**Running faster and faster through a dark forest**
I can’t see my path ahead but I feel the ground beneath me guide me, something Grandmother Redwind use to always tell me to do…”follow the earth and the wind for they will lead your way”… but this isn’t something I can wait and find out where I am to go…something chases me… its wings I can feel with the wind guiding them towards me… “earth…hide me well so that he may not find me” I call forth my element… with gushing leaves and a smell of lavender and dirt, I fall into a hole the earth opened for me and then concealed with a bush above me… through the leaves of the bush I peak to find my chaser flying above in circles…
“What does he want with me?” I silently ask myself as I try to calm my breathing so that he may not hear…
I heard his landing and his wings fold back within his back…raven black they seemed to be in color…so black that purple lined the creased within the delicate feathers… it outlined his body in muscles so toned he seemed to be too perfect… his silver white hair flew in the soft breeze that hit his delicate yet gorgeous face…his eyes glowed a faint of sapphire and silver…eyes I have seen before but where?
I feel his stare to the ground I am hiding within…but it isn’t possible he could know I am here…could it be? “Earth make him fly away and not return to where I hide” I commanded my element once more and with soft trembles I felt, the trees around began to fall…branches first and then the tree itself…
It startled him and he took off into the darkness of the night… I wait a few moments before climbing out of the hole I hid in…it seems quiet… I look around as if to see if anyone or anything was near…but nothing…not even the animals of this forest walk near where I stood…
At that moment I heard the whispers of the winds warnings, that my chaser was not gone. As I turn to run…
Swoosh- he lands before me… a creature of such beauty it only stuns me in trance of awe… but it can’t be…its—
**Beep, beep, beep** my alarm clock beeps to awake me from my dreams… “ugh! I almost saw who he was this time!” I grunted as I threw my sheets off of me.
“I know him?" I silently whispered to myself… I didn’t want to wake up my roommate once again, though she wouldn’t mind hearing of my dreams…Tracy always loved a good story to fuel her writings for her scripts.
I walked to the bathroom and began my morning rituals of getting ready for class… Sociology was today’s first class…”Great, I have to deal with Ashly for two hours” I took a deep breath…
“He is very dreamy Addi…I would have given everything to be his partner in Mr. Hasterbacks class…” Tracy yawned as she gave that swooned smile of admiration as she thought of Ashly…
“Yea I guess but he is annoying sometimes, something he seems to only do to me.” I stated back as I grabbed my things to go.
“Well tell Ashly I am always ready and willing to tutor him if he wants” she said with a coil of a smile. I knew what that smile meant and it wasn’t all for tutoring him in any of his subjects… after all, every girl at Bridgemonte University knew Ashly Anderson was a straight-A student and in no need of tutoring.
“Bye Trace…See you after class at the tree?” I asked as I lead out our dormitory door.
Sociology with Professor Hasterbacks wasn’t all that bad. I rather enjoyed the lectures and the debates we would get into in class… but having Ashly sit next to me and only give his attention to me was beginning to cause me trouble with all the other ladies of the class…including the Dean.
“Addiena, would you mind handing these out while I prepare lecture” Professor Hasterbacks turned to me with a stack of mid-term papers to hand back out to the 15 students that did attend his lectures.
“Yes Professor” I politely grabbed the stack of papers and smiled.
“And no troubles today Mr. Anderson” he directed a sharp look towards Ashly as he sled his glasses back up to his face and turned to the board to write down the title of our lecture.
“Of course not Professor” Ashly answered. His angelic voice seemed to melt me within but I tried hard not to show it. I wasn’t going to show him or anyone else that he gave me the same effects he gave all the other girls he ran into.
I finished passing back the papers and sat back down in my regular corner of the class. Ashly sitting already, his smile always seemed to feel as if it was only for me…snap out of it…I reminded myself silently.
“After class, you want to grab something to eat? I know you didn’t eat breakfast…” Ashly whispered into my ear.
It gave me Goosebumps and chills, I took a deep breath to composure myself back before he noticed.
“I ate already thank you very much” I smartly recalled back.
“No you didn’t Addi, I can tell by the color of your skin” He answered back, “Had nightmares again?”
That last sentenced startled me that I dropped my books, a Loud THUD, that made the Professor look at me sharply.
“Is my lecture boring you today Ms. Campton.” He asked as he stood staring right at me. I felt the eyes of the entire class then turn my way, with it the “killing looks” some of the girls gave because Ashly was picking up my books with one hand and the other hand laid on mine tightly.
I shook his hand free not even noticing he had done so, “Um-No, I mean I am sorry Professor.” I shyly answered back. I could feel my face blush red. Embarrassment wasn’t something I hid well.
Class couldn’t have ended any faster after that, I kept looking at my phone for it to be 11:30 already.
“You didn’t answer me Addi” Ashly asked in whispers.
“Yes I did, I said I ate already.” I answered.
“Yes I know that but you didn’t answer if you had nightmares again?”
“What’s it to you of what I dream Ash.”
“As long as the nightmares are not because of me” he answered with concern behind his voice
I turned to look at him; he smiled with his eyes as he gestured towards the Professor.
“I do not dream of you Ashly, I am not like all the other girls in this town who do” I sharply turned so he wouldn’t see the lies I just told in that sentence. Of course I did have dreams of him, he is gorgeous and perfectly mannered in every way. He was the perfect guy. That in fact he was too perfect and something about him kept me in wonder.
