by Cara Wylde
“This is crazy! I don’t believe it.” We’d reached the Sixth Sphere, the home of the just. “If there’s any place in this world where everyone, and I mean everyone, should be happy, it’s here.”
Sariel shook his head. “How is that possible when there are so many restrictions? When everything outside of those restrictions is a sin?”
“You wanna see happy, my dear?” Pazuzu fell in step with me and took my hand possessively. “Wait until next semester, when we visit Hell. Now, that’s where the party’s at!”
“This doesn’t make any sense.”
“Look around you. Do these people look happy to you?”
The Seventh Sphere was the next, the home of the contemplatives and the thrones. We moved quickly to the Eight Sphere, which I knew was the home of the saints and the cherubim, but the streets were empty, everyone was inside, and I barely managed to see a face or two. It was as if these souls didn’t even want to interact with each other, let alone with strangers. The Ninth Sphere was next and last, and as I’d thought, it was mostly empty. We didn’t stay here long, and I was glad, actually, because the sky was too bright. I had to shield my eyes and ask Corri to get me a pair of sunglasses. No wonder Sariel’s mother, who was a seraph, had preferred to move to the Second Sphere with his father, who was an archangel. Her Sphere was boring as fuck, which was, apparently, another definition for pure perfection.
“Not many souls dwell here,” Sariel explained.
GC snickered. “I bet the perfect ones get here, see what’s what, get reincarnated quickly, then make sure to commit a sin or two, so they wouldn’t end up in this boring place again.”
The archangel rolled his eyes. “That’s not what happens. It’s empty because not many souls get here in the first place. Anyway, it sucks because that means less jobs for the seraphim.”
“Does your mom work here?” I asked.
“No. But it’s okay, she’s got many things to do at home, in the Second Sphere. She keeps busy with parties, clubs, meetings for the souls still struggling with their egos. It’s voluntary work, but she enjoys it.”
I nodded. Meeting the Gracewings was going to be quite the experience. We gathered around Professor Maat, who wrapped up the field trip with a short speech, then a weird flying shuttle came for me and the guys. I’d seen the things parked here and there, but I’d had no idea they flew. Our ride was a white, oval machine that reflected the bright light of the skies off its shiny surface. Inside, the seats were in a circle, and I squeezed in between GC and Paz after GC gave me his hand to help me up. Francis and Sariel sat opposite from us.
“Nervous?” Paz whispered in my ear.
I bit the inside of my lip and thought for a second. Was I nervous? Probably. Was my nervousness justifiable? Fuck knew. I’d find out soon enough.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Compared to the higher Spheres, the second one was well populated. The shuttle landed in the main courtyard, behind the imposing gates of the mansion, and my guys helped me out. Mr. and Mrs. Gracewing were waiting for us at the top of the stairs. A young, beautiful woman stood beside them, and I immediately guessed she was Sariel’s sister. The introductions were made, and two minutes later, Sariel’s parents and I were on a first-name basis. They insisted. GC and Paz weren’t given the same privilege, though.
The mansion was truly impressive. White, silver, and gold were the main colors – walls, floors, furniture, – while the ceiling was painted in light blue. The dining room had already been prepared for us, and we sat down to eat. For such a small family, it gave me the impression they had more servants than it was necessary. Must have been then whole “not enough jobs” story, and since the Gracewings could, apparently, afford to pay a few dozen lower-ranked angels, why not?
Both Raguel Gracewing and Ariela Gracewing were tall, lean, blond, and silver eyed. If I didn’t know better, I could swear they were brother and sister. Their daughter, Cassia, was just a younger copy of her mother. Sariel was the spitting image of his father. The four of them looked so damn perfect and serene, that they made me feel uncomfortable. I tucked a strand of blue hair behind my ear and shot Corri an agitated look. She was talking to Cassia like she didn’t have a care in the world. Sariel’s sister wanted a pixie, so she had a bunch of questions.
