Free Marked by Kim Richardson Page B

him. His face cracked into a grin. He winked. She rolled her eyes and turned her head towards the pools. Silhouettes of GAs jumped into the waters of their next assignments. Kara and David stood in silence for a while. The waiting was driving her mad.
    “So—what’s the next assignment?” Kara asked.
    “Don’t know yet. We’ll know what it is once the oracle gives us the job file.”
    Kara sighed. “Right…do you think it’ll be easier or harder this time?”
    David shook his head slowly. “I’m not sure.”
    “Hmm.”
    Kara’s mind flicked to the mysterious Sarah. She couldn’t get her out of her head. Who was she? Did David break the sacred Horizon laws and had an affair with her? Could angels fall in love? She fought the strange jealous feelings creeping inside her. God, I’m such a retard. And when Kara looked towards the grand table, they were finally at the head of the line and David addressed the archangel.
    “Hey…what’s up, Gabe?” David bared his teeth.
    There was a long pause before the archangel lifted his eyes from his paper and gazed upon David. Kara saw him fully. Tall and powerful, with fierce black eyes that seemed to pierce through you. His face was dark and commanding; a magnificent beast of a man and as dangerous as a grizzly bear. His face was twisted in a scowl. “It’s Gabriel ,” growled the archangel as his mood darkened. “Ah—and here is our famous delinquent.” The archangel Gabriel towered over them, narrowing his eyes.
    Kara bit the inside of her cheek. Wow—does anybody like David in Horizon?
    “Ha, ha, ha—very funny, Gabe,” David said and turned to give Kara his trademark wink. He rolled his head back to Gabriel. “So…got anything good for us?”
    Gabriel’s dark brown eyes flashed with resentment. “That depends on what you mean by good . But something has come up which might suit you, and your particular way of doing your job.”
    Kara felt a poke at her side. David raised his eyebrows. With a goofy smile painted across his face, he gave her two thumbs up. She smiled back and nodded. While David shifted with excitement, Kara studied Gabriel. He got up from his chair and walked over to an oracle to his right. They exchanged words and after a moment Gabriel came back with a file clutched in his hand. He glanced at Kara for the first time, for about two seconds, and then he glared back at David.
    “This assignment should agree with your rookie,” boomed the archangel, “as it is simple and should not have any complications .” Kara noticed the emphasis on the word complication . Gabriel stepped forward and thrust the file at David.
    “Seems simple enough,” said David after a moment, a slight lifting at the corners of his mouth. “And right up our alley.” He closed the file.
    Gabriel’s hands turned into fists. “Remember our last conversation, David.”
    Kara realized that wasn’t a question.
    “No fooling around, you understand? I’m tired of covering up your mess. If you don’t smarten up and take your job seriously, you’ll be stricken from your GA post.” He pointed a large finger at David. “This is your last warning!”
    David kept smiling. “It’s all good, Gabe.”
    “I’m dead serious, David!”
    David rolled his eyes. “Ha, you’re already dead !” He placed his right hand on his chest. “Don’t worry, Gabe. I’ll be a good little soldier—I promise.”
    “David, stop it! You’re going to get us in trouble,” whispered Kara.
    “Don’t worry—Gabe loves me,” whispered David through his teeth.
    “You’re so full of crap! Oh no—”
    The archangel turned his attention to Kara. His dark eyes focused on her unnaturally, as though trying to break into her mind. He blinked and looked back to David. “After this simple assignment, I want you and your rookie to report back to me. Understand? She still needs more combat training.”
    Kara followed Gabriel’s gaze over to the closest blue tent, where two guardian