Celestial Dawn

CHAPTER 21: The Surprise

Celestia POV

After the carnival fiasco, I had a few days of rest. The study materials Mateo gives me every day are becoming harder, but I love reading about the different topics. Who knew there were so many individual bones that made up the human skeleton? I certainly didn't. Humans study all kinds of subjects while they are in school. With each day I became even more curious as to what that will be like. Do teachers help you learn the material faster or were they just there to examine your progress? Right now, I still didn't know if going to school was in the cards for me, but one day when things are safer, maybe I can try it out.

I can't keep hiding from everything and everyone. My last demonic encounter proved that which is why I need to be more prepared. I always knew fighting was something I would learn one day to protect humanity. It just has to be done quicker now and with a human teacher. Plus the stakes were bigger because I was protecting my family. Both sides of it. I'm not going to let my human family get hurt because of me and I'll die before evil demons use me to kill my Mom or any of my angelic aunts and uncles. That means finding a way to prepare physically, so when my Mom comes back I won't be helpless.

She will come back for me, right?

On Wednesday, someone knocked on my door and I saw Ash opening it slightly "Knock, knock! Dad wants to see you downstairs." He bolted before I had the chance to respond. In the living room, Dad was talking in hushed tones with Isabella on the couch, while my brothers were entering through the open-floor kitchen. "Sweetheart! Come and take a seat. Have you been feeling better these few days?"

They still thought I was sick from the carnival even though they checked my temperature a few times a day and it wasn't abnormal. The strangest thing is that they didn't ask questions. I felt their curiosity every time, but they said nothing. "I'm okay."

Right now they felt excited and giddy. All except Wes. He was feeling focused and calculating like he was planning something. I wonder what has him feeling that way.

Dad continued "Well, we just wanted to tell you something. Wes mentioned that you wanted to go to a certain botanical garden and we thought that we could make a short family trip to Chicago and visit it. Only if you want to, though, if you aren't feeling well, we can always do it another time."

I was surprised. They were going to take me to the garden my mother's message led me to. I looked over at my brother and he smirked at me feeling pleased, like he just achieved a goal. Smiling slightly, I nodded and went to hug my dad. He had no idea how thankful I was and if my mother was there waiting for me... I could finally tell them everything. She would know how to handle everything. Just like she guided me when I was little in Heaven, we would be together again and I'll have my human family, too. This trip could be the most important one in my life. Dad had no idea how thankful I was that they were doing this for me.

...

After lunch, Isabella mentioned that she had packed the boys' bags and asked if I wanted help packing. Since I didn't know what I needed to take for a trip to Chicago I happily accepted her help. I learned that we weren't only going to the garden. Dad had to check in with his office branch in the city and finish something for work. That reminded me I wanted to learn more about lawyers since both Dad and Mateo were working in that field.

A few minutes before we left, everyone was double-checking their bags, when Asher blurted out "Have you ever been on a plane, Aurora?" Looking confused I tilted my head. I know what that is... I think. I shook my head. "Don't worry it's amazing and it will get us to Chicago in less than two hours. The view is amazing I love seeing the world from so high."

At first, I didn't understand what he meant, but a few moments later my brain caught up, and I had a lightbulb moment. Heights aren't a problem for me, but I couldn't help but worry about being that high up in the sky in a giant metal box. Would my aunts and uncles be able to sense me? If they could, then it would be all over in minutes. A freak storm or even a bird flying into one of the engines and we would fall and die. The truth is that I didn't know whether the angels could sense my presence if I were on a plane, but I can't risk the lives of my family. It's something I'm not willing to gamble with.