Blessed: Academy of the Seraph

by Brandi Elledge

  I glared at him as he shut the door, but the moment it clicked, I changed into something else. All I needed now was to be paraded around campus in my Mickey Mouse shirt and panties.

  I brushed my hair and teeth and was just sliding on my shoes when he entered my room … without knocking.

  “Hello, privacy?”

  “It’s been five minutes,” he said. “I’m a man of my word.”

  I begrudgingly followed him out of my room and building. We cut across campus and went behind a large building that held equipment for lawn care. Then we took a path through the woods where the trees were so thick that the sunlight barely came through the underbrush. Pretty and hella creepy at the same time.

  Joking, I asked. “Are you planning my death?”

  With a sexy grin, he looked over a shoulder at me. “You said something similar to me on testing day.” His green eyes sparkled with amusement. “No, I’m not planning your death, but then again, I’m not much of a planner.”

  “Well, that’s comforting.”

  “Glad I could help.”

  It was almost like we were flirting, but that would be insane, because the fierce warrior in front of me wouldn’t do something so teenage-ish.

  We kept walking down the path, and I tried not to ogle his butt, but dang it, Remy was right. It was super nice.

  I sighed, thinking of my friend. I was pretty sure she was avoiding me. I had to find her after this and explain why I had run. If she would listen, that was.

  The path eventually led us to a small lawn in front of a tiny cabin.

  “This is where I live. I’m close to the school in case the students need me, but far enough away that I can have some peace and quiet when it’s needed.”

  “Cool.” Why am I at his home?

  He opened the door, and I followed him, my eyes darting everywhere as I tried to get a glimpse of the commander’s home and learn a little about who he really was.

  The house was warm and friendly. There was a kitchen that flowed into the living room that had a tiny fireplace. Everything smelled of cedar and was neat and orderly. I expected nothing less of the commander.

  He leaned a hip against the kitchen counter. “I know that you are upset, confused, and scared. This is normally a lot for students to take in without having someone try to murder them. I haven’t been able to find out who it was, and Jase is not getting a visual on his end. I will make sure that you are safe here, though.”

  I dropped my gaze to my black sneakers that the academy had provided. To say I was a little embarrassed that he had come to my rescue yesterday was an understatement.

  “I understand why you ran, but no matter what Jase’s visions are, you can’t run off again. I have a suggestion.”

  “What’s that?”

  “A binding spell.”

  “Um … yeah, no offense,” I said, “but I’m not really liking what that’s implying.”

  He crossed his huge arms over his chest. Tattoos swirled around his biceps and down his forearms.

  I swallowed hard and focused back on my feet. If I started drooling now, it’d be a hell of a lot more embarrassing than getting rescued from some demons.

  “It’s safe, Gabriella. It would join our emotions together, so I’d know if you were ever in trouble. It’s also like a magical GPS; I could track you no matter where you went.” Before I could say anything, he held up a hand. “I’ll teach you how to block me out if you ever decided you wanted some emotional privacy, and this is also undoable. If you decide it’s too invasive, we can have the binding removed.”

  I barely knew the commander, yet I trusted him. Still, I asked, “Can I think about it?”

  He nodded. “Of course. Binding your emotions to someone is a big deal. Just keep in mind it could keep you alive.”

  He walked over to a bookshelf. “I know you have questions, and I want you to have answers. I have some priceless books and artifacts at my home that I won’t turn over to the library. I would like for you to see them, to have a better understanding of the archangels—why they did what they did and what they are continuing to do.”

  I didn’t say anything. My emotions were all over the place. The dreams of the angels were fresh on my mind. I needed to know what became of the blessed.

  He ushered me to a couch, and I sat on the soft cushions, trying not to fidget.

  “Would you like to know what I know about your lineage?”

  I couldn’t speak, so I just nodded as he sat down next to me, his thigh brushing up against mine.

  “During a plague, a long time ago, angels healed humans. When they did that, it left an imprint on the humans they touched. Not a big deal. These humans would live normal lives, and their children would, as well. Their whole line would be called demis. If you watch the demis train or spar, you will notice that they are a tad quicker, more flexible, or can judge their opponent better than a normal human. That would have been fine, if Lucifer and his angels hadn’t gotten involved.”

  My knee was frantically bouncing up and down. He reached out and squeezed it. When he removed his hand, I almost groaned from the loss of contact.

  “So, what happened next?”

  “The fallen, who we now refer to as the darken, have been on a mission ever since. They try to track down the blessed and give them some of their essence, too, to make the humans immortal.”

  “Why would they do that, though?”

  His green eyes flashed, turning the emerald color a little darker. “Because the balance was off. Immortals should have never been created. Now demons can come from the underworld when they please. The archangels are fighting, but they are vastly outnumbered since a few of them have died.”

  “Wait—What? Angels can’t die.”

  “Yes, by Azrael’s blade, also known as the Flaming Sword. Which wouldn’t have been a problem except Azrael lost his blade.”

  “How the hell did he lose a blade that can kill him?”

  “In a battle. With the angels at war with each other and each group trying to get ahead of the other, it all came down to that sword. Whoever possessed it would have the advantage, because it is the only thing that can kill an angel.

