The Angel Knights-Prequel (The Angel Knights Series Book 1) (3 page)

Chapter 4

After we washed up, we headed to my favorite part of Crossroads: the fountain. Many of us fanned out and smaller groups mingled amongst themselves. The statues of the archangels Michael and Gabriel stood in the middle, and the water sparkled like diamonds. We’d learned the Divine Elders’ swords had been created using the crystals from the fountain, and those swords were the
only
weapons capable of killing an angel.

It was forbidden to kill an angel, but at times necessary—for the sake of humanity—to kill an evil one. Many battles had occurred between the angels, demons, Fallen, and even among the Divine Elders who had betrayed them before Zach and I were born. Humans were not the only ones created imperfect. Angels had their struggles and challenges as well, especially Venators. We
were
half-human, after all.

“Let it go, Lucia,” Zach muttered. “I can feel how heavy your heart is.”

His presence had enveloped me before he spoke from behind me. Mesmerized by the shimmering water, I trained my eyes forward as I explained. “I didn’t know them, but it doesn’t seem fair their lives were cut short.”

Zach placed his hand on my shoulder. “I know. But this is who we are…what we do. We all have a purpose in life, and it was their time. That is what we have to tell ourselves, because it’s what we’ve been taught. It’s okay to grieve for them, but we have to move on.”

I met my brother’s gaze when I turned. Sometimes when I looked at Zach, I saw a younger version of my father. With dark hair and brown eyes, and his body almost as muscular as Father’s, it was difficult to tell the difference between them from behind.

“It’s so much easier to say than do. How do you turn it off so easily? It seems so simple for you. Why does it feel like I’m the only one having a difficult time?”

“Maybe when we were in Mother’s womb, you took the bigger heart. How selfish of you.” He smirked.

At first I didn’t realize he was joking. Then I curled my lips into a wicked smile. “Not only did I take the bigger heart, but I took the bigger brain.”

Zach wrapped his arm around my neck, gripping me in a tight hold and tickling me. “Take it back, Lucia.”

I couldn’t help myself; I started to laugh so hard my stomach hurt. I tried to push him off, but he wouldn’t budge. We moved away from the fountain as I struggled to free myself. Getting an idea, I popped my wings open. It happened so fast Zach had no time to stop the fall. The force of my wings tossed him across the space, straight into the fountain.

All the Venators around us laughed. I knew all of them by name, but I didn’t know them well. None of us were “friends” in the proper sense of the word. We only knew how to work as a team, and then we went our separate ways, never getting too close. It was one way to guard our hearts. Like Zach reminded me, it was who we were. In my peripheral vision, the rest of my team appeared—Isaac and Jude to my left and Victoria to my right.

“Taking a dip, Zachary?” My father appeared, helping him out of the water. “I believe Davin fell in once or twice, or several times. Sometimes by my doing.” He chuckled.

“Well, for me, it was Lucia,” he grunted, glaring at me as he shook his wings like a dog when it got out of water.

“You started it, so you got what you deserved.” I stuck my tongue out at him.

“Lucia, don’t,” Mother said softly.

She’d appeared out of thin air, making me gasp a little. When Mother spoke, I listened. Her voice seemed to hold some kind of obedience power.

I covered my mouth with my hand, showing her I knew she wasn’t happy with me. Releasing it, I said, “Uncle Davin does it all the time.”

“Does what?” Father turned his attention back to us.

“Sticks out his tongue…mostly at you,” Zach answered, still glaring at me.

Father smiled and let out a short snort. “That’s nothing new.” He rolled his eyes. “He’s been doing it since the day he met me in Halo City. I told him many times I would cut it off.”

“Cut what off?” Uncle Davin asked, appearing behind us.

Sometimes, it could get a little bit creepy when the elders materialized without any warning.

“Your tongue,” Father answered matter-of-factly.

Uncle Davin paced along the length of the fountain, keeping his eyes rooted on Father. He was scheming some plan, from the way his expressions changed from thoughtful to playful. Then he slowly willed his sword. “I’m going to pluck your feathers from your wings and make you look like an ugly goose. Or maybe I’ll make a goose-down blanket instead.”

Father shook his head, trying not to laugh, and so was I. Uncle Davin bounced around like a boxer. “Come on…chicken.” The word slithered out of his mouth as if he knew it would get Father all riled up. “Show me what you’ve got.”

Father’s amused expression changed at the word “chicken.” His eyes darkened, muscles grew taut, and jaw clenched, and though I knew he wouldn’t hurt Uncle Davin, he looked like a predator. Turning to us, he said, “Watch and learn.”

Those words meant one thing: Uncle Davin and Father were teaching us. We learned by observing and doing. We were going to have one awesome showdown.

“You asked for it.” Father charged with his sword.

Uncle Davin blocked, ducked, and jumped to the ledge of the fountain. He made us laugh when he mimicked the statue of Archangel Gabriel—sword by his side, leaning to his right with one leg stretched out—just before Father pointed his weapon at him.

Uncle Davin glanced at us for a split second, letting us know he was talking to us. “Make sure to look around for an object, or anything to help you distract your opponent, even something as simple as….” Uncle Davin reached down and splashed water at Father, causing him to jump back.

“Good one,” Father praised. “Just as you must prepare yourself for your opponent to do the same to you.” Father swiped around and flapped his wing. The water rained down on Uncle Davin.

“Clever, but never let it stop you from raising your weapon in defense.” Uncle Davin’s blade contacted Father’s, making a loud, clanking sound.

