Their Wings

Chapter 14: Welcome

 The reaction was immediate. The moment we came into view everyone froze. Their eyes looked at Luke, flew over Michelle and landed on me. All their eyes simultaneously widened as they stared at me. I bit my lip at the sudden scrutiny. Luke’s arm tightened around my waist and Michelle drew closer to my side. Luke gently pushed me forward and more warily than before, we inched forward.

Suddenly, as we passed the first pair on our right, they fell to their knees. Their foreheads kissed the floor as they swept themselves into a deep bow, their arms outstretched towards us. My eyes widened as I looked at Luke and Michelle, who looked as shocked as I was. We met each other’s eyes uncertainly before moving forward once more.

As we passed, they all swept themselves into deep bows, their foreheads touching the floor. They seemed to be praising a hero, though I didn’t know which one of us they were bowing to. Their backs bent over their knees, none of them rising even as we passed. We made it to the fountain, where Luke and I went right and Michelle went left.

I stared at the wings on top of the fountain, how they sparkled in the almost purple sky. The tips were raised well above our heads, pointing to the moon. It was rising in front of us, bigger than I’ve ever seen it. It hung in the sky like a glowing, grey marble, and seemed to take over the night sky.  The stars were small and insignificant in against the grandeur of the colossal orb in the sky.

Eventually we made it to the first set of stairs where the first guards stood sentinel. Their armor prevented them from bowing but they nodded their heads respectfully. We waited at the foot of the stairs.

Suddenly the doors blew open and out walked a man of medium stature with hair a weird mix of blonde and brown. His eyes were watery blue and his features strongly resembled a rat’s, complete with whiskers. He was completely forgettable, the kind of person you would meet in the street and immediately forget after. However there was something about him that was truly unforgettable.

His wings were almost twice as tall his him, dark and imposing. They were blacker than the night sky they stood against. They curved up to a point before reaching down again. Upon his head was a ring of fire, the flames blue at the apex. Behind him stood Mina, her wings a direct contrast to his. Upon her head was another halo of flames. She regarded the three of us a smile.

“Why are you bowing? These people are nothing special. Get up, NOW!” he shouted at the still bowing Angelus. They all quickly stood and all but ran out of the courtyard. The man shook his head as he watched the Angelus flee. Then his watery eyes landed on us. We stood in a straight line, staring back at him resolutely.

“What gives you three the permission to waltz into the Council Palace and bring it to a standstill?” he demanded. His voice carried the same accent as Mina’s.

Luke rose to his full height beside me, “We are here on the request of your wife, Mina, Lord Aterus. She asked us to come, and so we have.”

Lord Aterus looked around, “We will continue this inside. Come, all of you.”

He turned on his heel and walked back inside the castle. Mina followed and so we walked after her. We walked through the marble entrance hall to a study that was wallpapered with bookshelves that reached up to the ceiling. Lord Aterus stationed himself in front of the desk, facing us with his pale gaze. We stood in a straight line in front of him while Mina walked ahead to stand a little behind and to the right of his shoulder. He turned to her first.

“Why did you invite these things here Mina? What are they to you?”

“Those things you refer to my lord, are my son and his friends.” said Mina coldly.

“Ah, the cross-breed.” he said, turning back to look at Luke. “And these are your companions.”

Luke’s eyes had narrowed dangerously at Lord Aterus’ words. “Yes, my companions. My lord may I present to you Michelle Lewis, sired by Damon Lewis.” he said, outstretching an arm to Michelle.

She daintily walked forward and let you wings out through the holes cut in her shirt. She got to Lord Aterus and bowed down onto one knee, “My lord.” she said.

“She has manners I see. Who is the other one then?”

Luke shot me a look out of the corner of his eye and then slowly unwound his arm from my waist. I immediately felt dizzy and sick, but I fought it down. Luke spoke, “This is Ella James, an Undetermined. She is the reason we have come to Ahina.”

He shot me another look and I understood what I had to do. I waked forward slowly, trying to keep the bile from rising in my throat. Eventually I reached his feet where I knelt down just as Michelle had, “My lord.” I said.

His fingers came under my chin and tilted my head up, making me look up at him. He stared into my eyes and I suddenly felt myself falling down, down, down…

“How old are you?” he asked.

“17.” I answered without hesitation.

“With whom do you live?”

“My aunt and her two sons.” I felt no will to hide the truth, it just came out before I could think.

“Do you have any special abilities?” he asked, his eyes excited now.

“I am able to hear the thoughts of other people when those thoughts concern me personally.”

“Anything else?” he asked, irises dancing now.

Before I could answer I heard Luke’s voice, “All that will come in due time lord. We are weary from the journey and Ella is still in the early stages of the change. Let us rest and then we may continue this.”

Lord Aterus’s eyes narrowed before he blinked and the connection was broken. I shakily got to my feet and backed up to Luke. His arm immediately wrapped around me and I sunk against him. I was exhausted, the hypnosis the Lord had worked on me had zapped all my energy.

“Alright, Mina, show them their rooms.” he said, before turning around to face the desk. We all exited the study and found ourselves in the entrance hall again.

“This way.” Mina said, before turning and walking up a flight of stairs on the side of the hall. I was so tired I barely took note of where we were going. I allowed Luke to lead me, turning me whenever we reached a corner. Eventually we reached a huge set of doors that were inlaid with veins of marble and stained glass. Mina pushed the door open and slowly the three of us walked inside.

Those last few steps took whatever was left out of me. I collapsed and almost fell to my knees but I felt another strong, warm arm enclose my middle and keep me from hitting the floor. I heard voices in the distance and then I was picked up by those same arms. One was under my knees and another was around my shoulder, bridal style. Slowly I was let down onto a soft bed with the softest sheets I had ever felt. Blankets were pulled up and over my body encasing me in a cocoon. I was slowly dropping off into sleep when I heard a voice from far away.

“Poor child, the magic has taken all her energy.” Mina said quietly.

“How long until she adjusts?” asked Luke.

“It’s different with everyone, but she’s strong. Now, I must take my leave. All three of you must rest.”

“Wait, you’re leaving? What are we supposed to do here?” said Michelle’s incredulous voice.

“Rest, there are many trials ahead of you.”

“But…-”

“Welcome to Ahina.” Mina said, and then I heard the door close and the lock click.