by Reid, Susan
“Keep me informed. I’m right here with you. I love you.” Cam answered.
I instantly felt better. “I love you too.”
After standing here alone in my own fearful thoughts for what seemed like forever in the silence, the doors finally opened. In paraded an older man and three older women.
They each glimpsed at me briefly, while making their way over to take a seat at the long table. Again, it was hard to read their expressions.
I couldn’t gauge what they were thinking either. If anything, I figured that they would all be relieved that I had managed to escape and return so quickly.
In their wake, two more people entered behind them. Their faces were completely hidden in the white large cowls of the robes that they wore. I wondered who they were and why they were dressed like that. Were they elementals? Then, Spencer and two other gorgeous girls that I’d never seen before, entered in behind them.
Earthbound Seraphims? Well, so much for avoiding them. I instantly blushed and turned my eyes away from Spencer. He was already studying me with intense curiosity. I knew why seraphim had been called in. Though he was surprised and relieved to see me, he appeared wary of me now. The constant flirty sparkle in his eyes was gone and it made me feel like an enemy to all of them right now.
I inhaled softly and trembled, trying to keep the air of suspicion swirling around me, clear.
“You can relax Starling. This isn’t a judging panel.”
The male elder said.
I didn’t…I couldn’t relax, not yet.
“First of all, we want to welcome you back. We are all incredibly astounded, yet both grateful and thankful for your safe return. From what has been reported to us, you have escaped being taken by a fallen?” One of the women questioned to affirm that fact.
Spencer and the other two female seraphim were poring over me, a little more in depth than just a simple inspection.
Spencer appeared confused, angry, and disgusted with me.
Damn. He knew something wasn’t right.
They were all picking up on my biological scent, temperature, and hormones.
It made me really nervous now.
I kept my eyes averted from all three of them and focused on the robed beings instead. Since I couldn’t see their faces, it made it easier.
I nodded to affirm her statement, “Can I ask why I’m here then?” I instantly regretted my words as soon as they came out of my mouth.
The male elder cleared his throat and leaned forward in his chair.
“Just a debriefing. You risked yourself to save a fellow warrior when you were taken. For that, we wanted to commend you proudly. The act of your bravery and sacrifice is what makes a divine warrior. Do you need to see the medicinal aides or the herbalist?” He then asked.
I relaxed just a bit. I licked my lips and shook my head.
“No, I’m fine.” I stated.
“Are you certain?” He asked.
I nodded.
“Excellent.” He smiled.
“However, looking at your clothing, I’m going to assume that you were in the mortal realm when this occurred. You’re new here, though you have clearly been branded with your weapons already. That was not a good idea.” One of the elder women chastised.
I licked my lips and sighed, “I know, and I take full blame and responsibility for all of it. I’ll apologize to all of the others for putting them at risk too.” I then offered. Spencer raised a single, surprised brow at my admission.
“As we’ve said, no one is in trouble. This isn’t a judging panel, merely a standard inquiry. But for future reference, it is advised that you not venture into the human realm until you are adequately trained, is that understood?” She then said.
I nodded, “Yes ma’am.”
“Good. Very well then, I think we’re all a little curious as to how you managed to escape capture?”
The questions were starting now.
I shifted my stance, unable to help but steal a glance
at Spencer. He was intent on hearing my answer, looking at me with narrowed eyes, as he folded his arms across his chest. If anyone should be happy that I got away, I would think it would be him.
“I think the question should be more accurately phrased as, how did you manage to survive the fall and the journey back here…untrained and without a map?” Spencer then spoke up.
They all turned to glance at him in question and then returned their attention to me…expecting an answer.
“I agree. The scent of a fallen reeks heavily on you. It’s amazing that you’ve managed to return at all, let alone in nearly perfect condition.” The gorgeous, brown skinned, sable-haired female seraphim added.
Just then, the two robed beings raised their heads, and I could finally see into the cowls.
That had been intentional. I raised a brow in surprise.
It was Aliks and Aon.
Aon gave me a slight nod and Aliks gave me an affirming smirk.
My heart began to pound, not really understanding or believing that I wasn’t going to either be reprimanded or worse…shunned. Why were Aliks and Aon here too? When I glanced down at the symbol beneath my feet, I immediately began to sweat with anxiety.
The truth symbol.
“What are you looking at, dear?” One of the women asked me as they all glanced towards each end of the table in question and confusion.
What?
Aon raised a finger to her lips, signaling to silence me.
What was going on? I didn’t understand any of this.
Spencer and the other two seraphim girls also attempted to follow my eyes but it was evident that I was the only one seeing Aon and Aliks. How could that be though? If anyone else could see or detect their presence, I imagined that it would definitely be Spencer and his fellow seraphim. But they were no longer full angels. Spencer said that they lost most of those abilities when they chose to become earthbound. So, it was possible that they weren’t seeing or sensing them.
Weird.
I shook my head, “Nothing in particular.” I answered
I racked and searched my brain for a response. They wanted to know how I escaped the fallen that had taken me. The female fallen was the one that I had incinerated.
They didn’t know about Cam. Him saving me wouldn’t have been accepted or believed anyway, so I wasn’t even going to mention that part.
Since they weren’t being specific, I would do exactly as Aon instructed me to do.
I would tell them the truth.
I don’t think Sean intended for me to reveal it yet but I had no choice. There was too much at stake.
I had already decided that I wasn’t giving up Cam,
and I didn’t want to abandon my duty and status as a divine warrior either.
They were all waiting for me to explain myself. Aon and Aliks stood watch as my support, though I was confused as to why only I could see them. Cam was on the other end of my mental telephone. I had nothing to fear right now.
How was I going to muster enough anger to show them? Did I even have to be angry to do it? No, it began to surface in the midst of my arousal and desire too. I think that it was linked to intense emotions. Could I will it, like my blades? Well, there was only one way to find out.
I licked my lips, tasting salt and dirt, with a coppery hint of dried blood.
Raising my right arm as if I were making a right hand turn in traffic, I focused hard on the hallowed flame within me. I forced it to kindle in my inner mind’s eye. I could feel the heat begin to rage inside my veins. Like electricity, it flickered to life and began to form in my chest, coursing wildly throughout my body, and then into my brain to establish a unified connection. I urged it on and attempted to command it; all while thinking of what could have happened to me if Cam hadn’t been there, what was on the line now, and my deep love for him. I had to show them, and remove their suspicions from me once and for all.
Sean would just have to scold me for this.
This
time, it wasn’t just my arm or hand that erupted into white flames…it was my entire body. My hair began to rise, floating all around me. I was bathed in super-bright, glorious white flames. It was incredibly powerful, nearly making me drunk with energy and magical heat. I wondered, if I focused hard enough, if I could I throw it too?
Though my complete conflagration took me by total surprise, I maintained my cool on purpose as my eyes met each one of theirs.
Aon and Aliks were both smiling. Aliks gave me a nod of approving congratulations as they both began to disappear.
For the first time since I had risen, the air of suspicion, distrust and dislike…had been replaced by staggering disbelief, admiration and most importantly, respect.
The frozen, gaping expressions on the faces of Spencer and his seraphim counterparts…was absolutely, priceless.
END
The Saga continues:
Divinity: Immolation: Book Three
Coming in Spring 2014
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