Dabriel
I smile at the old council member who goes on about how he is going to support me, if only I was stupid enough to not know he wants a price for the support.
“The older brother returns,” the sarcastic voice of my younger brother says behind me.
“Excuse me,” I say to the angel from the council whom I was speaking to. I turn to see my two younger brothers standing right behind me. Both of them dressed in white, looking like twins when they’re not. Their hair is more blonde than white and its cut short, not like most angels who keep their hair long. Zadkiel is the one that spoke; his light purple eyes make his narrow face seem cruel. Or maybe it’s because I know how fucking cruel he can be.
“I have never truly left,” I reply, crossing my arms.
“The council feels otherwise,” he smirks.
“A council you are not on nor have any control over Zadkiel.” I say. His fists tighten as the few symbols he has start glowing on his arms. I resist the urge to smirk at the weak show of power. Govad, my other brother just watches us with distaste. Govad has white hair that stops at his shoulders; he looks more like me than my other brother. He’s only a few inches shorter than me and his eyes are darker than Zadkiel’s. He hasn’t spoken a word to me since I stopped him from killing another angel over a female. The fight was not needed and unfair, seeing as the other angel was not aware the female had been promised to my brother. My brother did mate with her in the end and I offered the other man my protection. He was lucky he didn’t sleep with her and make a bond; Govad would have had a real excuse to kill him then. Govad only speaks to my brother and is just as cruel. The only reason I can put up with him is because he doesn’t want the throne. Zadkiel’s thirst for power will be his undoing in the end and it makes a problem for me.
“I will when I am king,” he replies eventually.
“No,” I say with a smirk, my skin lights up with my all my symbols. A little fear shines in his eyes but he is quick to turn around and walk out of the room. Govad follows close behind him, and he doesn’t meet my eyes. I look up at the old painting on the wall in the entrance hall to the council. It’s of my father, and it’s gigantic. My father has grey hair in this painting, a sign of how long he lived before he died a natural death. The narrow face and light purple eyes are just like Zadkiel’s and I look very little like him. I look like my mother, with all my father’s power.
“The council will now see you, prince Dabriel,” a young female angel says. She bows to me as I walk past and into the dome room the council sit in. They all watch me from their seats, each looking older than the next. The only one who is young is Lucifer and he nods to me, he still owes me a favour for his future. I wouldn’t say I like the dark angel but I wish him to be on my side. I need a dark angel to sway the council with me.
“Why was I called?” I ask, getting to the point so I can return to Winter. I don’t wish to be away from her for long anymore. I’ve fallen for her and the threats against her life are too high.
“The demons have been attacking our people, Prince,” Gabriel snaps out. I look over at him; he looks stressed and angry. Gabriel’s hair is nearly all grey and he sneers at me. He will never be on my side as he supports Zadkiel.
“We can’t see any attacks made by demons. We can’t see them coming and the witches’ wards aren’t working.” Gabriel snaps out. It doesn’t surprise me; I’m more surprised that more angels haven’t died from the attacks. If I can’t see any part of the demons’ future or anything about the king, then they would not be able to see them coming. This is a shock for the angels, so used to seeing any attack before it comes to their doorsteps.
“I am aware of the issue. The vampires and werewolves are now living in a protected castle. The castle is the old home of the goddess,” I tell them, each of them stare at me with mixed looks of shock and disgust.
“Impossible!” Gabriel spits out.
“No, it is not. The castle has a large ward, much stronger than any witch can give us and the prince of the witches has used his magic to hold it. It also has its own ancient magic,” I inform them.
“What are you telling us this for?” Lucifer asks me.
“We should move our people there,” I say and they all go silent. Not one of them says a word as I meet each of their eyes.
“Our people are at war. It is now the time to come together and fight. We can win if we are all together,” I tell them.
“It’s only a month until we choose a king. Is this truly the conversation you wish to have with us?” Raziel asks me and I nod at the dark angel. Raziel has always been impartial, and I hope he does side with me on taking the throne.
“Yes. I care not for a throne if all my subjects are dead or turned into demons,” I tell them. They whisper quietly amongst themselves for a long time before Gabriel speaks,
“We will not work with the vampires or werewolves. The war can be won on our side,” he says. I knew what they would say, but I’d hoped they would be smarter than this.
“You are all old fools who will get our people killed!” I shout out.
“Zadkiel believes that we should fight, they can be killed but its takes a few angels to take down one. We would like it if you stayed and fought with us.” Gabriel smiles at me.
