Page 33 of Claimed by the Fallen
Memories from my nightmare crash against my mind. Only, now I know it wasn’t a nightmare. It wasreal.
A flash of black feathers fills my vision as I recall the men who saved me and killed the creature. “It was you,” Ibreathe.
Mr. Cohen and Gabe look at me curiously, but Adrian knows exactly what I’m talkingabout.
“Yes.” He nods. “It was me and mybrother.”
“There’s another one of you?” I ask withoutthinking.
Immediately, I shake my head. That was definitely not the most pressing item todiscuss.
Thankfully, Adrian seems amused. His smile is genuine. “There is, and I expect you two will come face to facesoon.”
For some reason, my heart flutters. I don’t have time to wonder why before Gabe interrupts. “You knew a yancor tracked her, yet you left her alone?” Disdain is evident in thequestion.
“We killed the monster,” Adrian says calmly. Though, there is a glint of malice in his eye. “We made sure she and her friend got homesafe.”
Oh god…Joey!
“Are you sure Joey is okay?” Anxiety for my friend overshadows the shock that my nightmare was real. “Does he remember things like Ido?”
Adrian is quick to reassure me, “He does not. Only someone with Sight would be immune to my mindalteration.”
I’m only mildlyrelieved.
I regret I haven’t taken the time to call my friend today. I ignore the rational side which reminds me I hadn’t known my nightmare was real, but that doesn’t absolve me of myguilt.
“If I have Sight, why did I think the whole thing was a dream?” I choose not to wonder how my rescuers got me in my bedroom and into mypajamas.
“Because that was your first night of transitioning,” Adrian continues to be nothing but patient with me. “You were still susceptible to ourconcealment.”
“Concealment?”
“The magic all angels use to hide our true nature from humans. Only demons, other angels, and Nephilim see the truth. If your neighbors would have looked outside during the fight, you would’ve been the only thing theysaw.”
I guess that explains why the men kept their wings spreadopen.
I finally look at Mr. Cohen. “Were your wings always out when you were myteacher?”
“No. We have the ability to conceal them at will,” he answers, “but it feels better. To have them out, Imean.”
I nod on instinct, pretending like I understand everything. When, in reality, nothing makes sense. I stand from the couch. The sudden move makes each of the angelsstiffen.
“I’m tired,” I tell them. “I’d like to bealone.”
“Of course,” Mr. Cohensays.
“We’ll keep watch outside,” Gabe speaks at the sametime.
I look at Adrian and see he is watching me with his arms crossed over his chest. He raises an eyebrow and says, “Go and rest. We can speak morelater.”
I shake my head. “I don’t want to talk anymore. Can’t you guys just… kill the monsters? Or lure them away orsomething?”
Adrian isn’t surprised by my questions. I have the feeling he expected them. “No chance,Veronica.”
I prepare my argument when Mr. Cohen intervenes, “He’s right, Messenger. The yancor demons don’t give up so easily. As a new Nephilim, you arevulnerable.”
“And you need us,” Gabeadds.
