What was what? I followed his gaze, just catching sight of a golden streak of something crossing the clear blue sky. And it was descending, falling harder, and faster, almost – directly towards our group.

“Hit the deck,” Florian shouted.

We scattered, Priscilla somehow moving even faster than Sterling, taking off like a bolt towards her kitchen. Sterling cursed as he ran, diving behind a bush. I did the same, but on the opposite side of the clearing. Huddled and behind cover, we watched as the golden comet fell towards us –

Then stopped, just before it struck the ground. The light around it cleared, then vanished. Where a smoking, dust cloud-covered crater should have been stood Raziel, the angel of mysteries, once again a strong candidate for getting his head shaved bald.

He glanced around innocently, somehow unaware that he’d just caused an impromptu evacuation. Raziel brushed at his shirt and tapped off his shoes, despite the fact that it was everyone else who’d tumbled into the dirt and potentially shit their pants.

“Is everyone quite all right?” Raziel blinked, turning in place as he searched our faces. “It’s just me.”

An electric shaver. I wanted one more than ever.

30

My hands were already in fists when I rushed up to Raziel. He backpedaled slowly, but confidently as I approached. Within moments Florian was already on me, looping an arm around my waist and pulling hard.

“That’s not how you say ‘Hello,’ damn it! Raziel, I swear.”

He raised his hands, apologetic. “I was in a rush. I’m sorry, all right?”

I shook Florian off – no mean feat considering the guy was a full head taller than me, and a walking slab of meat to boot. “I’m okay,” I told him, meaning it, the blood no longer simmering just under my skin. “I’m fine now.”

Sterling, it seemed, was not feeling similarly. He stayed huddled behind a bush, his eyes just peering over the edge of it. Raziel gave him a reluctant wave. Sterling hissed, baring his teeth.

“Play nice, you two.” I sighed, ruffling my hair. “Raziel, this is Sterling, an old vampire friend. And Sterling, this idiot here is Raziel, the angel of mysteries.”

“That’s very un

kind. And it’s a pleasure to meet you, um, Sterling.”

Sterling eyed him warily. “Not a fan of angels.” His voice came out suppressed, and oddly unconfident.

Raziel blinked, then stepped closer to the bush. “I’m sorry? But Mason here says that you’re friends.”

Harrumphing, Sterling stood up, brushing loose leaves off his clothes. “I’m okay with Mason because he’s still got that human side. You people are – different. And not in a good way.”

Raziel stiffened, his lips pursing, but he said nothing more.

“I should go,” Sterling said. He clapped me on the back as he made a careful loop to avoid getting close to Raziel, then offered Florian a rigid wave. “I’ll see you boys around.” With no more angels between him and the exit out of Artemis’s domicile, Sterling made a run for it, clearing the ground inhumanly fast and reentering Valero’s reality in seconds.

I was still annoyed by Raziel’s theatrics, but the dumb, slightly sad look on his face made me take a little pity. He wasn’t used to people disliking him so much. “Don’t take it personally. Sterling doesn’t trust angels on principle. Something about the undead and smiting, he said.”

Raziel sniffed and tugged on his lapels, still pouting. “That very much depends on the undead in question. We don’t just go around smiting indiscriminately, you know.”

“Sure. Sure, you don’t. I believe you.” I took a moment to look up, reimagining the golden comet that was actually Raziel’s alternate form just moments ago. “How do you keep doing that, like, just descending out of the sky? Like a buzzard diving for scraps.”

Raziel bristled. “I resent that.” If his wings had been visible, I was sure they’d’ve been ruffled.

“How do you keep finding me?” I turned to Florian. “See, that was what I meant. Homing pigeon, not a buzzard. My bad.”

“I am not a homing pigeon.”

Florian nudged me with his shoulder, leaning in as if to whisper, but still speaking loud enough specifically so Raziel could hear. “Santa Claus rules, I bet. He’s watching you, even when you’re asleep. That kind of shit.”

“How dare you,” Raziel barked.

“Oh, man. Raz, you might want to start looking away when I’m in the shower, or most nights before bed. That’s my special alone time.” I clucked my tongue and winked. “If you catch my drift.”

Tags: Nazri Noor Sins of the Father Fantasy
Source: readsnovelonline.net