The Taking Read Free Page A

yourself, these three need to further their training, not be sent back to fundamental work, and you know the answer to what is necessary."  
    “You cannot be serious, Gabriel. I am not going to send them under earthbound care. Besides, I am not going to ask him. Even if I did, he would not accept. He does not support our cause anymore.”  
    My brows push together. “What do you mean by earthbound?” I ask.
    Without looking at me, Archangel Michael spins a hand out as a stop signal toward me.  
    Ignoring my question Archangel Raphael steps forward. His face was serene as he looked at our leader. “Michael. Gabriel is correct. He is a fierce warrior—”
    “Was,” snapped Archangel Michael. He seems angry. Usually he is intimidating and arduous but not angry.  
    The placid pale face of our healer held a hint of annoyance. “I am certain that after all the years of training and fighting, he has not forgotten.” His dark brown hair flicks as he shakes his head.  
    “His heart is not right. I am not asking him. Besides, as I said, he would not do it anymore. He made it clear that he was never fighting again after he became earthbound. He doesn’t even want to see us again.”
    I can’t hold my tongue. I need to know. “What is earthbound and who is the man?”
    Archangel Michael spins around and looks at me. His eyes are an icy blue as he glares. “Aurora, please. This doesn’t concern you.”
    “Actually, it does,” Archangel Gabriel says. Turning to Archangel Michael, the kind blue eyes are set. “You are going to explain it to them as you take them. I am certain that using the correct enticement; your request will not be denied.” The sexless archangel turns to Archangel Raphael for confirmation.
    “No enticement is going to work on that being,” our leader protests.
    “Yes, it will,” our healing archangel says. “All that you need to do is take our troublesome one,” he points to me, “and tell him who is after her.”
    I feel the blood drain from my face. Why am I always the one in the centre of unwanted attention?  
    Archangel Michael grumbles and turns to look at us, his face holds a look of resignation.  
    “Now remember Michael, use your words. They are the key to stop confusion.” Surprised at the tone used, I look at the liberal archangel in time to see a smirk.  

- Chapter Two -

    “Where are we going?” Cindy asks our leader. A strand of her blonde hair drifts across her face as she looks at him. Retrieving a gold hairpin from her bodysuit neckline, she pins it back.
    Despite Archangel Gabriel’s suggestion, Archangel Michael has not said a word since we began our journey.  
    “Armenia.” His tone clearly expresses he does not want to talk about the voyage.  
    Her golden brown eyes open wide as a look of shock passes over her face. She ignores the tone and continues asking questions. “What, or rather who is there?”  
    Between the stroking of his wings, he gives Cindy a glare. “You will find out when we get there.”  
    She looks below and this time holds her tongue. When she lifts her vision, she looks at Ben then me. I shrug and smile hoping to wipe some of the worry off her face. It seems to work, and she strokes her wings silently.  
    Flying at the height of the clouds, we have passed vast bodies of ocean and are now travelling over a large mainland, descending after we pass over Europe. Our flight was quick even though we flew from the other side of the world.  
    After reaching Armenia, we continue to a secluded countryside and descend to land at a strange building perched on the edge of a cliff. The cliff face is built up with man-made walls of stone making it several storeys higher than its natural side. Windows and doors are built into these walls. On top of this cliff are beautifully grassed lawns centred with an old, vast building. In the middle of the neat structure is a large circular building with a pointed roof in the middle. The entire building is