Chapter 3 The Angle with the Flaming Sword

"My father is dead."

Sable said. She said it like she was reading the weather report but her hands were shaking, and everyone in the room could see it.

The man in the white suit tilted his head. His golden eyes glowed softly in the dim light of the bookstore. He looked at Sable with something that might have been affection. Or maybe pity. It was hard to tell.

"I understand this is a shock," he said gently. "But I assure you, I am very much alive."

Sable stood up. She moved slowly, carefully, like she was approaching a wild animal. "My mother told me my father died before I was born. She told me his name. She told me he was a good man. She never told me he was an angel with a flaming sword."

The man smiled. It was a warm smile. But there was something sad behind it. "Your mother was a remarkable woman and she was also a liar."

Sable flinched. "Don't talk about my mother."

"I'm not insulting her," the man said, raising one hand. The flaming sword in his other hand flickered but did not go out. "I'm stating a fact. She lied to protect you. And I have spent the last twenty-five years trying to find you."

Vladimir stepped forward. He placed himself between Sable and the man. His fangs were still extended. His eyes were hard. "Who are you?"

The man looked at Vladimir. His golden eyes narrowed. "I am Nathaniel. Archangel of the Third Order and you are a vampire. Which means you are standing very close to my daughter. I suggest you step back."

Vladimir did not step back. "I don't take orders from angels."

"Then you're a fool." Nathaniel said in response.

"Enough!" Sable shouted.

Both men turned to look at her. Poppy was hiding behind the counter, peeking over the top with wide eyes.

Sable took a deep breath. She walked around Vladimir and stood face to face with Nathaniel. He was tall, she had to crane her neck to look at him but she did not back down.

"You say you're my father," she said. "Prove it."

Nathaniel's expression softened. He lowered his sword. The flames died down until they were just a soft glow. He reached into his jacket and pulled out a small, worn photograph.

He handed it to her.

Sable took it. Her hands were trembling. The photograph was old and faded. It showed a young woman with dark hair and kind eyes. She was standing next to a man in a white suit. They were both smiling, in the picture they looked happy.

Sable's breath caught in her throat. "That's my mother."

"Yes," Nathaniel said quietly. "That was the day we met. She was a witch, I was an angel. We were not supposed to fall in love but we did."

Sable stared at the photograph. Her eyes burned. She wanted to cry and scream. She wanted to throw the photograph across the room but she didn't. She just stood there, holding the only proof she had ever seen that her father was real.

"Why did she lie?" she whispered.

Nathaniel sighed. He looked tired. "Because Heaven forbids angels from having children with mortals. It is considered a violation of ancient law. If they had found out about you, they would have taken you. They would have raised you as a weapon. Your mother hid you to protect you."

Sable looked up at him. "And now?"

Nathaniel's face darkened. "Now they know."

The room went silent.

Vladimir stepped forward again. His voice was low and urgent. "What do you mean, they know?"

Nathaniel looked at him. "I mean that Heaven has ordered Sable's execution. They consider her a forbidden hybrid and an abomination. They sent me to find her because I am the only one who can track her bloodline." He paused. "But I am not going to hand her over."

Poppy let out a small squeak. She climbed out from behind the counter. "Wait, wait, wait. Heaven wants to kill her? Why?"

"Because she is half angel and half witch," Nathaniel said. "She is a threat to the natural order. Or at least, that is what they believe."

Sable's head was spinning. She sat down heavily on a nearby chair. "This is too much. I run a bookstore, I bake pastries, I argue with my vampire neighbor about garlic, I am not a threat to the natural order."

Nathaniel knelt in front of her. He took her hands. His touch was warm. Warmer than she expected. "You are more powerful than you know, Sable. You have angelic blood in your veins. You have witch magic in your bones and you have a pure heart. That combination is rare and at the same time , dangerous."

Vladimir crossed his arms. He was scowling. "So what do we do? We can't just let Heaven kill her."

"We won't," Nathaniel said. He stood up. He looked at Vladimir. "I need your help."

Vladimir blinked. "My help? I'm a vampire. You're an angel. We're natural enemies."

"Perhaps," Nathaniel said. "But we both care about Sable and right now, that is all that matters."

Vladimir was quiet for a moment. Then he nodded slowly. "Fine. What's the plan?"

Nathaniel opened his mouth to answer. But before he could speak, the front door of the bookstore burst open.

A woman stormed inside, dressed in a black cloak that shimmered like oil. Her red eyes blazed with fury. Carmilla.

"Vladimir!" she shouted. "What is the meaning of this? I leave for five minutes and suddenly there's an angel in my son's mate's bookstore?"

Nathaniel turned to face her. His sword flared to life. "Stay back, vampire."

Carmilla laughed. It was a cold, sharp sound. "Oh, how original. An angel threatening a vampire. I haven't seen that in at least a century."

"Mother, please," Vladimir said, stepping between them. "This is not the time."

"It is exactly the time," Carmilla said. She pointed a long finger at Nathaniel. "Do you know what angels did to my family? Do you know what they did to my husband?"

Nathaniel's face was stony. "I had nothing to do with that."

"You're an angel. That's enough." She said, trembling.

Sable stood up. She was tired and scared too and she was done with people fighting in her bookstore.

"STOP IT!" she shouted.

Everyone froze.

Sable looked at Carmilla, and scanned back to Nathaniel and to everyone across the room.

"I have had a very long day," Sable said. Her voice was shaking. "I woke up thinking the worst thing that could happen was running out of flour. Then a vampire tried to bite me. Then his mother showed up and threatened to kill me. Then an angel with a flaming sword showed up and told me Heaven wants me dead."

She took a deep breath. "I am tired. I am scared and I am hungry. So here is what is going to happen. Everyone is going to sit down. I am going to make tea and we are going to figure this out together. Like civilized people."

The room went completely silent.

Then Carmilla smiled. "I like her." She muttered.

Nathaniel nodded slowly. "She has her mother's fire."

Vladimir walked over to Sable and placed a hand on her shoulder. "You okay?"

Sable looked up at him. Her eyes were tired but she smiled. "I will be. As soon as I have some tea."

They all sat down. Poppy started boiling water. Sable pulled out a fresh batch of scone, Vladimir sat next to her. Carmilla sat across from Nathaniel, glaring at him. Nathaniel sat stiffly in his chair, his sword now sheathed.

For a moment, everything was calm and then the front window shattered again.

A second angel stepped through the broken glass. This one was dressed in armor. Golden armor that gleamed with heavenly light. He held a spear that crackled with lightning. His eyes were cold and hard.

He looked at Nathaniel. "Brother. You have betrayed us."

Nathaniel stood up. His face went pale. "Gabriel. I can explain."

Gabriel shook his head. "There is nothing to explain. You were sent to find the hybrid. Instead, you have sided with her. That is treason."

He raised his spear. The lightning crackled. He pointed it directly at Sable.

"Stand aside, brother," Gabriel said. "Or die with her."

To be continued…