Ethereal Underground (Ethereal Underground Trilogy) Read Online Free Page A

emotions, however. They were discouraged from using them and shunned by the Elders whenever one was caught expanding their feelings past what was accepted. Humans were taught to use their emotions and rely on them. Most of the time, Annalise could only identify those emotions that were normal to her kind, and she would struggle to understand some of the feelings the mortals displayed. The globe also would show her and Leon what their new assignments were, any new charges for Leon and any reaping opportunities assigned to her. She found herself excitedly chewing on her lip as she peered into the globe, watching as the pink and blue clouds parted to reveal a fight between a human and a creature that she couldn’t place. The larger being held a sword in one hand, the human was cornered against the wall. Turning her back to the scene, she looked over at Leon and forced a smile to her face. She could never stand to see the killing blow. Life was a prize, it was a privilege, sacred, and she hated to see it scuffed out. But it was always so exciting to get to travel to the human world. Each reaping was like an adventure to her, even though she would never allow herself to stay and wonder around. Leon had made sure that she was aware of the dangers of a fallen, and also the dangers of being made one if she did not promptly return home.
    Annalise turned to give the brunette a small wave. Leon’s face fell slightly as he walked over to her, hand cupping her face and making her look at him, “Please be careful.”
    “Am I not always careful?” she asked, pointing out the obvious to him.
    He nodded, letting her go and taking a step back to give her space.
    She took a deep breath, closing her eyes, and tapping the large golden bangle around her wrist. Annalise pictured the place that the globe had shown her, excitement filling her up as she teleported there. It wasn’t anything new to her, teleportation was the easiest way to get anywhere, and she would rather do her job quickly. When she opened her eyes, she saw the larger unknown species walking away, the mortal laying in a pool of blood in the room. She was thankful for her strong stomach, it came with the job she supposed; otherwise she wouldn’t have been able to handle reaping. The excitement of being in the mortal world again crept up into her as she walked over to the being. Looking around, she took in the gray metal walls all around, and the fluorescent lit sky above. She knew she was deep inside of the planet, but wasn’t sure what layer it was. As she neared the mortal, she noted his slowed but labored breathing. He was trying to fight it. Even though she was invisible to him, her charges could always sense her presence, she could see it in his eyes. They were green, like Leon’s eyes, and he struggled to look through the slits and see what had come for him. She lowered herself to a kneeling position beside him, wings widening to create a shelter over them. For a minute, she wondered what his life had been like, who he had been. Was he good? Bad? She would never know. She badly wished that she could speak with him, heal him and ask him of the stories of his life. However, Leon’s words resounded in her ears as her thoughts continued to wonder. Reap the soul and return. You must get back to the Grand Hall before the soul is stolen by evil forces. She knew that she could never do the opposite of what she had been taught. Her counterpart was one of the highest ranking guardians, and she couldn’t disappoint him. To do so would risk losing her position among the seraphs, one she had worked so hard to have, and risk becoming a fallen.
    She reached out to him, took his face in her hands, and closed her eyes. After saying a small blessing for him, she let her power flow through her and wash over him. She relished the power, unleashing it and letting it work its magic to pull his soul from the center of his body and lay it, round and glittering, in her palms as she leaned