Page 445 of Evil Hearts

Lord Proto grins an evil grin. “Because, child, they are like I was once. They are angels who jumped from heaven. I’m more interested in how you can seeus,though?” “What do you mean, my Lord? I can see auras in all creatures and know their type.” I know I’m looking at him like he grew another head, but I’m confused.

He sits back down. “Because Skia, angels don’t have an aura per se. Only fallen ones do, and they don’t show as sunshine, or shouldn’t. Only one who jumps does, and until this moment… I was the only fallen to jump.”

My eyes go wide. “You mean they are like you? But why now? You jumped so long ago… I’m sorry, my Lord, I don’t mean to pry.”

He chuckles with a deep, booming laugh. “It is all good, Skia. Yes, it’s been eons since I jumped. What’s worse is there’s only one place to jump from, and it was destroyed the day I jumped. So how and who these three are… you must find out.”

“As you wish, my Lord, but what if they attack me again? They are powerful. I felt their power when the one swung at me.”

“You’re female, use that to your advantage. Fallen, if not evil, they will hesitate before they harm a female. From what you told me, they are not evil… yet. Now go, you need to feed. See the assignment board for your next meal, and with any luck, they will show up again.”

Bowing, I then leave the throne room and make my way to the naming board to pick my next meal. This board holds a list of humans to be turned or for feeding. For me, I go right to the list of crimes. There… Jones is a pedophile. He has harmed young girls for years and is out on bail.

Looks like it’s time to feed, and maybe catch myself some fallens.

Chapter Three

Raguel

“Seriously, that shadowwas female. When I struck it, I felt… her. There was a split second when I saw her as a human. Her raven hair and porcelain skin, but those eyes... and tiny golden horns. It freaked me out, but not as much as what she did to you.”

Andras runs his hands through his golden wheat colored hair that just brushes his collar. It’s always messy looking because of the length and his curls, but now it’s standing on ends now. It’s odd to see our leader disheveled. “She must be his demon. Especially if she was there to deal with that sinner. I told you the rumors that he jumped were true, and was doing good. He isn’t sitting on his keister doing nothing. He’s not letting humanity destroy itself.”

Evangelos, or Evan as we call him now, says nothing like normal. He hasn’t spoken in over a hundred years since Gabriela’s death. She was his sister — twins actually, which is rare for angels. He signs, “Maybe we should find another and if she shows, get her to confirm our cousin is now the demon lord?”

Andras paces back and forth. His wings are hidden, like all of ours. We have not unfurrowed them since we jumped but once.They had almost totally turned ashen gray by the end of our first year here. By now, they are probably black as night. After all, we’ve been here on earth for a decade now. “What if… what if he has turned like Lucifer? What if…”

That’s it. I can’t hold my tongue. “He is a demon,nota devil. That shadow was a demon. She was not evil, but not good. That should be enough proof the rumors are true. Heaven’s army is gaining on us. We must take a fucking chance. I prefer to not join Lucifer and to be ended when humanity needs us.”

Both my cousins turn to me in shock. Yes, I cursed, but give me a break. I’m no angel. Maybe I was never meant to be. “Oh, come on. It’s not like I said His name in the curse. I still have morals.”

“So… we find others of similar morals to the last one and what…? Hope the shadow shows?”

For the next month, we take out twenty rapists with no sign of the shadow. So we switch to some paedophilia vermin. Three down and we are wondering if the shadow will ever

show. Andras has the newest slimeball by his balls when I sense her. “She’s here.” That causes Andras and Evan to turn and scan the room.

We all lock onto the shadow in the east corner. Andras grins. “Child of our cousin, we wish to speak to you.” As we watch, a shadow tendril snakes out and wraps around the vermin’s neck.

“Give him to me, and then we’ll talk. You cost me many meals this past month.” Andras releases the man and a trail of piss is left behind as the tendril takes him into the shadow. There’s a final muffled scream and his dead body lands at my feet, startling me.

The shadow laughs, and by God it is the most amazing sound I have heard since we jumped. “Some angels you must have been.”

We look at each other. “How…” is all I get out before she interrupts me. “Not very bright either. Why Lord Proto isinterested in you three, I have no clue.” “You are a demon, yes?” Andras asks.

With shadow-like tendrils swirling around her, she steps out of the shadows. Her human-ish appearance is just as I remembered. Somehow, though, she is more breathtaking staring Andras down then I remembered. “What do you want, a brownie badge for that astute observation?”

Andras’ hand goes to his hip out of instinct, but finds no sword. It disintegrated days after we jumped. He was hot headed for an angel and since we jumped, his temper is rising more often. I worry he is slipping from naturality towards evil. If that happens…

“What angel, no sword? Are you threatened by the likes of me? Pfft, what a disappointment.” She turns to step back in the shadowy corner when Andras snaps. He rushes her and wraps his arms around her tiny frame.

“Do not disrespect us, demon,” he spits out. “We just wanted to talk. We have been cleaning up this planet for years. While you did what? Hid in the shadows.”

With a twist and a spin that would impress even an archangel, she has Andras on the ground pinned by her shadowy tendrils. Evan steps forward to help, but is stopped by another tendril and lifted into the air by his neck. “I have taken out more of this world’s filth in my demon life than you could fathom. I do not hide. Because of me, they cease to exist.” She looks up at me. “Care to join them, angel boy?”

With a shake of my head, I answer, “I’m good. I felt your strength before. Please forgive my cousins. Since we jumped, they are a bit…”

“Impulsive, angry?” she asks. Never taking her eyes off Andras.

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