Arrows & Angels (Enlighten Series Book 0) Read online

  Sidelle stepped forward, I retreated.

  In a crouching position, she narrowed her eyes. Challenging me.

  I advanced. Following her, never taking my eyes off her subtle movements. My feet stepped lightly on the ground getting closer with each pass. Stalking.

  Finally, she swung at me with an open palm, going for my head. I easily dodged the hit. Her leg shot out in a sweeping motion, narrowly missing my feet.

  I think she was testing me and my abilities.

  Then she let it all out. Charging me, her arms and hands flew in all directions so fast. Striking me every so often. I went on the defensive, attempting to block her hits. She landed a few more good punches to my chin and stomach. My arms shielding my face, forgetting about her long legs.

  But not for long.

  Sidelle landed a kick that brought me to the ground. She didn’t give me any time to stand. Her small fists flew to my head as I lay. Pounding fiercely with all her might. Using everything she had with precision blows. Her legs pinned my thighs.

  Whoever taught her, did so very well.

  I managed to catch her balled hand as it went near my check. I stopped her momentum and twisted my upper body. She now lay under me. I gazed into her round face and sucked in a breath. A small smile spread across on her lips. My eyes dropped to her mouth.

  Feeling her warm body beneath mine. I closed my eyes, savoring the moment. Then I remembered we were supposed to be sparring. I moved off her. “Sorry.”

  She struck like a viper.

  Pain shot though my chest when her elbow connected. I bent over, blinking away the fading stars.

  “You’re going easy on me,” Sidelle hissed.

  I shook my head and stood straight. The look on her face told me she was ready for whatever I inflicted. My arms and legs burst out with renewed energy. I was on the offensive, driving her back.

  I flinched when my fist connected with her side. She let out a loud sigh. I froze in place. I didn’t mean to hit her that hard.

  Her breath deepened.

  Round and round we went, each landing a few hits. Neither of us could best the other. If she continued, I wouldn’t be able to fly just like she said. Was I letting her win on purpose?

  No . . . maybe.

  With renewed efforts, Sidelle ran and grabbed a sword. I blinked. Fine, we’ll play it her way. I seized a broken rattan from a pile of discarded weapons left from her opponents.

  We parried.

  Sweat soaked my clothes. I didn’t know how long we fought, but my body was tiring. My movements were slower than when I started. I noticed her strikes weren’t as precise, either. She was fading, too.

  We danced. Well, not really, but I’d like to think it was like a well-rehearsed routine.

  I lowered my rattan to my side . . . in defeat. She won. Not that I would say that out loud.

  I crumpled to the ground, catching my breath. Eventually I fell backwards feeling the cold dirt cooling off my body.

  Sidelle dropped her sword and sat beside me. Her eyes lingered on my chest. She swallowed.

  That was twice I caught her checking me out.

  Clapping brought me out of my thoughts. I noticed the small crowd of bystanders who gathered to witness our fight. They departed since there was nothing else to see.

  We stayed in that position for a long time.

  Eventually we found ourselves alone. A light breeze blew across my face, drying my damp clothes.

  Sidelle smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes.

  I knew she created the wind. I felt her gather her Glamour around us and then noticed her dry and clean clothes.

  I wanted to ask her so many things about being a fairy, what she was doing on this side of the earth, and most importantly whom she was running from.

  But I held my tongue.

  She would tell me if she wanted me to know. And she didn’t know me. I barely knew her, let alone this new side of me. The part wanting to be around her.

  “You’re a good fighter,” Sidelle said, breaking the silence. “For an angel.” She winked.

  “You’re not bad yourself . . . for a fairy.” I smiled.

  She looked like she wanted to say more. Her eyes swirled with emotion like she was fighting inside her own head.

  I reached for her and laced my fingers between hers. She looked down at me, then to our joined hands.

  In that instant, something passed between us. A hum. I didn’t know if it was me or her doing it, but I could see her memories from what I thought was Fairyland.