“Well that isn’t what I wanted to hear” He said back with a smile, yet disappointment hid behind it.
“Ashly, if I agree to go get something to eat with you after class will you leave me alone for the rest of class so I can take notes!” I grunted back.
“Yes, so it’s a date!” he laughingly state back with that gorgeous smile once again. I melted once more before I shook it off and tried to listen to the rest of class lecture.
After class I tried to hurry out before Ashly caught up with me and made me keep my word of going to get something to eat with him. The fact that he called it a “date” made the butterflies in my stomach fly around.
“Addi, wait up” he yelled from down the hall. All the girls whispered their hatred of me to one another as Ashly caught up. I wanted to call my element of Air and just have it fly me away so fast.
“Yes Ashly” I smiled politely back.
“I would assume you were trying to get out of our lunch date back there, running out of class that fast” he said as he smiled at the girls who stared at him walking in the opposite direction we were.
He grabbed my hand which was swaying to my side as the girls approached and their faces turned to ones of rage and jealousy. He kissed my hand softly but kept the eyes of contact to them.
“Why must you make my life so difficult here!” I pouted as I took my hand back from his.
“Why must you ignore my advances towards you?” he answered me back with a question I had no answer too.
Lie, say something quick. I told myself.
“I do not ignore them, I choose not to take them that is all.” I answered back proud that I didn’t let the redness of my blush show.
“Alas, my love, Alas… I shall continue my swoon until you comes toward thee-“ he said.
“Let me guess, you have to do a Shakespearean Era Poem for Poetry class again” I stated with a soft laughter behind it.
“Yes, and you once more are my inspiration” he gestured towards his car which somehow was on the curb in front of the hall.
“How-“ I began to question but stopped. He never really answered my questions when I asked how he did things so fast or how he would know I would be doing something with him. Like the last time he asked me out for a “dinner date”, he had my favorite kind of pizza already being delivered before I even gave him my answer, and the time before that when he brought me class notes before I was even sick.
“Shall we my dear Addiena?” he gestured towards the open door he held for me to get into the passenger seat of his hot new White Mercedes CL 500 AMG. Pricey car…
“Fine” I tried to sound reluctant but I doubt my smile stated that.
“I have a special place I would like to take you today… if you do not mind skipping out on Trace today?” he asked with sincerity and concern of Tracy’s feelings.
“As long as I get back home by nightfall” I answered. I couldn’t believe I had just said that. I bit my lower lip as I placed the seat belt on and took my phone out to leave Tracy a text message:
Don’t kill me, Ash is takn’ me sumwhr…C U L8r… Luv U.
I closed my phone fast right after I pressed SEND.
The ride to this “special place” seemed to be outside of town and into the mountains. I turned to look at Ash as he drove passed the slower cars on the road.
“So are you going to tell me how you do all this?” I asked. Trying to break the silence in the car.
“do what?” he asked back.
“Do all this…how you know when I am going to say yes to you even before I know I am going to say it”
“Lucky guesses. I stay prepared with you, always hoping you say yes to me”
“That would be a lovely answer to any other female who wants to be in my position right now but it doesn’t work on me Ash” I smiled as I turned to look out the window.
It was a nice day, giving it was almost the beginning of Winter and these woods would soon be bare of green leaves and have snow on its branches.
“That is why I chose you Addi…” he began, “because you are not like the other girls”
I felt my cheeks blush, I bit my lip again before I looked up to him looking at me with that smile of his.
“Yeah right okay. Whatever you say Ash” I answered back
“So tell me about your dream?”
In shock I gave the “I don’t know what your talking about” look and then answered, “It was nothing”
I opened the window so I could feel the autumn wind hit my face. Being in tune with my elements always brought me peace and it took my mind of what I didn’t want him to know.
“I had a dream of you last night. You were in danger and something was flying behind you trying to catch you but you disappeared into the ground. I yelled for you but it was as if you didn’t know I was there.” He said softly.
I turned towards him as he was leading off the road into a dirt road.
“What did you say you dreamt?” I asked in confusion.
“I said I dreamt you were being chased ...“ he stopped himself before he finished that sentence. We were now at the end of the road and in front of this beautiful estate. He turned the car off and turned his upper body to look at me.
“You said you what exactly?” I questioned, still in some sort of trance of unbelief.
“I am going to tell you something Addi, and I hope you don’t think I am weird or a stalker of anykind, I really do like you Addi and something is drawing us together…”
“Wait what?”
“Just listen okay”
I stared at him, he seemed to have a look of sincerity in his eyes… the sparkled…a soft sapphire with hints of ----
“OH MY GOD!” I yelled as I tried to open the door to the car but couldn’t
“Addiena please!” he came to grab my hands to calm me down but I wouldn’t let him touch me.
Its him, its Ashly, he was the guy I knew in my dream… his eyes…
I yelled to get out of the car and for help but being in the middle of the mountains didn’t seem to help.
“Addi please don’t make me do this” he stated as he tried to grab me.
“Wind come to me and help me escape this place” I called out to my element but felt a cold chill fun down my arm and back. Then blackness hit me.
A few hours later I woke up to a fire being kept in the fireplace. It was the only light the room had and it gave shadows of the furniture all around it and me. I was laying on a queen size bed that seemed to sink me in it.
