looked up. “Ah—they’re ready for us. Come.” Jenny steered Kara towards the great table—towards Cassiel and the forty guardians sitting around the table eyeing her like she was an alien.
Cassiel pushed his chair back and stood up as Jenny and Kara approached. He had hazel eyes under thin brows. His face was handsome, like all the archangels, but a long scar below his left eye showed he had been in battle. Kara found herself wondering what other scars lay hidden under his clothes.
“Welcome, Kara, to the Department of Defense.” Cassiel held out his arms in an embrace.
“Th—thank you,” Kara stammered. I can’t believe I just said that. I’m such a moron.
Cassiel clapped his hands together. “Good. Glad to hear it. I’m especially pleased to have an angel with such special talents on my team. I’m sure you’ll do very well here at CDD.” His face broke into a warm smile.
Kara felt more relaxed. Somehow, Cassiel wasn’t as arrogant or imposing as the other male archangels she’d met. Raphael was the only archangel who had been especially kind to her, and she had been, perhaps, just a bit too motherly.
“Thank you.” Kara smiled widely, but immediately pressed her lips together when she realized what a fool she must have looked like. She stole a look at Jenny who widened her eyes with a smirk.
Cassiel continued, “Well then, let me present to you the Field Division.” With his arm he motioned toward the group of people sitting around the large table. “Everyone, this is your new member, Kara Nightingale.”
Most of the group smiled and welcomed her, but Kara noticed about ten individuals with scowls on their foreheads, a clear indication that she was not welcome. They whispered amongst themselves, periodically gazing up at her with foul expressions. Kara’s throat tightened. She put on a brave face, forced a smile, and nodded to the group.
Cassiel noticed her discomfort and stared momentarily over his shoulder. He studied the group who were whispering. He lowered his brows. But when he turned to look at Kara again, his face held no traces of anger.
“Kara, you’ll be part of the Field Division in CDD,” said Cassiel, his voice rang out inside the chamber. “It’s the most dangerous division in the entire Legion. Here, we track and destroy enemy Rifts, clearing the paths for our fellow angels. We save lives and secure the future of Earth.” He reached inside his pant pocket and pulled out a small black leather case. “Here—take this—it’s your identification pass. You can put your keycard inside it.”
Kara reached out and took the case. She flipped it open easily. A golden shield was secured on the inside, like a police badge. Tiny letters were etched across it, in a language Kara couldn’t read. Now she really felt like a CIA agent. A hint of a smile reached her lips.
Cassiel examined Kara for a moment. “Now, you’ll need to change into your uniform—” He turned around and waved. “Jenny—get Kara her uniform for her, will you.”
“Right away sir,” answered Jenny promptly. She turned on her heel and strutted towards the back. Kara could make out metal compartments with doors like lockers. Jenny came back moments later with her a pile of black clothes folded against her chest. A pair of black combat boots dangled in her free arm.
“You can change over there.” Jenny handed Kara her clothes and boots and pointed to what appeared to Kara to be a changing room.
Kara grabbed the clothes and walked over to the changing room. In less than two minutes, she had pulled on a black pair of cargo pants—the kind with lots of extra pockets—black t-shirt, and stuffed her feet into a pair of shinning combat boots. She was surprised at how light they were. She wiggled her toes. Finally, she pulled on a short bomber-like jacket. At first, it felt heavy to her. And she found out why. Inside the jacket pockets, Kara pulled out a wrist watch, two short daggers, and three
Cassiel pushed his chair back and stood up as Jenny and Kara approached. He had hazel eyes under thin brows. His face was handsome, like all the archangels, but a long scar below his left eye showed he had been in battle. Kara found herself wondering what other scars lay hidden under his clothes.
“Welcome, Kara, to the Department of Defense.” Cassiel held out his arms in an embrace.
“Th—thank you,” Kara stammered. I can’t believe I just said that. I’m such a moron.
Cassiel clapped his hands together. “Good. Glad to hear it. I’m especially pleased to have an angel with such special talents on my team. I’m sure you’ll do very well here at CDD.” His face broke into a warm smile.
Kara felt more relaxed. Somehow, Cassiel wasn’t as arrogant or imposing as the other male archangels she’d met. Raphael was the only archangel who had been especially kind to her, and she had been, perhaps, just a bit too motherly.
“Thank you.” Kara smiled widely, but immediately pressed her lips together when she realized what a fool she must have looked like. She stole a look at Jenny who widened her eyes with a smirk.
Cassiel continued, “Well then, let me present to you the Field Division.” With his arm he motioned toward the group of people sitting around the large table. “Everyone, this is your new member, Kara Nightingale.”
Most of the group smiled and welcomed her, but Kara noticed about ten individuals with scowls on their foreheads, a clear indication that she was not welcome. They whispered amongst themselves, periodically gazing up at her with foul expressions. Kara’s throat tightened. She put on a brave face, forced a smile, and nodded to the group.
Cassiel noticed her discomfort and stared momentarily over his shoulder. He studied the group who were whispering. He lowered his brows. But when he turned to look at Kara again, his face held no traces of anger.
“Kara, you’ll be part of the Field Division in CDD,” said Cassiel, his voice rang out inside the chamber. “It’s the most dangerous division in the entire Legion. Here, we track and destroy enemy Rifts, clearing the paths for our fellow angels. We save lives and secure the future of Earth.” He reached inside his pant pocket and pulled out a small black leather case. “Here—take this—it’s your identification pass. You can put your keycard inside it.”
Kara reached out and took the case. She flipped it open easily. A golden shield was secured on the inside, like a police badge. Tiny letters were etched across it, in a language Kara couldn’t read. Now she really felt like a CIA agent. A hint of a smile reached her lips.
Cassiel examined Kara for a moment. “Now, you’ll need to change into your uniform—” He turned around and waved. “Jenny—get Kara her uniform for her, will you.”
“Right away sir,” answered Jenny promptly. She turned on her heel and strutted towards the back. Kara could make out metal compartments with doors like lockers. Jenny came back moments later with her a pile of black clothes folded against her chest. A pair of black combat boots dangled in her free arm.
“You can change over there.” Jenny handed Kara her clothes and boots and pointed to what appeared to Kara to be a changing room.
Kara grabbed the clothes and walked over to the changing room. In less than two minutes, she had pulled on a black pair of cargo pants—the kind with lots of extra pockets—black t-shirt, and stuffed her feet into a pair of shinning combat boots. She was surprised at how light they were. She wiggled her toes. Finally, she pulled on a short bomber-like jacket. At first, it felt heavy to her. And she found out why. Inside the jacket pockets, Kara pulled out a wrist watch, two short daggers, and three
Similar Books