  Lush green landscape . . . clear water . . . a wooden row boat . . . and a dark-haired fairy dressed in shades of blue.

  Sadness crept over me, and then a hint of anger.

  Her fury from a long time ago. It still resonated deep in her soul. I saw it there. And that made me love her even more.

  Sure I cared for her, but love?

  Sidelle’s eyes returned to my face. She sucked in a breath. Had she heard that thought of mine? No, that’s not possible.

  “Michael,” we said at the same time. We both looked at each other and shook our heads.

  “I’m on a secret mis—,” Sidelle started.

  “We’re on the same mission?” I asked.

  “I think we are.”

  “I haven’t found her yet.”

  “Neither have I. So I’ve been passing the time learning skills.”

  “Not a bad idea.”

  I called my Angel Light and let it wash over her. My memories of seeing her the first time outside the warehouse, ready to take on three demons. Then as she drew on the Glamour and defeated them. And finally when I introduced myself to her in the midst of battle in London.

  “Is that how you see me?” She blinked.

  “Yes. You’re beautiful.” I ran my fingers down the side of her cheek. “The most beautiful being I’ve ever laid eyes on.” Her skin was so soft, as velvety as one of my own feathers.

  I propped myself up on my elbows.

  A storm waged on Sidelle’s face.

  And then it cleared.

  She closed the short distance between us by taking my face in her palms.

  She smelled like a spring rain. I inhaled, deeply.

  Then, she kissed me. It was hesitant at first. But a passion burned just below the surface.

  I was in shock. My body finally caught up to my brain.

  I was kissing Sidelle!

  My arms wrapped around her lean body, pulling her closer.

  A few moments later, she squirmed out of my hold.

  Too soon for her. She still ached in her heart.

  I sighed and stood, extending my hand to help her up. To my surprise, she placed her hand into mine and rose.

  “That was fun . . . the sparring, too,” she said. “We should do that again sometime.”

  I didn’t know if she meant the kissing or fighting.

  “You know. I wasn’t expecting to see you ever.” She dusted off her clothes. “How did you find me?”

  “I can find anyone who I’ve met before. You’re not hard to locate.”

  She nodded and stepped away, sheathing her sword. “So tell me what happened in London after the fire.”

  “We had to wipe half of the city’s occupants’ minds so they didn’t remember seeing angels, demons, and werewolves. After that, Michael with the help from other Archangels created the Void—a parallel place that lies between Earth and Heaven.” I came to stand beside her, noticing for the first time how tall she was. She stood almost eye level to me. “The Void is a space where we can hide some of what goes on in our world to keep it away from the Ordinaries. Demons might not care who they hurt, but the angels’ mission is to protect the humans. If we take our fights to the Void, it would raise fewer concerns and suspicions.”

  “That’s good.”

  “Sidelle.” She stood inches from my face and yet I could feel her pulling away. “I won’t apologize for kissing you.”

  “I think it was me who kissed you fi
rst.”

  I nodded. “So it was.”

  “But I can’t. Not yet.” She dropped her voice. “I—”

  “You don’t have to explain. I saw it. I’m sorry he hurt you.”

  “Yeah, me, too. Please don’t come after me. I need time.” She hung her head, turned and walked away from me.

  Sidelle never sought me out. I tried to give her space. She mourned someone. I never got her to say his name, but that didn’t matter. I didn’t want to know. It was because of him that she and I couldn’t be together.

  Well, Eternals from different Orders couldn’t be together. So there’s that. Tell that to my brain and heart.

  As an angel, it was my nature to help, be supportive, and well, be a protector—a guardian. Not that she needed any of those things from me. She’d rip off my wings in a flash if she thought I considered her weak.

  I saw her broken heart. Of course I kept tabs on her. She just didn’t know I was there and if she did, she never said anything.

  Sixteen Hundred Ninety-One: Winter

  Province of Massachusetts Bay: Salem Village

  Eventually I made my way to the west, the new land across the ocean. I planted myself in a growing town they called Salem Village. After the death of my first charge and the realization that werewolves and fairies lived among us, I needed a change. And maybe I was running a bit, too.

