Page 72 of Dark Angel

“Something that makes you more powerful than your friends at the Ascendancy. Something that’s altered your genetics. Not a Healer, but you do mend faster than anyone else.” Answering smoothly.

Kora swallows again, this time louder. “It’s happened since I was born.”

“Do you know if your parents were both Seraphim?”

Kora gives a small shrug, saying, “I assume they were from what others have told me. I never thought of them to be different.”

“Very well,” Scarlet closes her eyes, her long dark lashes fluttering up and down, “I am seeing images of Uriel, the Archangel. Do you have a connection with him?” Questioning her.

“I have never spoken with him. Seraphim have blood connections to the Angels, but never a relationship with them. They are more like guardians than parents.”

Scarlett groans more as she continues to sift through her mind. “I see.” She continues to toss the stone, getting faster each time.

Kora feels her heart rate rising, her chest beating quicker, like a drum. Her throat closes over as her head is thrown backwards, and her eyes widen.

She stares up into whiteness. Head aching as if someone’s nails are digging into her brain, trying to pull it apart. She feels herself gasp. Her eyes unblinking. Body beginning to shake all over, the wooden chair rattles underneath her. She has never had her mind read like this and is praying to the Angels that this will be the last time.

The image slowly forms in her mind, vivid as if she’s lying in the room herself. It looks like the room inside the Hamilton manor that nobody steps into anymore.

Her body is small, hands held out in front of her with tiny stubby fingers on the ends. The familiar face of Tessa looks down on her from above. Eyes bright green and brown, just like how Kora remembers them. Her smile is just as captivating.

Tessa reaches out, taking Kora from the cot and rocking her side to side. She’s an infant in this vision.

Her mother’s singing something unfamiliar to her. It’s beautiful and mesmerising, nonetheless.

Kora stares up at her, longing to know her more, to reach out and touch her cheek. She’s so close to her, yet so far away.

Another cry sounds the room. The cry of another infant.

Tessa returns Kora to her cot and turns away.

All Kora can see is the ceiling above her painted a crisp cream colour. The blaring crying stops, and she wonders who else was in the room with her. Clarence would have been too old to be crying like an infant.

Then she sees the dark grey shadows flooding the room like a creeping black haze, climbing up the walls and eliminating the flames illuminating their quarters. The room fills with complete darkness, and the feeling of wickedness blows over Kora in a wave of chilled air.

There’s another voice in the room now. One that speaks with a gravelly tone that unnerves her.

Kora then hears her mother frantically shrieking.

The cries begin again, and Kora feels herself crying out as well.

Tessa’s face looks horrified as she grabs Kora out of the bassinet and cradles her against her chest, clutching onto Kora like she’ll drop her.

“Get away from her.” Her mother grits out.

A warm golden light forms. It brightens, stinging Kora’s eyes as a glowing angel appears. Fluffy and majestic golden wings jut out behind him. Kora wants to reach out her short, stubby fingers and touch the wings when he speaks. Kora feels the rush of warmth and security flooding through her body.

“She will live.” The Angel’s soft and calming as he commands the darkness.

“Uriel.” The dark, gravelly voice snarls from the other side of the room. “I thought you were too wounded to surface.”

The Angel’s white colourless hair is perfectly combed, and winkles frame his ancient face. “You will let Kora be. One dark soul for a light one. You have taken Colton. You will leave,now!”

“I shall require both souls.” The other creature hisses out like a serpent. “You left me to die, and I was lying for centuries.”

“You require nothing. The boy cannot be saved now. You have what you came for. Allow the girl to be.” The angel speaks in his melodic tone. It almost puts Kora to sleep, it’s that warm.

The angel, Uriel, glows even more than before. His body is gilded in gold and light, as he summons all of his strength. A gleam escapes from his hands, diminishing the dark swirls creeping up the wall of the manor.

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