Taylor laughed and said, “Yeah, true. Gabriel is a bit awkward looking. But I bet you still have girls lining up for you.”
David blushed at the compliment and looked down at the floor. “Well, uh, there is this one angel back home that thinks I’m kind of cute.”
Taylor could tell that Gabriel was trying to contain his laughter at Taylor putting his little brother on the spot. Coming to his rescue, Gabriel said, “So, D, how is Year Two treating you so far?”
David quickly regained his composure at the chance to show off. “Fantastic. I’m the lead angel in most of my courses: Flying II, Hand to Hand Combat, Light Effects, and Fire Defense.” He counted them off on his fingers. “The only one I am not the lead in is Spy Games.”
“Yeah, I struggled with that one as well,” Gabriel admitted.
“What do you do in Spy Games?” Taylor asked.
David replied, “It’s all about sneaking around, reducing your inner light so you can move undetected, living amongst humans, that sort of thing.”
Taylor laughed. “That explains why I could immediately tell that Gabriel was not a human.”
“Really, Gabriel? She knew you were an angel?”
“Because of her exceptionally strong aura, she could see my inner light, but she didn’t know what I was,” Gabriel said.
“So it’s all true then,” David said. “She is the one.”
Taylor rolled her eyes and said, “Look, David. I am not the chosen one you guys keep talking about. I am just a human girl who happens to be able to help out your kind. I am nothing special.”
“Except that our people have been talking about you for decades, and even from across the training center I couldn’t tell that you were human, because your aura was shining so brightly,” David replied.
Taylor didn’t know what to say or think. The angels had been talking about her for decades! When nothing came to mind, she just shrugged.
David’s eyes squinted as he focused on something behind Taylor. When she turned to see what he was looking at, he said, “Is that a tattoo of the snake?”
Gabriel said, “Yeah, but she got it before she even knew exactly what the snake was a symbol of.”
“Wow!” David said. “Cool.”
Before either of the angels had a chance to say another word, a third angel flashed up the ramp to them, moving at angel speed, only a blur of light giving away the movement.
“Heyyyy, Gabriel! How are ya, buddy?” the angel said, screeching to a halt beside the group. He was shorter than Gabriel, but looked as sturdy as a tank. His hair was fully white and curled up slightly at the front.
Gabriel was really smiling now. He reached out his hand and clasped it with the newcomer’s, pulling him towards him in a manly embrace. “I’m good, Sampson, how are you?”
Sampson replied, “Not too bad, man, I’m teaching a couple of training courses in between strategic attacks on the demons’ outer defenses. I heard you found yourself a wifey, is this her?”
Gabriel ignored his friend’s jab. “Taylor, meet Sampson. He’s been my friend since I was three.”
Taylor replied sweetly, “Nice to meet you, Sampson, but for your information, I am no one’s wifey.”
Sampson put up his hands innocently. “Whoa, no harm intended. Wow, I like her, man. She’s got spunk. And geez, she is cute, cute, cute.”
Taylor laughed. “Are all angels so forward?” she asked.
Sampson said, “No, mostly just me. I always say that if you’ve got something to say then just say it. There are too many angels around here who are sweet as pie to your face and then talk nasty behind your back. Better to keep everything out in the open I say.”
“I’m glad you haven’t changed a bit, Sampson.” Gabriel laughed. “I’m about to take Taylor to the command center to meet the generals and the commander. You guys want to come along?” he asked, motioning to David and Sampson.
David’s eyes lit up. “Can I really, Gabriel?”
“Sure, bro, today I’ve got a VIP pass wherever I want to go and can bring whoever I want to bring. You in, Sampson?”
“Sure, let’s do it. Plus, you might need back up when we get to the command center and Cassandra sees you with Taylor.”
Gabriel made a face.
“Who’s Cassandra?” Taylor asked.
Gabriel hesitated a beat too long. Sampson jumped in: “She’s Gabriel’s ex-girlfriend who still has a massive crush on him. Just a warning, she’s not going to like you.”
“She was not my girlfriend, Sampson. Taylor, it wasn’t like that at all.”
“So you had a thing with her, I don’t give a crap,” Taylor said. “As long as it’s in the past.”
Gabriel continued to deny it. “There was no thing. We were just friends and then she wanted to be more than that, it got weird, and I told her we couldn’t hang out anymore. She refuses to let it go and is constantly trying to find ways back into my life.”
“Okay, no need to get defensive, I believe you,” Taylor said.
“Geez, what kind of drugs has this joker been feeding you, Taylor?” Sampson said as he landed a light punch on his friend’s ribcage. “I wouldn’t trust a word that comes out of his mouth.”
“I’ve already found that out,” Taylor said dryly.
Gabriel lunged playfully at his friend, hitting him back and starting a lighthearted angel fight. Before long, Gabriel had his friend pinned to the floor, his superior speed and strength serving him well.
“Say it, Sampson,” Gabriel instructed, pushing his entire body weight onto Sampson’s chest.
“Alright, alright, I can hardly breathe.” Gabriel released a bit of pressure and Sampson said sarcastically, “You can trust everything Gabriel says, he is the coolest, most perfect angel in the world.”
“Damn right I am,” Gabriel said, releasing his friend. “Now let’s head to central.”
Chapter Forty-Four
It was Wednesday night and Christopher was getting worried. He hadn’t seen Gabriel or Taylor all day and he wasn’t able to reach Sam on her cell phone. With Jonas controlling the operati