  I couldn’t get Sidelle out of my mind.

  The softness of her lips.

  The firm muscles of her body. How they flexed and bent as she fought.

  All was quiet from my lieutenants. They hadn’t seen any demons they couldn’t handle themselves. Plus, they didn’t come across the girl we had been searching for. It was a good thing some of us were doing our jobs.

  Then another young lady entered into my life. She made me rethink my whole philosophy on things. I was not ready for her to become a part of my existence.

  Elizabeth.

  She had been born years earlier than my arrival to the colonies. It had never dawned on me to look for an almost grown adult—that she could be the one we sought.

  I came across a shoe shop, which had reminded me of Sidelle. Thoughts of her popped into my head over the strangest things. At times, I missed her. Maybe it was her snippy attitude. Yes, we fought, but I knew it was a front. And that kiss . . .

  A young lady passed me on the cobblestone path, dressed in a solid black dress. Her head was covered by a black bonnet. She walked slowly, sniffling as she strolled by.

  But when I brushed past, her green eyes locked with mine. I knew she couldn’t see me. Or could she? There was no doubt in my mind I was invisible. Over the centuries I had learned some other angelic powers: to disguise smells, sounds, and touch. As I kept walking from her, my wings told me she still watched my retreating back. She held her keen gaze on me, as if she did see right into my soul. My wings told me she still watched my retreating back. I looked over my shoulder and I caught her.

  She smiled.

  A chill went through my wings, but it wasn’t because I felt an evil being. No. Somehow, I sensed she didn’t mean harm to me. Maybe there were other beings in the world like her. She was something else. Since I had met fairies and werewolves before, I knew their signatures and what made them different from the Ordinaries.

  She intrigued me.

  I changed directions and followed her. She wound her away around the streets. People parted as she walked by. Every now and then, she’d glance over her shoulder as if she knew I was trailing her. A small smile played on her lips.

  Still not feeling any maliciousness, I continued to shadow her until she stopped in front of a brown, brick house. With one last look back, she opened the door and stood waiting for me to pass through. She watched me as I glided by. And then she reached out to touch my bare shoulder.

  It sent shivers down my spine and through my wings.

  I wasn’t ready to reveal myself, even when she confirmed that she could see me.

  Two other women were in the house, already seated on the couch in the living room. Both their heads glanced up when I entered. It was the strangest feeling to know that all three women knew I was there.

  “Elizabeth,” the older looking woman said. “You’ve made it. I’m glad you were able to speak with us even though you are in mourning.” She rose and gave Elizabeth a light kiss on the cheek. “Welcome.”

  “Thank you for inviting me, Jane,” Elizabeth said. “This is all new to me, so I’m glad you are allowing me to observe first.”

  “Of course,” the other lady said. “We don’t want to pressure you. There is a certain amount of trust we must form . . . since—” She looked around the room. “This is an illegal gathering.”

  Oh, what had I gotten myself into?

  “Sarah, if you wouldn’t mind?” Jane asked.

  Sarah nodded and the lights flickered out with a breeze that even I felt. It blew by me like an invisible ghost circling the room, extinguishing each wall sconce. Heavy curtains blocked any remnants of the late afternoon sun. The room was left in total darkness.

  The one they called Jane seemed to be the leader of the trio. She spoke, barely above a whisper, as the air around her fizzled. Her arms rose high above her head, repeating the same garbled phrase. I floated toward her to listen.

  As clear as I could hear she said, “I call on the earth to hear my wishes.” She stood. “I call on the earth to show me what’s not seen.”

  The air felt electrically charged.

  “I call on the earth to hear my wishes,” Sarah said. “I call on the earth to show me what’s not seen.”

  Jane and Sarah joined hands and continued to chant the same lines. With their other hands, they offered an invitation to Elizabeth. She looked at each woman and then joined the circle, saying the same sentences.

  My wings pulsed.