  “The archangels found a way to seal the underworld so that no more demons could come through, but they were still having to fight the darken, plus some of the blessed who have chosen the darken’s side.

  “Azrael protected the sword for centuries when, one day, him and his brothers and sisters were ambushed.”

  The hair on my arms rose. “What happened to them?”

  “They had gathered together for a celebration.” The commander had a faraway look in his eyes. “Word got out that all the archangels would be in the same place at the same time. They were all coming together for a girl who they all loved. That’s when they were ambushed. With the sheer number of darken and demons that showed up, they were able to wrestle the sword away from Azrael.

  “The battle raged in that small town, and when the darken and demons attacked the human girl, she got injured. Several of the archangels were injured, as well. Before they took their last breaths though, they blessed the girl. Seven archangels died that day.”

  “That’s horrible. So that’s how they lost the sword?”

  “They only lost it for a few minutes. Of course, it killed seven archangels in those minutes.”

  “How’d they get it back?”

  “The son of Lucifer got the sword back.”

  “Whoa. The son of Lucifer?”

  The commander nodded as he stared off into space. “Yes, he was there for the celebration, as well. His powers were stronger than even the strongest archangel, Sandalphon himself. In his rage, he got the sword back. The darken ran off like the cowards they are, and the demons were slain.

  “Azrael, in his grief of losing so many of his brothers and sisters, decided to hide the sword somewhere nobody would think to look. He knelt next to that human girl and poured the sword into her being. He put in enough power that she�
��d return again in a few centuries, giving her enough time that the darken wouldn’t remember her. She took her last breath … and the sword with her.”

  An uneasy feeling settled upon me. “Commander, who was that girl?”

  He finally looked at me, his green eyes holding an emotion that I couldn’t quite decipher. “You, Gabriella. The girl was you.”

  My whole world tilted.

  He reached out to steady me with his warm hands. “Are you okay?”

  I clenched my jaw. “As okay as any normal person would be after learning they had been reincarnated and carried some kind of angel killing sword in her body.”

  “It’s important that you tell no one about this.”

  I glared at him. “You think? Do I look like I want to die again?”

  As I sat there, my mind reeling, he stood and made his way to the kitchen. He came back a few minutes later with some food and a cup of warm tea.

  “Eat,” he commanded.

  I picked up the bread and cheese and began to chew. I swallowed, even though the food felt like lead.

  “I have a million questions.”

  “I’m sure you do.” He reached out and tucked a stray piece of hair behind my ears. I tried to ignore the flush I felt over the simple touch. “Why don’t you start with the hardest question?”

  “Will I be hunted?”

  His eyes turned a darker shade of green. I was beginning to recognize the deeper color meant he was angry. “Only if people find out. In that case, I’ll kill them myself.”

  My hands shook as I took a sip of tea. “Which archangels touched me?”

  “Azrael, Gabriel, Ariel, Raphael, Uriel, Jeremiel, Chamuel, and possibly Haniel. They should have been able to heal you, but since you had been stabbed with the Flaming Sword, their powers, even combined, were not enough.”

  “Are they the same ones who died?”

  He shook his head, his black hair falling across his forehead. “Azrael and Ariel did not die. Zadkiel did not touch you that day, but he perished in the fight.

  “As Haniel was dying, she fell close to you, her hand grazing you before you took your last breath, so it’s assumed that she poured the last bit of her power into you, as well. Gabriel’s wound was superficial, but instead of choosing to heal herself, she chose to pour her remaining power into you.”

  “Why? That makes zero sense. An angel sacrificing themself for a human? What am I missing?” I cradled the hot cup in my hands, praying that some of its warmth would seep into my bones. “This is a lot to take in.”

  “I know. There is someone that I can ask to come here and talk with you. I think he would be able to answer a lot of your questions.” He tapped the book on my lap. “Why don’t you read about the academies and, while you’re taking a break from the hard stuff, I’ll go make that call; see when my friend can come to talk with you.”

  I still had so many questions, but he was right; I needed a break. I felt overwhelmed. “Thank you, Commander.”

  His smile was beyond compare. “You can call me Finn when we’re not in school.”

  I cleared my throat. “Thanks, Finn.”

  He was quiet for a few seconds before he dismissed himself from the living room.

  I read until my back grew sore from hunching over. I learned mostly about the archangels, the true defenders of the human race, and a little about the fallen, the darken. My eyes were growing heavy as I closed the book and stood.

  Finn immediately offered me supper, but I declined. I didn’t want him to think I was a complete charity case all the time.

  “See you tomorrow after your last class,” he said sternly. “No more skipping.”

  “Sure. Thanks.”

  My hand was on the door when Finn said, “Gabriella, please think about the binding. With everything that I’ve told you, I’m hoping that you’ll understand how important it is to keep you safe.”

  I gave him a nod before I shut the front door. He was right; I already felt as if I was being hunted. If anyone knew what I possessed inside my body, I would forever be hunted. The darken and their army of demons would be after me, and I had a feeling they wouldn’t stop until my head was mounted on a wall.

