2

I drove to the location slowly winding through the mountains while glancing every so often at the supposed angel. Scarlet had her head resting against the window, her eyes awed. I supposed if you could fly anywhere you wouldn't have to ride in a car. "Never rode in a car before?"

"Nope," her excited voice made me smile. I instantly hid it with a glare at the road. "Flying is fun if you would just give it a try."

"I don't trust a plane and I definitely won't trust you either," I grounded out. This was the third time she brought up flying, it was getting old pretty quick.

"Isn't it funny how people say either or either like they either pronounce it with an e or me?" I rolled my eyes at her quizzical questioning. "You have a short temper," she finally said sourly after I didn't answer.

"I'm trying to get out of this line of work, which you are making me do it again, so yes I do have a short temper." We stayed quiet until we finally arrived. Her lean, graceful body got out of the car. Stretching, I got to have a full view of her body until she hid it within her wings. I had the urge to run my fingers over the seemingly soft like feathers that coated her wings in white for just an instant, but instead, I clenched my fists inside of my black hoodie that I wore. The wind was brittle around us, my bangs flew in front of my eyes.

"Hey Red!" A shout and then a guy appeared out of the side of the mountain. Their arms flew around each other in a tight embrace. I adjusted myself into an awkward stance and waited for them to finish exchanging greetings.

"Brooke meet Conner, he's the top general of the angel army." She was beaming up at him, clearly in love. "Brooke will be our savior yet," her eyes twinkled mischievously as she whispered loudly to Conner."

"We shall see about that," he spun around hoping to hide the seriousness in his eyes, waving for us to follow. "Don't feel too overwhelmed, but there are exactly 12,000 angels inside that is counting on you." I snorted in reply to this.

"12,000? There was 12,005 before I left," Scarlet's eyes were a deep green pool of worry. Her wings wound around her tighter unconsciously.

"Ash's team was ambushed by the darkies," Conner preceded cautiously, becoming aware that Scarlet seemed to glow a slight red. "He is okay and safe the other 5 are not, he has brought them back for the proper funeral that they deserve and luckily for you they won't have that until tomorrow."

"Luckily? How is any of that lucky?" I growled at him. Scarlet was right, I was short-tempered. Taking in a deep breath, I looked around me. I hadn't noticed that we had walked straight into the side of the mountain and was now in a tunnel. Passing by two guards, I gave them a curt nod before observing my surroundings. I had to squint my eyes in the dim lighting. The lanterns that were nailed to the dirt walls cast haunted shadows as if to present the mood of everyone. I took in a deep breath of the earthy smell. It brought back memories of the farm that I had lived on so long ago.

"She likes to see them before they burn," cutting a glance in Conner's way I felt sorry that I had snapped, but refused to apologize. "Anyway, welcome to your new home." His wings flared alongside his hands as we entered the clearing. Home.