Wicked Wings

24

Kassiel clasps his hands behind his back as he begins pacing in front of the classroom, cutting a sharp profile. “History is important both to know where we came from and to learn from the past so that we don’t repeat it. Unless you know what we’ve done, you won’t know how to do better in the future. It also gives insight into the present and why the world I can barely concentrate on what he’s saying. All I can think about is how he tasted and felt under my hands. I cross my legs and shift in my seat, trying to ignore the growing ache between my legs.

“Let’s begin with a quick overview, as I’m told at least one person in this class grew up in the human world.”

Oh crap. That would be me. I sink a little lower in my seat, even as people glance at me and make it obvious I’m the one he means.

Luckily Kassiel keeps talking and doesn’t notice. “There are four known worlds—Earth, Heaven, Hell, and Faerie. The one we’re in is obviously Earth and is the world of humans. Angels all originally came from Heaven, while demons came from Hell, and fae from Faerie. Thousands of years ago, the fae learned how to open gateways between the worlds, and they shared this magic with angels and demons. This one action had many long-lasting consequences, including many wars, and the fae came to regret sharing that magic—but that’s something for your Fae Studies course, perhaps. All we need to know right now is that it allowed angels and demons to visit Earth.

“Angels kept their gateways heavily regulated so only a few people came to Earth at any one time, and at first they sent people like Sandalphon and Metatron, who we will discuss in detail in a few weeks. Others later visited different parts of the world, bringing knowledge from the more civilized and advanced society in Heaven. Meanwhile, demons and fae also began to influence Earth, and humans started to worship our three races as gods. Many scholars have wondered why there are so many winged gods and goddesses in mythology, both good and bad—Valkyries, Harpies, Cupid, Isis, and so forth. Those are all angels, while some of the other gods, like the half-animal ones such as Horus and Pan, are demons. Many of the elemental and nature gods are based on the fae. As you can see, angels, demons, and fae have been impacting the human world for as long as we have recorded history, and we’re going to learn more about that this year.”

I know all of this already, but it’s fascinating to hear it from his mouth. There’s something about the way he talks that makes me want to prop my hand under my chin and watch him talk about history—never one of my favorite subjects—for hours.

“For most of history, angels, demons, and fae all lived in their own worlds, with a few exceptions. Angels were always very strict about who they let travel to Earth, and the gateways were controlled by the Archangel Council. Demons, on the other hand, allowed anyone to go through as they please, and many demons decided to live on Earth instead of in Hell, creating bloodlines that go back centuries. The fae rarely go to Earth and prefer to stay in their own world—and don’t like people going to it either, especially after the Faerie Wars, which we’ll cover next year. This year we’ll be going in depth about the long war between angels and demons, which I’m sure you all know came to an end thirty-two years ago, when Michael and Lucifer signed the Earth Accords. Does anyone know why they did this?”

A girl in front raises her hand and seems a little flustered when he nods at her. “We’d lost so many angels that the council was worried we might be wiped out.”

“That is a part of it, yes. Demons had the same problem. After thousands of years of war, with very few new angels and demons being born every year, both races were at risk of extinction. What else?”

“Heaven and Hell were both destroyed,” a guy on the right calls out.

“Correct. Due to the war, both worlds were in ruins. They’d become desolate battlefields, with empty cities and burned fields. Both the Archangel Council and the Archdemons realized that in order to keep both our kinds alive, our future was on Earth. They called for a truce, and after many weeks of negotiations, they ended the war with the signing of the Earth Accords. Working together, Michael and Lucifer used a magical item created by the fae known as the Staff of Eternity to send every last angel and demon to Earth and seal off Heaven and Hell for all time. As part of the truce, there is to be no fighting or breeding between angels and demons, and we must keep our existence a secret from humankind.”

“But what about demon attacks?” another girl asks. “They keep happening, even with the truce.”

“Yeah, and what about Michael?” the tall angel in front of me chimes in.

“Demon attacks do still occur, but they’re pretty rare, just as angel attacks on demons are also rare. When they do happen, the perpetrators are punished swiftly and decisively, so they are not seen as the beginning of a new war or a threat to the truce. Both angel and demon leadership take these attacks very seriously. As for Michael’s death…” He turns toward the student who asked the question, but then his eyes land on me. s**t. I was so intrigued by his words I forgot to slouch, and now it’s too late. He does a double-take, his words forgotten, and his jaw falls open as his eyes rake over me. Everything that happened four months ago is laid bare before us, and I know he remembers it all, just as I did. Any hope that he’s forgotten me or that I could stay under the radar is out the window.