Blown Away!: Even More Confessions of an Angel in Training by Delisle Shel

Author:Delisle, Shel [Delisle, Shel]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: Something Else Publishing
Published: 2015-04-13T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 17

They didn’t haul me off and brand me right then, but instead sent me back to whittle and sand my second paddle. I began to hope that maybe it wouldn’t happen. Maybe my willingness to take it was enough proof of my loyalty.

That night, when The Locusts gather around the bonfire, I think we’ll be having another Kumbaya evening of Disclosures and s’mores, so I’m surprised when Annex stands and calls the group to attention. “Tonight we have a special celebration. We welcome Angel in Training Grace Lightbourne to our ranks.”

Uh-oh.

There’s light applause, and I’m pretty sure the look on Frank’s face is a grin, but can’t say for sure, because I’ve never seen the dude happy before. He brings Annex a long mahogany box and presents it to him like it’s Excalibur.

Annex opens the box gently. Inside, against velvet lining, is a metal pole about three feet long. At one end is the raised design of a Locust. Annex places that end into the fire.

Tremors start in my legs and work their way up my body. I press my fists against my thighs to get them to stop shaking. Please, don’t let anyone around the campfire see my fear. Annex starts giving a speech. To me it sounds like this, “The long-standing tradition of the Locusts…blah, blah, blah. Our mission to re-shape the Heavenly hierarchy…blah, blah, blah. And to remain active participants, supporting Heaven’s goals…blah, blah, blah.”

The long-windedness of this speech doesn’t really seem like Annex. In fact, it reminds me of Michael in tone.

He removes the pole from the fire, the branding end now glowing red hot. “Grace, please hold out your arm.” Then he puts both of his hands on my shoulders, leaning in, his lips by my ears. “It’s not as bad as it seems. It’s over in a couple seconds.”

Sure.

I hold my arm out, and squeeze my eyes shut to block out everything and pray. Hello. If you’re there, can you help me out of this?

Annex starts pontificating again, “With all due respect to Him, we believe…blah, blah blah…Repeat after me: I, Grace Lightbourne, do hereby take the…blah, blah.”

I repeat it like a good robot. All the while hoping beyond hope that someone—Victor, Michael, anyone, really—will swoop in and carry me away from this scene. Are you coming? Or, can you give me a sign that this is what you want? The tremors in my legs have now turned into earthquakes. I’m so stupid! Why didn’t I just Declare and finish school like everyone else? I keep my eyes shut, and then I feel it on the inside of my arm, searing, and pain, and…

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