Fire Angel

Author's Note: Ah, *sigh of contentment* this chapter is really long (compared to the others) but bear with it. Lots of explanations (you're gonna need it to understand the other parts) but don't stop at reading! tell me what you think good bad indifferent. pweeze!! ^w^

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Everyone except Ayden, Melissa and Kaori left to deal with so business in their respective fields from what I could make out from their mysterious behavior. Strangely, I was feeling more at home in Sierra than I had ever felt on earth, and it disturbed me only slightly. They were explaining what was going to happen to me for the first few weeks and I wasn’t really paying attention to what they were saying much.

I got a pinch in my arm which caused me to yelp and rub the now sore spot. “What was that for?” I demanded turning to, surprisingly, the only other person in the room… ‘Huh? When did that happen?’

“That was to bring you out of your mind miss, ‘I don’t want to pay attention to what the know-it-all angels are trying to tell me’.” Melissa said with a smile “Unless of course you actually want to stay here for the rest of the afternoon.” I opened and closed my mouth mutely before tilting my head downward to hide the blush that was creeping to my face. “I’ll take that as you don’t, so try to stop blushing and come on…” I looked up and saw her holding out her hand to me so I took it, my mind running briefly on how soft her palm was. “On second thought you look cute when you blush.” my face heated up even more as she led me out of the building.

~~~~~

I was taken again by the beauty of the place as she walked with me along pathways and streets, telling me about the different buildings and I found myself enraptured by her voice.

“Wait, the angels made the buildings… as in, from the earth up?” I stopped her. She nodded smiling.

“Earth angels are the architects usually. But each of the pure elements had to fuel and create their own temple… I could show you where the temples are, but you’ll need to be able to call on your wings if you want to see them all in one day.” she looked off into the distance before turning back to me. “As it stands, we won’t be able to make it to any temple before sunset, and you’re going to be tired by the time we get back to my place.”

“I slept for four days.” I said laughing “I think I can manage.” she shook her head still smiling

“You think that, only because you don’t know any better.” she took my hand and I felt my heart flutter again. “Believe me, if you’re not tired when we get to my place, you’re made of stronger stuff than I thought.” she pulled me through the streets again, taking a different route, one where I actually saw more people, some looked distinctly angelic while others looked more human than I would have thought possible. When I brought it up, Melissa got a strange look on her face before telling me “Some humans find there way here sometimes, they’re usually looking for something and most times can’t go back to earth until it’s been found, others simply want to be close to us… it’s kind of weird I guess but,”

“Yeah, I’ll get used to it.” I interrupted. “Camille was saying that a lot.” she turned to look at me with amusement written on her face.

“You seem to be taking all of this rather well I must say. We usually get a lot more screaming an destruction from angels who’ve lived human lives…” she sounded more than a little impressed with me and I found my stamina was beginning to wane as she continued “Then again, your vision is more than a bit useful, did you manage to see the woman clearly? Her face I mean.” I nodded thinking back a bit.

“Just by looking at her face she seemed kind and strong at the same time… besides… I guess the angelic world always had a kind of hold over me and I just never knew it…” I looked at her seeking some kind of solace that I wasn’t going insane and found an understanding and warm smile playing across her features

“That’s how I felt too… when I first came here.” I found myself simply taking in her words and moving with her as we began to enter less populated areas. I noticed that we were following a trail proper and she had begun talking about inconsequential things, the fact that she had a bit of trouble with some of the other angels because of the fact that she grew up on earth. “I mean, I always knew I was an angel and all. My mom made sure to drill it in my head that I was going to live in Sierra when I got old enough but I didn’t opay it much mind.” she took a turn and I followed her as she continued chattering. It seemed to get darker in a matter of seconds and I nearly panicked until I realized that the trees had simply blocked out most of the light and the sun was now being filtered heavily by the leaves. I took in the surreal quality of it all before shaking my head and jogging to catch up with my guide. ‘It won’t do me well to get lost now will it.’ I thought to myself as I chased her receding figure.

“Shocked by the lack of light?” she asked as soon as I caught up with her again.

