The Destiny of Angels

Chapter 40

As I got to the Forgotten Forest I realized what Cash had done. He purposely got me riled up so I would channel my Fallen Angel side. My foreseer powers were still pretty weak, but my body wasn't. The Fallen side of me had fast-tracked the healing process quite a bit. I hate that he purposely makes me lose control, but I also appreciate it.

Slipping through the gate, I head towards the Lilac Lake. I wasn't lying when I said I needed to make sure Hop made it home safe. The purple surrounding me made me feel calmer. "Hop?!" I call out. There was no risk to being loud in the Lilac Lake. Even if a monster heard me, it would die the moment it touched any of the surrounding area. Hops poison guaranteed safety.

It also meant that if Hop was here, I could ask him to allow the girl here for just long enough to escape the man she was with. "Aurilyn, I figured it would be a while until you made it out here," a small voice whispers from behind me.

"Hop, you're safe!" I cheer turning to him.

"Of course I'm safe. Though I will admit it was quite a trip back," he answers.

"Well I'm very glad you are back safe. I was worried."

"Worrying about me is a waste of your energy sweet child. I'm a monster remember? This is my home," Hop calms me. "What is it you want child? I can tell you're here for more than checking on little old me."

"There's a young girl being held prisoner not far from here.." I start.

"You want me to give her sanctuary? Start a fight with another monster over what is probably his dinner?" Hop answers.

"Um, yes?" I answer.

"Sorry child, but I can not do that. There is a balance around here, and its not nice to steal someones food. You are always welcome here if things go south on your rescue mission though," Hop answers.

"Thank you Hop. I understand. I'm glad you're safe."

"Go get the girl, before you run out of time," Hop says. "Stay safe, and maybe take a break from the Forest for a while after this, okay?"

"Okay Hop, I will," I flash him a small smile over my shoulder and begin to take off.

"Oh, Aura," Hop calls after me. His voice so quiet I almost don't hear him. I turn to see him, but all I see is the ripple of the water. Then without warning the water begins to move, something underneath it rises out of the water.

It takes me a moment to realize it is Hop, who is growing tremendously in front of me. Small frog like Hop, slowly turns into a giant sea monster. Long and snake like, his gills that laid upon his cheeks grew huge almost feathery. He looked completely different. My tiny friend was now a humongous terrifying monster. His head slithers towards me, his mouth opens showing rolls and rolls of sharp fangs.

Almost appearing as if he was about to take a bite out of me, he turns his head at the last minute. His mouth snatches down as he tears a big purple flower from its stem visciously. He turns to me, flower in his mouth and waits. Realizing he wanted me to grab the flower, I slowly pull it out from between his teeth.

"Put it in your bag. Save it. It will kill anyone who dares harm you," Hop says. His voice was no longer soft and quiet, but was now gruff. Almost impossible to understand as if it was more of a monster growl or a snake hiss then talking. Had I met him like this, I probably would never have come back to the Forest. This was his true form.

"Thank you." I knew what his flowers meant to him. This was a gesture of friendship, of love. For him to sacrafice part of what he held so sacrid for so long for me, meant the world. There was no words I could say that would express my gratitude, but thankfully Hop knew that.