Imorean dropped his gaze to the ground and nodded. His chest felt hollow and empty. He swallowed hard, crushing down the loneliness that threatened to overwhelm him.
“That’s how many he used? Five hundred demons?”
“Subtlety is not Vortigern’s strong point.”
“… How do you know he used so many?”
“I saw them. Like angels, demons can make themselves invisible to human beings, unless they want to be seen, that is. Supernatural creatures however, can always see each other. Guises, shields, glamour, call it what you will, none of them work on other higher beings. I saw them as they flew toward the airport. That was when I knew I had to get your classmates away from there. It was save them or…”
“Or save my family?”
Gabriel was silent. His hazel eyes flicked away and held a steady gaze at the opposite wall.
Imorean shook his head. “I see.”
“My orders… the priority was to keep the students safe. I’m sorry I couldn’t save your mother, Imorean. It is something I will never forgive myself for,” said Gabriel, his hazel eyes cloudy.
“There was nothing you could have done.”
“You absolve me from blame when I am the one who it rests the heaviest upon. You must learn to do the same for yourself. You and I were both trapped in circumstances beyond anything we could ever have controlled. I beg of you, Imorean, try to understand that. Don’t be so hard on yourself.”
Imorean sighed heavily and after a short, damp staring contest with the tile floor, he looked back up at Gabriel. He paused as he met the Archangel’s eyes. In them, he saw a similar version of the empty cavern in his own soul. Hazel eyes were ringed by tears. Gabriel was feeling loss too. It was not sympathy that he could see, but rather empathy. Imorean put a hand over his mouth as his own brown eyes clouded with more tears and covered a few sobs. A hand landed on his shoulder and squeezed gently.
“We are your brothers, Imorean. You may not see us as such, but we see you as one of us. We always have. We will not leave you alone in this, but you need to let us in if we are to help. Let us in. Let us help.”
Imorean looked up at Gabriel again, not realizing his head had dropped. The younger Archangel was not as powerful as Michael, nor was he as ruthless, but he had something that Michael did not. Kindness, empathy and love. Gabriel was not mounted on a pedestal. He was still an Archangel, one of the mightiest soldiers in the universe, but toed a line level with the hybrids. He lived with one foot in the world of the angels, and the other in the world of the humans, bridging the gap between the two.
“Come on,” said Gabriel with a sympathetic smile. “I’m sure Michael will be wondering where we’ve gone to. Are you ready for your new position?”
“I think so.”
“We’ll guide you as much as we can, Imorean,” said Gabriel, his regular smile back in place as he led the way back toward the gymnasium.
“Thanks,” nodded Imorean, knowing he would need Michael and Gabriel as his supports. His brothers.
Chapter 10
Imorean found himself standing in front of his classmates. He counted them. Including himself, there were only eight members of the elite squad. Toddy, Roxy, Colton, Baxter, Ryan, Dustin and Mandy. These were the seven angels he would be leading and be in charge of. The lives of these seven hybrids lay in his hands and in the orders he would be giving. Seven of his friends. Imorean took a deep breath. He hoped he was ready for this.
“Good afternoon, students,” said Michael, approaching from behind Imorean, the wooden gym floor creaking slightly. “Today we will be officially assigning positions within the squad. As I am sure that you can tell Imorean had been appointed squad leader. Today we will assign team leaders and positions therein. Team leaders will take charge of, and be responsible for, two and three people each, respectively. Gabriel and I have already selected who will be where. Team leaders, you are free to accept or to decline the position.”
Imorean jumped as Michael elbowed him lightly.
“Call out your team leaders, squad leader,” said the Archangel.
“Right,” nodded Imorean, feeling a little hesitant. He reached into his pocket and pulled out the piece of paper Michael had given him earlier.
“The team leaders here are Colton and Ryan,” said Imorean. “Um. Colton, you will take charge of Roxy, Mandy and Baxter. Ryan, you’re in charge of Toddy and Dustin.”