“Uh, yeah…” realizing that she expected it as she began to walk at full speed again. “Why did you wait though? And not one of the others.” I wondered aloud as she made another turn. I didn’t see her face when she answered but I could hear the smile on her voice

“Because you’re different… and I want to know how.” I frowned and she continued “Play it off as my curiosity getting the better of me.” she shrugged and made another turn. I had a sinking feeling that there was no way I would be able to get out of here without her help. And I began to think I didn’t mind.

“Okay, next question.” I said jogging so that I was right next to her. She tilted her head to let me know she was listening “Why did Ayden slap me?” she stopped in her tracks and I wondered if I said something wrong. Next thing I know, she’s doubled over laughing a beautiful golden laugh that echoed beautifully among the trees. When she stopped and was able to straighten up, I saw that she had tears in her sky-blue eyes that looked like little raindrops.

“I’m sorry for laughing…” she said still giggling “But seeing it in retrospect, Ayden is one of the most collected angels, but that was the one topic he refuses to talk about because of his element’s part in it.” I arched an eyebrow. “He has a lot of pride and faith in the new order of the angels and hopes personally that they don’t make the mistakes of the past, but seeing as you didn’t know any better and were so persistent on the topic as well as perceptive, it made him lose his cool for the first time in ages. You have to do that again.” her smile was so bright at that point that I had to look away.

“I don’t know if I want to test my patience at getting slapped constantly, but maybe… I didn’t think it was possible for him to lose his cool either though.” I chuckled as we resumed walking again.

“He’s a true water angel.” she said suddenly “The true elementals tend to be proud of who they are, as well as the fact that he’s the strongest of them… makes his position very tiring.” I nodded, not too sure what she meant by tiring but taking her word for it. Suddenly we the canopy opened and I was greeted by the dimmed light of sunset and the view of a house that seemed almost carved out of the ground and the mountain at the side of it. My jaw dropped at the simple beauty of it. “How do you like it?” she asked moving forward

“It’s beautiful… I mean compared to what I’m used to on earth, it’s obviously better than anything I’ve ever seen, and although I’ve seen a lot of buildings here… this seems the most, I don’t know, ’comfortable’?” I paused before I started to actually ramble and heard her giggle again.

“You really impress me you know.” she said turning back to me “Not many could walk up here and stand to form a coherent thought other than where they can get a rest far less manage a ramble about what they actually think about the house.” I blushed and looked away she let out another musical giggle “And I truly think it’s endearing how easily I can make you blush. But come in, I want you to see the view.” I lowered my head and followed her felling my face get even warmer.

‘Damn it… I never used to blush this much… did I?” my mind wandered to Angela for a moment as Melissa led me through her home and to what could only be called the den which had heavy curtains hanging from ceiling to floor on the opposite wall. I regarded them curiously for a moment until they were blown away and for the first time I saw exactly how far I walked with her and how much there was still to see. There are no words in the English language which could come close to describing the beauty of the land as it was kissed by the sunset. Hues of red, gold and pink touched any and everything within my line of sight and with out any conscious thought I found myself pressed against the glass of the bay windows that led to the patio/balcony.

“It’s beautiful.” I breathed suddenly feeling weary. She was behind me with her hands on my shoulders. I felt a calm breeze swirl around me and I turned back to her as the curtains closed again. “You control wind?” I whispered in more of a statement than a question. She nodded and I smiled finding it strange that I was having trouble to keep my eyes open now.

“Sleep little angel… everything is going to be alright.”

~~~~~

“Why did she have to go like that?” I saw Angela sitting on her bed muttering to Misty as the dog lay on her lap being petted. “And to top it all off, it’s like no one knows she even existed… So frustrating.” Misty let out a little whimper and snuggled closer to her as though trying to comfort her. A noise from her computer made her look across and she saw a new message in her chat. She scoffed and typed a flurry of characters before going back to Misty grumbling about lack of consideration from people who were supposed to be friends. I reach a hand out and tried to touch her but found it impossible. A knock on the door was the next thing to get her attention and mine as she called “It’s open.” Miyuki barged in and took Misty out of her owners hand and pulled her up

“You need to get out.” she said moving over to Angela’s closet “You’ve only gone to school and brooded at home for just over the past week and a half, and heaven knows I’m not leaving you like this forever.”

