The sound shook the building.
“What was that?” She jumped out of bed, startled.
“Shh,” he said as he grasped her hand. She came to a halt and stared at him, puzzled.
“You stay here,” he said as he walked to the door, and she followed.
“I’m so sorry,” a panicked and breathless female voice came from her kitchen, and Natasha choked as she gazed at her kitchen’s island, the granite shattered like glass, and she coughed at the dust and splinters of plaster, paint, wood, and bricks clouding her kitchen.
“I’m very sorry, I didn’t mean to,” her voice sounded like bells and was as enticing as the goddess of seduction. “It’s just my wings; they don’t listen to me,” she grumbled. As the dust settled, an angelic face appeared.
“Aris?” As he stared at her, taken aback.
“Azrael!”
“Thank God!” You’ve already arrived!” She exhales and dusts her amber-red hair, which falls in waves on her shoulder and reaches her back. She irritably flicks her palm at the luminescent white feather things. Natasha took a step back, feeling dizzy; these were actual wings. What surprised her the most was when her face came into focus, with its elfish features and triangle face. It was her, the nurse, who hit her a few weeks earlier. She never saw her again after that.
“Aris? What exactly are you doing here?” Azrael spoke in a strange and frigid tone. Natasha had never heard him speak in this manner before. She standstill at the thought. You don’t know him! She scolds herself.
In your dreams, you have; the thought hit her like a light breeze and then a punch. They must have all been real. She tries to comprehend it as much as possible because there is a girl with wings…actual wings in her now-ruined kitchen.
Aris, the girl with the wings, looked around, her dark purple-blue eyes lighting up as she stared at Natasha.
Natasha follows her gaze and realizes she is under-dressed.
“am I already interrupting here?” She blinked, her eyes sparkled, and something about her face lightened. It was contagious, and Natasha’s cheeks flushed as she realized what Aris meant and put her arms around her, seeking to cover herself.
“What exactly are you doing here?” Azrael’s chilly voice quickly cooled the room’s temperature, and Natasha was still staring at the wings in a stupor. There was no denying what was taking place.
“Of course, I am here to help you,” Aris replied as she climbed over the mess, her red dress flowing behind her. “My name is Aris, by the way, I am a Guardian of love,” she beamed at Natasha and moved her hand to shake. Natasha shook her head, dazed. A Love Guardian? Oh, she has to…. needs to…. She was on the verge of losing her grasp on reality. Natasha tripped.
Azrael grabbed her and jerked her back to consciousness.
“Breathe,”
“Breathe,” She met his gaze, and the concern in them warmed her heart. He didn’t let her go, but he guided her to the couch and walked inside, returning with a blanket. He wrapped it around her, her head hurting from the fall.
“Thank You,”
“Oh dear,” Aris said as she sat alongside her, wiping her brow with a cotton handkerchief. Natasha has no idea where it came from.
“You have not told her anything, have you?” Aris gazed at him, perplexed. Natasha sat there, her mouth dry, staring at them.
“This isn’t necessary; I’ve resolved to clean up my mess,”
Aris gazed at Natasha, then at Azrael’s icy neutral face, before returning to Natasha.
“A mess is that what this is….” Natasha was taken aback by Aris’s mocking tone. Natasha pressed her temples as the aching in her brain became intolerable.
“Aris..” Azrael started
“No, don’t…
“Don’t do that, okay,” Aris exclaimed as he stood up and began to pace, “there is no mess here!”
“Aris,” Azrael said glaringly.
“An entire battalion of Celestial guardians is hunting for you and her!” She continues, her hand in the air. “And, if I heard correctly, the Shadow King had already arrived and gone, and I don’t know how on earth and in seven realms you managed to persuade him to change his mind, but he is too after with her; you must take her!”
“I’ve already decided,” Azrael looks at Natasha and then at Aris. “I can handle the battalion.”
“I’ll make sure she gets to the gates of Realm of Light on time,” he promised.
Battalion? Natasha frowned and glanced at them both.
“For fuck’s sake!” Aris sighed and rolled her eyes.
“No, that is not what I mean! She can’t go to Realm of Light; she should be with you!”
Natasha’s heart leaped as Aris’ words appeared to pause the air itself, the second stretch.
“What do you mean?” He asked, his voice low and cold, ready to pierce the thin air. Whatever Aris intended to say or imply was not supposed to be stated or implied.
“You dufus!” Aris continued to ignore his icy stares. “What makes you think why I’m here?” She challenged him. “To take her to Realm of Light?! That is not my department! I am not an idiot; you and her soul are inextricably linked! She is meant to be with you,”
Natasha listened intently; it was difficult to wrap her mind around what they were saying, but the answer to her fifteen years of agony was right here. My soul is bound to him. They keep going back and forth.
“Where?” He asked, his teeth clenched.
“To the underworld!”
The biting silence returned, and Azrael paced like a caged, enraged lion.
“No, she cannot; We must take her to the Realm of Light.”
“Are you deaf?! I am trying to….”
“It made no sense!” Azrael snapped. “I can’t take her to the underworld since mortal souls aren’t allowed to stay in my realm! And I will perish before she enters the world of the lost souls,” Natasha’s head shot up at his words.
“She won’t; it’s not what it’s meant to be,” Aris stated earnestly, puzzled.
“That’s how it should be!” He grumbled.
“Azrael!”
“Please, for the love of God, tell me!” Natasha cracked, “What is going on?” she gripped her head. It felt like it would explode.