lots of different parts that were not connected but still functioned as a whole. His eyes, for one, were fathomless and completely devoid of emotion. I didn’t like the way he looked at Xavier, like a specimen, rather than a human being.
“The human appears to think nothing of bringing about the Apocalypse,” he said.
“Do not blame him,” Gabriel answered quickly. “He does not understand the consequences of an ambush and he has strong emotional ties to Bethany.”
Michael’s slippery, disconnected gaze lingered on Xavier. “So I hear. Human emotion is an irrational force.”
Xavier scowled and I knew he resented being spoken about like a stubborn child, incapable of seeing things from a logical perspective.
“I wasn’t aware it would result in the Apocalypse,” he said drily. “That would be an unfortunate side effect.”
Michael raised one delicate, glowing eyebrow at the sarcasm in Xavier’s tone. Ivy, who had not spoken a word thus far, hurried to Xavier’s side, an outward declaration of her support.
“What are the Covenant’s instructions?” she asked.
“We have located a source which may be of assistance,” Michael replied distantly. “Her name is Sister Mary Clare. You will find her in the Abbey of Mary Immaculate in Fairhope County, Tennessee.”
“How will that help us?” Xavier demanded.
“This is all we can offer for now — we wish you luck.” Michael turned toward Xavier. “A word of advice, you would be well advised to develop temperance if you want to be a leader among men.”
“I have one more question,” Xavier said, ignoring the censuring looks directed at him by Ivy and Gabriel.
“Yes?” Michael said slowly.
“Do you think Beth is okay?”
Michael looked at Xavier with an odd expression. There weren’t many humans I could think of who would directly address a member of the Arch, let alone detain him with questions.
“The demon went to much trouble to get her there. Rest assured he would not have done so if he did not value her life.”
Michael folded his arms loosely across his chest, bowed his head, and with a flash of blinding light and a crack like thunder, he was gone. I thought he’d leave destruction in his wake, but after the light he left behind waned, I saw that the room had been restored to its original state, apart from a charred ring on the floor where the angel had landed. With Michael gone everyone looked visibly relieved and breathed more easily. Although Michael was batting for our team, his formidable presence had made it impossible to relax. Gabriel stepped around the coffee table to lift Molly into his arms and deposit her gently onto the sofa. Ivy went to get a wet cloth for her forehead. Molly’s mouth was open from the shock, but her breathing had returned to normal. Gabriel placed two fingers on the inside of her wrist to check her pulse. Once he was convinced she would revive, he moved away and ran his fingers through his hair as he pondered Michael’s counsel.
“A nun?” Xavier asked softly. “How can she help? What could she tell us that the Covenant can’t?”
“If Michael has directed us to her, there must be a reason,” Gabriel replied. “Humans are more connected to the underworld than we can ever be. Demons make it their life’s work to tempt those on earth, especially those who think their faith is unbreakable. It is sport to them. It’s possible that this Sister Mary Clare has encountered dark forces. We must find her and see what she knows.”
Ivy stood straight and resolute. “I guess that means we’re going to Tennessee.”
By this time, I was getting sleepy. Too much had happened, most of it stressful. Spending so much time outside my physical dimension was having a strange effect. I wanted to feel my body again, resume the form of flesh, and curl up under the covers; but I forced myself to stick around until Molly woke up. I wanted to see how she would cope with what she’d just witnessed. Would Ivy and Gabriel be forced to tell her the truth? Would she even remember the visit from the glorious stranger or would they get away with telling her she’d slipped and hit her head?
My siblings had disappeared to hastily gather a few belongings for the trip and Xavier was left to watch over Molly. He sat opposite her on one of the deep sofas, lost in his own thoughts, occasionally glancing across to check on her. I watched him sigh wearily and get up to drape a throw across her shoulders. His display of care and attention, even after their recent altercation, was touching and made me long for him even more. Xavier wasn’t one to hold a grudge. To protect those more vulnerable was ingrained in him. It was one of the things I loved most about him.
Molly moaned and raised a hand to her head. Now that she was waking up, Xavier was fully alert. He stood up carefully, keeping his distance, not wanting to alarm her. Molly’s eyelids fluttered open and she rubbed her eyes with the back of her hand.
“What the hell?” she murmured softly, pushing herself up and blinking groggily. Her face drained of color when her eyes fell on the spot where Michael had been standing. I could almost see the moment when the memory replayed in her mind. Her shock reflected clearly on her face and her jaw dropped again.
“How are you feeling?” Xavier asked tentatively.
“Okay, I guess. What just happened?”
“You passed out,” he answered truthfully. “Must be from the stress. I’m sorry for losing it before, I don’t want to fight with you.”
Molly stared at him. “You have to tell me what happened,” she said. “Even with my eyes shut, I could still see the light ….”
Xavier’s eyes didn’t betray the slightest hint of his emotions. He surveyed Molly coolly. “Maybe you need to see a doctor. Sounds like you might have a concussion.”
Molly sat bolt upright then and glared at him. “Don’t play dumb with me,” she snapped. “I know what I saw.”
“Really?” Xavier said calmly. “And what might that be?”
“A man,” Molly began tentatively and then reconsidered. “At least I think that’s what he was; a really big, really bright man. He was all wet with light and his voice sounded like a hundred voices and he had wings — huge wings like an eagle!”
The look Xavier gave Molly would have made even the surest witness doubt their sanity. He pressed his lips together, raised his eyebrows slightly, and drew back a fraction as if Molly were certifiably insane. He was a better actor than I’d given him credit for. But Molly was not taken in.
“Don’t look at me like that!” she cried. “You saw him too, I know you did.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Xavier said bluntly.
“There was an angel standing right there,” Molly gestured wildly at the place where Michael had stood. “I saw him! You can’t trick me into thinking I’m going crazy.”
Xavier gave up. He’d been standing with his arms folded across his chest, wearing an expression of disbelief. Suddenly he just looked exasperated.
“Gabriel,” he called out. “You better get in here.”
A moment later, my brother was standing in the doorway.
“Molly, welcome back. How do you feel?”
“Why don’t you tell Gabriel what you saw?” Xavier cut in. Molly looked doubtful for a moment. She mightn’t care what Xavier thought of her, but she certainly cared about Gabriel’s opinion and didn’t want to risk him thinking she was unstable. But her doubt was momentary and vanished as quickly as it had appeared.
“I saw an angel,” she said with conviction. “I don’t know why he came or what he said, but I know he was here.”
Gabriel maintained a thoughtful silence. He neither challenged nor acknowledged her story. Instead, he watched Molly with a slight crinkling of his marble brow. Although it would have been hard to tell by looking at his composed face I knew Gabe was thinking about damage control. Molly’s discovery spelled disaster for my family. They had been loath to let one human in on the secret and only relented because they had no choice. I’d revealed my true self to Xavier without consulting them. Now two people knowing the truth in a town as small as Venus Cove could pose real problems. But what could they do? Molly had seen Michael with her own two eyes.
I wished I could have been there at that moment to comfort my brother who was facing his own internal struggle. I circled Gabriel in my wraithlike form and tried to transmit my support. I wanted him to know I was
