The Human Side (The Demon Side Series) by Heaven Liegh Eldeen Read Free Book Online Page B

Demon side? Could I return to being my true self? His answers were as plain as my invocation. In unison, we said Amen, closing out our conversations with Father.
    Gabriel took his spot on the floor, pulling his blanket over his bare chest, as I remained on my knee. I hadn’t received the answer I wished for. Father required more from me. What he asked of me may prove more than I could handle.
    I would have to not only face the Demon in me, but I would have to ask him to come out and play with Etta. Could she handle it with all that is happening to her again? Would she gravitate toward me, or would I send her running for the hills this time? Would I be able to hold back once I’d started? I started to believe the risks weren’t worth the possible outcomes.
    “Rahovart?”
    “Yes, Brother?”
    “Do you think a human and Angel can have a relationship?”
    “I believe they can, but the rules prevent us from doing so.”
    “But aren’t we changing the rules by being here?”
    “I suppose we are. Is this about me or a special blonde, curly headed girl?”
    “There’s something about her. You know who she reminds me of?”
    “Who, Brother?” I asked.
    “Do you remember Charoum? She was a Seraphim in the third choir.”
    “Yes, I remember her. I also remember a very young Cherubim who had quite the crush on her. He would practically stalk her on her way to chapel.”
    “I did not stalk her. We traveled the same path home. She just happened to leave before me.”
    “Uh-huh. Sure, Brother. And I suppose standing behind the feast at the Equinox celebration watching her dance the whole time isn’t stalking either?” I said with a hearty chuckle.
    “Never mind.” Gabriel huffed as he rolled over, facing away from me.
    “Oh c’mon, don’t be like that. You weren’t half as bad as I was with Abihail. You remember that time I followed her from the courts, trying to work up the nerve to ask her to the Resurrection party, and I followed her right into the women’s quarters? Imagine seeing thousands of women changing into their ceremonial robes, and there is Abihail, swatting me with her shoes and calling me a foul and tainted soul. As I ran out, I smacked right into Father and big Jay. Oh man, I thought Father would rip my wings off right on the spot.” As I suspected, my remembrance of an easier time sent Gabriel into a chuckling fit.
    “I do remember that. You couldn’t look Abihail in the eyes for a month. But I believe this to be more than a boyhood crush. Tonight when she sat next to me, something awakened right here in my stomach…a fluttering of sorts, like when Charoum would sit near me at morning reflections.”
    “What happened to Charoum? I haven’t seen her around since I’ve been back.”
    “Her number came up.” Gabriel’s face sank with disappointment. Charoum had been chosen to receive an earthly form. Starting from a birth, she would live life out as a human on Earth. Should she choose a good life, she would return home. Should she choose a bad life, she would go to Hell after her passing, meaning Gabriel might face her in battle one day.
    He once had every intention on working up the nerve to ask for her hand in courtship, but on the big day, he had been pulled from his usual duties as a healer. For three days, no one had seen or heard from him. When he returned, he bore the wings of an Arch.
    The first years were a difficult for him. During a battle, we had come close to losing Ramiel. Gabriel had broken the news to his wife, Ooneimme. Witnessing her reaction caused Gabriel to swear off any possible relationship. Though we all knew he still kept an ever watchful eye on Charoum, he never acted on his feelings.
    “Though the veil closes at birth, I believe our soul remembers our home. It is in our nature to be drawn to it. Her spirit is as pure as fresh snow, and she will return home, Brother.”
    “You know our rates are dropping, Rahovart. We are losing more and more every day. The odds