Divinity: Transcendence: Book Two (The Divinity Saga) (25 page)

“Forget awake, is she freaking still alive? I heard her all the way down the corridor. These walls aren’t as sound proof as you think. It was painful to hear.”
That sounded like Scarlet.

“You’re slipping
Spencer; you could have done a better job at sedating her.” Lorelei then said.

“
I hope she passed out early on.” Lira said softly.

“This was going to be especially painful
, no matter what I did. Her weapons are deific blades, people. There’s always a price in being able to wield anything with that kind of deadly fortitude.”

“Yeah, well it wasn’t really her choice. They chose her.” Anthony replied.

“That’s right.” Lorelei agreed.

             
              I just loved the way they were all carrying on about me, as if I were still passed out, or had gone completely deaf and blind. I blinked several times to focus my eyes.

I felt drained initially
. I could use some water. I murmured incoherently, and licked my lips.

“Yeah, she’s alright.” Durien answered.

Four familiar faces slowly came into view. They were all huddled over and looking down on me from above.

Sudden
, bright light flared; blanking their faces into nothing more than shadowy images.

I
immediately flinched and abruptly turned my head from them, nearly blinded by all of their auras combined.

“What’s wrong?” Durien asked me
in a panic.

“Too…bright.” I gasped
, shielding my eyes.

My voice was nothing more than a raspy, cracking whisper.

“Oh, she doesn’t know how to control the aura switch yet.” Lorelei chuckled.

“W
hen you look at us, focus on our eyes and facial features. Try not to look too intensely. It will get easier, like second nature, with practice.” Durien said.

I was in no mood to start practicing now.

“How about all of you guys just backing the hell away from me right now instead!” I hissed in annoyance. It was a little hard to yell or be taken seriously in a straining whisper.

I was already angry
and irritated. Sweat drenched my clothing, making it cling to my body uncomfortably.

I heard them all shuffle away with whispers about my
sudden bitchiness being uncalled for.

I
slowly opened my eyes fully.

Th
ey were all standing a few feet away from me this time. Everyone was glowing in a different color, from gold to pink, to pale blue, like pastel party light bulbs.

“I
brought you some water. I knew you’d need some.” I recognized the accent.

Sean stepped forward, holding a cup of water out to me. Someone was raising the to
p portion of the lounge chair, so that I was sitting upright.

I was beyond grateful. I took the cup from him,
and caught a quick glimpse of the bandages wrapped around each of my forearms.

             
              I greedily drank the whole cup in one take. The water was cool, healing, and refreshing on my tender vocal cords. It did help a little.

“Thank you.” I whispered to Sean.

“You’re welcome. You did very well, Starling. The worst part is over. I have a meeting that I’m running late for, so I’ll have to run. I’d like to see both you and Spencer in the library after breakfast tomorrow.” He smiled, taking the cup from me.

I nodded acknowledgment and
waited purposefully until he was gone.

Then, I looked over at the others.

Spencer was irresistible with that playboy smirk on his face. Gabe looked worn out, as if he had been the one either doing my brandings, or enduring the pain. Lorelei was smiling; Scarlet stood next to Lorelei with her arms folded across her chest; Lira was peering around Anthony who stood beside Lorelei; and Durien was grinning with a raised brow.

I instantly narrowed my eyes and glared at them all.

Gabe raised his palms up and stepped backwards. “Uh-oh, she’s pissed now. I’m outta here. My ears can’t take anymore. I don’t even think I can eat. See you guys in the dining hall…maybe.” Gabe commented as he turned to leave.

“You guys
—could’ve given me some kind of a hint or warning…” I said in clipped words, through clenched teeth.

Feeling the
familiar electric warmth of fire began to kindle and started to course through my veins, I immediately staunched my growing anger. I nearly forgot what Sean told me, about managing my emotions to suppress my essence from flaring.

I calmed
myself on the inside, but remained visibly upset, so that they’d all get the point.

“
Now— I did say it kinda would.” Durien reminded me.

“
Kinda? That was nowhere near kinda!” I retorted.

Spencer laugh
ed, “Well, would a warning have made it any less painful?” he raised a brow.

“Mentally? Maybe.
I thought you were here to relax and calm me? At least, that’s what it felt like you started doing.”

He smirked.
“Even I don’t have that level of power. Everyone else went through it and survived. Granted, no one else has ever been bound with deific blades before either. Nonetheless, you’ve definitely earned my respect.” He then leaned in close to me, “And if you really want me to relax you, come to my room tonight.” He grinned with a talented waggle of one single, dark brow.

             
              I was stunned. Did he just—proposition me? In front of everyone? How tacky, bold, and ego confident. Joking or not, wasn’t he an Angel?

“Oh please, you should be ashamed of yourself.” Lorelei gave his shoulder a shove. He grinned at he
r and held his arms out innocently.

“
Shame? Why is physical love a shameful thing?” He defended.

Physical love? Was he talking about me sleeping with him? I was c
onfused. I was by no means a prude and I don’t believe that I ever was when I was mortal either. Given how good-looking Spencer was, I doubted that my thoughts would remain solely; ‘warrior-in-training’ oriented either. I thought this was a
Divine Hall
, not a hook-up lounge. Seriously? I mean, were they all sleeping with each other, or fooling around with someone either here, or in the mortal realm? I wondered.

“I told you
that he was a no good player.” Durien added.

“
I thought you were an angel?” I directed at Spencer.

