Lailah (The Styclar Saga) by Nikki Kelly Read Free Book Online Page B

as he tightened his grip, adding more pressure. It was starting to sting.
    “I’m not sure.”
    He paused and seemed puzzled with the answer I had given. “Does it hurt?”
    “A little,” I replied, looking at my hand.
    “Francesca—”
    “Call me Cessie,” I interrupted.
    His lips curved up just a little at the edges, a sad smile.
    “Francesca.” Ignoring my request, he inhaled sharply. “We knew each other, we were quite close … a long time ago.” He stopped to gauge my reaction, and I stiffened.
    “I’m pretty old, I get that. But I don’t age; I’ve been seventeen for a very long time. But I can die, it’s just … I wake up again. My dreams, my visions are the only windows into anything that came before, and I don’t pretend to understand them.”
    His face fell away from mine so I couldn’t see his expression. He leaned back before he said, “When was the last time that you … died?” His wide eyes flashed up to mine. He seemed to hold his breath as he waited for my answer.
    “Six years ago.”
    His shoulders slumped forward and I felt him tighten his grip around the tea towel. “So you don’t remember me at all, not really.…” He trailed off.
    “Maybe I don’t remember you, but I never forgot you. Who were you to me?”
    Glancing up to meet my eyes, I felt warmth resonating from his being, almost stroking my skin. “All that time ago, we were … well, we were close friends.” He smiled.
    “I see. If we were friends then how are you still alive?” I asked. “Are you a Vampire too?” I don’t know why I even asked that; I could tell he wasn’t. He was so different.
    “No.” He inhaled. “I’m an Angel.” He waited for my reaction.
    I sat silently. I hadn’t known Angels existed—well, not outside of myth at least. But then, I had thought the same of Vampires until a few years ago. To the best of my recollection, I hadn’t ever come across an Angel. I trod carefully with my next question. “If you’re an Angel, shouldn’t you be in Heaven?”
    “Angels don’t ordinarily live on Earth, that’s true, unless the Angel is fallen,” he answered. “If Angels choose to fall, they lose their connection to our world; their gifts cease. Rendered useless on this plane, they become mortal. Seldom is that choice ever made.”
    “But if choosing to fall means you become mortal, then I don’t understand. You are the same as in my dreams, you look the same?”
    “That’s because I didn’t fall. My situation is a little different,” he explained.
    “And these Vampires … Jonah? Are they somehow part of your different situation?” I pushed.
    “Yes and no. I have been on Earth a long time and I have freed a number of Second Generation Vampires. They were human once; the life they have now was forced upon them. If I see a chance to grant salvation, I take it.” He paused thoughtfully before continuing. “Jonah was, well, a special case. When I came across him, he showed through his actions that he was capable of change. I offered him his freedom, and I try, just like with the others, to help guide him back to some sort of humanity.”
    “How long has he been with you?” I asked.
    “Not long enough. He needs more time, and there are others involved—It’s not that simple. He remains loyal to me in gratitude of my help. When he is able to leave, and if he wishes to, I will let him go.”
    He must have known I was about to pursue the conversation further as he quickly changed the subject. “How’s your hand?” He peeled away the towel, raising my palm toward him. He met my eyes, disbelieving, when he saw that it had healed already. “How is that possible? You were—are—mortal.” He stumbled over his words.
    “It just is, I don’t know why. Let me ask you, if we were such close friends, where did you go? Why did you leave me behind?”
    He winced as the words left my lips and I sensed that I had asked the question he most wanted to avoid.
    As Gabriel