“Believe me,” sighed Imorean. “I know.”
Chapter 3
‘We are getting ready to descend into Iqaluit International Airport. Please prepare yourselves for landing,’ said a loud voice over the jet’s intercom.
Imorean’s brown eyes opened sharply, the announcement jerking him out of a light sleep. He immediately looked about, brushing a few strands of his white hair out of his eyes, confused as to where he was. He found his grounding a moment later. He was on a plane, on his way to Iqaluit, a stopover on the way to Pangnirtung, a small village on Baffin Island. The Felsenmeer base was just a few miles outside Pangnirtung. Michael was sitting next to him, still as a statue. On Imorean’s other side was Roxy. She was still sleeping quite heavily. Imorean looked around. The other passengers had no idea that there was an Archangel in their midst. Not for the first time, Imorean was glad that their wings could be hidden from the eyes of normal humans. On a crowded plane like this, they could have made for some very awkward questions.
Imorean leaned back in the seat, yawning and rubbing his eyes, clearing sleep from them. He jumped as Michael elbowed him lightly.
“Relax,” said Michael, sounding amused. “We are just getting ready to land. I wanted to make sure you were awake.”
Imorean nodded. “I’m alive, but you know getting an elbow in the ribs as soon as you wake up isn’t the best feeling in the world.”
“So I see,” replied Michael. He glanced past Imorean and indicated to Roxy. “Wake her up, would you?”
“Sure,” said Imorean, shaking Roxy’s shoulder gently. He hated to have to wake her. She had slept so much since hearing the verdict about her family. She hadn’t spoken about it, but Imorean knew she was deeply upset.
“Here already?” asked Roxy, her hazel eyes fluttering open slowly.
“I guess,” shrugged Imorean. Despite the fact that she was upset, a small, selfish part of him was glad she had not changed her plans to wait for her parents. He didn’t want to imagine having only Michael for company. It was Gabriel who had worked behind the scenes and Imorean knew he owed Gabriel for Roxy being with him at all. Had it not been for him pulling strings, Imorean knew Roxy probably wouldn’t have been able to come and it would have been him alone with Michael.
Imorean felt the plane tilt as it began to descend toward the airport’s runway. He frowned as he thought back to their departure. It had been very hasty and covert. His grandparents hadn’t been able to come and see him off as they had when he left North Carolina last time and his mother had still been very quiet. Imorean knew she hadn’t wanted him to leave, but there wasn’t anything either of them could have done. He sighed. This situation wasn’t fair to him or to her. He knew how frightened she was and that the fear was not just on his behalf.
“She will learn to accept it in time, Imorean,” said Michael knowingly.
“Stop doing that,” said Imorean. “It’s creepy.”
It annoyed him when Michael sensed his emotions. It was invasive.
“It is rather hard for me to do so. Due to the fact that we share angelic genes, you and I are more closely connected than I am with many other angels,” said Michael.
Imorean wrinkled his nose and looked away. Perhaps the connection between them had been there ever since he had gone to Gracepointe, but that didn’t make Imorean like it any more. If anything, his awareness of the connection made him dislike it more strongly.
“When will everyone else be getting here?” asked Imorean, changing the subject.
“The members of your squad will be arriving here very soon. In just a few weeks, Gabriel will bring them.”
“Do you know who will be on it yet?”
“Only a few members. We are still looking for a few more eligible candidates.”
“Okay,” replied Imorean, taking a deep breath. He hoped fervently that he would get people he could work with easily.
Brown eyes turned to look out of the window. Landing flaps had deployed. Beyond the wing tips, white stretched around in every direction. A few small hills rose up from the landscape, and exposed, black rock lay like jagged holes in the very earth. There was a thud as the plane’s wheels touched down on the tarmac of the runway. It was the only part of this barren world that was not covered in snow.
“Get up. We need to get ready,” said Michael, rubbing his eyes.
Imorean wasn’t sure, but he thought the Archangel looked tired. Then again, Imorean couldn’t say he blamed him. They had been travelling for over sixteen hours. Now that he was aware of his true nature, Imorean had found that there were some marked differences about him. He didn’t get tired as easily as he used to, nor did he feel cold or heat quite the same anymore. He wondered if things had been this way in Norway or if he was just noticing the changes now because he was more aware of them. While they had been changing planes in Ottawa, Imorean remembered having felt a chill, but nothing that had really bothered him too much. Cold certainly didn’t feel unbearable.
