On the Wings of an Angel
Prologue


Ari surveyed the ground below her. Hundreds of feet above sea level, she drank in the light, pure air that floated around her. The sun was high in the sky, not yet at its peak. From her vantage point, Ari could see the shadows of the sparse clouds dotting the rolling land before her. This cliff was her secret. It gave the perfect view of the flat land adjacent to the mountains, and it was all hers. Not that anyone would really appreciate it. They could have this view, and more, any time they wanted. The wind picked up and ruffled the golden, feather-silk skirt that brushed her bare feet. Her white shirt whipped around her slight frame. Forming a diamond between her thumbs and index fingers and curling her other six fingers tight, the sign of surrender, she placed her hands over her diaphragm, preparing to cleanse her deepest self. Breathing deep, she closed her eyes and let go. She was everything and nothing, a void for thoughts and feelings, sights and smells to come and go. Time was not, it had no hold on this moment, in this place. An eternity passed, and Ari’s blue eyes flickered open. Taking a deep breath, she returned to her body and the world of Earth.

Ari often meditated at Mount Sentinel. The aura of the place soothed, making it easier to drift. A person of action and emotion, Ari greatly needed this place and its calming power to sink into the deep trance of meditation. The beauty of the mountain view also helped make this demanding task less so. Even if it were not absolutely vital to cleanse herself every so often, Ari knew she would still come to this place. But, now, it was time to go. Responsibilities, relationships, all her ties to the present called her back. With a refreshed heart, Ari was ready to face them once again.

Running full tilt, Ari leapt off the edge of the cliff into the open air.

As the ground rushed up to give its deadly kiss, Ari’s wings snapped out. Catching the air, the white wings quickly cut off the headlong dive and swiftly pulled the young Seriph along.

Ari was not human, no, she was much more than that. She was of an ancient race of creatures called the Seriph. Legend held that the first Seriph had been a human woman by the name of Alfaiah. She had been beautiful in mind and body, so precious that the sky could not bear to allow its sister earth to have her. The sky made her it own child, gifting Alfaiah with wings with which to leave her earthbound state and join the sky in all its glory. However, Alfaiah cold not bear to part with her family and the world she so loved. So the sky gave her speed and strength, enhancing her whole body so every sense was intensified ten fold. Surely these gifts would tear Alfaiah’s heart from the earth. Again Alfaiah refused to leave the home she had been born into. The sky tried to tempt her again by offering more power, sky magic, for want of a better word. Still Alfaiah clung to the life that had been hers. Determined never to lose this beautiful creature, the sky gave her ageless beauty so she would never die and leave the sky. Alfaiah, realizing that her family would soon die and leave her alone to wander the skies in solitude, begged the sky to give these gifts to all her village. Alfaiah vowed to come lie in the sky for all time, as long as her friends and family could as well. The sky complied. Many many millennia had passed and Alfaiahs’s children still graced the sky with their power. Ari smiled .

Flying was not what most humans thought it was. It was reach forward with your wings, grab the air, and pull it toward you. Push it below and behind you, then snatch up the next wingfull. The air is all around you, pressing against you, like a lover, then whipping away, fickle and whimsical. Some would imagine it terrible, being out there, in the middle of nothing, having no one. It was just the opposite. When Ari was in the air, dancing in the sunlight, twirling with the breeze, she had never felt more connected. She was no longer a solitary Seriph, no, she was spirit of the air, a nymph of the wood, a being of nature. Ari could feel the life that resided in everything around her, their power brought to her through the air.

Continuing along, cruising about a mile above the ground, she felt a presence in her mind. This was another interesting aspect of being a Seriph. One’s mind was not one’s own. Those who were trained could look into your mind and read your thoughts, take your memories, or, if they were very strong, even control you. However, every Seriph was trained in defense of the mind. Walls could be built up, people kept out. Said walls did require a certain amount of control and concentration, and hence, meditation was necessary. The presence that pressed at Ari’s walls had actually taught all of this to Ari, though at the moment, all they wanted was to speak, mind to mind. Elane, an instructor on all things of the mind, demanded to be let through. Meditation opens the mind, cleanses the heart, and fortifies our souls, thought Ari, remembering Elane’s teachings.

Yes, yes, so glad you remember, Elane thought-spoke quickly. Her mind-voice was tart and no nonsense, but you are called to an audience with the Elders. Return immediately.

What? Ari though back, the Elders? Why would they wish to speak with me, a Junior officer in the Flight ranks? But Elane had already withdrawn. Ari’s brow furrowed as she hurriedly tried to fathom why the group of the wisest and most powerful Seriph would wish to speak with her. If the Seriph had rulers, the Elders would be it. They oversaw everything in the Immortal’s world. What could they want? Whatever it was, Ari knew it would alter her course in life, forever.

Want to comment on this Short Stories? Sign up to Edit Red and you will be able to comment on Short Stories and get access to: Upload your own stories and poems, get readers and their feedback, promote your work...