  I was lost in my thoughts as I slowly walked back down the path and across the field toward the cafeteria. I nervously looked around, but no one was paying me any attention, yet I felt like there were eyes on me. I’d learned over the years to rely on my gut. I then noticed Dan following me at a distance. The commander must have told them to keep tabs on me until he could convince me to do the binding spell.

  Truth was I needed to learn as much as I could and quickly. I would start paying attention in Archangels 101, and even though I had never been a fan of the dreams, I might have to start taking naps during the day.

  The next morning, I did my best to listen to every single word Mrs. Fields said. I was getting remarkably better in my hand-to-hand training class. Weapons class was still not my favorite, so I was glad when the bell rang, announcing it was officially lunch.

  I grabbed my lunch tray and made my way over to my favorite tree. I looked around for Remy, but she was obviously still pissed at me for leaving the academy without telling her. It was clear that she was avoiding me.

  Halfway to my tree, I noticed “the crew” had backed one of the newbies up against the corner of the building that housed the cafeteria. There, between the shrubberies, I overheard Marlie-Beth say, “Devon! Level one power; can you believe it? Why are they even allowing her to stay here? She is just tying up a room and wasting the teachers’ time.”

  I seriously doubted she cared one way or another about the school funding.

  She continued to murmur a couple of hateful remarks, her blonde hair swinging with every word. She was clearly beyond upset because someone who she considered a nobody dared to go and breathe the same air as her. What a joke.

  I kept walking, telling myself, “Not my monkeys, not my circus,” when Devon’s next words stopped me in my tracks.

  “Why don’t me and the boys teach her a lesson?”

  I looked back over to where a small crowd was now gathering. A couple of boys were giving each other high-fives, and the poor girl they had backed against the wall looked like she was going to barf at any moment.

  I scanned the area to see if any teachers were going to intervene, but they all seemed to be busy—whether it was on purpose or not, I couldn’t say. I felt my shoulders sag, knowing that I was only about to make things worse for myself.

  I put on my determined face and started marching over to the corner of the building. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Richard heading toward me. I gently gave him a shake of my head. I wanted to handle this, but knowing that he was there in case I needed him made me feel braver.

  I didn’t even recognize my own voice when I said, “Excuse me. How about we all quit acting like assholes and let the poor girl go?”

  Marlie-Beth sneered. “Why? What are you going to do about it? You think just because you’re screwing the commander that you can get away with talking to me like that?” She laughed hysterically. “Devon, please handle her.”

  “I’m so confused,” I said. “Is he your bitch?”

  The terrified girl still in Devon’s grip shook her head side to side, trying to warn me, but if I got my ass kicked, I wanted to go out in style.

  Devon relaxed his hold on the freshman long enough for her to squeeze past him. She spared me an appreciative glance before high-tailing it out of there, for which I didn’t blame her one bit.

  I turned around, trying to make a hasty retreat myself, but found myself walking into a brick wall. One of Devon’s friends stood in front of me with a smile on his face. I thought he was grabbing my tray to steady it, so that the mashed potatoes and gravy didn’t go all over his collared shirt, but that wasn’t the case. He grabbed the tray and slung it onto the grass. I gave a little sigh at the wasted food and braced myself for what was going to come next.

  He brought a lock of
my hair up to his face and inhaled deeply. “I don’t think we have ever been properly introduced; they call me Fridge because I am unmovable.”

  I thought it would be best if I just kept my mouth shut. I tried to sidestep him, only for him to block my exit with a beefy arm.

  “Well, now, that’s not very nice. I don’t think our conversation is over yet.”

  I heard Devon and the others laughing behind me, as I saw Remy flying toward me, all mama bear. She came to a screeching halt an inch away from the beefy guy standing in front of me.

  “What do you want me to do?” Remy asked at the same time the beefy guy leaned in really close to me, as if he were about to kiss me, while he moved his hands up my rib cage.

  Ignoring Remy, I braced myself and prayed my aim was perfect. Then, raising my knee, I rammed him as hard as I could in the groin.

  Unmovable my ass. He hit the ground hard.

  I moved around him to head back to the open courtyard where more people were starting to gather to watch the show. The trees began to blow, not because there was wind, but they were picking up on my frightened state. Not that anyone noticed. They were all busy staring wide-eyed at the boy who was groaning in pain.

  “I’ll get you for that,” the boy groaned out as Devon tried to help him back up to his feet.

  Remy cheered, “Thatta girl!” She pointed a finger at the whole group. “You little shits just wait. I’m going to make all your lives miserable.”

  Marlie-Beth crossed her arms over her chest as she gave me a calculated look. I gave her a wink as I walked away. I passed a pissed-off Richard, who was stalking toward the group. I said a silent prayer that he would rip them all a new one.

  Hannah met me as I was entering the cafeteria. She grabbed my hand while she balanced her tray in the other. “I caught the tail end of the that from the lunch line.” She glared at all the students who were staring at me. “Come on; let’s go to your room. We can share my food.”

  Now that my adrenaline wasn’t pumping anymore, I felt like crying. That could have gone really bad.