The unfamiliar smell of Dana’s home felt lonesome as I waited in her bed for Ellie all night. There were only blinds covering a single window, and the room felt more cramped than the rest of the house. Surrounded by unfamiliar knickknacks, I felt suffocated.
As the morning birds began their songs, my thoughts raced, hoping that my mom would be alright when I finally returned home.
I listened intently to the footsteps on the floorboards outside as Dana’s crisp words cut through the door.
“I don’t think that’s necessary,” she declared firmly. I tried to keep quiet on the bed, but she questioned loudly, “Are you awake?” Before I could respond, she swung open the door and announced, “Someone’s here to see you.”
I walked to the kitchen where Dana sat in a chair and motioned for me to look towards the living room.
My heart fluttered, hoping to see Ellie with word of what happened at my house. But my anticipation turned to fear when I laid eyes on the giant, cloaked figure with the scythe clasped in his palm.
At his side, a young boy with wings, wearing a loose olive green tunic that contrasted starkly with the taller man’s grim black. His brown speckled wings twitched slightly, as if sensing my gaze, then turned with a small, shy smile. Both their hazel gazes glimmered with an ethereal light, but the giant had half his face wrapped. I assumed they were father and son with how much they looked alike.
“Good morning. I’m Uriel and that is Adriel,” the giant said with a deep voice as he used his scythe like a cane. It was almost comical how small the weapon looked to the man, but it possessed a handle at its side for his young sidekick to hold on to.
“Did you sleep alright?” Uriel asked, and I simply nodded. “I apologize for these recent events; I realize it must feel overwhelming.”
I finally replied, “I’ll catch up on sleep when I get home.”
His pleasant expression changed to something more serious. “Unfortunately, those who were looking for you turned their attention to your family instead.”
“What do you mean?” I exclaimed, my blood racing in alarm as dread settled in my stomach.
“That’s all I know,” he answered. “I suspect they plan to lure you out.”
“How can they do that if I don’t even know where they are?” I questioned furiously.
“Arianna, I regret to say this, but it doesn’t seem relevant to give you any more answers,” he said.
Dana stepped in more confidently than I would have. “Oh? You’re still having him do it?”
With my heart pounding, Uriel’s gaze stayed on me as he spoke again. “I apologize once again, but you can’t remain here. Your knowledge of this situation will only complicate matters when I take you back.”
“Let her stay here with me,” Dana proposed as she clasped her hands around my shoulders. “She deserves to know what’s going on.”
He gave me a long, hard look before addressing her. “I understand, but I think it’s too soon for someone so young to be aware of this much. At least consider coming with me to the police station,” he tried to plead. “It would alleviate some stress if you were in the public’s eye,” he reasoned solemnly.
My shoulders slumped under Dana’s hands as I looked away. Regardless of what was best for me, Dana still fought for me, saying, “I think it’d be best like this. If her mom’s gone; who else could get hurt if we let her out there with people who don’t know the truth?”
“They’re throwing consumed ones at us now,” he pointed out. “One of you could become infected.”
Dana shook her head. “What if people start seeing what’s happening?”
He waved her off. “You worry too much about what humans see when they always dismiss it.”
“It’ll be easier to manage things here than when she’s out there.”
Uriel sucked in a deep breath and returned his attention to me. “Fine then, you have a decision to make: go back or stay here where you can’t be seen or venture outside.”
“You act like she’ll be a prisoner here,” Dana retorted.
His voice deepened. “She’ll be considered missing if she stays here in your care. It’s on you if she’s seen.”
The more weight he put on my decision to stay, it would sink further into my core. As I stared into the giant’s face, all I could manage to force out was, “What about my mom?”
“I’ll do my best to figure out what we can do,” he said.
My mind raced as a million questions swirled around me. What was I going to do without her? Could I get her back? Was it too late? I had no idea who these people were, and yet I had the potential to just say yes and take Dana’s help. “Should I leave or should I stay?” My voice trembled as I spoke.
“You could go now if you wish and know there are people looking after you.” He paused before saying, “Be sure of your choice.”
Though I was still uncertain, I knew I needed the answers he had to give me. Taking a deep breath, I squared my shoulders. “Yes. Just please tell me everything. I want to know what’s happening.”
“I’m not sure,” he said, pushing his lips to the side. “I know that’s not something you want to hear, but you have a connection to our world. You are the reincarnation of an archon,” he paused before clarifying as Ellie did, “an angel who was punished alongside several others to reincarnate as humans. Her name was Saniel.”
