Abigail and the Angels

Chapter Five

Abigail ran into the cave with tears streaming down her face. She ran right past Jasmine and Nate, who were softly chatting around the fire, down the rocky stairs and into Jasmine's bedroom where she had stayed the night before. Back at the entrance, Jasmine and Nate chatted.

"Did you hear what they spoke about?" he asked. Jasmine nodded and poked the fire.

"Seems like Chase has taken quite the liking to her. But if he's not careful, his personality's going to drive her to want to leave the island more than she already does," she replied. He watched her silently for a moment.

"What?" she asked, catching his gaze.

"Nothing. Do you think Chase is capable of liking someone?" he asked, looking away. Jasmine shrugged, nodded and said,

"Probably. I mean, I know he's a fallen angel, but he's still a teenage boy. He probably is."

"I guess so," Nate said.

"He probably already feels strongly connected to her, even if he has just known her since this morning, because, you know, as fallen angels our emotions and feelings develop stronger than ordinary people's," She continued blankly. He looked up at her again and smiled quietly to himself.

"Yeah...," he murmured softly. Jasmine gave a confused smile and got up.

"Well, I'm going to go check on her. By the way, can I stay in your room tonight, please? I think Audra's with Charlie and I don't want to impose," she said, walking towards the rocky stairway. Nate nodded slightly.

"Of course you can. You're welcome anytime," he said. She smiled and thanked him and walked down the stairs. She walked to the end of the tunnel and poked her head behind the rock and looked at Abigail, who had her face buried in the pillow, her body slightly trembling with each breath. Jasmine quietly stepped into the room and sat on the bed next to her. She twiddled her thumbs, wondering what to say.

"You know, I wanted to leave here too, once upon a time," she said to the girl. Abigail didn't look up but instead kept her head buried in the pillow. Jasmine had already seen her cry once today and she didn't want to let her see a second time.

"You're lucky because you can actually leave, unlike the rest of us. We're all trapped here until the gods feel like we can go. I know what it must be like, being stuck here and not knowing how long you have to wait to leave. None of us wanted to stay, but when we'd gotten used to the island and the magic that surrounded us, none of us wanted to leave. I mean, it would be nice to go out and explore and to see the world as it is today, but aside from the occasional curiosity and cabin-fever, we're all quite content here. It's... it's home to all of us. Without the island, we've got nowhere to go," she continued. Abigail twitched in slight irritation.

"Are you trying to convince me to stay, too?" she asked wryly, still not looking up from the pillow. She heard Jasmine chuckle.

"No. Of course not. But it would be nice to have a new member of the family, especially because Nova relates to you as a human female and because Chase seems to have taken a... particular liking to you," she said. Abigail sat up and sighed.

"I know, I know. And, well, I actually do want to stay but I feel guilty about liking it here more than at home when I don't even know where 'here' is or anything about it, aside from what you've told me. And I know I want to go home. I'd miss Father and I'd miss everything the palace has. My shoes, my pets, even the ridiculous dresses Marg- Nanny Margret makes me wear," Abigail said softly, looking at her shoes. Jasmine watched her for a moment and said,

"I understand you missing your father, but really? Your shoes and dresses? You do know that when you die, none of that stuff goes with you, right? Holding onto material items is selfish as well as stupid." Abigail looked offended and pouted. Jasmine sighed again.

"Sorry. I'm not too great with emotions and stuff," she said.

"You don't say," Abigail replied sarcastically. Jasmine gave a nervous chuckle and replied,

"Well, anyways, all I'm trying to say is that it's good and well for you to want to go home, but in your current predicament there is no way to get you home except for waiting. So try make this your home for the time being." Abigail released a sigh.

"Fine. I guess there's nothing else for me to do. Can you at least take me exploring tomorrow?"

"Sure," Jasmine replied, much to Abigail's surprise.

"Really?" she asked. Jasmine shrugged.

"Yeah, if it's what you want. Just know that we'll all be keeping an eye on you," she said, patting Abigail on the back. Abigail threw her arms around Jasmine's neck.

"Thanks Jasmine!" she said excitedly. At first shocked, Jasmine returned the hug with a soft laugh.

"No sweat. Now go to bed," she said smiling. Abigail pulled off her shoes and crawled into bed and when Jasmine left the room, she took off her shorts and shirt, intent on wearing the underclothes she wore last night. When she realized that they were filthy, she got up and opened the chest of draw and pulled out a pair of flannelly white pants and a grey t-shirt. She then got back into bed and looked out the window. To her surprise, her eyes were met with the amber eyes of Chase. She let out a small gasp of surprise and opened the window.

"What are you doing here?" She whispered sourly. Chase, who was flapping his wings, held onto the bars of the stone window.

"Came to apologise, Milady" he whispered back. Abigail snorted in frustration.

"Couldn't you do it like a normal person and come in through the door? Or is that not a common custom to fallen angels?" He chuckled.

"I'm not a normal person."

"Fine. Then to a normal bird-angel-person thing?" He smiled again and pulled himself onto the ledge of the window. He dangled his legs of the side of the mountain and sat on the windowsill, his back leaning on the side.

"I'm not that either," he said. Abigail raised an eyebrow and leaned on the windowsill on her arms next to him.

"Oh really? Then what are you?" She questioned. He leaned his face to hers and whispered,

"I'm a romantic." Abigail felt her face flush and swiftly pulled it away from his.

"I-I see! Very good then! Apology accepted, you can go away now!" She said quickly. He let out a chuckle and shrugged, jumping off the edge and flapping his huge wings, flew back up. Before flying off, he turned to her and said with a cocky smile,

"Goodnight, Princess."