When We Were Still Human by Vaughn Foster (best ereader for textbooks .txt) 📕

“Are you...an angel?”

“Mmmhmm.” He sleepily wiped his eyes then gestured behind him. “Let’s go.”

“I can’t leave.” Her initial shock extinguished with the return of her resting scowl. Orbs of flame erupted in her eyes.

“That’s why I’m here,” he muttered, unfazed by her aggression. “Your flames scorched Earth Proper and the aether, killing everyone and everything. I need to get you out.”

“Why would you do that? That sounds like reason enough to leave me here. All I want to do is watch the world burn.”

At this, the corners of his lips curled and something alive sparked in his face. “Counting on it.”

The fire left Avia’s eyes, and she stared at him. There was something about this angel that she liked. Even though he was barely awake, she could sense a soldier-like seriousness about him. Perhaps that’s why she trusted him. Maybe it was the ‘counting on it’ that had her intrigued. Either way, something told her to go with him. She had to find out why.

The angel stepped forward and knelt beside her. Reaching into the air, he pulled out something like an ancient quill. He placed the tip on her bare arm and began to write, the ink glowing bright red as it burned itself into her flesh.

When he stepped back, Avia looked down at her upper arm. A roman numeral four, surrounded by unreadable runic symbols, was now set into her skin. She looked up and realized he was extending his hand.

Zadkiel.

She then understood who he was. She tightly grasped his hand and he pulled her to her feet. There was another flash of light, and she felt her abyss slowly disappear behind them.

Part III: Paradise

“This entire region was sealed off after the massacre. No human or mirage has entered since.”

Interlude

“Father! We continue to fight the demons and gods who have not yet relented their thrones of darkness. We are only by coincidence helping humanity. Why will you not save them from the dynamically greater threat—themselves?! Extend your rule and have them bow before the throne of Le Ciel!”

“Too many years have passed. The mirage developed their territories; man, his kingdom. To interfere would unbalance life itself.”

“If you do not interfere, there will be no life left to unbalance! Humanity and all creaturedom will drown in rivers of self-shed blood, all because we did not act!”

“Do you not remember Kadia? What happened the last time we directly interacted with man?!”

“I do remember, Father. I remember the situation grew to the extent it did because you let those animals run without a leash. And when the beast became feral, you didn’t have the heart to put it down. I can’t do this right now. If you need me, I’ll return tomorrow.”

“Michael, wait!”

“It’s almost complete, Father,” Michael whispered as he stared across his kingdom. The terrace he had built behind the castle gave him a much-needed space to himself. It was a pleasant distraction from the darker thoughts that visited his mind. He loved his subjects and those who stood beside him, but he had to remain strong. He couldn’t be seen as weak; indecisive. He couldn’t look like his father.

He’d inherited the throne nearly seven centuries ago. With those seven hundred years came seven sins. Some were his fathers. Perhaps, some were his. Regardless, the world had been stained. The past king had offered humans false hope, but Michael presented a means to an end. An end to suffering, and pain. An end to death.

“Still trying to outgrow the shoes Daddy left you?” a familiar voice whispered in his mind.

“At least I haven’t abandoned his name,” Michael bitterly retorted, trying to force himself to ignore the taunts.

“Why so angry, Michael? Has that Wrath you’ve been so eager to find finally crawled out of its hole?”

“Enough!” He leapt to his feet and brandished his sword. He could hear his voice and feel his presence, but Michael knew he wasn’t there. He hadn’t been for centuries.

The voice whispered again after a pause. “Even when I was here, it didn’t matter to you. Me, Maria, Mom, Dad…  How much longer until you end up like us?”

“Your highness.”

“What?” Michael snapped out of the trance. He sheathed his weapon then looked up. One of the servants stood outside of the door—Ren, if he remembered the name correctly. Names were one of the few values he shared with his father. For Michael, that meant servants, knights, and anyone else he would possibly encounter in the castle. While strength was necessary, no one would follow a king who didn’t care for his people.

“The girls are awake.”

“Oh, really?” A smile formed across his face.

“Yes, sir. Master Zadkiel ordered me to inform you the second the infirmary staff sent word. I believe Master Vladimir has gone to check on them.”

Michael internally sighed. The thought of Vladimir being left alone with the young women when they awoke by no means helped his mood. “And why is it that Zadkiel didn’t see over the situation himself?”

“He said he had more important things to do, sir.”

“Of course he did...” Michael sighed, then followed Ren back into the castle.

Chapter 15

Val shot up and gasped for air. Soft light flooded the room from swirling overhead ceiling panels. The golden walls and floor created the effect of being trapped in a sunset. The only things that appeared to be in the room were rows of empty beds and an elegant gold and silver door positioned inside the far wall.

She tossed the sheets aside and noticed soft materials against her skin—a thin, white shirt and sweatpants. The fabric was unfamiliar, but it felt like she