“Wait! Where’re you going?” I enter the next room. “I need to talk to you!”
I stop short, almost colliding with Xavier who’s covered by nothing more than a white towel around his hips. My face turns red. I crane my neck up to see his eyes. He blocks my way while he uses another towel to rub the water from the back of his neck. I quickly realize that this room is another bedroom, but decorated in masculine browns. Xavier’s bedroom—attached to mine—like his and hers! I frown at him.
I duck around his outstretched wings, moving past him, out the door and into a circular corridor that’s lined with clear glass pillars. They open into a rotunda—a hive-like arena. Angels of every type fly around in the middle of the open arena—the common space—moving from floor to floor without the need of elevators. No balustrades line the levels above or below, so either one uses one’s wings to fly when stepping off the edge, or it will be a very long way down. The floors above us climb toward a glass-domed sky. Sunlight filters down into the center of the hive, sparkling off the blue glass-tiled floor about a mile or so below us. Atwater blends into the swarm of angels and disappears.
Xavier leans against the doorframe, watching me. I hitch my thumb in the direction Atwater disappeared. “Do you know him? He’s Brennus’ guardian angel.”
Xavier nods. “He was, but the battle for that soul has been lost, hasn’t it?”
“Has it? Has it really?” I cross my arms. “Why would he tell me that then? Why would he seek me out?”
“Maybe he feels responsible for what’s been done to you by Brennus.”
“I want to talk to him.”
“I can arrange that, but later, after you’ve rested.”
“I’d rather talk to him now.”
“You’re tired.”
“I’m not.”
“You were attacked by Emil twice today. You’re cut up, bruised and beaten.” I ignore him. Clutching a glass pillar, I look over the edge at the crazy hoards of angels.
This whole place has been hollowed out of the interior of a mountain. I have a feeling I’m not even seeing a fraction of it. Across the rotunda enormous glass sculptures of angels hold scepters and spears, guarding the threshold to an elaborately carved entryway. A narthex stretches out beyond the rotunda. More hallways on other levels burrow through the rock. The floor that is far below has a maze-like pattern. Xavier joins me at the edge. “It’s a meditation labyrinth. When you walk it, you can feel the presence of God.”
“So this is the army?” I ask, watching a few angels below walk the maze in circular patterns.
“This is some of our army—the ones that follow me. Your father has more.”
“What does Tau plan to do? Will he bring Reed here? Will he attack Emil?” Xavier’s eyes hood before he turns away and moves back into his room. I follow him and close the door behind us. Xavier rummages through his clothes in his closet. I cross my arms, watching him.
“You’re safe here.” Xavier says. “Why don’t you go to your room and clean up—rest. Or we can eat, if you’re hungry—”
“Why won’t you answer my questions?” I retort. With his back to me, he drops his towel. My cheeks redden. “Xavier!” I turn my back to him. “It’s not going to work. I’m not staying here—”
“There’s nowhere for you to go, Evie. We’re surrounded by the harshest conditions on Earth.”
“You can’t keep me here.”
“Actually, I can,” Xavier says, as he walks past me into his room. Luckily, he has managed to dress himself in a long sleeved black thermal shirt. Long slits in the fabric allow for his red wings to be out. His black trousers are military in design. He goes to a side table and picks up a watch. Facing away from me, he straps it on his wrist.
“I don’t want to be here with you.”
Xavier is silent for a moment, long enough for me to regret saying that. I’m not looking to hurt him. I just want him to stop trying to control me. His tone is brittle as he says, “Should you attempt to leave, you won’t like the consequences, Evie.”
“But my friends are in danger!”
“They’re in more danger when they’re with you.”
“I need to warn them!”
“I’ll see what I can do to locate them. I’m not promising anything. They’ve proven to be uncooperative.”
“They were helping me!”
“By keeping you from me? That’s not helping you.”
“You started it! You kicked them out of Brennus’ castle.”
“I said I’d see what I could do. End of discussion.”
I growl in frustration, turning I go to my bedroom, which is only feet away. After I slam the double doors, I unleash my fury on the room. Energy leaks out of me. All the furniture in close proximity to me floats up off the ground. I exhale a calming breath and all of it drops back down with a loud BANG.