Angel Evolution by David Estes Read Free Book Online Page B

tricks afterwards,” he said.
    “Okay, let’s see it then.” She stood, waiting, her hands returning to her hips.
    He arched his back like he had earlier that night, but this time he didn’t extend his arms to the side. With the same sharp pop! massive wings burst from his neck and rose above his head gracefully. He allowed them to hang in the air for a moment before folding them neatly behind his back.
    He waited for the fear to register in her eyes, but she surprised him again by clapping. “Now that was actually impressive, how much did you spend on those retractable wings? They look like something from a Vegas show! Can I touch them? You should really do the light-thing and the wings-thing at the same time, now that would be cool!”
    Gabriel was happy that she was not afraid of him in his natural state, but knew that things might change when she realized exactly how natural it was for him. He started with, “I actually got them for free,” which was mostly the truth although technically he didn’t get them, he was born with them. Then he added, “Yes, you may touch them.”
    Taylor walked over to and then behind him. He felt her hands gently stroke his fifth and sixth limbs. She exclaimed, “Ooh, they’re even softer than I expected and they are such a bright, white color. I’ve never seen anything like them.”
    Then she pushed a single finger through the feathery surface and Gabriel had to pull away, laughing hard. “Stop it, that tickles!”
    “Did I touch your back?” she asked.
    “No, you tickled my wing.”
    “Now, now, Gabe, we talked about this already. You promised to come clean with me on your little tricks.”
    “I am trying to, but you are making it rather difficult. Let’s try this a different way. Feel the top part of my wings, where they protrude from my skin.”
     

     
    Taylor ignored his ridiculous use of the phrases my wings and protrude from my skin , as she obeyed his request. When she felt closer to his skin, it really did feel like the wings were somehow attached to his neck. It seemed impossible, because she would have noticed them while they were walking over. Come to think of it, the wings were bulky enough on his back that it was beyond explanation as to how he had been able to hide them under his clothing until now.
    “Now stand back, Taylor.” She did as she was told, continuing to puzzle over the mystery. With a soft whoop! the wings appeared to rush up and into the back of his neck. She stepped forward again to examine him, her astonishment growing.
    There was a gash on his neck that looked like a scar that had been reopened. She rubbed her hands along the back of his shirt, feeling only his spine, his muscles, his skin. With a jerk, she backed away from him, her hands trembling. “What…what are you?”
    Gabriel turned slowly, a beautiful smile forming on his face, the glow around him radiating light once more. His wings reopened in an impossible display of beauty and grace. “Isn’t it obvious?” he said. “I’m an angel, of course.”
     
     

Chapter Eleven
     
    D ionysus paced across the wide room. The walls of the room seemed to be filled with light from top to bottom. The light came from within the walls, rather than from some fixture attached to them. The floors and ceilings were the same; a different material maybe, but similarly filled with a brightness that would be blinding to a human who gazed directly upon them for too long. But Dionysus wasn’t a human.
    “Why hasn’t he checked in yet?” Dionysus asked.
    Even in his stressed tone it was clear that he commanded authority and expected his question to be answered by any who heard it. In this case, there was only one there to listen.
    “I am sure he will soon,” assured Michael, the other angel in the room.
    Michael was the second most experienced member of the Archangel Council of the Twelve, of which Dionysus was the Head. Despite his age, Dionysus had the body of a thirty-year-old Italian