Chapter 5

“Hello!” The man spoke to me in a voice unlike any I had ever heard before. It was like a relaxing sound that melted all my troubles away. As he spoke, I could feel a calmness wash over me. I felt happy for the first time since my family died.

“What are you?” I asked. He paused, and looked at me confused.

“I am a customer?” He tilted his head, smiled, and showed his brilliant white teeth.

“That’s not what I meant… What is that on your head and your back?” I pointed at the wings and halo. His eyebrow shot up.

“You can see them?” I was confused now. Was I the only person that could see them?

“Can’t everyone see them?”

“No.” He said sample with a small laugh.

“I am an angel… your family’s guardian angel to be exact.” I fell to my knees. Anger now filling my body. My family’s guardian angel? Where was he when my family needed him? Where was he when they were murdered by the man in black? I knew I was adopted, and that he may not be my guardian, but my family needed him, and he was nowhere to be found.

“Where were you when they needed you!?” I yelled, tears flowing down my face now. He looked down, scratching his head. Did he not care?

“I don’t understand it myself. One minute, I could see everyone baking and laughing in the backroom, and the next I saw nothing. It was like my view was being blocked by something.” He sighed. So he couldn’t see what happened. I looked down at my lap, my hands tambling. I could not tell if I was angry, or scared, or just hurting. My legs felt weak; I could not stand up. My long black hair that had a blue tint to it, dangled in front of my face. My skin was paler than usual on my hands. The red tint you would normally see on my ivory skin was gone.

“Do you know where your family is? For some reason, every image I get with you in it is blurry. The Celestia’s life has been hard to watch for 20 years. I do not understand why. They have always put God first, and did his bidding no matter how hard. That is hard in this world. So he has asked me to keep a close eye on them. I hate to say it, but I have lost sight of them. I only knew to come here, because I could still see you, even though it was hazy.” He walked to me, and bent down on one knee. He stook out his hand, waiting for me to grab it.

I looked up. His face was kind. He gave off a warmth that I could only compare to the warmth my mother gave me. I felt like I could hug him, and everything would be better. I felt like he could make me smile again.

“What is your name?” I asked, wiping the tears from my cheek. My shirt was wet from the tears that fell from my eyes. I grabbed his hand, and he pulled me up with ease. It was like I weighed 5 pounds. I didn't even have to push myself up. He did all the work.

“My name?” He asked, like he had to think. Did he not know his own name?

“It’s been so long since someone asked for it… Most people can not notice me unless I let them. I still have no clue how you can see my halo and wings.” I was standing now. I still felt weak, but I leaned against the counter top for support. He stepped back, putting 3 feet between us. I moved my bangs out of my face, and gave him a face, hoping he would tell me his name. After all, I did not know how I could see his wings and halo either. He stepped toward me with his hand reaching for my face.

“Your eyes are a rare azure blue and stormy silver. Like a gem. It must be hard to go around with eyes like those, and hair with that tint in it.” He grabbed a strand of my hair, and looked at it. His face was in awe, but also had a hint of wonder. What was he thinking?

“My name is Layla. What is yours?” I asked again, trying to get an answer. He was still looking at my hair.

“Theodore..” He dropped my hair, and stepped back.

“Was Isabell and Damien your real parents?” He asked with a serious face now. I paused. No one knew they were not my real family, so what would make him ask this? Were my eyes that uncommon? Not many people saw both, because my hair alway seems to get in my face when I’m working. My right eye was blue, and my left silver. It was another weird thing I was born with, besides my horns. It is so hard to hide them because they are an inch long. They are so sharp, they sometimes rip my headband. It’s just an extra precaution to make sure no one saw them. My bangs hid them well on their own, but the headband has two holes my horns go threw, to like like part of the headband. He stepped closer again, moving my hair to show my headband. I moved without thinking, stepping farther back.

“Why do you wear the headband?” How much was he going to ask me to tell him? If he is my guardian angel, should I answer truthfully? I looked into his eyes. His eye was silver like my left one, but my eye was brighter. It was like it had a shine to it. His eyes met my stair. The instant we looked into each other's eyes, I felt calm again. I felt like I could tell him anything.

“Do you have any shards?” I said as I walked to the pastries my sister invented.

“Yes, I do…” He pulled at one shard. It was purple. It was small enough to use on a metal ring. I walked to him, and handed the pastry to him. He handed me the shard.

“Phebe invented this. It’s bread with fruit in the middle, sugar sprinkled on top, then cooked in the stone oven. I call it a fruit beignet.” He took a big bite out of the fruit beignet. He was classy about how he ate it. There were no crumbs on the sides of his face, and he put one hand under the one holding the food so there would be no mess. He didn’t make a sound as he chewed and swallowed. Once he was done, he pulled out a cloth to wipe his face. I had never seen someone so classy before.

“This does not change my questions… But this is delightful!” He smiled at me. I rolled my eyes at him. I wasn’t sure if I was trying to avoid the questions, or if I was just being polite. I sat down in the only chair in the room, behind the counter. I sighed in what felt like relief. I was actually going to tell someone what happened. Someone who might be able to tell me what happened. Who might know who the man was.... My hopes were high now.

“I am pretty sure I am adopted, though mom and dad never told me… I have memories of a man and a woman talking to me. They were worried for my safety. The man rushed the women, and the woman only talked of how she would watch over me…” Theodore leaned against the wall and listened. He looked off into the empty space my shop had.

“I don’t know who my real parents are… but….” I hesitated to tell him. Was this going to far? I do not tell people the truth, because it usually doesn't end well.

“I was born with these different colored eyes, and….” Could I really tell him? I looked over at the man, who was calm and quiet. He did not rush me along, or interrupted me. He just stood there, with his shoulder to the wall, and listened. I sighed.

“I was born with horns…” I looked at his face waiting for a reaction. His eyes flickered with a hint of interest, but he said nothing.

“My mom, dad, and siblings were burned alive a day or two ago. A man came into the bakery looking for me, and burned them alive.” His reaction now was what I was expecting for the horns comment. His face turned a pale white, and his eyes lost their shine. His lips frowned, and his wings fell to his side. They looked like they were being tucked in behind him.

“I know who you are. I also know what tried to kill you.” He spoke in a different tone now, almost cold. Chills ran down my back. This was not the tone of love.

“What was he?” I asked, looking down again. I was unsure I wanted to see the angel's face. What if he was going to hurt me for having horns like the other guy. I felt a hand on my shoulder. Warm. His hand gently lifted my head up, moving my bangs out the way with the other hand. He was no longer mad, but instead sorrow filled his eyes.

“He was a demon, but do not worry, I will protect you now.” My cheeks burned with heat.