Free Shadow of Death: Book Two of the Chosen Chronicles by Karen Dales Page B

from his Chooser caught the Angel off guard. He opened his mouth to reply but no words were forthcoming. Even now, when he was over fifteen hundred years old, Notus still could make him feel as if the monk had just found him in that cave so long ago.  Chagrined, he let his eyes fall to the floor. He had tried to reach Notus, but by the time he had done so the monk was asleep so he opted to leave a message on their answering  machine. In soft tones he said as much.
    “ We have an answering machine for the telephone? ” responded the monk, incredulously.
    A groan answered from the other chair. Fernando slumped further down; finding it even harder to believe how technologically backwards his host seemed to be.
    “ So where did you spend the day? ” asked Bridget, intrigued. She curled her legs up under her and propped her head on her hand as her elbow rested on the back of the sofa. Her smiling eyes landed on the Angel.
    With all eyes uncomfortably upon him he explained, to Fernando ’ s dismay, that he had spent the day at Gerry and Donna ’ s because he inadvertently stayed later to finish a project and barely made it into their home as the sun was cresting over the horizon.
    “ You stayed the day at a mortal ’ s house? ” asked Fernando. “ Do they know what you are? ”
    The questions should not have surprised the Angel, but it did. “ No, they do not know I am Chosen, just that I prefer the night. They have a north facing guestroom and offered it to me. With the drapes pulled it was fine. ” A sudden yawn made his eyes water as he covered his mouth with his hands.
    “ It seems that you didn ’ t get much sleep, ” smiled Bridget.
    “ I didn ’ t, ” admitted the Angel as another yawn overtook him. “ I was just about to fall asleep when Rory and Jenna jumped on me. ”
    “ Who are Rory and Jenna? ” asked Fernando, his face darkening with concern.
    “ Gerry and Donna ’ s children, ” answered Notus, a smile lifting the corners of his lips.
    Fernando ’ s shocked expression caused Bridge to hide a laugh behind her small delicate fingers.
    “ They insisted I play with them and help set up for Christmas. ” The Angel basked in the memory of the two pulling out games and puzzles, stuffed animals and action figures, fighting and laughing as he did something he had never done before – he played like a child and enjoyed every moment of it. They were the reason why he was happy to have stayed awake the whole day and into the next night, sharing a space at the Christmas Eve dinner but hiding the fact he did not eat and then helping to get the kids off to bed with his traditional story from his life,               fictionalized, of course. It was the closest to a normal human life he had ever come to and he loved it and them. A smile caught the Angel ’ s lips.
    He did not realize that the others were waiting for him to continue until the music seemed louder to his ears. A sudden flush of heat radiated upwards and he ducked his head, letting the curtain of white obscure the blush.
    Noticing his son ’ s embarrassment Notus cleared his throat. “ Did you leave their presents under the tree? ”
    Relieved at his Choosers rescue, the Angel nodded. “ Mortgage papers stating that it is paid in full, their car loans and debts are paid off, and the legal papers for the trust funds for Rory and Jenna are all there. They will never have to worry again. ”
    A large part of him wished he had stayed as Gerry had offered. It would have been wonderful to see the look of surprise as Gerry and Donna found the manila envelope and took in its contents. It was rare for the Angel to dispense joy, so when the opportunity presented itself he would attempt to witness it. Then again, not being there meant that Gerry and Donna had to accept the gifts.
    There would be a phone call, of course. Gerry would try and refuse the gifts on a matter of pride, but what was done could not be undone. The Sanders ’