“Where am I?” I questioned out loud, then it all hit me… Ashly… those eyes… my dreams… It was him who was chasing me … it was him who …
I got out of the bed and ran towards the door, I opened it softly as to not make any noise, no help the old wooden doors did, they creaked was so loud it echoed through the entire estate. I stopped for a second expecting Ashly to be right in front of me but nothing. Not a single noise of anyone coming down the hall towards me. I walked out into the darkness of the house… only moonlight which shined through the open windows gave me sight as to where I was going. There was no wind and somehow I didn’t want to call my elements to help me…
I made it to the end of the stairs and saw a dime light in one of the rooms to my left, curiosity got the best of me, I should have made my way towards the front doors which stood right in front of me.
“She isn’t going to be safer at her dorm!” I heard Ashly state to another person in the room.
I peaked between the open slit of the double doors but only saw shadows against the wall.
“She needs to be informed of what she is” the other voice stated
“She needs to find that out herself Aiden.” Ashly answered back
“Well we do not have time for that Ashly, she needs to take the oath, the both of you need to take the oath before Winter Solstice.” The voice I took for Aiden said
“What are they talking about” I whispered softly to myself. I saw one shadow make its way towards the door and I jumped in startled.
“Fine, I will tell her. Let me tell her understand.” Ashly stated angrily as he opened the doors
I hid behind a large wooden clock to the left of the doors. Ashly made his way towards the hall and then up the stairs but he stopped. I wanted to find out what they spoke of so I stepped out from behind the clock and stood at the bottom the stairs.
Ashly stood half-way up; his hair was no longer short and brown but long and silverish-white… like in my dreams… I didn’t feel the urge to run anymore… I wanted answers.
“So you heard our conversation?” Ashly asked quietly, still not turning to look at me. I took a few steps up the stairs toward him; he turned as he heard me come near.
“Who are you? What are you” I asked softly
“I’m… well… I am your other half… your Angel… You are …” he began but stopped as he took a few steps down towards me until he stood a step above me.
He took my hands and looked deep into my eyes…I felt his gaze on me and the moonlight which was shinning upon the staircase now was glowing around him…he was changing right in front of my eyes… he had only a washed pair of jeans on, no shirt and his hair was loose. It was as if he had his own breeze around him…he was breathless and beautiful…
“Addiena…I am your partner…I was made to love you, to protect you, to live eternity with…you are my Priestess, to the Goddesses and I am your Angel, your warrior in arms…” he softly spoke the words as he laid a kiss upon my lips.
His kiss was soft, gentle, and full of earth and wind… I felt both my elements within him and within me like never before… I gasped as he stared at me.
“This is not happening… “ I stated softly, “I am dreaming again aren’t I…this is all a dream… you can’t be …I can’t be… can I be?”
I felt a sudden gust of wind and smelled the aromas of the wet earth… the dirt, the trees, the flowers it bloomed…the sweat fragrances mixed within me and I felt myself light, as if I was being lifted into the air around me… no boundaries…no restraints…I felt whole.
I felt my feet touch the redwood floors and I felt faint… I saw as if in slow motion…Ashly sweeping me up in his arms and carrying me upstairs into the room, laying me softly and gently upon the bed in the room I originally woke up in. The fire roared as he kissed my lips softly.
“It’s all going to be revealed when you awake Addi, I promise” he whispered into my ear right before I felt myself drift finally to sleep.
When I awoke the next morning to the smell of mist and dew upon the forest grounds, I realized I wasn’t dreaming any longer… yet something felt hidden from me. Something I needed to find. I turned to get out of bed and was startled by a tall male sitting upon a chair placed between the bed-stand and the window. He had on clothes that reminded me of Legolas from Lord of the Rings, but he didn’t have the pointed ears, yet he carried a sword to his side and something about him gave the aura that he was of high standings in some sort of court.
I can’t believe I am really living this… I looked around before I heard him speak.
“Ashly is on some errands collecting a few of your things for our departure Priestess.” He spoke softly to me as he rose from his seat.
“Who are you may I ask?” I cautiously stated.
“My name is Aiden, Guardian to the Gates of Aerdrie, The place where the Goddesses slumber and wake, do their works and play their games, In short, I guard their home between earth and heaven above.” He answered with tone of a mighty wise guardian.
“Are you an angel as well?” I asked curiously. I felt quiet stupid asking it for I saw then the whitest wings behind his back.
“I assumed you would have forgotten us all, but of who we are I would have assumed you would have remembered even just the least” Aiden answered with a childish smile.
I felt a blush arising when Ashly entered with a bag full of my things.
“I hope you do not mind, I went to ask Tracy to fill a few of your things.” Ashly quietly stated.
I smiled in some relief before answering him. I felt the rush of worry all of the sudden hit me with Tracy.
“Is she okay? Did you tell her anything?” I asked quickly.
“She is well, although I felt her sort of saddened in jealousy that it wasn’t her who was taking a ‘Romantic weekend’ with me” he said laughingly.
“Of course, seems you are yourself except without the showing of wings.” I answered back, “Wait why haven’t I seen your wings?”
Both the men in the room began to laugh; I smartly crossed my hands in front of me like an upset 7-year old.
“What is so funny?” I stomped with glower, “don’t All Angels have wings?”
“Yes and No, we earn our wings when we are bounded to our partners. Some of us find them in days, other of us take centuries.” Aiden answered.
“But I thought you guys could fly?” I said
“Yes we can still; we use the elements around us to make our transportations and needed supplies. We learn the arts as newborns.” Ashly answered as he caressed my cheek.
