The Angel Prophecies: Opal Sky

26. Final Preparations

As June quickly approached, training sessions became more intense. There were several sessions going on in different locations in Portland and Cape Elizabeth.

I practiced using my powers at Joe's, until he decided it was time for me to test my powers in a larger environment.  We found a clearing in the forest, near a lake. This  soon became the place where everyone gathered for practice most of the time. The lake provided a place for the shifters to practice while everyone else was on land. The forest around the clearing was dense, and we took turns patrolling the border to keep from being discovered, either by humans or followers of Abaddon.

My training partners changed every day. Joe said it gave me more experience because everyone had different strengths and abilities. If I trained with the same people, I'd become familiar with their style and not expect the techniques of others.

I began facing oponents who were werewolves in their wolf form, helping me adapt my techniques to their size. I also started fighting in teams, mostly with Sophie and Calli, giving us the advantage of anticipating each other's moves. We quickly learned to work in unison, as if we were an extension of each other.

We welcomed breaks and often took the opportunity to watch others practice.

I watched many newly awakened angels, like Sophie, discover their predominant power. The sleeper angels who'd been here for decades, fully aware of who they were, usually paired up with them to teach them how to use them in their powers in human form.  Once that was mastered, they focused on how to summon angel form.

Some awakened angels had no problem because they remembered their skills from before their earthly life. Others, like me, were created for the purpose of this mission, so they had to learn everything.

My fighting skills had improved dramatically, but I was still struggling with displaying my wings. Sophie's were beautiful. They were white, with a slight sky blue hue on the edges. While they were displayed, the iris and sclera of her eyes were the same blue that was on her wings. It was kind of eerie. She didn't care how it looked she said she could see things so differently.

As the days and weeks went by, we planned our attack, learning how the powers of witches, shifters, werewolves, angels, and vampires could work together.

It was a beautiful spring day, and I was sitting on the outskirts of the clearing, watching others practice. I didn't notice Seth approaching me, with a handsome young man following him.  The stranger had a deep, dark complexion. His hair was cut close to his head.

"Abbie, there's someone I'd like you to meet. This is Martin." He turned to the stranger. "Martin, this is Abbie."

I stood to shake Martin's hand but froze before he could reach his hand out. Two distinctly coloured eyes peered out from his flawless skin... one light blue, and one light brown. They were the same eyes I'd seen the night I was chased in the old nursing home.

Martin smiled and spoke in a thick French accent. "I think we've already met."

I looked at Seth, uncertain what to do.

Seth's eyes met mine. "Abbey, I brought Martin here because he wanted to thank you."

I looked into Martin's eyes. "For what?"

Martin answered. "I was a lost soul. I was converted 100 years ago when I came between a werewolf and my young wife. My father knew of werewolves and killed it with a silver bullet, but not before I was bit. He kept me caged until I overcame my instinct to kill."

"I'm so sorry for hurting you."

"You saved me. My wife left and took our child out of concern for their safety. My father was the only one who had faith I was still inside the monster I'd become. When he died, I felt like I had nothing... that's when Abaddon approached me. He promised me a family, but he just brought out the anger in me. "