Snow Angel

Chapter 17

"Leo?" I said, in both shock and confusion. 

"I see you two have met before?" Azazul half asked.

I crossed my arms in frustration, "He's the one who gave me that stupid crystal!" Leo cleared his throat, "I've been meaning to ask about that. What did you do with the crystal anyway?" I rolled my eyes, recalling Leo say something along the lines of  "when you turn 12 hold this crystal up to the light and it will reveal your true self." Not exactly what I did, but I got to the same conclusion. "Like I would listen to some shady guy who showed me a whole load of crazy crap that I shouldn't believe."

Leo took a step back, clearly taken aback by my one on one yelling match, while Azazul tried to smooth things out between us. 

I opened my mouth to say something when Azazul snapped his fingers in my face. I blinked once and scowled. He ruined what could have been an amazing comeback! "Lets get to the real reason why the three of us are here!" Azazul shouted. "Yes, why have you brought us together young wizard?" Leo crossed his hands behind his back as if he were royalty. 

"So, I'm bound by magic to return Cyrah to the ice caves she came from." My eyes went wide. "WHAT!" Azazul shushed me, returning to his speech. "But, things aren't the same as they were all those years ago. People change, and different generations have better ideas than the last." 

"What does this have to do with anything?" I shifted my hands to my hips. Azazul tapped his foot impatiently on the ground. "I'm trying to say, that your not a bad person." My cheeks flushed red at the questionable complement. "Thanks I guess?" Azazul opened his mouth to say more, but Leo jumped in. "What he means Cyrah, is that you appear to be different from your twisted ancestors who only cared for power. You haven't been taken over in the same way." Azazul nodded his head as if to say that's exactly what I meant!  

"Ok, but I don't see how this helps me. I still have the problem of 'I'm still part evil!'" I shouted. "Ah, I have a solution for that." Azazul said. "In the heart of the mirror caves, lies a fairy. This fairy, is said to be able to change the power of mythical beings." I gasped and staggered back. "Are you seriously suggesting that I could be a real angel!" My blue eyes watered, this is what I've been wanting since I found out about my heritage. Now with a quick adventure everything will be back to the way it was.

Leo cleared his throat, ruining the moment. "What does that have to do with me." Azazul's cheeks turned bright red. "I guess you could say, that the cave is very dangerous. Like so dangerous that no ones ever been down it further than the first twist." My throat caught. "So were not getting to the bottom of that cave." 

Azazul looked at me with sadness in his eyes. I was starting to think that he cared for me after all. "Not necessarily." A new voice entered the conversation. One that I knew very well. 

Halcyon stood, hands on hips in a pose that you would imagine a superhero would make with Falcon and Swan trailing close behind, their expressions a mix of stern, excitement and adventure. "Great! More people added to the Save Cyrah party! But I think we could use at least two more people, just to be sure we can make it." Azazul said. Suddenly a light bulb went off in my brain. The corners of my mouth lifted into a smile. "I know exactly who to ask." 

***

My smile grew as the last person to our party showed up. Halcyon was beaming with excitement, as one of our companions was Carla. The other however, was Sybil. I could tell that Swan and Falcon were a little uneasy about going to the ends of the earth with another teacher. I watched everyone say hello to each other. It was exceptionally hilarious to watch Leo formally greet Sybil and Carla. They were both confused that this short eight year old boy was talking like a prince. 

Once everyone knew each other, we need to get ready. It would be a little hard to just drop everything have no supply, and actually make it to the end. We all agreed that tonight we would gather everything that we would need tonight and meat up again tomorrow. Right before Halcyon and I went home, we stopped by the enchanting room to get our wands. We weren't sure they would be much help, but for me at least it served as a timer for how much long I have. Nothing I packed seamed to useful at the time, but I was hoping that when the time came I would know how to use it.  

***

Once we had all gathered back in the elements room early the next mourning Halcyon and I took turns telling the story. I could tell that Sybil was still having a hard time wrapping her head around everything she'd learned in the past 20 minutes. Carla on the other hand seamed to understand completely. (Maybe she was just relieved that she can now consider herself the winner of the duel we had a while ago. Considering I had an unexpected advantage.)

But, now that we all know what we were fighting for we could move on. Now we just needed to get to this mysterious cave. "Azazul," I said. "Would you be able to teleport us straight to the cave?" Azazul calmly shook his head. "The mirror cave is heavily protected to keep magicians like myself, from entering. It would be easier to fly."

I suddenly turned a ghostly white. Last time I flew something weird happened, I wasn't quite sure I was ready for that yet. But Sybil, Falcon, Swan and Carla seamed to be up for it. Their great wings unfurled in a snap. Leo's body morphed into the shape of a peregrine falcon, and Azazul snapped his fingers and he began to hover just above the ground. Halcyon looked annoyed, "hello! Some of us can't fly!" Halcyon wrapped his arm around my shoulders. Azazul, who was laying with his hand on his cheek snapped his fingers one final time and Halcyon drifted into the air, terror on his face.

Now I was the only one left. I would be fine if Azazul used magic on me too. But from the look on his face, wizards had limits too. So my only option now was to fly. First I looked to Sybil for help (she was the flight instructor after all). Sybil just looked down. She knows a lost cause when she sees one, understandable. Carla automatically took a step back and hid her hands. But Falcon and Swan quietly whispered to each other. Swan finally kicked Falcon hard in the shins.

Falcon cleared his throat, "now, Raven." First time in a while he's call me by my bird nickname. Could either mean that he's messing with me, or something bad is about to happen. But only for me. "I'm not exactly sure if this will help you fly, but we do t really have another option. So I'm going to do it anyway." I looked nervously at Swan, who was trying not to giggle.

Falcon snatched my wrist and shot straight into the air. In three beats of his grey speckled wings we were at eye level with the clouds. I screamed the whole way up. Falcon cradled me in his arms, his face was bright red. "You're going to hate me for this now, but you'll thank me later." I could feel Falcons grip on me loosening. Then he dropped me.