past the School for the Gifted, Darius said. I turned the corner, admiring the five story school of glass and platinum. I was marked from the beginning to be a warrior, born with the wings of an archangel. I never had the option to attend such a school.
A glow radiated the outskirts of Ambrosial Arc, the chosen city, the Arc. One could see how it was named as so and why it was for the upper class. My heart ached. Our destiny was decided for us before birth. Looking at the lightness of the buildings and the overall ambiance of the city I wondered why my mother had not lived there. She was the most gracious and caring woman, and beautiful, truly beautiful. A woman of her caliber deserved to live in the city, when she was alive. How could our lives be so set?
Following the road around I came upon the woods Darius told me would be there. Pulling off the road and into the brush close to the edge of the trees I parked my car in the concealment of the fresh green foliage. Snatching my phone off the seat I slid it into my front pocket, reached back to grab my backpack, and stepped out into the crunching brush. Peeking over the hood as I walked back into the trees with my pack slung over my shoulder, I looked for anyone who may have seen me. I was alone. My keys jingled loudly in my hand, so I put them in my empty pocket.
Unfamiliar with these particular woods I retrieved my compass from the outside pocket on my pack. Darius said to head east once under the cover of the trees. I angled slightly to my right walking in the direction of east, hoping I was correct. If I didn’t have my compass I would have wandered the woods for hours. Unless I paid attention to the little details, everything looked the same. Tree after tree, plant after plant, rock after rock, I had begun to think I wouldn’t make it into the city before dark.
The border of Ambrosial Arc glowed a bright white with power. Creeping along the edge I found the hidden entrance my friend led me to. I was quite surprised no one, let alone the guard, hadn’t noticed the blatant break in security. A small cluster of trees crossed the separation between the Arc and the woods. In that cluster there was a gap in the line of power, it was as if the glowing light jumped over it. Cautiously I placed one foot through the trees into the city. Nothing I expected the cluster to be a trap and for herds of guards to come rushing. But nothing happened.
The trees led to a cobblestone walkway between two buildings I believed to be shops, an area void of people. I stepped the rest of the way onto city ground, stopped and closed my eyes.
I made it. Now what? Eyes closed, I thought of the girl’s face, her wings, her courage, willing my soul to tell me where to find her. Where was she?
Then it hit me like a bolt of lightning. I knew where she was…not in the city.
With the palm of my hand I smacked my forehead. She wasn’t in the city. Why didn’t I try to do that before? In a newfound fury of frustration I began to retrace my steps in the direction I’d come. A sharp voice stopped me before I reached the trees.
“Halt! What business do you have here, archangel?”
I spun on my heels to face the thin guard. “Nothing at all, sir. I was just leaving.” I proceeded to back into the woods, keeping my eyes him.
“Who has allowed you into Ambrosial Arc? You must be escorted out with whom brought you,” he said taking a step forward for every one I took back.
“That does not matter, sir. I can escort myself out.” My heel hit the root of a tree and I turned around and took off running into the woods.
“Halt! What evil is this? How have you broken our boundaries?” he shouted after me. His footsteps pounded against the leaves and dirt, fast and hard he was on my trail.
Thankful I never put away my compass I held it out before my eyes putting the east behind me. I knew I was quicker than the guard. Born a warrior, it was in my blood, I was faster, stronger, and more combat savvy than any other class of angels. Athletically superior are the archangels, including me.
My feet barely touched the ground, I ran like one could if the speed of light were obtainable. Unfortunately the trees were too close together for me to spread my wings and fly, so I relied on my warrior instinct to get me through. Dodging trees, leaping over roots and various overgrown plant life, I spotted my car ahead.
My fingers wrapped around the handle and I jerked the door open. Far in the distance I could hear the guard yelling. Sliding into the driver’s seat I threw my pack on the empty seat next to me and I shoved the key into the ignition. My car roared to a start and I slammed my foot on the gas, peeling out of my concealed spot. Rocks and dirt kicked up clouding the air in my wake. I sped away once the tires hit the pavement.
