Page 52 of Claimed by the Fallen
On one hand, I’m horrified to hear the devil’s name. I’m religious, but I never gave much thought to the fact Lucifer, the angel who personified evil, truly existed. Knowing the Fallen angels in front of me had once sided with the fearful angel makes me wary ofthem.
But, on the other hand, I am relieved to know Mr. Cohen and Gabe are trying to return to Heaven. They realized their mistake and are trying to rectify it. But what about Adrian andZeke?
I voice thequestion.
Mr. Cohen shrugs. “Most Dark Fallen have accepted their banishment and do not seek to regain God’sgrace.”
I find that difficult to wrap my head around. How could anyone who’s experienced Heaven accept such afate?
“So, you’re telling me my mother and father are angels on opposite teams. I thought the two groups didn’t get along.” I think of the two sets of brothers and their disdain for oneanother.
“We don’t. That, and the fact a female Fallen gave birth to a child, is what makes this entire situation so unbelievable.” Mr. Cohen shakes hishead.
I’d forgotten their earlier reveal that Fallen females couldn’t give birth like human women. So how was my existence possible? It went against everything the angels had told me thusfar.
I try to shake away my confusion. “How will you find out who my angelic parentsare?”
“By asking questions,” Mr. Cohen says. “Whoever your parents are, they took great care to hide the truth of what happened from the rest of the Fallen, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t someone out there who knows something. All we need to do is find thatperson.”
I nod. “What, exactly, does being half-light, half-dark mean for me? Am I an abomination orsomething?”
“Absolutely not,” Gabe is emphatic. “You’re a rare jewel, Veronica. You will have the strengths of both races coursing through yourveins.”
And theirweaknesses.
I’m surprised by my thought. I don’t know where it camefrom.
“Would you mind if we skip watching the game?” I stand from the couch. I have the sudden need to get out of thehouse.
“Of course not.” Mr. Cohen, also, stands. I notice his wings are out as well. “Do you need to gosomewhere?”
“The grocery store,” I say. “I can save my parents from needing to do the errand thisweekend.”
Both angelsnod.
I walk to the kitchen and retrieve the shopping list posted to the fridge. I grab my purse and check my wallet for the credit card linked to my parents’ bankaccount.
The three of us exit the house. I lock the door and get into my mother’s car. Gabe sits in the passenger seat and Mr. Cohen slides into theback.
I turn up the radio, filling the car with music, saving us from feeling the need to fill the silence. I roll the windows down and switch into reverse. I ignore Mrs. Hall’s curious stare as I back out of thedriveway.
The trip to the store is little more than fiveminutes.
I swing into a parking spot underneath a tree. The shade will do wonders for the interior’s temperature while we’re inside. I leave the windows cracked, remove the keys from the ignition, then hop out of thecar.
The automatic doors slide open as I step onto the black mat in front of the grocery store. Mr. Cohen and Gabe are close behind. Though, they aren’t right on my heels. I appreciate the extra space. If people didn’t see them exit my car, they might not think we are heretogether.
I pull a shopping cart from the row of connected carts and steer it to the first aisle right inside the store. Reaching into my purse, I retrieve the grocery list and look at theitems.
First up: sandwichbread.
I push the cart forward and stop in front of the grains section. I find my mom’s favorite brand and put it in the cart. I look at the rest of the list, mentally planning out the best way to retrieve the items in the most efficientpath.
“Want us to get things and bring them back?” Gabe asks, drawing near enough to peer over my shoulder and glance at the list. “We can get out of here faster so less people see us withyou.”
I flush, embarrassed they have picked up on the fact I don’t want to be seen with them. “Uh, sure. My parents need eggs and one gallon of skim milk,” I tell them the two items in the farthest corner of thestore.
The angels turn and walk out of the aisle without another word. I stare after them for an extra second before refocusing on mytask.
