Humans. Yes, humans, in grass yards in front of cute little wooden houses, rows of hedges dividing the lots. Humans were mowing their lawns, watering the grass, planting flowers, lounging back on porches while a “normal day” went on. As we traipsed along, we became a center of attention. Humans would stop what they were doing, stare, talk to each other and wave.
“I love you, Elle!” the little voice of a small girl called out while she sat still on her tricycle, on a sidewalk in front a house.
Wait, she knew my name? Her parents, I figured, probably in their mid-thirties, were relaxing in wooden porch chairs at the house. The man in jeans and a T-shirt lifted a glass of something, toasting us, while the woman in a flowered dress offered a gentle wave. Dad and Chris waved back. My face warming, I returned a humble, confused lift of my hand as if I was on some kind of parade float. Vyn angled a helping grin at me, as if he could tell I was embarrassed.
“Well,” Chris said. “Looks like Billy got the word out.”
Even as we were approaching a sort of central area of town, Chris said to Dad, “I take it the new war has begun?”
“Looks that way. We’ll get you out of here as soon as we clean up the mess up there.”
“It’s been a long time, Phil. We appreciate everything you’ve done for us. All the years of construction, what’s it been now, forty? I was just boy back then. I wouldn’t’ve made it without you, none of us would’ve.”
“It’s always been my pleasure. You were a good boy back then. You wanted to work. All I had to do was give you some tools. You kept this town running smooth all those years, and became a successful author at the same time. I only wish we could’ve taken care of this sooner. But, as you know, we had to wait for the visions. It’s all coming together now. Just hang tight a little longer.”
“Dad, um, why can’t they join us? I mean, up there?”
Chris stopped, spun around, halting us all to stand together.
As Vyn tightened his grip on my hand, I wondered if I’d said something wrong.
“We can’t yet,” Chris said in a serious tone. “It’s those drekavacs. We’re more vulnerable than you angels. Just a few words from a drek can turn us. We can’t take that chance.” He gave Dad a confused look. “Shouldn’t she have learned some of this in school?”
“We considered it,” Dad replied. “But we didn’t see any reason why the children should know about all the darkness. Children should live in peace. They shouldn’t have to worry about such things. We instructed the schools not to teach that type of history. It may be wrong, in a way, but our children don’t live in fear, up till now. But we’ll take care of that.”
Chris compressed his lips, nodded. “Well, you know where I stand. We’ll do anything we can to help. Some of us never been in the sunlight, the kids. We teach them in school, of course, but it’s not the same. The last time we attempted to show them”—he glanced at me, back to Dad—“Let’s just say the dreks are too many now. We can’t afford to take that chance.”
Dad gave Chris an understanding expression, a trace of sadness, as if he knew Chris had lost a loved one. He laid a hand on Chris’s shoulder and said, “I’d say it’s time for redemption. It’s time we showed the children the light.”
“Elle, I have to go,” Vyn said with a hint of excitement. “I have an idea.”
“What, no. Stay with me, please.”
“I can’t, Ellie.” He leaned a peck to my cheek and was gone before I could say another word, leaving me stranded.
“Let’s go, Elle,” Dad prodded.
As we walked through town, Dad and Chris continued to explain things to me. They told me about the years of construction during the times of my childhood. They answered all my questions, and informed me about the other town entrance where trucks deliver supplies and such. Came to find out that’s where the road behind the house—which I had thought dead-ended into the mountain—leads to. When Angie and I were children, we used to play next to the iron-covered cave entrance, throwing rocks at it just to hear the echo, plung, plung, rock after rock. Back then, Dad had told us it was blocked off due to safety issues, now I knew he wasn’t referring to our safety. How many other hints had I missed over the years?
A building came into view in the distance. As we drew closer, it became obvious it was a one-story school building; red brick, windows all around, a wooden sign posted on the lush front lawn that read Phillip Soepheea Elementary. My Source. And to add more surprise to my wonder salad, next to it stood a brick library with a giant boulder on the lawn that was engraved with the words Elleria Soepheea Library. You’ve got to be flappin kidding me.
