Flaming Dove by Daniel Arenson Read Free Book Online Page B

just about to drift into sleep, the first feathers of dreams tickling her, when the commotion began. Outside, she heard angels shouting and armor clinking, and soon the alarm bell rang in the tower, clear ringing that filled the fort, pounding against Bat El's temples.
    "Back, devil!" an angel shouted outside. It sounded to Bat El like the voice of a young angel, new on Earth, frightened.
    And what am I, if not a young angel new on Earth, frightened? Bat El wondered as she raced downstairs. I am Gabriel's daughter. Yes, forever must I blaze bright to be seen in that shadow.
    Shouting and running footfalls came from the fort's main hall, and Bat El burst into the room. At the sight, she felt the blood leave her face. A score of angels from The Wrecking Balls platoon stood in one corner, pointing spears and swords toward the ceiling in the opposite corner. Their glow bathed the room in light, but could not penetrate a blob of shadows which filled that high corner. There, darkness clinging to her, Laila hovered, bat wings spread. In those shadows, the shadows that never left the half-demon, Laila's eyes burned red and her fangs glistened. She seemed to hold something large in her arms, but it was hard to see in the darkness.
    "Leave this place, daughter of demons," Nathaniel demanded below, clutching his spear.
    Laila fixed her eyes of flame on Bat El. "Sister dearest," the half-demon said, "call off your troops, will you? I've killed several times tonight already, and I don't feel like killing again."
    "Lieutenant!" Bat El barked, turning her gaze to Nathaniel. "Lower your spear. Angels! Disarm yourselves. Laila has not come here to harm us. If she had, you'd be dead by now."
    Cursing under his breath, Nathaniel obeyed, lowering his spear. The wingless angel prepared to spit, seemed to remember that he stood indoors in the presence of Gabriel's daughter, and swallowed. He bowed his head curtly, his one eye staring at Bat El with a look that said, This time I obey, but never order me around again, and I don't care who your dad is.
    "You heard the Captain," he grumbled, turning to his soldiers. "Lower your weapons, angels. The half-demon is welcome here tonight, it seems."
    The angels complied, lowering their spears, but kept a close watch on Laila. Bat El stepped toward her half-sister, arms outstretched.
    "Laila," she said. "Welcome."
    Laila hovered down from the ceiling, the shadows still wreathing her, and laid her burden upon the floor. Bat El finally saw what it was, and she gasped. Her sister's wolf lay at Laila's feet, his breath shallow, blood coating his black fur. Bat El covered her mouth with her hand, looked up at Laila, and saw that bloody tears covered Laila's cheeks. Fear filled the half-demon's fiery eyes, and claw marks ran across her shoulder, bleeding.
    "Dear God," Bat El whispered. Laila got herself into a fight again. It was a bad one this time.
    "Can you do something for him?" Laila said, voice low, careful. She still didn't trust this room full of angels.
    Bat El knelt before Volkfair. The wolf gazed up at her with glassy eyes, and Bat El placed her hands in his fur. She shut her eyes, breathed deeply, and concentrated, letting her energy flow between the wolf and her hands.
    She opened her eyes. "His life force and will are strong," she said. Laila had retreated into the corner and covered her head with her hood. The glow of angels hurts her.
    "I know," Laila whispered, and Bat El could almost cry, for she heard godly love in the voice of her sister. Such love could only come from her angelic side. "He is a strong one, my dearest Volkfair."
    "I will do my best," Bat El whispered with a tremulous smile, her own love filling her, love for her sad, outcast sister. She took a deep breath and focused, praying to God to heal this beast, to send godlight and grace into the creature. As she prayed, sending love and life into Volkfair, her skin and hair glowed, a soft glow of Heaven. Light pooled between her