Mr. Dubois looked thunderstruck. Mrs. Dubois was trying to hide a smile, and Noland wondered if she had already asked them this question herself. Elders Joash and Zion however looked as if they would burn Achaia alive for her audacity.
“You do not get to pose questions to us, Achaia bat Shael.”
“Then you can not pose questions to me. And as I have already explained, the incident was entirely of my making. So I am left to wonder why you wasted the trip.” She was staring Joash down with a look of such loathing, Noland was tempted to cringe, but he didn’t.
“You will never be one of us.” It seemed that Joash for once, was at a loss of anything else to say. Noland had never seen him look so angry.
“You think very highly of yourself. I think we both know, you don’t really have a say in that matter. I think you also assume too much in thinking I want anything to do with your council. I have yet to see your worth.”
Noland looked over to see a very distinct look of pride on Shael’s face.
“So let me make this clear. My allegiance will not be pledged to you. That is not to say that I have or ever will pledge allegiance to Lucifer. It is my business and not yours who I pledge myself to. And you can keep your nose and the rest of your vile self out of my endeavors.”
Noland was surprised to look over and see Bale hiding a smile and perhaps even a laugh. Noland, Emile, and Olivier were watching in shock and horror, knowing that if any of them had ever spoken in such a way the ramifications would have been severe. And yet, Achaia was baring all.
There was a tense and awkward moment of silence where everyone in the room was watching Achaia and Joash stare each other down, bright green eyes against unfeeling blue ones.
“You’re free to leave.” Achaia said coolly.
Joash looked as if he had been smacked, and that was the last straw. “You do not dismiss me, you—”
“No, but I do.” Bale said cutting him off. “You forget that I am not fallen, I am not of your council, and you are trespassing on my hospitality. The young lady is right. You neglected your own, and as far as I am concerned, and I am a delegate from heaven,” he reminded them, “you have forfeited your right to punish them. The battle they faced, bravely,” he looked at Noland then, and smiled, “was punishment enough. You are dismissed.”
Joash and Zion looked outraged and stormed out of the room. Emile’s parents followed, pausing only for a moment for Mrs. Dubois to caress each of her son’s faces. A motherly look of relief washed over her face.
“Did you just call me a young lady?” Achaia asked, once the council members were gone.
Bale rolled his eyes, but smiled. “Whatever is coming, and something is coming, you have an ally in me, Achaia bat Shael.”
Noland smiled.
Back in New York, the warmth of spring was thawing winter. Achaia sat in the bedroom of her apartment with the windows open to the fire escape outside. It had been a week since they had come home from Russia. Conversation between her and her father had been strained, awkward.
Upon arriving home, she was given the option of going back to mortal school or training full time with the others under the tutelage of Yallaina’s father Jacob. Achaia had been so focused on figuring out the spiritual world, and finding her father, she’d never given a second’s thought toward what day to day life as a Nephilim would look like.
She knew she couldn’t take it all back. There was no denying what she was now. The council had been less than enthusiastic about her venture into Hell to find her father. They distrusted her and her father now more than ever.
She couldn’t help feeling that she didn’t belong in their world any more than the mortal world. Could she train, grow up to be a Guardian and protector of humanity? It sounded nice, helping people, serving a greater purpose… but would the council ever really allow it? Or would she be more of a vigilante? That wouldn’t pay the bills, but she had a hard time considering joining the mortal workforce… Her father seemed to make both work… kind of.
Achaia laid back on her bed, and stared at the ceiling fan, turning around and around. She hadn’t seen any of the others since they’d gotten back. Yellaina and Amelia had been so happy to see her, but she was worried that she had tainted the reputations of Olivier, Emile, Noland and Bale. Bale didn’t even like her, yet had gone into Hell for her, and he was going to pay for it, she was sure.
There was a knock on her door and she jumped up.
“Sorry,” her father said in the doorway. “You’re probably going to be jumpy for a while. But you’ll get used to it all.” He smiled sadly. “This isn’t what I wanted for you.” He came into her room and sat on the bed next to her.
“What did you want exactly?” Achaia asked. She was happy to have her father back, but after the relief had worn off, it was quite evident that she was very angry with him. She felt guilty for not acting happier to have him back. She knew she wasn’t making much of a homecoming for him, but she was so angry. “There were just so many lies… I don’t know what to believe.” She said honestly.
“I know,” Shael said. “I expected this. I don’t expect it to be okay overnight, but I need you to understand, that I wanted you to be saved from all of this.”
“From what I am?” Achaia asked standing and pacing the floor in front of her windows.
“Look,” he said, “we will have plenty of time to talk about all of this, but you have a visitor.”
“Who?” Achaia asked.
“I believe his name is Olivier?” Shael said.
“Olivier?” Achaia asked, her anger subsiding. She walked quickly out of her room and down the short hall. Sure enough, Olivier was standing in front of the fireplace, his hands clasped behind his back. “Hey,” Achaia said coming into the room.