Evidently, Dad noticed me looking at it as he stopped us and said, “Since you love books so much, I dedicated the library to you. Angie’s name is on the hospital.”
“That’s. I just, don’t know what to—”
A bell rang out. The doors of the school blew open. Kids came running out and across the lawn, cheering and celebrating the end of their school day. I remembered my childhood.
“Elle,” Dad interrupted my visions, “this way,” then led me off.
A hanging bell tinkled above the door as we entered a town store. Such a clean, rustic little shop, I noticed, while drifting my gaze around the room at shelves of cans and boxes in three aisles. Fruits and vegetables filled cooler bins against the left wall. On the right wall hung a shelf of trinkets, treasures and figurines, one of which was a large glass-blown angel with its wings spread wide. It looked like Aron Arod, the Source angel of progress.
At the sound of a box dropped to the wooden floor I snapped my head around.
“Ellie, Ellie, Ellie!” an excited, bubbly voice as a girl skipped across the wooden floor to me, hopping and clapping her hands together so fast I couldn’t keep up. Her pinball motions infused me with energy as my eyes twitched and head bobbed just to follow her movements.
She was around my age, it seemed, though about a foot shorter, I deduced when she finally stopped hopping around and stood before me. Pixie-cut brown hair framed her narrow feminine face. Porcelain-smooth skin. Hazel eyes gleaming like gold. Form-fitting jeans covered her slim legs. Flats on her feet. Actually, except for the lack of wing-flaps, her lavender shirt looked familiar too, as if she could’ve just raided my closet.
“Oh, Ellie,” she said, wound with energy, “I missed you so, so much.” She let out a little squeal, jumped onto me and hugged while I stood in confusion. She drew back to stand, beaming. And just starting talking, “I’m so happy you’re finally here. We have so much to talk about. Oh, just look at you, you look just like your mom. That shirt I brought you fits you perfect. Don’t worry, I made all the gawking boys turn around while I put it on you. Sorry about the wing-flaps, all I had were scissors and safety pins. Oh, and by the way, where did you get that bra? I want one. Did you get it from that new store I heard about, Angel’s Closet?” She paused for a breath, looked at me. “Don’t you remember me?” She did a funny lip curl and scrunched up her nose … then grinned. “That’s okay, Ellie. It’ll come back to you.” She waited, folded her arms over her chest and tilted her head, tapping her foot to the floor while I searched my mind.
Memories began to drift as I held my gaze on her. I tucked some hair behind my ear. When I was a little girl, I had a friend. We were inseparable, playing in the flowers, talking about kid stuff, in complete confidence and holding a pact to be friends forever …
“Penny?” Emotions rushed through me as I pulled her into a hug. “I thought you were gone. I. I thought the hunters took you?”
We released the embrace, stood face-to-face.
“Nope,” her voice tinkled, “just a drek, and your dad saved me.”
I turned to Dad. “You saved her, how?”
“Well, honey, there were a few humans with us back then. To protect them, we told everyone they were angels with wing disorders and had to have their wings removed. Then the drek got to Penny. I brought her here before she could turn into one of them
. Told everyone a hunter took her. We had to block that memory from you. It was part of your nightmare memories. We knew how much she meant to you so we adopted her. She’s your sister, Ellie.”
“Yep, Ellie,” Penny chimed. “I was a hybrid for a while. But I’m all better now.” She spun around on her toes like a ballerina. “See, full of light.” Giggle. “You have to let me show you around. You’re coming with me, sis.” She started her hopping light clap again. “Oh, oh, and, we can have a sleepover too, yes, that would be so much fun.”
“One step at time, Penny,” said Dad.
“Oh, Dad,” Penny sighed, and gave him a pouting scowl. “Don’t be such a downer.”
She called him, Dad. Um, she called him, Dad. It was all so new to my brain.
Dad blew a sigh … said to Penny, “I’ll give you a few hours for now, but she has to come up tonight. I’m sure Angie would like to talk to her.”
“Yeah, I guess.” Penny frowned, and lit right back up. “Okay, but soon, okay, Ellie?”