Ariela had insisted I sat between herself and her son. Francis sat between Raguel and Cassia, which left GC and Pazuzu kind of isolated across from me, at the far end of the table. As the main course was served, the first thing I noticed was that Ariela Gracewing didn’t even acknowledge GC and Paz. She was doing her best to pretend they weren’t there, and even though I’d introduced them as my friends, hinting that they were more than that, she pretended like that wasn’t a thing, either. It was as if she’d made it her mission to hog me completely, and when she wasn’t talking to me, the only person I was allowed to talk to was Sariel. If I tried to make conversation with GC, Paz, or even Francis, she’d interrupt me in the cutest, most oblivious way, and redirect my attention back to Sariel.
This woman is up to something. She was.
“I didn’t see you last year at the Yule Ball,” she said in her chirpy voice. She smiled all the time now. I remembered clearly she hadn’t smiled back then.
“I was there.”
“But I didn’t see you up on the stage!”
“My parents couldn’t come…”
“Oh, yes. Valentine is so busy these days.” She nodded knowingly.
I cocked an eyebrow. I wasn’t thinking of him. Back then, I had no idea the man and woman who’d raised me weren’t my real parents. I didn’t feel like explaining any of that to her, though. She wasn’t interested.
“I heard he took a short vacation to spend time with you. When you see him, please do tell him our doors are open. He should join us for lunch, or dinner, or just tea anytime he likes.”
“Vacation…” I took a sip of white wine to mask my sarcasm. “It was more like a day. Yes, I’ll tell him, of course. I don’t know when I’ll see him next…”
“Oh, I’m sure he’ll make time for you. You’re his only daughter!” She giggled like a schoolgirl, and for the life of me, I couldn’t understand where all this giddiness came from. I smiled and took a bite of my vegan lasagna. “How do you like the food?”
“It’s delicious.”
“Sariel, tell her what your favorite food is.”
I looked at Sariel, and he looked at me. We were both confused. Of all the topics she could have suggested, she went for favorite food?! He cleared his throat and gave it a shot.
“Yes, I… mmm… it’s stuffed sweet potato.”
“What do you stuff it with?”
“Avocado and black beans.”
I stared at him for a second, then laughed. “No, it’s not.” His cheeks turned slightly red, and I wasn’t sure why. “Can’t be your favorite food. You always go for the duck à l’orange at the Academy.” Roast duck with orange sauce was his guilty pleasure. That much I knew about Sariel from Patty.
He pursed his lips and furrowed his brows. His face was now full-blown red.
“What?” I asked, confused.
That was when I noticed everyone at the table had gone silent. Raguel Gracewing cleared his throat, then said in a stern voice: “We do not eat meat in Heaven.” I looked at my vegan lasagna, then at the rest of the food on the table. Spinach quiche, roasted beets, stuffed mushrooms. Before this, we’d had some crackers with cheese that didn’t taste like cheese at all. Oh, so that’s why. Heaven was vegan.
“I’m sorry, I must have had Sariel confused with… erm… someone else.”
We resumed eating, and Sariel and I resumed our awkward conversation. I couldn’t wait to get out of there! GC and Pazuzu whispered and laughed among themselves, and Francis sometimes shot them an annoyed glance. I’d been worried about my lovers, and for good reason, because they were behaving exactly as I thought they would. Since everyone was ignoring them and prete
nding they weren’t there at all… no harm, no foul.
“So, Mila,” Raguel raised his voice over the ruckus created by GC and Paz. “Three more semesters, and you will work alongside your father. I am sure you are excited.”
I furrowed my brows. “I’m not sure what you mean…”
“Well, we all know that Valentine has no desire to retire, but the other positions will be filled by the new generation, and I am sure you will make a great Reaper. There’s no doubt you will graduate magna cum laude.”
Was it possible that he hadn’t heard of the prophecy? No, of course he’s heard. These people are so fake. I was starting to understand why Sariel hated his family. He was a jerk and a bully, but at least he wasn’t fake like them. He’d even been honest to me when he’d told me he was supposed to be in the Merciful Death Cabal. As awful as he was, that still made him better than his parents.
“I don’t like to think about the future,” I opted for an abstract answer. “I live in the present, you know. Focus on the now.”
