Ever This Day (To Light and Guard Prequel)

By Piper Hannah

There were three of us, three archangels, sent to Earth to protect one human girl. This girl was a gift to all angels. We needed her, so that we can walk among the humans - to learn from them, to live as one of them... but we failed, and she died.

At first, I thought that we made a mistake, an error in judgment, but there are no mistakes in my world. And the girl? I am certain that she will eventually return. I am Michael. I am an immortal. I will wait for her, and the next time she returns to this planet, I will be ready to help her carry out her destiny.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Piper Hannah
• Release date: Mar 28, 2014
• ISBN: 9781311394354

Piper Hannah

Piper Hannah lives in Southern California with her husband and daughter. To learn more about her, please visit www.piperhannah.com or like her Facebook page at www.facebook.com/authorpiperhannah.

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EVER THIS DAY

To Light and Guard Prequel

(A Short Story)

By Piper Hannah

Copyright © October 2013 Piper Hannah

All rights reserved.  This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the author except for the use of brief quotations in articles or reviews.

This is a work of fiction. Names, places, businesses, characters, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used in a fictitious manner. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, actual events, or locales is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

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CONTENTS

Prologue

Chapter 1 - The Past

Chapter 2 - The Present

Chapter - The Future

To Light and Guard (Book 1) Excerpt

PROLOGUE

For every one thousand years, a Radiant will be born on this planet. The Radiant will be the light for which an angel can follow to experience the beauty of humanity, the fragileness of life, and the strength of the human spirit.

-The Book of the Archangels

CHAPTER 1 - THE PAST

MICHAEL

England in the year 1080

Daybreak...

The rising sun was changing the color of the sky slowly. We circled the village, flying just beneath the clouds; our wings were outstretched as we drifted through the wind. There were three of us, three archangels, sent here to find and protect the Radiant. As always, Raphael was flying to my right and Gabriel was to my left. Looking down, we circled the pit of fire in the center of the small town.

We’re too late, Gabriel said. It looks like they already killed the Radiant.

I gritted my teeth in frustration. I know, I said. I could sense her death. Although we flew here as fast as we could, we didn’t make it here on time. We failed.

The Radiant only came to Earth every one thousand years, always being born into the human race. She was a gift to all angels. She was the medium that we needed, so that we can walk among the humans - to learn from them, to live as one of them.

Because the humans... they were strange creatures to us, and we wanted to understand them. They were unpredictable and different, and yet, they were like angels, in a way, because each of them carried an immortal soul.

I realized a long time ago that there were a few angels who would like to experience the Radiant’s light for the simple purpose of understanding these humans. They would have to wait a little bit longer because the three of us have failed today.

As I flew, I looked at the fire below. Even in the distance, I could see the bodies within the orange flames. There were two of them, both women, and they were still standing, strapped to a pole as they burned. They were unmoving. Dead. Unfortunately, one of them was the Radiant.

I flew closer to the ground. There were many humans who still lingered here, and they watched the flames intently. Unlike lower angels, archangels had the power to choose the humans who could see them, and I made certain that no one could see me on this day. None of them deserved to see my light.

I flew right in front of the pit where the dead girls still burned. My feet landed on the dirt gently, and my wings immediately retracted behind me. On each side of me, Gabriel and Raphael both landed as well. The three of us watched the flames, saddened and angered, but also a little bit in awe. The Radiant’s aura still burned within the fire, turning the flames into a bright white light. There wasn’t any doubt left within me. The Radiant was burning right in front of me, and she was dead.

I heard the murmurs of the humans that surrounded the three of us; they were unaware of our existence. I listened to their conversations intently. I gathered that they thought that the girls were witches.

It’s doubtful if these stupid humans could even tell which among them is truly a witch, I muttered. I glared at the human who held a torch.  I was certain that he was the one who started this all; he was the one responsible for killing the Radiant. I felt the need for vengeance; it twisted my heart until all I felt was anger... but I have never killed a human before. They were defenseless and stupid, and most of all, they were mortals. Given time, they would eventually die - each and every one of them. Thus, there was no real sense in ending their miserable lives. It would only be a