Astral Chronicles

2.1Angelic Blessing

Part 2 Chapter 1

Part 2 Burdens from the Past - contains events that happened years before Mat's time.

A/N: The event on this chapter happened 22 years before Book 1

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The pitch black darkness stayed still as two young ladies started to walk on the muddy grass. No sound echoed, just their anxious breathing, silence invading the deserted forest. Lily, a year older than her fifteen-year old sister, Rain, tried to calm her wild heartbeat.

Where is the way out? No, she didn't know.

"Lily, I'm scared," Rain murmured, afraid to be heard by the unseen.

"This is just a forest," Lily replied, trying to appear brave. She needed to, for her sister. Someone has to be brave in moments like that.

They were about to turn right to seek again for a way out when a low growl bloomed from a distance, the aura changing rapidly. Rain threw herself into her sister's side, her thick eyebrows on a frown. The fog slowly crawled up to them, creeping its way into the darkness. Another growl was heard, this time, it was closer, steadier, and hungrier.

Lily took a deep breath when the shadow appeared before them, eyes glinting red, as if their eyes would burn everything they looked at. Both of the girls stepped back as the shadow hound walked closer to them, baring its yellowish fangs. It has four legs, like a beast, wide paws and each have sharp claws. The shadow hound seemed to be made up of smoke, a dusk swirling at the end of its tails. Saliva melted down from its teeth, and when the droplets touched the grass, it withered away, instantly.

"When I say, run," Lily panted, "we run."

Rain nodded her head in haste, desperate to escape.

More shadow hounds appeared, hunger on their eyes, all were fixated on the two girls before them.

"Run!"

Lily and Rain ran, as fast as their small stride could, none of them taking a look at their back. They knew the shadow hounds were trailing behind, their growls and their foul scent lingering the air.

"Do not stop, Rain," Lily shouted at her little sister. "Keep running!"

But Rain's thin soft legs couldn't take it anymore. Her mind urged her not to stop but her body was about to give up. She was out of air, too scared, and felt helpless. They've been running for hours now, still lost in that pitch black forest. A stone caught her leg and she stumbled on the misty grass.

Lily halted, adrenaline rushing through her veins, and knelt down beside her sister.

"I'm sorry," Rain whispered helplessly.

"No need to apologise, Rain," she replied.

The shadow hounds caught up to them, once again circling the two girls. Lily knew it was the end.

Death is coming.

Death is now on the way.

The largest shadow hound launched itself to them, fangs bared. Lily embraced her sister, as both of them closed their eyes and pray.

Everything seemed to slow down as Lily chanted her prayer in her mind.

You, my Light, gave us this life,

A gift from one and only most High.

Before You, I give up this body,

Save us from this, your Holy.

A loud trumpet echoed the forest, a blazing light emanated between the two girls and the shadow hound. The beast that attacked the girls was back slapped with great forced it instantly puffed into nothing but a smoke. Lily and Rain opened their eyes to see their miracle.

A man stood before them, huge wings spread out at his broad back. The right wing was colored white, the other side was colored black. He was an angel, no doubt, but the two-colored wings puzzled the two girls.

The angel snatched his dagger from his waistband, poised to attack. He didn't wait for the beasts to make a move, with a swift movement, the angel flapped his wings and soared, striding toward the evil minions from hell. He was much stronger than them, thanks a lot to his Father. One slice of his black dagger straight into the beast's neck, each puffed into smoke and vanished. Only the rotten smell of flesh and despair left behind, the only trace from the shadow hounds.

The angel turned to face Lily and Rain, who looked astonished and at the same time puzzled.

"Thank you," Rain whispered in utter admiration.

The inhuman beauty of the angel was evident. His chiseled chest and muscled arm was enough to render both girls speechless.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

They both nodded and stood up. "You're an angel."

"I am."

"So angels are true," Rain said innocently.

He put out a cocky smile. "We are. And so are demons."

"Like those beasts!" Rain replied and pointed at the spot where the beasts were. "How did they become like that?"

"Imagine we all have a light. If you let that light flicker, and you let your sins hail, your light will die, and so is your soul."

Rain nodded, trying to digest his words.

"What's your name, angel?" Lily asked.

He crossed his arm over his chest. "Well, I was called Morte once," he replied. "But I am Rafael now."

"Rafael," both girls repeated, captivated, all horror gone in their mind, the Holy Light from the angel freeing them from fright and fear.

Rafael put out two bracelets from his black pants, each silver in color, shimmering under the moonlight. He handed it over to them and they took it carefully.

"Always wear that bracelet," he said.

"What is it for?" Lily asked.

"Soon enough, you'll find out," he answered. "Now close your eyes, little girls."

Both of them followed.

Everything went black.

The loud ringing of the alarm clock jolted the girls awake. Lily and Rain looked at their hand to find the silver bracelet wrapped around their wrists.

"Is it just a dream?" Rain asked in confusion.

Lily gazed at the bracelet and felt some light igniting from within.

"No, it wasn't a dream. I think we just travelled to another dimension."

They both looked at each other and knew that things would never be the same again.

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Written by: @LCBrasil

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A/N: The bracelets given here were the Angelic Metal Pieces that can allow then to use their seal on the human world.

The angel here named Rafael (aka Morte) is an original character from @LcBrasil 's Gray Area Series.