Lorelei, Sca
rlet, and Crystal all spat out in uncontrollable laughter. Even Lira clamped a hand over her mouth to suppress her own chuckle. Her twinkling, brown eyes held humor when she looked from me to Spencer.

“Angel? Starling, he’
s a Seraph…and an earthbound one at that. I know you don’t know what that is, but believe me, there’s a huge difference between them, and the heavenly Angels. Every hall has a few and they are rare assets to us though…I’ll give him that much.” Lorelei laughed.

Spencer smiled with a hand to his ch
est. “I appreciate your round the bend, back-handed compliment, Lorelei. I’m touched.” He feigned flattery.

“Aside from
his looks, speed that surpasses our own, and great strength, his soothing energy is about as magical and holy as he gets.” She then said, after clearing her throat. She staunched the urge to laugh out loud again.

Spencer gave her a wry glare.
“I guess I don’t need to remind you guys, but Starling here should know.
Elite
Seraphs are the second highest order of angels. There are nine tiers.” Spencer then turned his gorgeous, celestially animated eyes back to me. “I chose to be earthbound, to help protect humans and serve alongside the divine warriors— you guys will need us with what’s coming. However, being earthbound has its price. Imperfect flesh form and all the weaknesses that come with it. Once the choice has been made, there is no turning back. Not that I’d want to—beautiful women are definitely an incentive.” He said that last part in a seductively low tone.

“If you ask me
, it was an excuse to divert a possibility just shy of being branded a Fallen.” Anthony pointed out.

Spencer sighed.
“Well, no one asked you and it has nothing to do with being fallen. I never sinned. I made a choice to forfeit my spiritual form and take this one. If I hadn’t, then I wouldn’t be able to assist or interfere in anything regarding humans, or you guys because of free will.” Spencer told Anthony.

             
              Scarlet and Crystal groaned with a roll of their eyes.

“Don’t forget to inform Starling that your flesh form has needs too…I mean, that is what you’ve told and convinced several other girls around the hall of
recently, isn’t it?” Lorelei smirked with her arms crossed over her chest.

I think I knew what she was getting at and it completely shocked
me. Scandal and sex…here? I had to pick my jaw up off the floor.

“I see you’re trying to play t
he noble and honorable card now.” Durien commented.

“You knew he would.
” Anthony commented. Both he and Durien laughed teasingly.

Looking back down at
my mummified forearms and hands, I was excited to see what my brandings looked like. I was dying to both wield and test out my blades. They’d better be as damned good as everyone claimed they were…especially after what I had to go through for them.

I
swung my legs over, planting my feet on the floor to stand. “How long do I have to wear these?” I asked Durien.

“How do they feel?” Durien asked with a stretch of his arms above his head
, followed by an exaggerated yawn.

             
              I flexed my fingertips, and then tensed my muscles, attempting to make a fist. I felt a strange, slightly tingling, slightly burning sensation but it wasn’t painful.

“Weird
, but they don’t hurt anymore.” I replied.

“You’re going to need to practice wielding your blades
before you head out onto the training fields. Sean wants me to assist you with that process, for now. That’s why he wants us to meet him in the morning.” Spencer told me.

My eyes immediately flicked to Spencer…a hands
ome, deviously grinning Spencer.

How convenient.

“Oh no. Come on Starling; let’s go get something to eat so we girls can give you a few…pointers.” Lorelei eyed Spencer with a sarcastic grin.

Spencer grinned. H
e was so sure of himself.

Honestly, he was gorgeous enough for me to lose all common head sense.
I wasn’t sure how I was going to handle being around him often. I was sure there was plenty to be distracted by and do, but not if he was going to be looking at me like that, with those alluring eyes. I turned away before he could see me blushing.

“Too late, someone
already has a crush.” Anthony commented.

Scarlet shook her head
at the revelation.

Spence
r smirked at me once again, as if he already knew that much. I glared at Anthony for making the premature announcement and putting me on the spot.

“You can take the bandaging
off any time you want to, unless you want me to do it now.” Durien raised a brow.

“Do it now, we want to see them!” Lira excitedly bounced.

“Yeah, do it now.” Scarlet concurred.

“Not if you’re tired. I
t can wait.” I said, once Durien yawned again.

“Hell, I’ll do it.” Spencer offered, reaching for one of the scissor like tools on the table.

Did he just curse? Why did a part of me —feel almost…infatuated with him now? I supposed it was the fact that, he was an angel but he didn’t seem to be behaving like one by my standards. I let him gently take my arm. Everyone crowded around once he began to ease the tip of the cutting tool beneath the bandages.

I studied him closely, inhaling the scent of him, which was neutral, like the scent of fresh dew in the morning.
Why was simply being around him right now,  and having him touch my arm, sending a warmth of tingling static through me. It automatically brought to focus, a distant memory of someone else.

I suddenly didn’t mind being around Spencer at all.

                            Everyone watched silently as Spencer carefully cut through the layers, and began to unwrap them.

Inch by inch, a portion of the elegant, shiny, silver lines of my brandings were revealed. I don’t think I even blinked
once, as more of the bandages came away. I stared in fascinated awe at the complex, lines, curves, and intertwining patterns of symbols, all merged together, to naturally form the shape of my deific blades.

T
he brandings on each forearm were identical to each other. The precision was remarkable and flawless. The pointed tips of the blades stretched and wound around and down my forearms, ending at the tops of my hands. There were even symbols that wove in between each of my knuckles.