“I am completely lost.” I said softly.
“With time we will revitalize your memories, but it is too dangerous to stay here. He may be already on his way” Aiden stated with urgency.
“he who/” I asked confused.
“Your father Addi,” Aiden nonchalantly said.
“But he is home with my mother back in California.” I questioned, “why would he be coming here?”
“Not your human parents Addiena, Your biological father, Ariel, Angel of destruction” Aiden replied.
I stood stunned as I felt faint. I fell back onto the bed to hold my balance. So much was going on, so much was being thrown my way and I couldn’t believe even half of it.
“Here, drink this.” Ashly said as he handed me a glass of water.
I took the largest gulp of water I had ever drank. But it was sweet and it tingled in my mouth as it went down my throat.
“This isn’t water. Its sweet. What is it?” I asked as I wiped my mouth clean.
“Its Wine, Angelic wine. Helps with strength and in your case, memories” Ashly smilingly stated back with ‘as a matter of fact’ tone.
“huh” I shrugged my shoulders and grabbed an outfit out of my bag to change.
“Okay, let me get this straight, I am a Priestess to the Goddesses and you are my partner, my Angel, Aiden is some high all might guardian who has a stick up his ass and my biological father is the Angel of Destruction Ariel. Now, why am I being rushed and why are we running away from my father again?” I stated as I placed my hands upon my hips.
“We have no time here to explain, my stick up my ass is trying to keep you safe until we reach your palace in Aerdrie and you both can finish your Bond at Winter Solstice.” Aiden demanded, I flinched in fear for I felt he would have hit me. Though I knew he wouldn’t.
Ashly grabbed a few more bags and was placing them into the car. I wondered then why we wouldn’t just “fly off” to our next destination but something nudged inside of me saying my father was expecting something life that… well he isn’t my father but Ariel. My father was a construction worker who supported me and my mother our entire lives back in California. He was my father, the one who loved me and tucked me in at night, scaring away the monsters in my closet before he kissed me with love. How I missed them now.
“We must go.” Aiden stated as we all made our way towards the car. As soon as I made my way out the front doors of the estate the sky above grew dark and the next thing I saw was a ring of fire above us. Ashly and Aiden then drew out two large swords, Aiden’s was a white glow while Ashly’s a dark purple. I felt my feet freeze and couldn’t move. Fear ran through me that instant.
I saw angels above with wings black land on the ground in front of us. Too many for me to count on two hands. At least a dozen more in the sky above us.
“Daughter,” I heard one state, he was tall and had white wings like Aiden, white collar shirt and black jeans, hair white as white can be and eyes that glowed red and brown. “are you running away from me again?”
“She will not serve your darkest desires Ariel” I heard Ashly yell. “You will not harm her”
“Why would I harm my own flesh and bone Ashly, Do you believe me that evil” Ariel stated back laughingly. He began to make his way towards me when I heard a large clash and a scream of agony and anger from Ariel. Ashly had struck his wing with his sword and it began to bleed. Ariel turned quickly and flung Ashly against the car, the car made a loud crack as I turned to run towards Ashly. The car was split in two where Ashly landed.
“Stay away” Aiden yelled at me as he flung me back behind him. All I felt was the need to get to Ashly. He was hurt, he needed me.
“I call upon my Earth and Air, bring vengeance with you and blow these creatures to the other side of the world, do not stop your winds Air until they reach the depths of the Ocean. Earth, do not let them touch your ground without harmful consequences. Go now!” I called upon my elements with fury within me unlike never felt. Within seconds I heard the winds growl and the earth moan to life. I felt them work my words and heard the Angels above yell in anger as they were flung by the air away from us.
“We are not finished dearest daughter” I heard Ariel cringe as he opened his wings and flew away, “we have just begun” he was gone.
I ran towards Ashly who was getting up slowly and with pain.
“Ash…Ashly…are you okay?” I asked in worry.
He looked up at me and then back to his arm, it was broken and you could see the bone coming out.
“Besides a few sore bones here and there, I think I am well” he tried to sound smart but the pain got the better of him.
Aiden helped him up as he began to bandage Ashly’s arm in a sling.
“He will be back… won’t he” I asked as I sat on the stairs which were in front of the doors.
“Yes” Aiden solemnly stated.
“But we will be ready, you gave us time. I was rather impressed little Priestess. Maybe you have not forgotten your abilities” Aiden finished as he placed the car back together, magically. I didn’t ask questions to that marvel, I had more to worry about.
“He will not harm you Addi” Ashly said as he came to sit beside me. I laid my head upon his shoulders and just cried. All I ever known was now a lie. I was lost. I did not know who I really was, but I had console that Ashly would be by my side always now.
“He was the Angel who chased me in my dreams, you were the one with Black wings that came after he left” I said softly, nearly in whisper.
“Yes, but those are dreams, he cannot harm you in your dreams, you have power over them Addi” Ashly answered back.
“So what do we do now?” I looked up towards Aiden who stood standing in a strange glow.
“We go to our destination and begin your Priestess hood. You will take your place and we will fight a battle with Ariel after.” He stated as he stared up to the sky, “so let the Goddesses hear our prayer and help us in our battles ahead”
“Let’s go Addi, we can’t stay here anymore.” Ashly rose as he held my hand to help me up.
“Fine. But explanations to all of my questions on the way right?” I asked to both Ashly and Aiden.
“Agreed” they both said. And so we took off...