As Imorean stood to retrieve his carry-on bag from the overhead compartment, he again glanced out of one of the plane’s small, oval windows. Even though it was the middle of the day, the darkness of night was already closing in. Of course, it would be almost dark. They were in the Arctic Circle in winter. The land here was submerged in near permanent darkness during this time of the year. The exposed rock faces of the small hills seemed to stare back at him like the eyes of a skull. Imorean shuddered and looked away. The white-haired teenager hefted his bag down from the overhead compartment and as he helped Roxy get hers down, he wondered what would await them at Felsenmeer.
“Come on, you two,” said Michael, as soon as Roxy had settled her bag on her shoulders. “This journey is not quite over yet.”
Imorean smiled at Roxy. She returned it and shook her head. Imorean couldn’t help but find humor in the irony behind Michael’s words. The journey was only just beginning.
“Where on God’s green Earth have you brought us?” asked Roxy, barely able to maintain her balance.
Imorean looked around, not that there was much to see, and tried to get his bearings. Teleporting with angels still made him feel a bit disoriented. He stared out into the shadowy grayness of the advancing night. There was a bitterly cold sea wind blowing toward them. Imorean could taste salt on the air. Flurries of loose snow were tumbling around them. He turned to Roxy. She was only a few feet away, her rainbow, macaw wings wrapped around her shoulders, her black and dyed blue hair whipping about in the wind. Michael stood just beyond her, nearly obscured by the falling snow.
“Pretty sure it’s God’s white Earth,” said Imorean, correcting his best friend.
“Welcome to Felsenmeer,” said Michael.
Imorean blinked hard as bright, white floodlights were turned on, illuminating a cluster of three buildings. Imorean’s jaw dropped open. The two smaller buildings were unimpressive, simply four walls and a roof. It was the third that truly caught his attention. He had heard of ski lodge mansions before, but this building trumped them all. It was several hundred meters long and Imorean assumed, just as wide as it was long. It had three visible stories and a front which was almost entirely glass. Massive exterior windows, supported by thick wooden beams, dominated the first and second floors, allowing a golden glow to spill onto the snow in front. Behind the glass, Imorean could see an interior balcony forming the second level. Longer, smaller windows marked the third floor. Only a few rooms were illuminated on the top floor.
“This is where we’re staying?” asked Imorean, adjusting his bag on his shoulders. He was awestruck.
“It is quite small, but large enough for our purposes,” shrugged Michael. He motioned at the biggest building. “That is the main building. Instructor offices and faculty rooms are on the third floor. Your sleeping quarters are on the second floor. Lobby, kitchen, dining room, lounge, student supply center, game room and bar for those of age take up most of the bottom floor. The library is built out behind the main building. Vehicle gar
age, storage and gymnasium are below ground. The hospital wing occupies a separate annex adjoining the main building.”
“What are those other two buildings?” asked Imorean, looking around and stamping his feet in the cold. He hadn’t noticed the cold when they had been further south, but this was no ordinary cold. This was advanced cold. This was the type of cold that pierced immediately down to his bones. Even his Archangel nature couldn’t tune this out.
“Classrooms and chart rooms. Come on, let us go inside. The two of you look a bit cold.”
“No, I think it’s quite mild out here,” said Roxy. Imorean could hear her teeth chattering. “I think I might go for a leisurely swim in that frozen river in the small hours of the morning.”
“Why on Earth would you do a thing like that?” asked Michael, furrowing his brow in confusion.
“Roxy, remember he doesn’t do jokes,” said Imorean, placing a hand on Roxy’s shoulder.
“Right, right,” nodded Roxy, smiling slightly. Imorean was relieved to see her smiling. She hadn’t smiled much at all since the incident with Bethany or her family.
“Vortigern won’t find us up here, will he?” asked Imorean, falling into step next to Michael.
“He should not be able to,” replied Michael. “But that does not mean he will not try, so we must remain cautious and minimize our movements for the first few weeks.”
