Fallen Angel

Chapter 21.1

The Nephilim were once again in the library at Anne's request. Hypatia asked Salomé to watch Adeline while the teenagers entertained Remy so she could be present this time, too. The other family members joined as well, curious about what had occurred. Thomas stood behind his wife at her desk. Joan's letter lay in front of her.

"Have we checked all the rooms?" asked Anne, directing her attention to the entire group.

"There are only so many places she can be," answered Richard with a sigh. "She is no longer within the walls of the Sanctum."

"What about the village?"

"Anne, she didn't go out for a stroll."

"Oh, for Heaven's sake, just check if she's in the village!"

Richard met Thomas' gaze. He nodded. Though he was certain Joan wouldn't be in the area anymore, it was better to be safe than sorry.

"Voy con él." Juan kissed Olympe on the cheek and left with Richard.

"We will go too." Fleur and Esperanza stepped forward. "We'll cover more ground."

Carlos came to stand with them.

"No, you'll stay here, where you're safe," said Anne sharply.

"Actually... they could help." Thomas put his hand on her shoulder.

Anne groaned and sat back in her chair.

"Fine, go." She waved them away.

Olympe offered to guide them to the training room to get the weapons and took Carlos by the arm to go after the girls, who practically ran out of the library. Only Hypatia remained in the library with Anne and Thomas. He noticed his fellow magician's scrunched brows and pursed lips.

"Hypatia, I can hear the wheels of that brilliant mind of yours at work," he said. "Care to share?"

"I was just thinking; how about we try to find Joan through a tracking spell?"

"But which one? Most would require something personal of hers."

"I have Joan's tears; we could try with those."

"Joan's tears? How did you...? Never mind, that might work. Go prepare everything in the Vault. I'll join you in a moment."

She left forthwith, and Thomas knelt beside Anne on one knee, his eyes narrowing in concern as she wiped a tear away. He hated seeing her like this. Times like these — which didn't come too often — made him wish she had never accepted the position as leader. She cared too much, especially when things went wrong and she was powerless to act.

"Anne, talk to me," he urged her.

"I promised Gabriël I would take care of her," she sniffled.

"It's not our fault Joan left of her own accord."

"I should have known something was wrong. None of it made sense. Gabriël leaving like that, Joan shutting us out... We should've kept a better eye on her. Then she wouldn't have met with Lucifer." A surge of anger had Anne pushing herself out of her chair, prompting Thomas to rise. "Merde! How could we let this happen?"

"Love, please, calm down. None of this is on us."

"It is, Thomas, and you know it. We forgot about Joan because of what Borgia did. I made everyone focus on him and our families instead of protecting her. God, if I had only been in the hall a few minutes earlier, she couldn't have —"

Anne suddenly fell silent. Her eyes widened.

"What?" asked Thomas. "Anne, what is it?"

"The white flash."