Shadow Of Angels (Halfway Between Book 1) by Kathryn Ann Kingsley

Author:Kathryn Ann Kingsley [Kingsley, Kathryn Ann]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Limitless Publishing, LLC
Published: 2020-01-07T06:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fourteen

March 1939

Boston

Selina sat on top of the counter by the wall, watching Alistair work. It was fascinating to see, even if her being here weren’t part of her training. Usually, she hated her lessons, but this one was unique. This one was special.

A figure lay on the table in front of her. The figure of a human, full-scale, but devoid of features. A wooden puppet that looked so much like her drawing figurines that she used for her anatomy and art studies. The candlelight in the room flickered and danced, casting amber reflections on the polished surface. Each of its joints was a wooden ball, all strung together with pieces of carefully treated leather.

When she had asked if the strips of hide wouldn’t just wear out and snap, Alistair had chuckled. She had made the incorrect assumption that anything about the figurine was as normal as what it appeared to be.

As if what she was looking at was normal in any way shape or form. To him, it probably was, she realized. He was humming to himself quietly as he ran a cloth over the ash wood body, polishing the varnish. To her, the most fascinating thing about the wooden body wasn’t the extreme care and love the archdemon had put into their carving.

It was the inlaid metal symbols that caught her eye. Each puppet Alistair made was unique, slightly different in the kind of wood or the type of metal he placed into the surface. This one wore bright brass circles on its forearms and calves. She knew three more were etched into its back.

Each symbol was written in the true language of the angels, their true meaning lost on her. But he had taught her that each was a merger of two names, an archdemon and their twin in Heaven. It was meant to do one thing—to bind a soul to the form that wore them.

It was a rare magic, one he said only he knew how to perform. She would ask him how it was that he came to be the owner of such knowledge, but she was instructed to sit there silently and watch. This was an important moment, and he had to focus. It was very much against her nature to sit quietly. He rarely ever asked her to perform the monumental task, so she took extra care to respect it.

When all was ready, when the figure on the table was polished and was arranged just so, he motioned to the man standing at the door. He opened it obediently and stood aside for the person who stood at the other side to enter.

Her name was Emily. She had served Alistair for thirty years. She was growing older now, in her fifties, the corners of her eyes creased with a life of smiles and sadness. Still, her aging flesh did nothing to diminish the warmth and brightness in her eyes. Emily was brilliant, and Selina knew the woman well.

She had also recently been diagnosed with cancer.

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