They Who Fell by Kevin Kneupper Read Free Book Online Page A

melt, and demons didn’t appear, and she faced nothing more frightening than a brash angel who seemed insistent on toying with her.
    “You must know something of what you’re doing, else why would you do it?” said Rhamiel.
    “Because I have to,” said Jana. She couldn’t think of any other response, and it was true.
    He smiled, and patted her on the shoulder in mock empathy. She flinched, as he’d known she would, and he relished in it as she overcompensated, trying to compose herself by putting on an exaggerated show of nonchalance. He knew he was making her nervous, and he meant to take full advantage of it.
    “One never has to do anything,” said Rhamiel. “We merely tell ourselves that we do. You might surprise yourself, if you release yourself from the shackles you’ve imposed.” Easy to say, for one in his position. He had all the power, and all the prestige. What he wanted, he got. She survived at the pleasure of her masters, and got only what she was permitted to have.
    She looked up to see her escort, now shooting her a glare. Now you tell me , thought Jana. She was hardly an expert on angelic protocol. If the woman hadn’t wanted her to sit, she should have let her know beforehand. What was she to do? If she wasn’t brave enough to deny Rhamiel herself, how could Jana be expected to? Then she saw someone striding up to them, probably the source of the woman’s newfound confidence. She recognized her from below—Nefta. She didn’t look pleased. Half her face was broiled from the Fall, the other half was that of a striking blonde beauty, and both sides were set in a scowl. Jana could tell she’d been one of the perfect ones before she’d fallen. Her wings moved, agitated—a disturbing sight. They’d been particularly damaged, and were left looking something like those of a bat, with scattered feathers still clinging to the leathery flaps that remained.
    “Rhamiel,” said Nefta. “I don’t interfere in your affairs, and I expect you not to interfere in mine.”
    “We’re entertaining, not interfering,” said Rhamiel, grinning impishly. “You can’t ask us not to be good hosts.”
    “You know what you’re doing,” said Nefta. “I sent for her, and I don’t like being delayed. Girl, come with us.”
    Jana froze, looking back and forth between the two. Going with Nefta might offend Rhamiel, or even Zuphias. Ignoring her could be fatal. She’d been given a direct order. Rhamiel looked Jana over in silence for a few terrifying seconds, taking a little selfish pleasure in her indecision, and then he did her a kindness.
    “Go. We’ll share our bottle later, once you’re free from Nefta’s clutches. The two of us had plans of our own, in any event. We’re to go out into the world, and see what mischief we can stir up.” He looked amused, and didn’t seem to have taken any offense. Rhamiel stood, and towered over Jana. She’d only seen him seated, but now he was tall, imposing, and moved with a confident strut. He and Zuphias walked away, down one of the corridors and off to one of the many platforms that dotted the exterior.
    The woman grabbed Jana’s arm roughly, and the two fell in line behind Nefta. Jana could feel the eyes of the room upon her. That kind of attention wouldn’t end well, if Sam was to be believed. She’d seen a number of people disappear over the years herself. But then again, maybe some of them were still kicking around in the upper levels. The people here had to come from somewhere. She had a more immediate concern, though: Nefta. Neither she nor her escort seemed happy, and that couldn’t be a good thing.
    Nefta veered off into a narrow corridor, which wound upward to an isolated chamber. She stood in front of it, waiting impatiently as the woman opened the door for her. Jana followed them inside. They appeared to be in some kind of foyer. The walls were lined with hand-carved wooden masks, depicting a series of faces in intricate and lifelike detail. Jana