The Guardian

by Elicia Hyder

  “It’s OK,” I said, sitting down. “I’d rather hold her, if that’s all right.”

  “Of course it is.” Sloan smiled as she took her seat by Nathan.

  Someone had piled my plate full of food. I looked at Adrianne, hostess extraordinaire, but before I could thank her, she pointed at Fury. “Wasn’t me.”

  Surprised, I looked at Fury. “Thanks.”

  “No problem,” she said, hiding her mouth with a napkin.

  “We were just talking about your meeting with Shannon,” Azrael said.

  “I was hoping you hadn’t already talked to them,” Reuel told me.

  “Why?”

  “I was hoping to go,” he said.

  Realization hit me. “Did you find out who their child is too?”

  “Too?” Fury’s volume jumped up. “Do you have news about Jett?”

  Damn it. I should’ve kept my mouth shut.

  Reuel put his fork down—which never happens—and scooted his chair back enough that he could turn all the way in his seat toward Fury. He took both her hands. “Yes.”

  Thank the Father I was immortal because I could feel my blood pressure rising in my veins.

  At the head of the table, Azrael’s jaw had gone slack. “Is this conversation appropriate for the dinner table?”

  “Well, you can’t stop it now,” Fury said. “What have you found out?”

  Azrael and I locked eyes for a second before Iliana lunged toward my plate. I grabbed her around the middle.

  “I have good news and bad news. Which would you like to hear first?” Reuel asked.

  “Definitely good news today,” Fury said.

  “Jett is not one of the fallen.”

  Fury dropped her fork and raised both fists in the air. “Yes!” Then she pounded her fists on the table making Iliana jump in my arms.

  I’d never seen Fury so excited. But it made sense. Fury had trained her whole life to battle the fallen. And Jett, it seemed, was the only thing she’d ever truly loved.

  She hugged Reuel and squeezed his neck until he coughed. Then she sat back with a satisfied huff. “What’s the bad news? I can handle anything after that.”

  “Yes. What’s the bad news?” Azrael said, still worried.

  “I believe Jett is Malak or Rogan,” Reuel told him.

  Azrael’s worry shifted to confusion.

  “The brothers?” Chimera perked up at the other end of the table. “The ones who worked for the Pentagon?”

  “Yes. I believe they were reborn here, and that one of them is Jett,” Reuel said.

  “Are they bad guys?” Nathan asked.

  “No,” he said.

  Sloan looked as confused as the rest of us. “So why is it bad news?”

  “Oh shit.” Kane’s heavy fist dropped onto the plastic table. “Because he thinks the other is Shannon’s baby.”

  “Yes,” Reuel said. “And sooner or later, when they are able, they’ll want to find each other again.”

  Fury cradled her head in her hands, swearing under her breath.

  Nathan’s jaw went slack. “You’re going to have playdates with Shannon.”

  I laughed. I laughed so hard Fury would have probably punched me had I not been holding Iliana. “Shut up, Warren.”

  Almost everyone else at the table was laughing too.

  “That’s the funniest thing I’ve ever heard,” Nathan said.

  “I don’t know why any of you think it’s funny,” Az said, pointing down the line at Adrianne, Sloan, and Nathan. “We’ll all have to learn to get along with her.”

  “With Shannon? The hell we will,” Adrianne said.

  “Will you abandon Sloan?” Azrael asked. “Because if it’s really Malak and Rogan, we can’t very well keep them apart once they come of age and know who they are. And the whole reason they’ll be here is to protect Iliana.”

  “What?” Sloan asked, probably a little louder than she intended.

  I gestured toward Enzo, Kane, and Chimera. “They’ll be like SF-12.”

  “Yeah.” Enzo was smiling. “You know, always being nearby—”

  “Always showing up at family dinners,” Kane said, flashing an evil grin at Fury.

  “Spending the night.” Chimera laughed behind her napkin.

  Fury looked like she might throw up.

  “God, this is going to be fun to watch from a safe distance.” I scooped up a spoonful of mashed potatoes. “Can Iliana have some?” I asked Nate because Sloan looked too shocked to make decisions.

  “Yeah, she’ll eat anything you give her,” he said.

