When We Were Still Human Vaughn Foster (the kiss of deception read online .txt) 📖

in a daze. There were works from all over the world, ranging from The Sayings of Confucius and Plato’s Symposium, to what looked like the original transcripts of the Jewish Torah. There were biographies of the famous and recluse, works of fiction, and compilations of written music.

“This is crazy…” she whispered, running a hand along the leather spines. She found it odd that there were no scrolls, tablets, or loose paper. Then again, it was probably easier to organize everything as books.

Val removed books, skimmed their contents, and returned them to their shelves. By the seventh or eighth repetition, she realized the pages of every book were gilded-edged. It was like each volume held the holiness of a Bible. Recognizing another name, she stopped her hand and pulled it from the shelf.

“The Complete Collection of Edgar Allan Poe. Interesting,” a voice said from behind.

Val jumped and quickly turned around, but there was no one there. Carefully stepping back, she peered around the shelf and froze.

The Seph Ọkan stood in the aisle, one book in hand, dozens more floating around his head. He glanced up from his volume and offered a smile.

Val raced through the options to fight or flee but couldn’t bring her body to do either.

“No need for all that. Give me a hand, would you?” He motioned to the collection of levitating books. Val resolved obedience was her best option. She carefully approached the king’s adviser and began pulling the volumes from the air. She had expected some form of resistance, but the full weight fell into her hand when she touched one.

When her arms were full, he glanced up from the book he was currently reading. “I’m sorry to be rude. I have a meeting with Michael in a little while and had to freshen up on some things.”

As she stared, Val couldn’t help but notice how much he actually looked like a bird. He had a long nose and careful, observing eyes. His hair was slicked back like feathers and his bony arms looked like they should have had been wings.

“I- I’m sorry for spying earlier.” It sounded stupid, but she didn’t know what else to say.

He closed the book, then lightened the load from her weighted arms. He started placing them back on the shelves, extending a hand every so often for her to hand him another.

“It wouldn’t make much sense to move you up here, then ban you from exploring your home.”

She flinched at the last word. His back was turned, but he still seemed to notice her clenched teeth and nails dug into her palms.

“But this isn’t home, is it?” He turned to face her, silver eyes studying every angle.

Val’s shoulders slumped as she set her remaining books on the nearest shelf. “No, it’s not.” She hesitated, but once again, he seemed to predict what she would say.

“You think we made a mistake.”

“I-” She bit her lip, choosing her words carefully. “I think your plan is extreme; humans have worked problems out before.”

He smiled. “And then they repeat.”

“Well, yes. But even still, it’s not your right to just wipe us out.” Her fist clenched tighter. The trepidation that had sat moments before began to steam. “You leave us alone for thousands of years, and now you decide you want to help. By killing everyone, no less. Can’t you see what you sound like? Just leave us alone; let us live or die as we choose.”

Val wasn’t sure what she expected. Offense? Apathy? Surely not the amused grin and shaking head as Dove ran a hand through his plume of hair. “Well said, Miss Stephens. In another life, in another world, that may have actually been a reality. But you should be more than familiar that a new generation is not its ancestor. Michael’s father was a good king, and at the time, separation was needed. Now…” He gestured in a half-shrug, half-head tilting motion that almost said ‘what can you do?’

“Michael was always a sensitive one,” Dove continued. “Not that you could have seen it, but it was there…” A sigh, then the sound of ruffling feathers. He moved past her and began sorting the books she’d left lying haphazardly. “If you’d like the statistics I can provide them, but humans will drive themselves to extinction within the century. The imbalance will cause the Annwn to follow suit; the stress from earth’s destruction will distort the aether and the nothing. This will threaten both the Celestials, and Le Ciel’s own borders. All that to say—” he paused at the last spot on the shelf before pulling back, keeping the book in hand. “We’re acting out of more than just humanitarian efforts.”

Val swallowed.

She forced herself to meet Dove’s gaze and was taken aback. Michael had spoken with something between pride and arrogance; Vladimir discussed the impending genocide with apathy. The face of the king’s advisor, however, was one of compassion. His sharp edges seemed softer and his narrow eyes carried a warmth that Val couldn’t quite place. His mind was made up. That was without question. But unlike everyone else Val had encountered, his decision had clearly been forged moreso by research than haughty morals.

“This is quite fascinating.”

Val furrowed her brow then noticed the book he was still holding. It was the one on Poe.

“History and fiction,” Dove continued, handing her the volume.  “All tied together in the gothic ravings of a dying man.”

“What do you mean by history?” She examined the cover. Silver text over black. It was nothing extravagant, yet the longer she held it, the more she could almost feel a pulse beneath her fingertips.”

“My predecessor, the last Dove, was one of the fallen—even before Daemon’s coup. When he abandoned his bloodline, he became a demon. But unlike most demons, he didn’t seek power or wealth; only ways to satiate eternal boredom. The