Saniel, I repeated the name silently to myself. It felt so foreign for something that should have been a part of me. I could feel my heart race as I tried to make sense of what he was saying. “What did she do?” I choked out. “To be punished?”
His unconcealed eye was distant as he spoke. “They were all considered a threat. I was able to get away before I shared their fate, but we were all given powerful tools known as the Celestial Guards; designed so no one outside of its holder can control it. But a new king provoked paranoia about their powers being used to bring about wars.” With every word he uttered, his emotions seemed more detached, as if he were retelling a fairytale. His story hung in the air for only a short moment before he continued. “There was a boy taken before you. How long ago now?” Uriel asked Dana.
She looked up with her expression full of dread. “It’s been a couple of months now,” she answered.
Uriel sighed heavily. “His name was Ken. We were told he was the reincarnation of Michael, the holder of the flame sword.”
“And you know he was taken by angels?” I asked.
He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “Not personally. The reincarnations of the fallen are like a relic to some. We can recognize them by their eyes.” His voice felt heavy, yet hopeful at the same time. “It’s rare to see one. Even rarer, now, to find anyone who can recognize them.”
“Oh,” I breathed, feeling uneasy at being seen as an anomaly.
Uriel tried to be more gentle in his voice. “Someone was looking after him once they saw him communicating with an angel. That’s something we rarely do, especially when they’re children.”
“How old was he?” I asked, feeling guilty for being thankful it wasn’t me.
Uriel glanced down at Adriel, his expression pained. “Eleven,” he finally said. I shivered despite the summer warmth heating the room. “We have groups actively searching for the rest, but we don’t know if he’s the first or if others were taken.”
A question rose inside me. “Was I almost taken?”
“You almost died,” he confirmed with a smile, of all things. ”But it went well. Better than expected, actually.” He attempted to lighten the mood by chuckling, though my face barely moved from its unimpressed expression. “One of the abilities of the scythe can transport humans through the gates into our Worlds by taking the soul from their body without killing them.” He paused and eyed me cautiously before admitting, “Honestly, I had doubts it would work as intended.” I attempted to push away the dark thoughts of what could have happened if it hadn’t, while Uriel dug around in his cloak. I noticed he wore a single brown leather glove on one hand and offered my necklace back to me. “But that’s why you need to keep this on. This isn’t just an accessory, it’s so you can’t become attached to an archon.”
“Attached how?” I asked as I took back the necklace.
“It’s a practice between us and humans,” he said and added, “like a guardian angel?” with a question hitched to his voice as he looked over to Dana, who nodded. “We share aeons, um, like portions of our souls that align with each other. Anyone can do it, but between an angel and human it’s a symbiotic enhancement to both their powers. It’s not meant to be bad, but what that one from the other night attempted to do was much more forceful and dangerous. But if someone were to try it with you wearing this,” he gestured to the necklace in my hand, “then the bond can’t be made. I don’t believe they were trying to harm you that night, but to keep track of you until someone else could come.
Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
After hearing everyone’s side of what happened; I believe Zeekiel stepping in disrupted the merging process, and as well intentioned as that was on his behalf, it may have been the reason your body fragmented the way it did. I’ve never seen something like that before. Really, you should have died when you lit up, but luckily Adriel managed to rescue you in time,” he said as he patted the boy’s head, having to lean down to do so. “And everything fit back together perfectly.” The way he said that with cheer to uplift me only made me more unsettled.
A thunderous crash shattered the air, reverberating through the room as if the very foundations trembled, silencing our conversation. Our heads turned towards the kitchen and an eerie stillness descended on us as we wondered what had caused the disruption.
Dana was the first to reach the kitchen and shrieked, “What did you do to him?”
I raced after her, nearly colliding with Zeekiel as he stood with his massive wings, blocking the view. He looked over to Uriel and said, “Glad you two are here. Your wings are going to flap when I tell you who I found lurking around.” The dark-winged young man looked down at me briefly before quickly turning back to Dana. “Isn’t this the same guy you went looking for?”
“I don’t know,” Dana said as Zeekiel stepped aside to reveal what he had presented.
A tortured man sat on the floor, his face bruised and swollen, curly auburn hair shielded him like a wounded lion while four limp wings laid lifelessly across the tiled floor. One set of wings on his back was white and speckled grey while the other under them was a light brown. He seemed conscious and moving, but made no effort to look at anyone.
Uriel limped closer, addressing the man on the floor. “What brings someone like you all the way here?” His tense words hung heavy as he confronted the prisoner.
The four winged angel looked up with shock in his swollen face, his bloated lips muttering in disbelief, “You know who I am?”