“I see,” nodded Imorean. He looked around, feeling slightly intimidated by the darkness all around. “How many hours of daylight do we have here?”
“Not many. Six on a good day, four on a bad one, so we will take full advantage of them. You and Miss Daire will learn how to fly in icy conditions over the next few weeks. You will find new uniforms in your rooms,” said Michael.
Imorean paused slightly to allow the first set of two automatic doors to open. The second opened only seconds later. Inside, the massive lobby was decorated in the spirit of a ski lodge. One fire burned in a large grate at each end. Above each fireplace, between mounted sets of antlers, huge televisions displayed the news. Generously-sized, comfortable-looking couches and chairs were set out in clusters near each fireplace. A few tables were amongst the couches. The floor was wood, but thick rugs covered most of it. Imorean looked around. There was no visible staircase, only a set of double doors nestled at each end of the massive entrance hall. He had to admit, it did seem very homey. It was perfectly designed for students. He looked up. The ceiling was more than double the normal height to accommodate the open structure of the second floor. He smiled. The circumstances for him being here weren’t the best, but he liked the place. He couldn’t wait to see the rest of the campus or the surroundings.
“What possessed you guys to build a training camp here?” asked Imorean, brushing snow from the bottoms of his jeans.
“It is another Enochian site and we wanted to challenge our students and ourselves. Like I stated earlier, only the best of the best came to Felsenmeer. You should consider yourselves lucky.”
Imorean looked over his shoulder and out of one of the nearby windows. Snow was now coming down in sheets. Had they been outside, they probably wouldn’t have been able to see ten feet. He frowned. Would the weather be like this permanently? His attitude soured.
“Yeah. Real lucky.”
“Follow me,” said Michael, turning on his heel and leading the way across the entrance hall. “I am certain that both of you are tired.”
“You’ve got that right,” said Roxy, covering her mouth as she yawned.
Imorean looked over his shoulder and waited for Roxy to catch up to him and Michael. When he turned back, he spotted Michael folding his wings, already up on the second floor landing. Only a slim, metal railing separated the second floor from the open first floor.
“Aren’t there stairs in this place?” asked Imorean, opening his wings.
“There are,” nodded Michael. “I never use them much here. We designed Felsenmeer to be a bit more angel and flight friendly.”
Imorean smiled and took off. It only took him a few wingbeats to reach the railing. He landed lightly on the other side and waited for Roxy to join himself and Michael.
“You will find that things here are more relaxed than they were at Gracepointe,” said Michael. “There are not so many faculty and not so many students, therefore, not as much need for stringent rules.”
“Well that’s something to look forward to I guess,” said Imorean, shrugging. He looked up and down the long hallway. “How many student rooms are there in this place?”
“In total, there are twelve rooms for the students, but we are easily capable of homing around twenty-four students. Miss Daire, your room is toward the middle of this hallway. You are room eight,” said Michael, stopping on the landing at the top of the stairs and extending a room key to Roxy.
“Thanks,” said Roxy, taking it. “Where’s Imorean’s room?”
“Imorean will be staying in room one. At the far end of this hall. Male bathrooms are at Imorean’s end of the hall, female bathrooms are at your end, Roxy,” replied Michael, passing Imorean another key and turning on his heel. “If you need anything, I will be awake for some time. I will most likely be in the library or on the third floor. There is a fully-stocked kitchen downstairs if you are hungry and I am sure that the kitchen staff would be more than happy to make you something to eat.”
“Thanks, Michael,” said Imorean. His gaze dropped to the second floor’s pale green carpet as he said the words. Even though Michael had entered his life unwelcomed and had taken it by storm, the Archangel had opened his eyes to an entirely new world and had saved his life on several occasions. In a way, Imorean knew he owed him.
“Go and get some rest,” said the Archangel. “I can tell that you are tired. You would not otherwise thank me.”
“Was that a joke?” asked Imorean, glancing back up at Michael.
“Perhaps,” replied Michael with an uncharacteristic shrug. “I will bid you both a good evening.”
“Good evening,” said Imorean and Roxy together. Imorean watched as Michael proceeded down to the end of the hallway and pushed open a set of double doors at the end. Imorean inclined his head. The third floor it seemed was the only area not accessible by wing. He would perhaps have lingered longer had Roxy not pulled on his arm.
