on the mortal plane.”
“They don’t,” Vlane agreed. Of all the Extraordinaries, Angels were the most removed from the day to day life on earth. Besides the Reapers who escorted mortal souls into the afterlife, most Angels dealt with humans sparingly and only if ordered to do so. Direct involvement was extremely rare, and was done without human knowledge or recognition.
“They do if they are Fallen.”
“Fallen?” Vlane furrowed a brow.
“Angels cast out of heaven,” Armand clarified. “It does not happen often.”
Vlane cast a look over at Jax, who was sitting quietly in the corner. He said nothing, but met Vlane’s gaze evenly, silently confirming they were on the right track.
“Why would an Angel be cast out of Heaven?” Vlane asked.
Armand stroked his jaw. “Disobedience, primarily. Giving in to temptations of the flesh or carnal pleasures is usually the most common offense, but second-guessing the Plan happens, too. Sometimes an Angel cannot see the big picture, and takes it upon him or herself to do what they think is right instead of what they are told to do.”
“It seems to go against the tenet of free will.”
“Not really,” Armand countered. “They, like we, have a choice. If they break the rules, there are consequences. The choices, the consequences – they are all part of the Plan.”
“Explain free will to me again,” Kristoff said, shaking his head. “How can you have a choice if the outcome is predetermined?”
Armand gave his young friend a patient smile. The topic was one he had been debating for centuries. “Knowing the most likely course one will take does not preclude them from making the choice to do so. For example, I can say with relative confidence that after this meeting, you will find your way down to the kitchen to sniff out our delectable new donor and consider charming her into spending the rest of the night in your playroom. That does not mean that you could instead choose to forego the surety of that encounter for something a bit more challenging – such as seeking out the lovely little female you assisted the other evening.”
Kristoff’s dark eyes glittered as the power around him temporarily flared, but Armand’s beatific expression remained serene. How did the old vamp even know about the shy, quiet female Kristoff had encountered when her car had broken down alongside the road? The one with pretty hazel eyes that he couldn’t seem to stop thinking about, who thought he was nothing but a nice, human guy who happened by in the middle of the night and knew how to change a tire?
“So?” Kristoff said, shrugging his shoulders as if it was unimportant. “We have lived together since my turning. You know me well.”
“Exactly!” Armand beamed. “You do not think the Creator knows us? Knows what is in our hearts and minds? Can foresee the way events will play out? But I digress.” He looked back to Vlane. “Given the little bit you have told me about her – namely her penchant for helping others and her resilience - I would speculate that this woman, Ryssa, defied a direct order.”
“So she does something she’s not supposed to and spends time in the penalty box. How does she end up with Karthik?” Kristoff asked.
“That is a bit more puzzling,” Armand mused. “Angels – even Fallen – are extremely powerful. There is not a demon in existence that can control an angel, unless...”
“Unless what?” Vlane prompted. Armand glanced at Jax, whose eyes were bright and glittering. “Unless the angel willingly allows it.”
“Why would anyone do that?” Kristoff scoffed.
“Sacrifice,” Vlane said, realization dawning as he looked at his bride. “She gave herself for another.”
“If that is true,” Armand mused, “then all is not hopeless.”
“Explain.”
“If Ryssa’s actions were made with a pure heart, then her soul is not truly damned and remains intact. If she repents, her bond with Karthik will be
“They don’t,” Vlane agreed. Of all the Extraordinaries, Angels were the most removed from the day to day life on earth. Besides the Reapers who escorted mortal souls into the afterlife, most Angels dealt with humans sparingly and only if ordered to do so. Direct involvement was extremely rare, and was done without human knowledge or recognition.
“They do if they are Fallen.”
“Fallen?” Vlane furrowed a brow.
“Angels cast out of heaven,” Armand clarified. “It does not happen often.”
Vlane cast a look over at Jax, who was sitting quietly in the corner. He said nothing, but met Vlane’s gaze evenly, silently confirming they were on the right track.
“Why would an Angel be cast out of Heaven?” Vlane asked.
Armand stroked his jaw. “Disobedience, primarily. Giving in to temptations of the flesh or carnal pleasures is usually the most common offense, but second-guessing the Plan happens, too. Sometimes an Angel cannot see the big picture, and takes it upon him or herself to do what they think is right instead of what they are told to do.”
“It seems to go against the tenet of free will.”
“Not really,” Armand countered. “They, like we, have a choice. If they break the rules, there are consequences. The choices, the consequences – they are all part of the Plan.”
“Explain free will to me again,” Kristoff said, shaking his head. “How can you have a choice if the outcome is predetermined?”
Armand gave his young friend a patient smile. The topic was one he had been debating for centuries. “Knowing the most likely course one will take does not preclude them from making the choice to do so. For example, I can say with relative confidence that after this meeting, you will find your way down to the kitchen to sniff out our delectable new donor and consider charming her into spending the rest of the night in your playroom. That does not mean that you could instead choose to forego the surety of that encounter for something a bit more challenging – such as seeking out the lovely little female you assisted the other evening.”
Kristoff’s dark eyes glittered as the power around him temporarily flared, but Armand’s beatific expression remained serene. How did the old vamp even know about the shy, quiet female Kristoff had encountered when her car had broken down alongside the road? The one with pretty hazel eyes that he couldn’t seem to stop thinking about, who thought he was nothing but a nice, human guy who happened by in the middle of the night and knew how to change a tire?
“So?” Kristoff said, shrugging his shoulders as if it was unimportant. “We have lived together since my turning. You know me well.”
“Exactly!” Armand beamed. “You do not think the Creator knows us? Knows what is in our hearts and minds? Can foresee the way events will play out? But I digress.” He looked back to Vlane. “Given the little bit you have told me about her – namely her penchant for helping others and her resilience - I would speculate that this woman, Ryssa, defied a direct order.”
“So she does something she’s not supposed to and spends time in the penalty box. How does she end up with Karthik?” Kristoff asked.
“That is a bit more puzzling,” Armand mused. “Angels – even Fallen – are extremely powerful. There is not a demon in existence that can control an angel, unless...”
“Unless what?” Vlane prompted. Armand glanced at Jax, whose eyes were bright and glittering. “Unless the angel willingly allows it.”
“Why would anyone do that?” Kristoff scoffed.
“Sacrifice,” Vlane said, realization dawning as he looked at his bride. “She gave herself for another.”
“If that is true,” Armand mused, “then all is not hopeless.”
“Explain.”
“If Ryssa’s actions were made with a pure heart, then her soul is not truly damned and remains intact. If she repents, her bond with Karthik will be
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