“You’re just like them Miyu. You don’t remember her.” Angela argued trying to get a comfortable seat with Miyuki acting like a whirlwind

“Well whoever it is, I’d like to meet ‘em…” she responded looking back at Angela briefly. “Just to see who could pull such a number on the great ice-queen.”

“I am not an ice-queen.”

“Yet you’ve shot down any and every possible date you could possibly have in all of middle and high school with every jock, nerd, lesbian and bisexual girl.” Miyuki looked at her skeptically “And you’re not an ice-queen?” Angela didn’t have an answer to that so she just kept her mouth shut. “Besides, there’s a new movie out and the gang want to see it. The invite goes out to you and you’re coming.”

“Glad to see I have a choice.”

“No you don’t.” Miyuki smiled brightly and turned her attention back to the closet. Angela got up and moved to her work table and picked up and picture frame that should have had a picture with me and her smiling arms around each other’s shoulders and sighed.

“What’s so depressing about Misty?” Miyuki asked over her shoulder holding an outfit in her hands

“Just the fact that it wasn’t supposed to have Misty in this frame.” she muttered…
~~~~~

I opened my eyes in a very comfortable bed with light barely seeping through the windows. I raised a hand to my head feeling the beginning of a headache throbbing and groaned. ‘Okay, so the walk made me tired…obviously…’ my stomach growled suddenly and I rolled my eyes. ‘Great… what do angels eat?’

“I have pancakes if you want.” Melissa said seeing me up. I sat up and saw her leaning against the door frame.

“How long have you been there?” I wondered briefly if I had talked in my sleep

“Long enough.” she answered cryptically. I blushed automatically and regretted it instantly when she smirked.

“I’ll have some pancakes thanks.” I replied swinging my legs over the side of the bed and bracing for a shock of cold as my feet touched the ground and was pleasantly surprised when there was none to be had. Instead my toes were greeted by the comforting feel of fuzzy carpet which made me smile, then wonder what happened to my clothes. ‘I swear those wind angels are just trying to get me out of my clothes.’ I pouted and looked around the room to see the closet where I could, hopefully, change out of the blue pajama set I was wearing. What surprised me every time though was how the clothes seemed tailored to fit me or something… when I opened the closet I saw a vast number of clothes that I didn’t think could possibly fit inside one simple closet. I chose a deep purple top with gold patterned cherry blossoms along the front and a flowing black pants that reached just below my knee and went out the still open door, following the smell of cooking food…

~~~~~

“So you’re not vegetarians…” we were walking down the path to the town after I’d finished eating. Melissa had insisted that I wear something on my feet despite my grumblings about me wanting my feet to have freedom. Her answer being something along the lines that mainly earth angels walked around barefoot.

“No we’re not. What gave you that idea?” I shrugged and looked away

“Some of the others were saying that all angels were so I just…” that earned a gentle laugh from her and I resisted the blush that was creeping up on my face.

“There are a few vegetarians, but we aren’t all that way.” she said gently I nodded then asked

“So where are we going now?”

“The hall of records…” she replied. “I could take us via portal, but for someone not used to them they can be quite unpleasant… that and I think you actually do prefer to walk.” I smiled and nodded

“I get to spend more time with you.” it wasn’t until I noticed the blush that crept onto her face did I realize I had said that out loud.

“If I didn’t know any better I’d say you were flirting with me.” she said after she had regained her composure

“Is that a bad thing?” I asked, glad to have the upper hand for once.

“No… not necessarily.”

