Lucy let out a quick, nervous giggle. “Not exactly. I think I am from… beyond that.” She spread her hands a little, as if thewords themselves were too big to hold. “I’m Nephilim. Which is… well, an angel of sorts. I guess.”
Nick leaned forward, “That does not make you different. You have always been an angel in my eyes. And honestly? I think it is incredible.”
Lucy’s chest eased, just slightly. “I’m still trying to figure out what it all really means.”
“And we’ll help you on that journey,” Nick replied without hesitation. “No matter what.”
Mary had not moved; her hands folded neatly in her lap. Her expression betrayed nothing, but Lucy noticed the flicker in her eyes, the faintest glimmer of recognition. Mary already knew.
“So,” Sam pressed, leaning forward, “Do you have any powers?”
Barnaby shot up half out of his chair before Lucy could answer, his enthusiasm bubbling over. “Oh, you are going to love this. Speed, strength, and something creepier. Show them, Lu and do not hold back.”
Lucy pushed back her chair and rose. “Alright. I’ll show you.”
In a blur of movement, she darted across the room. In one breath she was at the head of the table, the next she was behind Corey, who nearly tipped his chair in shock. Her speed left the air trembling.
Then she placed her hands beneath Damien’s chair, lifting him with ease before setting him back down as if he weighed nothing at all. “Strength,” she said plainly.
Sam’s brows rose, but her tone stayed dry. “Parlor tricks. Impressive ones, sure. But I’ve seen worse.” Corey Laughed, “as if you ever witnessed anything supernatural” he scoffed.
Barnaby practically bounced in his chair. “Wait for it. This is the best part.”
Lucy tilted her head. Her eyes flicked violet for the briefest moment. She turned to Corey. “Tell everyone you love them, and you’d be thrilled if they gave you a hug.”
“I’ll do no such thing” The words cut off in his throat and twisted into something else. “I love you all so very much, and I would be thrilled if you gave me a hug.” His face burned red as the words tumbled out.
Nick was the first on his feet. He lunged forward and wrapped Corey in a dramatic embrace, nearly knocking him back in his chair.
“Nick! Don’t,” Corey tried to fight it, but his arms betrayed him, locking tight around his brother in a warm, almost affectionate squeeze.
“This is beautiful,” Nick declared, milking the moment. “I’ll remember this forever.”
The table erupted into laughter. Even Lucy had to bite her lip to keep from giggling.
“Alright,” she said finally, releasing her hold. Corey’s body snapped back under his control, and Nick slid out of his grasp with a wink.
Corey glared at them both, his jaw tight. “That better not ever happen again.”
Barnaby was wheezing with laughter, practically folded over the table. “Oh, come on. That was amazing.”
Mary changing the subject, directed the conversation back to Lucy, “I have always known you were special. But seeing it now… it is magnificent.”
Lucy smiled. “Thank you. Well… I still need to understand who I am and Barnaby’s going to be helping me with that.”
Barnaby straightened up in his chair, a proud grin spreading across his face. “Helping you? I’m already ten steps ahead of you. Come with me.”
Barnaby had turned the east wing’s study into something halfway between a laboratory and a conspiracy theorist’s dream cave. Every flat surface was buried under papers, half-sketched diagrams, printed articles, and a dozen open laptops all whirring at once. Strings of digital code ran across one monitor, while on another, an ancient manuscript from an obscure monastery flickered in grainy high resolution.
“Nephilim, half-breeds, divine experiments.” he muttered to himself, dragging one hand through his already messy hair. “Every culture has its myths, but they all point to the same damned thing, humans tinkering where they shouldn’t, angels interfering where they promised they wouldn’t and demons stirring the pot just for kicks.”
Lucy leaned against the doorframe, watching him with both admiration and concern. He clearly had not slept properly since she revealed the truth about herself, that much was obvious. His face was pale from the glow of the screens, and an untouched cup of Bubble tea sat cold by his elbow.
“Barnaby, you’ll fry your brain if you keep this up,” she said softly.
He did not look at her. “Too late for that. And anyway, this is too big. You are not just some random miracle. You fit into something ancient, something they have been whispering about for centuries. If I can connect the dots, we’ll understand, who you are? why you are and what’s coming.”
On one desk was a map of the world, dotted with red pins. Over each pin, Barnaby had scribbled notes:flood legends, winged beings, hybrid children.
