Chapter Three:
Other than being specially trained to fight and protect, Angela didn't seem to have any other extraordinary abilities. Of course, she always seemed to know what the others were thinking. And no one seemed able to sneak up on her. Not even Skinner. So, she was able to completely confuse the entire League.
One day, shortly before they were to dock at Budapest to reclaim a member of the League, Sawyer, who had been scouting for them, Skinner found Angela on the deck, looking into the water. He tried again to sneak up on her, but failed. "Good afternoon, Mr. Skinner," she said, not moving; the breeze blew a few wisps of her hair into her face. She was wearing white as usual. "Don't you ever get sunburned?"
Skinner felt his cheeks burn. It was almost as though she could see him, naked, through his invisibility. "Occasionally. I once was burned to a crisp in a fire, though," he answered. A silence fell between them as he examined her. In his eyes, she truly looked like an Angel. The white of her dress, the cross at her throat… If anyone could be a real Angel, it would be her.
"Mr. Skinner, please don't look at me like that," she said softly. "It makes me uncomfortable."
"Sorry," he said immediately. Then he felt bold. Taking a chance, he asked, "Angela, may I kiss you?"
"As pleased as I am that you asked me, Rodney," she said coolly, "I cannot allow you to do that."
All right, all Skinner's manners left him. He was about to get irritated. It had been a while since he had been with a woman—any woman—and here was Angela, the most beautiful woman he had seen and she was denying him. Again. "All right," he said. "Why? What have I done to deserve your cold-shoulder? What's wrong with you, Angie? You're twenty-four, you only live once and you act like you will live forever and have the rest of all eternity to love and be loved!"
She turned to him suddenly. "Mr. Skinner," she said briskly. "You have pushed me past the bounds of a maiden's patience! No matter how many times you will ask me, my answer will always be the same!" She paused, then continued, "For human modesty or merely respect for me or Mina, please put on some clothes!" She turned sharply and disappeared below deck.
"Oy…"