“Focusing on the present,” Ariela changed the subject. “I must say, I believe you and Sariel make a wonderful couple.”
“Excuse me?”
She reached over to play with my hair. “You’re naturally blond, aren’t you? With those deep blue eyes of yours, it’s easy to tell.” She chuckled. “This might be the wine talking, but you two look like you belong together.”
Raguel raised his glass. “And what fine wine it is.” He laughed. “My wife is right, of course. Gracewing and Morningstar. What pleasant music to the ears…”
To their ears, probably. To mine, it sounded like a conspiracy I wanted nothing to do with.
“I’m sorry, I think you misunderstand.” Ariela’s beautiful features darkened a bit, but what was I supposed to do? Let them play their stupid game when it was so wrong? “Sariel and I are just… friends.” And that was a stretch! But I was having dinner in their home, so be it. “I already am in a relationship.” I looked over at GC and Paz, and nodded. At Ariela’s observation that Sariel and I would make a great couple, they’d gone silent and attentive. By the streaks of red in Pazuzu’s green eyes, I could tell he was barely containing his anger.
“Oh, we had no idea,” Ariela said quickly and dismissively. “Well, you know, my dear, at your age… relationships rarely last.” She gave me the prettiest smile she could muster, considering the circumstances. “Sariel is free and absolutely fascinated with you.”
“Mom!” He almost choked on his lasagna.
“He’s too shy to tell you,” she continued. “Of course he is. You’re Mila Morningstar! Literally, the star of Grim Reaper Academy. I bet all the boys are crazy about you.”
I scrunched up my nose. “I wouldn’t say that…” I shot Sariel a quick glance, and he shook his head discreetly, as if to say that his mother didn’t know what she was talking about. That much I’ve figured. “Anyway, Mrs. Gracewing…”
“Ariela.”
“Ariela. He might be free, but I’m not.”
She patted me on the head, as if I were a child who refused to eat her vegetables.
“Oh, you’re so young and innocent. I remember when I was your age. Such a dreamer.”
I gave up. The best thing I could do was to hurry up and finish my food, then my glass of wine, and then insist that it was late and I had classes tomorrow. Which I did in the next ten minutes. And worked only after dessert and another hour of insignificant chatter about things no one cared about.
* * *
We arrived back at the Academy in a private plane, but it was so late that all I could think of was my room, my bed, peace, quiet, and a few hours of sleep before I had to wake up for the first class. I convinced GC and Paz to sleep in their own rooms.
“I want to be alone,” I told Corri as I finished brushing my teeth and hopped into my pajamas. I grabbed my phone and looked at the time, wondering if my parents were sleeping. My parents who raised me, not Valentine fucking Morningstar and the mother I never knew and who was probably not even alive anymore. “Could you leave me alone tonight, Corri?”
Since I’d gotten her, I hadn’t been alone for one second. It hadn’t bothered me, frankly, but I was exhausted, and I just wanted to be with myself and my own thoughts. And I wanted to call my mom and have her tell me it was all going to be okay.
“Sure, Mistress. All you have to do is ring the bell.”
“That’s all?” I reached out for the bell that I’d stashed away in a drawer.
“Yes. And when you need me, just ring the bell again.”
“Huh. I thought it was just to call you…”
“And send me away, too.” She beamed at me, but her smile didn’t reach her eyes. That was unusual.
I shrugged and rang the bell. She vanished into thin air. Well, this was easy. Maybe I’ll just give her a vacation and call her back in a few days. I didn’t need a pixie by my side twenty-four seven.
The phone rang four times, then my mother answered. She sounded sleepy, but happy to hear my voice.
“Baby, what happened? Why are you calling so late? Something happened, didn’t it? Are you okay?”
“I’m fine, I’m fine…” My voice trailed. Why had I called her, anyway? Because I’ve just been to Heaven, had dinner with a bunch of stuck-up angels, and I need someone to tether me back to the ground. But how could she help me if she didn’t know the whole truth? “Mom, I need to tell you something.”
“What is it, baby?”
“I know who my real father is.”
