Gabe watched Cassandra move as graceful as a butterfly from bed to bed, kissing each child goodnight. His gut rolled with unease as he watched the gray aura surrounding the characteristically beautiful woman. Aura’s of guarded humans always shimmered white, sometimes silver, but never gray.

“Something is wrong,” he spat the words as he took one step closer to her. If a human stood as close as Gabe, he could intimately touch Cassandra. He was not though, and all he invoked was a wash of worry.

Cassandra Marks stiffened momentarily and then dropped a kiss to the forehead of a young girl in the final bed. If she’d sensed him, the instant had passed. Reaching out, Gabe attempted to run his fingers through her aura. No ominous sensation raced through him as his fingers glided effortlessly through. Yet, the color continued to trouble him.

Watching her, he couldn’t help but observe her as another human would. She was a stunning woman, one who should not be traipsing around the world saving children, but at home raising a family with the man or woman of her choosing.

He’d seen women like her before, others did not hesitate to indicate interest in such beautiful people. Light glancing off brought a glossy shine to her thick, ebony hair. Bright blue eyes seemed to mirror the heavens called out to his soul. She was not slender though not “fat” as humans called it either. Cassandra held the curves that angels sought after when selecting a breeding partner; as that was the only time they indulged in sins of the flesh, and only with another angel. She was thick enough that he could couple with her and not worry, but not so thick he couldn’t wrap her in his arms.

That is the most ridiculous thought you have ever had. Head out of your ass, Gabe.

Gabe turned away from his charge, and with a mighty thrust of his wings, rose into the air. As humans expected, angels lived high above them amongst the clouds. Despite their appearance, clouds were more than fluff; they supported an entire community of near-immortal beings. Angels could fly from cloud to cloud, but they could not pass through, save for the barrier that hid their home from the humans below.

Breaking through the cloud layer, he turned to avoid a collision with a Scholar Angel, one who flew erratically due to the weight of materials he carried. Gabe’s cloud was close, and it took him one more burst of strength and downward thrust of his wings to land on it. His wings folded against his back as he pushed open the door, and quite literally, stepped inside a cloud.

“She amuses you then?” Carlyle, his mentor Guardian Angel, reclined on the white sofa. “I can see it in your eyes, there is no point in denying it.”

Gabe was relatively sick of the ever-present tutor assigned to him last week. Carlyle was younger than he was though had served all two hundred and thirty-six of his working years as a Guardian Angel. A point that made him able to guide Gabe on his new journey.

“It is nothing of the sort.” Scoffing, he dropped onto the loveseat because the other man’s relaxed position had left no space on the couch. “I am learning her, learning my job.”

“All of which can be done from up here.”

“I saw something.” He insisted, referencing the gray aura surrounding her since the moment he laid eyes on her while she played with the children.

“Again, something you can see from up here.” Carlyle swung his feet down, planting them on the floor. “You must keep your distance. Your duty is to protect her. Her life has not met with a threat. Your place is up here in the Halls of Guardians to watch over her as needed. There is no need for you to be on Earth.”

His skin bristled as annoyance settled over him. Gabe followed the rules to the letter, he broke them only when he saw fit. A lecture on following them was unnecessary.

“Yes, and you saw how well trusting that Fallen worked out for you?” Carlyle smirked. “Your thoughts are broadcasting all over the place. Do shut them off before a more important angel catches a whiff of them.”

Snorting, Gabe crossed his arms over his chest and leaned back into the loveseat. Angels projected when they were angry or in danger. It wasn’t hard to pick which of the situations he was facing.

“I am telling you, something is not right. Her aura isn’t the color it should be.”

“That could very well be. Our duty is not to interfere until our charge is in danger. A change in her aura is certainly an indication of something to come, but it is not your place to interject yourself down on Earth.”

“Why not?” He leaned forward, his eyes narrowing with an unspoken challenge, but not filling with heavenly fire. “We are invisible. We leave no imprint of ourselves on the world, and only our guarded have any way of sensing us; small as that is. There is literally no reason I cannot watch her from down there.”

“Except those that get to close fall.” The words held no threat, only promise.

“I am not like others.”

“Because you are son to an Archangel? How does that make you any less susceptible than those before you?”

Angels fell for a variety of reasons though the most common was corruption by humanity. Be it violence, sex, greed—it made no difference. Being exposed to humanity often brought about unhealthy desires in angels. Desires most chose to indulge in, thinking they could get away with it unscathed.

