Page 44 of Wings of Torment
Is my best friend actuallyhanging outwith that asshole Ezekiel?
Theo responds, and I know it’s not a reply to me when he says, “I can just as easily leave, but since I’m guessing you want my help, why don’t you just chill and give me a fucking minute?”
Ezekiel mutters something I can’t hear, and the anger I felt at learning they were together dissipates.
“Sorry about that. Ezekiel asked for my help with a few demon-related texts he found, and I agreed. Still unsure if it was a mistake or not,” Theo says. “Now, what were you saying?”
“My ancestor, Isaac. I found one of his old journals. I’ll admit that some of it is nonsensical ramblings, but I found a few mentions of golden wings. One passage even depicts scorched earth. Could you check out the old well sometime? There was so much ash covering the ground after the attack that I didn’t notice, but I have a feeling we’ll find the grass blackened and burned.”
“Absolutely. I’ll check on it tomorrow and let you know what I find. Have you told Hayliel?”
“Not yet.” Hesitating for just a moment, I add, “I think we should hold off for now, at least until we find a bit more to go on. Some of the entries are a bitodd, and I don’t want to get her hopes up.”
“Agreed, at least for now.”
A knock sounds from downstairs, and the lower-level library door opens. “Master Raphael, your presence is required in the dining room.”
Sighing, I call out, “I’ll be down in a moment.” To Theo I say, “Shit. I’ve got to go disappoint my family, but I’ll keep you posted. Don’t take any shit from that asshole house leader.”
“I won’t. Good luck.”
The call ends and I’m left muttering to myself. I’ve finally found something useful, and instead of delving deeper into the journal, I have to go break fucking bread with my family. I’d rather be stuck with Ezekiel.
I put all the books back except for the journal. That one I toss into my bag, along with my slate, and pocket the key.
Isaac Adams might have been considered a lunatic, but even I know angels are judgmental assholes.
Maybe his wild and crazy ramblings are just what we’re looking for.
17
The Knowledge house library is quiet as I relax into the couch with a book.
I’m one of the odd angels who stayed on campus instead of going home for the break, but I’m not alone in that decision. Some of us, those who can choose without causing a war with our families, would just rather stay here. Raphael would have stayed if he could, but I suspect his mother would have shown up on school grounds to drag him back herself. Besides, he’d never hear the end of it and honestly, sometimes it’s just easier for him to go along with it than provoke their disappointment. They never know when to stop.
I flip the page of the book I’m reading and settle into the history of a well-documented demon attack from long ago. We won, of course. Another of the demon king’s plans foiled. No one knows why he hates us so much, but according to the historybooks he’s been a thorn in our side for most of our existence, so it has to be something big.
Creak.
The library door opens slowly, and I look up at the last person I expected to see today: Ezekiel.
He spots me right away, which makes me think that maybe I should have picked a less obvious spot to work, but I didn’t expect anyone to show up.
Instead of saying anything, I focus my attention back on the book in front of me and continue the sentence. Who am I kidding? I can’t pay attention to this when his footsteps come closer. What’s he even doing here?
He breaks the silence. “Can I sit?”
I wave a hand. “I’m not going to stop you.”
He chuckles, dropping into a chair. “Right. Would now be a good time to show you those passages we talked about?”
At his words, I relax a little. “Sure.” I’d totally forgotten about his request, which makes sense considering the events that transpired later that day with Hayliel and Raphael.
Ezekiel rummages through his bag before pulling out three texts. One is a thin, soft-covered book, and the other two are thick hardbacks.
“Where did you say you found these again?”
“My father’s study.” He cracks open the hardback titledDemonologyand flips a few pages.