“Then that’s good. Because if I have to live with you I might as well be able to have some fun too right?” I flashed an arrogant smile at her while she just looked to the canopy.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“You don’t? Hmmm, strange… I seem to recall someone coaxing me to sleep with the apparent intent on changing my clothes, thus seeing me naked.” she let out a giggle and turned to face me

“You know, I think I’m going to make you take the portal now.” she said stretching her hand out and engulfing my body in wind.

My legs gave way moments later and my knees connected with a solid stone floor as I caught my breath. “Sorry too much?” her teasing voice actually made me smile. As I looked up, about to retort I saw a majestic statue before me. The detail on it made me pissed at myself for never taking art seriously.

“Who-”

“That was one of the great fire lords.” she said before I could finish my sentence “This hall is the record of fire. It’s the best place for you to find out more about your past.” she held out her hand for me and I nearly started counting the number of times someone has had to do that since I woke up yesterday. Never the less, I took her hand and she began to show me around. Pretty soon though, I was walking on my own, with no guidance from her, simply her presence and to answer questions as they formed on my lips. I didn’t even bother to wonder how she had so much information, I simply chalked it up as the fact that she had the teachings I didn’t.

It wasn’t until much later that I reached the archives, and, although I was itching to go in… I couldn’t.

“What’s wrong?”

“Who’s that?” I asked pointing at the double statue flanking the doorway.

“That…” Melissa got a sorrow filled smile on her face, “That is Aelena.” mutely I walked up to the statue before she could continue any explanation

“Aelena…” I touched the stone and was amazed by how warm it was.

“Yeah. She was the most powerful true fire angel to exist… or so they say.”

“Her, hair was red… and her eyes were green… weren’t they?” I whispered, not sure I wanted to know the answer. Melissa stood next to me with a very interested expression on her face.

“How did you know that?” I looked down.

“This is the woman from my vision.” my voice was barely a whisper as I found it difficult to keep my eyes off the kindness that was represented in the stone. I slipped my hand into the stone hand, tears beginning to form in my eyes as I continued to hope beyond all hope.

