Read Online A Kiss Before the Apocalypse by Thomas E. Sniegoski - Free Book Online
Authors: Thomas E. Sniegoski
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yourself from your true origins.”
The detective thought of the bizarre events of the past few days, his visit to the hospital that afternoon weighing especially heavily on his mind.
“You feel it as we do,” Nathanuel continued. “You see it with your faux human eyes.”
Remy placed his cup on top of the refrigerator and leaned back against an old steam radiator. “People aren’t dying,” he said quietly. “Souls aren’t being claimed. Is that what this is about?”
“Israfil is missing,” Nathanuel answered in a flat, emotionless tone. “The Angel of Death has disappeared.”
Remy had already suspected the truth, but hearing it come from the mouths of creatures such as these made it twice as disturbing.
“The scrolls are missing as well,” Nathanuel added, interrupting Remy’s thoughts.
He didn’t think it was possible, but the situation was actually getting worse.
“From the expression on your face, we see that you understand the magnitude of this problem,” the Seraphim leader said.
Remy returned to his desk with his drink, not sure of how to respond.
“The scrolls—have any been opened?” he asked.
Slowly, Nathanuel shook his head. “But the forces that will be called down upon the world if they should be opened have already sensed that something is amiss. They are restless.”
Remy looked down at the star shape he had doodled on his notepad earlier. He picked up his pen and drew a circle around it. He could feel the eyes of the Seraphim upon him, and looked up into their dark gaze. He knew why they had come—what they wanted from him.
“You want me to find Israfil.”
Nathanuel brought his hands together in a silent clap and then pointed at Remy with a long index finger. He noticed the Seraphim leader’s fingers had no nails, another unimportant feature of the human design.
“That is what your God wants, Archangel.”
“Why me?” he asked. “Last time I checked, I wasn’t quite in favor with the Heavenly powers.”
Nathanuel thought for a moment, cocking his head, birdlike, to one side. “You are the best of both worlds, so to speak. You are of Heaven, but you also know the ways of man.”
Remy laughed nervously, tapping the notepad with his pen.
“You mean to tell me that with all your power, you can’t find one of your own?”
There was a flash of something in Nathanuel’s black eyes. Anger, perhaps. The angel did not care to be questioned. He never had.
“Israfil is one of our most powerful. For reasons unknown, he has chosen to hide his presence from us.”
Remy was getting close to the meat of the problem.
“Why?” he asked. “Why is the Angel of Death hiding? Why has he forsaken his responsibilities? You must know something more.”
Again there was a spark in those horrible, incomplete eyes. The corners of Nathanuel’s mouth began to twitch. The others watched their master, alert to the growing intensity of his mood.
“As you are well aware, this world has an adverse effect on certain members of our kind. It makes them take leave of their senses.”
The other Seraphim again nodded in agreement with Nathanel’s words.
“We believe that Israfil has grown too enamored with this place and the human animals that populate it. There is a chance he may have gone so far as to don human form and move amongst them.”
Remy smiled, but there was little humor in it.
“Heaven forbid.”
“There are even rumors that he may have become romantically involved with one of the natives,” Nathanuel said, a look of disgust spreading across his long, pallid features. “It’s almost more than I can bear.”
A spark of anger ignited in Remy.
“The way you talk and look at me, Nathanuel, it’s as if you blame me for Israfil’s actions.”
The Seraphim chief slowly rose from his seat. The others stepped back, allowing their leader his space.
“In Heaven, you are looked upon as a rebel, Remiel of the host Seraphim. And for reasons unbeknownst to me, some find
The detective thought of the bizarre events of the past few days, his visit to the hospital that afternoon weighing especially heavily on his mind.
“You feel it as we do,” Nathanuel continued. “You see it with your faux human eyes.”
Remy placed his cup on top of the refrigerator and leaned back against an old steam radiator. “People aren’t dying,” he said quietly. “Souls aren’t being claimed. Is that what this is about?”
“Israfil is missing,” Nathanuel answered in a flat, emotionless tone. “The Angel of Death has disappeared.”
Remy had already suspected the truth, but hearing it come from the mouths of creatures such as these made it twice as disturbing.
“The scrolls are missing as well,” Nathanuel added, interrupting Remy’s thoughts.
He didn’t think it was possible, but the situation was actually getting worse.
“From the expression on your face, we see that you understand the magnitude of this problem,” the Seraphim leader said.
Remy returned to his desk with his drink, not sure of how to respond.
“The scrolls—have any been opened?” he asked.
Slowly, Nathanuel shook his head. “But the forces that will be called down upon the world if they should be opened have already sensed that something is amiss. They are restless.”
Remy looked down at the star shape he had doodled on his notepad earlier. He picked up his pen and drew a circle around it. He could feel the eyes of the Seraphim upon him, and looked up into their dark gaze. He knew why they had come—what they wanted from him.
“You want me to find Israfil.”
Nathanuel brought his hands together in a silent clap and then pointed at Remy with a long index finger. He noticed the Seraphim leader’s fingers had no nails, another unimportant feature of the human design.
“That is what your God wants, Archangel.”
“Why me?” he asked. “Last time I checked, I wasn’t quite in favor with the Heavenly powers.”
Nathanuel thought for a moment, cocking his head, birdlike, to one side. “You are the best of both worlds, so to speak. You are of Heaven, but you also know the ways of man.”
Remy laughed nervously, tapping the notepad with his pen.
“You mean to tell me that with all your power, you can’t find one of your own?”
There was a flash of something in Nathanuel’s black eyes. Anger, perhaps. The angel did not care to be questioned. He never had.
“Israfil is one of our most powerful. For reasons unknown, he has chosen to hide his presence from us.”
Remy was getting close to the meat of the problem.
“Why?” he asked. “Why is the Angel of Death hiding? Why has he forsaken his responsibilities? You must know something more.”
Again there was a spark in those horrible, incomplete eyes. The corners of Nathanuel’s mouth began to twitch. The others watched their master, alert to the growing intensity of his mood.
“As you are well aware, this world has an adverse effect on certain members of our kind. It makes them take leave of their senses.”
The other Seraphim again nodded in agreement with Nathanel’s words.
“We believe that Israfil has grown too enamored with this place and the human animals that populate it. There is a chance he may have gone so far as to don human form and move amongst them.”
Remy smiled, but there was little humor in it.
“Heaven forbid.”
“There are even rumors that he may have become romantically involved with one of the natives,” Nathanuel said, a look of disgust spreading across his long, pallid features. “It’s almost more than I can bear.”
A spark of anger ignited in Remy.
“The way you talk and look at me, Nathanuel, it’s as if you blame me for Israfil’s actions.”
The Seraphim chief slowly rose from his seat. The others stepped back, allowing their leader his space.
“In Heaven, you are looked upon as a rebel, Remiel of the host Seraphim. And for reasons unbeknownst to me, some find
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