The Angel unwound the white wires that ended in ear fobs and placed it in his ears. Manipulating the screen of the IPod he was surprised at the quantity of music listed. He knew it was Fernando
’
s idea for the device, but it had been Bridget who had filled it with his favourites.
“
Thank you,
”
He found a suite written by
Hans Zimmer
and pressed play. Soft melodious music filled his head before he turned it off and took out the fobs. Winding the wires around the device he looked up at his friends. He would listen to the rest of the powerful suite later.
“
Thank you both.
”
“
Well, we figured you
’
d need a distraction on your long flight.
”
Bridget turned to face the Angel at the other end of the couch.
“
The Atlantic is the biggest crossing you
’
ll have ever made.
”
He grimaced at the thought. He had acquiesced to Notus
’
desire to go into the Vampire-infested region for one reason
–
to protect his Chooser – but only if Notus agreed to stay the shortest time possible. This meant the scholar Notus was covering for had better heal damned fast. Notus had agreed. Now both would be traveling over deep water at high altitude and neither knew how the Angel
’
s differences would be affected. At least if he were to fall ill he would be in first class and it would only be eight or so hours
–
he hoped.
Requiring a distraction from his worrisome thoughts, the Angel rose from the couch in one fluid motion. The three other Chosen halted in their admiration of their gifts, respective frowns forming on their faces. All knew the Angel well enough to recognize his agitation as he paced the length of the room.
“
What
’
s the matter, boy?
”
Notus gently closed the journal and placed it on his lap. His eyes never left the Angel.
Halting in surprise, the Angel frowned. He knew it was not the concept of being in a giant steel tube propelled at high velocity and altitudes across the Atlantic Ocean that bothered him. He also knew it was not the danger presented by being Chosen in Vampire territory. He had proven his reaping capabilities over the last century. For the life of him he could not pin down the root of his anxiety when the trip to North America came up in conversation.
The Angel shook his head in dismissal, refusing the attempt of a lie. Damp white locks were sent swinging against the nearly dry linen shirt. A distraction would be better. Taking the few steps to the front door he retrieved the case that held the sword. He needed to feel something solid, something tangible. Holding it lengthwise by two hands, the Angel frowned a moment. It had taken him months of painstaking effort to create the blade that slept in its case, but he never knew what to do with it until now. It was now or never.
“
This is for you.
”
The Angel stepped over destroyed gaudy paper and placed it on the floor before the Noble. The box thunked against the floor.
Surprise lifted the Noble
’
s brows. Relinquishing the manual, Fernando eyed the long yellow wooden case decorated with four brass latches and then glanced up at the Angel.
The two locked eyes for a moment before they broke away, one from embarrassment and the other shaken by the Angel
’
s intense scarlet irises.
Fernando placed his sun kissed hands on the case and frowned down at the striations in the maple.
“
What is it?
”
“
Open it and find out.
”
The Angel stepped lightly over the refuse and resumed his seat on the green leather sofa. A hint of a smile touched his eyes but not his lips, witnessing the concern on the Noble
’
s face. He did not doubt that Fernando was wondering what the catch was. For a brief instant the Angel contemplated relinquishing his controlled block on his abilities just to sense at this moment what Fernando may be feeling, but squashed it. Opening that door would probably ruin the evening for everyone.
“
Are you sure you want to do this?
”
Notus leaned forward so as to come closer to his son. He knew what was in the case and what it had cost the boy to make it.
The Angel met his Choosers gaze.
“
I do.
”
The sound of four clicks in rapid succession brought his attention back to the Noble.
“
It
’
s too cumbersome for me to handle. Fernando would do better with it.
”
Notus did not need further explanation. Ever since the boy
’
s torture at the hands of the Vampires his ability to use the heavier European blades was near impossible. Any attempt, even after all this time, could cause the Angel to lose his grip on the blade as a spasm took hold and thus have disastrous results in a fight. Only the lighter Eastern blades could be used and that had taken nearly a quarter of a century for the Angel to master without suffering from the paralysing spasms.
