Angels in Disguise

Margaret

A/N: I (Sol) deeply apologize for, um, not writing my chapter until, let's see... fudge... almost 9 months later... 😅
IM SO SORRY GUYS

The whole walk to Kira's I was silent. She and Isla were talking in low undertones about this Mystic Fury, but I hardly listened. My bracelet was cursed, for pity's sake. And I was the first person in centuries to wear it.

A thought struck me. What if that's an omen? What if I turn out evil like the High Angel's sister? My brow furrows, and I anxiously fidget with my hands.

In what seemed like hours, but was probably only a few minutes, we came to Kira's house. A car was in the driveway, in contrast to the other day (was it really yesterday?).

Kira momentarily froze before ushering us inside. "Go ahead to my room, I'll be there in a sec," she said, pushing us towards the spiral staircase leading upstairs. She gave us a half-smile before bolting out the front door.

Isla and I shared a look. "Something's clearly wrong," I said, stating the obvious.

Isla nodded. "Should we...?" She gestured towards the front door.

I considered for a second. "I-"

We heard an engine rev and the door burst open a few seconds later. Kira stepped back inside, muttering something. She jumped when she saw us, hand clutching the door handle.

"Whew, you guys scared me! Well, no matter. Let's go upstairs!" She quickly locked the door and escorted us to her bedroom.

"What was that all about?" Isla asked, hands on her hips, as soon as we got to her bedroom.

Kira opened and closed her mouth a couple of times, and I could almost see the mental war she was fighting on telling us or not. Eventually, she sighed and sit down on her bed, hands running through her hair.

"That was my mom's lawyer. She's trying to get a public assistance fund – you know, when a single mom gets money without having to pay it back?" Isla and I nod. "Well it's not going very well for her – that's why the lawyer dropped by. He was looking to talk to her so I had to tell him that she wasn't home, and she doesn't get home 'till late."

Kira picked up a blue cat stuffed animal from her bed and gently pet his head, not wanting to meet our eyes.

"But I thought you were, like, rich?" Isla blurted.

"Oh my-" I punch her in the arm and give her a look.

Kira smiled weakly. "It's ok. That's a fair question. We were before my father... y'know. Died. Now we're struggling quite a bit." She laughed humourlessly.

I nodded. Isla's brows scrunched and she gave Kira a hug. We were silent a few moments before Kira spoke up, voice perky and face void of sadness.

"Anyway, about this prophecy! I really think it's about you."

I shifted awkwardly. I wasn't so sure about this prophecy thing. It all seemed too coincidental – two girls show up at just the right time to save the world from the demons that are suddenly trying to take over. It just hit me the wrong way.

It took me a second to realize Isla had asked me a question. "Sorry, what was that?"

"What do you think about the prophecy? It's totally us, right?" she said, eyes bright.

"Uh, yeah... I'm sure it's us. But doesn't it feel a little..." I trailed off, seeing Kira and Isla's bright faces. "Nevermind."

I finger with the thin silver chain of the swan bracelet. Staring down at my wrist, I slowly twist the bracelet back and forth, watching the warm light from one of Kira's saltlamps glint off it. For a single moment, it glows-

"Frick!" Kira exclaimed, holding her finger. We looked at her. "Paper cut," she explained, shaking her hand.

All the sudden, like a word you lost finally coming to mind, I feel a slight sting on my index finger. Nothing much, nothing you couldn't toss away as a trick of the mind, but I knew it wasn't that.

"Stupid cursed bracelet," I mutter. But now I was curious. The bracelet glowed at the same second Kira got a paper cut. Maybe...

"Hey, Isla? Lift that water out of that glass for me, will you?"

Isla looks at me, a confused look creasing her eyebrows, but turns to the glass and closes her eyes, reaching out her bracelet hand. After a few seconds, the water forms into a sphere and rises slowly out of the cup...

And her bracelet glows. Only slightly, but it does. Exhaling, Isla releases the water back into the glass with a plop. A drop flips out of the cup, landing on the desk.

I glance over at Kira. Her deep brown eyes are wide open. She saw it too. I could see the gears turning in her head and all at once understanding dawned upon her round face.

Isla looks back and forth between us. "What? What am I missing?"

I crack a smile. "I think our bracelets glow... corresponding to how connected we are to our powers?" I explain, seeking Kira's confirmation.

"I thought the same thing," she says, nodding at me. "They didn't glow the first time. See?" She flicks the inside of her thigh, and my bracelet glows momentarily as I feel a slight prick on my leg.

"But why is yours brighter than Isla's?" She mused, turning to me.

"I'm guessing it's because mine is almost constantly in use. People get hurt all the time." I gesture at Isla, who's been silent this whole time. "Meanwhile, Isla has only used her gift a few times."

Isla blinks once. Twice. "That... IS SO FRICKIN' DOPE!" She rushes over to me and grabs my hands, pulling me off the beanbag where I was sitting.

I grunt at the sudden movement, Isla jumping up and down in a circle. "Our bracelets glow! Isn't that so cool?" She's beaming widely, and her good mood is hard to resist. Soon, both Kira and I are jumping with her, grinning from ear to ear.

After a few seconds, we flop down on the floor, panting like tired dogs and laughing between gasps of air.

"Looks like we'll need to start training sessions for your powers!" Kira giggled, sending us into another laughing fit.