“He is wrong and our people will pay for the mistakes of my brother’s bloodthirsty nature,” I spit out.
“I do not believe we should make a decision now. There is much to be discussed and a war on the way which we must defend ourselves from,” Lucifer says and his eyes meet mine for a second, knowing he is giving me time to save the angels from themselves.
“Agreed,” is repeated around the council. I turn to walk out but I hear,
“Do you have any visions prince Dabriel, your brother does not,” Lucifer says and I stop in my tracks.
“Yes, but none are certain or of any use. I can’t see anything other than blood and death in our future. I believe that we can work together to change this.” I say, and I don’t look at them as I walk out the doors, slamming them open. My wings spread open and I take off out of the front doors, into the sky. I fly for a while before I see the old house I used to meet Atti at when he came to get me as a child. The house is in ruins but it’s away from humans and angels. I land just seconds before I’m knocked to the ground. I swing around and punch the person in the stomach, using my wings to fly into the sky. Zadkiel’s eyes meet mine as he shoots into the air, and heads straight for me.
My younger brother was always the stupid one. My symbols kick in and I fly down to meet him. I’m bigger than Zadkiel so it’s easy to slam him into the side of the house. Bricks fall all over the ground and around our heads as I wrap my hands around his throat. He tries to fight me off but he has seriously underestimated me. I’ve always been abnormally strong.
“D, what the fuck?” Atti’s voice comes from behind me and a hand is slapped on my shoulder. I don’t see anything other than Zadkiel’s gasping and panicked eyes. His hands clawing my arms as I hold him down. If I kill him now, there won’t be any competition for the throne. My people would have to listen to me.
“Fuck, he isn’t worth this.” Atti says as I look down at my brother. The guilt wouldn’t be worth it and I don’t want to take the throne this way. I let go, listening to Atti’s words and stand up slowly, taking a few steps back.
“I will have the throne,” Zadkiel laughs and coughs out. I laugh humourlessly myself as I step forward and Atti appears in front of me, blocking my gaze from Zadkiel and his fucking laugh.
“He is an idiot D, don’t waste your time,” Atti says as he places his hands on my shoulders.
“I can just about fucking see you when you’re glowing like a torch man, let’s go,” Atti says, it’s hard not to smile.
“Fine,” I say and Atti moves us. His magic feels like being on one of those human roller coasters Atti convinced me to go to once. I didn’t see the point but Atti kissed Winter for the first time on one and Winter loved it. Atti is good for Winter, more than he realises because they are very alike. They both like to see the humour in life when times are getting bad. I don’t know how to do that but she still seems to like me.
“Why are we here?” I ask Atti when I see he has brought us to his house. Winter isn’t here; she’s at the castle seeing Alex and Leigha for the night. She expressed that she missed them and wanted some time alone.
“Boy’s night,” he says and I just don’t know how to reply to him.
“Pardon?” I ask and he laughs.
“Atti means we need to chill out for one night, and Winter is safe with her friends.” Jaxson comes into the lounge with two beers in his hand. He hands me one just as Wyatt comes in.
“Fucking hell, is that what you brought me here for?” Wyatt asks and takes a sip of his beer. I watch in humour as Mags follows Wyatt and jumps on the sofa next to him as he sits. Mags jumps into his lap and he holds his hands in the air.
“You just stroke her, or do I need to explain to you about how to deal with a girl on your lap?” Jaxson says with a laugh.
“I would have said pussy,” Atti jokes and laughs. Jaxson smirks at Atti and sits next to Wyatt. Mags gets up and sits on his lap as he strokes her.
“I’m not a cat person,” Wyatt glares at Jaxson and moves away.
“So, we are discussing cats all night?” I ask because I don’t wish do that. Mags is a lovely cat but it’s pointless when we have much more pressing issues.
“No. I got Avengers on DVD and beers. I’ll go and get pizza from New York in a bit. You can’t beat that shit,” Atti says and I laugh as I take a seat.
“Boy’s night it is,” I groan out.
“You guys are such fucking losers, I swear I have no idea why we are friends,” Wyatt grumbles.
“Because you love my ass,” Atti says with a big laugh and Wyatt throws a book at him.
“I’m just joking, fucker, chill.” Atti laughs as he stops the book in the air with a wave of his hand and a gush of air throws it across the room.
“Such a dick,” Wyatt says, but he relaxes in the seat and drinks his beer.
It was a good night.