“Because I wish to return to my battle station. Falling would not make that possible.” He spoke the words proudly because they were truth. He had contemplated a way out of his new career, and the answer had been simple. Prove he was worthy of an elevation in status.

“That is not how our lives work, you must be aware of that.” Carlyle spat, his eyes dancing with disgust. “I agreed to help you because I care about my charge. If you see yours only as a means to an end, you are not a Guardian, there is no training you.”

“That is what I have been saying for a week!” With a sneer, Gabe leaped off the loveseat and whirled on Carlyle. Once upon a time, that action would have caused a saber to appear in his hands, now his wings merely unfurled and got in the way.

A whimper sounded through his mind - feminine and afraid. A whimper from his charge. Despite his previous statement, he took off at a dash, racing from cloud to cloud until he reached the watch room. Throwing open the door, his entrance triggered one of the bubbles to bring up his charge.

Cassandra lay in bed, a sheet of sweat dripping down her brow. She was still, though continued to cry out. Gabe couldn’t sense if it were fear or pain, but he didn’t wait to find out. He flashed by her side, noticing the gray from minutes prior had darkened just a shade.

“Cassandra,” he whispered, allowing his voice to soothe her—a handy tool Guardian Angels had at their disposal.

Immediately her body uncurled, and she lay stretched out on the small bed. He fought back the urge to stroke her. Guardian Angels resorted to physical interaction only to soothe immense pain. Yet, he wanted to touch her, to see if her skin was as soft as it appeared.

“She has calmed. Leave.” Carlyle’s voice was next to Gabe’s ear.

Whirling, his mouth pressed into a thin line. “I will leave when I see fit.”

For the first time since their pairing as mentor and mentee, Carlyle’s body drooped in resignment. “You know what, I am sick of trying. You have shown all the signs of an angel dangerously close to falling. I am in no trouble should you fail. You do what you wish, but don’t come to me for help. There is none to give. I guard humans, not fellow angels.”

Gabe struggled against the urge to follow Carlyle and remind the man he had been once earned golden wings for a reason. Cassandra’s aura darkened just a shade right before his eyes, and he ignored his desire to put his mentor in his place.

“This cannot be.” His hand touched her cheek, and for a single moment, the warmth from her body heated. Angels couldn’t feel anything but other angels, or so he’d been told. A coil of interest wrapped around him and he was bothered by it. Cassandra Marks was attractive, caring, and doing good deeds with her life—she was not an angel though.

Lifting his hand from her face, he rubbed his fingers together. Excess heat from her fever did not cling to his hands. Curious, he stroked his hand along her face, intrigued at the sensation rippling through him. He wanted to do more. The thought slammed into him full force. Gabe wanted to remove the gray aura or die trying to.

This must be what happens—you grow connected to your charge when danger is near.

When Gabe pulled his hand off her face, she shivered, tugging the blanket over her shoulder in her sleep.

“That won’t do, she’ll burn up.” He reached to tug it down and stopped. His touch is what had caused her motion in the first place, he wouldn’t touch her again in case she was aware of his presence.

So he stood, looking down at her sleeping form. He still wanted to touch her. In fact, he wanted to lay down beside her and hold her until whatever was causing the issue ceased. It was so unlike him, yet he didn’t move away from her.

Is this why so many angels are interested in humans? Do they all elicit such a response?

“Gabriel,” his father barked, as he appeared on the other side of Cassandra’s small cot.

Bracing himself, he looked up only to find his father’s eyes glowing once more. You’re becoming fantastic at pissing one of the most powerful beings alive off. Gabe smirked, proud of the thought.

“Gabriel,” his father snarled his name this time. “You do not visit with your charge. Ever.” He reached out, clasped a hand around Gabe’s wrist and transported them back to this office.

A black emptiness settled over him the moment he couldn’t sense Cassandra’s warmth. It sat like a rock in his stomach, weighing him down unlike any battle scythe had ever done.

“Explain yourself.”

Gabe remained still. He knew his father’s full temper had been ignited, and he had little wish to piss the Archangel off further. “I saw something—her aura is not as it should be. I wanted a closer look.”

Some of the ire vanished from the older angel’s face, but not enough. “And why would a closer look be necessary? Can you not see all you need to see through the watching bubble? Is your eyesight doing the impossible and failing? Was there a hidden snake poised under her bed waiting to strike and kill her? Please, Son, inform me of what was so urgent you raced to her bedside and ignored the warnings of your assigned mentor—an angel you were supposed to listen to for at least a month to learn your place.” His voice boomed and shook the walls.

