Yet he would never interfere with any event on the Earth plane. Maybe the Powers were too disconnected from the world to understand it, or maybe they saw more than Sunshine did and knew some reason why they couldn’t meddle.
“Your time has come, Sunshine.”
“Time for what, sir?”
“I have petitioned the Dominations, and they agreed you are ready.”
Her fingers clenched around her teacup. She took a sip to avoid overspill.
The first rank of the Second Sphere, the Dominations oversaw all angels beneath them. They were genderless beings of unfathomable power and wisdom. The only angels higher were those of the First Sphere—the Thrones, Cherubim, and Seraphim—so lofty they were unseen by all.
“There is a book.” Adriel leaned forward to set his cup down, pale hair sliding over one shoulder. Not a strand out of place, it moved like liquid silk. “A grimoire, to be precise. Until now, it was in the possession of a witch.”
“Until now?”
“It was stolen by a demon. I am tasking you with retrieving it.”
Sunshine frowned. An angel charged with finding a witch’s grimoire was equivalent to the President of the United States being given a paper route. It was absurd.
“Retrieving it for…the witch, sir?”
Adriel shook his head. “The book will be brought to the Empyrean Library for safekeeping.”
Why leave it in the witch’s possession before, then? Why did he only care about the book once the demon had taken it?
Sunshine didn’t understand, but she didn’t want to ask either. Adriel never scolded her for her questions, but there was something about his profound equanimity that made it difficult to voice them.
“I don’t understand, sir,” was all she could say.
Adriel smiled. “Your inquisitive spirit will serve you well in the test to come. It’s something I admire about you.”
“Thank you?” She was unable to disguise her confusion.
His smile simply widened. “I’m sure you have questions.”
“Many.”
“I will answer those that I can. But there is more I must say first.”
She waited for him to continue.
“This task will also serve as your final test. If you succeed, you will reascend to your former rank among the Principalities.”
Sunshine jolted upright, sloshing tea on herself in her haste. To avoid further spillage, she quickly set her cup down and then fixed her attention on her mentor.
“Sir?” She almost couldn’t believe she’d heard him correctly.
“The Dominations have declared it so: if you pass, your penance will be complete, and what you have lost will be restored.”
She swallowed, unable to form words, her gratitude and hope rendering her speechless. “Thank you, sir.”
“You deserve this. There’s no need to thank me.” Adriel’s head tilted. “But remember, you must complete the test first. There’s still work to do.”
Yes, but all she had to do was steal a book from a demon. It was simple.
Perhapstoosimple, she thought with sudden trepidation. If this was to be her ultimate test, it was only logical she would face real challenges.
Whatever happened, she would be strong. She would prove to Adriel that his faith in her was well founded, and she would finally regain the respect she had lost so many years ago. She would fix her mistakes. She would bury her past, her pain, and her fear for good.
