Page 36 of Wings of Lies
“No, no funny stories. What are you saying? You think I’m an Archangel?” I knew nothing about them, shocker. But I had hoped the word would spark a familiar nudge. My brain did that sometimes. It nudged at me like it was trying to make me remember something.
“The pure white glow, crazy consuming heat, and the force are exactly the same as their Glory. So yeah…” he said, trailing off at my glare.
“I don’t know, Oliver. What if I’m a NephilimwithGlory?”
He snorted. “Even if a Nephilim has a father who is an Archangel, they don’t pass down their Glory power. That’s a specific power to them.”
I rubbed at the ache in my chest, almost wishing I would’ve been left with different memories. Something that didn’t pull at my gut every time I saw her face. Something that didn’t leave me on the edge of my seat, thinking the worst but hoping for the best.
“But what if I have a mom?” I whispered.
Oliver stared at me, mouth shut, wheels turning in his squinting eyes. “Do you?”
“She’s one of the memories I kept,” I ran my finger through the dirt, swallowing. “I saw her, surrounded by, I’m not even sure who. It was dim, and they were wearing uniforms. I wanted to help, to protect her, like she always did for me. But the moment I decided to join the fight, something forced me out of the house.” I laughed, though none of this was funny. “That’s the only memory I have of her.”
Equally as quiet, Oliver asked, “But how do you know she’s your mother?”
“I just… I felt it,” I said, touching my chest.
Oliver scooted closer, giving me a knowing smile. “Family doesn’t have to share the same blood. You can still be an angel and have a mom.”
“Aren’t angels created? Like they blip into the air fully grown or something.”
He nodded, taking the rabbit off the fire, cutting it apart, and divvying up on a set of plates. “Yes, they are. I’m not sure about the blipping full-grown part, but I’d assume so. Angels are hundreds of years old. So, who knows?” he said as he handed me one and a wooden fork.
The peppery and herbaceous aroma of the meat made my stomachache. I was more than ready to sink my fork into the sizzling goodness. But before I did, I said, “I think I was born.”
He gave me a strange look. “Are you sure you lost your memories? Because it seems you know more than you’re letting on.”
“No—I—” A fluttering sensation tickled my mind. “I was born. I don’t know how I know that or why the thought came to me now. But it’s true.”
He took a bite of his rabbit, chewing slowly. “It’s just… Nephilim don’t have Glory. It’s unheard of. Although Archangels or any other types of angels don’t have your purple flames.”
“Other types?” I asked, taking a large bite of my juicy rabbit.
He set his fork and half-finished plate down, sighing. “Okay, let’s rehash the whole angel hierarchy.”
I couldn’t tell if Oliver was being sarcastic or if he was eager to speak on the subject.
“There are six levels of angels with the Seraphims at the top. I haven’t seen one and probably never will. Nor do I know anyone who has. The amount of power and rule they have is, well, they’re at the top for a reason. The next highest are the Archangels.” He motioned to his imaginary ladder. “A warrior-type angel. They are scary. In a, I will enact my justice in a burn-you-to-bits-with-my-Glory kind of way. Like you.”
I swallowed, looking down at my food.
“Some have an extra power specific to them, which makes them extra scary. They are also… How would you say it nicely?” He tapped a finger against his lip. “Stuck-up assholes and stone-cold killers. Dominions are under them. They are still ruthless assholes, but they have sick telekinetic powers and keep the other angels under them in line. Then there are the Thrones, which are more of a scholarly type. They like books. A lot of books. We already had a run-in with some Powers?—”
“Which you have yet to explain how we got away from.”
He rolled his eyes.
Was he purposefully avoiding the subject?
He continued, ignoring my questioning look. “We ran into an earth and sky elemental.”
“Sky isn’t an element.”
“No, but it’s a class within the Powers. A sky elemental is someone who has the power over wind, rain, and lightning. I guess you could say thunder, too. Which means she is most likely a colonel,” he explained.
She, as in he saw who they were.Is, suggesting they still lived. “Colonel?”
