Inception (The Reaping Chronicles, 1) Read Online Free PDF

His concern, though kind, was wholly misplaced. But he would have no idea of that—at least, she hoped he wouldn’t suspect.
    She looked around to see if she drew any other attention but there wasn’t anyone left. They’d heeded nature’s threats. Even if they did notice the seventeen-year-old standing at the water’s edge, they probably wouldn’t take enough time to realize she was, somehow, different.
    They don’t notice the fantastical side of their world at all.
    The thought both relieved and disturbed her.
    Gabrielle turned her attention back to the sunset as she, once again, tried to distract herself from her thoughts and recalled her day.
    She’d spent the day under a much different sky, one full of sunlight and cotton clouds, experiencing the added sensations her human senses allowed—senses she had no need of in her true form. She was enjoying being incarnated this time more than any before. It was the first time she’d been on Earth for more than a few minutes without drawing the unwanted and dangerous attention of every demon within a hundred miles. All thanks to the Aegis Veil.
    While spending part of the day walking slowly in and out of the shops along the road running parallel to the beach, enjoying the protection the veil offered, she discovered the blissful taste of mint chocolate chip ice cream. She loved the way the cold slipped down her throat but didn’t understand why it caused her to shiver and get little raised bumps on her tan skin. To her relief, they went away as quickly as they appeared. It had been a nice change from the heat of day, and she looked forward to another scoop before she made her way to her temporary home.
    The task ahead was going to be difficult, and she hoped she was doing the right thing. It made little difference if she was one of the most powerful angels Yahuwah ever created if she couldn’t figure out how to make humans have faith again. So many from her home, as well as here on Earth, were relying on her success. She and her brethren were losing the battle that had been waged between Light and Darkness for thousands of years. It was beginning to slip through their fingers so fast that Gabrielle was concerned the decision to live here had been made too late.
    This was all she could do, though.
    This, and handling karma—making sure people receive the appropriate rewards or punishments for their choices. Free will is a wonderful gift, but so many used theirs without a conscience now, and humanity’s lack of conscience was the biggest obstacle to winning the war.
    Gabrielle breathed the warm, moist sea air into her lungs, stretched them as far as she could and exhaled slowly. She needed to clear her mind of her concerns.
    Just concentrate on your goal.
    It was difficult to ease her tension. Her job had been affecting her mood more harshly every day. As much as she loved her position as The Angel of Karma, she hated the hostility she found herself experiencing most days—a nasty repercussion of dealing with so much bad karma. Handing out a little more good karma would go a long way in making her less edgy.
    Closing her eyes, she tried to listen only to the waves. They were coming in at a more rapid pace as the angry clouds grew closer.
    Soon, there won’t be more than a heartbeat of time between each break of waves.
    Her focus on the sound wasn’t what soothed her troubled thoughts. It was the image of the young man. She loved seeing this stranger’s face pass into her mind’s eye. She loved it, and at the same time, was frightened that she loved it. She didn’t know who he was—the young man with the blue eyes she wanted to retreat into. She did know the feelings she seemed to be having for this human were forbidden, something she couldn’t act upon.
    I can’t have the love of a human any more than I can have it from any angel other than Javan, unless I join the Fallen … and that will never happen.
    The human, at least his image and the way it made her