“Myla’s igni brought us here,” explains Lincoln.
A collective gasp comes out of the angels flitting overhead. A few voices echo down from above.
“Igni don’t move physical bodies.”
“It’s never been done before.”
My tail gives them a little salute. It loves the attention, but I’m not too comfortable with the situation here. These are professional warriors and all. Even so, Heaven isn’t exactly Vegas when it comes to entertainment. Obviously, they’re paying super-close attention to everything we’re saying. Awkward.
“It’s a complex story.” Lincoln glances at the angels. “Perhaps we should go somewhere private and discuss it.”
“Of course.” Dad waves his arm, and the angels take off like bullets from a gun.
My brows lift. “You train them to fly like that?”
“Who else?”
“That’s a pretty neat trick.”
“Thank you.” At last, Dad extinguishes his baculum sword. Instead of a blade of white flame, he now holds two simple silver bars in his hand. My father’s mouth winds into a white-toothed smile. I swear, his teeth actually sparkle like a television commercial. “It’s so good to see you, Myla-la. You look more like your mother every day. Simply beautiful.”
My heart warms with affection. After so many years of wondering who my father was, it’s beyond awesome to finally know him. “Thanks. I’ll tell her you said so.”
Dad winks. “I’m counting on it.”
Did I mention that Dad’s a bit of a schmoozer? Well, he is.
Lincoln stares suspiciously at the clouds that obscure the ground. I know how he feels. As a warrior, it’s unsettling not to see the ground nearby. “Perhaps we could talk in your clubhouse.” It’s not really a question. Lincoln’s ready to vamoose.
“Quite right.” Dad focuses on me. “By the way, what I’m about to do may count as a new power.”
“Nice.” My father has a list of superpowers a mile long. They’re amazing to me, but since my Dad’s had them from the beginning of time, he doesn’t even realize they’re special, let alone keep track of them. So, whenever I run across a new one, I write it down in a journal. For example, “finding my daughter right away when she shows up in Heaven” is definitely going on the list. My journal’s about a quarter full, and I’ve only known my father for less than six months. “What are you going to show me?”
“Remember how we flew into the clubhouse last time?”
“Yup.” Dad’s clubhouse is a massive wall-like structure. Hard to forget your father fly-carrying you over something bigger than the humans’ Hoover Dam.
“Well, here’s a shortcut.” Dad steps up to the Pearly Gates and sets his palm on the opaque surface. Circles of white fire billow out from his hand. The motion reminds me of ripples in a pond.
“That’s funky.” It’s not his best though. One time, Dad actually made it rain fire. You haven’t lived until you’ve seen an archangel create a meteor shower over the desert.
A small smirk rounds my father’s mouth. “I’m not done yet.” Dad pulls open the huge gate and reveals one of the inner chambers of the Dominion Line, aka his clubhouse. I’ve been to this room before. The observatory. It’s a long and tall space with floor-to-ceiling windows that overlook the City of Arches. Opening a door directly to this spot? Now, I’m totally impressed.
“Well done, Dad.”
“I thought you’d like it. While we’re in Heaven, I can use any door in one place to get anywhere else, if you get my meaning.”
“I do.” And it’s totally going in the journal.
Chapter Eleven
We step into a long room made of pearly-white granite. There’s no furniture around; this is more of a viewing area. I make a beeline for the window. The City of Arches stretches out before me. There are thousands of white buildings, all of them looping and twisting around each other. Some are solid stone. Others look as if they were cut from lace. Overall, it has the effect of white arches stretching off into the distance, all of them lurching at different angles. I rest my hand against the pane of observation glass. Small halos of vapor surround my fingertips. This view is phenomenal.
Lincoln moves to stand behind me. His warm hand rests on my shoulder. “It is lovely.”
Hey, now. Lincoln’s voice is so gloomy, it almost breaks my heart. “You’re sad about Cryptan, aren’t you?”
Lincoln pulls my back against his chest. “Yes.”
“I get that.” I lean my head against his shoulder and give him few seconds. No one can constantly be super-strong. Everyone has a right to get bummed out. Especially Lincoln.
Dad’s voice sounds from behind us. “Do you two need some time?”
“We do, but there isn’t any,” says Lincoln. “We should get to business. It’s been an eventful day.” Yow. That’s the closest my guy gets to saying everything is total shit. Leaving the view, I turn to face Dad and Lincoln.