by Mary Ting
“It’s the reason she wants that book, isn’t it?” I sighed.
“And it’s why I won’t help her.”
There it was. And yet, he did nothing to stop her. Because he didn’t care or he was too chicken-shit.
Dom and Malum welcomed the witches. Did they know of their plan? And if they did, then the witches must have offered something in return. Perhaps they have agreed to rule side by side as allies.
With angels out of the way, who would stop them? Where would that leave beings like me?
Chapter 7
He’s Not My Father
Keira
I didn’t like waiting for anything or anyone, and I especially didn’t like standing around inside Malum’s property. Angelic beings were not welcome. I felt that any minute, a demon would pop out of the tall bushes surrounding the driveway, despite Corian’s warning to leave us alone.
Demons were unpredictable, and they didn’t follow orders well. Their instincts to kill or eat sometimes took over.
“Are you sure you want to come along?” I glanced up at the roof, spotting nothing unusual. “You can go back to Ezekiel and tell him to screw himself.”
“And miss the fun?” Daniel rolled his eyes. “Come on, Keira. Ezekiel has always been there for you. Maybe not in the way you’d hoped, but we’re not humans. You can’t compare yourself to them.”
I was aware I wasn’t human, but sometimes I wished I was. My glare, if it had the power, could have set him on fire.
Suri pressed her back against mine, guarding the other side with Kai so we had the grounds covered.
“The question is, are you sure you want to be doing this?” Suri spun me around. “I know you want answers, but it’s not worth your life.”
“It is,” I spat. Why couldn’t my friends support me?
“Awan offered you something, didn’t she?” Daniel asked.
Sometimes I thought Daniel could read my thoughts.
“No.” I crossed my arms, trying to maintain a straight face.
“Liar. Did she offer to tell you something about your parents?”
Daniel’s question caused me to look away.
“No. This has nothing to do with my parents. I don’t want to talk about it.”
“Are you done squabbling?” Awan’s voice boomed.
Awan had good timing. I didn’t want to answer their nonstop questions.
Behind her were about six of her sisters. How had they appeared undetected?
Daniel, Suri, and Kai stiffened, standing guardedly beside me when the witches came closer.
“We weren’t. We had things to discuss. It’s none of your business, anyway. So are we going or not?”
“This one has an attitude.” Corian gestured at me with a tilt of her chin. “Is she going to be a problem?”
“No, she won’t.” Awan’s dagger-sharp eyes narrowed.
“We don’t have a choice,” the Asian witch said. “She needs to be there.”
I recognized her from the cemetery.
“Let’s not waste time. Cover them,” Awan said.
“Wait.” I raised a hand. “Why do we need to be covered? We’re going to comply.”
Awan’s nostrils flared. “It’s not your call, girl. Don’t ask too many questions. You’re wasting time.”
Black cloth shrouded my face, and my wrists were bound with something magical behind me.
“Don’t fight it,” Awan said. “It’ll only make things harder and more uncomfortable.”
Her satisfied laugh echoed in my ears. Then everything went dark.
Drifting. My body, light as feather, floated off the ground. So quiet and peaceful.
Then …
Something cold and wet.
Grass and dirt underneath where I lay.
Mask gone. Blinding light settled. I jolted up. My friends did the same.
Encroaching trees engulfed me in a field of green. I’d never been to Gotjawal Forest, but I assumed we were now in the middle of it. I had done research last night, and the vibrant green and the roots protruding along the muddy path suggested that was where we were.
Ravens surrounded us, perched in the trees. Just the sight of them made my skin crawl. Something about them told me they were different, perhaps not birds at all. But they seemed harmless thus far.
Since no tourists passed, I assumed it was after hours.
“Where are we?” Kai rubbed his head, glancing around. Then he parted his lips, eyes widening.
What did you see?
I turned to his line of vision. Uriel, Jonah, and Samyaza stood before me. I shrank from their intimidating bulk and height.
“What are they doing here?” Daniel asked.
“I could say the same. What are they doing here? Daniel and Keira are bad news.” Jonah glanced between us.
“What do you mean bad news?” I took a step forward and raised my chin in a challenge, but I retreated when he glared at me. And especially when those beautiful blue eyes stared back. Something inside me quaked, a pleasant feeling I hadn’t expected.
Yes, Jonah was beautiful. With his chiseled jawline and perfect facial features, he was more gorgeous than any being I had ever seen. But this wasn’t the first time we met, so why the strange feeling now?
“You destroyed our home.” Jonah hiked his eyebrows as if I should know why he was angry.
“What?” I dropped my jaw. “The demons did that, not us. They were after you. You should be thankful we came by to help.”
“Thankful?”
I bristled at the pitch in his voice. He could have stirred the birds, if were there were any.
When his eyes roamed my body and stopped at my lips, I felt as though his hands caressed me in the most intimate way.
Holy shit. Stop. I’m imagining.
I erased the lustful thought. “Yes, thankful. If Daniel and I hadn’t helped, you would have been in a worse situation.”
He scoffed. “Think whatever you want.”
