Page 97 of Dark Angel

Jordan’s fork hits his porcelain plate, causing Kora to flinch as he stands beside her. “It might be in that book you gave me, father.”

“Oh, yes. Go retrieve it, Jordan.” Tobias’ face lights up at the suggestion.

He dashes out of the room, and they all sit in silence, waiting for Jordan to return. Kora takes a handful of blueberries, the sweetness filling her mouth pleasantly.

Jordan returns with a large, leather-bound book and places it on the table. Josephine helps moves some of the plates around to create enough space. Flicking through and skimming each page, Jordan tries to find something mentioning the summoning of Archangels.

“Where did you find this book?” Kora asks curiously while Jordan continues to scour the pages eagerly.

Tobias answers for him, “It has been passed down in my family to each man once he turns eighteen. I believe my grandfather found it in a library and kept it.”

Kora frowns at him. “I don’t think you’re allowed to just take a book from a library.”

He gives her a crooked smile, “I don’t think back then they really thought about it. But I’m grateful either way because this might help you.”

Jordan slams his hand down before reading the passage out loud. “To reach an Archangel, one must be offering a part of themselves and call upon the Archangel repeating the words ‘I call upon thee. Come before me so that I may speak with you in your presence’. The offering should be something personal. The most effective is blood.” And he stops reading, looking sideways to Kora.

“Blood.” She repeats with raised eyebrows.

He closes the book, turning to her once again. “I think if you bring the blade with you and offer some blood, then he will appear.”

“Can it be anywhere?”

Jordan shakes his head. “Somewhere holy, like a church.”

Kora nods and breathes out, “I’m glad your great grandfather was a thief now.”

33

A Flutter of the Soul

Daisy has never taken pleasure in visiting the infirmary, and she finds it worse when she’s required to stay overnight for safekeeping.

The medicine administered made her incredibly woozy, along with the ample amount of blood taken from her veins.

Blinking herself awake, still slightly lightheaded, Daisy turns to the other side of her bed where Clarence is asleep in an armchair. His face is pushed up against the arm, and a tiny amount of spit is dribbling out from the corner of his mouth.

“Clarence.” Daisy hisses out.

He moves in his seat but doesn’t open his eyes. More like he’s just readjusting himself to get more comfortable in his sleep.

Daisy moves closer to the edge of the bed. “Clarence, wake up.”

Reaching out her arm, she shakes him awake.

His head thrashes from side to side with alarm before landing on her. He leans forward in the seat, holding onto her hand. “You’re awake, finally.”

“What do you mean, finally?” Daisy questions him.

Clarence pulls out his pocket watch to check the time. “It’s almost evening. You have been out for nearly an entire day.”

“An entire day,” she echoes softly, “I remember my blood being taken and father gave me something for the pain and it made me so drowsy.”

Clarence nods, looking at her arm, which remains wrapped up in a bandage. “May I?” nodding to it.

Nodding, Clarence removes the wrapping to see that her cut has completely healed. Daisy sighs in relief when she sees. “I guess you can leave now, if you are feeling well enough.”

“I am,” nodding enthusiastically, “I don’t want to stay in here a second longer than I need to.”

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