All I could manage was a dazed headshake, the threat of tears building in my throat. My best friend stood before me, smiling, full of life and—
The door cracked open with a bell tinkle. We stepped back as a tiny blond girl in a dress peeked her face around the door, staring at me, cautious, as if she wasn’t supposed to be there.
“Come on in, Cassie,” said Penny. “It’s okay.”
Cassie stepped in and made her way over, one little step at a time. She stood silent before me with her curious green eyes up to mine.
“Um, are you a angel?” Her soft voice matched her size.
“Yes.” I smiled.
“A real, live, girl angel?”
“Yes.” A giggle slipped out.
“Reeaally. What’s your name?”
Tucking some hair behind my ear, I crouched down in front of her. “My name is Elle, and you’re Cassie, right?”
“Well, my name is Cassandra, but people call me Cassie. That’s what my mommy used to call me too.”
“Well, it’s a beautiful name.” My heart was so warm.
“You’re really a angel? You’re really, Elle?”
“Yes.”
“Can you help me then?”
“Help you with what, sweetie?”
“Um, can you help me … live?”
Half the room’s air sucked into my lungs. “What? What do you mean?”
Her head hung, little eyes dipped to the floor. “My friends told me I won’t be able to live without a mommy. I prayed to you every night, Elle, before bed. I asked for your help.” She lifted her head. Her pleading eyes filled with curiosity as she whispered, “Did you hear me?”
The room was silent.
Still in my crouch, I looked up and around to see everyone frozen in wait. Evidently, it was my job to help her as they were all looking at me. I turned my head to study her. Was she the girl from my dream? The voice? I reached out to clear hair from her face, and said, “They don’t sound like very good friends to me. Don’t listen to them, Cassie. They’re probably boys, right?”
Her little green gems opened wider. “Yes, how did you know that?”
“Just a guess. I know how boys can be. What happened to your mommy, Cassie?”
“I don’t know, I think a monster got her.” Her deep frown just ripped my heart in two.
“Oh, I’m so sorry, sweetie.” My eyes began to sting, fill, but I blinked it away.
“Can you help me?”
“Of course I can. That’s what I’m here for.”
Cassie leaped into me and hugged around my neck. I wrapped her up, rose with her.
“I wanna see the sun, Elle,” she said over my shoulder. “Not just pictures. I wanna see the real sun. Can you show me the sun, please?”
Pulling her around to balance her on my hip, I replied, “Of course. I’ll show you the sun and the flowers, and trees and sky. It’s so pretty, Cassie. Just like you.”
She linked arms around my neck again, squeezing as she whispered, “I love you, Elle.”
“I love you too, sweetie. I’ll help you. I’ll take care of you now.”
After a long moment of total room silence, Chris said, “Well, Phil, it sure looks like the time has come.”
****
We wandered around town, all of us: Me, Dad and Chris, Penny and Cassie, strolling on a sightseeing tour of a world completely new to me. I was coming to grips with this reality, realizing there was so much more at stake than I had imagined. Occasionally, Penny would see something to show me. She’d clap her hands in a light, excited rhythm, hopping up and down with energy while saying, “Come-ere, come-ere, I have to show you this.”
And I’d follow, with little Cassie on my hip.…
CHAPTER 31
That evening, a light rain dotted the windowpane of the White room. It wasn’t the weather that depressed me. Angie was on the bed, two pillows behind her folded wings propping her up to a semi-seated position. Sheets covered her legs. Bright light of the sickroom set off the dark circles around her eyes. The sight of her blue medical gown, and the IV tube in her arm, squeezed my heart with guilt. Mom sat on a padded wooden chair next to the bed. I stood in the doorway, in a fresh pair of jeans and a T. Watching.
“Come in here, Ellie,” Angie croaked.
Mom glanced over with a grin for me. “Yes, come here. I want you to hear this.” She turned and handed Angie a drink off the nightstand. I walked in and stood beside her.