I loved to watch the way they moved gracefully around the fountain as the metal-upon-metal noise echoed through the air. Sometimes their motions were hard to catch from the speed with which they moved, but regardless, it fascinated me to see skilled angels battle each other. Though we were trained and ready, nothing compared with experience. Father and Uncle Davin had fought in many wars together. There was nothing greater than having someone they trusted whole-heartedly. They may have driven each other nuts, but when it came to sacrifice, devotion, and friendship, they were the epitome of these words.

“Sometimes you have to do something they least expect.” Father ran in circles around us, creating a tunnel of wind.

My hair tangled around my face, blocking my vision. When he stopped, Father’s sword was pointed at Uncle Davin’s chest. I assumed Father had confused Uncle Davin and knocked him to the ground. I didn’t want to say it out loud, but Father had once again showed his level of power.

Uncle Davin’s eyes widened in defeat, and then his lips twisted into a pout. “I’m your best friend. How could you do this to me? I’m wounded, and I can’t get up.” He pushed the sword away and started to crawl on his hands and knees. Then he winked at us. “Sometimes, you have to do anything to survive. And no matter what…let them think they have the upper hand until you’re ready to strike.” Uncle Davin kicked Father’s sword. Father’s tight grip only allowed it to sway a bit, but it gave enough space for Uncle Davin to escape.

“Running away so soon?” Father challenged.

Uncle Davin stopped and turned. “Nope. Getting my team.” He gazed at us. “Do you know when you are being defeated and need help? Well…don’t just stand there. We’ve got a giant goose to fight. Go!”

We’d participated in sword fighting with our parents before, so this wasn’t something new. In fact, I enjoyed those times. It helped me learn to move quicker on my feet. Willing our swords, Zach and I attacked Father at the same time. His arm moved from left to right, blocking our swings. Usually, in practice he would have had our weapons knocked out of our hands in no time, but now that we were more skillful, it was harder to accomplish.

The clanking of the metal swords vibrated throughout Halo City as Isaac, Jude, and Victoria joined us. Father had no problem taking the five of us. When Father knocked Isaac into the fountain, I lost all my concentration, especially when I heard laughter from other Venators watching us. But I managed to evade a fall when Father struck my sword. He did it on purpose—to get me back on track. Again, I had worried about someone’s safety over my own. I needed to get a grip on it. Then two more were thrown into the water. Only Zach and I remained standing.

Zach went behind me. We were back to back, covering all angles—like we’d been taught—while Father paced around us, looking for an opening. But we stood our ground. Zach and I took slow, small steps, keeping our eyes on Father. His wings alone were intimidating.

“Don’t let anything distract you, Lucia,” Father guided. “Keep your eyes on me…my eyes, my hands, and my feet.” Father’s wings expanded all the way, fanning ever so slowly, trying to distract us.

His wings were so grand, towering over us. Knowing they could be used as a weapon, I kept my eyes on them. Unfortunately, Zach didn’t. Father knocked him back into the water, creating a massive splash. Father’s wings were like a bat to a ball. When he turned to me, I gasped and swallowed a lump of fear. I drove my sword forward to push his wings away, only to be blocked by his sword.

“Good girl, Lucia. Show no fear. Target wisely, but don’t look down.”

Little did I know he had given me a warning. I dipped my head, and that action ended me. I landed flat on my butt by a swipe of Father’s sword. He’d used the flat side of it to knock me down, and brushed me away with his powerful wings as if I were weightless. My wings were powerful, too, but I needed to think to use them more often. Father had been gentle with me. I skidded next to the fountain instead of into it, like the others.

“Davin, they need more work.” Father frowned, sounding upset. “Your team will be sent to New York, where more than half of the Venators fell. I know you’re going with them, but I’m going to have to go, too.”

Uncle Davin ran his hand down his face and puffed out air. “They
are
ready. They just need more practice. And you’re…you’re a mean giant with oversized wings. Nobody has wings like yours.”

“They’re still in training.” Mother looked worried, locking eyes with Father.

Father stroked her cheek. “Don’t worry, my love. I will go with them. Their team might be the best, but they’re still too young, inexperienced.”

Mother closed her eyes when Father kissed her lips. Love and affection sparked in her eyes when she opened them. “As you once were. They will find their way. We’re being overly protective, but I’m glad you’re going with them.”

Uncle Davin wrapped his arms around Mother’s shoulders. “So, when is this mission supposed to happen?”

“When the sun goes down tonight,” Mother replied.

“Someone is being the third wheel,” Father mumbled under his breath.

Uncle Davin gazed at Mother. “Yeah, Claudia, stop being the third wheel.” He shook his head and snickered. “You can’t come. As much as I know you want to, you are third in command. And since Katherine is visiting Nubilus City, and Michael will be coming with us, you’re going to have to stay put.”

Father and Mother exchanged glances with a smile. From the way he gazed at her, I knew he had communicated with her through her mind. They had something up their sleeves.

“Davin,” Mother purred sweetly. “How would you like to take a dip in the pool?”

Uncle Davin’s eyes grew wider. “We don’t have a pool, we have a lake. And who says I want—?” He shook his head and stuck out his hands. “Oh, no, you don’t.”

It was too late. Mother used her powers and pushed him back with the light which glowed from her hands.

“See you later…. What is it you always say?” Father swatted him with his wings and Uncle Davin landed in the fountain.

“It’s alligator, you big, fat, demon-winged monster.” He sputtered water out of his mouth.

Everyone laughed at seeing the grownups acting like teens. Evidently, Father and Uncle Davin had a love-hate relationship.