“Let’s look in the archives. Maybe we’ll find something that will link her to you.” I wiped my eye with my free hand and nodded.

~~~~~

The archives were set up like a large library with few angels perusing the tomes. Melissa had found a vast majority the pertained to Aelena as well as a few others describing the functions of fire angels. Skimming through the books that pertained to Aelena, I found that she had what I and humans would call a husband, but was referred to as a ‘bonded’. She lived together with him in the western fire land, near the temple. I frowned and turned forward a few pages, trying to find if they had a child, but came up with blank pages.

“What happened to the rest of the tome?” I asked, speaking I think for the first time since realizing Aelena was the woman from my vision.

“If the pages are blank it means that’s where it ended.” I frowned again and went back to the last tome that had dictated her work.

“But this one…” I caught myself as I understood her meaning. Where they were killed… I went back to the tome and tried to find something that could have pointed to her having a child.

I felt a presence behind me and turned. Camille smiled down on me and slid into the seat on my right after giving an almost imperceptible bow to Melissa.

“I thought I would find you here.” she said putting another tome on the table.

“Is that Jarrod’s?” Melissa asked reaching for it. Camille nodded.

“I saw the number of books you had on Aelena and thought this might help with whatever you’re trying to find.” I looked up at the book in Melissa’s hand and felt my eyebrows connect.

“Jarrod was Aelena’s bonded.” I said, my eyes still focused on the book.

“He wasn’t as thorough with his documentation, but also a quite a bit more obscure.” Melissa’s eyes were roaming the pages

“So if he and Aelena had a child we would be more likely to find it in his rather than hers.” Camille continued

“But it’s very hard to find his books, how did you find it?” Melissa glanced up at her and I turned my gaze as well. Camille shrugged

“My brother borrowed it recently and I was bringing it back.” Melissa’s eyes went back to the pages while I kept my eyes trained on Camille.

“Is your brother a wind angel as well?” I asked suddenly. Camille turned to me and smiled sweetly

“Why don’t you come home with me and find out?”

“I think I’ll pass.” I replied closing the tome before me and reaching for another one Melissa laughed quietly while Camille pouted. As I was opening the tome, Melissa gasped

“They did have a daughter.” I looked up to her to see the book now flat on the table, open to the page, while she covered her mouth in shock. I couldn’t see the words on the page properly due to my position but as she turned the page my entire body stiffened. “Days before the destruction.” her voice was so soft I was shocked that I heard her. I stood up and reached for the tome and turned it to be, turning the page back, running my fingers over the words until I found the name with my eyes.

“Karianna…” my vision swan briefly before refocusing on the woman I now knew as Aelena and a man who looked to be her age as well who had blue hair and violently red eyes. He cradled a child in one arm with his other hand tickling her stomach so that she laughed a cute baby laugh.

“I’m worried for her.” Aelena said moving to him and stroking the child’s hair.

“There’s nothing to worry about Lena.” he replied moving his hand to hers. The child cooed and started trying to grab at his shirt “She’s going to grow up to be just like her mother.” Aelena shook her head and focused her eyes on her daughter

“The council is worrying me… they are pulling more and more away from me, I don’t know what to think any more.” She put her hand to her daughter’s pudgy fists and smiled as the tiny fist closed around her finger.

“You think they’re planning to do something?”

“You know how they started getting Jarrod. You’ve heard their talk. ‘Fire angels are dangerous. They need to be taught. The children can’t control themselves’. For crying out loud. They’re children.” Aelena sighed and took the girl from him. “I don’t want my child to grow up surrounded by this insanity.”

“Karianna is your daughter Lena, she’ll survive anything.” Jarrod tried to comfort her, putting his arms around her shoulders.

“Even destruction?”…

A cool hand on my face brought me out of my trance and I looked around feeling more than a little confused.

“You had another vision?” Melissa asked, concern dripping all over her words

“I think so yeah… it’s beginning to get frustrating… what with figuring out what’s past and present…” I muttered

“What did you see?”

“Aelena and Jarrod talking in private holding their daughter.” I replied shaking my head, and not too sure whether it was Camille or Melissa who asked the last question. I sat back in the chair and looked up to the ceiling and sighed. “Why can I see them?” I looked back to the book I had been about to open and read the title, ‘The eyes of an Angel’.

“Angels have different talents.” Camille said softly. “One of which is sight… the ability to see the future, present and past.”

“Present?” I raised an eyebrow.

“In dreams usually, and in a place you aren’t in presently, though that gift was… is extremely rare and was only one of the few talents Aelena herself had.” Melissa clarified then paused, “Last night you were mumbling something about; ‘Don’t worry about me… Time to move on…’ What was that about?” I looked away blushing and hoping that she wasn’t actually watching me sleep last night if I had been in a talking mood.

“Nothing… it was just a dream.”

“And dreams have meanings.” she pressed.

“I saw Angela moping about me being gone… does time move differently on earth verses here?”

“Yes.” she answered with a thoughtful expression. “What was she really moping about?” I told her about my dream and how it seemed that everyone on earth that I’d been in contact with seemed to have forgotten about me, down to any lasting evidence like pictures being different… as though I never existed. Camille fidgeted. And Melissa got an irritated look on her face.

“Why? What does it mean?” I inquired putting my hand on Melissa’s and secretly enjoying the slight draft I felt.

“It means that someone here didn’t want you to go back to earth anytime soon. These things aren’t usually done without an angel’s permission.” I glanced to Camille to see her looking at mine a Melissa’s hands enviously and pulled away feeling slightly self conscious before asking

“So what are we going to do?” Melissa smiled and picked up Jarrod’s tome.

“I am going to go back to the hall and have a little chat with some of the elders.” she said “Camille and you are going to take a walk.” I raised my eyebrows as she disappeared.

“Glad I’m given a choice.” I whispered before turning to Camille. “So where to?”

~~~~~~

“I think you might like this.” we walked to a building half an hour away from the hall of records and stopped “This is the museum, and I know it sounds boring, but there’s one thing I want you to see. You’ll like it, I promise.” I shook my head and shrugged. I wasn’t one to be very fond of museums on earth because they were just so boring. ‘But hey, maybe this’ll be different.’

