Disclaimer because yeah: I am not religious, these characters do not belong to me, and all mistakes are my own
The sun beams bright and hot against her skin, coating her delicate flesh slightly darker with a kiss. She feels warm and relaxed as she basks in the light that shines over everything within its sight.
This is nothing like she was told, nothing like she imagined, this is so much more than she thought it would be and there is no doubt in her mind that this is what she wanted.
This, this is what she was craving, truly.
"Are you lost, miss?" A voice aged with ale and smoke meets her with slight curiosity, pulling her from her peaceful state to glance over at the source of the words.
An older man, with gray stubble and shaggy hair, greets her. One hand on a wooden staff, his weight leaning more on one leg rather than both, and eyes slightly tinted with fog meet her own and she smiles at the older man.
"Just enjoying the sun." She tells him and he nods at her words, "It is a beautiful day." He glances up at the blue of the sky, his expression gentle and somewhere in the past of memories, he's lived through.
"Yes, it is." She agrees before deciding to ask the older man for directions to the nearest town. He points with a bony finger and a slight smile, voicing that she's reminded him to appreciate the day that is given.
The trees are tall and looming as she walks the worn down path, eyes taking in everything she sees. The grass that's soft against her fingers when she kneels to get a closer look at a single flower sitting at the edge of the path, petals a bright and vibrant that stands out against the green of nature.
Sounds of birds follow her as she continues her journey, chirping and flying high over her head. One brave enough to land a few feet from where she steps, intent on finding and picking an unsuspecting bug from the loose rocks.
She shakes her head at the juvenile bird covered in black feathers before concentrating on the directions the older gentleman gave her, a split of the path should meet her soon and from memory, she knows to take a right to meet the town before the sun sets.
Her fingers travel up to the necklace that rests against her collarbone, the charm, a silver cross. To those who catch sight of it, it would only represent a chosen religion, safety from evil.
But to her, it's cloaked in charms. Meant to hide what she doesn't want seen, meant to protect from those who aren't human. Hiding her true identity from those who are not ready to understand.
She will look human to those who look upon her face, her wings hidden but still truly there, the powers she was granted no longer as easy to use, all out of sight.
And the creatures that roam the dark, those that stalk and wait to strike, the very creatures she's been trained to fight, they will walk past her as if she's not even there. Having no clue of the power she wields.
So her worry is little, if not pushed aside as her pride gets in the way of her inexperience and ignorance.
Sounds of a gathering bring her attention back to that at hand, her excitement returns as she hears the chatter of those that walk and pause at stalls where others sell for food. Coins passed to others in exchange for things of use, food stored in baskets that are looped through arms.
The smell of cooking meat, fire and iron, flour and fresh vegetables mingle together as she hides her smile as she looks around. The hood of her cloak pushed down to get a better look. She walks past the people of the town, hearing the whispers of what's the best items to get, the freshest food for family, and the solid work of the blacksmiths.
The buzz of life that surrounds her is familiar yet strange, and stronger than she's ever felt.
She's always been at a distance, never once given enough privilege to experience mankind first hand, always watching but never being able to touch, to interfere, to be a part of, never to understand on another level she always wished for.
But being here, in the middle of a small town, surrounded by given life, human life. Hearing them speak and trade for things, seeing them interact and move through the day. This feeling is almost addicting.
A small child runs past her, laughter echoing after the loud steps. She turns quickly and sees the child, a boy no older than six years, glancing behind him as if being followed but instead of fear she sees glee and happiness on his face.
A smile brightens her face when he pauses next to an older man standing by a booth of bread, the smell pulling at her to take a closer look. The child's eyes glance somewhere behind her and she's about to turn and look when his companion moves past her almost as fast as him, blonde hair blowing in the wind as neither child chooses to lose the game that's at play.
A young man walks past her with an apology, his steps fast and head low as he weaves through those that are in his path. Walking in the direction of a building that smells of smoke and fire and she wonders if he works in the building as he disappears out of sight.
She continues on her path, knowing that she can only be gone for so long before questions arise.
Flowers stand out in woven baskets, still full of color but no longer growing. Reds mix with yellows and blues, and she reminded of the one flower she saw on her way here. A part of her is grateful that is was spared of life cut short, flowers are meant to bloom and grow and show off their beauty where they're planted, not be taken and put in a basket.
"Would you like one?" An older lady that smells of tea leaves gives her a bright smile as she asks. Isabella shakes her head softly "No thank you, just admiring the arrangement." She half lies to not dampen the woman's mood. "Oh thank you," She's given another smile as eyes full of life spent glance down at her display.
"I've woven the baskets myself." She speaks proudly and the angel in disguise feels how contagious her happiness is, "The flowers are picked by my granddaughter, she's very proud of finding so many different colors." One frail hand motions over the mixing of colors from the flowers. "They are lovely." She compliments with a small nod.
"It was lovely speaking with you but I must be on my way." She says softly when the older woman just keeps talking about her work and how hard it is to weave a certain stitch. "Oh, yes sorry you must be very busy."
She apologies before pulling a single flower from one of the three large baskets and holding it out to her.
