Page 71 of Revelations

Physically, she looked as though she hadstayed up all night watching weepy chick flicks. Emotionally, renewed energy pulsed through her. Unburdening one’s self did free the mind, releasing its negative hold over her into the unknown. After a long, invigorating shower, Greylyn hoped that her appearance had improved along with her spirit.

Thomas had leftovers heated up, along with a steaming cup of coffee, waiting on her in the kitchen.

“Morning, there! About time you joined the living again,” he quipped good-naturedly, as if last night really had just been chick flicks, wine, and popcorn.

While she gulped down the dark brew, he watched her intently over his newspaper. A knot tangled in her chest at the thought of what was going through his mind now that he knew the whole story. She had confessed all her deepest, darkest sins to him as if she were on her deathbed. Surely, he would be a little blown away by it all.

“Okay, so what’s on the agenda for today?” She tried to sound nonchalant, but the tremble in her voice belied the fact she was far from it.

Thomas reached across the table and placed his hand on top of hers. “Grey, look at me.” After she reluctantly obeyed, he added, “No judgments here. There’s something between you and the dark dude. It’s been building up for centuries, for goodness’ sake. It’s not a shock that you’re out of sorts with all that’s happened. Not to mention this prophecy business. But, no matter what…I’ve got your back. Can’t pinkie swear to keep this a secret from our lovely pal, Jasper, forever. But I’ll try.” His chin dipped, but his eyes remained locked on hers. “Honestly, you really should tell him—in your own time, though. But, for now, it’s just you and me. No matter what happens.”

She squeezed his hand back, unable to utter a reply.

They finished breakfast in relative silence after that. She knew that Thomas felt bad about making her cry…again. He kept trying to pamper her by refilling her coffee cup every time that she took a sip, asking if she wanted or needed something else, and just staring at her like she was a china doll about to shatter. Quite frankly, it started to get on her nerves.

After all, she was a guardian angel. Strong. Brave. Fearless. Or at least she liked to think that, but lately she had been anything but those things.That’s in the past, she concluded.Now, I will be those things!

Thomas had to run some errands in town, so Greylyn walked him out to the car while listing off a few items that she needed too—toothpaste, a new pair of running shoes, and some chocolate.

Prior to stepping into the car, he turned to ask, “By the way, there’s one thing that bothers me.”

Her heart squeezed tightly. She knew the question before he asked it.

“Why did Kael save me?”

Good question, obviously; another answer that she didn’t have. She shrugged as the rusted car door creaked open.

The atmospheric pressure suddenly changed drastically. There was no breeze, no circulation of air, as if a giant vacuum had sucked it all away. A sharp pain burst through her right eye.

No!

She had only felt this way one other time, three months earlier outside a dilapidated apartment building in downtown Washington, D.C.

Olivier!

Chapter 18 – Flying the Friendly Skies

“I was wondering the exact same thing.” The fallen archangel’s plummy voice cut through the air even before his corporeal form appeared directly in front of her. “Why would Kael stoop to bring a mere human back from the brink of death?”

Thomas lunged for Greylyn. For what purpose, she couldn’t fathom. It wasn’t as if a mere human stood a chance against an egocentric bastard such as Olivier. Hell, as far as she knew, nothing could stop him…except maybe Satan himself. Even then, she wouldn’t place a bet for or against either one.

Without warning, Olivier grabbed them both into his rough embrace. Immediately, they were assaulted by gale-force winds as the fallen archangel transported them away from the tiny cabin in South Carolina.

Greylyn shut her eyes against the raging twister. The air thinned as they shot up into the sky. In a matter of a few short moments, her feet slammed against the hard ground and Olivier released them. Wobbling, she reached out to stop Thomas from falling over a rocky cliff into a deep, seemingly endless cavern.

“Where the bloody hell are we?” Thomas bellowed. Surprisingly, his tone was more angry than frightened.

“It is not exactly Hell, but I can give you the grand tour, if you like.” Olivier chuckled at his own wit. Noticing that his guests were not amused, he shrugged. “I thought we could use someplace more private and secluded to chat.” He dramatically indicated the surrounding rock walls.

Regaining her chutzpah, Greylyn countered, “You got private and secluded, right. But we were in rural South Carolina. You typically don’t get more secluded than that, but this seems to be an exception.” She made a show of scoping out their surroundings.

Olivier chuckled. “I thought you would like it, dear. Now, where were we?”

“South Carolina. We were in South Carolina.” Apparently, Thomas was not letting being kidnapped by a fallen archangel diminish his newfound bravado.

With a sharp flick of Olivier’s hand, Thomas’s eyes rolled back until only the whites were visible and he fell to the ground in a loud thump, unconscious. Panicked, Greylyn rushed to his side, feeling for a pulse.

“Oh, dear, he is fine. Just needs a timeout, while the adults discuss things.”

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