A Faithless Year Two Read online

  Eva Brandt

  A Faithless Year Two

  Watcher Academy 2

  Copyright © 2020 by Eva Brandt

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise without written permission from the publisher. It is illegal to copy this book, post it to a website, or distribute it by any other means without permission.

  This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.

  Eva Brandt has no responsibility for the persistence or accuracy of URLs for external or third-party Internet Websites referred to in this publication and does not guarantee that any content on such Websites is, or will remain, accurate or appropriate.

  Designations used by companies to distinguish their products are often claimed as trademarks. All brand names and product names used in this book and on its cover are trade names, service marks, trademarks and registered trademarks of their respective owners. The publishers and the book are not associated with any product or vendor mentioned in this book. None of the companies referenced within the book have endorsed the book.

  Cover art by Fantasia Cover Designs. Cover is for illustrative purposes only.

  First edition

  This book was professionally typeset on Reedsy

  Find out more at reedsy.com

  Contents

  A Faithless Year Two

  A Note from the Author

  Index

  Prologue

  Friends and Strangers

  The General of the Heavenly Host

  A New Ally

  Divine Dodgeball

  The Spark

  The First Clash

  Kiss of Betrayal

  No Escape

  The Burden of Death

  Captive of Lust

  The Reaper’s Duty

  In Agreement

  Madness

  Into the Abyss of Despair

  Fury of the Fallen Star

  Epilogue

  Coming Soon

  About the Author

  Also by Eva Brandt

  A Faithless Year Two

  Archangels aren’t supposed to look for love or family. Their lives rotate around fulfilling the dictates of The Supreme Being. But there are those who break the rules, and sometimes, love can be the most faithless emotion of all.

  Second year has started at Watcher Academy. I’ve earned my wings—sort of. I’ve grown accustomed to the idea of my death and I’m making progress toward my end goal—to protect my family.

  Oh, who am I kidding? I have no idea what I’m doing. Half the time, whenever I try to fly, I fall on my face. Divine magic eludes me and most celestial beings still see me as a useless mortal.

  To make matters worse, my love life is a mess. I still have no idea what to do about Sariel, Azazel, and Yeqon. I want them. I fear them. I need them. I don’t know if I can’t be what they need, in turn. It’s so confusing.

  That’s when he shows up—Archangel Michael, the famous general of The Heavenly Host. He’s supposed to be our new teacher in Celestial Battle Magic. I find myself having thoughts that have nothing to do with the divine.

  He carries a secret burden and a deep sorrow. I want to help him, to heal him. But how can I, when my deal with The Grim Reaper remains in place? How can I, when Sariel, Azazel, and Yeqon loathe him with a passion?

  One thing is certain. It’ll take more than faith for me to pass the difficult trials of my second year.

  A Faithless Year Two is a 62k words why-choose novel that includes spicy enemies-to-lovers action, possessive angels feuding over the heart of our conflicted heroine, and enough twists to make your head spin.

  But don’t be fooled. It’s a dark romance and will contain dark themes like suicidal ideation, gore, violence, and much more. Remember – my angels aren’t as angelic as they seem. Do not approach unless you are prepared.

  A Note from the Author

  Thank you for picking up A Faithless Year Two. As you’re probably used to by now, the book contains some pretty dark themes. There will be some questionable sexual elements, including tentacle sex and dubious consent.

  The story delves pretty heavily in themes revolving around the concept of death, depression, and suicide. If this makes you uncomfortable, sit this one out.

  I’ve also taken significant liberties with biblical content. In this book, beyond what you’ve seen in the past, you’ll also find elements from gnosticism. If you are easily offended by religious themes, turn back.

  Index

  Princes of Hell and Corresponding Sins:

  Pride: Lucifer

  Lust: Callum Adamson (replacing Asmodai)

  Wrath: Stefan (replacing Satan)

  Gluttony: Mephistopheles (replacing Beelzebub)

  Greed: Mikael (replacing Mammon)

  Envy: Leviathan

  Sloth: Vacant position

  Angelic entities of note - ranks of angels

  Seraphim - highest order of the Hierarchy of Angels, each with six wings.

  Cherubim - powerful and majestic angelic creatures who surround God’s throne, mentioned as the guardians of The Garden of Eden after Adam and Eve’s expulsion

  Thrones - third ranking order of angels, described as having four wings and four faces.

  Dominions - the fourth ranking order of angels, described as wearing long gowns and carrying golden scepters or orbs

  Virtues - fifth ranking order of angels, the angels of miracles, encouragement, and blessings

  Powers - sixth ranking order of angels, guardians against the attacks of the demons

  Principalities - seventh ranking order of angels, guardians over the nations and the leaders of the world

  Archangels - eighth ranking order of angels. Archangel Michael is believed to be the highest-ranking warring angel in God’s heavenly host.

  Guardian Angels - last order of angels, meant to guard those who will inherit salvation.

  Sources seem unable to agree on what rank Lucifer had before his fall. He’s been described as a cherub, but also an archangel. I chose to make him a combination between a cherubim and a throne.

