Gamayun, messenger from the heavens
*Nine hours before the storm*
After having breakfast, Vera's mood improved. She saw the amount on the bill, and her heart filled with cheerfulness.
The food wasn't as good as it was costly, but she didn't care.
With a full stomach and a light mood, she returned to the elevator and pressed the highest button.
«The terrace is open for tourists,» she said. «I checked on the Internet, before you ask me. No creature of the night told me.»
«I wasn't going to ask,» Ethan pointed out.
«Also, you might want to retreat now. The wind will be strong up there, and you won't understand Gamayun either way. Only a blessed few can. And I, of course. Witches usually understand godly creatures.»
«I will stay with you,» he said. «I'm not abandoning you now.»
She rolled her eyes and walked out, hugging herself to protect her body from the chilly air.
She had only a shirt and light pants on. She wasn't expecting bad weather.
«Now?» Ethan inquired.
«We wait. It will be over in a few minutes; you do not need to worry. We can return home on the next flight.»
«Sure,» he chuckled, but his tone was too low to be heard over the wind.
They stood there, still and waiting, for a little more than the promised time. After twenty minutes, however, the window stopped.
«It's just a break,» Vera said before Ethan could inquire. «She will tell us her message and proceed to the west. The storm will follow her, and it's better we leave the city before it happens. If there's no flight in the next hour, the plane might be cancelled and stay on the ground. Check out the trains going south... If Gamayun turns back or goes north or south, there won't be any storm. But if she passes by us and continues like this...»
She sighed, tightening her lips. She hadn't thought about the planes being delayed until that moment. She hadn't realised that she was stuck in that city if there weren't trains departing soon enough.
Soon after the wind had stopped, a tiny figure appeared in the distance, towards the east. It was flying in their direction, so they waited patiently for her to be close enough.
When she reached the tower, she stopped midair to deliver her message.
It was a bird tall twice a man, with her wings reaching as wide as a small building. It had golden feathers and a colourful tail. The body was that of a bird, shining under the sun but not burning like fire. It did give the impression of something hot, but there were no flames.
The head was human, of an angelic woman with gentle features and beautiful blue eyes like the night sky, along with small shining spots like stars in the firmament. Her lips were tiny and rose, and her nose was straight and small.
When she talked, her melodious voice made both Vera and Ethan relax.
The man didn't understand her words, but he only heard a song, delicate and joyful for his ears. She was the most beautiful creature he had ever seen, and, differently from those he had encountered before, she didn't make any use of that beauty. She wasn't trying to appease his eyes to pull him into a trap. There wasn't anything sinful in her.
As for Vera, she could understand.
She used the old language to reply. She was sure that Gamayun would understand. And unwilling to let Ethan grasp too much about their conversation. She first needed to hear what it was about, and, only then, she could tell the agency as much as they needed to know - but not more than that.
«Greetings, creature of the sky,» Vera said. «I'm honoured to see you. My ancestors had witnessed your beauty and told me, but I've never thought I would one day have their same luck.»
«Witch, you're here to listen,» Gamayun replied, her eyes warm and filled with love. As if she knew something that Vera couldn't.
And that was true: Gamayun knew everything about the world of gods and humans. She knew how it started and what secrets the future had in store for them. When finding people able to understand her, she would deliver part of that truth to them.
«I carry a message,» she said. «Darkness is returning.»
Vera nodded, waiting for more explanations. However, Gamayun didn't say anything.
Seeing the message was over, Vera understood it was time to get something out of it.
She could understand the messenger bird... It would have been a waste to let her go without any hint about her future!
«Do you know by any chance who's going to win the football championship next year? I can place a bet far ahead and raise some funds...»
«Witch Vera, your life will change very soon. You will meet a sacred being that will save you from the shadows. Don't think you are free yet, because your capturers know how to keep you locked. But you won't be alone in your future battles. You will finally have a shoulder to lean on...»
«Hey, don't change the topic,» she said, but Gamayun flapped her wings and raised in height by a few metres. «Hey! Don't go! Tell me who will win... Please, no...»
However, deaf to her pleas, the messenger bird flew past them. She skipped the skyscraper by flying over it, without changing her route one bit. She continued to fly in the same direction: from the east to the west.
Vera followed her while she was within reach, but all she could get in reply was: «you won't be alone». Either Gamayun thought Vera didn't need her help to reach a happy and rich life, or she didn't deem her worthy of it.
«I don't care about being alone! I'm used to it!» Vera shouted.
However, Gamayun didn't turn. She had her secret mission, and she would have spread her message in the world of men.