Page 105 of Dark Angel

Clarence mutters with irritation, “Must you be rude toeveryone?”

“I’m not rude,” Charles snarls at him over his shoulder. “I just know my worth?”

“Your worth?” Clarence echoes, catching up to him.

“Yes, my worth. I know who is worth my time and who’s not. Those two aren’t worth my time.”

Clarence’s mouth opens in disgust. “You have a lot of problems.”

“I do not!” Charles snaps in his direction.

Ignoring him, Clarence pushes on along the cobblestone road. Levi’s body is heavier than he thought, so he’s eager to get to the Ascendancy as fast as he can to put him down. He stops on the side, re-adjusting his grip on his friend. “You don’t even offer to help me?” he snarls back as Charles walks right past him.

“I told you, I don’t like dead bodies.”

“And I don’t like stubborn, arrogant boys, but you don’t see me complaining right now,” Clarence retorts.

Charles shoots him a glare. “Don’t call me arrogant.” He spits out.

“Why? You don’t want to acknowledge the truth?”

His gaze narrows on Clarence, who is flushed with exhaustion and irritation. “Go to Hell, Hamilton.” Charles sneers.

“I will be sure to look for you when I am there, then.” Murmuring under his breath, even though Charles is way out of hearing range already.

He summons all his strength and continues carrying Levi until they reach the infirmary. Charles reluctantly opens the doors for Clarence before rushing up to the Elders and the White Woman. A dark-skinned lady dressed in the familiar white gown watches them enter the room along with the Elders.

“Father, we have found another one.” Charles interrupts their conversation.

Clarence places Levi’s half covered body on one of the cleared metal examination tables and steps backwards, allowing the woman and Percy to step forward to begin assessing Levi’s body.

“Where was he found?” Tobias asks Clarence hastily.

“In Soho. We were there for an assignment and stumbled upon him. I have no idea how long he’s been dead for before someone discovered him, but there were quite a few around by the time we showed up.”

Tobias scratches his stubbled chin. “Another adolescent.” He mumbles.

“We need to stop this, Robert. That’s three sacrifices now,” Thomas points out, stepping beside Percy and Lavina, who are examining the carvings closely.

“What sacrifices?” Clarence questions, looking around the room. This is what they must have been discussing before they’d interrupted with Levi’s body.

Lavina shares everything she knows with Clarence and Charles while examining the boy’s carved figure closely.

Clarence curses loudly, and Lavina gives him a stern glare. “Apologies.” He murmurs to her.

Lavina clears her throat, turning to Robert. “I will take the body with me to the stronghold. Make sure you have that blade found. The other women are beginning to worry, and while I’m here to safeguard the dead and dying, I also need to protect my kind.” She grits out authoritatively. “Find the blade and stop the Angels, Mr Bladesmith, before we are all doomed.”

She and Levi’s body disappear through a swirling argent portal minutes later. The rest of them are left crowding the infirmary.

“The Blade of Uriel,” Clarence scratches the back of his neck. “I know where it is.”

“We need it safe. It’s a weapon that can bring down a Dark Angel. It can stop whoever it is killing our people.”

Clarence nods to them. “It is safe. It’s in very capable hands, and I think Kora can protect it.”

“Your sister has it!” Charles yells, storming up to Clarence and pinning him against the brick wall. “She’s had it this whole time!”

“Calm down,” Clarence says, shoving him off. “I only recently handed it to her. Our mother left for her to use.”

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