Of Angel Descent

Chapter One

A shout laced of constant pain bursts from my lungs as I slash my sword against the fighting dummy again. 9 months. I hear his weak and raspy voice whisper through my mind, replaying the horrible incident. How has it been 9 months? Sweat and tears mixing together and stinging my cheeks raw as they fall. I close my eyes only to see his lifeless eyes staring back into mine. I feel the familiar burning stares of my friends as they watched me hold his cold body. Andrew. Gone. I stab my sword into the faux heart of the dummy. Falling to the ground my legs unable to hold me any longer. My arms propped weakly on the hilt of my sword as I choke on my tears into the crook of my arm. How can it be so long and yet still hurt so badly? As I feel my tears slide down my neck I hear gentle footsteps walking up behind me. Instinct on high alert, I pull my dagger from the sheath on my right hip, jump into the air, spin around and pin the person. With my dagger to his throat and me glaring into his eyes I am able to see, hear, and feel him gulp from shock.

"Ni, it's just me." I look into hazel colored eyes recognizing them to be Michael's. I remove my dagger from his throat, putting it back into its sheath.

"What do you want?" I look down at him as I ask, my emotions laying a thick coat on my words.

"I came to check on you. Everyone is worried sick about you." He smiles sadly up at me as he shifts under me trying to get unpinned.

"They have no reason to worry." I reply. "Not to mention, if they're so worried why have you been the only one to check up on me?"

"Nilea, you haven't interacted with living people for 9 months. Andy passed away 9 months ago and you've been in this garage the whole time hiding and training." I stare at him, tears threatening to overcome me once more.

"I have every right to be training," I argue.

"Ni, come on." He looks at me with sadness in his eyes, "I know as well as you do that is an excuse."

"I loved him Michael!" I raise my voice in pain as all new tears start to fall from my eyes.

"I know that Nilea, we all did and still do," he reaches up brushing my raven black bangs out of the way to wipe the tears gently off my cheek. I raise my eyebrows at him in shock, I frown thinking, "You'll never understand. Then again, how could anyone?"

"I train so I won't lose again," I whisper while unpinning him. "Just go."

"Not until you promise that you will come out and interact with your friends and family," Michael counteracts my request as he stands up next to me, "You haven't stepped outside, that I know of, in at least 5 months. You're falling behind on schoolwork." I look up at him frustration showing in my face. "Please Nilea," he looks at me with his hazel eyes trying to persuade me.

"If they want to see me tell them to come themselves." Looking away from him I buff myself up as if I am not in the agonizing pain I am in and then pull my sword from the dummy and slide it into its sheath attached to my left hip. Michael sighs and walks over to me. I can feel his hands gently squeeze my shoulders as they rotate me around so that I am facing him. I stand rigid as he slowly wraps his arms around me.

"You've always been terrible at acting." He remarks quietly with humor looking down at me. I glare at him, my emerald eyes shooting down his calming hazel eyes. Michael just tightens his arms around me thus I reluctantly rest my head on his chest. Standing taller than me he cocoons me in his arms tightly showing me his support.

"He promised he wouldn't leave me Michael." I whisper into his chest. I can feel his heart pounding and close my eyes as my tears fall harder now.

"I know Ni, I know." Michael lifts up his right hand and gently smooths my raven locks. My hair is black like the feathers of a raven but also like a raven any light reflections give it a soft emerald highlight. My mom always said it was a natural accessory to my deep emerald eyes.