“Why not?” I followed her inside and was immediately taken by the color. I did a double take and was almost run into by someone who was now leaving.

“Watch it won’t ya!” they grumbled while I apologized shifting myself so that I was out of the way of the door. Camille took a hold of my hand and began pulling me through the museum, pointing out various figures and animals. I paused her after a moment.

“What are the animals for?” she looked at me and smiled

“The true angels all have an animal that represents them, like Ayden’s a polar bear.” she chuckled, “Which is ironic kinda when you look at it. He’s usually like a cute cuddly teddy bear most of the time.”

“Ayden…?” I was really skeptical, but then, I don’t know what he’s like most of the time. I looked down one of the less populated corridors and spotted a familiar statue. I walked down and paused before it. Aelena was posed gracefully standing looking out with her hands palm down and pressing a sword in its sheath into the ground.

“Oh look, another noob thinking they can move the sword.” I heard a snide voice drawl to my left.

“I’m sorry?” I turned and saw a blonde that reminded me forcefully of Isabelle.

“That’s why you’re standing there aren’t you?” she waved her hand at me “Trying to say you can move the sword that Aelena left behind. Well trust us, you can’t.”

“And why can’t she?” Camille demanded stepping forward.

“Oh, I didn’t see you there doctor.” She rolled her eyes and assumed an arrogant posture “Simply because Aelena herself put a spell on that statue and the sword making sure that none but her family could remove it. Unfortunately, all her family were killed in the scourge of the fire angels, so there’s no way to move that sword short of trying to destroy the statue.”

“You said ‘trying’, is it impossible or something?” I asked running my hand along the arm of the statue.

“Well duh. You’d need power equal to or greater than hers to be able to destroy it.” she paused, regarding me curiously “You really didn’t know?” I shook my head and allowed my hand to touch the blood red gem that was at the hilt of the sword. I felt an innate attachment to the object that I couldn’t explain and I wrapped my hand around the hilt taking in the warmth that emanated from it.

“Fire Sword, the weapon of the ancients, handed down from angel to angel since it’s forging.” echoed throughout the hallway and those few who were there froze in there tracks and turned to find the source of voice. Excitement thrummed in me as I recognized the voice and looked up to the face of the statue. It’s head had turned down to look at me and its expression had changed from one of quiet observing to love. Instead of making me freak out it actually made me feel more calm than I’d been in a while. “Karianna.” one of the hands moved and rested on mine causing me to jump slightly. “You’ve gotten big.” she pulled my hand away, taking the sword with it, gave me a beautiful smile before resuming the position from before, the only difference being the position of the hands as well as the fact that the sword was now in my hands. I looked down at the ornate carving on the sheath for a moment before looking back to the statue and smiling. I felt a hand on my shoulder and turned to see an aged woman with brown hair and kind blue eyes smiling at me with Camille and the blonde just behind me (the blonde’s mouth was open in shock)

“You have a gift… use it well.” she said in a slightly wheezy voice. I nodded, not exactly sure what she meant. Moments later I looked up as I heard a loud bang and footsteps storming trough the halls. Camille came back by my side and the blonde simply shook her head in amazement. Some very scary faced men stormed in followed by a few kinder females Ayden, Melissa and three other people I couldn’t quite make out.

“What is the meaning of this!?” One of the men demanded, his white eyes turned to me and frowned at the sight of the sword still in my hands. Fear began to vibrate through me as he gaze turned accusing

“How is this even possible?” another one demanded, his hand made it up to his bald head as he looked from me to the statue. Some of the people who had seen the statue come to life dashed off in another direction, making me think that it would be bad if they accused me of something illegal. “Who are you?!” his voice seemed to echo in my head and for a moment I was about to voice my uncertainties when I felt something stir in me. I looked down at the sword and drew strength

“I am Karianna,” my voice came stronger than I thought would have been possible at this point “Daughter of Aelena and Jarrod, now owner of the Fire Sword. How can I be of assistance to you?”