There were murmurs between the students standing before Imorean and the white-haired teenager swallowed hard. He hoped he was doing well.
“You will all be given your swords today,” said Michael. “You will store them in your dorm rooms and will not remove them unless ordered.”
“Over here,” called Gabriel, attracting the students’ attention to the safe in the corner.
“Go,” nodded Michael.
Imorean watched as the squad, his squad, rushed over to Gabriel. Most of them seemed eager to get their weapons. Mandy, Toddy and Dustin were all chattering excitedly as they crossed the gym toward the safe. Ryan and Baxter though, were the most eager by far. Roxy and Colton were far more reserved. Imorean wasn’t very surprised. He saw them exchange a glance. They weren’t just reserved, they were nervous.
“It will all get easier, more natural,” said Michael, still standing at Imorean’s shoulder. “The first day of doing something like this is the hardest.”
“I’m sure,” nodded Imorean. He paused, wondering if it was a good time to ask Michael the question he had been pondering for some time.
“What is on your mind?”
Imorean turned. Of course, Michael already knew there was a question forming. It was moments like this that their connection was nothing more than intrusive. He bounced on the balls of his feet and asked.
“I know we’ll be seeing combat as a squad, but when?”
“I cannot answer that question clearly for you, Imorean. I wish that I could. I have an awful feeling that it will be soon. That is why Gabriel and I have decided to give you your weapons today, so we will perhaps be able to hurry up your combat training.”
Imorean nodded silently. He had thought that was what Michael would say. How encouraging…
A few moments later all the students had returned to their places in the squad, complete with their swords.
“For today, we will practice drawing,” said Michael, reaching one hand back to rest on the pommel of his own. “It can be difficult if you have never done it before. Bear in mind that you must learn how to do this quickly and with a sense of urgency. The quickness of your draw can mean the difference between your life and your death. Today, however, we will go slowly so that you can practice the motion. Spread out and do not hit anyone.”
Imorean copied Michael’s motion and rested his own hand on the handle of his sword. The metal beneath his palm was freezing cold. He moved his hand lower until his fingers found the warmer, leather grip. Imorean lowered his eyebrows and tightened his grasp, letting his hand find a natural position.
“On three, draw slowly. Find a rhythm and pattern of motion that feels natural to you. Not everyone will draw in the same way. One. Two. Three.”
Imorean brought his arm up, the sword still gripped tightly in his hand, and brought it out in a curving motion over his head. He had never handled an angel weapon before, but somehow, he felt as though he had been working with this sword all his life. Imorean took a deep breath and locked his jaw. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Michael looking at him. There was a shadow of a smile on the Archangel’s face. It took a moment or two for Michael to turn his attention back to the other students.
“You will have drawn your sword with your dominant hand. Of course, you can wield a sword with both hands and it is recommended that you do so. If you do not, you can seriously injure your dominant arm. These weapons may feel light right now, but you will tire after holding them for a short time. Take a few moments now to simply feel the sword. Space yourselves out further and measure its weight in your han
d. Feel free to swing it and practice a few basic maneuvers. I would like for you to get a feel for the weapon you will be handling. Practice drawing a few more times. Do not attempt to fly with it and do not, under any circumstance, threaten or move to engage another student in swordplay. We will practice all of these things at a later date. These are not toys. These are some of the few weapons in existence that can kill you. Treat them as such.”
Imorean watched as his squad obeyed Michael’s orders and began to spread out over the gym. There was plenty of room for all of them. Imorean retreated to one of the corners and held his sword loosely in one hand as he watched his fellow classmates weigh up their swords. Baxter, of course, had no trouble with his and was swinging it about with ease. Ryan was passing his from hand to hand, shuffling his shoulders and feeling the weapon’s weight. There was an expression of focus clouding the red-haired boy’s face. Toddy and Dustin were rather close to each other and were quite happily maneuvering their swords. Their movements were slower than Baxter’s or Ryan’s and were more hesitant. Roxy was waving hers in the air like a conductor’s baton, her eyes riveted to the sharp, trembling point. Mandy was watching Roxy from the corners of her eyes and slowly copying her movements. Imorean smiled. Working cohesively with all these students suddenly seemed as though it would be possible. His smile dropped when his eyes landed on Colton. Despite the fact that the younger boy’s sword was much smaller than anyone else’s, he was having a great deal of trouble lifting it. Even from a good distance away, Imorean could see that Colton’s hands were shaking. Before he could cross the floor to go and help his friend, Gabriel approached Colton from the other side and began to coach him. Imorean knew that Colton was in extremely capable hands and started to maneuver his own sword. All of the movements were somehow familiar, like a memory of long ago, and the sword felt like an extension of his arm.
