Page 122 of Dark Angel

Nodding, Kora walks down the aisle between the empty pews. The altar is gleaming technicolour from the wintry light gliding through the multicoloured windows above, bathed in a kaleidoscope of pigment.

As she approaches, her pulse quickens. She’s never called upon an Archangel before. She’s never called upon any being before.

Taking the golden blade from the sheath on her back, she stops in front of the altar. Kneeling, she places the weapon on the ground as her offering, her connection to Uriel, before pleading his name.

“Uriel. I call upon thee. Come before me so that I may speak with you in your presence.”

She waits for a moment, her eyelids close as she repeats the sentence seven times in her mind. Pressing the cold metal of the daggerinto her palm, she opens a deep cut. Gilded red blood rushes to the surface.

Kora expects for there to be a sound or a flash of light to signify his presence, but instead, a tepid hand touches her braided hair, and she raises her chin up at him.

The beaming Archangel stands before her, doused in confidence and radiance. Soft golden light glows around him, blinding Kora momentarily as her pupils adjust to the sudden shift of light.

After a moment, Kora can make out the glorious white wings jutting out behind him. The gilded halo encircling his head as he grins down at her. His body’s transparent, as though he’s more of a vision than a being standing in the flesh. “My child.” His voice is deep and honeyed. Calm and authoritative.

Words seem to be stuck in her throat. She tries speaking, but it’s as though her oesophagus is completely dried up like a desert.

“You require my aid.” His voice is like harp music to her ears, each string perfectly plucked, calming her nerves instantly.

“Yes. Uriel, we require your aid.” Kora manages to cough out.

His face sharpens down on hers as if he already knows what she’s pleading for. “We are aware of what is occurring in your world. The rise of a seventh Dark Angel continues.”

Kora’s brows pinch. “What do you mean, continues?”

“This war between the Heavens and the Beneath has been going on for centuries. The Dark Angels have always wanted to settle the imbalance of power between us. After trying to bring some of us down with our own weapons and theirs, they have tried other methods of balancing the universe for their own power and gain.”

“Why do they need to balance everything?”

“Physically, everything works more efficiently if it’s balanced. However, the balance between good and evil will never be the equal. We have been protecting the Heavens and our realms for centuries now, and the Dark Angels continue to attack us for power and control.

“Lucifer, as head of the Dark Angels, has been attacking us for decades. He will not rest until the realms are all claimed by them, or until everything is destroyed. We are here to ensure that never happens.

“Fortunately, for us, we have always had a seventh being with power. The Dark Angels have always been envious of the supremacy we hold and long to equalise that difference. Lucifer has tried many times to strike us down, but as immortal beings, we cannot be killed, only wounded. I was wounded by him in their last attempt, and I am still repairing, along with most of my brothers.”

“Is that why you are not here in the flesh?”

He nods down at her, “Yes, child. The most power I can summon right now is this. The wound will keep me down for a while longer.”

Kora’s mouth parts as she stares up at him, feeling incredibly small and weak in comparison.

“Your mother, Tessa, almost died carrying you and your brother. Twins are rare amongst Mortals and even rarer amongst the Marked kinds. They hold more magic and have a sacred bond between them that makes them more powerful and greater than any other of their kind.

“Archangels are always watching over our people, especially the Seraphim who carry Angel blood. When I heard about Tessa carrying twins, we all knew it would stir up the Dark Angels again. They’d begin their plan for creating yet another brother to balance the Heavens and the Beneath.

“Your mother began experiencing issues during her term. She became incredibly weak and ill, so your father started to panic. Knowing that you were all at risk, I was called down by your father to help save Tessa. I gave her my soul and blood, and in return, she gave me her loyalty.”

“Your soul?” Kora whispers, “what do you mean?”

Uriel pauses for a moment before continuing, “It means that her soul is attached to mine. She will not die until I am lifeless.”

Kora’s brows crease.Her mother couldn’t die. She never died.

“When you and Colton were born, your souls were both attached to mine. I promised Tessa I’d safeguard both of you. Lucifer, however, found a way to steal the soul of Colton, choosing him to become the seventh Dark Angel. His twin powers and magic make him strong enough to survive the transition, and immensely hard to kill. I saved your soul and Tessa’s, but I failed at capturing his, even after I promised. Colton’s soul turned dark and wicked. Taken away by the shadows, Colton grew up in the Beneath, being overshadowed by Lucifer himself.”

Kora slumps her shoulders, the final bit of hope left inside of her dissolving. “He will never be saved, will he?” she asks, her chin dipping to avoid looking into his piercing golden eyes.

“No child. Your brother will never be saved. His soul is too dark and damned.”

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