I can’t see my path ahead but I feel the ground beneath me guide me, something Grandmother Redwind use to always tell me to do…”follow the earth and the wind for they will lead your way”… but this isn’t something I can wait and find out where I am to go…something chases me… its wings I can feel with the wind guiding them towards me… “earth…hide me well so that he may not find me” I call forth my element… with gushing leaves and a smell of lavender and dirt, I fall into a hole the earth opened for me and then concealed with a bush above me… through the leaves of the bush I peak to find my chaser flying above in circles…
“What does he want with me?” I silently ask myself as I try to calm my breathing so that he may not hear…
I heard his landing and his wings fold back within his back…raven black they seemed to be in color…so black that purple lined the creased within the delicate feathers… it outlined his body in muscles so toned he seemed to be too perfect… his silver white hair flew in the soft breeze that hit his delicate yet gorgeous face…his eyes glowed a faint of sapphire and silver…eyes I have seen before but where?
I feel his stare to the ground I am hiding within…but it isn’t possible he could know I am here…could it be? “Earth make him fly away and not return to where I hide” I commanded my element once more and with soft trembles I felt, the trees around began to fall…branches first and then the tree itself…
It startled him and he took off into the darkness of the night… I wait a few moments before climbing out of the hole I hid in…it seems quiet… I look around as if to see if anyone or anything was near…but nothing…not even the animals of this forest walk near where I stood…
At that moment I heard the whispers of the winds warnings, that my chaser was not gone. As I turn to run…
Swoosh- he lands before me… a creature of such beauty it only stuns me in trance of awe… but it can’t be…its—
**Beep, beep, beep** my alarm clock beeps to awake me from my dreams… “ugh! I almost saw who he was this time!” I grunted as I threw my sheets off of me.
“I know him?" I silently whispered to myself… I didn’t want to wake up my roommate once again, though she wouldn’t mind hearing of my dreams…Tracy always loved a good story to fuel her writings for her scripts.
I walked to the bathroom and began my morning rituals of getting ready for class… Sociology was today’s first class…”Great, I have to deal with Ashly for two hours” I took a deep breath…
“He is very dreamy Addi…I would have given everything to be his partner in Mr. Hasterbacks class…” Tracy yawned as she gave that swooned smile of admiration as she thought of Ashly…
“Yea I guess but he is annoying sometimes, something he seems to only do to me.” I stated back as I grabbed my things to go.
“Well tell Ashly I am always ready and willing to tutor him if he wants” she said with a coil of a smile. I knew what that smile meant and it wasn’t all for tutoring him in any of his subjects… after all, every girl at Bridgemonte University knew Ashly Anderson was a straight-A student and in no need of tutoring.
“Bye Trace…See you after class at the tree?” I asked as I lead out our dormitory door.
Sociology with Professor Hasterbacks wasn’t all that bad. I rather enjoyed the lectures and the debates we would get into in class… but having Ashly sit next to me and only give his attention to me was beginning to cause me trouble with all the other ladies of the class…including the Dean.
“Addiena, would you mind handing these out while I prepare lecture” Professor Hasterbacks turned to me with a stack of mid-term papers to hand back out to the 15 students that did attend his lectures.
“Yes Professor” I politely grabbed the stack of papers and smiled.
“And no troubles today Mr. Anderson” he directed a sharp look towards Ashly as he sled his glasses back up to his face and turned to the board to write down the title of our lecture.
“Of course not Professor” Ashly answered. His angelic voice seemed to melt me within but I tried hard not to show it. I wasn’t going to show him or anyone else that he gave me the same effects he gave all the other girls he ran into.
I finished passing back the papers and sat back down in my regular corner of the class. Ashly sitting already, his smile always seemed to feel as if it was only for me…snap out of it…I reminded myself silently.
“After class, you want to grab something to eat? I know you didn’t eat breakfast…” Ashly whispered into my ear.
It gave me Goosebumps and chills, I took a deep breath to composure myself back before he noticed.
“I ate already thank you very much” I smartly recalled back.
“No you didn’t Addi, I can tell by the color of your skin” He answered back, “Had nightmares again?”
That last sentenced startled me that I dropped my books, a Loud THUD, that made the Professor look at me sharply.
“Is my lecture boring you today Ms. Campton.” He asked as he stood staring right at me. I felt the eyes of the entire class then turn my way, with it the “killing looks” some of the girls gave because Ashly was picking up my books with one hand and the other hand laid on mine tightly.
I shook his hand free not even noticing he had done so, “Um-No, I mean I am sorry Professor.” I shyly answered back. I could feel my face blush red. Embarrassment wasn’t something I hid well.
Class couldn’t have ended any faster after that, I kept looking at my phone for it to be 11:30 already.
“You didn’t answer me Addi” Ashly asked in whispers.
“Yes I did, I said I ate already.” I answered.
“Yes I know that but you didn’t answer if you had nightmares again?”
“What’s it to you of what I dream Ash.”
“As long as the nightmares are not because of me” he answered with concern behind his voice
I turned to look at him; he smiled with his eyes as he gestured towards the Professor.
“I do not dream of you Ashly, I am not like all the other girls in this town who do” I sharply turned so he wouldn’t see the lies I just told in that sentence. Of course I did have dreams of him, he is gorgeous and perfectly mannered in every way. He was the perfect guy. That in fact he was too perfect and something about him kept me in wonder.
