Dark Halo (An Angel Eyes Novel)

by Dittemore, Shannon

  He crosses his legs and sits, our knees nearly touching.

  “Now, tell me. What is it that you want?” he asks.

  “To spend my life with Jake,” I say. Because it’s the honest, if selfish, answer. I don’t think the Prince minds selfish. He won’t judge me for it. There’s a sick sort of relief in that.

  “It makes sense, you know? Even to me. The two of you are beautiful, gifted, talented above others your age. And more than that, you love each other. I’ve spoken to him, and I know he loves you. Selflessly loves you. That’s uncommon. Even the Creator’s seen fit to bring you together for whatever purpose He’s working toward.” With a delicate finger he brushes away the salt that’s gathered on his cheek. “So the question begs to be asked: why are you afraid?”

  The answer’s an easy one. The seed of it planted by Jake the night I found out the ring was missing. “I think we’ve messed it up. We’ve done something . . . or maybe it’s me, maybe I’ve done something . . .”

  The Prince looks genuinely confused, and I’m saddled with this need to make him understand.

  “Maybe it’s nothing that’s happened yet, you know? Maybe it’s what I’m going to do. He’s all-knowing, God is. Omniscient, right?” I’m flustered, talking too fast. “He sees something in my future. Something I’m going to do that will change . . .”

  The Prince leans toward me. It’s a small movement, but it steadies me somehow, reminds me I’m not alone here. “That will change what?”

  I breathe deeply, force my mouth to slow. “Maybe I’m going to do something that will change God’s mind.” The salt shifts beneath me, and I pull my legs closer to my body. It’s honest, what I’ve said. But the words are out there now, and the silence that wraps them is uncomfortable. “About me. About Jake. About us together.”

  He’s thinking. I can almost see the mirrors in his eyes spinning with the effort. It’s another eight seconds before he speaks.

  “What made you so certain you had His seal of approval in the first place?”

  “The engagement ring.” The words are out of my mouth before I’ve considered the consequences. I’ve handed him something. A truth he didn’t know. A weapon.

  He cocks his head, surprise registering. “He made you a promise, then. The Creator.”

  “It wasn’t a promise. Not really.”

  “And then He took it away, didn’t He? The ring.”

  “How do you know that?”

  &sD1A “I’ve known Him a long time, Elle. His ways are not so mysterious to me. I bet it was beautiful. But you could be right. Perhaps it wasn’t a promise. Just a simple manipulation,” the Prince continues, “to get you involved, to see His plan move forward.”

  “He wouldn’t manipulate—”

  “Call it what you will, Elle, but letting you two believe you were meant for one another and then taking back the sentiment sounds a lot like manipulation to me. I’m rather an expert in that field.”

  “I’m sure there’s a reason,” I say, my resolve faltering.

  “I’m sure there is,” he says, his words dripping with bitterness. “And I’m sure it serves His purposes nicely. But I wonder if it serves yours.”

  “Mine aren’t important.”

  “That is where I disagree.”

  I’m silent. The chill left with the images of my bleeding father, and now I feel the burn of the sun on my face and neck. Sweat drips from my brow, and I hardly want to fight with the father of lies.

  “Do you recognize this?” he asks.

  Between us, on the salt platform, Canaan’s halo appears. It sits there in its crown form, shining like always. Unchanged, untarnished. I could use its strength right now. Its fire. I reach out, but the Prince grabs it first.

  “Do you know why Canaan was given this crown?” he asks.

  “Because he refused to join your rebellion.”

  “I love that word: rebellion,” he says, nostalgia brightening his face, “but that’s not precisely what it was. Rebellion indicates that there was one person in charge, but that’s not accurate. The Creator had divided His kingdom, had given responsibility to many of His angels. It was only when I excelled that things changed. He didn’t like sharing His glory. He was the one who incited the rebellion, Elle. He demanded the angels choose. It was not my doing. When a third of them chose me, His anger was kindled. I was cast out, deprived of the only home I’d ever known.”

  “It’s a sad story, but I don’t believe it.”

  “Unlike the Creator, belief isn’t something I require. Doubt is only natural. You’ve been subjected to a lot of information—propaganda, if you will—but there is something you should believe: I can ensure you and Jake a long life together.”

  His declaration takes me off guard. At first I feel relief—relief that Jake and I forever is still a possibility—and then my stomach heaves. I turn away from the Prince, vomiting over the side of the platform. It’s the kind of offering that feels &se