  Archons, in gnosticism, are any of a number of world-governing powers that were created with the material world by a subordinate deity called the Demiurge (Creator). Because the gnostics of the 2nd and 3rd centuries regarded the material world as outright evil or as the product of error, archons were viewed as maleficent forces.

  The recurring image of archons is that of jailers imprisoning the divine spark in human souls held captive in material creation.

  Demogorgon – a demon associated with the underworld, envisaged as a primordial being

  Prologue

  Nightmares are real.

  If someone had ever asked me what lessons I’d expected to learn at a school for angels, that wouldn’t have been included on the list. But I’d been wrong before, and in life, I’d known nothing of the real world.

  Demons had been characters in fiction or, at most, metaphors. Death had been a terrifying mystery. Angels had been pretty paintings on the walls of cathedrals, often dressed in clothing that would have better suited toddlers.

  That life was gone now. I’d been forced to leave it behind in the hope of finding something new, something that would help my family survive. But when I’d agreed to that contract, I hadn’t truly understood what I was dealing with. I hadn’t realized nightmares were real, and the Grim Reaper hadn’t bothered to tell me.

  The thing about nightmares is that they always
fade away in daylight. They disappear at dawn, fading at the back of one’s mind. But the nightmares of an angel or a demon are different. They linger, explode, and destroy. They carry a truth that cannot be denied, no matter how hard we try.

  Angels are always told to have faith, to believe that they’re doing the right thing in upholding the will of The Supreme Being. But if we lose that faith, if we remain hopeless, wretched, and alone, what do we have left?

  Only nightmares and memories, the memories of a past that ultimately shapes our future. And always the questions.

  As Delilah St. John, can I really be the protector of mankind? It doesn’t seem like it.

  Friends and Strangers

  “Are you sure about this, Delilah? It’s not a big deal.”

  I met Azazel’s concerned gaze and not for the first time, felt incredibly thankful for the support of my Watcher lovers. It was a shame that today, they couldn’t help me. This was something I had to do on my own. “I know. But I need to do this, if only for my peace of mind.”

  Sariel let out a disgruntled sigh. Ever since I’d told my lovers about my plan, he’d been moody, insisting it was a bad idea. I didn’t know why it upset him so much, but I hated to be at odds with him, for any reason.

  “Sometimes, you really are too kind for your own good,” he said, leaning against the banister of my balcony.

  “I doubt that very much,” I shot back. “And remember, no man is an island.”

  This was something my mother had always said. She hadn’t put this lesson into practice in the best way, but I still believed she’d been right.

  “Oh, we know that,” Yeqon pointed out. His iridescent wings twitched, the only real sign that he felt any discomfort over this conversation. “But we don’t have to be an island. We can be an archipelago. I’m pretty sure we’re doing fine on our own and we don’t have to worry about what everyone else thinks.”

  I shot him an unimpressed look and ignored him. We’d been going around in circles over the topic. I’d already made my decision and refused to change my mind.

  “This is a waste of time,” I said, crossing my arms over my chest. “Are you going to help me find Shamsiel, or do I have to ask one of the teachers to do it?”

  That was a low blow, since they’d never allow me to resort to the teachers. After last year’s incident with Ariel, they’d become very protective of me, and even if no one had tried to hurt me again, I didn’t see that changing anytime soon.

  A good couple of months had passed since Archangel Ariel had torn my wings off in an attempt to damn my soul. Things had settled down a bit at Watcher Academy, although classes weren’t completely back to normal. According to my lovers, the archangels were only part-time teachers and had to participate in the hunt for Cain and Abel.

  So far, they’d had no luck, which was strange, because they had an omniscient, omnipotent deity on their side. But I’d refrained from pointing that out again, since the last time I had, I’d ended up having a conversation Sandalphon had deemed blasphemous.

  For the moment, I’d decided to take things one step at a time. That meant learning how to control my power, but also getting more accustomed to my new life, my new role, and all the people who were supposed to be on my side.

  I hadn’t made the best first impression. I could understand that now. But I had faith that I could still change that.

  My lovers weren’t so confident, but they had to indulge me.

  “Of course we’ll help you with whatever you need,” Sariel said, finally turning toward me. “You’re right. This conversation is a waste of time. Let’s just go find Shamsiel and get it out of the way.”

  Satisfied, I beamed at him. Even if he still didn’t agree with me, Sariel relaxed. His silver wings seemed to glow a little more brightly, as if responding to his feelings for me.

  He offered me his hand and I gladly took it. Yeqon and Azazel joined us, their hands landing on my shoulders and hips, their wings enveloping me in a protective cocoon.

  When we were like this, it was so difficult to believe that I’d ever had trouble at Watcher Academy. It was so difficult to want anything else except being with them. But that was escapism at its finest and I couldn’t avoid reality forever.

  My lovers respected my decision. With a thought, Sariel transformed into currents of energy and guided me to do the same. Yeqon and Azazel followed our example and together, we left The Halls of Truth behind.

