Page 18 of Feathers and Scales

That’s a story I’d like to hear.Izzy acted so reserved and inhuman in ways. It was strange to imagine her having such philanthropic concerns, but Daxton believed there was a soft side hiding under her hard edges.

“Anyway.” Simon swiveled his chair, rummaged under the doughnut box holding a dozen that didn’t seem to affect his lean size, and grabbed a black book. “I created this manga to pass the time. I used to draw political comics back in the day. This is the fastest way to explain her kind, even if it’s meant to be fictional.”

Daxton accepted it and flipped through a few sheets containing cartoonlike characters with large eyes and exaggerated expressions. He was familiar with the Japanese-originated manga style because Sarah’s niece loved them.

“Flip through it. The educational parts are on the first ten pages. I’ll be here if you have questions,” Simon said, turning around.

“Thanks.” A thrumming tension whisked past Daxton’s Insight—excitement. Simon must not have shown this to anyone.

After opening to the first heavily illustrated page, Daxton read through to find the story mirroring what Izzy had told him. After ten pages, he lifted his head. “They kill demons to collect their feathers?”

“To return to Heaven, yes. The only problem is it’s impossible to gather all their feathers within one human lifespan. Many have tried. All have failed. Izzy and I have been researching how to extend her life long enough to achieve it, but some days I think she’s lost hope. When they pass away and are reborn, as a baby, mind you, they start over with no feathers. It’s bollocks, huh?”

Simon turned toward Daxton and steepled his fingers together. “Most of them go insane, unable to take the ongoing cycle of reincarnation. Like scornful children, they seek revenge against the Supreme and become Archfiends to hurt humans. Izzy has turned to researching anything. Seriously, she has a wall of diplomas.”

Daxton’s heart throbbed in his chest. Intelligent women were his weak spot. Especially those with goals like pursuing an education since it had been so hard for him with his dragon’s inability to sit still.

“I’m sure Izzy will drop her identity here as Camilla without finishing her degree.” Simon rubbed his eyes. “This assailant worries me. He must have known where her body would be if he attacked her. It’s only a matter of time. She needs to return to her body.”

“I agree.”

“What is she even doing in there?”

“Reading.”

“Ah…that makes sense. She becomes blind to everything, even her own health when she starts on a new topic. Thank you for helping her.”

The gratitude kicked him in the shin.I should have killed the Tattered One that night.

“Is she safe?” Daxton again used his Insight to search the premises for any signs of a Tattered One. They left a distinctive spirit energy of evil, malice, and rotting blood. He sensed nothing.

“Once she returns to her body, she will be. The Archfiend would have to kill her spirit, then her body to absorb her power. I don’t know how an Archfiend found her. If they identified her from the media, maybe they’d know she attends college here. The Fallen stay in the same family lines with each reincarnation, their faces barely changing—another part of the punishment. Some Fallen can recognize each other even after generations. Along with keeping her life seamless with each reincarnation—money, what have you—I have to protect her, but it’s hard to keep her out of the public eye sometimes.”

Having the same face generation to generation would be a handicap. Why would she attend college or be in a public setting if she feared an Archfiend from her past would identify her?

“But that wouldn’t explain how he tracked her down to Maine,” Simon continued. “She can transport anywhere she wants. Her spirit is, in the simplest term, energy, and travels at almost the speed of light. She would have traveled to Maine and back to Tennessee with no problem had she not run into the Archfiend.”

Daxton squeezed the bridge of his nose as a headache built. The more he learned about the Fallen, the more remarkable they became. But she was also turning into a nightmare to protect. He couldn’t just demand she stay put while he hunted for the Tattered One.

“So, what else is in this manga?” Daxton asked.

A blush reddened Simon’s cheeks, and he avoided Daxton’s gaze.

“The rest is a fictional work about a Coheart and a Fallen who prevail against evil.”

“What is a Coheart?”

“A kind of butler figure that keeps the Fallen’s affairs together until they reach puberty and remember their memories. But there’s nothing of value in the rest of the manga unless you enjoy reading.”

“Stories stemming from truth are always interesting.” If he were to spread the information about the Fallen to his fellow kind, it might beeasier to use the manga as a teaching tool. “Would you sell me a few copies?”

Simon’s gaze widened over his gaping mouth. “I can’t give this to you. Izzy doesn’t want an Archfiend to trace her through this.”

“Which is understandable, but we’d treat it with the same secrecy we afford ourselves. What if I talked to her about it? Surely, you’ve considered how much you would sell it for?”

“I’d triple your number, Simon.” Izzy’s voice came from behind him. “I’m sure he could afford it.”

Daxton, out of gentlemanly habit when a woman walked into a room, stood and nodded. In his periphery, Simon mirrored the movement. He had the feeling Simon wasn’t mimicking him. The old-fashioned courtesy was a rarity for men of the current generation. Daxton had grown accustomed to the manners in the 1800s. The feeling that Simon was older than he appeared increased.