I could hear my mom so clearly, her voice finding me through the darkness. “Trust me, pumpkin, you don’t want to know.” It was the phrase I became accustomed to when asking her about my father, her childhood, or about family outside of just the two of us.

  She was trying to shield me, but reflecting on all those moments, I realized it left me apprehensive to dig deeper for answers. I understood now not questioning became an unconscious habit that left me unprepared for life without my mom.

  It was another weakness. I already lacked the physical strength to keep myself safe, but my intellect couldn’t be relied on either if I was going to be afraid of seeking knowledge.

  If I had studied what to do, asked more about everyone’s powers or wondered more about all the dangers instead of straining myself with work outs right before battle, then maybe I wouldn’t have woken up shivering in a cold sweat on wet sheets.

  An aggressive shudder jolted me awake, my head pounding and my body drenched. Every muscle tensed and trembled as I struggled to sit up, fighting the urge to retch. A ready presence offered me a bucket as a violent wave of nausea twisted my stomach, making me gag before I could grasp it. The smell of bile filled my nostrils, and I gasped for air between bouts of vomiting. I had never felt so ill and uncomfortable before.

  “Where am I?” I called out, still choking on vomit while I blinked around the darkness.

  “You can’t see, can you?” Ellie’s voice broke through the haze. She brushed back the hair stuck to my face. I could feel the burn as her fingers gently glided past my eyes.

  “Should I be able to? Am I blind?” Fear tightened around my chest, and a chill ran across my skin as I grappled with the thought of permanent darkness. As soon as the words left my lips, I felt all hope drain from my body.

  Without my sight, I wouldn’t be able to sketch or ever read a comic again.

  “You’re fortunate to be alive,” Uriel’s voice rumbled in the background. “Hopefully, your vision will return by the end of the week, and the sickness will dissipate by tomorrow. Your body is attempting to reject the, uh, ink you ingested.”

  “Ingested?” I exclaimed. “How? I thought you said it wouldn’t make me sick.”

  “It doesn’t affect you in the same manner as it would us. Nor does it go out of its way to enter your throat. However, should a demon decide to insert their ink into your mouth to keep you from cracking your teeth, then it becomes a different scenario.”

  I shuddered at the thought of demon ink being forced into my mouth, the remembrance of the taste and texture made my stomach churn.

  “What happened?” I retched again, my back throbbing from the force of the nausea.

  “What do you remember?” Uriel asked.

  From Uriel’s tone, I wasn’t sure if I should be concerned or alleviate his worries. “Raziel was being overpowered by consumed ones, I thought I could help but there were too many and we both got overwhelmed... I think he was trying to save himself and I got in the way,” I said, my voice wavering with uncertainty.

  “Maybe he’s dangerous to have around,” Ellie said.

  “We need him here,” Uriel admitted. “This battle isn’t going to get easier, and he’s agreed to help.”

  I closed my eyes and tried to steady my breathing. The memory of Raziel being overwhelmed by the consumed ones and my failed attempt to help him haunted me. Was he truly dangerous?

  “It was my mistake,” I affirmed. “It was hard for me without-”

  “None of this was your fault,” Uriel interrupted. “In a way, I understand Ellie’s point. I feared something like this would occur; I’ve advised him numerous times to exercise caution around everyone, not just you.”

  “What happened to me?” I asked, bringing a hand up to my throbbing face. I could feel the bruising and burn marks from just the lightest touch.

  “You were hit with the energy he used to release the consumed ones, which would have lit you up…again.” The giant sighed. “From his account to keep you alive he attempted another forced vow. Thankfully, you’ve kept that necklace on, because any aeon exchange with someone at his level would have killed you right there.”

  “But I’m alive…” I said, almost doubtful with my words.

  “Yes, well, I’ve also just learned the necklace doesn’t negate the process, it’s just the wearer doesn’t lose their aeon in the process. Smart designing on Avery’s part. Though I have a feeling it was intended to be a punishment on anyone who attempted to try it,” he said, bringing up that name again. The person who was arranging to bring me to a barrier.

