Jennifer Murgia - Angel Star

I dared to look down to see how high we really were. I turned my eyes toward the stones, the patterns of light that splashed across them on the floor, and I felt the breath leave me. From here I could see the one thing that would bring me to my senses. The one thing strong enough to break any spell.

Fragmented light from the stained glass windows stretched its way across the floor, appearing haphazard at first, but from this height I saw clearly now that the light broke off into eight points, each pointing to an arched opening in the walls. I traced the lines back to the center where the beams of light touched each other. To my wonder, it formed a perfect circle at its center.

The heart of an octagram.

I saw the beautiful star from where Hadrian held me and my heart crushed in agony. It was his star, Garreth’s star, and the moment I saw it I remembered everything. I saw Garreth’s light illuminating deep within his chest. I felt the warmth it radiated and instantly felt the searing heat of my hand, the power of my own mark tingling with a simple reconnection to him. I heard his heart beating in my chest stronger than ever before and I smelled him.

He was alive.

Hadrian’s hand reached out to caress my face, to bring me back to him. Suddenly, I remembered his mark and my eyes focused on the star that was his.

Hadrian’s octagram was made up of two squares that stacked diagonally on top of one another. The four points of each square then each became a star point.

Entranced, I visually traced the lines on his palm, staring at the octagram until the two squares separated themselves from each other and became two simple squares.

Finally, I understood.

The bottom square represented the light, the Guardian he used to be, and the top square, the darkness he had become.

One on top of the other.

Dark claiming light, yet the light still visible, still trying to break free.

I thought back to the glowing screen of my computer and the peculiar meaning of Hadrian’s mark, which suddenly wasn’t so peculiar anymore.

Conflict…separation.

As we descended. I remembered that hand striking Garreth, sending him across my room in pain.

Hadrian’s hand inflicted destruction while my hand held the instrument that would separate light from dark.

More importantly, I held in my other hand my own mark.

One that could not be claimed or swayed, that had the power to inflict justice. I was the one who could witness what hung in the balance between the two worlds. I was the source of light that would split the darkness and unify the separation between the human and angel worlds.

Hadrian’s dark eyes squinted with malice. “You wouldn’t.”

“Try me. You told me never to underestimate myself.”

“Look inside yourself, Teagan, and recognize the real reason you came here. It wasn’t to seek out your Guardian. You came because of me.” Hadrian’s voice was tender now as he approached me.

In his eyes, I saw glimpses of what had just happened between us, like a movie reel rewinding in slow motion.

Fleetingly, I had succumbed. The gentle wind from his wings, the sting of the feathers, our arms intertwined.

His hand reached for me and I could hear his thoughts.

“Take it…accept me.”

And just as quickly, I came to my senses.

“No. I love Garreth. And I won’t let you destroy him or anyone else’s Guardian.”

My fingers tightened around the dagger. It was light’s turn to reclaim what was now dark and I raised my arm, aiming for the source of Hadrian’s power. He saw it coming, his wings spreading wider, flapping like thunder, rolling like the dark clouds that covered the night. His hand was raised, in protest, and his octagram glowed with red fury.

“Remember, my blood runs with yours. You cannot destroy me. We are the same.” The dark angel’s voice echoed and bounced off the stones surrounding us.

The dagger, aimed true, then plunged downward, straight into his open palm, slicing the overlapping squares neatly in two with one thrust. In the shrillness of his suffering, the stones began to loosen with his anger and began falling around my head. I tried to cover myself from being crushed, but all that fell around me was the soft silence of gray as thousands of feathers floated to the ground.

A brilliant white light shone down on me from above. I lifted my face to it, feeling a soft shower of white that floated down to me, kissing my cheeks and eyelids. It fell as softly as white feathers but melted as soon as it touched my warm skin. I realized it was snowing. Fluffs of white drifted down through the massive opening in the roof where the tower once stood, washing away the darkness. I was sleepy and wanted nothing more than to lie down and dream but the gentle flakes tingled my skin, keeping me awake. I heard footsteps behind me, and as I turned I realized Hadrian was nowhere to be seen. I looked around frantically, wondering what had become of him, what had become of Garreth, but I only found a dusting of white snow on the floor. I was alone.

As the footsteps grew closer, I saw an arched tunnel that was lit by a warm glow that grew in size and moved with the imminent visitor. My heart pounded in hope, for I wanted it so much to be Garreth; but, as the figure entered what was left of the stone chamber, my heart sank and I began to wonder if Hadrian’s words were true.

A Guardian stood before me, aged and regal, white wings tinged with gold folded at his sides. He gestured for me to look to my right. Before me, the shattered walls of stone magically disintegrated and I looked out upon a vast sea of angels, their multicolored feathers blending into a cloud of color as they stood shoulder to shoulder.

In a wise, gravelly voice the angel spoke. “There are thousands of Guardians; one for each person, sometimes two or more. You have done the remarkable. By ensuring that our society still exists, you have begun to save the race to which you belong.

The Guardians have been released, but the damage Hadrian has begun cannot be reversed until humans want them back, thus restoring order to the balance of all things.”

His pale-blue eyes were almost white. Not the eerie, chalky white that I had seen on Brynn and Claire, but the white of the endless sky that hovers beyond the blue. They were eyes that had seen many things. I felt humbled that they looked upon my confused face now.

“But how can a human want their Guardian back if they don’t even know they’re missing?”

“You are the example of all that is possible. The voice of reason is not only the voice of a Guardian. It is also your own. You should be very proud of yourself. I speak for all the Guardians when I say you have done a great thing.”

“May I ask you something?” I said timidly.

“Please, my name is Mathur, and you may ask whatever you wish.”

“I came here looking for someone. Is he…? I need to know if he…” My composure was failing me. If I said his name, I knew I would lose it completely.

“Yes, he is well. Do not worry, my child. You will see him soon,” the angel reassured me.

I was relieved at his words but I wanted to ask so much more. Where was he? Was he hurt? How long do I have to wait to see him? There was so much I needed to know and still I wouldn’t be satisfied until I could feel his arms around me and breathe him into my lungs.

“Your life, even a few days ago was quite different, yes?” Mathur folded his hands together.

I looked at Mathur and smiled, feeling a little more comfortable. He reminded me of a grandfather, warm and wise.

What did I feel? I was still me. I was still the girl I had always been, but there was something remarkably changed about me. I took stock of all that had happened to me in a surprisingly short amount of time.