Broken Angel

Chapter 17: Impact

GABRIELLE

We needed a different approach. We wouldn’t be finding Rory if we tried to search every inch of this earth ourselves. We needed to be smarter.

I needed to be smarter.

The reality was that Azrael was nearly off the hinges. I wasn’t sure what he was capable of doing now. Everyday Alec asked about Aurora, and every time that my brother had to respond, another piece of him disappeared.

I wanted to pray and ask Father for help. I knew he wouldn’t answer though. He hadn’t answered any of us in a long time. Praying would get me nowhere this time, so I had to use my gifts. Someone out there must have seen something. Someone had to be asking for help or wanting answers.

And I was their direct line to our Father. Human prayers went through me. I’d never tried to access them, it felt wrong and invasive. But I couldn’t worry about wrongness when Rory was still missing.

I just hoped our Father forgave me.

I fell down to my knees. The grass beneath me was cool to the touch. I was exhausted and beyond tired, my wing hadn’t healed completely and I didn’t know what I was doing. Yet, there was no way that I would stop without trying.

Because while everyone was falling apart and tearing the world in two, I had to keep it together. I had to be responsible and lead them in the right direction. Not that any of my siblings ever listened, and not that Azrael would follow my orders anymore. But I still had to try.

Taking one deep breath after another, I knelt outside attempting to concentrate on all the voices. Crying and begging filled my mind. Everyone was so needy, praying for the most mundane of things.

A parking spot.

The chance to win the lottery.

An A on an exam.

A football team to win.

Someone’s failure.

Sex.

Humans were so utterly exhausting.

And then I heard it. A small prayer from a voice I recognized. The old Buddha. Not a prayer, but a calling to the universe.

To whomever hears this plea for help, chaos is about to befall us.

I knew where they were. Or at least I hoped I knew. This man hadn’t asked for aid in the centuries he’d been reincarnated, since the celestials helped build the monastery.

Somehow, I knew he was calling for me. Calling me to protect his people.

And I was going to answer, broken wing or not.

******

Azrael and I were on our way to the Tiger's Nest Monastery. I said we could do this alone. He was bringing an army. The reapers followed his silent orders, not mine.

His shoulders were tense, eyes darker than ever, face set in stone. Azrael was out for blood—Penelope’s to be exact.

Night had fallen and we were so close I could sense another near. It wasn’t a surprise when we landed who I’d find there. Azrael and I surrounded them. The reapers still hidden in the darkness of the night, the clouds providing the perfect coverage.

“I should have known you’d be here,” Azrael spat at our brother Zachrael.

Zach swiveled to face us; one hand outstretched to protect those behind him. “I just found them. You’re going to make this worse.”

Penelope and Aurora stood off to the side, Rory’s tiny hand clenched into fists, her eyes watery. I’m sure if I noticed, Azrael had to. I could feel the air changing, the menace surrounding us.

Azrael took one step towards Aurora, his face a mask of indifference as he faced Penelope. “Leave.”

I wasn’t sure what was going through Penelope’s mind, but the haughty expression she returned wasn’t a good sign. She lifted her chin, her eyes glazing over in swirls of color, she was prepared to pulse.

Time seemed to still the moment Aurora cried out because Penelope gripped her arm too hard. My brother’s eyes turned into deep pits of nothingness. He launched himself at Aurora, only missing her by a hair as Penelope took off with her.

We took off to the skies after them. “Give her to me. Now!” Azrael bellowed.

She turned to look back and her expression told me everything. She wouldn’t give her back willingly. Penelope knew who Aurora was.

“Raz calm down,” I tried to tell him. Penelope wouldn’t hurt her. I know that now.

He wouldn’t listen. The reapers began to swarm around us, following after Penelope. They wouldn’t give up; they were both fighting for someone they had a rightful claim to.

There was nowhere for her to go. Azrael had his Reapers swarming the skies. He took off after them. It was a race to get to Aurora without hurting her.

There was no way that they could take down Penelope without hurting Rory. Azrael was maneuvering around the reapers being blasted down by Penelope.

Penelope sent out a pulse, almost knocking us out of the air.

I saw it before he did. One Reaper was barreling towards Penelope at too fast a speed. Before we could regain our bearings, Aurora was falling towards the earth. We were no longer over land, but over open water. Screams were escaping her little lungs. Azrael dove for her. We were too far. We weren’t fast enough.

We wouldn’t get to her in time.

There was real fear coursing through me as I saw Penelope and Aurora continue to fall. Penelope was unconscious, and while my brother dove for his daughter, I went after his soulmate.

I caught Penelope by the hand and opened my wings to stop our descent. The sudden jerk of the movement only put more strain on my not fully healed wing. I struggled to keep us afloat, struggled to beat my wing against the pressure.

I looked back to where Aurora was still falling, so far away she was a mere speck against the black of the ocean. Azrael was still diving for her, arms outstretched, trying to reach her. They looked too close to the water and she was still falling.

Then… we all heard the impact.