“Well that isn’t what I wanted to hear” He said back with a smile, yet disappointment hid behind it.
“Ashly, if I agree to go get something to eat with you after class will you leave me alone for the rest of class so I can take notes!” I grunted back.
“Yes, so it’s a date!” he laughingly state back with that gorgeous smile once again. I melted once more before I shook it off and tried to listen to the rest of class lecture.
After class I tried to hurry out before Ashly caught up with me and made me keep my word of going to get something to eat with him. The fact that he called it a “date” made the butterflies in my stomach fly around.
“Addi, wait up” he yelled from down the hall. All the girls whispered their hatred of me to one another as Ashly caught up. I wanted to call my element of Air and just have it fly me away so fast.
“Yes Ashly” I smiled politely back.
“I would assume you were trying to get out of our lunch date back there, running out of class that fast” he said as he smiled at the girls who stared at him walking in the opposite direction we were.
He grabbed my hand which was swaying to my side as the girls approached and their faces turned to ones of rage and jealousy. He kissed my hand softly but kept the eyes of contact to them.
“Why must you make my life so difficult here!” I pouted as I took my hand back from his.
“Why must you ignore my advances towards you?” he answered me back with a question I had no answer too.
Lie, say something quick. I told myself.
“I do not ignore them, I choose not to take them that is all.” I answered back proud that I didn’t let the redness of my blush show.
“Alas, my love, Alas… I shall continue my swoon until you comes toward thee-“ he said.
“Let me guess, you have to do a Shakespearean Era Poem for Poetry class again” I stated with a soft laughter behind it.
“Yes, and you once more are my inspiration” he gestured towards his car which somehow was on the curb in front of the hall.
“How-“ I began to question but stopped. He never really answered my questions when I asked how he did things so fast or how he would know I would be doing something with him. Like the last time he asked me out for a “dinner date”, he had my favorite kind of pizza already being delivered before I even gave him my answer, and the time before that when he brought me class notes before I was even sick.
“Shall we my dear Addiena?” he gestured towards the open door he held for me to get into the passenger seat of his hot new White Mercedes CL 500 AMG. Pricey car…
“Fine” I tried to sound reluctant but I doubt my smile stated that.
“I have a special place I would like to take you today… if you do not mind skipping out on Trace today?” he asked with sincerity and concern of Tracy’s feelings.
“As long as I get back home by nightfall” I answered. I couldn’t believe I had just said that. I bit my lower lip as I placed the seat belt on and took my phone out to leave Tracy a text message:
Don’t kill me, Ash is takn’ me sumwhr…C U L8r… Luv U.
I closed my phone fast right after I pressed SEND.
The ride to this “special place” seemed to be outside of town and into the mountains. I turned to look at Ash as he drove passed the slower cars on the road.
“So are you going to tell me how you do all this?” I asked. Trying to break the silence in the car.
“do what?” he asked back.
“Do all this…how you know when I am going to say yes to you even before I know I am going to say it”
“Lucky guesses. I stay prepared with you, always hoping you say yes to me”
“That would be a lovely answer to any other female who wants to be in my position right now but it doesn’t work on me Ash” I smiled as I turned to look out the window.
It was a nice day, giving it was almost the beginning of Winter and these woods would soon be bare of green leaves and have snow on its branches.
“That is why I chose you Addi…” he began, “because you are not like the other girls”
I felt my cheeks blush, I bit my lip again before I looked up to him looking at me with that smile of his.
“Yeah right okay. Whatever you say Ash” I answered back
“So tell me about your dream?”
In shock I gave the “I don’t know what your talking about” look and then answered, “It was nothing”
I opened the window so I could feel the autumn wind hit my face. Being in tune with my elements always brought me peace and it took my mind of what I didn’t want him to know.
“I had a dream of you last night. You were in danger and something was flying behind you trying to catch you but you disappeared into the ground. I yelled for you but it was as if you didn’t know I was there.” He said softly.
I turned towards him as he was leading off the road into a dirt road.
“What did you say you dreamt?” I asked in confusion.
“I said I dreamt you were being chased ...“ he stopped himself before he finished that sentence. We were now at the end of the road and in front of this beautiful estate. He turned the car off and turned his upper body to look at me.
“You said you what exactly?” I questioned, still in some sort of trance of unbelief.
“I am going to tell you something Addi, and I hope you don’t think I am weird or a stalker of anykind, I really do like you Addi and something is drawing us together…”
“Wait what?”
“Just listen okay”
I stared at him, he seemed to have a look of sincerity in his eyes… the sparkled…a soft sapphire with hints of ----
“OH MY GOD!” I yelled as I tried to open the door to the car but couldn’t
“Addiena please!” he came to grab my hands to calm me down but I wouldn’t let him touch me.
Its him, its Ashly, he was the guy I knew in my dream… his eyes…
I yelled to get out of the car and for help but being in the middle of the mountains didn’t seem to help.
“Addi please don’t make me do this” he stated as he tried to grab me.
“Wind come to me and help me escape this place” I called out to my element but felt a cold chill fun down my arm and back. Then blackness hit me.
A few hours later I woke up to a fire being kept in the fireplace. It was the only light the room had and it gave shadows of the furniture all around it and me. I was laying on a queen size bed that seemed to sink me in it.
