“Who can tell me what humans need to survive?” The teacher stood at the front of the class, his chalk poised and ready to write the answers on the board.
Gabriella’s hand shot up, she was always a bit of a know it all. “Water.”
“That’s right.” He wrote the word on the board and she grinned smugly, stealing a glance at Alexander.
Not to be outdone, Alexander put his hand up next. “Food, shelter, and sleep.”
“Very good,” the teacher exclaimed before completing his list. “There are many other things they need too, but it’s more complex than this lesson allows. For now, these are the main things. As part of our protection, if something is happening to deny them of these necessities, we need to step in and do something to assist them.”
Jerome copied the list into his notebook, figuring he would need to know that kind of stuff one day. He would be assigned a human after he had completed his studies, that human would be his sole responsibility. It was a scary thought, but he relished the idea at the same time. To be assigned a human was a feat, they didn’t assign you to active duty until they were certain you could fulfill your role. Humans were too fragile to mess with.
The teacher continued on with ways to assist your human with obtaining the basics for hours more before it was break time. Angels didn’t require food or water so they didn’t stop for lunch. But they did need a break to revive and wake up.
Alexander took Jerome’s arm and hurried him along to the back of the courtyard. Jerome couldn’t help but laugh. “Is Gabriella stalking you again?”
“No,” he answered, his tone betraying the fact he was denying himself the truth. He changed the subject to cover his embarrassment. “My mom was talking to Maleia’s sister last night. She said some really weird things.”
The smile was instantly wiped from Jerome’s mouth at the mention of the dead angel. “What kind of weird things?”
Alexander lowered his voice, speaking in hushed tones so they wouldn’t be overheard. “Maleia was attacked on the path to the council building. She was in the village when it happened, she hadn’t crossed any boundaries.”
“Are you sure? The council said-”
“I know what the council said but I fear they might have got it wrong. Perhaps they didn’t realize it happened on the path? I don’t know, I can’t make sense of it.”
Jerome didn’t want to believe it, there had to be a simple explanation. Besides, it wasn’t his place to question the council, they knew what they were doing. As was his nature, he had to have faith in them.
The rest of the afternoon was spent in learning about preventative actions – how to keep your human from being hurt while ensuring they don’t realize what’s going on. Jerome wondered if it was as hard as the teacher made out, surely the humans weren’t assuming guardian angels were behind everything? He seriously doubted it.
By the time he got home and started on his homework, he had completely forgotten about his conversation with Alexander. He had bigger things to deal with – like passing the class. If angels took anything seriously, it was their service to humans. He had to ace his exams, otherwise he wouldn’t be able to live with himself.
“What are you doing?” Breeanna asked, leaning over his shoulder. He shrugged her away and covered his books with his arm.
“Go away.”
“I’m just asking. Gosh, you are so mean.”
Jerome turned around to give her the look, the one that said scram before he made her move. She poked her tongue out at him for his troubles.
They were interrupted as Leonardo burst through the doors, his briefcase still in hand as he hurried. Seraphina ran into the room as soon as she heard the commotion.
“Honey, what’s wrong?” She took the case and placed it on the floor, noticing the way her husband’s face was drained of colour. “Has something happened?”
Leonardo nodded as he caught his breath. Jerome and Breeanna stood in front of him expectantly. Without him even needing to say anything, they all feared it was bad news he brought with him.
“Dad? What happened?” Jerome prompted, unable to remain quiet any longer. He desperately needed to hear whatever he had to say. Like, now.
Finally, his puffing subsided enough for him to speak. “There’s been another death. Angel Mario, he’s been killed.”
Seraphina sucked in a breath, gasping at the name. “Mario? But we knew him, we all went to school together. He was a good angel. How did this happen?”
“Nobody knows, they just found his body.”
“I bet I know,” Jerome mumbled to himself. When his parents turned to him expectantly, he wished he could recall the words.
“What do you know?” Leonardo demanded. “Tell me, son, I need to hear it.”
“Nothing, really. It’s just that…”
“Just say it already.” Breeanna rolled her eyes and perched on the arm of the lounge, waiting. Her light pink wings rested on the cushions.
Jerome looked between his parents, from one to the other. They weren’t going to drop it without an explanation. He explained about Maleia and what Alexander said, they didn’t interrupt him. “It seems angels might be being killed by demons in the village. Where was Mario when he perished?”
“They didn’t say,” Leonardo admitted.
“I don’t know if the council know all the facts about the deaths,” Jerome continued, raising his concerns. “They might not realize the dangers we are all facing.”
“How can you say that?” Seraphina asked. “The council only serve to assist us. They protect us, they wouldn’t do anything to put us in danger. If anyone heard you speaking like that, you would be banished.”
Jerome went on the defensive. “I’m not saying they aren’t doing their job, I’m saying they might not know everything. Perhaps someone is keeping the information from them?”
“But who?”
Jerome shrugged. He didn’t have any answers, only questions. But from what he could piece together, he was growing more anxious by the minute. Suddenly his homework didn’t seem as important as it did before.
CHAPTER 5 - LEILA