Page 48 of The Angel's Kiss
“The Angel’s Blessing, yes. But it has always been during the day. Yours happened at night.”
Well, that was something I never knew. So, I was always different from the other Guardians, not just because I had a demon as a Champion.
“Not only that. Your entire attitude reeks of arrogance. Look how you feel so entitled to speak to me as if we are equals,” Michael said.
“Considering you come when we Call, I think Guardians are your betters since you want to get haughty,” I snapped back.
His expression turned to stone then and Darius rose, placing his hand on Michael’s arm.
“Leave, and get us the information we need, please,” Darius said.
Michael tore his angry glare from me to look at him. He nodded once, then vanished. Darius looked at me and then released a heavy and exasperated sigh. “You really know how to provoke people, don’t you?”
“He’s not a person, and let me remind you, he started it,” I said in my defense. I’d spent years living in the Guild being bullied and looked down on by everyone here practically. I learned to fight back even if I were fighting those who claimed that we were on the same side.
“He’s an Archangel, Rai,” Darius said.
“He’s an ass—”
“Don’t finish that sentence.”
I rolled my eyes. “What did he mean about me being born wrong, or whatever?”
Darius scratched his eyebrow and sat back down. “You were born on the twelfth of December, exactly a hundred years after the last Guardian died which was 2012.”
“Twelve, twelve, twelve,” I said.
He nodded. “It was an odd event, as there was also an eclipse that night, the same that happened a century before when Azazel was given the Angel’s Kiss.”
“Yeah, but I’m sure I wasn’t the only person born on that day.”
“True. But you were the only one born at that exact time. Midnight. It’s significant in the sense that you are the twelfth and final Guardian to be born and the twelfth Archangel got the shaft in place of a demon who was cursed when he killed the last Guardian on December 12, 1912. Let us not ignore the fact that Azazel was on of the Twelve Knights of Hades, the most powerful among them.”
Okay, yeah... the number twelve playing a significant part in my life was uncanny. “Maybe because the demon Azazel had already been cursed by that time, I was already linked to him. That might be why I was born like that.”
“The Angel’s Kiss was supposed to kill Azazel by purifying his soul. It was a gift to cleanse him of his sins so that he may be freed to go to Heaven,” Darius said. “Jean Dubois had forgiven Azazel for killing him at that moment.”
Holy shit! I had no idea that was what was supposed to happen.
“Why... why are you telling me this now?” I asked because it seemed like some pertinent information I should have known before I left the Guild.
“Because we still don’t know why he was instead given the destiny of Champion.”
I scoffed because it was all coming together. “What you meant to say is that you still don’t know if I can be trusted.”
Darius’ gaze held me. “I may be the one person who does trust you, Rai. Yes, you’re rough around the edges. Vulgar, rebellious, and stubborn. You have a viewpoint that sees the shades of gray, but I also think that is who you were meant to be. Just like I believe Azazel is now who he was meant to be. God chose him to be your life partner, because that’s what a Champion is. You have to put all of your trust in him and vice-versa. Some may think you’re evil, but I never did.”
“Michael does.”
Darius smiled. “It’s his nature to see humans as God’s weakness. Still, he will never betray God or his warriors. He may distrust you, but he also has faith in you, if that makes sense.”
It did, actually. “So, both Azazel and I are an anomaly.”
“And for good reason. I think you have the potential to become the most powerful Guardian in our ranks,” Darius said.
“Why? How?” I asked because it sounded nice, but I was curious as to what made him believe that.
“Because you aren’t like the rest of us, Rai. You could be the greatest or the worst, it could go either way. But my faith in you leads me to believe in the former. But it’s ultimately up to you if you’re able to tap into your full potential,” Darius said and his words brought back the advice from the Magic Shop Owner.