“Where am I?” I questioned out loud, then it all hit me… Ashly… those eyes… my dreams… It was him who was chasing me … it was him who …
I got out of the bed and ran towards the door, I opened it softly as to not make any noise, no help the old wooden doors did, they creaked was so loud it echoed through the entire estate. I stopped for a second expecting Ashly to be right in front of me but nothing. Not a single noise of anyone coming down the hall towards me. I walked out into the darkness of the house… only moonlight which shined through the open windows gave me sight as to where I was going. There was no wind and somehow I didn’t want to call my elements to help me…
I made it to the end of the stairs and saw a dime light in one of the rooms to my left, curiosity got the best of me, I should have made my way towards the front doors which stood right in front of me.
“She isn’t going to be safer at her dorm!” I heard Ashly state to another person in the room.
I peaked between the open slit of the double doors but only saw shadows against the wall.
“She needs to be informed of what she is” the other voice stated
“She needs to find that out herself Aiden.” Ashly answered back
“Well we do not have time for that Ashly, she needs to take the oath, the both of you need to take the oath before Winter Solstice.” The voice I took for Aiden said
“What are they talking about” I whispered softly to myself. I saw one shadow make its way towards the door and I jumped in startled.
“Fine, I will tell her. Let me tell her understand.” Ashly stated angrily as he opened the doors
I hid behind a large wooden clock to the left of the doors. Ashly made his way towards the hall and then up the stairs but he stopped. I wanted to find out what they spoke of so I stepped out from behind the clock and stood at the bottom the stairs.
Ashly stood half-way up; his hair was no longer short and brown but long and silverish-white… like in my dreams… I didn’t feel the urge to run anymore… I wanted answers.
“So you heard our conversation?” Ashly asked quietly, still not turning to look at me. I took a few steps up the stairs toward him; he turned as he heard me come near.
“Who are you? What are you” I asked softly
“I’m… well… I am your other half… your Angel… You are …” he began but stopped as he took a few steps down towards me until he stood a step above me.
He took my hands and looked deep into my eyes…I felt his gaze on me and the moonlight which was shinning upon the staircase now was glowing around him…he was changing right in front of my eyes… he had only a washed pair of jeans on, no shirt and his hair was loose. It was as if he had his own breeze around him…he was breathless and beautiful…
“Addiena…I am your partner…I was made to love you, to protect you, to live eternity with…you are my Priestess, to the Goddesses and I am your Angel, your warrior in arms…” he softly spoke the words as he laid a kiss upon my lips.
His kiss was soft, gentle, and full of earth and wind… I felt both my elements within him and within me like never before… I gasped as he stared at me.
“This is not happening… “ I stated softly, “I am dreaming again aren’t I…this is all a dream… you can’t be …I can’t be… can I be?”
I felt a sudden gust of wind and smelled the aromas of the wet earth… the dirt, the trees, the flowers it bloomed…the sweat fragrances mixed within me and I felt myself light, as if I was being lifted into the air around me… no boundaries…no restraints…I felt whole.
I felt my feet touch the redwood floors and I felt faint… I saw as if in slow motion…Ashly sweeping me up in his arms and carrying me upstairs into the room, laying me softly and gently upon the bed in the room I originally woke up in. The fire roared as he kissed my lips softly.
“It’s all going to be revealed when you awake Addi, I promise” he whispered into my ear right before I felt myself drift finally to sleep.
When I awoke the next morning to the smell of mist and dew upon the forest grounds, I realized I wasn’t dreaming any longer… yet something felt hidden from me. Something I needed to find. I turned to get out of bed and was startled by a tall male sitting upon a chair placed between the bed-stand and the window. He had on clothes that reminded me of Legolas from Lord of the Rings, but he didn’t have the pointed ears, yet he carried a sword to his side and something about him gave the aura that he was of high standings in some sort of court.
I can’t believe I am really living this… I looked around before I heard him speak.
“Ashly is on some errands collecting a few of your things for our departure Priestess.” He spoke softly to me as he rose from his seat.
“Who are you may I ask?” I cautiously stated.
“My name is Aiden, Guardian to the Gates of Aerdrie, The place where the Goddesses slumber and wake, do their works and play their games, In short, I guard their home between earth and heaven above.” He answered with tone of a mighty wise guardian.
“Are you an angel as well?” I asked curiously. I felt quiet stupid asking it for I saw then the whitest wings behind his back.
“I assumed you would have forgotten us all, but of who we are I would have assumed you would have remembered even just the least” Aiden answered with a childish smile.
I felt a blush arising when Ashly entered with a bag full of my things.
“I hope you do not mind, I went to ask Tracy to fill a few of your things.” Ashly quietly stated.
I smiled in some relief before answering him. I felt the rush of worry all of the sudden hit me with Tracy.
“Is she okay? Did you tell her anything?” I asked quickly.
“She is well, although I felt her sort of saddened in jealousy that it wasn’t her who was taking a ‘Romantic weekend’ with me” he said laughingly.
“Of course, seems you are yourself except without the showing of wings.” I answered back, “Wait why haven’t I seen your wings?”
Both the men in the room began to laugh; I smartly crossed my hands in front of me like an upset 7-year old.
“What is so funny?” I stomped with glower, “don’t All Angels have wings?”
“Yes and No, we earn our wings when we are bounded to our partners. Some of us find them in days, other of us take centuries.” Aiden answered.
“But I thought you guys could fly?” I said
“Yes we can still; we use the elements around us to make our transportations and needed supplies. We learn the arts as newborns.” Ashly answered as he caressed my cheek.
