22
Father of the Angel
"WHO SUMMONS THE ANGEL GABRIEL?" a voice boomed. "Leigh-Ann, darling; is it you?"
Jace looked up into the blinding light, concealing his face. When the light dimmed, he looked up at the tall Angel.
"You are NOT my darling Leigh-Ann! How dare you summon me?" He raised a hand.
"WAIT!" Jace yelled up at him. "I'm a friend of Leigh-Ann's!"
Gabriel put his arm back to his side. "A friend of Leigh-Ann's; well why are you summoning me? Why is she not with you?"
"That's why we summoned you, Angel Gabriel! We need your help getting to her."
"Help you get to Stonehenge?"
"Yes…wait…How do you know where she is?"
A booming laugh erupted from Gabriel. "How would I not? I am an Archangel. Not only that, but why would I not be watching over her? I love her."
"…love…?"
"She is my pride and joy. How dearly I miss her mother; to this day I do not regret striking Valentine with a bolt."
Jace stood up as he began to actually realize the words that he was hearing. "Are you Leigh-Ann's father?"
Gabriel's eyes looked down at Jace. They were thoughtful. "Yes. Casting her out was the hardest thing I've ever done you see."
"Well, then, please help us get to her!"
"Leigh-Ann's quest-"
"I don't care! I need to help her! You don't understand, sir! I'm in love with your daughter!"
Gabriel looked down at Jace, whose face was more than determined. "Ah yes. You were the boy I told her to kiss."
"…What?"
"Leigh-Ann saved you with the one thing that rids all poisons; an Angel's kiss. Clearly, as I thought, you meant a great deal to her and I can see that she means a great deal to you as well."
Jace looked absolutely stricken with surprise.
"And because of that I shall help you get to Stonehenge; all of you." He gestured to them all to enter the summoning circle, and they did not hesitate. "I could not appreciate any of you more than I do now for wanting to help my daughter. However, when the time comes, when it is the moment for her to gain her wings, do not stop her."
"Stop her? Why would we?"
"She must do something that will want you to stop her from doing. She does not know what that moment will really mean, but I do, therefore, please, do not stop her. I need my daughter to come back to me. I've never held her but once in my life. I want that feeling in my heart."
Jace looked up at the Angel thoughtfully. "Yes, sir," he replied.
"…Now, to Stonehenge you shall go." His hand hovered above all of their heads and a feeling washed over them.
Leigh-Ann didn't like this. A feeling had washed through her when she passed through the portal; a feeling that was utterly familiar to her. Though the pain in her gut was clear, she did not hunch over this time around; instead she endured it so she would not give herself away in case any enemies were near. Sadie pawed down as they started slowly up the hill, encasing them with glamour. A low hiss escaped her lips and she dropped down the ground when she saw it.