The guard would remember my face. Remember the color of my retracted wings. He knew I was an archangel. I crossed my fingers, hoping it didn’t matter. It wasn’t as if I truly broke any laws, aside from entering the city unwelcomed. No one was injured, no property damaged, I merely crossed the line.
I drove to the weapons training school up the road from the School for the Gifted, parking in the back of the lot. I had to find her, now I was on a deadline. Eyes closed, I reclined my seat and pictured her face, her kind eyes staring back at me. Inside, my soul tugged forward, I was being drawn to her. My heart fluttered. She wasn’t far from the school. Putting the car in drive I pulled out of the parking lot in a hurry. I had to get to her. The connection pulled me back in the direction of Ambrosial Arc. Thankfully it was taking me around the other way. I slowed to avoid detection. The warning alarm in the city was blaring, because of me. City guards flooded out into the streets. Their gray ashen wings opened in unison. Guard after guard took to the skies, circling the Arc.
The sensations within me intensified. I was getting closer. A tug in my chest led me onto a road away from the city, away from the hovering guards. Trees heavily lined the gravel road. Deeper into the secluded area I drove, closer and closer I got.
My body unconsciously jerked to the left causing me to turn the steering wheel. I swerved and corrected, slamming to a stop. Throwing the door open I took off on foot through the thicket and surrounding trees. She was close. I scrambled over fallen trees, tearing through overgrown vines in my way. My breath came in in deep gasps. My chest was tight from the pull of being drawn to her.
“Go away!” Her voice came out of nowhere making me trip over my own feet. I found her huddled in a hollowed hole at the base of an enormous tree. Beautiful black hair cascaded down her shoulders concealing her face. She had her knees pulled up to her chest with her arms crossed resting on them.
“Excuse me, ma’am. Do you remember me, from the battlefield?” I approached her slowly, dead leaves crackling under my feet.
She kept her head down. “Yes, archangel. I remember you.”
My heart skipped a beat. “I am Troy, and I don’t mean to be a bother, but I had to find you. You’re all I can think about. Ambrosial Arc is in an uproar right now because I unsuccessfully snuck in to see you.”
Her head snapped up. One of her eyelids was down over her eye, blood seeping from the lash line. The other eye glared at me angrily. “Why would you do that? Do you have any idea what they are going to do to you? You will be executed!” she shouted.
I ignored her words, fixated on her eye. “What has happened to you? You need medical attention.” I reached out to touch her and she cowered away.
“It’s gone-my eye is gone. I was able to get you to a group of warriors who carried you off, but I stayed behind to search for my brother. He was my whole reason for sneaking onto the battleground. The demon I shielded you from that day found me when I was escaping. It tore out my eye with its slimy claw and popped it into its mouth like a grape. I will never get that eye back, this will be my disfigurement for eternity,” she sobbed.
Taken aback by her confession I sank to my knees before her. “No, no. You are the most beautiful being I have ever laid eyes upon. I will avenge what that creature did to you. I will tear it limb from limb with my bare hands.”
“You must get out of here. If you stay they will find you.” The sad angel put her hand out to
push me away. I grabbed her wrist, dragging her gently out of the hole. I held her against my chest as she squirmed and protested.
“I can’t leave you, I am only drawn closer through this imprint that has erupted between us,” I whispered in her ear.
Her tears soaked my chest. “I know, I know, I feel it too, but we can’t do this. You don’t understand, they will kill you when they find you. If you broke into the city the guards think you’re a demon in disguise. They’ll kill you without hearing an explanation.”
“I don’t care. I’m not leaving you out here alone. You haven’t even told me your name yet.” I stroked her hair, twining my fingers through the strands.
“Gabriela. My name is Gabriela,” she gasped between sobs.
“The imprint clouded my mind causing me to irrationally enter the city without trying to sense where you were first. I’m so sorry. No matter what happens, Gabriela, remember me, the little you know. I love you, though I wish we had more time to get to know each other.” Tears began to roll down my face, falling onto the top of her head.
“I love you,” she whimpered.
A rush of footfall barricaded us in on all sides. Shouting and the cling of swords being drawn filled the air. Soon all the Arc guards stood poised to strike all around us.
“Release her,