Outcast by Abigail Livinghouse (top 100 books of all time checklist txt) 📖

Prologue

He’s been shunned from Heaven, and refuses to give up and be sent to the depths of Hell. Forced to live among mortals, Gabriel must look after a human in order to earn his place back in Heaven before Zale, a dark angel turned good–or so he says–claims it as his own. The human that Gabriel has been assigned to, a sixteen year old girl named Rafaela, who never listens to anyone, does whatever she wants, and who has gotten arrested before for a number of things including drunk driving, being in possession of drugs while at school, and caught smoking. Gabriel feels no need to look after a spoiled little girl who likes to disobey her parents. But when Gabriel comes face to face with Rafaela, he realizes why she is so wanted. Rafaela is sought after in both Heaven and Hell, and Zale wants her for his own. Well, if Zale wants her than she must be something special. Now it’s up to Gabriel to protect her, and keep her from falling victim to the false promises of Hell, and stay true to the pure allure of Heaven. 

Chapter One

Gabriel 

 

“I don’t understand.” I said, my brow creased in frustration.

 

Aria sighed and strode over to me, sitting down on the arm of the chair I was in. She began playing with my hair as she talked.

 

“I’m sorry baby, but you aren’t welcome anymore. Boss’s orders.” She said, ruffling my honey gold hair.

 

I shot up out of the chair, glaring at the angel before me. Aria had long light brown hair that cascaded down to her waist in curls. She had dark green eyes, and a sweet girlish face that was very misleading.

 

Aria was short and had a thin figure. At the moment she wore a plaid school girl outfit. Why? I had no idea. She was the kind of girl who didn’t give a damn what other people thought about her. It was one thing I liked about her. Aria, even though she was an angel, and not a dark angel, she was cunning and very mischievous. You could always count on her to have a plan. She watched me curiously, her head cocked to the side.

 

“I know you’re upset, but Gabe, what you did is unforgivable. God is very generous to offer you this. You know He’s upset with you, you should be grateful for this opportunity.” Aria said softly. I snorted.

 

“Oh yes, I am very grateful to be going a step down. To be downgraded from one of God’s very own angels to a guardian angel. Yes, I am overjoyed.” I sneered, turning my back on Aria and beginning to pace back and forth.

 

“There must be something else I can do.” I mumbled to myself.

 

Aria shook her head. “Nope. These are His direct orders. From me to you.”

 

I exhaled sharply, sitting down on the couch and taking a break from my quick pacing. I covered my eyes with my hand, speaking quietly. “Tell me who, Aria.”

 

She hesitated. I looked up, seeing a sheepish smile on her face. My eyebrows rose. “Aria?”

 

She waved her hands. “Now, don’t shoot the messenger.” She took a breath. “It’s Rafaela Geordie.”

 

I shut my eyes for a moment, and kept them closed while I talked.

 

“No. No, absolutely not!” I exclaimed, my eyes snapping open and getting to my feet once again. Aria slowly got up as well.

 

“Sorry babe, but that’s the one.” She said sympathetically, but her pity just made me even more infuriated.

 

I shook my head. This had to be some horrible dream. Some nightmare that I would soon wake up from. It was a feeble wish, but I hoped. Some part of me however knew that this wasn’t a dream, that this was just cruel reality. My punishment. A fallen angel’s punishment.

 

I looked at Aria, who was rocking back and forth on her heels. I had made my decision. I would do this, but I would need to see what I’d be working with first. Please, just let her be some saint. Some purity ring wearing, preppy, pretty girl who would be easy to deal with. I almost laughed at myself. If she was that girl then I wouldn’t be getting assigned to her.

 

“Show her to me.” I demanded.

Chapter Two

Gabriel

      

Aria came over and took my hand. Her touch was soft and gentle, reproaching.

 

“Okay.” She led me to one of the windows and climbed out.

 

I followed suit, keeping hold of her hand. We perched on the edge of the roof of the apartment, looking down at the glowing lights of the sleeping city below.

 

“Now, remember what I said about not shooting the messenger.” She mumbled.

 

I cocked an eyebrow. “What?”

