Natural Born Angel (Immortal City 2)

Soon everyone but Maddy had been called up.

“Now, at last, we have the historic Commissioning of Madison Montgomery Godright.” Maddy flinched when she heard her full name – it was always so strange. “Maddy, please come up here,” Mark said.

The Archangel could barely be heard over the din as the crowd erupted in cheers. Maddy stood up and walked to the red-and-gold altar under the spotlight. Mark had to motion to the audience to calm down. They finally quietened. Maddy felt every single eye in the Temple trained upon her as Mark began speaking.

“Madison Montgomery Godright, do you offer yourself in the service of mankind?” Mark looked at Maddy.

“I do,” she said.

“Do you swear,” Mark continued, “to keep safe, at all times, those under your protection?”

“I do.”

“Do you take this burden of your own free will, to do this good work on this earth?”

“I do,” Maddy said.

Maddy looked down at the dark velvet that held her Divine Ring. Mark lifted it from its holder and carefully slid it on Maddy’s finger. She held her breath.

“I hereby commission you Guardian Madison, of the Godright class.”

Maddy looked down at the Divine Ring on her finger, which dazzled under the bright lights. Turning, she faced the audience. Their cheers grew, pounding in the Temple. Their adulation was deafening and overwhelming. She saw Uncle Kevin clapping as hard as he could, tears in his eyes. She spotted Jackson in the tumult, using his fingers to whistle loudly.

With poise and grace, Maddy lightly waved at her audience, her smiling face and sparkling ring magnified on the giant screens behind her. The cheers somehow grew ever louder and louder. The crowd was now out of their seats and on their feet.

She had really done it.

She was Guardian Madison Montgomery Godright.

CHAPTER 25

Early the next morning, Maddy stood in the glass conference room of the Archangels at the NAS headquarters in Beverly Hills, facing the wall of windows that ran from floor to ceiling on two of the four walls. Just below, on the street, was the mad hustle and bustle of the Angels, Protections and those who would be them. Maseratis, Bentleys and Porsches crawled in stop-and-go traffic, as slack-jawed tourists stumbled their way to Rodeo Drive and the boutiques where all the beautiful Angels shopped. Maddy noticed that not the slightest bit of noise made its way up into the conference room from the street below. It was like she was in a perfectly sealed bubble, her own world away from that noisier, messier world below.

The door to the glass conference room opened and Max, Mark Godspeed’s manic assistant – although he seemed slightly calmer; maybe he’d adjusted his medication – poked his head in.

“Hi, Maddy. Archangel Godspeed wants to know if you’re ready. Your first Protection is here.”

Maddy nodded, sitting down in one of the chairs facing the door. She poured herself some of the sparkling water in front of her, took a sip and drew in a deep breath.

Mark soon entered, holding the door for a sixteen-year-old girl in a designer pink mini. Diamond earrings sparkled in her ears.

“Oh my God, it really is you,” the girl said, running up and throwing her arms around Maddy. “This is . . . amazing.”

Maddy stiffened, totally unprepared for this girl to just invade her space. But, then again, if her parents could afford a Guardian, she was probably used to getting what she wanted. Always.

“Please, take a seat, Ms Westfield,” Mark said, offering a chair. He sat just off to the side as the girl sat down.

Westfield? Maddy thought she knew about the Westfields – they’d first made their money in oil near Santa Barbara in the early twentieth century and had owned half of Angel City, practically. She and Gwen had even taken a field trip to the Westfield Mansion, which was now a historical landmark, when they were in middle school.

“I’m Vanessa,”

the girl said, looking Maddy up and down. “Am I really going to be your first Protection?” Eagerness danced in her eyes, complemented by the light flashing in her diamond earrings.

“One of the first, yes,” Maddy said, looking at the heiress. She probably could have hired twenty Guardians, and her family still would’ve had plenty of money left over.

“This is so incredible. Wait until my friends hear about this, they are going to be so jealous.”

Maddy bit her tongue, knowing that this was part of the process. “We’re glad you’re so pleased, Vanessa.”