“I am completely lost.” I said softly.
“With time we will revitalize your memories, but it is too dangerous to stay here. He may be already on his way” Aiden stated with urgency.
“he who/” I asked confused.
“Your father Addi,” Aiden nonchalantly said.
“But he is home with my mother back in California.” I questioned, “why would he be coming here?”
“Not your human parents Addiena, Your biological father, Ariel, Angel of destruction” Aiden replied.
I stood stunned as I felt faint. I fell back onto the bed to hold my balance. So much was going on, so much was being thrown my way and I couldn’t believe even half of it.
“Here, drink this.” Ashly said as he handed me a glass of water.
I took the largest gulp of water I had ever drank. But it was sweet and it tingled in my mouth as it went down my throat.
“This isn’t water. Its sweet. What is it?” I asked as I wiped my mouth clean.
“Its Wine, Angelic wine. Helps with strength and in your case, memories” Ashly smilingly stated back with ‘as a matter of fact’ tone.
“huh” I shrugged my shoulders and grabbed an outfit out of my bag to change.
“Okay, let me get this straight, I am a Priestess to the Goddesses and you are my partner, my Angel, Aiden is some high all might guardian who has a stick up his ass and my biological father is the Angel of Destruction Ariel. Now, why am I being rushed and why are we running away from my father again?” I stated as I placed my hands upon my hips.
“We have no time here to explain, my stick up my ass is trying to keep you safe until we reach your palace in Aerdrie and you both can finish your Bond at Winter Solstice.” Aiden demanded, I flinched in fear for I felt he would have hit me. Though I knew he wouldn’t.
Ashly grabbed a few more bags and was placing them into the car. I wondered then why we wouldn’t just “fly off” to our next destination but something nudged inside of me saying my father was expecting something life that… well he isn’t my father but Ariel. My father was a construction worker who supported me and my mother our entire lives back in California. He was my father, the one who loved me and tucked me in at night, scaring away the monsters in my closet before he kissed me with love. How I missed them now.
“We must go.” Aiden stated as we all made our way towards the car. As soon as I made my way out the front doors of the estate the sky above grew dark and the next thing I saw was a ring of fire above us. Ashly and Aiden then drew out two large swords, Aiden’s was a white glow while Ashly’s a dark purple. I felt my feet freeze and couldn’t move. Fear ran through me that instant.
I saw angels above with wings black land on the ground in front of us. Too many for me to count on two hands. At least a dozen more in the sky above us.
“Daughter,” I heard one state, he was tall and had white wings like Aiden, white collar shirt and black jeans, hair white as white can be and eyes that glowed red and brown. “are you running away from me again?”
“She will not serve your darkest desires Ariel” I heard Ashly yell. “You will not harm her”
“Why would I harm my own flesh and bone Ashly, Do you believe me that evil” Ariel stated back laughingly. He began to make his way towards me when I heard a large clash and a scream of agony and anger from Ariel. Ashly had struck his wing with his sword and it began to bleed. Ariel turned quickly and flung Ashly against the car, the car made a loud crack as I turned to run towards Ashly. The car was split in two where Ashly landed.
“Stay away” Aiden yelled at me as he flung me back behind him. All I felt was the need to get to Ashly. He was hurt, he needed me.
“I call upon my Earth and Air, bring vengeance with you and blow these creatures to the other side of the world, do not stop your winds Air until they reach the depths of the Ocean. Earth, do not let them touch your ground without harmful consequences. Go now!” I called upon my elements with fury within me unlike never felt. Within seconds I heard the winds growl and the earth moan to life. I felt them work my words and heard the Angels above yell in anger as they were flung by the air away from us.
“We are not finished dearest daughter” I heard Ariel cringe as he opened his wings and flew away, “we have just begun” he was gone.
I ran towards Ashly who was getting up slowly and with pain.
“Ash…Ashly…are you okay?” I asked in worry.
He looked up at me and then back to his arm, it was broken and you could see the bone coming out.
“Besides a few sore bones here and there, I think I am well” he tried to sound smart but the pain got the better of him.
Aiden helped him up as he began to bandage Ashly’s arm in a sling.
“He will be back… won’t he” I asked as I sat on the stairs which were in front of the doors.
“Yes” Aiden solemnly stated.
“But we will be ready, you gave us time. I was rather impressed little Priestess. Maybe you have not forgotten your abilities” Aiden finished as he placed the car back together, magically. I didn’t ask questions to that marvel, I had more to worry about.
“He will not harm you Addi” Ashly said as he came to sit beside me. I laid my head upon his shoulders and just cried. All I ever known was now a lie. I was lost. I did not know who I really was, but I had console that Ashly would be by my side always now.
“He was the Angel who chased me in my dreams, you were the one with Black wings that came after he left” I said softly, nearly in whisper.
“Yes, but those are dreams, he cannot harm you in your dreams, you have power over them Addi” Ashly answered back.
“So what do we do now?” I looked up towards Aiden who stood standing in a strange glow.
“We go to our destination and begin your Priestess hood. You will take your place and we will fight a battle with Ariel after.” He stated as he stared up to the sky, “so let the Goddesses hear our prayer and help us in our battles ahead”
“Let’s go Addi, we can’t stay here anymore.” Ashly rose as he held my hand to help me up.
“Fine. But explanations to all of my questions on the way right?” I asked to both Ashly and Aiden.
“Agreed” they both said. And so we took off...
