Free Angel Star by Jennifer Murgia

toward the treetops, which were thickly obscuring any sign of blue sky.
    “Heaven starts within. It’s your soul’s sanctuary. But Hadrian has the power to corrupt psychologically. He’s blatantly abusing his power as a Guardian.”
    “But wouldn’t Lucifer prevent Hadrian from challenging him?”
    “You would think so. But, you see, that’s what gives Hadrian the thrill, the constant hunger for more. Oh, sure, Lucifer will come after Hadrian, that’s inevitable. But until that moment comes, Hadrian will stop at nothing to get what he wants.”
    “Which is gaining control of the Guardians?” I asked as the truth finally hit me.
    Garreth looked off into the distance, reflecting. “So he can manipulate all humans on earth.”
    My heart sank for Garreth. He could protect me but who would protect him? I sat stunned by his words while an icy chill crept through my veins. My heart was racing as my mind played back my nightmares and the strange fluttering in my room as I prayed for sleep. I had hoped it was Garreth popping in to check on me while I slept. Who else could it have been? My mind had forced me to forget, and it all came rushing back in a sickening spiral as my subconscious formed the pieces of the puzzle.
    Without trying, I recognized the dark wings in the shadowy corners of my room. My thoughts had fought against it. Garreth didn’t reveal his secret from behind a shroud of shadows, he had delivered himself to me in a heavenly glow of light.
    I forced the words to escape my lips. “You said darkness takes many forms.”
    Garreth grew quiet for a moment.
    “You’re different from other humans, Teagan. You can sense when I’m near and it’s made you a bit of a magnet. Do you remember what happened right before you slipped off the curb? Can you recall what you saw?”
    “It was black and cloudy. Like thick exhaust coming from the bus, but I think I knew it
wasn’t
the bus.” I was struggling to remember. “It wasn’t anything like I’d ever seen before.” I shook my head, trying desperately to recall and escape the memory at the same time. “Was that…?”
    “Yes. Hadrian.”
    I shivered. “He wants me to lead him to you, doesn’t he?”
    This was too much for me. I shook my head, refusing to believe, but there it was. What a perfect package we made. Tears began to well up in my eyes and I wiped at them furiously with the back of my hand. Angels are used to emotions, but to me Garreth was still a boy, and there was no way he was going to see me cry.
    Garreth leaned forward, his face resting in his pale hands, and released a weary sigh. “Hadrian wants you. You’re different from the other humans he’s collecting for his army. I’m just an obstacle.”
    “How am I different?”
    “Do you wonder why Hadrian is willing to stand up to someone as foreboding as Lucifer?”
    I remained silent; it seemed he was avoiding my question.
    “Hadrian is Lucifer’s twin.”
    “That explains the dark tendencies,” I tried to add lightly.
    “Not entirely true. You see, Lucifer was cast out of heaven before he could become a Guardian. He refused. Hadrian on the other hand was the good brother, at first. The light brother, whereas Lucifer was his dark half. Dark by choice.”
    I concentrated hard on the words he spoke, as though the English language no longer made sense to me, and I instantly regretted not paying attention all those years I had taken CCD.
    Garreth continued. “You do know Lucifer was an Archangel, prior to the Great Fall, as was his brother Hadrian?”
    I nodded, even though I wasn’t sure.
    “The essence of the Archangel falls upon the human charge, like a bloodline.
You
are our one hope to stop Hadrian.”
    I wasn’t expecting that revelation. It didn’t make sense. “But you’re not an Archangel, are you?”
    “I wish I were, then I would have power against the darkness, but you, believe it or not, are stronger than I am.”
    “Me? How?” I fumbled over my words.
    Our eyes