  During my so-called first year at the academy—although I wasn’t sure that was the best way to describe that time period—I hadn’t befriended anyone except my lovers. It was just so difficult to connect with the other Watchers and unlike Sariel, Azazel, and Yeqon, they hadn’t made an effort to approach me either. They must’ve found out about my background by now, but they hadn’t tried to accommodate me.

  I didn’t blame them and I didn’t think it was absolutely necessary for us to be best buddies. But if I was about to become a part of The Heavenly Host, I didn’t want it to cause more conflict. The archangels were already making that mistake. I might as well try to make things less difficult.

  It was pretty easy to find the other Watchers. My lovers had described Watcher Academy as a prison, but it did have a feature that was pretty convenient. It could create anything its inhabitants wanted to see and morph into any location.

  Sariel, Azazel, Yeqon, and I ended up on a snowy ledge. It was cold, but the temperature didn’t make me uncomfortable. Shamsiel was already there, together with a couple of others—Kasdaye, Penemue, and a third Watcher whose name I thought might be Araciel. They seemed to be busy making a snow fort, and the sight shocked me so much I couldn’t say a word.

  My lovers didn’t seem as surprised as I was. “Greetings,” Sariel said. “I hope we’re not interrupting something important.”

  Kasdaye arched a brow at him. “Was that supposed to be sarcastic? I know we’re not always that efficient, but snow forts aren’t a priority either.”

  “Never mind that,” Shamsiel piped up. “Was there something you wanted? It’s unlike you to come see us for no reason.”

  That was my cue to speak up. “Actually, it was my idea. I asked them to bring me here, to find you.”

  The four Watchers all stared at me. “And why would that be, Delilah?” Penemue asked curiously.

  “I had something to talk about with Shamsiel. In private, if possible.”

  Shamsiel waved a hand dismissively. “If there’s anything you want to say to me, you can say it in front of them. Honestly, Delilah, as Watchers, we’ve never had much privacy. I’m not worried.”

  “Okay then.” I bit my lower lip and braced myself for what I was about to say. “I wanted to apologize.”

  It was hard to tell who was more shocked by my words. Shamsiel gaped at me. Kasdaye dropped the snowball he was playing with and Penemue almost fell through a snow drift. Araciel alone studied me with interest, narrowing his eyes as if he didn’t quite believe me.

  “Apologize?” he repeated. “For what?”

  “Like I said, this is between me and Shamsiel.” Looking straight at Shamsiel, I continued, “I might have… I might have brought up your relationship with Uriel a few times in a less than ideal way. I don’t know if it made things more difficult between the two of you, but it can’t have helped. It was none of my business and I shouldn’t have said anything about it.”

  Realization finally dawned on Shamsiel’s face. “Oh. You don’t have to worry about that. My relationship with Uriel has been on the rocks for thousands of years. A few comments from you won’t change a thing.” He paused and shot me a quick smile. “But I appreciate your words anyway—although I don’t actually understand them.”

  “He has a point,” Kasdaye said. “I mean, you being bitchy to Uriel isn’t so bad. Our history with you is far worse and we’ve never apologized.”

  I grimaced at the reference to my death, but forced myself to take it in stride. “I know that. I won’t lie and say I’m over what happe
ned to me, because I’m not. But my parents are alive now and no matter how much I hate Lucifer, you’re different. We’re on the same side and we have to at least be able to work together.”

  “Great idea!” Kasdaye said, clapping his hands in apparent enthusiasm. “There’s nothing like team spirit. Although I have to ask… Does it come with the additional perks?”

  He wriggled his brows, making the meaning of his words clear. Yeqon responded before I could—by sending a blast of fire at him. “It doesn’t. Back off.”

  Kasdaye dodged the shot, laughing. “Oh, touchy. Don’t worry, Yeqon, we’re not going to get in your way. But if you want, you can join us.”

  He pointed at the snow fort, but I got the feeling he didn’t expect me to say yes. Maybe that’s exactly why I did it. I’d never been that good at following the rules and my death hadn’t changed that.

  “Sure,” I replied with a wide smile. “What do you think, guys?”

  Azazel shrugged. “I haven’t made a snow fort in a while. Count me in.”

  Sariel hesitated for a few seconds, and then seemed to decide to abandon all sanity. “Why not? I might as well.”

  Yeqon was already taking my hand and pulling me forward, far more excited about the idea than Sariel was. Or maybe he was just making sure Kasdaye stayed away from me, even if I’d agreed to a ‘team-building’ activity without consulting them.

  Either way, the end result was that within minutes, I found myself kneeling in the snow, with seven Watchers fussing around me and trying to make progress on our project.

  We abysmally failed. Shamsiel, Kasdaye, Penemue, and Araciel had been doing a good job before we’d arrived, but with the rest of us added to the team, our efforts fell apart. At one point, Yeqon seemed to decide the idea of a snow fort was boring and he wanted to make a snow dragon instead.