Sinful Things

3

There’s no snow now though, and the sun is shining high, filling me with light as I fly into the main part of Angel Peak, the small town near Seraphim Academy that only angels can visit. It’s been pretty empty all winter, since angels hate the cold and tend to migrate into warmer climates like birds. But with Seraphim Academy starting in only a few days, people are returning to town, and the quaint little shops are busy again.

I land on the sidewalk and retract my black wings into my back. The entire street seems to pause all at once in order to stop and stare at me, and I can’t tell if the looks are angry or fearful. Now that everyone knows I’m both half-demon and the daughter of an Archangel, people treat me differently. No one is outright rude, because no one dares to insult Gabriel’s daughter, but some move out of the way quickly to avoid me, and others cast me hateful glares, like I’m tainting their town by being in it. I can’t decide which is worse.

I quickly hurry into the local coffee shop, and it’s probably my imagination, but I think I hear a collective sigh of relief from the street as the door shuts behind me. It’s a relief to be away from their judgmental looks too, except when I move to the counter to order, I see someone who makes me nervous all over again. Araceli.

Things didn’t end great between us last semester, and I’m still riddled with guilt over that because I know it was all my fault. Araceli was my roommate and my best friend—sometimes my only real friend—during my first year at Seraphim Academy, but when she found out I lied to her the entire time about who and what I am, she was pretty upset. I tried to mend the relationship as best I could, but she said she needed space, and I respected that.

I debate rushing out of the place, but then she spots me, and it’s too late. I have to face her now. She’s wearing her lime green combat boots, and has that purple streak in her dark brown hair, and I have to admit, it’s really good to see her. I just don’t know if she feels the same about seeing me.

I approach her at the counter and we stare at each other awkwardly, before I finally ask, "How was your break?"

Araceli surprises me by throwing her arms around me. I instantly have tears in my eyes as I hug her back. “Oh, Liv,” she says. “I missed you.”

“I missed you too.” My voice only cracks a tiny bit. “Are we…good?”

She pulls back and smiles at me. “We’re good. Like I said, you’re still my best friend. I just needed some space.” She pokes her finger at my chest. “And you better not lie to me ever again.”

I let out a long breath as the tension leaves my body. “I won’t. I promise.”

“Good. I’ll get a table so we can catch up.”

She grabs her coffee and heads off to a round table in the corner, while I step up to the counter. The barista doesn’t meet my eyes, even though I’ve been coming here once a week for months now. She knows my order by heart though, and hands it to me immediately, then takes my payment quickly before darting off to be anywhere else. I give her a big smile and drop a few coins in the tip jar anyway.

With my giant cup of liquid heaven—yes, the coffee here really is that good—I sit down across from Araceli. “How have you been?” I ask, with more confidence this time.

“Good. I spent the break with my mom, and that was nice, but I came back a little early to get settled in before school starts. I’m staying with my aunt now. She has a five-year-old, and he’s cute, but a total monster, so I came here for an escape.” She takes a sip of her coffee. “What about you? How was your break?”

I shrug as I warm my hands on the coffee mug. “It was okay. I spent a lot of time researching and learning about the fae. I don’t feel like I’m any closer to finding my brother, but I should ace Fae Studies this year at least."

She laughs. "You better, with me as your roommate. I took that last year to see if I could learn anything new about my heritage.”

“And did you?”

“A little, yeah. My dad told me some things of course, but he left out a lot. It was good to have an outside perspective on it all too.”

Araceli rarely mentions her half-fae dad, and I guess I was too self-absorbed before to notice that. Worst. Friend. Ever. But I’m totally going to do better this year—it’s one of my goals, along with getting revenge on the Princes and finding my brother. “You don’t talk about him much.”

She stares into her coffee mug. “My parents separated a few years ago and things got weird after that. At first he came to visit me every weekend, but then it became more like every month, and now it’s like once a year.”

“Does he live in Faerie?” I ask. “Have you ever been there?” The Order wanted to use Araceli to get into Faerie to find Jonah. I won’t use her like that, but she did offer to help me however she could.

“No. Dad was a messenger between the fae and the angels, and both sides grudgingly accepted him because he was useful. Then he met mom, they fell in love, and then I was born. The fae excommunicated him after that. I guess having a child with another angel was the final straw for them. He can’t go back to Faerie without being killed, and I’m not welcome there either.”