Flight

Chapter Six: the Seer

Israfel puts his hand on the small of my back, guiding me through a door and into a room that is blinding white and gold.

Focused on me are gazes sharp enough to slice me apart. 

I run the tip of my tongue over my lips and take a deep breath. Cloth swishes on the marble floor as one of the angels rises to their feet.

"Israfel." The voice sounds soft and lilting, caressing my mind. "Who is the girl?"

"You know." Israfel replies shortly, then gently pushes me behind him. When his voice sounds next, his lips don't move, and I can't decipher a single word.

The other angel nods understandingly, then swivels to face me. Horror strikes me in the chest.

It doesn't have a face. 

"You are afraid, mortal." It murmurs. "You need not be. You are safe here."

I try to move back, but my feet are rooted to the ground. Oh, God. Oh, no. I can't move. I can't move. I squeeze my eyes shut and force the image of me with a barrier around me into my mind, building the gold walls around me, Israfel next to me, and Colton-- somewhere, safe. This angel wouldn't touch me. It couldn't touch me.

My leg snaps free of the hold so fast I stumble.

My eyes snap open.

"She is strong." The angel says, turning towards Israfel, who raises his eyebrows. It sighs. "I don't know."

Israfel looks at me, then the angel, then back, eyes narrowed.

"Her soul." It says. "She wouldn't let me see it."

"How is that possible?" Israfel asks.

It doesn't say anything for a long time. "She barred her emotions and memories from me. It's a very... difficult process that involves incredible mental strength."

"Can humans do that?" Israfel sounds bewildered.

"Sometimes." It replies. "She is the second that I have had the chance to discover."

"Who was the first?"

"A young boy, a long time ago. I don't remember his name." It pauses, then speaks again, sounding amused. "She's stronger."

Israfel glanced at me. "She was... born with it?"

"I suppose all humans are. They just... forget how to call upon it."

I narrowed my eyes in confusion. "Forget how to call upon what?"

"Ah, she speaks." It said, and reached a hand towards me.

I instinctively jerked back, startled and unnerved.

Its laughter floated through the room. "It is hard to explain in your language." It said. "A sort of... shield of the soul. It is the process angels use to repell demons when they fight."

I noted its use of "they" and tipped my head. "Aren't you an angel?"

"I suppose." It replied. "But I am not a warrior. Rather a messenger. A Seer, of sorts."

"Seer?" I frowned.

"I cannot tell what your physical features, nor anyone else's." It replied. "Only your soul."

Okay.

That was a little weird.

"And what does my soul look like?" I asked.

"I already told you." It replied matter-of-factly. "You wouldn't let me see it."

I stared at it. 

"How did you do it, Storme?" Israfel asked.

I swiveled to look at him. "I just... imagined a wall around myself. Honestly, anyone can imagine a wall, it's not that incredible."

"It requires a certain amount of skill." The Seer said. "Although that's still not the right word for it."

"Whatever." I said, then turned to face Israfel. "You told me that Colton would have some side effects from the healing. What are the side effects going to be?"

"He's going to become less human and more angel." It told me.

"I thought he was already part angel." I said.

"Well, yes," said Israfel, "but the healing process.... to heal, he needs to become stronger and more... resistant to the demon kiss. The only way to do that is to draw out the angel in him."

"I have one more question."

Israfel raised his eyebrows.

"If his dad was a fallen angel, then how come Colton's part angel and not demon?" I asked.

"It depends on the child." Israfel replied. "Just like everyone else, he chose his own path."

I nodded, even though my mind was racing. This was all way too much to take in. Colton-- and angel. Me-- apparently with some power that made it impossible for angel Seers to see my soul. 

Speaking of which.

Every single angel was looking straight at me, and it was starting to make my skin crawl.

"Israfel." I tugged on the sleeve of the dark blue hoodie he was wearing. "Can we go?"

He jerked as if snapping out a daze and nodded. "Of course. Let's go. Raziel wanted to put you away from the Gathering anyways."

"Whoa, hold on." I said. "You're not putting me anywhere. I'm staying with Colton."

"I understand your desire to protect him." Israfel replied, voice soft. "But we have to train him, Storme. Or else his newfound strength will be overwhelming to him. Mentally and physically. And he might harm you."

I frowned. "Israfel, I need you to be completely honest. How high are the chances that he's going to make it out of this unharmed?"

He glanced away. "Not high, Storme. Not high at all."