Read Online Balance (The Divine, Book One) by M.R. Forbes - Free Book Online
Authors: M.R. Forbes
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opposite her in the same position.
" I
do not recognize you fellow, " she said.
Her
lips didn't move, but her eyes were incredibly expressive. There was curiosity
there, friendliness, and sadness. I knew she had taken me for an angel. I was
pretty sure the sword had at least a little bit to do with that.
"My
name is Josette,” she said aloud. Her voice was small and raspy. “Are you
recent to our family?"
I
didn't know what that meant, but I assumed she meant becoming an angel. If I
said yes, I would need an excuse for being here without her knowledge. It felt
safer to tell a bold lie.
"Not
to the family,” I said. “I've only recently returned from a pilgrimage in the
Holy Land. My name is Paul." That had to be a safe angel name.
Her
eyes widened, and she threw her arms around me. "Paul. Welcome! You have
been to the Holy Land?" she asked. "There has been little news since
Astrel was killed."
I
breathed a sigh of relief. I could lie to an angel and get away with it.
"We're losing," I said.
I hadn’t
thought about it before, but as I said it I knew that it was true. Whatever
mojo came from my crossbred lineage, it was clear in that regard. The balance
was tipping heavily towards evil.
"The
dark gains reach every day,” she agreed. “Since we lost John Paul, it has been
difficult to keep an even footing. Even here, Reyzl has grown powerful beyond
my ability to contain him."
Reyzl.
It had to be the name of the demon that the messenger had flown off to squeal
to. "I had a run-in with one of his messengers," I told her. "He
escaped and intended to tell Reyzl about my presence here."
Her
eyes held deep concern for my welfare. I was starting to feel bad for lying to
her, and also beginning to wonder if I could do what Dante had asked. It wasn't
much of an issue right now, but who knew what the future would hold. Would I be
expected to kill this beautiful creature one day? If so, would I be able to do
it?
"I
do not mean to intrude, but what business brings you here?" she asked.
She
reached forward and took my hands in her own. They were small, but so soft and
warm. Her whole being exuded peacefulness. I felt like I could tell her
anything. I could tell her the truth, and it would be okay.
"To
be honest, I'm not sure," I said. "I've only arrived very recently,
but I had a run-in with a vampire, and lost my phone."
My
mind was beginning to feel as if it were mired in a pit of mud. Clarity was
escaping me, replaced with this overwhelming need to tell her everything. All I
could think about was the warmth of her hands, the softness of her voice, her
shining golden eyes, and the connection between our souls.
"I
used to be a computer hacker,” I said. “I went to prison for credit card
fraud."
It
had been so easy to manipulate people. So easy to get the information I needed
to get into databases, e-mail accounts, you name it. So tempting. It was a
victimless crime, I had told myself. The credit companies had plenty of cash.
They wouldn't miss a little bit here and there. I had gotten too bold, a friend
had blabbed, and it all crumbled around me.
Two
years in a low security facility, another year of probation, and banned from
owning or using a computer for three more. I still didn't always feel
remorseful for what I had done. I was more sorry I hadn't been more careful,
and had gotten caught.
It
had all started pouring out in a torrent, and I was drowning in the truth. I
could tell by the way her golden eyes flared that she knew what I was. I could
feel the warmth of her hands turn cold, feel the peacefulness turn to violence
and anger. It was only then that I realized she had used her power on me, so
subtly that I hadn't even known it. She must have suspected me from the
beginning. I yanked my hands away and got to my feet. She rose, her sword
appearing in her hand in a flow of swirling mist.
"Diuscrucis,"
she cried. "You seek to deceive me!"
I
started to reach toward my sword, but decided against it. "Wait,"
" I
do not recognize you fellow, " she said.
Her
lips didn't move, but her eyes were incredibly expressive. There was curiosity
there, friendliness, and sadness. I knew she had taken me for an angel. I was
pretty sure the sword had at least a little bit to do with that.
"My
name is Josette,” she said aloud. Her voice was small and raspy. “Are you
recent to our family?"
I
didn't know what that meant, but I assumed she meant becoming an angel. If I
said yes, I would need an excuse for being here without her knowledge. It felt
safer to tell a bold lie.
"Not
to the family,” I said. “I've only recently returned from a pilgrimage in the
Holy Land. My name is Paul." That had to be a safe angel name.
Her
eyes widened, and she threw her arms around me. "Paul. Welcome! You have
been to the Holy Land?" she asked. "There has been little news since
Astrel was killed."
I
breathed a sigh of relief. I could lie to an angel and get away with it.
"We're losing," I said.
I hadn’t
thought about it before, but as I said it I knew that it was true. Whatever
mojo came from my crossbred lineage, it was clear in that regard. The balance
was tipping heavily towards evil.
"The
dark gains reach every day,” she agreed. “Since we lost John Paul, it has been
difficult to keep an even footing. Even here, Reyzl has grown powerful beyond
my ability to contain him."
Reyzl.
It had to be the name of the demon that the messenger had flown off to squeal
to. "I had a run-in with one of his messengers," I told her. "He
escaped and intended to tell Reyzl about my presence here."
Her
eyes held deep concern for my welfare. I was starting to feel bad for lying to
her, and also beginning to wonder if I could do what Dante had asked. It wasn't
much of an issue right now, but who knew what the future would hold. Would I be
expected to kill this beautiful creature one day? If so, would I be able to do
it?
"I
do not mean to intrude, but what business brings you here?" she asked.
She
reached forward and took my hands in her own. They were small, but so soft and
warm. Her whole being exuded peacefulness. I felt like I could tell her
anything. I could tell her the truth, and it would be okay.
"To
be honest, I'm not sure," I said. "I've only arrived very recently,
but I had a run-in with a vampire, and lost my phone."
My
mind was beginning to feel as if it were mired in a pit of mud. Clarity was
escaping me, replaced with this overwhelming need to tell her everything. All I
could think about was the warmth of her hands, the softness of her voice, her
shining golden eyes, and the connection between our souls.
"I
used to be a computer hacker,” I said. “I went to prison for credit card
fraud."
It
had been so easy to manipulate people. So easy to get the information I needed
to get into databases, e-mail accounts, you name it. So tempting. It was a
victimless crime, I had told myself. The credit companies had plenty of cash.
They wouldn't miss a little bit here and there. I had gotten too bold, a friend
had blabbed, and it all crumbled around me.
Two
years in a low security facility, another year of probation, and banned from
owning or using a computer for three more. I still didn't always feel
remorseful for what I had done. I was more sorry I hadn't been more careful,
and had gotten caught.
It
had all started pouring out in a torrent, and I was drowning in the truth. I
could tell by the way her golden eyes flared that she knew what I was. I could
feel the warmth of her hands turn cold, feel the peacefulness turn to violence
and anger. It was only then that I realized she had used her power on me, so
subtly that I hadn't even known it. She must have suspected me from the
beginning. I yanked my hands away and got to my feet. She rose, her sword
appearing in her hand in a flow of swirling mist.
"Diuscrucis,"
she cried. "You seek to deceive me!"
I
started to reach toward my sword, but decided against it. "Wait,"
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