Grounded

Chapter 18 of Banished for Love

Janie’s Point of View

 

“This is so bogus. Why couldn’t we stay on Earth? Even if we'd had to be relocated, it would still be better that these stupid inaccurate simulations they’re subjecting us to,” Libby says testily from her spot on the bed in our old room.

 

“Because we ‘aided in hiding Kelsey’s treason,’” I reply in a mock imitation of the council member who had “grounded” us. I step over to a shimmering pool in the floor and kneel beside it. I dip my finger into the center of the pool and as the water begins to ripple, images form.

 

“If only the council could see how happy they are together,” I say, watching Kelsey and Jeremy talk and laugh back on Earth.

 

A loud knock sounds on our front door. I run my hand over the surface of the pool, effectively erasing the images.

 

“Who could be coming to our door in the middle of the afternoon unannounced?” Libby asks, rolling off her bed. I shrug and head for the door, Libby on my heels. I open it to find one of the many High Council messengers.

 

“The High Council requests an audience with the two of you immediately,” he says formally before bowing to us and flying away.

 

“Jeez, they don’t even wait for an answer?” Libby inquires.

 

“It’s not exactly like we can really decline a summons from the High Council,” I reply, stepping out the door.

 

“Sure we could! We’d probably get our asses beat, but it could be done,” Libby says as we fly toward the council meeting room.

 

“Exactly, so in an attempt to save our asses, let’s see what they want.” I reply, anxiety coiling in my gut.

 

Archangels guarding the building bow their heads to us as we stride past. Inside the meeting room, we are greeted by more armed archangels surrounding the tall podium the council sits upon. Libby and I bow in forced respect to them. Ever since that day, in this very chamber, watching them brutalize our best friend in that way, it was hard to stomach looking any of them in the eye.

 

“Janie, Libby, we have called the two of you here to talk about your friend Kelsey. We are willing to offer her a second chance,” the council member in the middle states.

 

“Really?” Libby and I exclaim in excitement.

 

“On one condition; In order to be reinstated to training for guardianship, she must relocate and find another subject to guard.” My hope deflates as I realize what they’re asking; they want her to leave Jeremy behind.

 

“She won’t do it,” I reply flatly.

 

“Please Janie,” Maggie says from her seat on the council. “We just want Kelsey back.”

 

“What you’re asking is impossible. She wants to guard Jeremy because she loves him. If you 'just wanted her back' you'd take her back without contingency. If you 'just wanted her back' you’d do away with the stupid rule that got her banished in the first place,” I reply, irritated.

 

“Your job as a guardian is to guide and protect a human in life-or-death situations. We can’t let her feelings for the boy get in the way of that,” another council member explains bluntly.

 

“That’s ridiculous! If anything, that would make her do her job better. It’s not like she’s going to let anything happen to the guy she loves!” Libby explodes, causing a few of the Archangels to shift uneasily toward us.

 

The council is silent, each of them sharing looks with one another. I get a sinking feeling that theres something they’re not telling us, a bigger reason why they want her back.

 

“There’s one other issue we wished to discuss,” another angel says. “Kelsey has come into contact with Satan’s heir. He seems to be trying to turn her over to, for lack of a better term, the dark side.”

 

“What?! How does she not know?” Libby yells worriedly.

 

“The boy is half human, and has snaked his way into her circle of trust. If she grows too close to him, and by extension his father, there will be no saving her.”

 

“What can we do?” I ask as rationally as possible.

 

“Unfortunately, not as much as we would like. We can’t tell her of the boy’s heritage, and you two are forbidden from interacting with fallen angels.”

 

“Then why did you bother telling us?” Libby explodes again, earning more encroaching Archangels.

 

“We need the two of you to monitor the situation from up here. Keep us posted on the severity of what is happening,” the middle council member states.

 

Libby opens her mouth to retort, but I cover it with my hand. “We’ll get right on that. But can I get someone to watch over the human I've been guarding since my return so I can devote my full attention to this situation?”

 

“Of course, we will assign another to take your charge,” Maggie says with a smile. I nod once to the council and tow Libby toward home.

 

“Why didn’t you let me snap back at that corrupt council?” Libby says as we’re flying.

 

“I didn’t want them assigning this to someone else because of your short temper. If Kelsey needs something kept secret, we’re the only ones who will do that for her. We can keep what we say to the council on a need-to-know basis.”

 

Libby nods in understanding. “I get it, I just wish we could do something to warn her.”

 

“Me too, Lib. Me too.”