Music recommendation: In This Way by Jacob LaVallee on Spotify.
When did this man sneak up on her? Has Lyra become so tuned out from her surroundings that she fails to sense this person approaching her? She internally cursed in her mind.
Lyra froze as the tall figure knelt beside her with concern on his handsome face. His golden iris was captivating, as his ivory hair flowed over his shoulders, accentuated by his posture. The man was ethereal in his own right.
The proximity of this man overwhelmed her senses as she tried her best to steady her beating heart. She was close to fainting because he was all she could see. Did personal space not exist in this person's dictionary?
"Miss, are you alright? What seems to trouble you?" The strange adonis questioned her once again.
"I-I," Lyra stuttered and was tongue-tied. She blushed in embarrassment for her blunder.
"Come now. It would be best if you didn't venture on your own. Are you perhaps lost?" He gently spoke and made a comforting gesture. His slender fingers reached out to grab her hand, and he was about to stand when another stern voice interrupted and froze him in place.
"Gabriel," Leo called out icily.
Gabriel's golden irises broke from Lyra's dazed ones and focused on the fuming rain cloud; he could only describe Leo's demeanor. He chuckled huskily before he stood at his full height.
Lyra released a breath she didn't know she held as she could see the man. It finally came like a lightning bolt had brought her out of her stupor as she gawked at the figure before her—looking strikingly like Leo.
If Leo were to change his attire to one of the ones before her, they would be identical to a tee—minus the red eyes and daunting scar adorning Leo's face.
"That's Archangel Gabriel to you. My, my, has the years caused your decorum to rust over time, dear brother of mine?" Gabriel jokingly said. He was not bothered by the glare he received at the last note.
'Brother?' Lyra had question marks floating in her mind and was still reeling from the fact that this man was, in fact, an archangel! She shuddered in disbelief.
"None at all, Archangel Gabriel," Leo corrected with a strained tone.
"Who is this lamb that has strayed from the herd?" Gabriel spoke before his eyes went back to Lyra, who remained frozen. What captivated him more with curiosity were her shimmering blue orbs. He squinted as a familiarity came across.
"Dearest brother, have you become a shepherd in your retirement?" he laughed as he placed a hand over Lyra's hand and tactfully kissed her knuckles in respect.
"It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, lost lamb. I am the Archangel Gabriel, protector of the realm and keeper of its knowledge," Gabriel introduced himself with a smile as he kept his sharp eyes on Lyra.
Lyra felt pins and needles crawling up her arm from the base of her knuckles. The overly friendly angel didn't sit right with her. Despite his serene expression and aura, something seemed off whenever he spoke with Leo's face and voice—it didn't match whatsoever.
She answered with a stiff smile and a deep bow in respect, "Nice to meet you, your grace. My name is Lyra, Granddaughter of Conrad, Commander of the Celestial Knights' human division fourth squadron."
"Commander Conrad," Gabriel placed a finger under his chin in deep thought before familiarity graced his features. "Ah, yes! A formidable knight indeed back in his prime, how is he?"
Her expression fell as reality struck hard, and Gabriel took her hand firmly, clasping both in a solemn vow.
"May the Creator light the path for his soul to find peace. He did his duty with honor for the realm, and his people may live and prosper," Gabriel prayed over her.
Lyra held an expression of indifference as he recited a prayer she couldn't care less. She wanted to step away from this man and untangle from his hold. As she waited patiently to end his rites, she was yanked with a lot of force as she was pulled back by none other than the brute, Leo.
'How rude!' Lyra cursed, but as she looked at Leo, the tension was high, as if he was about to start another battle.
Abigael treaded softly next to Leo as she looked between the two brothers worriedly.
"Don't be so harsh on the poor woman, little brother. You look like I was about to break your little toy," Gabriel chided him. He turned to face Leo at arm's length—a mirror image.
"Seeing you out here means the high council meeting was adjourned," Leo noted. His sharp eyes watched calculative.
Gabriel sighed, "Unfortunately, dear brother, we are at an impasse and holding a short recess before reconvening. Fortunately for you, I notice your arrival and have come to grace you with my presence like a doting brother would," ending his sentence with a smile.
"How thoughtful," Leo deadpanned with a hint of sarcasm. "As your humble brother, I wish to seek a word with the high council."
"Has the road of redemption brought enlightenment?" Gabriel quipped.
Redemption? Did it have to do with Leo's banishment?
Leo was done with his roundabout questions and his jests. He quickly turned to continue making their exit out of the archway with Lyra in tow and Abigael hot on his trail.
"If a man of your caliber can't assist me, I will seek elsewhere," Leo said tersely.
"I didn't say I wouldn't help, brother of mine. A mere jest! You will have your audience tomorrow. After all these years, you can finally atone for the sin—"
"Gabriel," Leo threatened as his eyes glimmered in gold.
"Archangel Gabriel," Gabriel barked back as his ethereal aura pulse a white light to show his prowess. The interruption was getting old and annoying.
"That's enough! The both of you are scaring the poor human to bits!" Abigael chided the two men.
The air was heavy and overbearing; one could choke on it. Once Abigael stepped in, Lyra could finally breathe. The presence of an archangel was daunting, but Leo wasn't fazed in the slightest.
Being the logical one, Gabriel backed down with an apologetic smile, "Ah, dear Abigael, always the peacemaker."
Leo didn't bother to speak further and continued walking away with Lyra. Abigael sighed, bowing and bidding farewell to Gabriel before chasing after Leo.