“Your dad?” Olivier started.
Achaia glanced down the hall just as her father’s bedroom door closed. “You’re good,” Achaia smiled.
“Dang, he is intimidating!” Olivier said letting out a sigh of relief. “I forgot your name when he answered the door. I asked to see Sheila.”
“Who’s Sheila?” Achaia laughed.
“I’ve never even actually met a Sheila!” Olivier said throwing his hands up and collapsing on the couch.
Achaia laughed and sat down next to him. “How are you?”
“I’m alright. Yellaina is still mad at me for not letting her come to help you.” Achaia nodded her sympathy.
“I’m glad you didn’t though. That tunnel out was rough.” She winced remembering it. “What about Amelia?”
“She came around. She understands. She knows her gift can also be a liability.” He shrugged. “How are you?”
Achaia felt her face fall.
“Do you have nightmares, too?” Olivier asked.
“You have nightmares?” Achaia asked.
Olivier nodded. “That tunnel was bad.”
“What about the others?” Achaia asked.
“Well Noland doesn’t really show anything, does he?” Olivier said shrugging. “And Emile has had to put up with everyone’s anger, resentment, anxiety, blah blah blah,” Olivier said rolling his hand through the air to symbolize the apparently never-ending list. “But they all miss you.”
“I’ve just needed some space,” Achaia said, feeling guilty.
“I get that, I do. Processing room, it’s important. I just wanted to remind you that you’re not alone in all of this, and that we love you.”
Achaia couldn’t keep from startling at those last words.
Olivier smiled. “We do,” he said seriously. “You’re our family now.” He reached over and wrapped an arm around her and pulled her into a side hug. Achaia laid her head on his chest, and Olivier tucked it in under his chin. “Frenchy, we’re not just going to let you disappear. It’s time to come back.”
“Do you think I can do it?” Achaia asked. “Be a Guardian?”
“I think you can do whatever you want to, and there’s not a soul alive who could prevent it,�
�� Olivier smirked. “Not after the way you talked to Joash! You really gave him a—” Olivier boxed the air with his fists.
Achaia laughed, sitting back up. “You have so much more confidence in me than I do.”
“You’ll get there. And we’re going to need you to. I heard what Luc said to you down there.” Olivier looked very solemn all of a sudden. “He’s got it out for you now, for sure. This isn’t over.”
Achaia nodded, she knew it was true. She felt the truth of it every time an unforeseen noise sounded, or someone appeared unexpectedly. She was constantly on edge.
“You won a battle, but it may have started an entirely new war,” Olivier said bleakly.
“Well,” Achaia said, tucking up a knee to her chest, “when he comes I want to be ready.”
“So you’ll train with us?” Olivier asked excitedly.
Achaia looked back at her father’s closed bedroom door. “I want to make sure I know exactly how to fight him. I am going to be trained by the best.” Achaia said turning back to Olivier, “Wether he likes it or not.”
Olivier smiled down at her, looking at the whip wrapped around her wrist. “Have you named it yet?” He asked, looking back up to her face.
“I think so,” Achaia said, smiling. “I’m going to call him Akakios.”
“Innocence?” Olivier smirked.
Achaia smiled mischievously. “With what other weapon would you fight the father of lies?” She laughed and rubbed the scales of the snake with her index finger, as if he were a living pet. In some ways, she felt like he was. Noland had taught her that weapons each had their own personality.
“I was actually coming over to see if you wanted to go to the Farmacy?” Olivier smiled at her, hopefully. “Everyone has been a mess since we got back. I just want to talk to someone sane who isn’t mad at me, and appreciates the dynamic between Wolverine and Magneto.”
Achaia laughed and grabbed her sweat shirt off the coat rack. “I could use a float.”
“We’re going to need our strength if there is a war brewing,” Olivier half-joked.
Achaia opened the door, “Luc can come after me if he wants. I’m going to make sure we’re ready.”
About the Author
Brandy Ange is the YA author of The Kingdom Come Series. A published author of essays, poetry, and short stories since 2004, Transgression is her debut novel. With a BA in Bible, her fiction explores age old mysteries of the spiritual world, and mortal world alike. She currently resides on the barrier islands of North Carolina where she mentors at risk youth. For more information or to contact the author you can visit her website brandyange.me
Notes from the Author
The Brooklyn Farmacy and Soda Fountain is a real place! It is one of my favorite spots in Brooklyn and I highly suggest you all try it out if you’re ever in the neighborhood.
Brooklyn Farmacy
513 Henry Street
Brooklyn New York 11231
http://www.brooklynfarmacyandsodafountain.com/
Rapha House is an organization that I have admired and supported for years. They serve an important purpose in our world today, helping those who often cannot help themselves. For more details, and to see where a portion of the proceeds of this book have gone, visit their website.
https://raphahouse.org/
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