When Angie finished drinking, Mom took the glass from her and set it back on the nightstand, next to a hairbrush that was full of brown hair. It was so strange, seeing them like this. Not just Angie, but Mom also, calm, not what I’d expected to see.
Mom crossed her legs under her dress, laced her fingers over her knee. No anguish. No stress or strain for her daughter. Angie’s green eyes had lost the bright color, now veiled by a muddy film that made me frown. She looked so sallow, skinny. Sick. Hair hung over her shoulders in dull waves of brown. But she was here, alive, and still with me. I offered the closest thing I had to a smile while memories seeped in my veins.
“C’mon, no sadness,” Angie said. “Here, sit with me.”
I took a seat on the edge of the bed. “I’m sorry, Angie, I didn’t mean—”
“No,” she stopped me. “Don’t be sorry. You saved me.” Her dry lips cracked a smile. She turned to Mom. “I just have one question.” She cleared her throat. “If Ellie can see the dreks, well, the way she does. Why can’t I?”
“I was waiting for Ellie to come up here before I explained. So, how are you feeling?”
“Better. Whatever Vyn put in that bag seems to work.”
“What did Vyn do?” I asked Mom.
“He didn’t tell you yet?”
“I haven’t seen him yet. I came straight up here.”
“Oh, well, Vyn used that serum he invented. He took some of Angie’s blood, and then he went to his lab and was back in twenty minutes with this bag. He said it might be a vaccine to the dark sickness. He’s such a good boy, Ellie, so smart.”
Thoughts of checking on him lifted my mood a bit. Mom turned back to Angie:
“Anyway, I meant, how were you feeling before this happened?”
“Uh, I don’t know, why?”
“Think, honey. Try to remember.”
Angie went quiet, while she seemed to look through the walls. She finally turned to Mom. “I guess, um, I didn’t have any energy. And every time I got scared or something, I felt like I was gonna throw up.”
Mom placed a palm on Angie’s arm. “It’s just not your time yet, honey. You have more important things to take care of first.”
Angie’s green eyes sparked. “More important than helping Ellie take care of the dreks? She can’t do this alone. I won’t let her.” She scooted back against the pillowed headboard. Her eyes were clearing, skin filling with color. Even her hair began to take on a gloss.
I commented. “You still wanna do this, after all that? Why
would you—”
“Vyn told me about everything, about where we were and the town, about how the humans saved us. I wish I could’ve seen it. I have to return the favor, Elle. I’m not gonna just sit here and pity myself while they’re locked down there. I won’t.”
Mom gave Angie a grin. “He didn’t tell you everything, sweetheart.”
“What else could there possibly be?”
Mom giggled. “Angie, you have no idea how important you are.” She uncrossed her legs, leaned and placed a gentle hand on Angie’s stomach. “You have to protect yourself, and the little angel in here. It’s a girl, by the way.” A rapturous smile so large her white teeth lit up the room, blue sapphire eyes sparkling.
“What?” Angie said. “Wha-what?” She sat up bolt straight, wide-eyed with a hand over her mouth.
Warm tingles sprinkled down on me as I drifted in a daze.
Mom settled back into her chair. “That’s why you can’t see the white like Ellie. You have one purpose, to protect yourself and the baby. She’s a special one, Angie. And Ellie knew that, even though she didn’t know that. She protected you with her life. It’s instinct, honey, and after I put all the pieces together I realized what was going on. See, the same thing happened to me when I became pregnant with you. I couldn’t see the white. So I suspected—”
“I’m. I’m. Pregnant.” Angie’s wet eyes went down to the hand she’d placed on her belly. “There’s— we’re, going to have, ohh.” A tear spilled, trailed down her cheek. She snapped eyes on Mom. “You didn’t tell Jaydenn yet, did you?”
“Of course not, honey. That’s not my job. You’re going to tell him, however you want.”
“Where is he?”—a touch of panic—“He’s not going out there tonight, is he?”
“Don’t you worry about that. Your father is keeping him here. I’m sure he’ll come up with some good excuse. And Jaydenn won’t be going out there any longer. Your little angel needs him too.” Mom’s face held a perpetual glow.
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