Airel (14 page)

Chapter I

1250 B.C. The City of Ke’elei

Kreios knew firsthand Who it was that had His large, powerful, hand under the universe. It is—was—will be—God; the Most High. Kreios had looked into His eyes and saw the flame of fire that burned there. He felt the Presence and in those eyes he saw more than he could ever say in one lifetime—even a lifetime as long as his would be. 

Kreios feared God in a way that gave bedrock meaning to the word. The All-Powerful Knowing Master that ruled and reigned could, in an instant, know every choice that would be made in a single life. Even the earth knew Who had spun it into existence. Kreios knew Him as El, or the power of El. The saying was true that El was
all in all
.

Kreios’s thinking was best done in the air, where the cool scent of the earth filled his nostrils and mind. He could think clear thoughts in the blank canvas above, where the land below rippled in undulations and trees seemed to grow from nothing, in an order known only to El. 

He was glad that Maria, wife to his beloved brother, was safe—and his daughter as well, in the hidden city at Ke’elei. Most simply called it, "The City." No more was ever needed. It was the most beautiful place on earth. A long valley of tall green grass led up to it in a lush carpet, shouting out with the truest color he had seen since he left home.

They had been in The City for two days now, and Kreios took his morning flight over the vast valley that lay nestled between snow-capped peaks rising sharply, like teeth, toward the sky. On the north end was a sheer cliff of rusty red that stood in stark contrast to the calm green valley. It reminded Kreios of what he had seen in parts of the world where deserts gripped the earth and the sun was king.

He turned and surveyed the city from the sky. He was just a speck against the light blue and as he looked down he admired the thick fortress walls that ran along the boundary edge of the great city. They were laid with white stones, each one as big as a village house, five or six stones high, arcing smoothly in a line. The City was hemmed in to the north by the cliff, to the south by the wall, and to east and west by the mountains. 

Horses and chariots would race side by side on the top of the wall at the year-end festival. Great oaks and elms tangled with the deepness of an unknown forest at its base, and giant ancient redwoods towered in front, hiding the city from the view of anyone in the valley below. The City fathers had planned well for its defense, making it impenetrable to any known assault.

Behind the walls, the city spread like a delicate flower over the fertile soil of the valley and up the side of the mountain, sometimes cutting directly into the stone face. These stone houses led to tunnels and paths that wound deep into the heart of the mountain, making use of the protection that only a natural granite fortress could afford. 

The City was surrounded a courtyard of grass with a stone pillar at its center. The pillar was crowned with a bright flame that burned by night, providing light and warmth and consuming no fuel. It was evidence of the Presence, that it was not forgotten, that it was prized. The fire flared up each night, appearing at dusk and illuminating the entire city, snuffing itself out at dawn’s first light. Outside the City wall no light was visible, keeping safe the secret of the City of Ke’elei.

“It is El,” Kreios thought. “He wills it—and so it is.” 

The rest of the buildings in the city were constructed with the same materials as had been used to build the wall and to form the mountains. Glass, and another gift from the angels—mirrors—reflected the mountain around The City as well as the sky above, making it nearly invisible. 

Kreios liked how clean the streets were, and he loved the sound of the young children who ran there, filling the city with laughter. It took him back to another age, when creation was as yet still filled with innocence. These young would be trained as warriors; every family member was to be trained in the art of war.

Kreios descended, landing by the stone pillar at the City’s center. The grass under his feet moved as if it was aware of and had reverence for the Sword he carried. He would attend a gathering with the elders to learn what counsel they had in regard to the ever-approaching battle with the Seer and his horde. 

Today, though, he would take another long rest and enjoy the beautiful warm weather and hold his darling baby girl. He would kiss her and give her one extra for her mother.

Chapter II

Boise, Idaho. Present day.

Life was getting more complicated with each passing day. I was getting more beautiful by the second, which was amazing, but also was a problem. Plus I had promised to reveal to the most amazing boy, whom I hardly knew, that I could heal supernaturally. The problem with making promises is that they have to be kept—or broken.  

Michael was there in the back of my mind. I was annoyed that I could not distract him from the fact that he had seen my welt disappear right in front of his eyes. 

