Aftermath {16}

"Will Skye be ok?"

Evangeline had enough of observing from afar, deciding to finally enter the chaos slowly re-building itself; the walls and the plastering standing tall once again.

She marvelled at the great power that was used so effortlessly to fix her surroundings as she walked through it.

It was as if time moved backwards, the debris collecting together.

She let out a controlled breath, her own power couldn't compare to that of an archangel, even when the gift emanating from the original was but a fraction of its true strength.

The silence was bearable, the ashy smell prominent, unsettling as her eyes fell to the Skye collapsed to the floor. She grimaced, "I think she's passed out"

Awaiting the angel to stand by her side, Heka sighed, "She's in shock"

Indeed she was, collapsed soon after her memories had overrun her tired body and sent it to a place far from reality. Perhaps it was a mercy.

Evangeline scanned the angel softly, a longing buried in her tawny, inquisitive eyes. The guilt she felt was immense- if only she hadn't acted so cold on that rooftop... if only she had done better by her side.

Heka glanced to her, whispering softly, "This is not your fault young one"

Evangeline rationally knew that, but it didn't stop the pang of searing guilt. "I know, I just wish I could do more"

"You can"

This turned her head, already having an inkling on how that was possible. Heka paused, thinning her lips, "There is something I must tell you"

Her voice sounded urgent, neck craned toward the human.

"It is of great importance, but you cannot, under any circumstances tell Skye"

A curious gaze, and a fixed smile. "What is it... and why does it need to stay hidden?"

With the room bordering whole and the fallen guardian levitating by the humans side through her sisters power, she turned serious. Soon, Heka would have to return, which meant time was running thin.

Amplifying her output of power to speed up the process, Heka's gentle expression faded to one of a mighty dexterity, a spark manifesting above her silky hair that swirled.

Like a fire, it swept over her head and took a form much like angels do, but this time, a crown constructed of a snake slithered around as its base, trailing to an enlarged front where it intertwined itself with a pole with metallic wings.

So that's where the health symbol originated...

Evangeline internally bowed, the pulse of flickering strength reminding her who's presence she was in. Their crowns... they each held such a magnitude of blessings, each unique to the 9.

"I cannot stay long, nor can I be there to babysit Skye when she gets in trouble..." her sigh seemed pained, "I need you to be there for her, to watch over her as you would a human"

Heka's wings fluttered, aware that her time was running out, she could not conceal her intervention for long from the high spirit, she was not Dara.

She may monetarily blur the lines of her location but it took an immense strain on her, even requiring the crown to provide the extra strength.

Evangeline held so many questions, one arising to her throat. "That doesn't explain your body language"

It was true, Heka was worried... an archangel at full strength worried. "There is more to this and that is what you don't want me telling Skye... isn't it? What is it exactly?"

Heka smiled, her dark eyes lightening at the angel in front of her.

They dipped to the feather but refused to stay there.

Reaching for Skye's hand, Heka cupped it, closing her eyes as she spoke brashly, "Now that Lev's spiritual energy is intertwined with another- his signature will appear different."

Heka went on, stiffening as she did. "Because of this, he will be an anomaly in a sea of humans, and anything different is thought as a target not only of fate but by others that lurk in the shadows"

Dear gods...

Heka swallowed, a far more human appearance coming through, hair swaying with the movements. "Skye will stop at nothing to protect him, and she knows nothing of this worlds cruelty as I do... so I ask this of you..."

Evangeline held her breath.

"Protect Lev, protect them both from any danger, do what you must to keep them safe from others, and in Skye's case... herself"

The words leaving her lips from an outside ear would sound harsh, condescending even- but not to Evangeline.

Like her, every angel had been given a purpose, a responsibility, and if hers was to protect the angel who guided her, there would be no greater honour.

With a hardened face and a glimmering look in her eye, Evangeline nodded, accepting the request with her entire being. Underlining fears were not allowed.

"I will, miss Heka"

A heartwarming smile steadied her rapid heart, "Thank you young one, I have great trust in you"

Evangeline gazed over Skye's features distraught by fear, mind buzzing with thoughts silent to the world.

"I will aid you in what ever way I can"

She glanced to the ever fixing gape in the ceiling, it's last rays slipping through the cracks. "My time is up, I must leave, but I trust you know what to do for when they wake?"

Evangeline stepped back and bowed deeply, her own wings emerging to stretch into the bow along with her body. A sign of respect.

As sudden as she had appeared, Heka disappeared, removing her lingering trace of power in the air as if she were never there.

Relief. Burdened. Purpose. Many thoughts swam through her mind like an ocean, but her objective remained definite.

This... this would be a challenge.

~

Skye knew where she was, knew why she was standing barefooted upon a floor of clouds.

The light breathing off her body like a spool of silk was just as familiar as the wings on her back, all without the toppling burden of her crown. Said crown was but a distant memory since she had committed herself to the people who needed her.

Even then, she felt it's unwelcome phantom over her hair... It had been hundreds of generations since she had last seen it; cast down, cast out like she would likely be now...

She didn't have a choice.

Words were not audible. Nothing could be heard, not even the beat of her immortal heart as it hummed to her nerves.

So when the high spirit had appeared, she could not register the words created by those lips, like a world turned mute...

Blurry, the universe was turning blurry and she tried to center herself standing there weightless...

Everything was moving at a pace her mind could not compete with until Skye closed her eyes, the throbbing of fear prominent while the divine circled her, stalking a prey.

This was it.

A searing pain awoke her thoughts as she cried out. Even a pulsing voice was deaf to her ears while she toppled over; her back lightening at the removal of her wings. The flaring sensation only grew as they severed. Instantly her back was flushed with a cold sweep, fighting against the burning through her skin; no longer protected against such conditions.

With her back exposed to brace all the elements, her freedom had been tamed and she was left grovelling upon a cloud that darkened.

It swallowed her until she couldn't breathe.

~

"No!"

Skye awoke with a startle, her breath raspy and dry from an induced sleep.

Her body was shaking in clothes that were not her own, in a room her eyes were blind too.

Was she screaming?

What just happened?

Placing a hand over her heart to steady it's rhythm, she took the time to breathe.

Upon opening her eyes did she internally panic. No longer in the university with walls crashed around her but in her dorm room, tucked in a bed made clean.

The blackout curtains were drawn, and her old bag hung by her bedside like usual. From an outside perspective you would think nothing of the growing confusion in Skye's mind. A student, asleep while the night was awake...

Was everything a dream?

No.

Skye hesitantly threw the covers off her, her chest sore from a pain beyond the physical. A hand reached to her hair as she saw it fall into her face; it had been brushed.

"What in the universe happened?" She breathed, tucking the no-longer knotted hair behind her ear.

Puzzled beyond recognition, Skye jolted for her bag and froze once ripping it open.

Her insides turned to mush and her legs felt limber. It was nothing but sheer will that kept her standing.

The feather. Elementa's feather.

She reached for it.

It was warm, but left a chilling touch and felt as raw as the elements in their natural state...

So everything that happened... it was all real...

Lev.

Lev...

"Lev!" She cried, memories flooding in so harshly she dropped the bag that fell with a thud.

The feather was clasped to her chest as she breathed it in, eyes a concerning red from tears she had no recollection crying.

She had to find Lev.

Now.