“I’ll remember that when you complain later.” Ezekiel turned, his gesture obvious that he wished to be followed.
Several passages and curves later placed them near a beautiful rose garden and a gazebo filled with lilacs and other exotic flowers. A woman with raven-black hair sat waiting for them on the bench, her azure gaze expectant. She was a slight woman with pale features, but undeniably beautiful. Seraphic, even.
What is her ancestry? he wondered. Most of Osiris’s abominations maintained a certain air to them that she lacked. Interesting.
Ezekiel bowed before her, his every move filled with reverence while she watched him blankly. Gabriel expected a little more passion, perhaps even a hug, but she observed Ezekiel as one would an insect.
The relationship seemed rather one-sided.
Unrequited love, perhaps? If so, Ezekiel was far less competent than Gabriel earlier ascertained. To give up one’s life over emotion was already unreasonable. To sacrifice himself for a partner who didn’t share his intentions was a mark of insanity.
Skye stood, her white gown flowing to her ankles, and moved slowly toward Gabriel. “You are the faceless warrior in my visions, the one meant to help my Ezekiel free us all.” She stopped right in front of him, her eyes unblinking. “You have quite a challenge before you, Seraphim. I hope you accept your path.”
Riddles never intrigued him. “I’m here to learn more about my mother, not myself.”
Her light blue irises held his, but he sensed she wasn’t actually looking at him. “Her role differs from yours. She is the bearer of a new reign, a power unlike any this world has ever seen. Sethios will be the key to harnessing and sharpening her gifts. Without his guidance, she will destroy us all.”
That didn’t make any sense. “My mother possesses this skill?” Why would it manifest after a century of existence?
“Perhaps.” Skye tilted her head to the side, eyes still locked on his. “The energy resides within your mother, and Sethios is the only one who can control it, but I cannot see her face clearly. It is the unknown entity that will defeat Osiris, with the aid of Sethios.”
The baby, he realized. She couldn’t see Caro’s pregnancy but sensed the power growing inside of his mother. “What else can you tell me?”
Her pupils flared, giving her an eerie appeal. “You and Ezekiel will play important roles.” She finally blinked, but that faraway gleam didn’t leave. “Protection. Love. Freedom.” Some of the haze lifted and she frowned. “Betrayal will be required to garner favor and plant seeds. For the best rebellions grow from the ground up.”
What was with seers and their obsessions with colorful phrases? “What does that mean?”
“We’ll be operating on the side of evil until it’s time for us to join the good,” Ezekiel said. He stood several inches away from Skye, his hands clasped behind his back.
“Seven years,” she rasped, her face paling. “A great sacrifice will be made by Sethios to protect her. Them. Ezekiel in the flames. Trust solidified, and faith restored.” She gasped, falling to the ground on a screech that pierced the midafternoon air.
“We need to go,” Ezekiel said as Skye continued to scream.
“We can’t just leave her…”
“Now.” Ezekiel cast a longing look at the woman convulsing on the ground before snapping his focus to the hedges. “They’re coming.”
The Ichorian traced without another word, leaving Gabriel no choice but to follow. He went out the way he came in, reaffirming the wards as he went, and returned to the alley they originally departed from. Finding it vacant, he wandered to the bar and sat on a stool to wait.
Ezekiel would appear. He had to. There was no way they would end their conversation on that note.
“You’re back,” the redheaded bartender said, grinning far too eagerly.
“Yes.” He supposed that meant he needed yet another drink. “Can I try a bourbon?”
Her teeth appeared. “You can try anything you like.”
Okay… “Then I’ll try a bourbon,” he replied slowly. “Any brand.”
“I know just what you need.” She winked and picked up a glass.
He sensed she meant to flirt, but he couldn’t fathom why. Humans were bizarre. Ichorians, too, for that matter.
“What time do you close?” he asked, curious as to how long he could wait here for Ezekiel. For whatever reason, this encouraged the redhead to grin widely again.
Oh. Right. She thought he wanted to know when she would be free from work.
Not quite.