Imorean looked up as Gabriel spoke.
“All right, guys! Let’s wrap this up. We don’t want you overexerting yourselves.”
Imorean walked briskly to where the Archangel was standing. His arms and shoulders were burning. Gabriel stopped him with a hand to his chest before he crossed the entirety of the gym floor.
“Let them know they are to place their swords back in their dorms and meet in the lobby. We need to give you solid schedules.”
“Okay,” nodded Imorean.
“Sheathe your sword,” said Gabriel.
Imorean hesitated for a moment then reached backward and grabbed hold of the scabbard, steadying it, before sweeping his sword back over his head and aiming it toward the scabbard. There was a satisfying sound of metal on leather as his sword slid back into its sheath.
“Well done,” said Gabriel, smiling slightly. “If I had ever doubted that you were Michael’s angel, I’m convinced of it now.”
“Why is that?” asked Imorean.
“I’ll tell you later. Your squad is here. Tend to them.”
“Right,” nodded Imorean, watching as Gabriel walked quickly toward the gym doors. Imorean hesitated for a moment. Michael had disappeared a few moments before. Both Archangels had left him to attend to the squad on his own. Had that been intentional?
“Okay,” said Imorean, turning back to the squad. “Gabriel says we need to store these back in our rooms, so sheathe them and take them upstairs to your dorms. When you’re finished, meet back in the lobby.”
“Whatever you say, squad leader,” hissed Ryan. Imorean suddenly heard venom in the other’s voice. He took a deep breath. Ryan’s façade of friendliness from the night before had vanished along with the Archangels. Imorean swallowed hard and steeled himself.
“That’s an order, Ryan.”
“An order, huh?”
“Yes.”
Ryan scoffed. “You’re only giving us orders because you’re the favorite… You don’t deserve that position.”
The gym fell silent. Imorean felt as though he had been slapped. His very blood was cold. Was this the same person he had been friendly with the night before? Their truce was really over then.
“What? No response? I thought not,” said Ryan with a smirk. Then he snarled. “You don’t deserve that position. They just feel sorry for you. I mean, you’re alone. They have to do something for you to make you feel special. Orphans always get special treatment though.”
Imorean’s wings snapped out. His heart thundered, his muscles tensed and his entire body shook. All around, he was barely conscious of the floorboards rattling underfoot, the lights flickering and the metal hoops overhead singing as they vibrated. Imorean blinked and his vision flashed white. The world tuned out. Hearing vanished. Taste and smell were no more. He was no longer in the gym. Sight remained and all he could see was Ryan. They were the only living beings in this world of white. Imorean spoke, his voice echoing in his ears from down a long tunnel.
“Say that again!”
He was moving. Half gliding, half walking. Both and neither. Fury and guilt were pressing him down. How dare Ryan insinuate that he was squad leader simply because his family had been killed. How dare he.
Then color flashed into his white vision. Dyed blue. Bright red. Yellow. Green. Hands were on his chest, shoving him backwards.
“Imorean! Stop!”
Chest heaving, Imorean blinked hard. His senses returned. He was damp with cold sweat. He was in the gym. Had he ever really left? Roxy stood between him and Ryan, both her hands pushed on his chest, and she stared up at him with wide, horrified eyes. He took a deep breath. Toddy, Dustin, Colton, Mandy and Baxter looked as though they were seeing him entirely differently. Ryan looked nothing short of terrified. Quickly, Imorean pulled himself together.
