Page 68 of Claimed by the Fallen
“Do you speak?” I don’t need to look to know the newest stranger is talking tome.
Despite my reservations, my head turns until I’m staring at the man seated behind the large, oak desk. My reply fades from my lips. While everything in the warehouse looks old and worn, the desk is polished to perfection. I see a golden paperweight and a quill with a black feather. This room has been renovated recently, and I get the impression it is for the devastatingly handsome man peering at me through dark greeneyes.
The skin on my forehead creases. Why would the man set up an office in an abandoned warehouse? The only purpose for the building is to coordinate a meeting so I can free myparents.
Or is it? I’m starting to think that might not be thecase.
Seeing my reaction to him, as well as the surroundings, the stranger smiles. Unlike his servant, the gesture is dangerously close to welcoming. “You’re nervous. I understand. But I do need you to speak if we are to conduct our meeting. Once we’re finished, you and your parents will be free togo.”
His words fill me with hope, giving me the strength I need to push off the wall and turn my entire body towards him. “You’ll really let me and my parentsleave?”
The handsome stranger looks offended. His eyebrows turn down. “Of course, I am an angel of my word. But we must speak before any of you will be permitted toleave.”
“Y-you’re an angel?” I eye him, looking for a hint of his otherworldly status. My interactions with my four angelic bodyguards give me a false sense of comfort. For a moment, I’m tricked into believing if the stranger is an angel, he can’t be all thatbad.
Then I remember I’m basically considered an abomination. If this angel knows about my parents, and the fact I’m half-light and half-dark, something tells me he won’t be as amicable as my ex-high school teacher or my kickboxing instructor. I force myself to continue seeing him as an enemy. Turns out, that isn’t hard to do. After all, he did abduct myparents.
With a patient smile, he answers, “I am.” Then, a pair of white wings flare out behind him. The size of the room seems to shrink as the wings extend, nearly spanning fifteenfeet.
His presence fills every crevice and space in the room. I don’t know what this angel wants with me, but I don’t doubt he is powerful. Call me crazy, but I can senseit.
“Who are you?” I cross my arms over my chest. “And why am Ihere?”
The stranger dons a horrified expression. “Forgive me. Where are my manners? My name is Lukas. Pleased to meet you,Veronica.”
I refuse to be placated by his politeness. “Why am I here?” Irepeat.
Lukas leans back in the leather chair, observing me like I’m a unique puzzle he’s trying to solve. “You are here so we can talk with one another, Veronica.” His green eyes shine withexcitement.
“What do we need to talk about?” My gaze flicks to Charles on my right. He’s still tilted into a passivestance.
“Why, your recent transformation, of course. And your father,obviously.”
My eyes snap back to him. “You know who my father is?” I’m both eager and nervous to learn the identity of one of my biological parents. None of my bodyguards had been aware of my father’s name. It’s a piece of information I’d been wondering about since I first learned of my angelic heritage. Anticipation causes my heartrate to go up anothernotch.
Some of the light fades from Lukas’ gaze, along with his smile. “No. I was hoping you would be able to reveal hisidentity.”
Instantly, I’m deflated. I sigh. “No… I was adopted. I don’t know anything about my birthparents.”
“Hm.” He presses his lips into a firm line. “It seems your adoptive parents were telling thetruth.”
Alarms go off in my mind. “You didn’t tell them anything did you?” I ask in a rush, terrified by the idea my parents might learn what I am. What if they think I’m a freak? What if they kick me out of theirhouse?
The voice in the back of my head tells me I’m overreacting, but I cannot control the unease I feel just thinking my parents might know I’m the offspring of anangel.
“Relax.” Lukas stands and moves around the desk. “They know nothing about who you really are.” He steps in front of the piece of furniture and leans back to rest on its edge. His palms are placed on top of the surface, and he looks completely atease.
I swallow the lump in my throat and ask, “And who amI?”
The light returns to his green eyes. “You, Veronica Messenger, are ablessing.”
I pull back abit.
That isn’t what I expected him to say. “I’msorry?”
Lukas looks at me with unveiled interest. “You are a blessing. Nephilim are rare, and your existence has gone unnoticed for so long. You’re ablessing.”
I am unnerved by his repetitive statement. “I wouldn’t exactly consider being hunted by demons a blessing.” The words are out of my mouth before I even take the time to think about them. His stare is almost adoring, and it’s creeping meout.
