Angel Bond (Angel Fire Series #1)

Chapter 24 - Dark Past

Zak sat stiffly on the chair in the kitchen. I know he can feel Luke’s eyes watching us, and the guy isn’t even in the room. I also know that he is watching through Marco, but I’m not sure if Zak has realised it as well. The bird had fluttered in and sat on top of the fridge without a care in the world, it had freaked me out when his eyes had turned electric blue. That’s when I came to the conclusion that Luke’s bond with Marco is more than he makes it out to be. I guess Luke either has no trust in me, or no trust in Zak. This whole situation is embarrassing and irritating.

“Marco, go and find Luke and peck him in the eye please.” I beg the bird. I feel triumph when Zak smiles, even though it was barely noticeable. The bird just stared at me, as if offended I just told it to do something. “I said please! I won’t be your friend anymore if you don’t“.  The bird’s eyes widen, and then he’s off in a flash of feathers.

“WHAT THE-“ There was a squawk, than vicious cursing. It was hilarious. I had to hold my stomach because the amount of laughing I was doing was beginning to hurt. Even Zak was laughing. Woohoo!

“EMMA!” Luke thunders into the kitchen with a swollen left eye, there was also blood dripping from his eyebrow but it was quickly healing right before my eyes. Ok that was worse than I was expecting.

“I was expecting one peck Marco. One!” The bird perches on my shoulder, almost making me topple over; the damn thing was so heavy. Marco looks so proud of himself though, I couldn’t scold him anymore. “Good shot though.” I say, stroking his beak.

“You thought that was funny? Turning my own bird against me” Luke hisses. Zak subtly shifts to the other side of the room, coming to stand two steps behind me. Was it a supportive gesture?

“Well, you were irritating me.” I shrug.

“Irritating…” Luke brings both his big hands up to cover his face, “irritating.” He repeats. His deep breath could have been heard from the other side of the house. “Ok, ok. You know what? Fine, I’ll take my irritating self away. I have jobs to do.” With that he turns and leaves, slamming the front door behind him.

“I must say, this place is very interesting.” Zak says.

Damn it. What have I done? “Marco, keep an eye on him please, no pecking.” Marco jumps off my shoulder, making me fall on my arse. Zak helps me back up, but jumps back a metre when he realises he touched me. This gangly angel is an anomaly in this world.

Just like me.

“Thanks, so you want something to eat, I apparently make a great bacon sandwich. I apologise for the theatrics, I know what I did was wrong but he pushed it.” I pull out the ingredients for a bacon sandwich, not waiting for his answer. I turn on the grill and neatly place four strips of bacon on the shelf. Once the bacon begins cooking and I have washed my hands I turn back to Zak, who just blankly stares at me. “Is there something on my face?” I wipe my nose.

“No… It’s just that… I don’t like to eat…” He shrugs his bony shoulders.

“What? Why?” I gasp, no wonder he is so skinny.

“I’m famine…” He says that like it explains everything. He scratches the back of his neck when I continue to stare. “Look, each of us… the talent or purpose we have… I don’t know how to explain this.” His hand moves from his neck to his hair, which he pulls in frustration. “Ok, Micah loves it when people get sick, Raphael loves fights, and Luke revels in death… do you get it… I love starvation, I love the feeling. It is quite literally who I am.”

That does actually make sense.

“Oh… so I made you bacon for no reason?” My shoulders sag, great advice dad! Zak must have taken my shoulder sag as something else, because he bites his nails and stares at the bacon.