“Put your swords away. Meet Michael and Gabriel in the lobby. We need to get schedules.”
No one moved.
Imorean raised his voice. “Now!”
There was a scramble of activity. Dustin, Ryan and Baxter fought with each other to be first out of the gym. Mandy stepped very slightly in front of Colton, standing between the smaller boy and Imorean, a calculating look on her face. She looked shaken. Imorean kept his own face impassive. In silence, Mandy and Colton left the gym. Imorean looked sharply at Toddy and Roxy. They stared at him owlishly.
“What?” he snapped.
“Don’t,” said Roxy with an exasperated sigh. She rolled her eyes hard and turned, moving towards the door. At the exit, she turned. “Don’t act like you’re angry with us. I stopped you from tearing Ryan apart. I know he said way too much, but don’t get angry with us. We aren’t the problem. You’re the one who went into Archangel mode because you let the crap he spews get to you.”
The door slammed hard as Roxy left. There was silence for a moment and Imorean pinched the bridge of his nose.
“You okay, man?” asked Toddy, putting a hand on Imorean’s shoulder.
“Yeah. First day on the job. I’m doing great, aren’t I?”
“You got through the first meeting without killing someone. I’d say that’s an achievement.”
“Toddy–”
“Hey, you’re stressed. In the last few weeks, you had the worst thing in the world happen to you. Ryan shouldn’t bait you.”
“We can’t blame Ryan for this.”
“Well, maybe you should talk to Michael? He might be able to help you.”
“One-on-one training with Michael? Might actually be a good idea.”
“Of course, it is. Have you ever known me to have a bad idea?”
Chapter 11
Imorean looked around the entrance hall as he sank down onto one of the plush couches. The soft lights overhead cast a comforting, orange glow on them and spilled out through the great, glass front onto the snow. It was dark outside. All the students were gathered in the lobby and Gabriel was roving among them. Michael was nowhere to be seen. Imorean turned his eyes back to the paper schedule in his hand. Each weekday was filled. Their weekends were still free. A relief. He had wondered if Michael would work them on Saturday and Sunday a
s well. Physical training started at eight o’clock in the morning. After nine o’clock, they had a time slot for breakfast with classes starting at eleven and going until three-thirty. Imorean’s eyes scanned the rest of the paper. From three-thirty until five they had teambuilding. He frowned. Teambuilding? He glanced up at Ryan. Teambuilding was essential. His eyes landed on the last item on the paper. Leadership Evolution. The only words written were, To be discussed. Imorean’s frown deepened in confusion. That sounded horribly vague. Horribly Michael-ish.
“Okay, guys,” said Gabriel, clapping his hands and calling attention to himself. Imorean looked up and flashed Roxy and Toddy a small smile as they sat down on each side of him. Roxy’s anger seemed to have died.
“Take a look at your schedule. You’ll see that on it is written your position within the squad, but also the job you’ll be assigned.”
“Job?” asked Colton.
“Yes. Now, as you didn’t get to choose your position, you’ll be able to choose your job. We have medic, navigator and weather tracker. You’ll each have a position.”
Imorean looked at the paper. Navigator would probably be the best. He had always had a pretty good sense of direction, but something else in addition to being squad leader? Was Michael trying to overwork him?
Colton was the first to speak. “I’ll take navigation.”
“I’ll do weather tracker. Seems interesting enough,” said Mandy.
Baxter looked up sharply. “I’ll do weather tracker as well.”
Imorean inclined his head and looked between Mandy and Baxter. Next to him, Toddy stiffened and spoke up,
“I’ll do weather tracker too.”
“Perfect,” nodded Gabriel. “Now, we still need one more navigator and two medics.”
“I’ll take nav,” said Dustin. Imorean smiled at him and the brown-haired teenager sent a small, restrained smile back. Imorean sighed in relief, feeling better to know that his entire squad wasn’t completely terrified of him.
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