– I'd ask you to explain, but I'm afraid it would be pointless – I looked at my best friend.
– It is – she nodded vigorously.
– This is Oli – she pointed casually at the man sitting silently. – He's here to keep us safe since you didn't want to fly private.
I just rolled my eyes.
– I'm going to work, Blondie, remember? I want to be a soldier, not go on vacation!
– But you'll also study, grow, you're not going as a slave – she laughed, then suddenly turned serious.
– My dearest, only friend, I understand you feel like you want to give something back to our family. And you know I've supported every crazy idea you've had so far, but don't you think this is a bit much? Buy Mom some flowers, sing her a cute song, go to one of her dumb performances. She'd love that too, and that would be enough – she shared her thoughts, drifting off, but when she saw my cold expression, she took a deep breath and continued.
– Look, no one asked you for anything. You think I don't know exactly what you're planning? There are plenty of cities in the world where people like me live. But you want to move exactly where the most arrogant, repulsive—yet richest and most attractive—individuals live?
She got a little lost in thought.
– Elis – I said firmly. – A few minutes ago I actually took you seriously.
She looked at me sternly again.
– If Mom and Dad knew you're not going to the inhabited part of Switzerland, you definitely wouldn't be sitting here now. This isn't a game, Avarka. Not every angel is like my parents, or the ones we've introduced you to. We're fallen. That's not a badge of honor. Not everyone handles it with grace. There's a lot you still don't know about us.
– It's kind of you to say that, but I'm fully aware not everyone is good. That's exactly why I'm training – so I can protect you – I tried to find understanding in her eyes, but instead I saw a kind of fear I had never seen in her before.
– So – she swallowed hard – you really want to train yourself, and the job is just…
– The job is just for lodging and a bit of money, yes – I looked her in the eye, angrily. – I want to grow. I want to be a useful part of your world. Even though I'm different, clumsy, and not in everything, I know that in the heart of your kind, in Rindanorf, there are beings much stronger and more advanced than you. But there I can improve—and I can become one of the dark-clad!
I tried to sound convincing, but my voice trembled slightly.
– Avarka – she looked deep into my eyes – you have no idea how much stronger they are than us, do you?
– No, not really – I admitted – but that's not the point. As one of the dark-clad, my life gains meaning. I can do something for you—something truly important.
– I need a drink – the blonde jumped up, grabbed the bottle of champagne we had set aside, took a swig, then sat back down and tried to stay calm. – Just try not to get yourself killed, okay? It's not easy to hurt us—only to wound. But we can't say the same for you – she poked at me, annoyed.
– Okay – I agreed.
I felt how hard it was for her to accept this. I felt her pain, her desperation. But I also knew she understood she couldn't talk me out of something I had already decided. And I knew she would cover for me.
Night turned to day, and morning came again. We were seated at the front of the plane. Thanks to my best friend, no one else was in our section, but then the loudspeaker came on:
– We will be landing shortly.
Elis, as if she hadn't slept a single minute, jumped up and began waking the bodyguard in the neighboring cabin.
– Oli, hello? Oliiiiii, Olikaaaa… God, this is why I brought you! We could've been kidnapped already – she tried to hold back laughter, then looked at me. – You know, maybe you really should learn some basic self-defense.
We both laughed at her words.
Elis was glowing. Her royal blue jumpsuit and golden hair gave off something… as if she truly had an angelic nature.
I had planned to put on my boring red coat, but I had to abandon the idea quickly.
– No, no, no! Take that off immediately! There's no way I'm taking you to the city of angels in that rag.
– What do you mean, "taking me up there"? – I asked, confused.
– What did you think? That you'd teleport straight from the Swiss airport? Or a taxi would take you?
The look on my face must've revealed that yes, that's exactly what I thought.
– Oh my god! Lucky I'm with you. We angels aren't that naïve!
After a thorough lecture and once the bodyguard came to, we landed. I tucked away my red raincoat and put on a much more flattering, fitted white outfit. I tied my hair into a loose bun. At the airport, a black AMG Mercedes was waiting for us. A bald man in a suit was sitting in the front seat. He wore the same sunglasses as Elis and the bodyguard. That was all it took—Elis immediately handed me a pair.
– Here you go, bestie. You're going to need this.
Once we looked enough like a vengeance-seeking elite team, we headed toward the mountains. Hours passed. We twisted along lakes and ridgelines. As we moved forward, my heart pounded faster. I felt like something was waiting for me there, like something pulsed stronger and stronger the closer I got. I watched the wind sweep across green meadows, the snow slowly covering the traces of flowers, and how a completely different world began to unfold before us. As if I were slowly breaking away from Earth's gravity.
– Are we there yet? – Elis's impatient voice pulled me from my thoughts.
– Yes, ma'am. The gate is visible – the driver replied.
– Now pay attention, bestie – the blonde looked at me, excited. – This is the gate of Rindanorf. Only those of my kind or elite initiated humans can bring someone through it. So… you're welcome – she winked playfully.
While she was having fun, my heart pounded harder. I could barely breathe. My breaths came in gasps. An unexplainable sensation took over my entire body, like my whole being was burning, being consumed from within. One moment. That's all it took. And the ground vanished beneath me. My last memory was sitting on the ground, with my long brown hair tumbling loose around me.