  “So, mine wasn’t given up, but does that mean I have his aeon soul thing?” I inquired, feeling a little disturbed by the idea.

  Uriel confirmed my question and explained, “When the exchange occurs, both parties will be incapable of injuring a piece of their own soul at that point. Neither one of their powers can be used on the other. When the vow took place, the energy that was sent through you was reabsorbed back into Raziel through the entry point, which is the eyes.

  I suppose Avery could reverse the damage, but we won’t be able to get you to the barrier like I had planned.”

  “Because I can’t see?” I wondered.

  The metal lady answered, “The next sanctuary was also overrun with consumed ones.”

  “Raphael,” Uriel continued. “He’s another holder of a Guard that escaped. Unfortunately, the barrier is impossibly overwhelmed. He can’t get out to do anything.”

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  With confident assumption I said, “So we’ll have to go help.”

  The giant announced no at the same time Ellie was saying bitterly, “We can’t.”

  “Why?” I asked. Was there really such a large hoard that three Guard holders couldn’t make a dent?

  “Raphael’s told us not to do so,” the giant expressed with a heavy sigh. “Their barrier is possibly the most powerful, and though groups looking for reincarnations may head to the closest barrier, it’d also make sense to attempt making it to his.”

  “So it’s a trap…?”

  “We can speculate. Consumed ones aren’t rare, but a show of this magnitude hasn’t been seen in a very long time.”

  “And what happened then?” Ellie asked, apparently just as unaware.

  Both of them were silent, and I wished I could see their faces. “They were controlled,” Uriel finally answered vaguely. “These knew where we were too…”

  “You know who else knew where we all were?” Ellie said in a skeptical tone.

  “Anyone could have been watching us,” Uriel’s voice was logical and leveled. “What doesn’t make sense is I know those consumed ones weren’t under my feet this whole time. Zeekiel would have felt it as well. If they were just sick and buried, then it would have taken decades for them to be in that state.”

  “Is that guy who stopped us still after us?” I asked, mentally shuddering from the memory of his sharp glare on me.

  “That was Michael,” Uriel said, his deep voice coming in low.

  “Oh,” I huffed, trying to grasp my mind around the idea of one of the reincarnations coming back. Just a couple of months ago, that angel was human; someone else. It could have been my fate.

  Ellie reassured, “He’s gone for now. Zeek managed to send him back.”

  “Back where?”

  “To the last Gate they used to get here,” Uriel said. “Zeekiel has knowledge to push an archon’s soul from their body. It scatters their physical form, forcing them to go back.”

  “Feels like cheating if they can just respawn,” I muttered.

  Uriel hummed with agreement. “There’s nothing that can release us except for the Guards. But it should give us twice as much time. If we’re really waiting for an army, it won’t move without Michael.” I detected the familiar sound of Uriel’s scythe hitting the ground as he rose. “For now, Elliel will assist you until you can see.”

  Once the giant left and Ellie and I were alone, she asked me about what happened at Dana’s. The metal lady seemed to drop her stony demeanor to allow the concern in her voice. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself before recounting each event, including the part Zeekiel played in melding with me to help Dana.

  She seemed suspicious of the story, saying, “I’ve never seen him do that.”

  I hesitated for a moment, seeking the right words that wouldn’t put her off from being my friend. “Honestly, I felt as impressive as you for a moment,” I laughed, breaking the seriousness.

  “Me?” she asked in a raised voice.

  I went off on a tangent of admiration while I took dramatic shots in the air. “Like you. I saw you going after that guy with Zeek. You’re so graceful and brave and beautiful.” She didn’t reply, and I quickly backtracked with an apology.

  “I-it’s okay,” she said. “I didn’t even help you. Doesn’t seem like you need me with what you can do with Zeek.”

  “We could be a better team,” I said, enforcing Uriel’s idea of her training me. I went to playfully elbow her, but missed, potentially making me look more awkward than before. “Well, I mean, you all seem to work great together already. I’m just injecting myself into your group.”

