Free Phoenix Contract: Part Two (Fallen Angel Watchers) by Melissa Thomas Page B

wings, golden haloes and ruby robes, living green and royal purple. He often entered the auditorium to meditate in the center aisle where the light did not penetrate.
    Beyond the auditorium awaited the stage and then the backstage, comprised primarily of service areas. Magnus had refurbished several storage rooms to serve as his living quarters. His chamber lay in the most eastern end of the building. Metal shutters covered every window, providing security from both sunlight and intruders. His minimal and utilitarian furnishings consisted only of a king-sized bed and a dresser. He did not indulge materialistic desires, and his most valued possessions were his weapons, displayed prominently upon wall hangers, easily accessible and always handy.
    Entering the bedroom, Magnus checked the metal shutters to make sure they were closed and locked. He left his boots in the corner and placed his phone on its charger. He hung his cloak on a hook along the east wall. The garment twisted and twitched, snarling its displeasure at being separated from its master.
    “Draco, stay,” Magnus commanded. Finally, the cloak settled with a disgruntled hiss.
    Magnus entered the bathroom and shed his clothing, revealing complex interconnected tattoos covering his arms, legs, lower back, and buttocks. Celtic knots formed an intricate lattice of black upon his tawny skin.
    He turned on the shower and ran the water until a cloud of steam suffused the small room. Magnus plunged directly into the scalding spray, running his six-fingered hands through his hair and slicking it away from his face. The water soothed the tension from his muscular frame, and he allowed it to drain away. Turning so that the hot water hit his back, Magnus closed his eyes and rested his forehead against the cool tile of the stall. An unaccustomed weariness hung over him. The events of the prior evening had taken both an emotional and physical toll. He had yielded substantial power to Matthew. It would take time to recover.
    Magnus got out of the shower and toweled dry. Putting on a pair of black sweatpants, he sank onto the bed and succumbed immediately to sleep. Hours passed at the periphery of his awareness. The sun rose in the sky, and the mortal world buzzed with activity. He did not dream. He never dreamed.
    Midday, an almost imperceptible shift of light and shadow occurred within the bedroom, and a cold draft passed over his back. Magnus roused immediately from sleep and rolled to the side. The blade of a sword slashed through the mattress, missing him by an inch. The weapon withdrew and returned for another swift slash as Magnus reached the edge of the mattress. The tip of the blade nicked his arm, drawing blood from his forearm just below the elbow.
    Feathers from the down-filled mattress floated white and wispy upon the air currents. Magnus landed on his feet, automatically assuming a deep stance, rooting his center of balance. The sword swung at his chest, and he reflexively jumped back. He felt the kiss of the tip as it passed his chest.
    Infuriated at being taken unaware in his home, Magnus continued his retreat, unable to regain his equilibrium. His attacker allowed him no opportunity to recover. He reached the wall opposite the bed and snatched the first mounted weapon to come into his grasp. The Celt knew how to use the falchion—a one-handed, single-edged sword of European origin, similar to a Chinese dao—proficiently, even if it was not his preferred style of weapon.
    He parried the next attack, stopping the incoming blade mere inches from his face. The two swords locked, leaving Magnus staring into blue eyes set in a pale face. The tall and muscular albino rivaled Magnus in both height and build. His skin, hair, and eyes lacked pigment. Metallic blue tipped his white hair, and he wore faded jeans and a red tee shirt beneath a sagging black trench coat. He had an undeniable air of wrongness about him.
    The identity of his assailant caught Magnus unprepared.