“The last one I remember having wings like yours was Raziel,” Uriel stated, his gaze piercing, and the man nodded slowly in response. “And you’re Sammael’s.”
Raziel’s head dropped at Uriel’s last remark. “Please, I need someone to believe me.” The four-winged angel’s voice was weak until he turned back up towards Zeekiel, “I didn’t come here to hurt anyone.”
Uriel towered over the angel as he questioned, “What’s Sammael’s interest in the reincarnations suddenly?”
“He plans to revive Mother using the Celestial Guards,” Raziel said. I felt the fear in his voice, even if I didn’t understand what he ment. “All the holders are needed to summon and activate them.”
“I see,” Uriel said, bringing a gloved hand to lips. “I assume that means the reincarnations need to be whole again?”
Zeekiel kept his venomous glare on his bruised prisoner when his words punched into the conversation as dense as the heat in voice. “That bitch isn’t coming back.” He was so angry that I wondered who he meant that set him off like that.
Uriel waved a hand at him in a motion to calm down while Raziel continued. “There’s a bigger problem if this plan succeeds, the amount of energy needed could rupture The Kingdom from the source. If that happens, it will throw the rest of the Worlds connected into darkness.”
A moment of silence passed in the room and I wanted so badly to ask about my mom, but as I glanced at everyone in the room, they seemed to be in thought. Except Zeekiel, who was attempting to throw more punches with his eyes at Raziel. It was scary how dark his gaze was.
Uriel finally asked, “And what does Sammael intend to do once the Guard holders aren’t needed anymore? He accomplished getting rid of them, is he just going to let us all be or does he intend to send us all back into the cycle?”
“I can’t tell you for sure, but turning you all into monsters would be a more effective way this time around,” Raziel warned.
The giant released a long, grumbled breath. “I agree with Zeekiel that Saniel can’t return, but we can’t be holding off a swarm forever.”
I felt like I stopped breathing for a moment while Zeekiel’s eyes finally shifted away from Raziel to me. It was brief, but I caught it and understood then, Saniel was “that bitch”.
“An army,” the beaten four-winged angel corrected. “More will come. Those were still only scouts. They know you have groups just like this protecting the rest of the reincarnations. Let me help.”
“How long do we have until more show up?” Uriel asked.
“When I left there was no one coming, however when they do I would approximate about twenty of this World’s day rotations.”
This Raziel seemed to have a lot of knowledge about what was happening, especially internally on the other side. So, when the room took a quiet dip in the conversation, I took my chance to ask him, “Do you know where they took my mom?”
Raziel briefly glanced in my direction, responding with a half-hearted apology. “If she’s alive, I advise we not look for her,” he warned.
Zeekiel scoffed, “We?” He cocked his head, his tone dripping with skepticism as he eyed the four-winged angel. “I don’t recommend you stay out here longer than you need to, or one of those things you released last night is going to devour you.”
Raziel explained, “I didn’t release it, it was after me, but you lunging at me had me losing control of the situation. Had you just let me take care of it wouldn’t have gone inside.”
“How’d you even get that thing on you?” Zeekiel interrogated. “Did you know who it was?”
“I didn’t. They’re being found to test a cure for the sickness. Either someone knew I was deserting or it was a coincidence.”
“Coincidence,” the dark-winged young man muttered.
“What kind of cure?” Uriel rumbled between them.
Raziel broke his confident eye contact. “It’s liquifying them into containers.”
Zeekiel’s glare turned into cringed disgust. “They’ll throw you in there too, the moment you get inked.”
“Inked? Why would you say it like that?” Raziel said.
“Because when you tell someone they’re “sick” you give them the idea there’s a remedy. Ink reminds you how permanent it is.”
Raziel rolled his focus back on Uriel. “Let me help, please.”
“We don’t need you,” Zeekiel tried to say.
“If he wishes to stay and help, then I’ll take him back to Gibel,” Uriel said. “Zeekiel, I’d like you to stay here… And be good.” The giant scythe wielder turned to me and said, “You should get more rest.”
Nobody offered a hand while Raziel painfully stood up on his own and stumbled over towards Uriel’s side. The giant nodded at his young companion, who grabbed the lower part of the scythe in one hand and with the other gave me a wordless wave farewell before vanishing. I stared at the empty spot filled with an odd mixture of amazement and loneliness.
Zeekiel grumbled something about going outside while Dana rummaged through her empty cabinets for anything edible. “Usually it’s just me around here,” she commented, but I was barely listening, still trying to shake the goosebumps crawling down my body. I felt present, but my mind rejected my surroundings as reality.
I was too tired to eat, but I forced myself through the motions of eating before collapsing onto the couch.
