Authors: Laura Kreitzer
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I’ll read it.” Aiden’s charcoal fingers traced the cover of the book. “You are my daughter, Gabriella, and I’ll do whatever it takes to keep you safe. No matter what this book says.”
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Go on, Dad.” I hoped my smile came out right. It felt different yet it was right to call him Dad.
Aiden’s lips twitched up into a sad smile in return as he placed his blackened hand over mine. The touch was full of peaceful serenity, and I appreciated his warm embrace. He cleared his throat before he opened the book and read. “A battle will be waged. Great heroes will be lost. But they will survive in another form—one of darkness and shadow. But blood does not hold the key to light and dark, only our souls hold that power, as the Darkness Illuminator will prove.
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During the darkest time for all angels, the Illuminator will be born during the lightest day of the year when the Ladies of Light will kill one of their own.”
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Who did they kill?” I interrupted. My voice was thick with my anguish. Why did so many have to die?
Aiden had a confused expression on his face. “Camellia, one of the Ladies of Light, was killed by a Shadow—or so they said—but I’ve never heard of a Shadow defeating someone so powerful. The only immortal that could have done it was . . .” Aiden trailed off, knowing I’d understand the rest of the sentence.
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Do you mind?” Andrew asked and pointed toward the book.
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Of course not,” Aiden conceded.
Andrew slid the book forward and continued to read for us. “The Illuminator’s mother will be of the Light of Heaven”—I glanced over my shoulder to the still form on the table—“and her father will be a Shadow of the Sun. Angel guards and Shadow barriers will not hold her back, as she will have access to both sides of the realm. Until the Shadows approach, protect her above all others, even from our kind.
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As three among you perish to the Earth—bound by shadow and fire—do not be fooled by the warnings given to incite terror and mayhem. Those three who fought against the growing power will be laid to rest until the time comes—the time of light.
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Beware of encroaching danger, as the Illuminator will be surrounded, but she is not thy enemy. As the dark ones approach, the Illuminator should be set free, uninhibited by all Guardians. She will show us all who the enemies are and how to defeat them.
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When the time comes to battle, our Illuminator will come to save us all. Worlds change, lives transition, and everything will be turned upside down. Warriors are found. The fog lifted. The Halo of the Sun will keep her safe, and the time of the Illuminator will come. She will rule us all.”
Silence. It was as if we had all been struck dumb.
Andrew turned a page, then another. “The rest is blank, like someone erased it.”
The words opened up a whole new vista of thoughts. My mind churned as images clicked together in my head. So there will be a battle—or there was a battle . . . “Do not be fooled by the warnings given to incite terror and mayhem,” I repeated in my head. I took in a deep breath.
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Tell me about the angel hierarchy, Andrew.” I felt like the answer to this whole mystery—the Halo of the Sun disappearing, the Shadow of the Sun producing someone not so evil—Aiden—was just seconds from being answered.
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Some of this we’ve already discussed,” Andrew began. “Angels were never ‘ruled over,’ per se, they were governed in a whole different way than a ruling class. Angels are usually ranked by strength and gifts. The Ladies of Light, which consisted of the three strongest immortal women, were angelic protectors. They kept the immortals safe from those who wished to destroy us. As I’ve told you before, they come in cycles every hundred years.”
I nodded in understanding. “Why the tattoos?”
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They are proud of their title. They also show their path.”
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Wait.” I turned toward Lucia. “Were you once a Lady of Light?” Her tattoos were beautifully woven across every inch of her skin in intricate patterns and symbols.
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I was,” Lucia admitted. “But, of course, since my death my cycle has been up. Usually, one would go through a ceremony where her tattoos would be removed. The Ladies of Light I was awakened with are still in power, even after three hundred years.”
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But who would have the strength to bind you for hundreds of years?” I inquired.
She was silent then, her eyes darting from Andrew to Ehno. “That’s . . .” She paused. “Well, that’s a good question. It would have to be a Lady of Light or a whole army.”
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It was,” I informed her, surprising myself. She looked taken aback. I continued, “In one of my dream-memories you were stabbed by a Lady of Light while the other stood by and watched. In the foreground was an army.”
Lucia’s eyes widened.
I pressed on. “Your blood was red. And the women—they were the same ones who attacked us outside the underground lab.”
Again, silence. When no one spoke, I knew I had to say something to pick up the gathering muteness, but no words would form.
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It can’t be,” Lucia barely whispered. “But then again. . . .”
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They did,” I stated.
The three angels looked back and forth between each other. Aiden and Joseph sat silently, absorbing the information.
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Andrew?” I interrupted their staring. “Keep going. The hierarchy?”
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Oh, yes.” His blue eyes shot to mine. “The Halo of the Sun consists of many angels, all male. They rule over the Guardian angels—also all male unless a situation requires a female. In your case I thought Karen was your Guardian angel because she was stronger than any of the male Guardians. Though Halos are not as strong as the Ladies of Light, they are still powerful and skilled in combat. They are—were the protectors of mankind. Humans worthy of saving are assigned a Guardian angel. Sometimes it is just for a day, but can last up to the lifetime of a human, which is rare.”
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But from everything we know, the Halo of the Sun is no more?” I wondered aloud.
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Never heard of them,” Aiden responded first.
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That’s strange.” Ehno shook his head back and forth.
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Continue,” I prompted Andrew.
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Then there is the Prophetess, Zola. She warns the Ladies of Light of danger to the immortals and gives the Halo of the Sun assignments for those who need a Guardian angel.”
