Something large crashed into the wall behind me as I lowered my hand. I really hoped it wasn’t Dez. I blinked my vision clear enough to see that the ghosts had scattered to the sides. My grace throbbed in response to the...the heavenly glow.
A huge shape came through the door, and the first thing I saw was the wings—the massive white wings with inky veins streaked throughout.
My heart seized in my chest.
Gabriel.
13
Fear punched a hole through my chest as Gabriel entered the gymnasium, and every instinct demanded that I hightail my butt out of here, but I held my ground—I held on to my grace.
“Trinity,” he spoke, and the sound of him was like rusty nails against my nerves. “I knew you would come.”
Nicolai was going to be so mad when he learned he was right.
This had been a trap.
“Wow,” I said, forcing my voice level. “That was a less than impressive entrance.”
Gabriel stopped, cocking his head to the side. He was closer, his features were clearer to me, and I could also tell that the black in his veins was spreading across the ever-shifting shades of the skin of his neck.
That couldn’t be good.
“What happened to the trumpets and earthquakes? Couldn’t perform?” I asked, tsking. “I hear they make a pill for that.”
His head straightened. “I see you still have no control of your mouth.”
“And I bet you have no idea what I was referencing, which makes my immature snarkiness less entertaining.” The Sword of Michael spit fire as I took a careful step back. I heard no movement behind me, and I knew better than to take my gaze off the Harbinger. I just hoped the Wardens were down but not too badly injured.
“Don’t worry, child of Michael. I always find you entertaining.”
“Happy to hear that.” I willed my heart to slow. I needed to conserve my energy. With no Protector, I would grow tired, slow to move and prone to errors. There was no set time limit to when that happened, but considering I was still healing, probably not that long.
“I’m sure you are.” He lowered his wings. “I’ll admit, I’m surprised to see you so belligerent. Maybe I just need to break some more of your bones and kill one of those Wardens behind you.”
Potent rage swept through me, and the Sword of Michael flared intensely.
Gabriel laughed as his head fell back. “You’re so angry. I can taste it. Do my words hurt? Is it because I took your Protector? You shouldn’t be angry with me. If God cared, your losses wouldn’t have piled up. You have to want revenge for the deaths of the ones you loved.”
Gabriel had killed Zayne, and he’d been partly responsible for what had happened to Misha and even my mother, and he wanted me to blame God? He was out of his mind, but it also occurred to me that he might not be aware of Zayne’s Fall and subsequent return. That could be beneficial.
If Zayne snapped out of it.
And if I even had a chance to try to bring him back.
“This is not a game, Trueborn. There is nothing you can win. It’s already over. Why make this difficult? You couldn’t save your Protector,” he said, and I flinched. “And no one can save the human race, not when they’re unwilling to save themselves. Their time has come to a close. There’s no stopping it.”
“This conversation again,” I said.
“It’s the truth. All you have to do is step outside to see it. They’ve allowed themselves to become consumed by hate, greed, pride and gluttony. They feed on others’ pain. They’re inherently self-centered. There’s no fixing that, Trueborn. No saving them.”
“You speak as if it’s every person who’s like that, and I’m not going to lie. There’re a lot of crap human beings, but you know what?” I said. “Painting them all with the same brush would be like saying all angels are overgrown toddlers throwing a hissy fit because they’re no longer BFFs with God.”
“BFFs?” he repeated.
“Jesus,” I muttered. “BFFs means best friends forever. Seriously, I ask yet again, how am I supposed to be afraid of you when you don’t even know what that means?”
The tainted grace flared. “But you’re already afraid—afraid of me, of the role you’ve played in the deaths of so many. Terrified because I’m right about them.” He sneered. “The human race no longer deserves any more chances. They are without faith and damned, and God is just as lost as His creations are. Give in to your anger and join me.” Gabriel lifted his hands, palms up. “I will be the father you never had, and with us together, you will have your ruin.”
A laugh burst out of me—a loud, obnoxious and cackling laugh I couldn’t hold back as I stared at him.
Gabriel started to frown.