“You are the reasons why angels have a bad name. You’re so cocky you can’t even say thank you.” I spun away and focused on a tree engulfed in green vines to suppress the need to punch him. Then I turned back to say something.
“I agree with Jonah.” Uriel’s deep voice rumbled through my chest, especially when he examined me as if seeing me for the first time.
What was up with those two? Jonah looked like he wanted to kiss me, and Uriel cringed at the sight of me.
“The road is too dangerous,” Samyaza said. “They’ll only get in the way. I don’t know what the hell you were thinking, Awan.”
Awan scowled. “Like Keira said, angels are too complacent. Besides, you need her to enter.”
“Why?” Uriel asked, stretching his wings to their full width.
I hated myself for being jealous of his alabaster wings. Mine didn’t compare to the purity and the grandness of his.
“You need her blood to enter.”
Chills racked through my bones. When she had told me at the club, I hadn’t thought much of it. How much blood?
Awan stroked my hair, her smile too wide. “You have the blood of a human, archangel, and a witch.”
“Liar,” Daniel spat. “That’s impossible.”
“Is it?” Corian furrowed her brows. “I’d watch your tongue if I were you. I might cut it out and make soup. I’m a witch, after all. Isn’t that what you expect us to do?”
She let out a boisterous laugh, the kind that sent chills down my spine.
Archangel and human blood, I’d always known, but having witch blood was something new to me. When Awan had mentioned it in the cemetery, I’d suspected she was manipulating me, but it must be true if she’d brought me all the way here for that reason. And she would know who was her kind or not.
“Enough. We’re not here for petty nonsense.” Uriel’s voice startled me into silence. “Samyaza, Jonah, and I are the only ones going. Take the rest home.”
A sudden, sharp breeze came out in the quiet. It see
med Awan had used her magic. Her body went rigid, anger steaming in her eyes.
“I will not take orders from you. So let me tell you how this is going to roll. These brats will go with you. What happens in the realm is up to you, but let me tell you this … you will learn something relevant. You will thank me when you come out.”
“What are you talking about, witch?” Uriel stood face-to-face with Awan. “Stop speaking in riddles and say it.”
She tugged at the collar of her long black dress. Simple, but sophisticated. For the first time, she looked nervous.
Awan retreated a step. “Don’t stand close to me.”
Uriel shook his head. “I’ll do a lot more if you don’t tell me what you meant.”
Awan scooted back farther, and this time her sister followed. “Before I go, I’ll tell you this. You have three days before I close the portal from this side. If you’re not here, I’ll assume you did not retrieve the book. I will assume you didn’t make it through the realm or you were killed by whatever is waiting on the other side. That would be a shame.”
“Get to it.” Uriel pounded the bark of the tree next to him, leaving a dent the size of his fist. “I’m losing my patience.”
Awan raised a hand as if she could control him. “Abigale. You remember her, don’t you?”
Uriel paled, his fists tightening. “What about Abigale?”
His voice was so tender I felt the ache he tried to hide.
Awan and her sisters flickered and faded.
“You will find answers when I get my book.” Awan’s last warning.
“How about what you promised me?” I shouted before she was gone.
“Regarding your question about your parents … you already know you have archangel blood, dear. Why do you think I brought you on this quest? If Uriel can’t see the resemblance to his true love, then I guess he didn’t love her after all.”
“What? You can’t leave. You need to explain yourself.” I bolted toward her but grabbed at empty air. When I turned to the group, everyone gawked at Uriel, who was gaping at me.
Chapter 8
Realization
Uriel
If Uriel can’t see the resemblance to his true love, then I guess he didn’t love her after all.
Impossible.
Keira couldn’t be my daughter. Abigale hadn’t told me. Such vital information … She would have said something.
“What are you looking at?” I spat, my gaze bouncing between everyone. “She’s not my daughter. I never had a child. I wouldn’t.” Guilt coursed through me.
Keira narrowed her eyes at me and turned away.
“Are you sure? Why would the witch lie?”
I hiked up my eyebrow at Samyaza as a warning not to speak again. I didn’t need him to confuse Keira. She didn’t need to have high hopes and then get her heart crushed. Though, from the sound of her tone and the way she looked at me, I didn’t think she had any respect for me.
Part of it might be my fault for talking to her as if she was beneath me, but she was.
Keira turned to me, her features cold and hard as stone. “Don’t worry. The witch is wrong. You can’t possibly be my father. My father would care whether I lived or died.”
Keira’s words stung, but she was right. I didn’t care about her. I should, as an archangel, but I had lost my way when my brothers had been locked up.
I was not the type of angel to care for human feelings in the first place. That was Gabriel’s job. I was a warrior angel, a fighter. I couldn’t help my disposition. Besides, I didn’t have much experience dealing with people in general. Except for Abigale.
Jonah couldn’t peel his eyes from Keira. He either found her attractive or he felt sorry for her. It was hard to tell.
“What are we going to do? We can’t just leave them here.” Samyaza peered up at the gray clouds gathering.
Rain would come soon.
“We’re coming.” Keira straightened her spine and pulled out a crossbow and a dagger in her hands. “I need to finish my task, and maybe then the witch will tell me the truth. We won’t get in the way. If you want to separate once we’re inside, then so be it. But my friends and I are willing to help.”
