Page 20 of The Angel's Kiss
“Do you trust Azazel?”
“No. But that is because he is a demon. The only thing holding him back from his nature is theAngel’s Kiss,” Darius said.
“When did the last Guardian die?”
“1912, and a hundred years later, you were born,” Darius said. “The Guardian, Jean, was a Divine Weapon with their Champion, which, as you know, makes them stronger. But at the very moment of their ending, they gave aDeath Wish,and that wish was granted by God. That is why the demon Azazel wasgiven theAngel’s Kiss.That’s thehow,that we know. Thewhyis what remains the mystery.”
I looked at the portrait again and under it was my birthmark. That which marked me as a Guardian. A sword. My birthmark was on my inner right forearm. “Does he have my mark?”
“He does. Your Guardian mark, he bares that on his inner right forearm.”
I looked down at my own arm to see my mark there. “I don’t trust him either,” I said.
“There will come a time when you will have the ability to call your Champion into command.”
“No,” I said. I couldn’t fathom working with a demon, especially one who was as evil and cruel as Azazel. So many dreams I had of him were nightmares. I felt his pleasure as he killed. He did it because it was fun. I’d been haunted by those visions... But then there were the ones that weren’t scary. The ones that made me feel sorry for him, that made me want to hold him. Then there were the ones that made me want to... I didn’t want to think or speak about those.
And what was Azazel doing in the club that night? Was he watching me?
“It was time to tell you the truth. You’re eighteen, Rai, mature enough to be able to handle it. That is why I’m training you so that you will be able to deal with a demon as your Champion,” Darius said.
I shook my head, because I hated the idea that I was linked to a demon.Why me? Everyone else got an angel as their Champion. Why did God do this to me?
“Accept this destiny, Rai. You cannot escape it. You must learn to work with Azazel if you hope to survive,” Darius said. “I will teach you how.”
I looked into Azazel’s indigo eyes. “How did you get this portrait of him?”
“He sent a photo, as he is not allowed to enter the Guild,” Darius said.
I scoffed. “He can’t even come inside these walls, yet I’m expected to accept him as my Champion?”
“You have no choice.”
We would see about that.
***
After the revelation, Darius allowed me to have dinner and I was standing in line when I heard my name passing through the lips of one of these petty Guards. I knew the one, too, because he’d been a pain in my ass since day one. I turned to see Andrew smirking at me.
“It’s your eighteenth birthday... did you like your surprise?” Andrew asked. “Demon boy?”
“Do you like the number of teeth you have in your mouth, Asshole?” I retorted.
Andrew stepped up to me. “See, that attitude right there is why your Champion is a demon. You aren’t good enough to have an Archangel, you’re trash, so you get trash.”
I didn’t say anything, because I’d had enough of his shit. I reared my head back and slammed his face as hard as I could. It hurt, but I knew I’d hurt him more when he cried out in pain and fell to the floor, his nose bleeding.
“You broke my nose!” he yelled.
“I only gave you what you were asking for,” I said.
Other Guards ran over to us, older ones who were there as security. I was taken to the Headmaster while Andrew was taken to the healing infirmary. I sat in the chair and stared past Darius as he looked at me.
“That temper of yours again, Rai?” he asked.
I huffed and looked at him. “Tell me something. Why is it that I’ve had to deal with those assholes fucking with me since Iwalked through these doors? If you can’t control them, I will,” I snapped.
Darius smirked then and I blinked, because he rarely did things like that. “I was aware of their bullying of you, Rai.”