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So,” I interrupted again, “Zola, the Ladies of Light, and the Halo of the Sun are all equal in the angel world?”
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For the most part, but women usually have stronger magic,” Andrew clarified. “The Elders rank below them. They’re protectors of knowledge. Abelie,” Andrew barely whispered, “was an Elder. She was the librarian I told you I knew when we were in Boise City.”
I looked down at the table.
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I’m sorry,” Andrew said quickly. “I shouldn’t have said anything.”
I glanced up. He looked worried. I scanned the table to see everyone staring at me with pity. Joseph’s face was a mixture of sorrow, confusion, and extreme discomfort.
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No. It’s okay. Please, continue,” I insisted.
Andrew stared at me for a few seconds but must have read the determination on my face because he continued. “The Elders consist of historians, librarians, teachers, or an angel with any kind of hobby or job that pertains to gaining or protecting knowledge. Then there are the immortals. They are the lowest in the hierarchy, but are still respected—the working class, if you will. Sometimes you can have many titles. I’m part of the Halo of the Sun, but I can also be called as a Guardian angel.”
There was something in my brain telling me the answer was just on the tip of my tongue, but I couldn’t grasp it. I was exhausted, sore, and my heart was beating funny. Then I realized that if I slept I would see my mom again—I’d be her. When I didn’t say anything for several minutes, Andrew grasped my hand.
I jumped. I looked back down at the table. “I miss her,” I barely mumbled, not caring if they all heard.
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Oh, sweet Gabriella. I . . .” Andrew trailed off, shaking his head. The other angels shared uneasy looks. They could probably handle grief better than I could.
The ache in my chest pulsed like an open wound. “It feels like a piece of my heart has been ripped from me—leaving me forever.”
Aiden choked on a sob, and Andrew’s chest moved up and down slowly, taking in a deep breath. “Come on,” said Andrew finally and held out his hand.
I grasped it, and he pulled me to my feet. “She needs sleep,” he announced to everyone sitting at the table.
As we passed my father, I reached down and encased him in my arms. “I’m so sorry,” I barely whispered. He returned the hug and nodded his head sadly.
Andrew and I walked through several rows of books without looking back until we came across a staircase. In silence, we ascended the steps. We passed a few floors before we reached the top of the library—the fifth floor. His hand was so warm and comforting, and I didn’t think I could ever let go. We stayed silent as we passed shelf after shelf and bookcase after bookcase. Finally, we came to a dark wooden door engraved with more symbols, most of them I didn’t recognize. He put his hand on the doorknob but didn’t turn it. He took in a deep breath, conveying sympathy just by the expression on his face, and turned the handle.
Inside the small room were a vanity, a small bed, and a tiny closet. “This”—Andrew gestured with his hand—“was Abelie’s room when she worked in the library.”
I was instantly absorbed by the scene around me. Her hairbrush sat on the vanity alongside a cold cup of tea, the spoon still inside. She’ll never have tea again or stare at her reflection in the mirror. It was like she was sitting here only yesterday, and now . . . she’d never sit in that chair again, or sleep in that bed, or have dreams or thoughts. My fingers traced her belongings, desperately needing to touch everything that had to do with her. And for those several precious moments, the whole world centered on her and nothing else existed.
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Wear this,” Andrew said, bringing me from my thoughts. He held up a white robe. “Your clothes are a mess, and I know your mom wouldn’t mind if you—”
I snatched it out of his hand so swiftly he didn’t have time to finish his sentence. “Thank you.” I hugged the piece of clothing to my chest, as if he had given me the best present in the whole world. I breathed in the scent of roses. I stepped on my tiptoes and gave Andrew a small kiss on his cheek.
He half smiled. “I’ll let you change.” He hesitated for a second before leaving and shutting the door behind him.
I stood there and stared at the door. The room was quiet, so silent that it was deafening. I yanked my clothes off and threw the robe on, wanting Andrew back in there with me. It wasn’t a good time to be alone—I needed his comforting hand in mine. In the mirror, my reflection stared back at me. There were dried golden tears on my cheeks and large, dark circles under my eyes. The robe fit perfectly and fell just above my knees. The fabric was silk-like and smooth against my skin. And it was hers.
As I made my way to the door, I noticed photos on the wall and quickly strode toward the far wall. There was a picture of my mother and me when I was only a child. When I was younger I had blonde curls, which later turned brown, but in this picture they were still platinum blonde. My fingers traced her face repeatedly. When I looked at the next few pictures, I was really surprised. It was after my mother had turned me human. There were pictures obviously taken from afar that were of me during a baseball game, singing during a choir recital, and one of me riding my bike on the streets outside our house in Ohio. I didn’t think I could look at them anymore.
I dashed across the room and almost pulled the door off its hinges with my urgency to be comforted. There was no one there. For a whole second I thought I would collapse from the emptiness, inside myself and outside the room.
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Andrew?” I called out, panicked.
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I’m right here.” He moved from underneath a shadow. His voice was the most angelic, most welcoming sound I had ever heard in my entire life. I leaned against the doorframe, wilted.
He moved closer, and his finger traced under my eye. “It’s time you slept.”
I nodded in agreement, and he led me back inside the room. There was a soft click of the door as it shut, and in that second I felt some relief at being able to hide from the world outside. At least for tonight. He pulled the covers back from the bed and gestured for me to lie down. When I perched myself on the edge, Abelie’s scent wafted around my nose. I didn’t know if I could handle being alone. Not tonight and not here. I needed Andrew’s comfort. He stared down at me, his blue eyes searching my face.