Wings of Darkness

Chapter Two

Tamzyn woke with a start and hoped what she last remembered was just a dream. It had to be a dream, she thought because those women... they had wings. Tamzyn sat up, taking in her surroundings. I must be going crazy. First the wings, then this... The grass was no longer soft and green, it wasn't even grass anymore. It was ash. The same as every tree within one hundred yards. The thing that worriedTamzyn most though, was that the only thing she saw was ash, no Claire. This can't be real, I must still be dreaming. That makes sense. I'm having a dream within a dream. Tamzyn pinched herself hard enough to leave a bruise. Her eyes widened and jaw dropped as she felt that pain. She wasn't dreaming.

Tamzyn shot to her feet. She had to find her sister, but in order to do that she needed to go home first. As she started walking, something metallic glinted in the sunlight, catching her eye. She bent down, picking up the jewelry by the silver chain.  She looked over the necklace, half sun, half moon.  Twins, just like Tamzyn and Claire, one of the day and one of night. Opposites, and yet so alike, the moon only alight because the sun shone on it. It was Tamzyn's gift to Claire. She didn't know how it had remained untouched by what the trees hadn't survived, seeing as how the box it had been in must be ash now as well, but it had. And so had she. She clasped the necklace behind her neck, letting it rest inches from her heart as a reminder. Her only thought then was that she needed to find her sun, her twin, her one reason for living every day. 

~~~

Claire woke up, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. Where am I?  She had wondered. He nose twitched at the sweet aroma permeating the air. As she turned onto her side, she felt the cool caress of smooth silk against her skin. Claire's cheeks heated as she felt the fabric everywhere. Then came confusion, the last time I checked, I was fully clothed.

"Good morning sister," came a melodious female voice, which Claire immediately knew wasn't Tamzyn's.

Claire cracked her eyes open and took in the sight before her. With her eyes as green as the richest emeralds and her hair of lush, loose curls the softest pink imaginable she was truly, strikingly beautiful. Claire was so awestruck by her beauty that she almost hadn't noticed the wings protruding from the woman's back. They were translucent, catching the light at just the right angle so that they shimmered, as if they were made of diamonds. The most enchanting detail, Claire thought, had to be the swirls of gold patterned on each wing. The wings were a reflection of each other, like twins. Then Claire came out of her daze, her gaze hardening as she remembered she didn't know this woman, where she was or how she got there.

"Who are you? And why do you call me 'sister'? I already have a sister and you aren't her." Claire decided to handle this situation one matter at a time.

"I'm Vashti, and you were chosen by the stars to be our sister," replied the woman, leaving Claire with even more questions than before.

"Chosen? The stars? I don't understand. You said 'our'. There are more of you?" Claire glanced at Vashti's wings again, her voice dropping almost to a whisper as she said, "... What are you?" 

" You will understand in time, but for now get dressed," she said, walking over and opening up the doors of an oak wardrobe, pressed up against the far side of the wall. Now, for the first time, Claire noticed her surroundings. The walls were a beautiful ocean hue and all the furniture was simple oak. There was the wardrobe, a simple chair sitting at an average-looking oak vanity, and then there was the bed which she was lying in. The one thing the room was missing was a window. 

Claire sat up and pulled the blue and white quilt, that draped across the whole bed, up to cover herself. She returned her gaze to Vashti, who was then holding up an article of clothing. The floor-length gown was a beautiful lavender color with intricate silver beading. The sleeves were made of white lace and the top half of the dress had the same material sewn over top of the lavender. Vashti draped the dress across the chair, setting a pair of shoes that perfectly complimented the dress besides it.

As soon as Vashti left the room, Claire put on the dress and shoes, which fit perfectly. When she was finished, Claire sat in the chair, looking in the vanity mirror. She stared at her reflection, pretending for a moment it was Tamzyn. They were nearly identical with their big, round eyes, dark curls and olive skin tone. The only difference between the two was their eyes. Where Claire's were as golden as the sun, Tamzyn's were as silver as moonlight. 

"I will come home to you," She made a near-silent promise to her sister. A moment later a  knock came at the door. 

"You almost ready?" Claire stood from the chair and walked towards the door, towards Vashti's voice, and turned the door knob. She needed answers and the only way she would get them was by meeting these "sisters".