Kim was chomping at the bit to call the police. I wondered if she was on my side or if she just thought it would be cool to be involved in a police investigation. It made me seriously want to pull my hair out. Either way, it was more than I wanted to deal with, for sure. I had to rein her in before I lost my chance to get some answers. 

I wished Michael would let me ease up on my promise, but I doubted he would. One way or another I was going to have to tell him or show him. As crazy as it sounds, I thought showing him might be easier, because otherwise it’s like telling some impossible story that nobody would believe. 

After an awkward phone conversation and an apology, I had somehow talked Kim into ditching the double-date idea. I promised her that later we could share all the juicy details between us. I convinced her it would be more fun that way. In the end, it was enough to convince her, and I was relieved that I would be alone with Michael so I could fully explain to him what was going on—if only I knew myself. All of this was extremely frustrating. How was I going to explain this craziness to the guy I was falling for? 

It was date night. Cue the ominous music. It’s a good thing my mom was busy fussing and hovering over me, because my emotions were getting pulled in so many different directions. How could I dread so completely the one thing I had been wanting with all my heart for so long? It was just crazy. Mom was there, though, to run a brush through my hair and help me decide on the right shoes—but we both knew it wasn’t about any of that. When you need your mom, you just need your mom.

My hair looked like spun silk, but darker, and kind of metallic looking. When I touched it, I gasped. It was so soft, but so strong that when I pulled a strand from the brush and tried to break it, I couldn’t. With each stroke it got smoother and smoother. Maybe I was going to die—but at least I would die looking good.

It was just after six, and Mom and I shared a glance between us. I pulled on a cute little dress that I had picked up at Forever 21. Kim had insisted that I buy it and I had to admit that it did look great. It was a light springy material, sky blue, with silver lines falling down the right side and curling up the hip into a flower with silver petals. The thread was so beautiful and delicate that I was almost afraid to touch it. It was a sleeveless v-cut with the delicate hem at my knees. It was so flattering that I blushed at my own reflection in the long mirror on the back of my bedroom door.

Mom helped me complete the look with strappy black high-heels. I pulled my hair back with a barrette and let half of it fall over my shoulders. I was amazed.
No more flat iron for this chick.
I chose the same shade of eye shadow as my dress and some clear lip-gloss. I felt amazing. Was this how it was supposed to feel?

Mom excused herself from my room. She said she had to get dinner ready downstairs, but as she left, she was dabbing at her eyes and I think maybe she was just as emotional about date night as I was. 

As she blew me a kiss and closed my door, Kim called, my phone bouncing on the dresser. I answered it, sure that she could hear me smile. “Yes, my dear Kim. I take it you’re still trying to decide what to wear?” I could imagine her standing in front of her bedroom mirror with a frustrated look on her face; the two dresses in question hanging next to each other like a line-up at the city jail. 

“Yes! The red one…is it too fancy? Maybe we won’t be going to a very fancy place. The black one is hot though... but I’m so pale! I should have gone tanning last week. Argh, Airel, what am I going to do?”

“The black one’s better. You know how red and your hair mix. I don’t know why you even bought that one.” Kim had seen the red one—and when I say red, I mean in-your-face bright red—and had to have it. Her red-orange hair made her look like a cooked lobster if she ever wore anything red.

“You think? The black is so…well, so cliché. You know, every girl has a little black dress. But on a first date?”

“Kim, since when do you care about what anyone else thinks? Go black and don’t look back. I gotta go. I’ll call later tonight, maybe in the morning if we stay out late.” I didn’t want her texting every five minutes for an update. 

“Okay, I’ll wear the black one. Oh, I can’t wait!” She giggled. “Call me!” I hung up and tossed the phone into a tiny clutch I was going to cart around with me, more to complete the look than anything else.

I heard Michael’s truck pull up out front and I moved to the window to look out. I wanted to run down and open the door for him to block his path to my dad, but Dad had already told me to stay in my room until he had a chance to meet "the guy." "The guy." He was more than "the guy," of course, but dads will be dads. 

I heard the doorbell and a dry voice downstairs. I paced the room and double-checked my make-up and hair. Spinning around, I smiled at the way my dress looked
. Not bad, girl! Not bad. 

