An Angel's Crusade (An Angel's Wings Sequel)

Chapter Two: Answers - Not

Iris

"Like Julius?" Alex asks.

Caesar nods and then gives an almost amused smirk. "Exactly, though I hope I don't share the same fate as he."

"Don't be a power crazy emperor and I think you'll be okay," I mumble under my breath.

After a few seconds of me glaring at Caesar and him just smiling happily at me, he finally turns to Espresso.

"Daniel, are Miss Cooper's and Mr. Storm's weapons being taken care of?"

Espresso, or Daniel I guess, nods. "Jeremy is taking them to Claire."

"Good." Caesar turns to me. "I'm sorry about taking your weapons, but we're just being cautious."

"Why did you save us from the Dark Angel's?" I ask, wanting to get out of here and have my sword back in my hand as soon as possible. "Why have you been looking for me?"

Caesar smiles again and starts walking around us with his hands fastened behind his back like a professor. "All in good time, Miss Cooper."

The formal address makes me think of the Dark Angels. They addressed me the same way. "You and stop calling me Miss Cooper. I'm not anybody important."

"You are though. You're very important. But as you wish. What do you want to be called?"

"Just call me Iris."

Caesar nods. "Iris it is."

"How did you find all these White Angels?" Alex asks. "I have never seen a group so big."

"You've seen other groups?" Caesar asks, now very interested in Alex.

I also notice Daniel perk up.

Alex narrows his eyes and I know he's thinking back to when he was taken.

"I was a part of a small rebel group fighting the Dark Angels. But we were ambushed. I was the only survivor."

Daniel relaxes and Caesar nods. "How did you manage to escape?"

Alex shifts on his feet. "I didn't. They caught me until..." he stops and looks uncomfortably at the ground. Caesar gives him a look and Daniel stares at him suspiciously. "Until the Dark Angel girl with us helped me escape."

I couldn't hold back my shock. Kinsley and Alex know each other? The girl who practically wanted to kill me since she met me knows the boy who‒

I shake my head. It doesn't matter. Kinsley's with us now, and I am with Asher. I chose Asher. I love Asher.

"Very interesting. So you know the inside of their headquarters?"

Alex nods. "Not very well, but some of it. Kinsley would be able to help much more than I can."

Caesar continued to smile, but I sensed a hint of disappointment and maybe a bit of annoyance, but maybe I'm just being paranoid.

"Yes, well, given her previous...position, Kinsley will have to be interrogated until we are sure she can be trusted."

My eyebrows furrow. "She killed her own for us," I protest.

"She saved Iris," Alex adds, anger filling his voice.

"She did. After she tried to kill her," Caesar says calmly. "We will also have to take Charles Mooley."

"Charlie was never with the Dark Angels!" Alex says bewildered.

I'm a bit shocked that Alex is defending Charlie, but he is Asher's brother, and he fought with us in the end.

"He made deals with them, and‒" I cut him off.

"He's got black wings? Trust me, wings have nothing to do with anything. If they did, you wouldn't have taken our swords."

I can tell I'm wearing his patience thin and I mentally pat myself on the back. People tend to show their real colors while under pressure and I want to know if Caesar is the rainbow he wants us to think he is.

"We are only being cautious, Iris. You may accompany Kinsley and Mr. Mooley if you truly desire. No harm will be done to them either way."

I stare him straight in his brown eyes. They're so different from Asher's creamy irises. Caesar's are old and dull, as if he's lived and see more than his thirty or so years. Asher on the other hand,his eyes are fresh and full of hope.

I wish I was looking into his right now instead.

"Now. I just wanted to meet you and for you to know you are in good hands if you wished to stay with us. Daniel will escort you back to your friends and Jeremy will return your weapons clean and sharpened." He smiles one last time and then nods to Daniel.

"If you'd follow me, I'll take you to your tents." Daniel starts walking away, back the way we came. Alex with a confused expression. "

I look at Alex with a confused expression. "Tents?"

He shrugs. "I guess we're staying the night." With that he starts walking after Daniel, and I reluctantly follow.