A New Future

She stood quietly watching, waiting. The others were hiding too, waiting for the perfect time. She sensed someone coming up behind her. He passed without even bothering to notice she was there. It was time. With his back to her she could freely move. Her wings unfurled, and she jumped off her post flying faster than the eye could see. Landing close behind him she froze again. He didn't notice. In a moment she was on his heels, but his head was turning. She ducked into a side alley as he turned around, confused and a little wary. He looked right at her, and she stared back, eyes unmoving.

"Just a statue…" he said quietly to himself. Turning back, he continued on his way, and she pounced.

"He saw you!" the Mother Superior screamed at her.

"Nothing out of the ordinary, everyone get's seen once in a while," she defended herself. Standing side by side, facing away she could feel Mother Superior's wrath, her wings twitching angrily.

"Nobody sees me, and as my daughter, I hold you to the same expectations. It is an embarrassment that we are plagued with the quantum lock!"

"Mother, the quantum lock protects us! It lets us hide in plain sight!"

"But when you're on the hunt, you should be swift and strike without needing to use it. We Angels are the fastest and best killers in the universe! It is embarrassing that when we hunt we cannot look our victims in the eyes while we take their life."

"You're being unreasonable! When was the last time you hunted?"

"I lead this tribe! I do not hunt. I have responsibilities dealing with other tribes in this city to maintain our hunting areas. Responsibilities that you can't fathom as young as you are!"

"I'm three millennium old! How can I not be old enough to be able to understand your job?" And here the curse of the quantum lock reared it's head. The Mother Superior's face softened, but she could not look at her daughter, and neither could her daughter look at her to see the compassion in her face.

"Yes, you are," her psychic voice softened as she stretched one of her wings to wrap around her daughter as she took her hand, "but you've only lived in a progression. You haven't traveled back as all the leaders have of every tribe in the universe. I myself am only twelve millennium old, but I've traveled across many more." Her wings drooped and her daughter sensed the sadness in her. Wishing she could see her face, wishing she could hug her, she calmly took her mother's hand,

"Then let me travel. Please, Mother. I want to learn how to be strong like you."

"Child, I've lost many friends and family because of traveling. You're not my first, nor only daughter…."

"I understand. But Mother, I want to travel. I know we are only alive because we hunt, but I want to see the universe, I want to be able to lead a tribe." Her Mother caved.

"Okay, you have my permission. But you must choose a name. Out there, although I've traveled through many eras, not every Angel will know you're my daughter."

"Artemis will be my name then."

"I'm sending you to a friend of mine. She leads a very successful tribe and she is well versed in our history. You will learn much from her."

"Thank you, Mother."

"Take this," her mother handed her a pendant, "if I never see you again, know that I love you and am very proud of you." Artemis covered her eyes with her hands as her Mother turned to her. She turned to stone. Her mother looked over her daughter. She had grown into a very beautiful Angel. Her wings were strong and graceful. She would attract many suitors, but none of them would be worthy of her, her mother's instinct told her. She reached out and touched Artemis' shoulder. In an instant she was gone.

Artemis cautiously peered through her fingers. She was alone. Lowering her hands she glanced around. She was in an old cathedral, imly lit by candles. Around the walls she saw pedestals, empty. Hearing wood creak she leapt towards the rafters and took up a dark corner to watch. An elderly priest walked down the aisle between the pews towards the alter. At an intersection with another aisle, he turned and headed to a small alcove. Moving to a different vantage point, Artemis watched as he knelt before a statue of a woman in a long blue robe over a peach colored dress. The priest pulled out a rosary and started praying. Intrigued, Artemis watched and listened to him carefully.

"Leto, is that you?" a voice entered her mind. Surprised Artemis turned to stone, fearing someone was watching her.

"Leto, it's okay. It's only me, Isis!" Slowly, Artemis looked around the cathedral, before taking a look at the statue of the woman before the priest. Barely, she could see the form of wings on her back.

"Not Leto, I am Artemis. My mother sent me here to learn." She sent an image of the pendant her mother had given her.

"Ah! Artemis! You look just like your mother did when she was 5000 years old. I am Isis, welcome! Your mother said you would be coming, I've been expecting you for many years now."

"But I've only just left her, how can this be?"

"My dear, you have much to learn of your heritage and culture. Your mother and I are both Travelers. We can communicate across many eras and over great distances, though when communicating across time, sometimes the message isn't always received when it was intended."

"When are we?"

"The Earth-human year 1922 a.d.. We are in Milan, Spain. I received your mother's message 30 years ago, and since then a younger her has visited a couple times. She still has one more visit before going to give birth to you and your brother."

"But if that hasn't happened yet, how do you know?" Artemis asked, puzzled.

"Because, I myself will not be around, but the younger me will. Of course I must not know yet."

"There are two of you here?"

"Yes, I traveled back to start this clan, after I left it 2 millennium ago."

"I still don't understand," Artemis was trying to grasp what Isis was telling her, but she felt light headed.

"You will know me as 'Mary,' the younger me, you will call 'Isis'. I am 15 millennium old, but Isis is only nine, the same as your mother will be when she visits. Isis joined this tribe only 300 years ago, and I started it 500 years ago. When Isis leaves here in 200 years, she will Travel forward and live there for 5 millennium before adopting the name 'Mary' and coming back to start this tribe." Artemis tried to grasp all this information.

"Traveling sounds very complicated."

"It is, but the more you Travel the easier it gets. The rest of the tribe is coming back from the hunt. Come, I will introduce you to them. Do not reveal who your mother is, Isis must not know." The priest stood up and quietly walked out a back door. Mary dropped her robe and took flight, landing above the alter. The doors of the cathedral opened and in an instant her Tribe entered swiftly, hands over their faces. Artemis was amazed that not one turned to stone.

"Artemis, come by my side, the others know you are here," Mary called to her. Artemis dropped down and assumed her position next to Mary, her hands covering her eyes so as not to see the others. Indeed, now she began to understand the curse her mother spoke of. She could not see her new family, though she turned to stone as they all gazed down upon her.

"My sisters and brothers, welcome home!" Mary called out, "We welcome this night with a new member of our Tribe. Artemis, the daughter of a very dear friend of mine. She has Traveled for the first time and is here to learn from us. She is young, but her mother assures me she is strong, curious, and has a passion to learn." Artemis' mind was filled with voices, happy, joyful voices welcoming her to the tribe. Then images of each angel filled her view so she could see each and every one of them.

"Isis, I want you to look after Artemis and guide her, as you are the youngest amongst us and closer to her age."

"With pleasure Mother Superior!" Isis replied, her voice ecstatic and filled with excitement.

"Go then, Artemis, and be with your new sister." Artemis smiled as the others covered their faces so she could join Isis' side. Her new future awaited her.