The Shadows She Saw

Prologue

The raging flames grew fiercer with each passing minute. The thick white curtains acted as a ladder for the flames as it climbed towards the ceiling. The church was filled with black smoke and right now it felt like a furnace to Grace. She blinked her eyes to clear her watery vision. She had fallen asleep in the church! Her body felt stiff.

A light dusting of ash covered her hair and her cheeks were stained red.

"Help! Help!" The strong smoke entered her mouth and she coughed profusely. "Somebody...... please help!"

The entrance of the church was blocked by burning pieces of timber. The long aisle had become a path of fire. She searched for a way out but all she could see was fire and smoke. Her vision blurred again, she felt light-headed.

Grace yelled again but her voice wouldn't come. She walked backwards clutching at her chest tightly as if she could take out the smoke burning up her lungs. The crackling of the fire started to grow faint.

"Dear God... help me." She said hoarsely.

As if on cue, the colored glass ceiling overhead shattered into a million pieces and Grace glimpsed something in resemblance to a shadow. Instinctively, her arms wound around her head protectively and she staggered backwards and fell.

But no shards of glass smashed onto Grace to her surprise. She opened her eyes. Instead it was suspended in mid-air; floating and what her eyes followed next made her gasp.

A demonic figure glided down from above. It looked human but wasn't. That much Grace could register. Its skin was tan with a bronzed glean and its hair like the richest hour of midnight. Grace was entranced. At first by surprise, then by fear.

Its chest was bare, revealing smooth taut muscles and a pair of huge eagle-like wings supported it mid-air, only they were black but with a silvery glisten. It neared the ground. It landed lithely and Grace felt each and every fibre of her body grow raw with fear.

She cowered backwards and clenched her eyes shut. It walked slowly towards her. The burning church seemed like the least of her problems now.

The creature bent down on one knee and cocked its head to one side. It studied Grace. Grace unwillingly opened her eyes but did not raise her gaze. If she was going to die, she might as well see her world for one last time.

Her eyes found the tanned chest of the creature which wasn't smooth like she thought it had been. Its chest carried intricate details of designs gorged right into its skin. The designs made a little hollow on the skin's surface. It was breathtaking.

The creature gave a little growl as if wanting Grace to look up. Grace did not. Finally, it snaked its arms underneath her body, cradling her like she was a fragile bird and swept up into the sky.

The shards of glass dropped to the floor.

Cocooned in the creatures hold, ironically Grace felt safe. Unlike a normal human should have been she wasn't in a state of hysteria. Rather she was quite bewildered. Her heart rate matched the steady flaps of the creature's wings. Her palms were still pressed to her chest but this time to avoid as much contact as possible from the creature's body. She noted this effort was actually funny since she was practically in its embrace.

She wanted to say something but it was like her voice had disappeared. Suddenly, she realized that they were descending towards the ground. It was a meadow with overgrown grass.

The change from suspension to firm ground felt close to nothing to Grace. The minute her tiny feet touched the stability of a flat surface, the creature turned around and poised its wings for another flight.

Unexpectedly the words tore out of her mouth in a whisper, "Why?" She didn't think it would hear her, but it did.

It lowered its wings in a nestled shape behind its back and strode towards her. It's cold fingers grabbed hold of her chin and craned her face upwards. She felt extremely tiny in front of its massive expanse of muscles. A deep blush crept up her cheeks at the close proximity of its body to hers.

Her hazel eyes met his crimson gaze.

"Your innocence is fascinating to me." Its voice was deep and steely, like its personality. "It lured me to you. I saved you. Now you belong to me."