She sounded so much like Abigale. Her spunk. That fire. So determined to get her way.
No. Just because they had a similar personality didn’t mean Keira was my daughter. But the gleam and strength in her eyes, her sharp nose, heart-shaped face … all so much like Abigale.
I had noted the similarity when I had first met Keira at Jonah’s apartment, but I had dismissed it. It hurt to look at Keira and think of my Abigale. Even now, it hurt just the same.
There were tons of humans on the planet. Many looked alike. So the possibility of her being my daughter hadn’t even crossed my mind, especially since Abigale had never told me she was pregnant. Perhaps Keira was Abigale’s daughter by another man.
I pulled out my sword behind my wings and swiped across the dirt. “It’s too dangerous to wait here. You’ll have to come with us. Just make sure to keep up. If danger looms, don’t get in the way.”
Keira inclined her chin, trying to hide the exhilaration in her eyes. “Fine. If you insist.”
“I’ll lead. Hurry, before the sunset.” Samyaza descended a slope.
I brought up the rear.
Trees covered in moss flanked either side of the trail. Everything was green, even the path I traveled, mixed with moist dirt. The serene forest somewhat eased my trepidation, but I would keep my eyes and ears open.
I wondered what kind of creatures came out at night to play.
The air didn’t bother me, but when Keira wiped her forehead, I knew it to be humid. I felt the weather change as soon as we appeared, but temperature didn’t affect angels or supernatural beings unless they were part human.
Don’t look at her. She might think you believed the witch.
I fixed my attention on the trail again and tried not to trip on the jutting roots. Something strange caught my attention. Every few yards, I spotted a hole in the ground. Some looked like snake holes, and others were wide enough to fit a big dog.
Strange. So very strange. I hadn’t seen these earlier.
Then a haunting voice filtered through my ears.
“Come. Come in, my friend. Let us have a good time.”
The voice seemed to be coming out of the holes. I stiffened and watched the others to see if they heard it too, but they kept moving right along.
I shook my head. I was hearing things.
Out of frustration, I bellowed, “Are we there yet?”
Everyone whipped around and gaped at me. Samyaza laughed, clutching his belly. Others chuckled as well. Then they moseyed along.
What was so funny?
Then … that voice again.
“Come in. Don’t be afraid of the dark. I will be your friend. Let us enjoy a meal together.”
The first time I’d heard it, I thought it had been directed at me. However, when it happened the second time, I knew those wicked words were meant for the group. My blood ran cold.
“Stop. It’s a trap.”
As soon as I spoke, I flung across space as if a giant, invisible hand swatted me. Then the same thing happened to my companions, one after the other.
We dangled twenty feet off the ground.
“What’s going on?” Jonah cried out. His back was stuck to the trunk of a tree, but his arms were free, like the rest of us.
“Show yourself.” Samyaza yanked and twisted, growing angrier by the second. “Do something, Uriel.”
“What in the world is that?” Daniel’s eyes grew wider as he squirmed.
A ghost. No, not just a ghost. A demon ghost. More of them appeared. Ugly creatures—half earthworm and half human—floated toward each of us, rising from the holes I had seen earlier.
I chastised myself for not considering the possibility of supernatural foes. But from those holes? I had never seen such things.
Since they were ghosts,
I didn’t think they could harm us … that was until they took on a solid form.
The giant creatures opened their mouths, showing all of their jagged, shark-like teeth, ready to swallow us whole with loud roars.
The Nephilims hurled their throwing stars, but they went right through. Keira released an arrow, but like the other weapon, it didn’t hit anything.
I lifted my hands to draw my inner power, but before I had the chance, angelic light glowed around us.
Not my doing.
The power and the strength of it—I had never felt it that intensely before. Angelic light never affected me, but this made me squint.
The phantoms disappeared, shrieking.
In the midst of the radiance, I found the source. Keira had thrown it around us.
Her body stiffened, her hands projecting out, and pristine light coated her as if she was the most divine being.
Mesmerizing. Incredible. The vision of her awed me.
Perhaps she was truly mine.
No. Stop thinking nonsense.
Abigale had been half-archangel and half-human, and a witch. Surely this was merely a coincidence. There must have been other offspring in the world with that combination.
I opened up my wings to stop my fall, and the others did the same as they landed on their feet. I noted Suri’s wings were lopsided and wondered what had happened. Then Keira’s wings caught my attention.
Every angel had a unique wing shape. Some were short, long, thin or thick feathered. Others had sharp, round, or straight tip.
Many wings dipped low, angled, curved, or were so big they dragged the ground. But Abigale’s wings had been pristine alabaster—white as it gets—and Keira’s were an exact replica. From the curve of the tip to the way they angled outward at the top, like a flowing cape. I had seen countless wings but never had I seen anything like Abigale’s. Until now.
I recalled the day I had last seen Abigale. I had risked everything for her by rescuing her from the church, from the watchers. She had stabbed Samyaza as he had been about to kill her. That was when she had to go on the run.