“I saw something I did not like. I investigated to ensure my charge was not in danger.”

“Are you certain that is all it was?” Gabriel’s blond brow rose questioningly.

“What else could it have been?” He knew the answer, but his father had to accuse him of it, or he would not respond.

“That curiosity stole you away. That you are already falling prey to the dangers of humanity and all it took was a simple human female.”

A growl caught in his throat. He’d known the accusation had been coming, but it angered him that his father thought so little of him. “My loyalty is to my charge. Her care and protection is my responsibility. If I am intrigued by her, it is because of the remarkable person she is.”

Gabriel sat down and motioned for Gabe to do so as well. “Tell me, how is she so remarkable?”

It was not a strange question. Guardian Angels were often questioned in such a manner as to ensure they were following their charge adequately. Sitting, he tried to ignore the emotions that conjured up when he thought of Cassandra Marks. Emotions such as interest, desire, and longing. He needed to offer a report—simple and thorough.

“Cassandra Marks has done good deeds the whole of life, despite her young age of only thirty. As a child, I have learned she donated many hours to local shelters, despite living in an orphanage on and off herself. She gave her time graciously to humans and animals alike, likely as a way to fill the void. When she was nine, she had been placed in a foster home with parents that loved her, but they never made a move to make the adoption official. The love had been barely skin deep, and she was sent back. It was those parents and that situation that spurred her into social work to ensure children and animals everywhere were placed in loving homes.”

He took a breath and snuck a look at his dad. Not a single indication of approval was written on his face, so Gabe continued spouting off what he’d read in her book of life. “She went to college, UMass Amherst, and graduated well enough. Cassandra continued on at Boston University to gain her Master’s in Social Work. She wished to work aboard, and travel began to African Nations, China and Russia to help kids. She is fluent in Swahili as she has taken a liking to a specific orphanage in Uganda, though she can speak basic Mandarin Chinese and Russian as well.” He sounded like a robot as he continued to rattle off a few more details he’d read from her book.

“And what of her as you’ve witnessed her this past week?” Gabriel’s golden eyes narrowed with interest, but he did not lean forward in his chair.

Clearing his throat, Gabe focused his thoughts on the past few days. Cassandra Marks was indeed worthy of a Guardian Angel. She sought to find homes for children, specifically to end any instance of orphaned children across the world for good. Her project, the one he believed made her eligible for a Guardian Angel, was to create a registry and an algorithm to place children and parents together in a short time and for little cost. Cassandra was a diligent worker, but Gabe found other reasons he believed her to be so well loved. Her smile was infectious, and her love for the children she presently worked with was undeniable. She loved to laugh and spent her free time inspiring the children in ways outside the program she worked with dictated.

In short, she was perfect.

“She’s well established as a human in her field. Her care for the children and the program she works for and the one she works to create is impossible to ignore. Should she succeed, many countries will no longer have parentless, hungry children and many parents who seek a child will not wait years and burn through expenses they could otherwise use to add to a child’s life on the mere adoption process. Her work ethic is admirable, and she is more inspiring to watch than I would have thought someone could be.”

“And what of your opinion on her?”

“I just gave it.”

“No, you gave me your opinion on her role as one of the Guarded. What do you personally think of Miss Cassandra Marks?”

His mouth went dry at the implication he would even have external thoughts—which Gabe very much did because of everything he thought, versus what he had said aloud to his father. They don’t mean anything. This is what happens with Guardian Angels and their charges. You’re all right, Gabe.

Blowing out a breath, he did his best to sit upright and rigid. “I think she is a wonderful human. I am utterly amazed by the depth at which she cares for each and every child. It is easy to see why she was selected though I am troubled by the change her aura.”

“Very well. I am glad to hear you are starting to understand why Guardian Angels are needed for certain humans—and if you think you don’t know why I urge you to think about your concerns. You worry something is amiss because it would endanger the work she is doing on Earth.”

Though Gabe had not come to the same conclusion as to why he cared, he couldn’t disagree with his father’s take. Before he could speak, Gabriel continued.

“Her aura could have changed for a variety of reasons. Gray does not need to be a reason for alarm. She could simply not be sleeping or eating as she should while on her work travels. This should have been explained to you by Carlyle.”

