Chapter Seventy- Two: Between Two Lungs
Gone are the days of begging
The days of theft
No more gasping for a breath
The air has filled me head to toe
And I can see the ground far below
I have this breath and I hold it tight
And I keep it in my chest with all my might
I pray to god this breath will last
As it pushes past my lips
As I gasp
~ Florence & the Machine
It's been five years since I've lived in my home town of Mystic Falls and I've missed a lot. It seems like the whole supernatural community moved in when I moved out. I didn't know what I was getting myself into when I came back. I should have, though. I mean, the word mystic pretty much means supernatural.
It's never easy for a kid to move to a new town, especially when you just went through a traumatic experience. I lost my mother. She was the most important person in the world to me and I had to live without her. I was forced to be strong for everyone else around me, including my father. My dad was a great man, an amazing lawyer and the best father. He just lost his way when my mom died. She was his other half and I didn't understand the lose he felt until I met someone who had the potential to be my other half.
I'm getting ahead of my self though. My mind tends to wander sometimes. As I was saying, when I came back to Mystic Falls I never thought I'd find out about this town's dark side, but I did. Vampires, witches, seers and empaths, I know them all. Each one, just as unique as the last and each one has risked their lives for me. But when I first got here, vampires were the last thing on my mind. Well, that's a lie. I've constantly had vampires on my mind; one vampire in particular really, Christian. He's plagued my thoughts. I was a naïve, broken girl. When I met him I was ignorant to all the things that went bump in the night. That was until I realized that under my bed there really were monsters.
I ran. I thought I could out run my problems. I thought I could out run Christian. Clearly, I was wrong. He hunted me down and found me. And just when I thought everything was going to be okay... silly me. I was tired of running, so I stopped and I faced my problems, my fears, whatever you want to call them. I don't regret any of my choices that led me to the meadow that night, and ultimately to my death.
Before I knew about vampires and all that, I believed, like everyone else, that people are born, they live and then they die. As simple as that, nothing more, nothing less. But, now I know that's not true, I'm a prime example of that… well sort of. I guess… Honestly, between you and me, I have no idea what I am. Seriously. I don't remember much of what happened before I came back.
I mean, I've got some idea. It's only bits and pieces though and it's like they have veils over them that makes everything out of focus and blurry. Going off of what I can actually remember, I've been doing research. I have very little to work with though; the Otherside, the cloaked figures and some far fetched duty of mine. That's all I can remember really.
I haven't been able to bring myself to tell everyone about the four cloaked figures (a.k.a. The Guardians). Those of which are mentioned often in ancient scriptures from all over the world. They've been known to rule over the world of the dead, and are famous for their divine interventions. I'm proof of that as well. They also are known as four specific names that translate from every language to the same thing. They're called Strength, Tranquility, Wisdom and Innocence. Each represents the thing for which they're named for. The combination of the four is said to create the perfect being who is to end the corrupt world.
And for some unknown reason that remains to baffle us all, they sent me hurling back here. The only reason I know about this duty that I'm supposed to fulfill, is because Elena told me that I was babbling on about it for hours after I came back to the land of the living. I have no recollection of this, zip, nada.
Everyone has been trying to figure it out, but I've been no help. Me, personally, I don't want to think about it. I can't, because if I do, I just might fall apart. I've held it together this long, but I've also been in a state of blissful denial and voluntary ignorance.
What this all boils down to though, is that I died and came back as something other than human. I'm a light being, or the more socially accepted term, an angel. A fallen angel really, because I chose to come back here. From what I recall, they weren't very happy about that decision. I mean, they pretty much dropped me on my ass without any help. No 'How to...' guide, no instructions manual, I'm going in blind.
The first thing we learned about angels is that they're rare and there's little to no mention of them in grimoirs. Actually, that's another lie. The first thing we learned was that I have wings. Not like the fluffy feathery ones that ducks have or what you find in your pillows. Mine are made out of white energy, light.
They first appeared the night I returned from the dead. That is, after me and Damon managed to separate. It was past dusk by then. I beamed up at him, but his, and Elena's and Stefan's eyes were shocked open, and staring passed me. As it turns out, around me erupted a translucent, almost invisible, outline of great wings, seeming to ripple with currents.
