Fallen Angel

7. Danger

Ethan sighed when he saw Cassius' name on the cell phone screen.

"Yes...?"

"Holy shit, Ethan, what the hell didn't you understand when I told you not to fall in love with Aurora?" he screamed.

"Wait, what the hell are you talking about, dude?"

"Everything you felt in the amusement park, that's what I'm talking about. I already told you that I feel all your deepest feelings. Did you think I was joking? Forget her."

"I'm not in love with her, damn it!"

He hung up the phone half shaking without letting Cassius answer. The archangel called repeatedly, but Ethan ignored him. Cassius was one of the archangels of the Kingdom of Angels and a lifelong friend of Ethan's, almost like an older brother. Ethan had done other similar missions in the past and carried them out flawlessly, and this time would be no exception. Although Cassius scared almost everyone with his long hair, huge wings and that voice of darkness, night and whispers, Ethan appreciated him. But, damn, he wasn't in love with Aurora. He was sure of that.

He went out to the balcony to breathe fresh air. He didn't like getting angry with Cassius at all, and he knew he would have to talk with him later.

"Enjoying the morning breeze?"

Ethan turned around and honestly didn't expect to find Aurora there. Aurora with an easel and painting.

"Eh... Ah... Yes, yes."

"Wow, I see you are quite confused."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, I don't know. You usually make jokes that aren't funny at all or you try to flirt with me, and today you're... quiet."

"Flirting with you?" He swallowed. He remembered the conversation with Cassius.

"Yes, but I know you're doing it for fun, don't think too much about it!" she laughed, and that melody amazed Ethan. "After what happened at the amusement park... I feel like I know you a little better." Ethan felt a stabbing in his heart and put his hand to it to try to take the pain away.

"Ethan? Are you OK? What's wrong?"

Aurora put down her paintbrush and walked over to the boy's balcony.

"Nothing... I felt some pain... I'm fine, really." It seemed that he actually felt better. "What do you paint?"

"The landscape. Don't you think it's beautiful the sun lighting up the trees waking up to start a new day, a few white clouds making up the blue sky, the birds flying?"

"Wow, I thought you were doing a self-portrait when you said you were painting the landscape."

"You're back to your stupid jokes, I see."

Ethan smiled and winked at her. Aurora felt her heart skip a beat, and she was afraid the boy would feel it.

"I'll let you continue."

"You don't paint?"

"Why should I?"

"Don't you remember? Nathan has given us homework, my friend."

"You are joking."

"We have to paint an everyday scene." She sighed, desperate.

The boy thanked her hastily and went inside the apartment to think about what the hell he could paint. But immediately he had an idea.

***

He didn't like to paint at home, so he took advantage of the art studio offered by the university to do the task Aurora had told him. At that time of the afternoon, just after lunch, no one was there. He began to make a pencil sketch. Fine and delicate lines, made with tenderness. When he had it finished, after a few mistakes that he corrected with the rubber, he proceeded to paint. He chose the right colours, the necessary mixtures to achieve the perfect tones, and began to slide the brush over the canvas. A very soft brown, a splendid honey colour, a pale pink colour, some orange red, black, white. Sometimes he closed his eyes to see what he was drawing. It was an image that he had so much in mind, that it was impossible not to make it perfect. And then someone entered the studio.