Ebony Wings

35

~Ali~

Time has been a blur since my return. I have experienced things that I never dreamt were in the realm of reality, let alone possibility.

Jack was never summoned back to The Kingdom after our victory over the Fallen - he still had unfinished business guarding Jaz in a world that she can now live worry-free - even with her Gift. The Throne was impressed at Jaz's faith and devotion to the cause and as a reward allowed her to retain her memories of us and the events that unfolded, knowing she would keep them safe. I continue checking in on Jaz from my small corner of the Heavens and sometimes, I think she knows I am watching.

But not everyone involved was as lucky as Jaz to come away so unchanged. Quite often I find myself awake on those long summer nights when the stars are bulbous and all the other angels have long settled down. I locate my childhood home through the clouds and watch my parents milling around the house or dozing on the couch together or doing something banal like sweeping the floors. Suddenly all of the mundane household tasks become my favourite movie and my heart constricts each time I see myself in their faces, even if they do not see me back.

Zachriel - the Angel of Thoughts and Memories - was, with my reluctant permission, sent to my parents' home. He performed a special service for them - one that does not completely wipe their memories of me but numbs them like a permanent local aesthetic to a specific corner of their limbic system. Now, as the midnight breeze drags my hair around my face, I silently watch my parents as they barely recall me. It has been explained to me that their awareness of me is there, but it is hazy and dream-like; a sweet, fleeting moment that is distantly remembered but not thought of much after. But on Sunday mornings I never fail to craft the most spectacular sunrise possible, hoping that one day my father will look to the rainbow sky and remember my face.

The repercussions of eradicating the Fallen have rippled further than just protecting the Gifted. Without their being hunted, the Elders have risen from the shadows of Lucifer's desires, free to finally venture further than their safe houses. Thessaly reconnected with the Elders in her area and is establishing a small, select community of surviving Elders to relocate to the foothills of Scotland. It is here where the history of the Elders will restart. 

I worry myself with all the people from my life on Earth and Ethan only concerns himself with me, coaxing me to embrace life amongst the angels as an angel. It takes some time but I come to terms with the physical and lifestyle changes. With my friends and family safe, there is no need for me on Earth anymore but I am needed here, so I visit them less and less, focusing more and more about transitioning into my role as Princess of the Heavens.

I have learnt that there is a perfect balance of give and take in this realm, even between the distinct roles and divisions in power. I have relearnt the basic rules surrounding everyday life and the fine details entailing my Princess heritage.

When Ethan is not teaching me, spending time with me or sleeping, he is found with his core group of high-ranking friends. It appears they greatly missed one another's company when Ethan degraded himself to a Guardian angel after my death and they make up for lost time in full.

In the moments I do not spend with Ethan, I seek out a new friend of mine - Laylah. She is a delicate work of art with a stick-like figure and a hulking heart of gold. Laylah has been particularly good at explaining the various roles of angels and their distinctions to me, helping me understand the workings of The Kingdom. She thought the best place to start was with the ranking system - the most fundamental method of organisation and identification of the angels.

"It is like a pyramid," she said with a radiant smile, pressing her two thumbs together and closing the triangle with her index fingers. "If we take out The Throne we have the Prince and the Princess of the Heavens - you and Ethan - at the top." She tapped her two index fingers together, indicating the top of the triangle. "Under you are the Seraphim - they are the scary guys with the six tiered wings. But they are not as bad as their reputation makes out to be, just a little pretentious because they have wings that light up with fire. They think it makes them special or something." Laylah scoffs good-humouredly.