Page 60 of Shifting Hearts 1
Seraphina hadn’t seen her sister, Mirabelle in years and she was looking forward to rooming with her. Mirabelle had lived inthe city for a few years at that point and would mentor Seraphina as she fulfilled her calling.
As her father’s youngest, she was the last of her siblings to be sent on assignment. Saving the soul of billionaire Jas Conrad, CEO of Conramor liquors intimidated her, but she would make him proud.
The man owned multiple distilleries and vineyards around the globe. She was hired as his personal assistant at the company’s home office. Mirabelle used divine intervention to land the role for her sister. Rumor had it the man discarded assistants faster than he changed socks.
“Seraphina!” Mirabelle called.
“Mirabelle!” Seraphina shrieked as she rushed to hug her.
Seraphina studied her sister more intently, trying to figure out what felt off about her aura. Her mocha skin was flawless, but the long dark curls she remembered had been cut and styled with an edgy look. Though she smiled, there was sadness in her gaze.
She’s lost her ethereal glow,Seraphina gasped.
As an archangel, Brock didn’t have the same glow. His energy was unique and could be downright menacing to unsuspecting people.
“Mirabelle?” she asked softly.
“Call me, Mara,” she began. “I don’t like Mirabelle anymore.”
She looked at her sister, mulling over the nickname
“Mara? I like it.” She smiled. “It suits your mature style.”
“Hello, baby sis!” Her brother, Brock said, as he pushed off the tiny car he’d been leaning on.
She shrieked in laughter as he picked her up in a bear hug and spun her around. He was a giant, standing at six-foot-seven with broad shoulders. His blond hair was pulled back with a leather tie, while sunglasses hid the Viking man’s piercing blue eyes. He was an archangel, an agent of justice, some referred tohim as Karma. When he set her back down, she barely came up to his chest.
Brock took her bag and tossed it into the trunk of the black car. Seraphina didn’t know much about them or how to drive, but was surprised as Mara climbed into the driver’s seat. Brock climbed into the passenger side and Seraphina sat in the middle of the back seat.
She didn’t have to ask why they weren’t flying. It was against the rules to expose their wings and fly. Keeping their nature secret was imperative and mundane human things were required to blend into the human world.
Brock’s hair brushed the ceiling as he turned in his seat to address her. He was a giant stuck in the tiny metal vehicle.
“How was your journey?” he asked.
The celestial realm was outside what mortals perceived to be time and space. While they couldn’t manipulate time, they were able to travel through it. A journey through the time portal took them to any place in time. If they attempted to tamper with events already set in history, they would lose their wings and be cast into nonexistence.
“I stopped to watch them erect a monument, and it was fascinating.”
All angels were born innocent and retained that when they entered the world. Engaging in corrupt or sinful behavior led to them losing their wings, which meant loss of immortality. Many died before earning them back.
As an angel of justice, Brock was one of the most powerful beings in any realm, as such, he wasn’t forced to follow the same rules set for the rest of them. He was neither good nor evil, he could employ certain methods for the sake of justice.
Mara pressed her lips into a tight line, not engaging in their conversation.
“Is something wrong, Mara?” she asked.
“Let’s talk when we get home,” Brock said gently, placing a comforting hand on his sister’s shoulder.
They sat in silence for a few minutes before Seraphina spoke again. “How’s work Brock?”
He turned to look at her and said sternly, “I said, let’s talk when we get home.”
She was taken aback by his tone and sunk against the seat. Sighing, she looked out the window, digesting the sights around them. The gothic-inspired architecture of the city was awe-inspiring. She wondered if the many steepled buildings were churches. It seemed several old buildings were sandwiched between those erected from glass and steel. The city was founded over 200 years ago, surviving fire and corruption from the leaders before blossoming into the metropolis it was today.
Mara pulled into a parking structure and turned the car off once she was in a spot. Brock grabbed her belongings from the trunk, and Seraphina followed them up several flights of stairs, until they stopped in front of a door with a metal emblem with the number six on it.
“Home, sweet home,” Mara said as she put a key in the lock and pushed open the door. “It sucks trying to bring in the shopping as there is no elevator. But lacking such a luxury almost makes the rent affordable. If you need anything heavy brought upstairs, just call Brock. If he’s around, it’s like he’s lifting a feather.”