As much as he wanted to get the hoity-toity angel in trouble, he did not lie. “I admit there is much I did not listen to Carlyle on. I regret that now.”

“I am shocked at your humility. It is good to see this change in career has already made you better.”

Gabe scoffed, he’d heard a million times that his hubris would be his downfall—and his trust in his judgment had been. He’d thought too highly of his ability to see through lies, and it left a dozen of his brethren dead.

Gabe nodded, eyes downcast at his feet. His temper would fly out of check if the conversation continued, and he wanted to earn his proper wings back. “I apologize for overstepping. I will watch her the way rules dictate moving forward.”

“I am proud to hear it. You are dismissed, and you are to continue to work with Carlyle moving forward.”

Gabe made no attempt was made to suppress his groan before he transported back to his home. He should have gone to the Watch Hall to ensure Cassandra was not suffering any ill effects from so many angels visiting her, but he didn’t want to look at her that way—through a bubble.

“Why not?” He snarled and slashed his hand out, knocking over a lamp. His chest rose and fell with the sudden onset of anger. “A bubble is good enough for everyone else.” His clenched jaw shook from grinding down on his teeth, and he closed his eyes and pushed calming breaths out.

An image of Cassandra’s bright blue eyes formed in his mind. They were so perfect; so innocent and happy. Gabe could stare into them for hours. His eyes sprung open. “What is happening? Why am I so intrigued by this woman?” He itched to go to Carlyle and ask, but the little snitch was the reason he’d been in trouble mere minutes ago.

“It’s normal. Of course, you have to be intrigued and impressed by her or else why would you protect her?” Because you were told too. Gabe snorted at the thought because he knew Guardian Angels could be reassigned if they did not see merit in their charge.

“Merit.” He said with a sigh. “That’s what this is. You see merit in your human.” He sat down and let his head fall back onto the couch cushion. It had been a very long week, and he was already impatient that he wasn’t checking in on her and her damned gray aura. Time was not to be wasted and sitting down on a couch was wasting time.

“Who’s going to bake me cookies for my last dessert?” Cassandra asked gleefully.

Gabe stood over the bubble, watching her and thinking about how much time he’d spent watching her. Like humans, the jobs held by angels were not meant to be around the clock. He decided how long and when he watched his human charge. Almost two weeks had passed since the initial appearance of the gray aura, and it appeared to darken every few days. Something was coming, and he wasn’t going to let her down.

Which meant when he did watch her. He did spend far more time than necessary in the Watch Hall, hours at a time, because he couldn’t help but enjoy the way she interacted with the world. Cassandra was pure-hearted despite the way she was raised. Her thoughts were never malicious, even after the military stormed in and took rations that had been meant for the kids.

“She’s too flawless.” The words were whispered so none at stations nearby could hear.

“Why don’t you let me help?” Cassandra grinned at two little girls who had been about to race off to the small kitchen to make a special dessert in honor of Cassandra.

“People make fucking desserts in her honor,” he snorted. “Were all humans that earned Guardians so damned likable and perfect?” Gabe couldn’t help but wonder if there had been some mistake and Cassandra shouldn’t be assigned to a Guardian Angel with more experience than he had.

“Ouch.”

He pulled from his pondering to watch as Cassandra pulled up the left leg of her shorts and revealed an angry bruise on her thigh. The mark was shaped awkwardly as if a lumpy ball had slammed into her leg. The coloration was so purple it was almost black, though he could see small striations of green running through the damage.

“How on Earth did that get there?” She winced as she ran her fingers over it. “I think I’d remember something hitting me that could cause the likes of a bruise like this.”

“Miss Cassandra, are you all right?” A teenaged boy asked in terribly choppy English.

“I’m sure I’m fine. Let’s get back to those cookies!”

As she spoke, the deep gray light that had been following her around for a week darkened a fraction. Now closer to charcoal, Gabe knew he couldn’t ignore it any longer. Carlyle had given him a refresher course, and he knew a black aura meant death.

“And hers is fucking close enough.” Not wanting to waste time he transported effortlessly to Carlyle’s doorstep and pounded on the door. “Let me in! It’s about my charge.” He didn’t yell the words so as not to disturb others, but instead put his mouth as close to the door as he could without touching it so he would be heard.

The door swung open, and Carlyle’s expression changed from irritation to concern the moment he looked at Gabe. “What’s happened?”