  Iliana engulfed the end of the spoon.

  The animosity between Sloan and Shannon dated back to when they were kids. Adrianne still hated her. And Fury…well, Shannon embodied all the things that appeared to drive Fury nuts about humans: emotions, sentiment, whining.

  That was me being very judgy, of course. Fury had obviously never said as much to me, but her disdain had manifested in her body language beside me. Arms crossed. Brow creased. Eyes pinched shut.

  “At least we know Jett is one of us,” Reuel said. “Look on the shiny side. At one time we worried he was the Morning Star.”

  Despite Reuel’s humorous word blunder, the table fell silent. Those of us who had been laughing either knew, or had increasingly strong suspicions, about Adrianne. Even Enzo and Kane were avoiding eye contact with the opposite end of the table.

  I focused on Iliana, feeding her more potatoes.

  Thankfully, Adrianne broke the silence before anyone could ask questions. “The bright side, Reuel.”

  “Ah, bright. Yes,” he said, nodding his huge head.

  Azrael cleared his throat. “Warren, where’s your girlfriend?”

  “My what?”

  “Your girlfriend, Cassiel.”

  Holy shit. Azrael was derailing the conversation by throwing me under the relationship bus in front of two of my exes.

  Thanks, Dad.

  “Yeah,” Adrianne said. “I figured she’d have gone with you to see if Satan had given birth to Satan.” Ironic, considering who was really giving birth to Satan.

  “First of all, Cassiel isn’t my girlfriend—”

  “Are you sure?” Azrael asked before I could stumble through whatever I was about to spout off next.

  “You guys had a fight, right?” Sloan asked, cutting the kernels off her corn on the cob.

  “Oh, it was more than a fight,” Azrael said. “Cassiel let the Council manipulate her into betraying him.”

  Fury looked at me. “But I heard she wasn’t aware that the Council leader was dirty and working with the fallen.”

  Wait. Is this conversation really happening?

  I opened my mouth to speak, but Azrael beat me to it.

  “Cassiel might not have known, but it doesn’t change the facts.”

  “Yeah, but—” Fury started.

  “No buts. Betrayal is betrayal,” Azrael said.

  Fury picked up my beer and drained half of it. My head was still spinning, but hell, at least no one was talking about the Morning Star.

  Iliana reached for the spoon again.

  Sloan slid her napkin piled with corn across the table. “Here, Illy, want some corn? She can feed herself.”

  “But she kinda sucks at it,” Nathan said.

  Sloan slapped his arm.

  Iliana picked up a few pieces, then shoved her whole hand into her mouth, dropping most of the corn into my lap.

  “See?” Nathan asked.

  There was a faint buzz down the table. Enzo pulled out his phone and looked at the screen. “It’s done,” he announced.

  “What’s done?” Chimera asked.

  No one spoke.

  Finally, Fury wiped her mouth with a napkin and put it on her plate. “The cleanup from the wreckage is done.” She looked at Enzo. “Right?”

  He nodded, putting his phone away.

  Sloan’s face was somber. “I’m really sorry, Fury.”

  “We’re so glad
you’re OK,” Adrianne added, and I was sure she meant it.

  “Thanks to Warren.” Fury looked over at me. “He saved my life.”

  Kane leaned forward and cast a smirk down the table. “How’d that feel for a change?”

  Fury’s sad face broke into a smile.

  I laughed softly. “He’s such a jerk.”

  “Enzo, what will they do with him?” Fury asked.

  “Once the coroner is finished in Black Mountain, the team will fly Flint back to New Hope. Probably tomorrow,” he said.

  Azrael leaned his elbows on the table. “Fury, we can discuss what to do later.”

  She nodded.

  Her eyes were fixed on the checkered tablecloth. Holding Iliana firmly around the middle, I lifted my beer with my free hand. “To Flint,” I said.

  Everyone raised their glasses or beer bottles. “To Flint,” they echoed.

  A bright white flash lit up the darkening sky. Everyone looked up as a high-pitched whistle grew louder and louder, like a slow screaming bottle rocket aimed at the Earth.

