Redemption

Chapter 31

An Angel's powers are unique according to the type of Angel. For example, God's Enforcers have entirely different powers than Guardian Angels. Each Angel must learn to use his abilities accordingly. There has never been a sane Naphil. The type of powers she could harbor is unknown. Many fear her abilities.
~Bezaliel~

"You're trying to kill me, aren't you?" I asked Marcas crossly half an hour later.

Only thirty minutes into his training exercises, and I wasn't sure I'd make it to the battle tonight. I tried throwing a light ball and ended up sitting on my ass while my flaming un-success of a ball snapped off the limb of a nearby olive tree. Marcas proceeded to catch it in mid-air, not with his hands but with his abilities, and throw it at me. My body rolled out of the way, but it still pinned my leg.

Shoving it off, I frowned. "Olive branches are supposed to stand for peace, right?"

Marcas gestured at me, his unspoken way of ordering me to stand. I threw him the bird, the fear of retaliation gone since I was pretty positive he couldn't hurt me more than he already had.

Standing slowly, I groaned. "Will taking my soul hurt less?"

I was allowed to have an "It's my party, and I'll cry if I want to" moment.

Marcas moved toward me. "It'd hurt much, much worse."

Eyeing him suspiciously, I asked, "You're not going to start throwing me now, are you?"

"You need more control, Blainey," he hissed. I'd angered him. No surprise there.

He moved behind me, and I froze, the idea of taking another hit unbearable. "Why don't we learn more about protecting yourself and less about attack for the moment," he offered.

That didn't sound so bad. My eyes scanned the area. The grounds of Alessandro's home were surrounded by olive trees with a vineyard visible in the distance. When I'd asked Marcas where we were he'd said something about hill towns near Rome in Lazio. Maybe Tivoli. Where ever we were, it was secluded and beautiful. The afternoon sun was warm but not overly uncomfortable.

"What am I supposed to do?" I asked.

Marcas placed his hands over my eyes, and I tensed, the way he stood now reminding me of my father and the dream. "You couldn't show me with another method?"

"No, the only way you're going to learn anything is if you learn to rely on yourself and not your senses."

I grimaced. "I feel like I'm in an episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer."

Marcas mumbled something under his breath before raising his voice. "Angels and Demons have very different powers depending on the type of Angel or Demon you are. But one thing remains the same. We tap into our powers the same way. The way you imagined your inner light when you needed to see in the dark is the same way you tap into your powers. That inner light is your power. For a Demon, it's their inner darkness. By cloaking yourself in the light, you can prevent or cause an attack. It's not rocket science, Blainey."

For him it wasn't. "Always look for the light, right?"

The comment wasn't lost on Marcas. Leaning down, he whispered, "Your father is considered a wise Angel, Blainey. He was teaching you the fundamentals. You just weren't old enough to understand what he was doing, and you weren't aware of what you were. The concept is the same. Close your eyes."

My eyes fell shut, and his hands slipped away.

"I'm going to attack you now," he announced.
He was what? My eyes began to-

"Eyes stay closed!" Marcas yelled.

I jumped, his voice a few feet away from me now. Damn, but he moved fast! Attack me? In a panic, I grasped desperately for my inner light, my mind picturing it easily.