Page 2 of Rejected Darkness

"TAKE YOUR HANDS OFF MY DAUGHTER! What are you doing to her?!" Aurora shouts, her words making my head snap up to witness her fighting against Leto's hold. If she keeps it up, she’s going to hurt herself or, worse, the baby.FUCK.

"AURORA!" I scream, trying to pull her attention to me. I need to get her calmed down before I can fight for our daughter.I can't lose all three of them because of this hell. "Aurora, Baby, please," I beg, holding back tears. "Stop fighting. You're going to hurt yourself." I growl the last part and her eyes finally snap to me. If she didn't love me the fire burning in her eyes would burn me alive from her anger.

"They are going to hurt our daughter, Lucifer!" she snarls, pulling against Leto's hold one more time.

"I know!" I shout, my voice breaking. "I fucking know, Baby. I need you to be okay, to keep fighting. WE need you." I put emphasis on the 'we' for her to remember how much more we have at risk. I watch as the fight drops out of her and her eyes widen before she schools her expression. Her mouth opens and closes but no words come out. When I know she will behave I begin my fight. Shoving all the pain I feel away, I push the last guard holding me until he lets go of his grip on my shoulder. They think without my wings I have no strength left to fight. They are wrong.

Rising to my feet, I storm toward Seraphina and Michael where they hold a knife to my daughter's throat. Seraphina stands there with a smile on her face as she watches me get closer step by step, Michael tightens his grip on the handle of the blade he holds and a small amount of fear enters his eyes. He knows how protective I am of my family, the fact that I am still standing, still fighting, scared him. I thought I was close with them, Michael and Gabriel, my friends, my brothers, but it's clear they would never go against the law. Taking my wings is one thing, harming my daughter is another. Our friendship will never be salvaged from this.

"LET GO OF MY DAUGHTER," I ground out, my fists clenching at my side, my jaw tight with every word as I clench my teeth.

"Her life is forfeit. Your bloodline is a danger to us all," Seraphina answers like she's proud of herself. "Do it," she commands.

Michael flinches slightly, that is all I need, charging to get my daughter, desperate to save her from this fate. Right as I reach them, Gabriel steps in my path, grabbing me as I reach out to grasp my daughter. My fingers narrowly miss her own outstretched to meet mine. Michael does his job following Seraphina's orders. The only kindness he shows is to end it quickly and lower her body slowly to the ground. Gabriel lets me go as everyone backs away. I drop to my knees, pulling my daughter's warm lifeless body onto my lap.

Grief, pain, and anger, all roll into the next. I can’t control my emotions, I can’t stop the hurricane that breaks free inside of me. The Seraphim have gone too far. Seraphina has gone too far. Taking the life of a little girl because of fear is uncalled for. Vengeance will be mine. They are worried about a prophecy, well now I am determined to ensure it comes true.

Rising to my feet, I cradle my daughter in my arms. My eyes meet those of Aurora's whose crumpled body lies on the floor in a heap, her cries the only thing to pierce the wall I built around myself. I can’t go to her. Not now. They'd never let me near her. I give her the one thing I can, and with a nod, I promise to bury our daughter and find a way to free Aurora and our unborn child if it is the last thing I do. Turning my back I walk out of the room, out of the council chambers, and out of the town.

Fuck the angels.

Chapter 1

Arabella

"Class, please settle down," Mrs. Callie calls out in an attempt to get the class to stop talking and pay attention. It's two days before the mating ceremony takes place for the year. No one wants to be sitting here in class listening to a lecture about the history of angels. We've had this information drilled into our brains since we were born. You'd think our final year of school would not include history, but the Seraphim think we still have something to learn.

I almost feel bad for Mrs. Callie. She tries hard to keep our attention and make a boring class interesting—I'll give her that. Some of the topics she has taught us were interesting. We finally learned the origin of fallen angels, but I have a feeling there is more to it. Something about the story has never sat right with me, but I know better than to ask questions or draw any sort of attention to myself. Well, more than I already do on a daily basis just for existing.

