Fallen Academy: Year Four (Fallen Academy #4)(6)

I had just reached Raph’s door when I heard a low female voice. She sounded angry.

“Humans aren’t as weak as you think they are, Raphael. It’s time we prepared them for the legacy we’re leaving them,” the female argued.

There was silence.

“I don’t think they’re weak, but I’d rather the Fallen Academy students protect humans, and fight the demons like we have for years.”

She scoffed. “And what about when there aren’t any more Fallen students? What then? You have a few more graduating classes, and then all the angel blessed who survived the Fallen War will be grown. Everyone under eighteen will be human. It’s time to pass the torch!” She sounded furious, and I was dying to know who she was.

“Come in, Brielle,” Raphael called out, and I stiffened.

Shit. Freaking mind reader!

Swallowing hard, I opened the door and took in the scene.

Raph was sitting behind his desk, wings fanned out as he pinched the bridge of his nose. In front of him, was some badass female with knee-high, black leather boots, a sword on one hip, and a gun on the other. She loomed over Raphael, and looked to be in her late thirties. The moment she spun to face me, I knew who she was, because she looked exactly like Emberly. Her stern face softened when she saw me, and a radiant smile lit up her features.

“Brielle! I’ve been dying to meet you. I’m Emberly’s mom, Grace.”

My eyebrows popped up in surprise a little at her name. It was so delicate and fitting for the wife of an angel.

“Hello,” I offered shyly.

Grace stepped closer to me. “May I walk you to your lesson?” Her hair was like a long sheet of white silk. It didn’t glow because she was human, but it almost did. She was absolutely stunning, and I couldn’t take my eyes off her.

Raphael looked relieved that she was offering to leave his office, so I nodded to her, finally gathering my wits and set the notes about my students on his desk.

“We aren’t even close to being done with this conversation, Raphael. See you at dinner this Saturday?” She looked over her shoulder.

Raph groaned. “Yes. I’ll be there.”

Grace nodded. “Good. Bring a lady friend, or I’m inviting one of mine to keep you company. You need to get out more.”

I chewed on the inside of my cheeks to keep from grinning at Raphael’s shocked expression, then left the office with Grace.

As we walked to the gym, I glanced at her gear. This lady was totally ready for battle.

“Are you in the army?” I asked her. She looked ready to throw down.

“God, no!” she scoffed. “They wouldn’t dare recruit a weak human.” The sarcasm dripped from her words as she walked in long, confident strides, and I found myself grinning at her sarcastic personality.

“I think it’s a great idea,” I told her. “That you want to train humans to fight the demons, I mean.”

She gave me a quizzical side glance. “Thank you. Raphael was open to the idea too, but the more we get into logistics, I can see he’s afraid they’ll get hurt. He treats us as if we’re so fragile.”

Humans were the most fragile among all of Earth’s inhabitants, but I didn’t think she wanted to hear that. “With the right weapons and training, I think humans would be valuable members of the Fallen Army,” I offered instead.

She stopped and faced me, a seriousness coming over her expression. “Next year is the last year of Awakening ceremonies, the last year of first year candidates. Everyone who was small during the Fallen War will be grown up, and I think this school could be put to better use as a Demon Hunter Academy. Humans only.”

Her words sent a thrill through me, though I couldn’t say why. It was shocking to hear that the next year would be the last of the first years. The generations to come after us would be mere humans. Yet, there would still be demons for them to fight, and no new students to replenish the numbers we lost in the war.

“You’re right.”

The door opened behind me suddenly, and I jumped slightly before turning.

Emberly poked her head out then. “Oh my God, Mom, don’t be so embarrassing. Brielle doesn’t care about your Demon Hunter Academy idea.”

Did she have super hearing or something? This was the second time she’d done something like this.

Grace raised one eyebrow at her daughter. “Well, I hope she cares, because I hope to convince her to become a teacher after she graduates.”

My heart knocked against my chest. A teacher? For humans? Something clicked inside of me, a knowing, like I’d been waiting my whole life to figure out what I wanted to do with it. Was I a healer because I had Raphael powers, or a fighter because of Michael? Should I slay demons or heal the wounded? How could I make the most impact in the war with the demons?

There had always been this confliction in me, but now… now joy spread through my limbs at the thought of teaching others. Like I did today.

“I’d love to,” I answered immediately.

Grace poked her tongue out at her daughter. “See?”

Emberly just groaned in response, but I couldn’t wipe the grin off my face.

A teacher. I wanted to be a teacher.

Maybe Raphael had seen this coming and was preparing me for my future. I wouldn’t put it past him.