And that was how it started. In the next half hour, I told her everything. Valentine Morningstar, the prophecy, my field trip to Heaven, GC and Pazuzu… Sariel, and how his mother wanted us to be together. How I was a freakin’ star now just because my father was the most powerful and dangerous Grim Reaper alive. How Headmaster Colin wanted me to retire him and take over his position. Retire Morningstar… As if. I needed to get it all out, so I did.
“Baby, I’m so sorry… I had no idea. Katia never told me who your father was. I thought she didn’t know. You’re going through so much… You have to deal with so much… If only you could just say the hell with it, the hell with all of them, with their prophecy and intrigues, and come back home.”
“I can’t,” I whispered and sniffed my nose. I hadn’t cried in so long. I wasn’t even sure why I was crying.
“I know your father and I haven’t been the best,” she was whispering now, which made me think Stepan was around. “But at least, we don’t expect you to fight some evil Grim Reaper and then go reap souls all over the world. Since you left, your father has been better…”
“What do you mean better?”
“More considerate… He brought me flowers last week.”
“Oh, mom… flowers don’t make up for years of…”
“Don’t say it, baby. I’m fully aware. But it’s better. It is. And I think it’s all because of you. Oh, he’s here… Do you want to…”
She held the phone away from her ear and covered it with her hand. I’d told her mobile phones didn’t work like that. She exchanged a few words with my dad, and from his voice, I understood he’d heard most of our conversation. Shit. I didn’t want him to know about Valentine Morningstar. What difference could it have made?
“Give me that,” he yelled, and I knew he’d taken the phone from her. “Mila. What’s this about Morningstar whatever? He came to you and told you he’s your real Dad?”
There was an edge to his voice, which I was completely used to, but there was something else, too.
“Yes,” I said. I couldn’t lie now. “It doesn’t matter.”
“He’s not human.”
“N-no. He’s a nephilim.”
He cursed in Bulgarian, then in English. “That piece of shit good for nothing…”
“Dad! Come on, you don’t even know him.”
“He sounds like a piece of work,” he said in a calmer tone.
I rolled my eyes. Well, you got that right. But still… How would you know?
“Mila, the semester is almost over, isn’t it?”
“Yeah.”
“I want you to come home for Christmas.”
My eyes grew as wide as saucers. I was silent for a few seconds, unsure of what to say, mostly because I was pretty sure I’d heard him wrong.
“What? Why?”
“You heard me. Come home for Christmas. Your mom will be very happy. She’ll make that chocolate biscuit cake you like so much.” He moved away from the phone to yell after her, although I knew she hadn’t left the room. “Isn’t that right, woman?”
“Dad, I can’t. I have the Yule Ball, and then I’d just rather stay here and study ahead.”
“Yule Ball? What’s a Yule Ball?”
I sighed. Great! What the hell? Was Mercury retrograde? I couldn’t believe I was about to tell my adoptive dad who hated me about Yule Ball.
“It’s this party we have before Christmas. We eat, dance, maybe prepare something artistic for the parents…”
“The parents are invited?”
Crap. “Y-yes. But it’s not…”
“Your mother and I are coming to this Yule Ball.”
“What?! No, you’re not!”
“What do you mean we’re not, young lady? Are you embarrassed with us?”
“N-no, of course not…” Liar.
“Then it’s settled. We’re coming. Send us an owl or whatever.”
I groaned. “We don’t send owls. We send normal letters, in the mail.”
“Waiting for ours.” He hung up.
I stared at my phone for a long while, not comprehending what just happened. My adoptive parents were coming to the Yule Ball. They were going to meet Valentine Morningstar. They were going to embarrass the heck out of me.
It was going to be a disaster.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Corri was in charge of my dress, this time. Long, black, sleek. It hugged my curves perfectly, and the embedded corset pushed my breasts up for the world to see. I bought a pair of black satin gloves, and a new pair of shoes that cost a fortune. But Corri insisted I should only wear Louboutins from now on. Sure, whatever. This was the first and last time I was spending so much on shoes. I didn’t tell her, but I was probably going to return them after the ball.