  Enzo and Kane drew their concealed guns, pointing them at the sky.

  “What is that?” Adrianne asked.

  Reuel and I stood. “An angel.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  “Nathan take the baby inside.” I passed her to him over the table.

  She cried out, sending a streak of lightning across the sky. Still, Nathan and Sloan ran for the house.

  “Go with them,” Azrael told Adrianne.

  Adrianne was holding her belly. “I can’t run!”

  He pulled her protectively behind him.

  “Where’s your sword?” Fury grabbed my arm.

  “In Azrael’s safe.”

  She swore. It was too late to get it.

  My eyes were fixed on the burning orb in the sky as it neared us. “If we were in danger, Reuel would know.”

  He nodded his confirmation and spoke to us all in English. One finger was pressed to his ear. “He’s right. I’m waiting on identification now from the auranos.”

  “I thought no angel could warp into Asheville,” Adrianne said.

  “They can’t, but they can breach outside Earth’s atmosphere and fly here,” Reuel said. “But no one who intended us harm would be stupid enough to do that with the guardians watching.”

  He was right, but no angel I knew would ever employ such a dramatic entrance unless it was an extreme emergency. This wasn’t good news on the way.

  “I swear if that thing doesn’t say ‘hark’ or ‘fear not’ I’m gonna start shooting,” Kane said, his Glock ready to fire.

  “They’re from Eden,” Reuel said.

  “Is it Cassiel?” I asked.

  “We’re getting ready to find out,” Azrael said.

  Chimera was shielding her eyes. “It’s so bright.”

  “We’re gonna hear about this on the news. I can see the headlines now. ‘Unidentified Flying Object Spotted over Arden,” Adrianne said.

  The orb slowed as it neared us. As it approached, I could begin to make out legs, arms, hair, breasts…

  “Hello, Warren, Reuel.” The smooth voice was female, with a flawless American accent. Proof that whoever it was had spent a great deal of time on Earth, like Azrael or Cassiel.

  The angel’s dark eyes amidst all the white light locked on Adrianne as she peeked around Azrael’s shoulder. Reaching back, he shielded her with his arm.

  “Oh. Hello, Azrael. I didn’t even see you there.” It wasn’t a greeting as much as an insult. Because he was now mortal, Azrael’s presence to any angel wouldn’t have registered as quickly.

  But her tone—and the way she cut her eyes—suggested something more. Something deeply resentful. Like someone passed over for a promotion. Or a long-lost relative cut out of a will.

  The angel settled on the ground near the house, and the ethereal light consuming her faded. I took in the full, bizarre, sight of her. She was tall, my height, at least. She had a thin frame and dark skin. She was dressed like a local in jeans and a casual top, both made on Earth.

  That’s where the normality ended. Soot streaked her face. Her shirt was singed. And her dark curly hair stood nearly vertical.

  It was smoking…

  “Theta?” Fury ran around Azrael, grabbed the woman by the arm, and turned her to the side. Then Fury patted the smoking spot on the back of the woman’s head.

  I leaned toward Reuel. “Theta, the Archangel of Prophecy?”

  He nodded.

  “Wow.” It was impressive because there were only seven of us in existence, and I’d met all of them except this one.

  Theta turned and embraced Fury. “Oh, Allison, I’m so sorry for your loss.”

  Fury pulled away. “Theta, what happened to you? Are you OK?”

  “Do I look OK?”

  Fury shook her head.

  “I tried to come in dark, to keep from being seen, but without the light, I nearly burned up coming through the atmosphere.”

  To be honest, I knew my wings of light had protective qualities, but I never would have thought that without them I might burn flying to Earth. Good thing to know. I’d hate for that story to get around in Eden.

  Theta pushed her tousled hair off her forehead and looked at me. “It’s a pleasure to finally meet you, Warren.”

  Without giving me a chance to respond, Azrael stepped between us, his fists clenched at his sides. “Theta, why are you here?”

  Theta smiled, sort of. “It’s nice to see you again too, Azrael.”

  “You’re not welcome here.” The angry muscle was working in his jaw.

  “My business isn’t with you.”

  “You’re on my property. I’m sure that it is.”