My father is a part of the Seraphim, the leader of angels. This means I have eyes on me at all times. The expectation of perfection hangs over my head every day, both in school and at home. I try hard not to let it bother me, to push to be the best angel I can be. Some days, I succeed, some classes, I succeed, butin the areas I'm lacking in, everyone reminds me every day that I'm not worthy of the Seraphim title.

"Mrs. C, you know none of us care about history. Just let us have a free period. Please," Stark calls out from the back of the room. The rest of his little friend group also chimes in, begging Mrs. Callie.

"Actually, I was going to discuss the mating ceremony with all of you instead of our history lesson today, but if you all want to go in blind, who am I to stop you?" Mrs. Callie sits at the front of the room and opens a book in front of her. Her show of disinterest has the class falling silent almost immediately.

Once the room is entirely silent, we all look between ourselves and back at Mrs. Callie. She knew that she would have us there. Rumors of the mating ceremony are all any of us have heard. No one’s allowed to talk about what takes place. They say when we’re old enough to attend, then we will learn. I think it’s bullshit, but who am I to argue with our laws.

"Does this mean you want to hear?" Mrs. Callie looks up at the room, taking in all our faces. It seems she has made her decision when she rises to her feet, walks around her desk, and settles to lean against it before speaking again.

"Very well," Mrs. Callie nods. "The mating ceremony is a special day. Once a year, all angels who have turned twenty will attend. Only one family member may attend to present you to the world. This ceremony means that you are an adult in our world. Not everyone will find their mate immediately; sometimes it takes a try or two, but after you've attended your first ceremony, you don't need an escort for the rest."

I already know that if I don’t find my mate during my first ceremony, my father will punish me. Just another disgrace to add to my growing list. I’ve tried to talk to my mom about it, but my complaints fall on deaf ears. Her only advice is to try harderand to do what my father tells me to do.Shm, doesn't she know that I am?

"Throughout the ceremony, you all will remain quiet unless spoken to. Open yourself up to the magic, don't fight it or be scared. Trust in the process," Mrs. Callie continues, pulling me from the path my thoughts have taken. "If you are lucky enough to be chosen the first time around, you and your mate will be led to a private chamber to wait. Once all pairs are chosen you will be brought back out to do your bonding."

"Why are we taken to another room? I thought everyone went at once?" Gabriella asks from the back of the classroom. Her voice is filled with the same confusion I feel. The information I was given was that everything happened at once, but it would be nice to get to know my intended mate before we are tied together forever.

"The ceremony begins as one, but the bonds don't always appear immediately. Everyone's magic is different. The bonds have an hour to form. If none do then you can try again next year," her voice softens in answer as her eyes take on a sad look. When she catches me watching her, Mrs. Callie schools her expression putting on a blank face.How much is she not telling us and why did she hide her expression when she looked at me? Does she expect me to fail in the same way everyone else does?

"What happens during the bonding?" Celeste inquires. Her tone makes her seem superior to the rest of us. She's been that way since we were kids. Our parents have forced us to hang out but it's always her degrading me. She hates me for no reason and honestly, the feeling is mutual.

"Mates are given the choice to accept or reject one another," our teacher answers before several people gasp. I was one of the few who didn't. I know the risk of being rejected and what happens to those that are. It's not something many talk about but it's also not something that is kept hidden either. Thank theDivine for my love of the library and reading. We don’t have many books on the subject but I have found a few that mention a school for the rejected. RISE Academy is where everyone who is rejected is sent. It's a reform school for supernaturals, so they can improve the qualities that they were rejected for with hopes their mate will take them back. It doesn't happen often but it does happen.

"Why would someone reject their mate?" Gabriella asks. She almost sounds scared, turning to look at her I realize that she is scared. Terrified even. She shouldn't be worried, her magic is good and everyone loves her.

"Everyone has their reasons. I wish I could tell you why someone would want to reject the other half of their soul, but I cannot." Mrs. Callie shakes her head and sighs. It's clear talking about this bothers her. I wish I knew why but I never really bothered to get to know my teachers or anyone. I try keeping to myself, it’s better that way.

"Well, we all know Arabella will be rejected," Jack jokes and several others laugh with him. "She has no control of her magic."

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