answering, before his face broke into a broad grin.
“Ha, ha,” he said. “You had me going for a moment.”
Beth scowled. This was almost exactly how Ethan had responded. Why was it so hard to believe? She knew the answer, though. Her necklace.
“Conner, I’m not joking. I’m Sapphire Angel.”
Conner held his mouth closed, but only for a moment. He burst out laughing.
Beth gritted her teeth and rose to her feet. She would need to do this the same way she had done it with Ethan. With a shake of her head, she stepped away from the bed and turned to face Conner. She raised her fist up to the base of her neck and closed her eyes. A flash of light surrounded her, and when it was gone, she stood before him as Sapphire Angel, her shimmering costume clinging to her slim figure.
Just like Ethan two months ago, Conner stared in stunned silence. His jaw hung open as his eyes traveled down to her white ankle boots, and moved up her supermodel legs to her white skirt, to the blue of her costume and her white gloves, to her necklace, and finally to her face.
“Holy shit,” he murmured, but otherwise stared at her in silence. He shook his head, as if shaking off cobwebs.
“Say something,” she said.
“I... You... “ he stammered. “Help me understand what’s going on here.”
Beth, now Sapphire Angel, put her hands on her hips. “I’m Beth, you blockhead. I already told you. But I’m also Sapphire Angel.”
Conner’s face contorted, and he shook his head again. He continued to stare at her.
“Conner — “ she began, but he held up a hand.
“Give me a minute,” he said in a soft tone, still shaking his head. He didn’t take his eyes off her.
She stood, hands on her hips, waiting for him to speak. This was like deja vu. Ethan had been similarly stunned and at a loss for words. Would it always be this way, if she ever revealed her secret to someone else?
When Conner spoke, his voice was more steady.
“Okay. I get it. Or at least I think I do. You, Beth Harper, are Sapphire Angel.”
Beth rolled her eyes. “For the hundredth time, yes.”
“Okay, okay. No need to get upset. My head kind of hurts thinking about it. Like literally hurts. It... makes no sense. And all the sense in the world. Both at the same time. It’s like it should have been obvious to me, but when I look at you I still kind of don’t believe it. Why don’t I look at you and see Beth? You’re not wearing a mask.”
“It’s a long story. It’s just how things work. My powers. People can’t make the connection. Think about it. Shouldn’t it have been obvious to you when Sapphire Angel showed up here when I did?”
“Well, I came around the same time, too,” he replied. “And nobody is going to confuse me for Sapphire Angel.”
“I sure hope not.”
“This is incredible,” he murmured. “Now I don’t feel so guilty for lusting after both Beth and Sapphire Angel during the Pegasus Club case.”
“You didn’t know I was Sapphire Angel, so don’t forgive yourself just yet.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” he asked.
“The fewer people that know, the better. And if anyone ever learned that you knew who Sapphire Angel was, you wouldn’t be safe. I’ve agonized over telling you.”
Conner let out a soft whistle. “I can’t believe it.”
“You’re not mad?”
Conner shook his head. “I get it, I really do. And when have you known me to get angry? This will sound hokey, but I feel honored you’ve told me now.”
Beth exhaled.
“Thank you for understanding. I’m sure you have a lot of questions, but maybe you first should spend some time getting your brain around it.”
“Who else knows?”
“Just Ethan and Stanley. And Ethan has only known for a couple of months. I seem to have a weakness for telling the men in my life, it seems. Well, Raven Tristan, from the Pegasus Club case, also knows. But that’s a long story.”
“She — “
“Don’t ask. I’ll tell you about it sometime.”
“So I assume this is the reason for all your late nights? You weren’t really working late?”
She bit her lip, looked away, and shook her head. “No, I wasn’t. I’m sorry. I understand my, uh, business, is a sore spot.”
“It is. It’s one of many things I’m trying to get my brain around.”
He let out another soft whistle and shook his head yet again.
“So how exactly do you... have all these powers? I’ve seen you in action. Don’t take this the wrong way, but I’ve never mistaken Beth Harper for a brawler.”
“Thanks, I think. To answer your question... I don’t understand it, exactly, other than my necklace gives my powers, and my necklace, and maybe to a lesser degree my costume, can both conceal my identity. But why they do it, I have no idea. Stanley once made a comment about me being destined for great things since the day I was born, but denies that he was referring to me being Sapphire Angel.”
“Was he telling the truth?”
“I’m not sure. I can picture Stanley’s reaction, when I told him about my powers in the hospital the night I got them, and the night John got sick. I can’t put my finger on it, but it seemed like he knew something he wasn’t saying. I’ve always intended to push him about it, but John died, then I was in the middle of the StarPrime case, and then life as Sapphire Angel took off, and so did my relationship with you. And now this.”
“So you haven’t had time for it. That’s kind of been the story of your life since I’ve known you.”
Beth looked down. “I guess that’s fair,” she murmured. “But I’m also afraid of what I might learn. I’m afraid I might learn my entire life has been a big lie.”
“Maybe Stanley knows that. He’s a smart guy. Perhaps he knows more, but thinks you’re too busy, or not ready for what you might learn. Or both.”
“I am ready,” she replied, with urgency in her voice. “Well, once I get to the bottom of what’s going on out here.”
Conner raised an eyebrow. “Are you sure? Are you sure you won’t move on to the next big problem? Will there ever be time?”
Beth twisted her mouth in consternation. “I’m sorry. I know it seems like I don’t have time for anything else. This is a big part of my life, and it always will be. I understand if this is too much and you want out.”
“I’m not going anywhere,” Conner said. “I only need to process this. And I have a ton of questions. But that can wait. You need to see if Gavin Wilson’s infatuation with Sapphire Angel will make him talk. But first I have something else I want to do.”
He reached out, took her gloved hands, and pulled her onto the bed on top of him. Their lips met.
Other links:
Sapphire Angel, Superheroine (Book 1)
Power Play (Book 2)
Deconstruction (this book - Book 3)
As SOON as I realized where this chapter was going, the biggest, widest grin spread across my face so much I think my jaws now hurt. I knew this was coming eventually.....I just didn’t know exactly when it would be.
“Conner, I’m Sapphire Angel.” I jumped out of my seat and accidentally woke up my cat at that line. xD
It’s so heartwarming that Conner took it relatively well and didn’t blow up at her for keeping the truth hidden for so long, even after their relationship started (aggghhhh, I STILL miss John). She definitely got a little more impulsive after she changed forms, but I guess I’d understand; the doubt aura can be a disadvantage just as much as it can be a benefit. If she WANTED to tell someone, she’d have to do something more to confirm it besides transforming, since the uncertainty would surely get in the way. If only the doubt aura could be configured to be selective.....that’d be convenient. Like Conner said, I can only imagine how it also must’ve been for him, having to live with having had a fling with Sapphire Angel back when he was also getting along with Beth, before he knew they were one and the same. The guilt must’ve affected him quite a bit.
Still, looks like everything turned out okay! And it ends with them passionately going at it.....so wholesome. Let’s just hope that Conner doesn’t run afoul of WarTech or any of the other bad guys now, or else we’re REALLY going to be in for it.
Ethan, Stanley Devor, Raven Tristan, and Conner all now know (albeit Raven forced it out of her). It’s fully up to Beth whether she wants to let Jack and Ross in. It’s her identity, so she gets to choose when to let it slip, if at all. But for now.....so relieved that Conner’s in on it now. He should’ve already been told way before this, in my opinion.
Enjoying those Chick-Fil-A chicken biscuits, Mantis? I’d have some myself as well, but you know. Peanut oil and all that.