“Hey, daydreamer,” she said, tugging on his coat sleeve. “Come on. I’m exhausted. Let’s go and get settled and get to bed.”
“Okay,” replied Imorean, shaking himself.
“How do you feel?” asked Roxy when they were standing in front of the door to her new dorm room. Imorean noticed that her hands were trembling as she tried to insert the key to her dorm into the lock.
“Let me,” said Imorean, taking the key from her and catching the lock on the first try. Roxy looked at him, or rather gazed at him, and offered him a soft smile that took Imorean aback. He wasn’t sure she had ever looked at him like that before. He chalked the tender look up to tiredness and returned her smile with a jovial one of his own.
“I don’t feel as tired as I probably should, but… that might be due to the fact that I’m less human than most of the other hybrids,” he said.
“Don’t say that. You’re not less human,” said Roxy, pushing the door open. “Just more angel.”
“I like that outlook,” replied Imorean, stepping in behind her. He flipped the light switch on Roxy’s wall and looked around as the room was lit up.
“Huh, we have private rooms here. Nice change,” mused Imorean. He glanced at the end of her bed. Just as they had at Gracepointe, the suitcases had already arrived.
“I suppose it’s so we can cry in peace,” said Roxy, tossing her backpack down on the floor.
“I think it’s because there are fewer of us here,” said Imorean, rolling his eyes. “You okay in here on your own?”
“I’m not five years old, Imorean,” replied Roxy. “I think I’ll be okay.”
Imorean grinned, glad to hear humor in her voice again. �
�Just making sure.”
“Good night, Imorean.”
“Good night.”
“Thank you. For everything.”
“You’re welcome,” replied Imorean, flashing her a smile as he left her room.
As he walked down the hallway, he removed his own room key from his pocket and scanned the rooms lining both sides of the hall, looking for the one that would be his own. He looked toward the far end of the hallway and spotted it. Room one. He slid the key into the lock. When he pushed the door open, he thought he had never been happier to see a bed. He sighed in gratitude, seeing that it was already made, complete with thick blankets. Before he crashed onto his new bed though, he looked around the room, toeing off his shoes as he did so. His own suitcases had also been brought in. Things from home and from Gracepointe. He would unpack and deal with everything tomorrow. He had a desk, a dresser and a small bookshelf. In one corner of the room there was a closet. Imorean assumed that his new uniforms would be in there. A wide window ran the height of one wall, and a moment later, Imorean realized it was a sliding door. A small balcony was on the other side. It was a nice touch. The sunset orange curtains pulled halfway across the sliding door were an even nicer touch. He covered his mouth as he yawned and shrugged off his bag, depositing it on the floor. He wanted to stick his head out the sliding door and see if he could see anything outside, but perhaps that was best left until the morning. Instead, he pulled the curtain all the way across the glass door, shutting out the night. For now, he needed to sleep. Imorean stumbled forward in exhaustion, the tiredness hitting him at last, and fell onto his bed. Sleep rose up and claimed him in seconds.
Chapter 4
Imorean heard his name. Called from the kitchen. Home. How was he home? Confused, Imorean looked around. He was in his bedroom. North Carolina. Home. But it wasn’t home. The room was dark. Darker than it should have been. Two eyes leered at him from a dark corner. Imorean sat still in his bed. He couldn’t move. The eyes, small pinpricks of light, demanded that he stay still. Imorean swallowed. The eyes weren’t natural. He heard his mother call his name again. She was still in the kitchen. Her voice was shriller. Was that fear he heard? Imorean flicked his eyes to the bedroom door. Could he cross the room before the creature behind these terrible, grinning eyes caught him? Imorean’s eyes darted back to the creature. Gone. It was gone. Pressure at the end of his bed. No. No. No. Against his will, Imorean looked. Four pitch-skinned claws were dug into his duvet. Slowly, they gripped, pulling the blanket to the floor. A face rose from the darkness. Two eyes pinned Imorean where he was. A leering smile sliced through shadows. Sharp teeth framed each side of the mouth. It lunged.
Angels Defying (Angels Rising Book 3) Page 2
