CHAPTER 10 - The Ascent
My eyes slowly flutter open. All I remember is a crashing sound, and then passing out.
When I try to sit up, my body aches with pain. When I look around I am befuddled as to where I am. I'm in a white room with no windows, and only one door on my left side. There is a mirror on my right side, as well as a night stand, but I find it unimportant.
I am laying down in a rather comfortable white bed that feels as if I am laying on the clouds themselves.
"Hello, darling," I hear from my left.
I instantly go into panic, and rocket up into a seated position. When I look over, I see a tall woman dress in a white robe that looks odd in the back. It looks as if there was a large disk stuck to her back that she was hiding with her robe.
"Who are you? Where am I?" I demand, shocked at my own confidence.
Another thing that shocks me is the pain I feel. Or rather the lack of it. Even the full pain of bruises where hurting me before I was kidnapped, so why is it gone?
"Calm down child, I am Aphire. And this, this is your home," Aphire says.
"My home?" I ask, confused.
Aphire nods and I say "Lies!"
She then scowls at me, but regains her composure quickly.
"You were tossed from Heaven at such an early age, you don't even recognize your own home. What a shame that traitor became so power hungry as to deny God's will,' Aphire says.
"Tossed from Heaven? What are you talking about?" I ask, still on guard.
She moves to sit down next to me, but stops when I move away.
She sighs and says "It's about time you be told where you're really from."
I look at Aphire, and determine that she isn't going to hurt me, not how at least. Yet I feel… judged under her gaze. As if she was trying me in court, and was determining if I was innocent.
"You, young child, have fallen. Fallen from a high so great, you weren't even aware you could get back up. We weren't even able to rescue you until now," She says.
I look at her, perplexed.
"You were created here, in Heaven. Chosen by our lord and savior to carry out his will," she pauses and look at me, almost expectantly.
"Um... I- I- ugh. I think you have the wrong person?" I say, unsure of my words.
Aphire simply smiles, and walks over to me.
I instinctively react, and start to move away, but she stops me.
"I will not hurt you child, I simply and trying to answer your question," she says, trying to reason with me.
I tense, and force myself to stay still. If I want to get out of here, my best chance is to be obedient and then sneak out while they aren't looking.
Aphire smiles again and walks over to me. She then sits down on the bed and slides over to me. Finally, she gently grabs the bottom of my shirt and pulls it up over my shoulder.
Aphire then signals for me to turn around, and I do. She then points to the mirror that is now behind me and says "Look, you're marked."
I turn my head and peek into the mirror. Then I see it. A white mark on my shoulder blade.
"How have I never seen this?" I ask, shocked. It felt like my entire world had just been put into a paint shaker. Taking what Aphire and Dyre have said…
That's why they wanted to kill me…" I think out loud.
Aphire only releases my shirt and looks at me, tears starting to form at my eyes.
"I- I- this can't be real, it can't be!" I say, on the brink it screaming.
"That's why I could go to the afterlife isn't it?" I say, to which Aphire nods.
She simply sits there, unmoving, until I stop crying.
"You have been created to carry out gods will, and now you shall do so," Aphire says.
"What about Dyre?" I ask, assuming she knows about him.
"Hm? Oh, the wretch that brought you here?" She asks.
My eyes go wide when I hear that word. 'wretch', is that what she thinks he is? He saved my damn life!
But I hold back my anger and simply nod.
"He has been… delt with," she says.
"May I know what you did with him?" I ask, trying not to sound suspicious.
"No need, that scum will never lay hands on you again. I have made sure of it," she says with a deadly undertone.
Panic rushes through me, but I keep it hidden. "If they took him, my best chance is to do what they want and just pray that I find him and can get him out of here," I think.
"Anyways, come with me Sera," Aphire says making me pause.
"That's not my name," I say.
"It is here," she says, in an almost threatening way.
She then stands up, and I follow suit. I decide it would just be best to stay quiet and follow her lead.
She opens the door she came in through, and we walk out into a grand hallway. Huge, glossy white pillars extend from the floor to the ceiling, and gray tiles cover the floor. Huge arc-like patterns cover the walls, each strewn with floral patterns. Crosses, angels and other biblical imagery is embellished on the ceiling which is made of stained glass art reminiscent to that of a church.
Different angels are flying or walking about the place, each doing their own thing. Well that is until me and Aphire step out.
As soon as we step out of the room Aphire says "Stay close behind me," and for good reason too.
Aphire extends her wings, causing a cape that I thought was part of the rob to go flying. Phife is different from the other angles running about, as she has two sets of wings that are addressed in almost eye-like patterns.
She walks proudly in front of me as many other angels start to ogle over her. It's like presents when they see their king. Many even now, which catches me off guard.
"She must be important," I think, noting the differences in appearance and reaction of other angels.
After walking for a few minutes, we reached what I think is the center of the building. A grand staircase that is adorned in gold leads up to different floors.
When Aphire walks into it, I hesitate. She then sighs and walks over to me. She then sweetly said "It's okay, I promise."
She then gets behind me and urged me forward, to watch I comply instantly. We walk up the staircase for a couple minutes, passing only one more floor till we reach the top, or at least where the staircase ends, and stand at the final step.
I have so many questions as we walk, but I remain silent.
Aphire turns to me.
"We are going to meet with Ya'Nir, the Angel Mother. She will reignite you," Aphire says, catching me off guard.
"Um, what do you mean?" I ask nervously.
"You will see," she says, leaving a bad feeling in my gut.