  I checked everyone’s aura again, just to make sure they weren’t fairies. Negative. They were, in fact, humans. But then something strange happened.

  The shield I kept around my body faded. My wings pulsed violently and then appeared without my doing. A slight gasp escaped my lips. I could feel my body pulling in two directions: one to remain unseen and the other to appear before these women.

  As they chanted, I couldn’t stop it. I couldn’t hold it back any longer.

  Their eyes opened and locked onto mine.

  I now stood in the center of the circle, no longer invisible.

  My mouth dropped open and my eyes widened, but the women didn’t notice. They stared at my golden wings, which expanded the length of the small room. Or possibly at my bare chest. Thinking I should cover my half-naked body, I imagined myself in a white tunic and suddenly I was dressed.

  The chanting ceased. The candles in the room lit.

  “Welcome, Angel,” Jane said. “We don’t mean you harm.” She let go of Elizabeth’s hand. “I wanted to show our newcomer what we do, and I knew you came in with her. I’m sorry if we outted you, but I couldn’t think of anything else that would make Elizabeth believe we have magical abilities.”

  I looked into the eyes of each woman. Jane held mine, but the other two lowered theirs. I forced my Angel Light around me. Not that I wanted them scared, but more so that they knew I was a force to reckon with.

  Adjusting my wings so they didn’t take up the room, I stepped toward Jane. I extended my hand to hers. She grasped it tightly, then pulled me into a hug.

  In that moment I knew without a doubt that these women were not cruel beings. If they were, could they stand to be in the presence of an angel so pure? So full of love?

  “Peace be with you,” I said.

  “And also with you,” Sarah responded. “You probably know who we are, but do you have a name? Or something that the others call you?”

  “I am Kieran.”

  “What kind of angel are you?” Elizabeth asked.

  “A Guardian.”

  “Oh, are you tasked with watching over one of us? Is that why you were foll
owing me?”

  “No.”

  “A man . . . an angel of few words,” Jane said. “Well, you know what I mean. We welcome you to the Salem Coven. If you’re not here to watch over us, then why were you trailing Elizabeth?”

  “I’m trying to find someone.”

  “Can’t you use your angelic powers?” Elizabeth asked.

  “It doesn’t work like that.” I shook my head.

  “Maybe we can help you?” Sarah asked.

  I declined the offer.

  “You’re here because?” Jane asked me.

  “I wanted to understand what you are.” I slowly approached the couch, gesturing for them all to sit.

  “We are the Witches of Salem.”

  “How many are there of you?” The three of them sat together on the sofa, while I chose the chair.

  “Now, now. We can’t tell you that and reveal how strong we are.”

  “Then I’ll assume you have many in your coven. Is that why I can’t get a read on you? Or why I can’t read your minds?”

  “You can do that?” Jane asked.

  “Yes. I’m supposed to hear your thoughts and prayers. But from you three, I don’t hear anything. Your minds are in total silence.” It reminded me of Sidelle’s powers, of how she could block me probing her thoughts. “I know you’re not normal humans. That much I do know.”

  “You are correct. We are not.” Jane nodded. “Trust is a two-way street, though. You show us what you can do and we’ll show you the witch’s power. But for now, Kieran, let’s get to know each other. Where will you be staying? Will you need a place to rest? I’ll offer you one of my spare rooms so you can keep up appearances while you’re in town.”

  “That is nice of you to think of. Thank you.”

  “This way you can still come and go as you wish.”

  “I usually do, yes. I don’t require a roof over my head, so to speak. I don’t need food to sustain myself, nor sleep. I just am. I shall be in and out of the house during the night, but you’ll know when I’m here or not. If you need me, just call my name and I’ll be there.” I rose. “I haven’t been on this side of Earth so I have to learn many things.”

  “All right.” Jane stood and placed a warm hand on my shoulder. “But please remember to use caution outside of these walls. We’re not always the most welcomed, and people love to demean the things they don’t understand. Don’t judge by what you hear from others.”