Page 31 of Protected by the Fallen
“What? What shouldn’t you say? You can trust me, Vera. I…” I pause, and an idea comes to mind, “I just want to know mybashertensbetter. I care about them, and I want to know why talking about their father upsets them so much.”
My emotional declaration lands its mark. I fight the urge to pat myself on the back when Vera, once again, tears her attention from the book, closing it to keep herself from becoming caught up in its pages.
In a whisper I am barely able to hear, she says, “Their father isn’t Fallen.”
“Excuse me?” My first thought is that they’re Nephilim. Again, I know that’s not possible. “What are you talking about?”
She looks from left to right, and I see genuine unease in her eyes. I regret causing her discomfort, but I can’t deny I’m dying to know what she is saying.
Confirming we are alone, Vera continues in a nearly-soundless whisper, “Adrian and Zeke are the sons of an angel.”
I blink. “Yeah, I know.”
“No,” she shakes her head. Again, she double checks that no other soul has drawn near. “You don’t understand. Zeke and Adrian are the sons of an angel. Meaning, their father is not Fallen.”
Thirteen
I forget to breathe.Only when I feel my lungs burn do I finally draw breath. Gasping, I ask, “Are you serious?”
“Deathly serious,” Vera murmurs. She leans closer, pushing the book away. I’ve obtained her undivided attention. “Apparently, their Father seduced Sarah shortly before the Fall, impregnating her and then abandoning her to live on Earth alone with their children. Adrian and Zeke are the only known Fallen to be direct descendants of a Fallenandan angel.”
My head is spinning. “Sarah was pregnant when she fell?”
“Yes,” Vera nods.
I don’t know if that supports or denies the rumor that Fallen fell because of illicit relationships. The Book of Enoch discussed human relationships being the cause of the Fall, but perhaps Sarah’s relationship with her angelic lover also qualified as illicit.
“But Adrian and Zeke’s father didn’t Fall?”
“No. Which makes Adrian and Ezekiel the only angels born on Earth. By default, they are Fallen, but they never actually committed an act which warranted their banishment from Heaven. As a result, they are the most powerful Dark Fallen in existence.
“What about Light Fallen?” I find myself asking the question without thinking it through. I think of Gabe and Joseph. It’s hard to believe Adrian and Zeke have an advantage over them. I can’t explain it, but I feel like all four of my soulmates are equal. Perhaps I’m biased.
“Light Fallen are different.” Vera no longer seems caught off-guard by my lack of knowledge. “They’ve been able to retain aspects of the original powers they possessed in Heaven. The Fall diminished them for all Fallen, but Light Fallen work tirelessly to keep ahold of the smallest amount of their Heavenly gifts.”
How did I not know this? God, I really am ignorant.
“So why doesn’t The Light Council try to take control of the Dark Fallen? If they have powers from Heaven which makes them stronger, why not conquer their enemies?”
“Because that would go against their puritan ideas, of course,” Vera says. “Unprovoked attacks would result in Light Fallen losing all ties to their Heavenly gifts. Though the link is small, it’s still enough to distinguish them. Light Fallen like to maintain their advantage, even if that means not using it against their rivals.”
I think of the Light Fallen I know. Gabe and Joseph have engaged in verbal altercations with the Dark Fallen, but they’ve never attacked them. And Lukas and Charles fight against The Darkness, often working with both Light and Dark Fallen in the process.
“Would you say Adrian and Zeke are just as powerful as the strongest Light Fallen?” I hold my breath, not sure if I truly want to hear the answer.
“Yes,” Vera answers without a pause. “No question. Adrian and Zeke are the most powerful of the Dark Fallen, hence The Council’s desire to have them join their ranks. Yourbashertenscould overthrow their mother if they wanted, and no one would think twice about it because… well… they should lead us.”
I have some serious questions for Zeke and Adrian.
As if conjured by my thoughts, my stomach flutters, revealing one of my Dark Fallen is nearby. Zeke rounds the corner, and his charming smile throws me. His smiles used to be rare. Now, they are almost as common as Gabe’s smiles.
“There you two are,” Zeke closes the distance between us, peering at the closed book on the table. “What have you been up to?”
I bite my tongue, resisting the urge to reveal all I’ve learned about him and his twin. I want to know why Adrian refused to tell me about their father. I want to know if the angel is truly a villain, or if Vera’s story is exaggerated. Have Adrian and Zeke ever met their father? Can heavenly angels visit Earth?
“Reading,” Vera answers after an uncomfortable beat of silence. “Yourbashert’s education is severely lacking.” Her voice is light, showing no evidence of our secretive conversation. “I’ve decided to take her under my wing and teach her about all things Dark Fallen.”
Vera misses the slight tightening of Zeke’s jaw, but I don’t. If I didn’t already know the Dark Fallen still kept things from me, I would now.
