Raphael by R. A. MacAvoy Read Free Book Online Page A

to give, and a generous act besides. And if you give it to me, I promise I will put the creature back where I found it. Unharmed. I further promise to leave it alone in the future: as long as it leaves ME alone!” Lucifer spared a haughty and scandalized glance in the direction of his captive.
    â€œIt’s a lie!” shrilled Saara from behind her white screen. “He won’t release me, no matter what you do for him. He hates me; I bit his neck.
    â€œAnd he hates you, Chief of Eagles, worse than he does me!”
    Lucifer smiled sidelong. “Just listen to the little shrew. And what a name she gives you, brother. ‘Chief of Eagles.’ Don’t you find it embarrassing?”
    â€œNot at all. I prefer it to being called the Liar,” replied Raphael shortly. “Now enough of this tuneless twist. Tell me what it is you want of me.”
    Lucifer’s shrug and smile were a bit coy. “My desire is small and well-meaning. I want to break down the old and unfortunate barrier which has stood so long between you and me, dear brother.”
    Then his pale gaze sharpened. “I ask nothing of you, Raphael, neither service nor friendship nor understanding (for I know I will get none of these), but only that you take my hand in yours once more.”
    Raphael stood unmoving, but the feathers on the backs of his wings where they joined the body rutched out, as the hair on a man’s head may seem to crawl. And the wings themselves started a barely perceptible tremor.
    â€œNo!” cried Saara. “Whatever he says, it is still treachery!”
    But the angel was not listening, or at least not to her. He stood motionless, his head tilted slightly to one side, and his dark eyes unfocused. Then Raphael answered his brother. “I want to see Saara sent back first.”
    â€œNO!” screamed the witch.
    Lucifer smiled and his eyes grew white-pale. “Afterward, dear brother. I don’t trust your decision will remain the same once the motivation is gone.”
    â€œYes, you do,” replied the angel, as he shook his feathers into place. “You DO trust my word, Satan, or you would never have called me. The only reason you would refrain from returning Saara now that I have agreed to your terms is that you have no intention of returning her. Therefore it must be done now.”
    Lucifer, who had admitted to Saara already that he did not intend to free her, sulked for a moment. “If neither of us trust the other, Raphael, then I guess there can be no bargain, and the woman is sacrificed to your stiff-neckedness.”
    â€œIt is your bargain, Satan. You offered it, and you must perform your promise first. If this entire scene was set with me in mind, then you should have no objections to letting your bait go free.”
    Now it was Raphael’s turn to close the space between them. “Otherwise it is war between us, and though you are stronger than I and I cannot prevail, you will still not escape that battle unharmed.”
    Lucifer growled in his throat, but he reached a negligent hand toward Saara, in her concealment behind the wing.
    â€œOne moment,” called the angel, and the pearly screen lifted like a fan. He leaned toward the woman and spoke. “Saara, when you are home you must forget this and not try to involve yourself with the Liar, neither out of anger nor revenge. Or once again he will have the power to take you captive.”
    The miniature naked woman ran toward him until the cord tightened against her leg. “Listen to me, Spirit! I don’t want my life from your hands. I can’t take another sacrifice on my behalf. You and I love the same person and by his own request I was to watch over you. I cannot live with the shame of this failure!”
    â€œThere is no shame, Saara,” whispered Raphael. “And no failure. Not for you nor for me.”
    Lucifer found this conversation immensely distasteful. He completed the