They quickly disappeared though, and I haven't seen my wings since that night. The only trace left of them was this strange tingle I feel on my shoulder blades constantly. The whole thing seemed to freak everyone out, me the most. Damon reassured me everything would be fine. None the less, he calls me his little angel now. Slightly irritating but then again, that's Damon Salvatore for you. It kind of has a nice ring to it, I suppose.
After that, my memory went down hill. The next morning I woke up screaming but couldn't recall why. It took Damon forever to calm me down, and even longer for him to answer the questions that came pouring out of my mouth. Finally he reached the conclusion that I'm suffering from some sort of amnesia of the supernatural kind. I went home and cried, a lot. I cried so much, I didn't realize it was even humanly possible to cry that much. Then again, I'm not so human anymore. I didn't even know why the hell I was crying. I still don't, even though I'm able to remember a few things.
Damon was there with me the entire time. He didn't leave my side… not that I gave him much of a choice. Even Stefan and Elena were more welcoming to him. I must have missed a lot while I was with Christian.
Everyone was acting differently towards each other. They were acting as if we were all a family and I couldn't be happier. Mags, Shellie and Bonnie had rushed to the boarding house the moment they heard what happened. I was passed out, asleep upstairs by the time they got there. Stefan took care of telling them what had gone down in the meadow. He seemed to be the only one able to. Again, the tears flowed. The three of them had been scouring the cemetery, unaware of what had happened in the meadow.
Elena was there while Stefan told them. It was the first time she'd ever seen Mags cry. I think Magnolia felt as if it was her fault, somehow. Both her and Shellie seemed devastated. They told me how at one point in the night Magnolia started to feel strange. Like something was missing, as if a chord snapped in them. Shellie said her vision blurred for a while after that and she couldn't focus it. They didn't realize what the cause of it was. They felt me die.
Its scary how this all played out. I don't know what's going to happen after all this is said and done. I'm left with this 'blessing' some may call it, it's left me in the category of unknown. I don't know what I'm capable of, I don't know what I'm supposed to do, I don't know how long I'm supposed to last. If you take one look at me, you'd think nothing had change. The only difference I was left with is a smooth silvery scar right where my ribs end. Its in the shape of a poorly drawn oval and cold to the touch. I guess even angles have scars.
Basically, it comes down to this, human is human. There's humanity in everyone, even if it's in tatters. We all have ten fingers, ten toes, two arms, two legs, eyes, a nose and a mouth. All key distinctions of what we are. Whether it's outside or inside we are all the same. Our body holds a brain, millions of nerves, a network of veins, and quarts of blood. We all have two lungs, and between two lungs is a heart. One heart, a single heart that I believe is meant to belong to one other person, a person whose odds of you meeting are slim and rare. But if you do meet this one person, your twin flame, your soul mate, you'll know. Maybe you'll learn to hate him before you learn to love him. You might have to leave him before you can realize that you'll never be able to walk away.
Hey, who knows, maybe you'll meet him at your home town bar and he'll buy you a shot or two? No one ever knows where their destiny is leading them. But that doesn't really matter, because the past is in the past. If I've learned anything these last few months it's that you can't change the past. You can't erase your mistakes, right your wrongs, or trade your decisions.
I can't say what the future holds for me anymore. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't scared. I'm terrified out of my mind, but I know I'll make it through any obstacle that's thrown in front of me. I'm not some helpless human anymore, I have power I can feel it. It's in my bones and each day I grow stronger to face whatever comes my way. I have the power to protect myself and my loved ones. That's something I've never had before and it's exhilarating. Who knows where this will lead? We'll just have to find out. I've made it this far, haven't I?
Well, until next time,
Nilin Gilbert
Author's Notes:
Well, that's it. That's all she wrote. Between Two Lungs, my little fanfiction turned into this amazing experience. I am so grateful for everyone who has stuck along to the end of this. From you guys the readers to my little team behind the scenes, cheering me on, betaing and reading the worst of the worst rough drafts. Thank you all so much, you have made the past few months worth while and I am just overjoyed to be able to continue this storyline with you guys. The squeal is called Between Two Wings. (I know, real original, but hey it fits. Don't worry.) When will I be ready for publishing? I'm not sure, but I will let you guys know as soon as possible.
I just want to thank you all, again. Words can not explain how appreciative I am. I'm getting all emotional as I type this out now. Thank you, thank you, thank you, I love you all and I'll see you all very soon.
Give it one last Favorite, Follow & Review. Why not? :)
Rori Lee Smith.
I hope you enjoyed.
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