Sword's Blessing by Kaitlin R. Branch

word,” Giselle said. “Atlantis.”
    Samantha choked. “Atlantis? You’re kidding. The general myth says they grew too prideful and were struck down. Is that wrong?”
    “Not exactly.” Giselle looked to the side. “A child did judge them of being guilty of pride. Instead of giving them a sign, a chance, a warning or an incentive to change though…he attacked them. A bloodbath until the rest of the Angels could bring him down. They had to vaporize the city itself.”
    “Holy shit on a stick.” Giselle glanced over at Samantha with a disapproving frown. Perhaps they were friends, but did she have to be vulgar? Samantha held up her hands. “Sorry, sorry. Well, I guess I see why they got touchy about Armand. What about half-blooded children? Eli’s mentioned them before.”
    Giselle shrugged. “They don’t seem to carry the curse, but the stigma is still there. A half-blooded child is generally ignored. They’re rumored to have silver eyes, but other than that do not know of their angelic heritage, and often don’t even see their Angelic parent.”
    “Even if the Angel is from the mother’s side?” Samantha asked, wide-eyed.
    “Especially then.” Giselle shrugged. “Most of the time the child is left with a benevolent-but-barren family or something similar.” She tapped at the car. Could she trust the other woman? Her true guidance was gone with the light in her sword. She didn’t have much recourse, now. “I don’t know what to do now, Samantha.”
    Samantha shrugged, as if the answer were as simple as breathing. “Well, if half-bloods are okay, marry Armand and stick around. He still knows you. You could build something nice.”
    “Nice, but not quite right,” Giselle shook her head. “Who would know how to bring the memories back?”
    “I’m afraid my networking in the supernatural world sucks.” Samantha chuckled. “Give me a moment and I’ll ask my friends. If all else fails, Eli can talk to Francis.”
    “Francis? Friends? You just said your networking sucked.”
    “In the physical world it does,” Samantha said, tapping her chest. “We’ve both got an awful lot of resources right here.”
    Giselle stared. Being an Angel was simple and fairly easy past ascension. The problem most every Angel suffered besides she and Armand, was loneliness. Could every Damned truly speak to the souls they collected? Eli had mentioned allies were more valuable than hostages. “Must be nice to have company in your head.”
    “First you have to get past the insanity,” Samantha said with a grin. “Grass is always greener, and all. One moment.” She folded her arms, bowed her head, and seemed to nod off. Giselle looked around, waited, but Samantha didn’t seem intent on moving.
    She glanced in the window of the restaurant, and saw Eli and Armand in one of the window booths. Eli waved to her. Giselle glanced at Samantha, and then back to Eli, who was still waving. She walked in to the building, immediately shaking in cold from the air conditioning. “She s-said she was asking her friends?”
    “I figured,” Eli said and spread his arms open to the plethora of sandwiches and fries spread over the table. “Take whatever you want. I pegged you for a light eater, but Samantha will be hungry, and I eat like a damn horse.”
    Giselle stared at him for a moment, and was unable to resist, “A…damn horse?”
    Eli hummed, nodding in agreement at first, and then looked up at her with widened eyes. Giselle just stared back. Surely he had done that on purpose.
    The Damned threw back his head and laughed. “Good one.” He grinned. “Really great! Here, have a burger!”
    “This stuff is delicious.” Armand piped up, “Though I don’t get what was funny. Something about his horns and your wings?”
    Giselle blinked. “You can still see them?” she asked.
    “He can indeed.” Eli chuckled, patting Armand’s shoulder. “About gave me a heart attack when he asked about it walking in.”
    “How?”