“I know. Muriel.” I nodded and picked up my water glass.
“Yes, she’s a demi-angel too, but there are others.” My dad wiped his mouth on a napkin and reached for another biscuit. “Including you and Muriel, there are ten demi-angels at your school. They all know about their powers. You are the youngest, so you’re the last to show signs that your powers are maturing.”
“Signs? Like the visions?”
“Yes, that’s part of your power. You have the ability to change the course of some people’s lives. Sometimes, you’ll be able to step in and change it for the better, and sometimes you won’t. But once you mature, you’ll have the power to fight Azazel and his demons. Your visions will help you track him, see his plans, and stop him before he can unleash his evil on earth.”
He finished buttering his biscuit, set it and his knife down, and pushed them out of the way. “Milayna, I was the third highest-ranked angel. On earth, I am the highest-ranked angel. That means my children are the highest-ranked demi-angels. Your power is far greater than any other demi-angel. Your job, your power, is to track Azazel and his demons. Keep them from doing harm, making sure humans are as safe as possible from their evil. But above all—keep the underworld from taking over the earth. It would be a massacre if the evil of hell were let loose on unsuspecting humans. It’s that power, the power to track, stop, and kill his demons, that Azazel wants from you. And He. Will. Kill. To. Get. It.”
I swallowed hard against the lump forming in my throat. Setting my fork down, I wiped at the tears building in my eyes. Thinking of Mr. Rodriguez and the girl burned a piece of me, like a brand or a tattoo. That memory was bound to me. “Um, why was I able to fight the vision so hard yesterday? If I have to step in, if that’s my duty, why was I able to wait until it was too late?”
My dad shrugged a shoulder. “I’m not sure. It’s probably because your visions are still weak. Your power hasn’t reached its full strength yet, but the more you have the visions, the closer to your birthday you get, the stronger they’ll become. You’ll come to a point where you won’t be able to fight them.”
“Good. I don’t want that to happen again. Ever. I may not be completely thrilled with them, but I know I don’t want anything to happen to anyone because of me again.” I thought of the girl lying on the pavement. Just two seconds, that was all. If I’d gotten there just two seconds earlier, it could’ve been avoided. The guilt was like a giant mouth that swallowed me whole.
“I’m glad to hear that.”
I forced the memory of the girl out of my head. “Who are the others?”
“They’ll come to you. Muriel will help introduce you to the group. Listen, Milayna, this is very important. Right now, your powers are stronger when you’re with another demi. They won’t be fully mature until your eighteenth birthday, and until then, you are susceptible to outside forces.” There was an urgency in his voice that pulled me to him and caused goose bumps to spread on my skin.
“What kind of outside forces?”
“Well, it’ll be easier for you to understand if I explain a little about me. Then you’ll be able to understand what sets you apart from the other demi-angels.” I nodded my head for him to keep going. “I was a high-ranking angel when I left. Third in charge of the Iri Council.”
“What’s that mean?” Putting my elbow on the table, I rested my chin on my upturned palm. I had the feeling we’d be talking for a long time.
He flipped his chair and straddled it. “The Council is the government of the Iri. I had a high position, and my high ranking made my powers stronger. As my daughter, that power transferred to you. You are a high-ranking demi, so your powers will be stronger than other demis.” My dad stopped and took in a big breath. “It also means you’ll be the leader of the group and other stuff after you turn eighteen,” he said so quickly the words blended together in to one long word. “But until then… Well, until then, you have to be careful. There are people who want to harm you.”
This just keeps getting better and better. First, I was just a demi-angel, but now, I’m like a demi-angel general. Go me! Ugh!
“For every good force in the world, there is an evil force.” Dad ran his hand down his face. I studied him; he looked worried. His eyes were dull and smudged underneath with dark bruises. Tiny lines fanned out from his eyes. His mouth was pinched. For the first time, I thought my dad looked old.
“So evil wants to get me? I don’t understand what you mean.”