We then step off of the stairs, and I take a moment to take in my surroundings. This floor is much different from the others, the ceiling leads into what looks like space, and the walls are engraved with golden carvings of runes or words in some language I am unaware of. The walls have a few large golden arcs on them that lead to different hallways.
We then walk forward and then to the left, leading us to one of the many hallways. We step in and after a small bit of walking and taking in the scenery, we come to a halt. We arrive at a massive, what I assume to be, door of some kind. It has even more runes on it, going in a circular pattern around the center of the odd door. The door itself has a circle shape, and has no apparent way to open it.
Aphire flies up to the door and presses on a few different runes, causing them to glow. After about five runes, the door opens, revealing a huge orb with golden rings spinning around it that are covered in eyes. The rings are moving all different speeds, are all different sizes. Many or the runes directed elsewhere are floating around the room. It's almost hard to look at.
Only a moment later a loud, imposing voice booms.
"Welcome Aphire, the Guardian, and Sare, the marked," the voice says, making me shiver. I still have trouble accepting my fate.
It is similar to that of a mother talking to their child, just more powerful. The voice makes you feel like an ant compared to whatever being is speaking to you.
"Greetings, great Angel Mother Ya'Nir. I have brought with me Sare. She need to be ignited," Aphire says.
"I see. Come in child, let the light embrace you," the voice says. I assume it's the odd ring-surrounded order that's speaking to me.
Aphire looks at me, and nods. What is going to happen? I really wish I asked what this meant earlier, but now it's a bit late.
I take a deep breath, and walk through the large doorway. Stepping into the room makes me feel overwhelmed. Glowing white and blue runes are floating around the room, and the walls are like the ceiling of the last room. It looks like the room goes on forever except for a glowing white bath from the door to Ya'Nir.
I slowly walk up to the being, realizing it's massive size. Just it's orb is bigger than a human, and it's spinning rings are the size of hotels.
Many different runes almost seems to follow me as I walk, causing me to stop about halfway to the being, and take a peek back.
It's only then that I realize the door is closed, and I panic.
"Come closer child, let me see you," Ya'Nir says.
I take a big gulp and continue to slowly walk closer to Ya'Nir, more and more runes starting to float around me.
Suddenly, all the runes stop moving, and so do the rings. This makes me freeze in my place, and instantly want to turn back. All of the eyes on Ya'Nir are locked onto me, making me feel like a mouse under an owls gaze. In one single motion, this being could end me.
Suddenly the runes begin to make a humming sound, and start to glow brighter. Every bone in my body is telling me to run, but I can't.
. My body won't move. I can't even blink.
"Sare, my child, I am so glad you have finally come back home. Now it is time, you must take your rightful place as the angel queen!" Ya'Nir says triumphantly.
Suddenly, the rings around Ya'Nor begin to spin quickly. So quick I can't even comprehend it.
Then the runes around me start to circle around me, and I panic. What is going to happen to me?
The runes then start to get brighter and spin faster. To the point all can see is blurred streaks of blue and white. The runes also start to get closer, slowly creeping in like a snake hunting its prey, wrapping around it and trapping it in.
They gets so close it feels like I'm burning in their light. They start to crash into me, shattering. It feels like I'm being broken. Like I'm a piece of glass being thrown at the ground. I can feel my skin and muscle cracking. I can feel my bones breaking then rebuilding. Even though it doesn't hurt, I can still feel it. And even though the blinding light of the runes prevents me from seeing, I still feel like I can see my body cracking.
I feel myself living into the air, yet I don't feel the lifting. I just know because my feet came off of the ground.
I can't speak, or scream.
It feels like I'm going insane, yet it feels like I'm being purified.
I just want it to- to-
To end.
The sound of shattering glass rings in my ears as I stay there, unmoving. Eyes closed, still, suspended in the air. It feels like I've left my body or gone somewhere else. It's like I'm just floating in a void, never to leave it again.
"Open your eyes!" I hear a voice say.
And and I do. I am sucked back into my own head, and I open my eyes. My new eyes are of pure light. I have been remade into the perfect vessels
It feels like waking up in a whole new body. I am still hovering, but I'm starting to fall.
I feel empty, oh so empty. Like a void of nothingness. An empty husk.
A shell for God's will. That's what I am now. I understand it now. That is what I was always meant to be. A shell for God's will. Nothing more, nothing less. Simply an instrument for God to impose his will with. And I accept it. It is what I am now.
I finally finish my slow descent to the ground, and stand tall with my six magnificent, white wings extended fully, the end feathers colored in a bright gold.
My new clothing consists of a perfect white robe trimmed in gold, and my skin has become much lighter.
"Stop!" I hear an oddly familiar voice yell.
I hear struggling in the hallway, but turn to look at the Angel Mother.
"Thank you Angel Mother Ya'Nir," I say, my voice now more silky.
"Of course my child. Now go, you must take your rightful place as the Angel Queen," Ya'Nir says.
"Let me go!" I hear from the same voice as before.
I decide I should leave, and see what is happening.
I fly to the huge door as I am already a master of my new wings. I then instinctually press a few of the runes engraved on the door, causing it to slide to the side, opening.
"Stop it!" I hear again, but this time I'm able to locate the voice.
I look forward and see Aphire, my guardian, holding a demon at his knees. The demon is relatively normal, having grey skin and red ey es. But something about it seems… familiar.
"Aphire," I say with a nod, "What have you brought to me here? An intruder perhaps?" I say, scowling at the demon.