Heart's Light - Chapter 2

Damon woke from his sleep unrested and confused. He had never experienced such vivid dreams before. Everything about them seemed wrong; colours seemed to vibrant, sounds were too loud, flavours too strong. Every word uttered within them seemed painted, as if an artist and a writer had combined their talents into one large scene that ignored the boundaries of reality. It intrigued him and repulsed him all in one thought.

No one ever asks to become an angel, but they are chosen all the same. Many embrace their new life with a positive attitude, believing it to be for the better. If Damon had been given the choice, he would have ignored his calling and remained with the mortals. They were oblivious to what was going on around them, unconcerned about the demons that stalked them to their doors. That was the only reason everyone wasn't dead or converted. Demons could never enter under the roof of a mortal without being granted permission, either directly or indirectly.

Shaking his thick brown hair out of his eyes, Damon stood up but immediately lost his balance and landed face down on the floor. Swearing silently, he stood up and held his arms in a straight line until he could remain standing still. The weight of his new wings was still unfamiliar to him, more a hindrance than anything else.

Taking a few cautious steps forward, he slowly began to lower his arms praying that he wouldn't topple over afterwards. After circling the room several times, he headed towards the door satisfied that he wouldn't make a fool of himself. He had already embarrassed himself by taking a tumble off the edge of the cloud layer while his new comrades had laughed at his inabilities. He had tried to ignore them, tried to laugh it off but it hurt his pride more than he cared to mention. Not that he had fantastic pride in himself in the first place.

Damon had always been very self-conscious, believing himself unworthy and useless. He was failing all his classes, hung around the internet far too much, and remained detached from the people he could have become friends with. Damon didn't want to get hurt again. Not after Evan had shattered his trust in the human race. He had never felt so alone, angry and unloved. It left him ill at ease, uncomfortable with himself and most of all, afraid. Afraid to ever put his trust in anyone ever again.

Stepping outside, Damon let the overly sweet breeze ruffle through his hair. He watched the angels sing, dance, talk, eat, laugh, hug. He could never let himself fall victim to those lies again. The promises of forever, the oaths bound for a lifetime; they never existed and they never would. He would never find someone who would make him feel safe again.

A large chime rang out over the entire realm as a parting appeared in the clouds. Damon sighed, remembering his mother's words of encouragement: "Every cloud has a silver lining." It was a common phrase but Damon had clung to it. Now, he struggled to see the silver lining and no matter how hard he strained his eyes, he simply could not see it. Flicking his hair out of his eyes, he gave up on hope and love once again.

Lady Tirladiel's golden wings were spread to their full extent as she re-entered her domain. The angels bathed in her glory, but Damon found no comfort in it. Tirladiel was beautiful, he had no queries about that, but he couldn't see how one woman could protect all the angels and mortals from the ever-hungry demons and from themselves.

Damon preferred Alonut, the sensible, level-headed right-hand archangel. He thought practically and reasonably and spoke plainly instead of fluffing up his words to prevent dismay. Damon had spent the last few days with Alonut, learning the ways of an angel and the history behind the war. Alonut didn't hide the bloodshed; he made it the highlight. Everything came at a price. Damon believed Alonut was implying to his own past when he had spoken those words and he admired Alonut from that moment on.

Noticing a third person with them, Damon tried to move closer but was blocked by the more enthusiastic angels. He sat back on a barrel and decided to let them have their fun. It was probably another mortal-turned-angel who was so excited to be there and help and be merry. All the things that made Damon feel sick.

"My beautiful angels!" Tirladiel's voice rang clear over the realm. "I have found another sister to join our family. The wonderful Taylor!"

The angels cheered in unison, as if someone had turned on the sound. It all sounded too fake, too happy. Damon felt sick to his stomach. He had to get out of there.

Tirladiel spoke on, about how brave this young soul was, how she would aspire to be the best she could be, but Damon couldn't listen. He headed straight for one of the springs that he liked and sat down beside the crystal clear water. Tirladiel could still be heard but now that he wasn't as close, there was less of a humid feeling in his head. Tirladiel's voice had that effect on him; it felt like she was closing in around him, suffocating him, making him feel a certain way. He didn't like.

Suddenly, a girl walked up to the water. She seemed unsteady on her feet, struggling to stay balanced. She had blonde hair and was extremely pale. Looking up at him, Damon found himself staring straight into a pair of striking topaz eyes unlike anything he'd ever seen before.

The girl spoke swiftly. "Hi. I'm Taylor. But you probably already know that."

Damon chuckled. "Yeah, Tirladiel doesn't do things by half."

Taylor walked round and sat beside him. "Who are you?"

"I'm Damon, not that it matters," he replied with a slight bitter edge in his voice. "They'll probably have you hanging around with the other new angels."

"Those guys hanging about back there?" Taylor stuck her tongue out. "Please no. I'd rather be on my own, thanks."

Damon didn't know how to reply. He hadn't expected this. Taylor seemed so... normal. There was no giddiness in her, no will to impress everyone and become the best. She still seemed mortal, ordinary. But he knew better than to trust her. Girls were worse than guys when it came to trust.

"How'd you get turned?" she asked.

"Like most people. You know, the whole chosen ones."

"You don't sound too happy about it."

"That's because I'm not."

"I know, I was being sarcastic."

Damon blinked at Taylor. How could she be so different to everyone else? Damon had met another girl who had arrived a day before her, but he couldn't stand her. He couldn't stand any of them. Yet something about Taylor made him feel comfortable. He shook the thought away from his head. I can't let my guard down. She's still like everyone else... in a way.

Taylor rolled her eyes. "Look, I don't care if you like me or not but you seem like a decent kind of guy so I'm just going to hang around with you. I'm not buying into all that airy crap everyone else seems to give off. It seems too false. But you're going to have to talk to me at some point."

Damon smiled slightly and Taylor replied likewise. "Sure," he responded. "I'll talk." But not about everything. At least not yet.