Even still, the Angel worried that he would drop the blades at the most inopportune moment and so devised that the pommels of the blades be connected to his bracers by a thick steel linked chain. It was an ingenious invention by the boy; one that saved his life several times and required him to develop a new form of swordsmanship.
“
Holy Mother of God!
”
exclaimed Fernando as he lifted the hand and a half sword from its case. He laid it by the flat of the blade across his left forearm as his right held the grip so as to ensure no fingerprints etched the mirror sheen of the steel.
The Angel
’
s smile reached his lips as he watched Bridget slide down from her end of the couch near the tree to kneel beside her Chosen. Both were held enraptured.
Lifting the blade to point towards the plastered ceiling, Fernando held the grip in both hands, testing the weight. The steel guard extended well past his curled fists, ending in identical teardrops of jet.
“
This is what you
’
ve been working on, haven
’
t you?
”
Bridget relaxed her pose to sit before the tree, her pale legs curling around her. A smile lit up her face.
“
You
made
this?
”
Fernando lowered the weapon and settled it back across his arm, his brown eyes never leaving its sheen.
The Angel nodded. It was not often that he was able to surprise the Noble in a positive way and his smile broadened.
“
I hope you like it.
”
“
Like it?
”
Fernando stared incredulously at the Angel.
Bridget laughed. It was a rare occasion when her Chosen was made speechless and it was even rarer for the Angel be the cause.
“
Like it? He loves it!
”
Fernando turned his attention to Bridget and growled at her amusement
. Placing the hand and a half back into its case, he gently closed the lid, keeping one hand on the case, his thumb stroking the smooth wood. This time he forced himself to meet the Angel
’
s disturbing eyes.
At least this time there was laughter in them rather than the boiling dark emotions that resided there.
“
Thank you.
”
Hitching a shoulder, the Angel leaned back and broke eye contact, suddenly uncomfortable at the intensity of the Noble
’
s reaction.
“
I hope that you wield it with honour and purpose,
”
said Notus. He was always intrigued at the friendship the boy had made in the Master of Britain. It confused him to no end since they always seemed to distance themselves from each other the closer they seemed to get.
“
Of course.
”
Fernando offered a mischievous smile.
Talk shifted to ordinary topics as the night wore on. Finding his eyes closing on their own accord, the Angel could no longer suppress his exhaustion. He enjoyed listening to the rolling conversation, establishing his standard role as observer rather than participant. A gentle thumping against the couch at Bridget
’
s end caused him to open his eyes.
The Mistress smiled and tapped the couch seat again.
“
It
’
s alright. Stretch out.
”
He did as he was told; his feet came to rest in her lap.
A sigh escaped unbidden as Bridget applied her hands to his feet, rubbing them with a strength belied by the daintiness of her digits
.
“
You never do that for me,
”
whined Fernando. He sank down in his chair.
“
You never ask,
”
countered Bridget. The corner of her lip lifted a fraction.
“
You never offered.
”
“
I offer plenty.
”
Bridget
’
s smile widened.
Fernando returned it but added a suggestive glint in his brown eyes.
“
That you do.
”
The conversation that followed was lost on the Angel as he slipped into sleep; the padded armrest became his pillow. Contentment and the warmth of friendship became his blanket.
“
He
’
s asleep.
”
Notus did not need to state the obvious. The sudden wave of fatigue that washed over the three Chosen was enough proof that the Angel had released his conscious control over his empathic abilities.
Fernando and Bridget yawned in unison, gazes snapping to one another. Glancing the time on his Gucci, Fernando levered himself to stand.
“
We should get going, Bridget.
”
She nodded, slipped out from under the Angel
’
s bare feet and came to stand next to the Noble.
“
You
’
re right. We may have stayed too late already.
”