“Commander,” she said.
Satisfied, I smiled and called the pair of Guardians back into the office.
They entered, and I flicked two fingers, signaling they might approach. They flanked the mortal. Her eyes darted from one to another, and her chest moved up and down. Frightened, but with no place to run, she sat, alert, awaiting orders. A healthy exercise in patience. I was proud of her already.
The Guardians clasped their hands behind their backs and under the wings. Submission was always a welcome sight.
“Did you eavesdrop?” I asked.
Their faces fell.
“I see. Then you must know Miss DeLuca here remembers everything.”
“We’ll take care of her, Commander.”
“Thank you. For I have many things to do, namely plan her daily schedule, one that does not include waking at three in the afternoon.” I winked.
The girl smiled.
Cute. Small. Harmless. Young. What a pity her soul tugged at mine. “Take Miss DeLuca to the top floor. Settle her into the room opposite mine so that when she crawls, it’s a nice long trip to the other side of the hallway, which provides plenty of time for thinking her actions through.” I picked up the feather and signed the release of several mortals who’d asked for temporary leave. When the pair and the mortal still occupied my office, I lifted my gaze.
The Guardians’ feathers stood on end, and one of them shifted on his feet. “But she remembers.”
“Mm-hm. Go on and question my decision.”
The other Guardian stepped forward. “No, thank you, Commander. We’re not going to do that. If I may, I recommend she joins one of the mortal regiments.”
“Eventually, she will.”
“While staying in the House of Command and not with other mortals?” he probed.
“That’s right.” I couldn’t keep the girl with the others because she might jar their memories. I understood what kind of threat she presented, but killing this mortal with full memories wasn’t an option either. I was old enough to suspect Father played his hand with the girl, and I intended to take advantage of all opportunities given, especially those that looked like a coincidence. No doubt she remembered making the popcorn—which I’d tasted—and throwing a knife at me.
They still stood in my office. I sighed. “By the time you return, I will have decided her regiment. Leave now.”
The Guardians headed out, but the girl stayed. I raised an eyebrow.
“Do you have a name?” she asked.
“Michael.”
She frowned. “Archangel Michael?”
“Mm-hm.”
She appeared paralyzed.
Annoyed, I stood, fluffed up my wings, and approached her. Her big brown eyes gazed up at me with both awe and fear.
“Do you see now why it was imperative that I changed the world as you knew it? People would fall at my feet, when I need them to take up arms and fight for their own souls.” She kept staring. I couldn’t get the girl to answer my question. It was so simple, and yet she kept staring. “Do you?” I repeated and gritted my teeth.
She nodded, yet kept sitting there.
“Leave,” I ordered.
The girl startled and practically ran out of the office. The Guardians closed the door, and I leaned against the desk, watching the training on the second court level. Despite my having the finest warriors at my disposal, Lucifer still thrived. Used to the mortals’ customs and able to disguise himself as one of them, he hid well. He’d corrupted so many, mortals and angels alike. I had come to change that.
“Commander.” One of the two Guardians knocked on the door.
“Come in.” I tapped the desk with my claw. Before he opened his mouth to tell me why he was here and not upstairs, I said, “Give her one servant. A young girl who underperforms on the field and cries a lot. I’m sure you won’t have a problem finding one. Let her befriend Miss DeLuca.” Miss DeLuca lost her ‘people.’ I would replace them before her soul withered.
“The servant might start believing her.”
“If she does, you or someone else will take care of her.”
“I admit to confusion.”
“That’s fine, Guardian.”
“Will you explain?”
I ignored the question. “Bring me everyone Miss DeLuca came in contact with since yesterday. You have two days.”
“And her family?”
“I will search for them,” I said.
“After you leave for the south?”
“While the fleet is in the south.”
“You will not lead the fleet?”
“Guardian, you’ve lost your place. Find it.”
“Yes, Commander.”
“After you bring me everyone she came in contact with, you and Aljar will leave for the Veil.”
His eyes widened. “But I am her Guardian,” he said.
“You have been released from duty.” Her soul tugged on mine; therefore, I would have nobody else guarding her. The Guardian understood he could accept the Veil duty or die. With a bow, he accepted. This was good. After he left, I headed for the healing waters.
Coincidence was a rare occurrence. The girl and I met almost immediately as I descended, and she’d witnessed the moment I’d altered the mortal realm. What were the odds the raggedy little mortal hanging by a thread from the gate would remember the Before and command my attention as she had? Slim to none.
Chapter Six
Warm, decorated in browns, beiges, and creams with splashes of bold purple, the room spoke of a luxury and privilege that no longer existed. The spacious room, opposite the city, afforded me a view of the sea and nothing else as far as my eye could see. The crisp sun shone far above the horizon, melting the frost on the window.
I traced a finger, doodled a heart, wondering how I could get away from here and find my family. His chambers comment threw me off. Surely, it was a joke, even if it sounded serious. I wouldn’t crawl to his chambers anyway.
It was easy to believe he was Michael, the angel often depicted as a warlord. There was nothing gentle about this angel. He didn’t play the flute or give nice calming advice. Instead of fingernails, he had claws, and instead of blunt teeth, his smile revealed flesh-tearing canines, and his kilt fluttered around him, even moved to choke his enemies.
A knock sounded on the door and I turned, wondering if I should pretend as if I wasn’t here. “Come in,” I said, and braced for whoever came.
A blonde girl about my age poked her head inside and smiled, then slipped into the room as if sneaking in so nobody would notice her. Immediately, I went on alert. She wore a white uniform with gold trim and carried a tray.
“Hi,” she said and raised the tray. “I’m Georgia, your personal maid. Coffee or tea?”
I had a maid? Nice. “Coffee.”
Georgia entered the living space, gazing all around the room. Sitting down on the plush chair near the window, I offered Georgia a seat and took my coffee.
She refused both the seat and coffee but didn’t leave. At the window, she doodled a heart, connecting it with mine, then turned her pretty blue eyes on me. I bit my lip, then decided I’d ask Georgia if what Michael said was true and reassure myself.
“Your name is Georgia,” I said.