While I attempted to watch the television, it wasn’t long before I slipped into the abyss of a dreamless sleep. When my eyes fluttered open again, there was a brief second I was back home. But as I laid on Dana’s bed, the realization that I may not be allowed to return home for a while sent a heavy wave of sadness crashing over me as I shook off the thought.
I lifted my head up to the window and watched the dimming sunlight through the cracks of the blinds. A memory of mom’s forehead kisses lingered so presently I could almost feel the warmth of her face radiating against my skin. It only heightened my yearning for the familiar comfort of home, but because of the restrictions imposed on me through my agreement with Uriel; I couldn’t leave or be seen.
I swallowed back my sadness as allowed everything I learned to wash over me while I longed to talk about it with my mom. I missed her comforting presence more than anything, replaying the sound of her voice and the scent of her perfume.
Wearily making my way into the kitchen, I immediately regretted not checking myself in a mirror first. I could smell the food from the room, but I didn’t expect anyone else to be waiting for it.
The room was quiet as Ellie and Zeekiel sat at the table, neither one of them willing to even face each other at opposite ends of the table with their heads turned. Both of them looked different, off duty from their hero identities. Zeekiel didn’t have his wings and Ellie had her hair down, wearing an overly large floral top and jeans. Their subdued demeanor and unspoken tension between them only served to amplify the feeling of isolation I was trying to cope with.
I slinked over to Dana’s side, pretending to be interested in what she was cooking. “Feeling better?” Dana asked, being the first to address me.
I didn’t remember when I declared I wasn’t well, but said yes, regardless. “Who moved me?” I interrogated, making an accusatory look at Zeekiel.
“They told me to,” he said and nudged his chin towards Ellie. “You were snoring, and I was just going to wake you up.”
I was sweating with embarrassment.“I’m sorry,” I echoed into my hands while I covered my face. “I didn’t even know I snored.”
Ellie slanted her eyes at Zeekiel before explaining, “Dana said you needed sleep.” She reached for the chair next to her and handed me a bag. “I came because she asked me to pick these up for you.”
I recognized it as soon as I took it and assumed she retrieved some of my clothes. Though, upon opening it, I found plain t-shirts and a few shorts in my size, complete with tags. “Thank you,” I said, attempting to sound appreciative. “Am I not allowed to take anything from my house?”
“Best not,” Dana answered. “Was there something you wanted?”
“Nothing,” I said, though I wished I had my sketchpad.
“Are you sure? I promised Uriel you’d be comfortable here. If there’s anything you need, let me know.”
“I was just asking. Thank you, though,” I repeated. The gesture was sweet and more than thoughtful with even another bag with shoes (though they were a bit too big) and hygiene products. Still, the underlying implication of being restricted from retrieving my belongings added to my feeling of being a prisoner of my own making.
Dana gestured for me to sit down and said food was almost done. I took one of the few other seats between Ellie and Zeekiel and asked out loud, “How long was I asleep for?” Even if it was just Dana talking to me, that was better than the heavy blanket of silence.
“For a while,” Dana replied.
“Where is everyone?” I said.
“Dealing with the prince,” Ellie sighed, giving Zeekiel a pointed look.
“What should I have done differently?” he asked, shaking his head.
“You knew who he was and just brought him here!” she accused.
I hummed in confusion and they both gave me their attention. “I feel like I missed something,” I said, but regretted it immediately when both of them looked annoyed at having to explain it.
Ellie insisted everything was fine, but Zeekiel stepped in to clarify, “Ellie’s upset I caught that guy earlier.”
I nodded. “So Raziel can’t be trusted?”
He glanced at Ellie before replying, “I don’t trust him.”
The metal lady rolled her eyes back to him. “You’re the one who told me he was working for the King.”
“Whose that?” I asked, shifting my eyes between the two of them.
“Sammael,” Ellie replied shortly.
“The guy supposedly hunting down reincarnations,” Zeekiel answered.
My exchanges between Zeekiel and Ellie, with their guarded responses to my inquiries, only deepened my sense of being an outsider in a world I wasn’t a part of. I struggled to comprehend, but I felt aware they struggled to explain.
At that moment, Dana put down dishes for everyone but Zeekiel and commented, “Tell me how the sauce is.”
It felt so mundane compared to the answers I was seeking, but I accepted the role of taste tester for Dana’s recipe with a fierce critique. That evening, I asked endless questions about cooking, partly out of politeness but mostly out of a desperate need to connect.
At least I knew the perfect time to boil pasta, which provided a temporary anchor amidst my overwhelming sense of displacement.
