Nightingale Girl by M. R. Pritchard Read Free Book Online Page B

Council members know.”
    “What?” Gabriel asks.
    “He didn’t do his time.”
    “Hellion?”
    “Yes.”
    Gabriel frowns. “It’s the curse then?”
    Sparrow nods.
    “Fucking idiot,” Gabriel mumbles as he walks in a tight circle. “Fucking idiot!” Gabriel turns to face us, angrier than a hornet. “He never went when he was called?” Gabriel asks Sparrow.
    “No,” Sparrow replies.
    “Imbecile!” Gabriel clenches his hands into fists. “You have the curse. And your sister—is she crazier than a shit house rat?”
    “Yes. He keeps her locked up.”
    Gabriel nods, understanding. “Your banishment must have delayed the curse catching up with you or we would have known years ago.” He looks Sparrow up and down before walking toward him and placing both of his hands on Sparrow’s broad shoulders. “Darkness must taint your soul. This must happen. All Archangels who ever did an ounce of good paid their dues as a Hellion.”
    There is a dark glint in my father’s eyes.
    “Does that mean you, too?” I ask, curious as to how many of the Archangels have walked on the dark side.
    Gabriel glances at me. “Yes. That is where I met Clea.”
    Holy crap. He met my mother when he was doing his time as a Hellion. I know what the Hellions did to me; does that mean . . .
    “No.” Gabriel’s tone is harsh. It’s as though he read my mind. “It was of her own free will. Clea was more. I brought her back with me when I finished my time. Lucifer was pissed.” Gabriel suddenly laughs loud, and it echoes throughout the poolroom, making my ears ache. His eyes close for a few seconds, as though he’s remembering the past. He sighs. “This is noble.” Gabriel pats Sparrow so hard on the shoulder his body jerks. “And you will go together.”
    “I swore—” I start to say.
    “It is forgiven,” Gabriel declares.
    “But Clea’s feather showed you something.” Clea gave a feather to each of us, but Gabriel still hasn’t told me what he saw. “Was it a warning?”
    “Now is not the time to discuss that.” Gabriel presses his lips together, refusing to tell me. He turns. “Sparrow?”
    “Yes, sir.”
    “Christ, boy. Remiel is pissed that you took off without a word. Don’t forget what you’re made of.” Gabriel flicks him hard on the forehead. “Sparkles and fluffy clouds and shit.” Gabriel turns to face me and frowns. “The owl is the bringer of death.” Then in a flash, Gabriel is gone.
    The owl? Is that what Clea’s feather revealed?
    I suddenly don’t feel like swimming any longer. I turn to Sparrow, taking his hand in mine. “Let’s go back to the room.”
    Poof.
    . . .
    “We could have taken the . . .” Sparrow’s lips move, and his brow furrows, like he can’t remember, but he’s still trying to get the words out.
    It feels like there is a stone in my gut.
    “Elevator?” I ask.
    Sparrow nods as he tosses his towel over the back of a nearby chair. He moves around the room, opens a can of soda, digs through the bag of snacks, pulls out some chips, and starts eating.
    I do the same, both of us staring off into space as we chew. The snacks are good. I kinda miss the delicacies of Heaven fare, though. Thinking of food reminds me of the hunger that was never sated in Hell. We have to go back to that. I touch my stomach, remembering the nights of searching for a safe place to eat or sleep. Sparrow killed a deer for food. He helped keep me alive. Something inside me tells me that this time it’s going to be very different.
    I think of Noah. The last true friend I had before Sparrow. He got busted for possession and died in a bus accident on his way to the prison in Auburn. I met back up with him in Hell. Noah never repented, so he turned into a walking sack of flesh and tried to eat my face. Sparrow cut his hand off, and that was the first time he saved my life.
    That’s all I’ve had, Sparrow and Noah. There was Jim, but he doesn’t count. Anyone who killed your unborn baby and