| |
APPARENTLY, SEVENTY-two percent of the Archangels sided with me over Michael. To be honest, I'm a bit surprised. Everyone thinks Michael can do no wrong, but I guess I made a decent impression on my peers as well.
After enduring the congratulations of half of the angelic echelon, I break away and speak to Chris, who smiles as I approach.
“Looks like you're free now,” he remarks. “I guess that means I was your first and only student.”
“Indeed. I am an instructor no longer. Honestly, though, my punishment wasn't so bad. I got to meet you.” I give him a swat on the arm, which is the most affection I can manage. “You're a good example of what humanity has to offer. I was your instructor, but I feel as if you taught me how to be a better man. Is that mad?”
“Not at all,” Chris replies. “And you taught me how to speak to women.”
His comment makes me grunt. “I hope that wasn't the only thing I taught you.”
“Of course not. I learned a lot.” Chris glances at Haniel, who's standing nearby. “But without you, there was no way I would've gotten Haniel to like me.”
“Really? I don't think I had anything to do with that miracle. That was all you.” Haniel and Chris. Not long ago, I would have thought that pairing was impossible. Chris must be more charming than he seems.
Chris says, “I still feel like there's a lot more I could learn from you.”
“Of course there is.” Hoping to erase the scowl from his face, I quickly add, “And I'm sure there's more I could learn from you as well. Perhaps we could go on another mission together? Do you think Haniel could spare you for a day?”
“Yeah.” Chris chuckles. “I think that could be arranged.”
I never thought I would find a friend in Chris. I can't remember the last time I had a companion who wasn't an Archangel—or a pretty young woman. It's refreshing.
“Well then... Chris.” I usually call him Pho, but I doubt he notices the difference. “If you don't mind, I'm going to locate Anna... and for the record, I didn't cause her death.”
“I know. I never doubted that for a second. You'd never do that.”
It's nice to have someone who believes in me. Chris is truly a friend worth keeping. I leave him with some final words of advice. “Farewell, my young friend. Treat Haniel well. She's as lucky to have you as you're lucky to have her.”
As soon as we part, I warp to Anna's dorm. After my trial, I should probably lie low. I shouldn't give anyone a reason to think I caused her death, but I'm desperate to see her.
When I knock, a girl with short, black hair answers the door. She's definitely not Anna.
Whoever she is, she makes an apathetic observation. “You must be Jophiel.”
“Um... yes.” I give her a smile, hoping to thaw the chill in her voice. “You've heard about me?”
“Yeah. Anna talks about you all the time. Well... more specifically, she kept talking about a guy named Joe, but I showed her a picture of you, and now she knows she's been romanced by an Archangel.”
I don't know if I should thank this girl or not. Because of her, I get to skip the awkward conversation about my real name.
“How'd the trial go?” the girl asks. “I guess it worked out in your favor, since you're standing here right now.”
“I didn't realize ordinary spirits were aware that a trial was taking place.”
“News travels fast, and I like to gossip,” the girl says. “Oh, and I'll be sure to tell Anna you think of us as ordinary spirits. Yeah, that's not insulting at all.”
“So... who are you, exactly?”
She answers my question in a dull, bored voice. I've never met a woman who seemed less interested to meet me. “I'm Becky. Anna's cousin.” She starts to offer me a hand, changes her mind, and tucks it under her arm. “If you're looking for Anna, she went to the Wisteria Garden.”
“Great, thank you. I'll go now.”
I spare myself another listless reply from Becky and immediately warp to Anna's location. When I find her, she's sitting in a wisteria tunnel with a book on her lap. Countless purple petals have fallen in her hair, but I think it looks charming.
Anna closes her book when she sees me. “Joe! Or... Jophiel, I guess I should say.”
“You can keep calling me Joe, if you'd like.” I offer her a hand and help her to her feet. “It's close enough to my real name.”
“To be honest, I'm not one hundred percent sure this isn't a dream,” Anna says. “A really long, weird dream.”
I pluck one of the petals from Anna's hair and flick it from my thumb. “It's not a dream. I promise.”
“Maybe. But it kind of feels like one.” Her mouth twists into an unreadable curve. “So... I'm really dead, then?”
“You are.”
“And Becky, my cousin? She's really alive in this world?” Before I can reply, Anna says, “I'm sorry, I'm just... really confused. Becky was born around the same time as me, but she was stillborn. I never knew her.”
“Then she must have been raised by Azrael or one of his Helpers,” I tell her—but I'm sure my answer only confuses her further.
“Will I ever be able to see my parents again?”
“Of course.” I sweep another petal from her hair. “But they won't be able to see you... not for awhile, anyhow.”
“I miss them,” Anna says. “I miss my brother, too. Now that I'm dead, I realize I took a lot of things for granted.”
“That's hardly uncommon,” I assure her. “The deceased are not immune to sorrow. Oftentimes, they grieve just as much as the loved ones they leave behind.”
“Still, I... I guess it's nice to be able to walk,” Anna says, reaching for my hand. “And... it's nice to see you again.”
Nice to see you. Those words sound so platonic. I hope that doesn't mean our romance is at an end.
“I have school tomorrow,” Anna says. “I just graduated, and now I have to go back to school. Great.”
Suddenly, I wish I was an instructor again. I wonder if Amber would let me pull a few strings? I would love to be Anna's teacher.
If only...
“Anna, I believe there may have been... rumors. About me.” I tackle this topic with a grimace. “Some of the Archangels... and Michael, specifically... think I was responsible for your death. I want you to know that isn't true.”
“Of course it isn't true!” Anna exclaims. “When I heard about your trial, I wanted to testify, but I couldn't get anyone to listen to me! My death was my own stupid mistake! I can't believe anyone would try to pin that on you.”
Relief spills into me. I was so afraid she would believe the rumors. I didn't want her to think I was a monster who caused her death. If anything, I would have protected her. Had I seen the bus approaching her, I would have stopped it by any means necessary. I would have shielded her with my body, or put up a force field, or—
Anna interrupts my thought. “So, I was wondering... are we still going to be together? Because if we are, I'm a little annoyed that you haven't kissed me yet... or hugged me, at the very least.”
My lips land on hers as soon as she's finished speaking. Truthfully, I've been dying to kiss her since the moment I arrived.
Anna deserves better than me. I've always known that, but now that she's here, I'm going to try to be the right man for her. I would never want to disappoint her, or hurt her, or give her a reason to be upset. For Anna, I can be better. I will be better.
“I adore you.” Against her lips, I whisper the words I've said many times, but never meant. She's the only woman in the world who makes me feel them. “I love you.”
“Good. I love you too,” Anna casually replies, as if it was always obvious. “Now... you should probably kiss me again. You're the only guy I've ever kissed, you know. I need more practice. I need—”
I silence her with a kiss—and then another.
I could kiss this beautiful girl for a thousand lifetimes, and it would never be enough.
It's nice to finally know what true happiness is.
AUTHOR'S NOTES
Thanks for taking the time to read this book! If you enjoyed it, please consider writing a short review. I read and appreciate all of them!
I am currently working on a fourth School for Spirits book, Angel of Death, about Archangel Azrael. It is available for preorder and will be released in January 2019.
Please note, I also write under the pen name Caylen McQueen. The character Rain was originally introduced in the Dreamwalkers series written under that name. He will eventually be getting his own novella, Rain's Lady.
If you're interested in hearing about my new releases, sign up for my newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/c-PqSH
And if you have any thoughts about what you would like to see in future School for Spirits books, do let me know! What characters would you like to return?
Thanks again!