“I think she’s going to die.”

“Slow down,” Carlyle gestured for him to enter and tugged the door shut. “What did you see and why didn’t you ask one of the sentries on watch? Why come here?”

“The blasted gray aura, it’s charcoal, I can scarcely see the gray through the black.”

“Fuck,” Carlyle dragged a hand through his short auburn locks.

“I didn’t know you spoke so harshly.” It wasn’t the time for amusement, but he was shocked one who pretended to be as pure as Carlyle would speak with foul language.

“When there is a time where no other words suffice, I will.” Carlyle grabbed a phone from off the bookshelf he stashed it in his pocket. “Show me.”

He couldn’t be certain if Carlyle were telling him it was all right to break the rules, or if he meant for them to go to the Watch Hall—Gabe took them to Uganda.

Carlyle walked straight up to Cassandra, muttering something as he waved a hand through the ominous light surrounding her. When he turned, the angel’s coffee-colored eyes were filled with remorse.

“We need to go to your father.”

Such a simple sentence, and yet, it knocked him backward. Gabe crashed into the wall he’d stood next to as the words weighed down on him. He’d been right. Cassandra Marks’ life was in danger. The concept shouldn’t have made him as nauseas as it did. He had a job to do, emotions had no role except to fuck his attention over. If he failed, he’d be letting down all the future children she might one day help find homes.

“How do I help her?” He reached out and put his hands on Carlyle’s shoulder, giving a firm shake. “How do I save her?”

Carlyle rolled his shoulders back and flicked his wrists, breaking Gabe’s somewhat loose hold. “We go to your father. We are given warnings before the worst comes. Your father, and sometimes others make decisions on what is done next.”

Stealing one last glance at Cassandra, he felt like he’d been punched in the gut. She was laughing, her hair swishing around and her eyes closed tight in amusement. Cassandra had no clue of the danger that was surrounding her, no idea that her life would soon be over if he didn’t do his job correctly.

Suddenly, watching over her was about more than getting back his battle wings, it was about saving a human life. He’d protected countless before, fighting alongside them in battle and killing the demons that hung around scenes of war. Yet, nothing had felt as important as saving this one life.

“Why do I want to save her so badly?”

“She is your charge. A link, albeit a small one, connects you together. You desire her safety. It is natural.” Carlyle looked back at Cassandra. “I assure you, you’re fine. She is as wonderful as any charge, yours is no more special than any other.”

Gabe nodded, torn between slugging the angel for saying it, and for knowing what Gabe was concerned with. Without another word, he flashed to the hallway of the Watch Hall and banged on his father’s door.

There was no answer from within. Common sense was not present once again. Twisting the handle, he let himself in and was face-to-face with three Archangels, matching scowls on their faces.

“Gabe,” his father warned with a look in his eye that cautioned him to be careful.

“My charge is dying.” He hadn’t expected the grief-stricken tone that came from his mouth. “Her aura is almost black. Tell me how to save her.”

Michael and Uriel hung their heads.

“Apologies for a rough start to your new career.” Michael still did not look upon Gabe, likely due to the fact that Michael had cast the final vote that had changed Gabe’s fate.

“What do you know about the situation? We will go from there.” Gabriel looked at him, a fatherly concern in his expression.

Impatience rode him hard and explaining himself would waste more time. “The aura has been darkening as I mentioned. The color now so close to black it is hard to see the gray shade. Carlyle saw it and said I go to you for decisions.”

“We have some time then. A black aura indicates death is coming; not when or how. Your work is truly beginning now, Gabe. When a Guarded’s aura shifts from white to black we have time—not much—but some to work out the cause of death and how to stop. Your job as her Guardian Angel is to go to her. Protect her in any way you can; guide her from the path of moving cars, keep her from angering anyone carrying a gun.”

“That’s impossible! She can’t see or hear me.”

“It is difficult, that is certain. If you try hard enough, she will pay attention. This is how it has been since the dawn of time. Hundreds of Guarded have been saved this way before. Go to her, go save your human.”

My human. Just the sound of the words spurred him to action. He had heard her mention she was leaving to return to Boston. A plane could go down, luggage could fall on her, the possibilities were infinite, and he was going to prove to his father he was not a failure or a burden on the family name.

Nodding, he took note of the respectful way all three angels regarded him. “I’ll pack my belongings and leave for Earth, so I am always by her side.”

If that was not the way of things, no one spoke on it.