House Of Legions (The Angel Descendants book 1) novel Chapter 67

Nathan had told her, “There is nothing worse than being stripped of your name, it’s like ripping out part of your soul. I’ve watched it been done, seen the torture in the eyes of one who’s been stripped. Most end up dead within a week, not many are strong enough to go through the change. The descendants may give you the cold shoulder, but their hate is fueled by their fear of a ten-year-old Lightwatcher who survived almost unscathed by that which has killed many. You have a strong soul Clare, don’t let their masks deter you when you have barely surfaced.” She didn’t understand why he told her that, but now she knew, it gave her a semblance of courage when Annabelle gestured, she turns to the crowd.

A bearded man stood up, he had a rough exterior that gave her the creeps, but it fueled her determination because she saw him, he might’ve looked strong, but she caught the nervous tell in his left hand before he put it behind his back and sneered, “How can you be one of us if you don’t even bear the mark, where’s your name child?”

Frustrated, her mind drew a blank at her brother’s lecture regarding laws, she snapped, “My father and mother are Lightwatchers, descendants of the archangels Mikael and Gabriel.”

Her cheeks flushed, and a burn lodged in her throat as she swallowed her saliva, “I have amnesia, my names are gone, but I’m sure you all know that.”

Annabelle saw the tears in Clare’s eyes, and retorted on Clare’s behalf, “The girl has spoken her point, we shall call her Clare until her name has returned.” Annabelle looked up to the audience, “We have more important matters to attend.”

Raphael stood up from his chair, fair almost paled skinned, lithe, with long black hair barely touching his shoulders, and chiselled sharp features. If it weren’t for those calculated yellow eyes that chilled her bones by the sheer hatred in them, she would have thought him a striking beauty of a man. His voice scratched the air, “Why did you call upon us half-blood?”

Annabelle’s head spun in his direction, her voice grave, “Do not downgrade her Raphael, you are still in Khiron, you would respect our young, name or not.”

He ignored Annabelle, his eyes focused on Clare, who wore a scowl of her own, when he practically spat the words out, “I see your acquaintance with my uncle grows stronger every passing second.”

His eyes shot to Kalbreal, “Isn’t that so Kalbreal?”

Kalbreal reputed his remark, with a shrug, and shouted, “Since when do you question me.”

Raphael turned his attention completely on Clare again, she resisted the urge to swear to him, and shut him up, “I know why you are here, girl.” He clapped his hand, as a cruel smile painted his face, “I refuse any help on my side towards your suicidal mission.”

The voice from the back spoke, Clare turned to see it was Kalbreal, “Don’t worry about him, I’ll follow you, it’s not like an Asguardian can yield a Harpien blade.”

Raphael looked furious, “Your sudden affections for the little watcher devour your judgment Kalbreal.”

Kalbreal argued, “You know the boy is good Raphael.” His voice deepened and intensified, “Your father would be ashamed.”

“Ashamed?” He asked, with a mocking dispute, “For how long? you are a newer Angel on this planet, I have roamed dimensions as an Asguardian for Thousands of years, Azazy-el shaped the chaos of the world, any descendant of his will bring to the earth's destruction. I do like the boy, and will forever mourn his death but this is best left as it is, maybe if you haven’t saved his sister...”

Kalbreal shouted, Clare, could swear she felt a slight vibration in the air, when his voice drifted down, “Facts are not proven by rumours Raphael, Asguardians have always hated the Lightwatchers, seen them as a threat.”