Fledgling: Book 1 (Afterlife) (31 page)
Read Fledgling: Book 1 (Afterlife) Online
Authors: Katrina Cope
He took a deep breath while assessing my reactions. He begins to pace the floor and continues, “While I continued to fight the demons, that particular demon disappeared. It is never a good sign, so I left the other angels to fight the lower demons and I began to search for him. I took Archangel Raphael with me in case anyone needed healing once I found him. Following the scent of his evil, it led me to the force field where you were trapped. You had already fought admirably, but he must have sensed me coming and disappeared.”
“Is that why he just disappeared after he threatened me? I was hoping maybe I had caused him enough injury he needed time to heal.” My mind wanders over the last few moments before the demon took off. “He did threaten me before he left.” With a new adrenaline pumping through my veins, I stand up and begin to pace the room not far from Archangel Michael. I stop and gaze out at the perfect blue sky admiring the shapes of the clouds near us.
“Yes, well you in particular have caused him the most damage and he will not forgive you for that. Your life is in danger. He will not stop until he destroys you.” Archangel Michael’s voice sounds from behind me.
I turn. “What are all these powers coming out of me? My body seemed to glow in the last fight, and all sorts of other gifts are appearing when I need them. Where are these coming from and how come the other fledglings don't possess them?”
“These are what are getting you into trouble with the demon more than your fledgling colleagues. Your gifts are powerful and natural. You are accessing them far quicker than any other fledglings in the past. Because you have grabbed the attention of this demon, we will need to begin your next level of training and teach you how to use them correctly and controlled. I have seen these gifts in you from the beginning, but I did not expect them to surface so soon. Each of you have your special gifts, just as we,” he indicates Archangel Raphael, “have different gifts.”
“What are my gifts?” Ben asks him.
“You will find out at the right time. Your yellow friend is beginning to find out one of her gifts — the gift of sensing the strengths of demons and angels. It is the reason she attacked the demon straight away. She, very bravely, was trying to protect all of you. Unfortunately, she did not have the training yet on how to protect herself against demons of that calibre.”
“So when do we begin training?” I ask keen to know more.
“The three of you will begin tomorrow after your yellow friend returns from her mission. Today, I am going to give you the day off to recoup your energy. You have earned it.”
I look at Ben. He is smirking at me despite being watched by the two archangels. I just hope they cannot read the mischief on his face. Returning the focus to the archangels I bow my head slightly as a show of respect. “Thank you.” I turn to leave.
Archangel Michael speaks, “Oh, and I hear you have been using your last earthly name, Aurora.”
I swallow. I look at him straight faced and don’t say a word. Surely he is not about to go mad at me after everything I have been through and done.
“Fledgling, you must not continue to disobey me or the other archangels. Even with your natural talents and benefits to the society of the angels, you will still be punished.”
All the joy I felt only moments before vanishes. There is no use denying his accusations. He already knows. I look down from his gaze toward the floor. “I apologise great leader. I find it difficult to not have a name for me or my colleagues.”
He turns to Ben. “Yes, I have heard that you are also going by your last earthly name.” All the friendliness that was there a few moments ago is gone.
I reprimand myself. I have just added Ben into my admonishment. “Please,” I speak up. “That was my fault.”
“Quiet, fledgling,” our leader snaps. I can feel his stern eyes gazing over me, and then Ben as he paces in front of us. “For this case and this case only . . . you can keep your names.”
My eyes instantly shoot up to look at him. Is that a smirk I see on his face?
“You and your colleagues from the last mission have earned it.” He is now smiling. “I also think your name is very fitting for you even in this life. “A natural phenomenon and the dawn of something new,” he rattles off the meaning of my name.
I want to run forward and hug him; instead I bow my head. “Thank you.” I cannot hide the smile.
“You are dismissed.”
I turn and face the outer edge of the cloudy platform. Ben stands beside me. I open my arms out wide; we both dive into the clear blue sky twisting into a triple somersault, finishing by spreading our wings and gliding.
I feel so free.
- Acknowledgments -
I am touched by the enormous amount of support I have received from my immediate family. My husband has been a helpful alpha reader and at times been a wonderful motivator, with hints of ideas to help me through the blanks. The support from my three sons has also been overwhelming. My older two have devoured the book and asked for more. Thank you also for my youngest son, though too young to read this book at the time of publishing, he has been full of enthusiasm and support. He is reading my preteen series, ‘The Sanctum Series’. I love seeing his eyes light up as he tells me about what he is reading.
I would also like to thank my good friend and book enthusiast, Julie Hickson for becoming a beta reader. With her enthusiasm to continue being a beta reader for the next book in the series, is inspiring for an author.
A huge thank you to my editor Emily Childs at Emmy Edits,
http://www.emmyedits.com
for her editing and writing tips, and beta read suggestions.
Thank you to all of my readers who have loved my work, and continue to read my stories. I would love for you to share your thoughts in a review on one or all of the following:
Amazon
Goodreads
You can follow Katrina Cope at:
https://www.facebook.com/Author.Katrina.Cope
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