Natural Born Angel (Immortal City 2)

Archangel Steeple continued undeterred. “But after consulting many of our experts, and conducting some, ahem, tests, there is reason to believe that you may have developed your abilities without even knowing it.”

Tests? Maddy thought to herself. How could they have conducted tests?

“In fact, there has been some speculation in the Angel medical community that you might even be able to develop unique features due to your mixed genetic code. Of course, these genes might not express themselves right away. In the same way that you’re still waiting for your wings to come out, much of this will have to be a wait-and-see game.”

Maddy thought of her recurring nightmare, in which her “wings” turned out to be little more than grotesque, bloody appendages, flopping around uselessly.

“Mark – I mean, Archangel Godspeed,” Maddy said, “should have been the first to tell you that I’m uncertain of my own Immortal abilities— ”

“But many of us aren’t,” one of the two female Archangels interrupted. Her hair was a dark lustrous brown, and her voice was rich and warm as she trained her gaze on Maddy. “We are, in fact, certain of what you are. Of what you can become.”

Archangel Steeple took over again: “You see, with the growing strength of the preposterous, racist anti-Angel movement around Senator Linden, and the way he and his flacks plan to introduce into Congress this dangerous ‘Immortals Bill’, which could threaten to ban Angel activities entirely, we’re quite concerned. Plus, we don’t even know what the Humanity Defence Faction will do next. Those wing-nut HDF activists are constantly persecuting us, led by that crackpot William Beauborg, who won’t rest until he sees us destroyed. So after all the backlash we received following last year’s demon attack, who better to help us launch the new, friendlier face of Angels than the half-human, half-Angel herself? It’s you, Maddy.”

The dark-haired woman Archangel spoke again: “The fact that your actual background to become a Guardian is not the norm, and some might even say less than ideal, is beside the point, as we think you can quickly adopt the skills necessary to Guardianship.”

A snort of derision erupted down the table. It was the goateed Archangel again, Charles Churchson. “‘Less than ideal.’ That’s an understatement, Susan. What we need is a strong response to the racist humans and this proposed ‘Immortals Bill’, fringe as it may be. Senator Linden and his allies are proposing they extend the bill not only here in Angel City and the United States, but across the globe. We need to limit access to Guardian services until humans understand what we Angels really are capable of, and how much we’re worth. Launching some kind of half-baked Guardian won’t bring us anything.”

“Charles, we agreed you’d keep your minority opinions to yourself during this meeting,” Mark stated, anger edging his voice.

“Oh, come off it, Mark,” a different Archangel said, his voice booming. “You can’t silence everyone.”

The room erupted into argument. Max stood very uncomfortably near the glass doors.

Maddy looked at the squabbling Archangels. Blood flushed her face. She found she was getting angry. A newfound strength filled her.

She stood up from her chair.

All eyes turned to her as the Archangels slowly quietened down.

“If you didn’t think I had what it took to be a Guardian, why did you ask me to start training in the first place?” Maddy said. “I don’t know what Angel abilities I have, or will have. I can’t say when my wings will come, or even what they’re going to look like. I can’t even say if I’m going to like being a Guardian. But I can say that the reason I want to become a Guardian is to protect the ideal of doing one’s duty, to help mankind.”

Maddy’s eyes scanned the room, anger loosening her tongue. She felt like she’d been tricked, swindled into coming somehow. Reaching in her pocket, she p

ulled out her father’s Divine Ring. She felt like she was watching herself in third person.

“I know that even though most of the Archangels during the Troubles have since resigned, some of you could have been against my father and mother, what they stood for, and are probably against me now. But I know that this Immortal Ring should mean the same for everyone in this room – even if they are a jerk. And I believe in what it means, too.” Maddy put the ring back in her pocket, her hand shaking. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have more important things to do with my time than get insulted.”

And with that, Maddy turned and walked out the glass doors, leaving the roomful of stunned, silent Archangels behind.

She was stone silent in the passenger seat as Jacks rumbled down Melrose back towards the heart of Angel City. She didn’t notice the tourists, the oversized billboards with beautiful Angels splayed across them hawking their wares, the palm trees, the boutique stores, all moving past the car windows outside. She felt Jacks steal a glance at her. He started to say something, but then thought better of it.

She finally broke the silence, her fingers tensely digging into the supple leather of the seat. “Oh my God, Jacks, what have I done?”

Jacks looked over at her in sympathy.

“I’m sure it couldn’t have been that bad.”

“Jacks. I told an Archangel he was a jerk.”

“Oh.” Jacks’s eyebrows shot up his forehead. He took a left and burned up La Cienega towards the Halo Strip.

Maddy let out a long breath. In approximately ninety seconds she had destroyed whatever chance she’d had of becoming a Guardian. She was truly surprised to find that she was sad.

It was now too late to join Northwestern this term. In fact, she wasn’t even sure they would let her have a place there at all, since she had given up her spot at the very last minute. She might even have to reapply everywhere. In the meantime, maybe she could start some classes at Angel City Community College, which was in a squat grey cement block building within walking distance of Kevin’s house. A far cry from the leafy campus she was envisioning in the plush suburbs outside Chicago. She wondered if Kevin would let her start picking up shifts again, even though the new waitress was doing such a good job.

Maddy’s phone buzzed in her bag. She was almost afraid to check it.

“You don’t have to get that right now if you don’t want to,” Jacks said, eyeing Maddy with concern.