 

She didn’t say anything, she just unfurled her wings. Aria’s wings were gorgeous. Pure white, they extended outside her back, each wing five glorious feet long. Hundreds of fluffy feathers adorned her beautiful wings, and gave off a faint glow. Her wings were pure, just like her. Just like an angel’s wings should be, they poked out of two slits she had cut into her shirt.

 

I cursed. “Damn it, I forgot about my shirt.”

 

Aria giggled. “Oh well, I guess you’re just going to have to make due.”

 

I grimaced, but extended my wings anyway. My wings were ten feet long, and were powerful and strong just like Aria’s wings. However, there was one difference. My wings were not white, they were jet black. Dark angel wings. I was disgusted with my wings. They were hideous. These wings were not mine, they were not for me. The wings that were me were the same wings that were on Aria’s back right now. Angel wings, not dark angel wings.

 

“Alright, looks like we’re all set. You ready?” Aria asked, yanking me out of my train of thoughts.

 

I nodded. “Yes.”

 

We kept hold of each other’s hands as we leapt off the roof. The wind caught our wings and we soared through the cool night air just as we were meant to. Aria sighed with pleasure, taking a deep breath of the wind rippling across us.

 

“It feels just beautiful, doesn’t it?” She murmured.

 

I nodded, saying nothing, enjoying the feel but also hating it. I didn’t want this feeling with these wings. I wanted my wings back. My real wings. My angel wings.

 

“Okay, it’s the house just down there.” Aria pointed to a large mansion in a very upscale, expensive neighborhood with over a mile long driveway leading up to the home, which was like a mini White House.

 

It had columns, a front balcony, and an elegant double door entrance. I groaned inwardly. Great. A spoiled little rich girl who probably gets whatever she asks for. Aria looked at me, her petite features pinched together in a scowl.

 

“Hey, don’t make any assumptions about this girl.” She scolded me.

 

I just rolled my eyes. “Oh c’mon Aria, she’s obviously going to be some bitchy daddy’s girl who gets whatever she wants whenever she wants, and–ow! Hey!”

 

I broke off, wrenching my hand out of Aria’s and rubbing my face. She had slapped me, literally slapped me. And it hurt.

 

“What the hell was that for?” I asked, removing my hand from my stinging cheek which I was sure was bright red. Aria’s eyebrows were scrunched together, and her face was flushed with anger.

 

“Don’t use that tone with me Gabriel Jamul! I swear, I will slap you much harder next time if you continue with this rotten attitude!” She said harshly.

 

I made a disgusted sound in the back of my throat. “Oh please. You and I both know that this girl is going to be–”

 

“If you call her a bitch one more time you’re going to skip right over slaps and move on to punches.” She threatened. I backed off this time, because I didn’t doubt that Aria could throw a mean punch. She might be small, but she was fierce.

 

“Fine, fine. I’m just saying.” I commented. At my words her color darkened from light red to cherry red.

 

“You know nothing about this girl, Gabe. You don’t know her past, or what’s going on in her life. Her life isn’t exactly easy, you know.” She said stiffly. I laughed.

 

“Yeah, and you think my life is? I’ve been banished from Heaven and now I have to babysit some girl in order to earn my position back. I can’t even think about Zale, parading around like he’s the King.” I sneered.

 

Aria sighed, shaking her head pitifully. “There is only one King. And this is not about you or Zale. You must focus and put your energy into guarding this girl. Because she needs help, Gabe. She really does.”

 

I sighed, looking down at the mansion with its windows bright even though it was nearing 1:00 a.m. Probably some party that the little brat had thrown. I looked at Aria then, at our wings beating in silent harmony. I loved Aria like a sister. In a way, she was my little sister. I looked after her. I cared for her, I protected her. After all, she was only fourteen. She placed her hand on my shoulder, smiling just a bit.

 

“I want you back in Heaven, babe. You know I do. So, can you just do this one thing? For me? Earn your place back beside Him.” She said softly. I scowled at the mansion just below us, but then smiled at the glowing little angel by my side.

 

“I guess if I must.” I said, my shoulders drooping slightly in defeat. Aria squealed, throwing her thin arms around my neck and bringing me close.

 

“Oh thank you Gaby!” She said, pulling back and smiling brightly. I rolled my eyes, but hugged her back.

 

“Yeah, now let’s go see what my assignment looks like.” I said flatly. 

Chapter Three