  Her bright-red painted lips spread into a thin smile. “My, my. Settled into domestic life, have we? I’ll bet if you lived closer to civilization, you’d be shouting at kids to get off your lawn.”

  Azrael’s anger didn’t fade. “Why have you come? To stir up trouble, no doubt.”

  “I came to speak to the Archangel of Death. That’s no longer you,” she hissed.

  He started to lunge for her, but I held him back.

  Theta’s eyes narrowed as she cut them toward Adrianne. “Maybe I should introduce myself to your other son instead.”

  It was a threat. A dangerous one. Azrael’s spine went rigid, and he fell back a step.

  “Why are you here?” I spoke more calmly than my father had.

  “I have a message for you.” Theta looked at Fury. “Actually, an urgent message for both of you.”

  “A prophecy?” I asked, the skepticism apparent in my voice.

  “For you, yes.”

  I frowned.

  I’d never had a good experience with prophecy. I’d once seen a vision of Sloan dying in front of me. All this time later, it still haunted my dreams. I could remember not only what I saw, but exactly how I felt losing her.

  Azrael, too, had always warned against prophets, as he believed they bent the truth to suit their own agendas. It was obvious by his sneer, his feelings hadn’t changed.

  However, because we were about to fly blind through the literal gates of Hell, I knew we could use all the help we could get. “All right.”

  “Absolutely not,” Azrael said.

  My face whipped toward him.

  “You really want to do this here?” Theta asked him.

  My face whipped toward her.

  “I don’t want to do this at all. I want you to leave.”

  My face whipped toward him. It was like Wimbledon. Without the rackets, nets, and tennis skirts.

  “She’s not leaving,” I said, my voice stern. “I should hear what she has to say.”

  Azrael’s scowl strengthened. “She lies.”

  “I. Do. Not,” she said, punctuating every word with offense.

  Then she launched into a mumbling rant in Katavukai. Something about the past, and things being unexplainable. I heard the word infallible twice but couldn’t ma
ke out who or what she was talking about. If she was anything like most angels I knew, she was probably referencing herself. The angels of Eden were a lofty bunch.

  Azrael’s glare was so heated, I watched for Theta’s hair to start smoking again. There was history there. I just couldn’t remember what it was. As I took my seat, I racked my memory—and Azrael’s—for information on Theta.

  It’s interesting how memories work. Details obscure with time. Words fade. But the feelings of moments often survive the erosion with time. And I could recall Azrael’s feelings toward Theta with ease.

  Resentment.

  Whatever she’d done or said—or, likely, prophesied—had pissed him the hell off.

  “Please,” Theta told me. “I mean no harm.”

  I nodded. “OK.”

  She looked toward the house. “Where’s the child? I know she’s here.”

  I looked at Reuel. “Is this safe?”

  “Theta’s harmless, and she’s an Archangel. She’d make a powerful ally,” he replied in Katavukai.

  “Enzo, can you tell Sloan and Nathan it’s safe to bring Iliana back outside?” I asked.

  Azrael’s teeth were grinding.

  With a nod, Enzo holstered his weapon and walked to the house.

  A moment later, Nathan walked outside carrying my sword. Sloan carried Iliana behind him. He came over and handed me the sword and then its scabbard. “What’s happening out here? Who’s the Bride of Frankenstein?”

  Theta’s eyes were fixed on Iliana.

  I took the sword and sheathed it before handing it to Reuel. Nathan returned to Sloan and Iliana.

  “This is Theta, the Archangel of Prophecy,” I said.

  “Oh boy. You guys never bring us great news,” Nathan said, pulling out a chair for his wife.

  Azrael pushed past her. “Don’t worry. She rarely brings reliable news at all.”

  “I have news for you too, Azrael,” she said.

  There was a hiccup in his movement back to his seat, but otherwise, he didn’t respond. He sat down with a huff, picked up his fork, and skewered his pile of potatoes like she wasn’t even there.

  All of us were watching him.

  “You don’t even want to know what she has to say?” Adrianne asked.

  “No.”

  Adrianne looked dumbfounded. “The last prophecy about Sloan was right. What if Theta’s news is about the baby?”