“Airel, you ready?” Dad yelled up the stairs and I nearly jumped out of my skin. I grabbed my purse and bolted, glancing one last time in the mirror. I took the stairs far too quickly for the blasted heels I was wearing. 

Michael stood at the foot of the stairs in a pink Oxford shirt and jeans that were faded in just the right spots. He looked like a model for G.Q.

His jaw dropped and my dad blushed for me as I came to a stop one step from the bottom. I did a little curtsey and smiled. I looked Michael up and down in a critical manner as if to judge what he was wearing. “Hm. Pink, eh?”

“It’s off-red.” His smile intoxicated me. His light blond hair looked almost white and stood up all over in soft spikes that I wanted to touch. He smiled, holding out his hand.

I took it. “You’re trying to score points here.” He smelled
so
good. No cologne-bomb here—just something naturally irresistible. He looked at me with the biggest smile on his face, as if he wanted to say something but was unable to find the words.

Dad broke the spell. “Now, you two be good. Have her home by midnight. If you need anything call, and if you’re gonna be late, call. Have fun and remember what I said, Michael.”

I looked sideways at Michael, then at my dad. He smiled and shook Dad’s hand. “Yes, sir. We’ll be good and she’ll be safe—you can count on that, sir.” Mom stood there, Dad holding her, and her eyes were misty.  

Well, how wonderful. The guy could be a gentleman.
I couldn’t resist him, and what’s more, couldn’t think of a single reason why I ever should. I suppressed a laugh. I kissed my dad on the cheek and gave my mom a little hug. “Love you guys. We’ll be fine. Don’t stay up waiting for us. Get some sleep, okay?” I knew they would wait up anyway because parents are like that. They were like a masterpiece portrait as they stood there watching me walk away. It was striking and so sweet, and thoughts of my own romantic future stirred my imagination. 

I waved over my shoulder as Michael opened the front door for me. The evening air was warm and sweet, filled with pumpkin spice and golden leaves. I breathed in deep and Michael took my arm, leading me down the front steps.

“So, he gave you the I-will-have-my-revenge talk, huh? You were all, ‘sir,’ and, ‘yes sir!’ Did he show you the 12-gauge, too?” 

Michael lifted the latch on the passenger side of his big Chevy truck and helped me in. “Oh, yeah. He even told me that he has a ‘special understanding’ with Coach.” He smiled, indicating that he was probably joking. “He and I had a man-to-man, nothing big. Nothing you’d understand. Besides, I’ve got you now... ” He looked at me in the oddest way just then, but it was brief and before I knew it he had moved on. And you look more beautiful than anything or anyone I have ever seen.” 

I blushed and looked away, but he reached up and gently turned my face toward his. All I could think of was that my parents were probably watching and it was all I could do to keep from dying over it. “I mean it! Stunning, hot, Audrey Hepburn, however you want to describe it. You are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen.” 

Audrey Hepburn?!
I was going to die a happy girl. I had spent many an hour with Kim watching her in
Roman Holiday
and
Sabrina,
fantasizing about being the chauffeur’s daughter or the princess. I had memorized those movies, awestruck at how Audrey carried herself and how beautiful she was. If only we could live our lives in black and white. It was poetic, in a way. But for him to compare me to Audrey, favorably, out of nowhere—it just sent me right over the moon.

I could tell that he was dead serious about it. He looked like he was about to cry. The moment shocked me to the core. As long as I live, I will never forget that look on his face.

Michael stood staring into me, drinking me in. I imagined that if I had never said anything he would have stood there all night looking at me in a way that’s only allowed in fairytales. This had to be a dream. Michael was not just handsome, he was kind. He had a way of making me feel like the only girl in the world and he was here, looking at me like this. I felt his hand as it held mine, and his pulse as his heart beat in harmony with mine. It was as if we were made for each other.

“Well then, mister. Are we going or not?” Michael grinned and shut the door reluctantly, and as he walked to the other side, I had about two seconds to compose myself. 

He was winning my heart, and no matter how I tried I couldn’t help myself. He was so wonderful. I was afraid that something terrible was going to happen to mess it all up.