  “I’m not sure if ‘group’ is the right word,” she said.

  “Family?”

  “Definitely not.”

  “Really? That’s how it felt to me. Dana always shows you affection, and even Uriel seems to worry about you,” I explained.

  “They worry because I’m small and can’t do magic long enough without fainting. Anyway, I have actual parents somewhere out there.”

  “Family is supposed to worry,” I insisted, attempting to give friendly advice.

  “I know family and friends come in different shapes,” she replied, but still hesitant. “But I just feel like a burden.”

  I understood. “You’re definitely needed. The group, or whatever you want to call it, needs you.”

  She was silent, mulling over my words. We shared the same weight of feeling too weak to belong. A flicker of hope ignited that maybe we’d find our place together among the others.

  ?????°???°?????

  My ordeal left me confined to a room for three days; boredom and a diet of only shakes were part of my recovery. With Ellie’s support, I was determined to overcome the setback and get back to, hopefully, convincing her to train me.

  Eventually, I woke up to the symphony of birds, as I did every morning since arriving. Their songs rang out far louder and more abundant than anything back home. Not even a fan could have drowned it out.

  I turned towards the source of noise and noticed the sliver of light through the cracks of the drawn curtains and excitement coursed through me as I realized my sight finally healed. Curiosity got the best of me, and I flung open the curtains to the ascending dawn. My eyes squinted, adjusting to the light after days of darkness.

  Beyond the confines of the window, I could clearly view the enchanting garden. Inside, however, the room remained scant and with cement walls and floor. All it possessed was a bed, a side table, and a few milk crates with a collection of garments.

  I examined the frilly yellow nightgown Ellie gave me to wear the day before and rummaged through the boxes of clothes, hoping to find anything in my size that wasn’t too outdated or ripped. All I found was a slightly oversized short-sleeved buttoned up shirt and a pair of tattered jeans.

  Without shoes, I stepped barefoot into the warm, gusting air tinged with fading purple hues, creating a tapestry in the sky. Birds of various shapes and sizes took flight, their feathers vibrant against the dawn.

  In that moment, surrounded by so much beauty, I reminded myself to never take for granted the vividness of colors.

  I turned back to the house, which stood tall and overgrown from its windows to the roof. The door I emerged from was like a small cellar and was the only way in and out of the room.

  While I traversed the garden, I took in all the unique flowers adorned in every corner. Their delicate petals in an array of watercolors waved in the breeze, while angelic statues, shrouded in moss, stood watch over the stoned paths.

  Lost in my wonder, I turned to find that I had inadvertently attracted a visitor. A tall, long-haired man stood before me, his beard adorned with beads. Flowing garments of blue draped his body, carefully folded around his gray wings. As he examined me, a spark of recognition flickered in his expression.

  “Wow. They really do look like hers,” the man said, examining me. “Those terrible burns still haven’t healed yet, I see.” He paused and frowned. His glowing fiery eyes raised to the chirping around us and his brows lifted as he listened. “You should go back to the room for a bit. Ellie will tend to you. For now, the gardens need their peace.” Mortified, I hurried away without a word, my face burning.

  As I approached the door leading back to the room, a long brown feather lying near the window caught my attention. It was brown with a black tip. My bad habit of turning things I found on the ground into trinkets and treasure had me fetching it from the ground and deeming it my lucky charm.

  Reclining back on the bed, I reached up it to my face. It smelt nice, an almost natural aroma that reminded me of a warm office. Like the lingering scent of static mixed with paper. I started to trace the smoother areas of skin around my eyes with the feather. The act provided a peculiar satisfaction as I circled it until I convinced myself it probably wasn’t the cleanest thing to be rubbing on my face.

  Soon, anxiety fluttered in my chest as footsteps descended the stairs. Ellie’s arrival heightened my already tense anticipation to witness my face in a mirror.

  But, as my reflection finally came into view, the fantasy of feeling pride in my battle scars swiftly vanished.