"I insist you take one, for being such nice company even if for only a moment." She speaks before Isabella can decline her offer.
"Only if you insist." She adds with a playful smile before reaching out and taking the delicate flower from the older woman. "Thank you," Isabella says solemnly, and after a short wave goodbye that she only knows from watching others, she's on her way. The flower held gently in her grasp.
Those around her don't pay her any attention as she walks off the path and to the trees. The soft sound of leaves rustling seems to follow her the farther she goes as if wanting to know what she's going to do.
After walking until she can no longer sense the presence of the humans she's just been around, she glances around before finding just the spot for her flower.
The angel kneels down, her cloak the color of sand meets the softness of the grass. The flower held with such delicacy in one hand as the other smooths down a soft patch of earth she's chosen for the flower.
With gentle hands and extreme concentration, she places the stem of the flower against the earth, closing her eyes and whispering words that only the angels know of.
When she opens her eyes once again a smile graces her face, the flower is standing strong, its roots holding tight to the soil underneath, its life renewed. She smiles down at the work she's done, her chest full of pride.
"Whoa." A small voice full of awe tears her from her sense of safety, turning quickly but not yet reaching for the dagger that's hidden under her cloak.
Her eyes scan her surroundings until she's greeted with the sight of a young child, eyes only on the small flower she's just replanted. "Hello there." She greets with a smile, grimacing inwardly at overreacting.
"Do you have magic?" The child asks as she runs over to get a closer look.
Isabella glances down at the renewed flower before her eyes find the young child again, whose own eyes the color of the sky are only on the petals that have regained a certain light.
"Did you see?" She asks carefully, eyes guarded as the child looks up at her, a smile on her face. "You're very pretty." She says without much thought and the angel in disguise was definitely not expecting those words.
She's quick to cover her reaction to the unexpected compliment. "You are very pretty as well." She smiles at the child.
"What's your name young one?" She speaks softly, eyes watching the child reach out and lightly touch one of the flower's petals.
"Jane." She smiles before leaning forward and sniffing the flower and smiling up at Isabella. "It smells pretty." She says with a toothy grin and the angel in disguise cant help the fondness she feels over the girl.
"It smells nice." She corrects gently and the young one gives a nod before looking back at the flower.
"Are you all alone Jane?" Isabella finds herself curious if she needs to escort the child back to town before going on her way. "No." Jane shakes her head before blowing a strand of hair out of her face.
"Is there someone looking for you?" She asks when the girl doesn't elaborate. "My brother," Jane says quickly, her attention still only on the flower.
"And who's your brother?" Isabella asks, curious about where the girl's brother is at the moment. "Alec. We are playing a game." Jane says eyes glancing up at her before she looks around as if just remembering about the game.
"Hide and seek?" She asks curiously, hearing about the game that human children like to play, she's never played herself but she always wondered if it was fun.
"Yep," Jane says with a nod, her voice high with excitement.
"Are you hiding or seeking?" Isabella asks and Jane taps a finger against her chin as if she's thinking the question over, a playful glint in her sky blue eyes.
"Hiding." She says in a whisper and the angel can't help her smile.
"You're doing a bad job." A voice calls out and both turn to see a young boy standing with his hands crossed and one boot tapping the ground. The same boy she saw while walking through the marketplace.
"Alec." Jane gets to her feet, a smile on her face as she points to Isabella. "This lady has magic." She grins with her words and Alec looks between the two with a raised eyebrow. "I see no magic." He speaks sharply and the angel can see that he doesn't trust her one bit.
"But she made the flower grow back." Jane points at the flower between the two, a frown on her face before turning to the angel. "Show him."
Isabella knows she shouldn't, she knows how many rules she's already breaking. She knows that what it means if she gets caught, but with the bright eyes of the children that look at her, she can't seem to say no to the two.
Isabella gives the girl a pointed look after a moment because she was demanding rather than asking. "Nicely." She only says and Jane huffs, her lips pursed before finally giving in. "Please."
"Alright." She glances over at Alec, who finally comes over when Jane loses her patience and grabs his hand and drags him over to the two.
Jane sits down next to Isabella, Alec grumbling under his breath before sitting next to his sister.
The angel lets out a sight before reaching forward and pulling one petal from the flower. Both children look intensely as she holds it in her palm, not hearing the words she spoke under her breath.
Two pares of sky blue eyes watch in wonder as she places the petal in a soft spot of dirt, one hand over it as it starts to grow and change.
Soon, almost in a blink, two flowers stand tall next to each other.
"Whoa," Alec says and Jane looks between her and the flowers once, then twice. A wide smile on her face.
"Well it was nice meeting you two but I have someplace I have to be." She gives them an apologetic smile as she gets to her feet, eyes finding where the sun crawls against the sky.
"You're leaving?" Jane asks, clearly not wanting her to go just yet.
"How about this, I'll walk the two of you back to town but you have to promise to keep this secret." She says as the two children stand next to her. "And you'll come back to visit?" Alec is the one to ask and she knows it's only fair, besides she's already come to care for the two children.
"Yes."
"Good," Jane says with a nod of approval and the angel only smiles fondly before leading the two back towards the town.