Smoldered Flames (Edonia Series: Part I)

Chapter Two-Helena

Unknown Plane of Existence

Unknown Date of Time

The melodious twitter of diurnal birds and the brightness that slammed into Helena's eyelid alerted the Alpha that she was perhaps... deceased. And yet, she felt more alive than ever before. Her heart hammered through her chest. The aches and pains from the Earthen plane were no more. Birds erupted from the grasslands as Helena sat up quickly, glancing from side to side at her surroundings. A sea of flowers brought an awe to Helena. Each petal, an array of amethysts to emeralds, peridots to diamonds, and rubies to lapis lazuli. gem. The sun's rays enhanced each blossom, creating a refracting effect on one another.

"I'm not in Kansas anymore," Helena mused. "I wonder if I can get a Tequila Sunrise around here?"

She got to her feet and stretched to the vivid blue sky. A flow of verdant forest surrounded this mysterious plane of existence. The temperature brought forth a sense of comfort. Helena yawned, her body already craving the sweet surrender of a nap. Pleasant winds swept around Helena, her laughter childlike filled with wonder. Helena's hair danced with the wind, singing canaries and warblers flew around her.

Like a puppet to its master, she was walking towards the forest. Her first step chased away the enchanting avian life forms. Her second step encased her in shadows. The minute hairs at the nape of her neck lifted as if struck by lightning. And by her fifth step, instinct told her to run.

Something isn't right about this place, Helena speculated.

Total darkness ensnared Helena, her skin shivered at the drop in temperature. The ground beneath her bare feet grew soft, almost semiliquid-esque. Croaks of frogs and the caws of crows drew Helena's attention to a lone, majestic tree. Its once flowing branches, now grew brittle. The parakeet green leaves turned as brown as the marshlands at Helena's feet.

"You must save her," a voice whispered from Helena's left.

She whipped around, her body posed in a fighting stance. "Just who the fuck to you?"

"You must save her. Otherwise, the world will cease to exist," the voice came from her backside this time.

Again, Helena whirled to face the voice, but nothing revealed its identity. "Show yourself, dammit!"

"Your soul is tainted with so much hate and thirst for revenge. It was never supposed to turn out this way." the peculiar voice commented, with notes of empathy and sadness.

The more it talked, the more a figure began to emerge from nothing. "I hate to do this Helena. But the gods have made a terrible..." Thunder rolled and lightning struck. The figure sighed as it continued, "..judgement."

Warm ochre skin tone encased in a celestial light blinded Helena a moment. Illuminating white teeth held in a blazing smile lowered Helena's defenses. The angelic woman had a halo bountiful, raven, tight coils.

"Whoa...." Helena expressed in reverence. They were complete opposites. This mysterious beauty was tall and slender, exuding elegance and grace. Helena held the compact frame of a warrior. Not one scar marred the being's beauty, and yet a thousand told Helena's story. The being was an angel' Helena was not.

The angel appeared to float towards Helena, her steps never touching the ground. "All beings, living and beyond living, must correct their mistakes. Or as the humans say: errare est humanum."

She crept closer, Helena grew cautious. "What does this have to do with me? Ain't I dead?"

The angel shook her head gently. "No, but you are close to death."

"Then why am I here? I need to go back to my pack, immediately. And, I'm owed the skin from a certain lion." Helena growled, her fist clenched with each task she has yet to accomplish.