Gabriel stayed until the retreating figures were gone, as his calm facade turned severe. He glanced at his hand and sensed something ominous on it. He briskly turned and left the archway, walking towards the grand hall.
A slight grin bore his face as he walked. Oh, how he missed his little brother. The reunion and timing of it all couldn't be any sooner. It must be fate! He chuckled softly. This new revelation will ruffle a few feathers, indeed.
As the trio reached a great distance from Gabriel, Leo stopped near a fountain of a grand courtyard with some passersby who looked at him in contempt. All Leo had to do was glare at them, and the onlookers fled the area.
Lyra was out of breath and slumped on the stone surface of the fountain to rest.
What the hell was that about? She tried to stop Leo as she tugged out of his firm grip, but to no avail. She was dragged out of the area faster than she realized. She was beyond exhausted, and now she felt Abigael's healing energy had left her system, and she was running on fumes again.
"Abi, I need a favor once more. Can you take care of Lyra for now? I need to see an acquaintance of mine," Leo broke the silence as Abigael arrived as soon as she stood beside him.
Abigael glanced at the human worriedly as the poor girl gawked at Leo in disbelief. She giggled; it probably wasn't the first time this woman had experienced this before.
"Of course! Rest assured, I will take care of Lyra," Abi replied enthusiastically. "Will I see you tonight?"
Lyra was flabbergasted like the couple were talking as if she was invisible!
Leo nodded before turning to Lyra and warned, "Stay with Abigael, and stay out of trouble."
There were too many coincidences where trouble followed her, especially in his absence. He didn't want to take risks but needed to leave before he missed his chance. He trusted Abigael was more than capable of protecting her, and the appearance of his brother left him more unsettled than he could imagine. The coincidence was uncanny.
Before Lyra could voice out to oppose, he was already gone. She bitterly chuckled. 'Leaving her with your girlfriend is cruel, Leo.' she internally cried in dismay. She cast her eyes away and sighed.
"As much as I wish for him to share his stories of his travels, you will have to do," Abigael chimed cheerfully as two pointed flats were facing her.
Lyra glanced up and was pulled by her wrists to stand back up—enough with the ragdoll treatment. She felt her arms were close to popping off!
"Come now, I want to show you something, Lyra," Abi spoke excitedly as her eyes glimmered in mischief. Lyra held a stiff smile as she grew apprehensive by another overly friendly.
"Wa-wait, m'lady, where—" Lyra was thrust into a hug by the petite woman, locking her in place, before a pair of white wings with a tinge of rose gold rimmed the edges of her majestic feathers unfurled.
Music recommendation: Icarus by Penguin Piano on Spotify.
Abigael held a hint of mischief in her eyes, and without a second for Lyra to mentally prepare herself, Abigael flapped her wings with such force that the couple was hoisted in the air without much effort.
The inertia of the force had Lyra gripping Abi's small frame for dear life! A shrill scream nearly escaped her lips as the view from where they once soon grew smaller and smaller. As Abigael banked left, tall spires and pillars were now within arm's reach as Lyra did her best to focus on her surroundings.
The open balcony and windows were filled with baskets and trinkets. Many feathered folks swooped over as they traversed the air. Lyra was astonished by the celestials' utilization of the space in the sky. She didn't realize such inventions until she saw floating stalls and eateries in the air.
A variety of aromas of freshly baked sweets wafted in the air. Lyra salivated as her eyes spotted the eatery giving out to the younglings. It held an odd shape as though it was made of clouds but filled with a juicy filling as one of the younglings, who looked like a boy no older than six years, took a bite and juices smeared at the edges of his little mouth.
Unfortunately, Abigael flew past the eateries as Lyra's hope was crestfallen. Lyra hoped they would be landing soon, as her stomach couldn't take another nosedive and spill the rest of her insides over the unfortunate scenery of Eden—that would be quite the mortifying sight. Another spire was coming into view and more profound than the other tall buildings. Lush green vines crept along the white-washed marble as though the building could speak old tales.
Near the top floor of the enormous spire was a large balcony. Intricate vines twisted around the gilded railings with purple-budded roses complimented the frame. With ease, Abigael sailed in the air and flapped with a commanding force to stabilize as they both gracefully landed on the balcony's platform gently.
Lyra moved out of Abigael's embrace and gripped the railing as she tried to take deep breaths. Her stomach was doing summersaults, and she felt queasy to no end. Closing her eyes and focusing on her breathing, Lyra's senses were focusing on the soothing aroma of the roses.
'Breathe in,' Lyra inhaled nervously and released a shaky breath. 'Breathe out.'
With a steady rhythm of her heart, Lyra opened her eyes and saw the gorgeous view that revealed the entire land of Eden—her jaw nearly dropped.
A vast of intricate rivers intertwined around the tall buildings and lush hills, with the citadel being the center of the domain. Further back of the grand capital stood a mountain where even the peak remained hidden in the clouds, but a large waterfall flowed as all the rivers connected into one point. All the fauna and flora grew denser as the trained eye could see the closer it was to the mountain. Was that where all life originates? Lyra wouldn't know.
Every point of view in Eden was pure and untainted—a sight to behold and bask in all its glory. Lyra could finally relinquish her fears of being in the hands of the demons and start anew.
'A new beginning. A fresh start,' Lyra would cry at this sight. She went through a tumultuous journey, and the reward was within her reach.