Page 33 of Fallen Angel

Raven rushed to her father’s side. “It is all right, Father.” She pulled him into the house, out of Callan’s reach. “Mr. Callan Delmonte, I would be delighted to walk with you.”

Callan clasped his hands together and gleamed.

“But the stew,” her father protested.

“I shall finish it upon my return.” She hugged him.

He gripped her wrist, pulling her closer and whispered, “Be careful of him. I shan’t lose you too.”

“Not to worry, Father. You know that light surrounds me.” She kissed her father’s cheek and left the house. Hannah followed.

This Callan was smug and arrogant, unlike the boy Hannah had left back in the boat.HerCallan was protective and caring; he was able to own up to his mistakes. She found it difficult to believe that they were one in the same.

Callan and Raven walked side by side. Hannah kept pace beside them.

“I am pleased you decided to walk with me, despite your father’s protestations.”

“When else might I see you? I have missed you at our Friday gatherings.” Raven swiped her long braid over her shoulder.

“I have been quite engaged lately.” Callan skipped ahead and plucked a wildflower from an overgrown hedge along the path. He returned to Raven and gently tucked it behind her ear. Raven blushed.

“No need to explain,” Raven said.

Hannah found herself feeling irrationally jealous, but was quick to snap herself out of it. Not only was this a different time—a memory from her past life—but she couldn’t even understand why she felt drawn to Callan in the first place. She barely knew him.

“People change,” Raven continued, walking forward. “You are no longer the young boy who used to pull my pigtails at our lessons.”

“No,” he simpered. “I suppose I am not.” He stood tall, running his hand through his hair. “And you are no longer the little girl who used to tell the preceptor when I was misbehaving.”

“Are you misbehaving now?” Raven asked. She poked his shoulder, smiling, though her tone was serious.

“I am simply expanding my horizons.”

Raven abruptly moved in front of Callan and placed a hand to his chest, stopping him. Her blue eyes vigorously concentrated on him. “You have changed, Callan. And not simply from a boy to a man. What has Mara Eden done to you?”

Hannah admired Raven in this moment. She had such conviction and exhibited steadfast strength with her every word.

“She has shown me that we are capable of more than what we were taught at our lessons growing up—greater things than what is preached at the Friday gatherings.” Excitement filled Callan’s voice. He outstretched his arms as if to make his claims seem grander.

“Our lessons and gatherings teach us to treat our magic with reverence and to identify the difference between the light and darkness.” Raven kept her words hushed as she looked around them.

“Not everything is black and white,” Callan responded.

“Perhaps. However, what Mara fosters is objectively dark. Practicing that kind of magic comes at a price. It does not only thrive on harming others, but comes at great personal sacrifice. Just look at Mara’s physical transformation. Her hair used to be a breathtaking red and now is as black as night. Her eyes glow with a fiery hatred that brews in her soul.”

“A small price to pay for unyielding power, no?” Callan paced around Raven. “And ’tis not harming people if they join upon their own volition. Might have you considered that there are those who find interest in tasting other magic?”

Raven turned with Callan, keeping her gaze steady upon him. “Is that what she promised you? Unyielding power?” Raven asked. “I have seen you with her. ’Tis as though she controls your every move. She may gain power by the darkness she spreads, but you shall never receive what she has promised you.”

Callan stopped and took a step closer to Raven. “I hold more power now than ever before. Her promise has already been granted.” Callan took Raven’s hand, and his eyes looked as though they were glowing greener than before. “Join us. Come with me and be part of our coven. You shall understand soon.”

Even though Raven was the focus of Callan’s compulsion, Hannah could feel his influence. It was intoxicating. Raven, on the other hand, never even batted an eye. She looked from Callan’s hands to his gaze. She pulled her hand away, remaining composed.

“Is that what you were going to do to my father? Force him to let you see me?” Disgust emerged on Raven’s face.

Callan took a step back, shocked.

“She turned you into a Siren.” She shook her head, disappointed.

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