Free Marked by Kim Richardson Page A

eyebrow. “It didn’t look like practice from where I was—and I’ve seen it many times before! A bit harsh , don’t you think? You are not savages—you are angels! It’s time you behave like them.”
    “We need to be able to defend ourselves—in extreme conditions—” said Benson. “Nothing we can’t handle.”
    “You can’t handle anything.” David met Benson’s glare.
    “ Your methods are not safe! They’re insane! Your Rookie will die because of you!” spat Benson as he clasped his sword. His knuckles turned white.
    “That’s enough!” yelled the oracle.
    The ground shook. The light seemed to darken from inside his crystal ball. “I have a very important meeting with the Archangel Gabriel today. We are installing toilets at Operations as a comfort to those who feel the urge to—the desire to—who need to remember their humanity. And I cannot be late! Or is that tomorrow?”
    The oracle twirled his beard around his fingers. “Everyone out! You have jobs to do and souls to save. Let’s go!” Immediately the crowd dispersed.
    Benson threw a finger in David’s direction. “You’ll pay for her death! Filth like you—doesn’t belong in the Legion.” Kara watched in silence as Benson marched out of the tent and out of sight. A few of his minions GAs tagged along behind him like sad little puppies.
    “It really upsets me to see you angels not getting along,” said the oracle. “And as for the two of you,” he said as he pointed a skinny finger, “—you have a bus to catch.”
    He steered his glass sphere around and rolled away.
    David stared at his feet. His expression changed like clouds before a storm. Kara wanted to ask David who had died, but something told her now was not the time. Instead, she settled for the obvious. She bent her body sideways and searched David’s face. “Why does Benson hate you so much?”
    “Because I’m better looking,” he answered, as he met her eyes and winked.
    “You’re so full of crap. You know that?”
    David’s face cracked into a smile. “And that’s why you love me.”
    “Oh— please . Did he hit you on the head or something? I think you’re suffering from a bit of brainfart.”
    “Maybe,” laughed David. “Okay, I think that’s enough training for a while. You’re more than ready for your next assignment.”
    They walked in silence through the red desert. Kara’s mind filled with questions unanswered. But some in particular kept coming back. Who the heck is this Sarah? And what happened to her?
     
     

Chapter 7. Fish nets and salt shakers
     
     
    D avid led Kara down a little slope into the heart of the desert. They made their way towards a large white tent resting in the midst of a sandy red ocean. A large powerful man with short black hair sat in a chair.
    “Is that another archangel?” asked Kara.
    “Yup.”
    “Thought so. They’re all like really… big .”
    “Big men with bigger egos.”
    The archangel’s dark brown skin contrasted against his white linen top and trousers. Her eyes moved to his face. It was beautiful, as if some higher power had sculpted it to perfection. She forced herself to look away.
    In the light wind sheets of paper fluttered across the top of a great wooden table that ran the length of the tent. She counted ten oracles rolling on their glass globes, rummaging through files along the table. A line of about fifty guardian angels waited patiently on the other side. Some angels stood at the front of the table. They each conversed with an oracle. After a moment, one of the oracles gave an angel a file, who then nodded and marched out of the tent. He walked down a gully and headed towards the pool area. A few minutes later, the guardian angel climbed up a metal staircase and jumped in—without hesitating.
    A loud tick tock sound found its way to Kara’s ears. A large brass grandfather clock stood in the background—it read two o’clock.
    She followed David to the end of the line and looked up at