Ariel Rising

by A. J. Sparber

  “You’re not going to go easy on yourself, are you?” he asks, with a glint of pride in his eyes.

  “Would the Zon go easy on me?” I ask, rhetorically.

  “No,” he agrees. “But it’s not really about hating the Zon.”

  “Then what’s it all about?”

  “We fight so that goodness and love can thrive. We fight to protect the innocent. And the man you killed tonight was a fallen angel.”

  I feel humbled. Ashamed. “I’m sorry, Davin. I’ll try to keep things in perspective. And I’m sorry I pushed you. I didn’t hurt you, did I?”

  “No, you did not hurt me. But you are getting impossibly strong. I will need to be careful around you,” he says, smiling. “We should get some sleep now. Tomorrow will be a busy day.”

  I don’t want to be alone in the guest suite. It’s not that I’m afraid. I just want Davin close to me. I need the comfort only he can provide.

  “I’d rather not sleep alone tonight.”

  “Ari, your mother—I promised her.”

  “I don’t intend for us to do anything that would cause that promise to be broken. Please?”

  He moves to my side and places his hand on my shoulder. “Are you sure?”

  I stand up and wrap my arms around his neck. “I’m very sure,” I whisper, speaking directly to his heart. “I want you near me.”

  “I know you do. But…”

  “No buts,” I say softly. “I’m an angel. And I happen to be in love with you.”

  He looks startled. He looks as if he wants to speak, but he can’t find his voice.

  “Do you not want me to love you, Davin?”

  He arches his brow and stares.

  I’m getting worried. Did I just make a complete fool of myself?

  “Davin?”

  His poise seems to return and he smiles.

  “It happened the night we slept on your sofa—”

  “What? What happened?” Did I miss something? Something important?

  His smile widens and lights up his eyes. They’re sparkling like jewels.

  “I fell in love with you.”

  My heart flutters and I feel warm all over. “You did?”

  He nods slowly. “I did.”

  “You didn’t tell me.”

  “I wasn’t sure how you felt. Love between two angels is a very powerful force. It is...”

  “Forever,” I say, completing his thought. “Are you afraid I don’t understand that? Do you think my human side makes me prone to frivolous fits of infatuation? Because if you do, please allow me to set you straight.” I take a long breath and gaze into his eyes. “I am in love with you, there will never be anyone else, and that’s all there is to it.”

  He shakes his head and chuckles.

  “What?”

  “This is why I love you.”

  “It is? What is?”

  “I believe the term is moxie. You are bold and fearless. You are spunky.”

  “You love me because I’m spunky?”

  “Well, that…and because you are kind, and selfless, and brilliant, and very beautiful?”

  “You think I’m all that?”

  He loses his voice again and just stares.

  “Davin?”

  “Come here, my Padawan.”

  Before I can respond, he laces his fingers through my hair and pulls me tight to his chest. “You are the most extraordinary angel ever born and I…I am the most fortunate.”

  He kisses the top of my head, as he whispers, “Forever and never ending.”

  His words and his touch make me shudder with ecstasy. “Kiss me, Davin. Kiss me like your life depends on it.”

  “It does,” he says, as he captures my upper lip softly between his teeth.

  Our kiss deepens and I smile inside, because I realize that each kiss we share seems to be better than the ones before, and we have eons of time and kisses to look forward to.

  “We should get some sleep,” he says, as he slowly pulls away. “It’s been a long and difficult day and we have much to do tomorrow.”

  I nod and smile. “True. But I’m really liking how this day is ending. Shall we go to bed, Darling?”

  “Yes, but remember…we need to be careful.”

  “We do?”

  “No kisses like this, or we could go missing for a very long time.”

  I want to go missing. I would love nothing more than to go missing with Davin. But there are things to do. People to see. Responsibilities, obligations and…

  “I will be strong,” I say with a crooked smile. “But only because I don’t want my mom to torture you.”

  “Go ahead and use the bathroom first. I have some data to review,” Davin says, staring at the information screen embedded in his desktop.

  “Okay. I won’t be long.”

  I close the bathroom door, grab my toothbrush, and stand in front of the mirror.

  “You look awful,” I say to the haggard-looking creature staring back at me. She looks like she’s had a very, very hard day. “Things can only get better,” I tell her. She looks at me like I’m crazy. I sigh. “Go to bed,” she tells me.

  Davin is still sitting at his desk, reading. “The bathroom is all yours,” I say.

  “Thanks,” he replies, as he shuts down the computer and walks into the bathroom, leaving me alone in his bedroom.

  I pull back the cover and slide onto the luxurious silk-like sheet underneath. The bed is really comfortable, and it really belongs to my boyfriend. No, boyfriend is not the right word. He’s my angel, my comfort, my strength. He’s the most important person in my world.

  “You are not sleeping, yet you appear to be dreaming.”

  His voice startles me. “I was. It was a good dream.” I pat the space next to me. “Get in.”

  He lies down beside me. “What did you dream about?”

  “Us. I dreamt about us and whether you sleep with your shirt on or not.”

  He just stares at me. Then he shakes his head slowly and smiles. “Maybe I should wear a long flannel nightie,” he teases.

  “I want you to be comfortable. Sit up,” I say.

  I rise to my knees, reach under the hem of his shirt, and gently lift it over his head, letting my fingers brush lightly over his bare skin. I reach down and tap his hip, allowing my hand to linger. “Do you normally sleep in your shorts?” I ask. “You needn’t be shy.”

  “These are my sleeping shorts. There is nothing underneath them except me.”

  “Got it. In that case, we can leave them on. Are you comfortable now?”

  “I’m never uncomfortable when I’m with you. But you look exhausted. Lie down and put your head on my incredibly soft pillow. I promise you’ll get the best night’s sleep you’ve ever had.”

  “That sounds delicious,” I say, as I lay my head on the pillow. “I love this pillow.”

  Davin lays down beside me, and we turn to face each other. “You were remarkably brave tonight,” he says.

  “I really didn’t have a choice.”

  “You are wrong. We always have a choice. And the choices we make define who we are.”

  “Who am I, then?” I ask, with a smirk.

  “You don’t know?”

  “Hmm. I’m your angel. And since you chose me, I must help to define you.”

  “Good. And since you chose me, we must help to define each other. Descartes would cower in our presence.”

  “I would have found him boring,” I remark.

  “He was boring. Very boring. And he never bathed.”

  “Eww.”

  I lean over and gaze into Davin’s eyes. “The cat’s out of the bag, Warrior. We’re stuck with each other now. You know that, don’t you?”

  “I do,” he says.

  “Forever and always,” I say softly.

  His eyes widen momentarily, and he gently tucks some loose hairs behind my ear. Our closeness seems so perfectly natural. This is where I belong. Beside him. Always.

  As I begin to dri
ft off, he whispers in my ear. “Never ending.”

  I purr contentedly as he wraps me in a tender embrace.

  Chapter 19

  I awake to the gentle rays of a virtual sunrise and the rhythmic beat of Davin’s heart, as I lay with my head on his chest.

  He loves me. He really loves me.

  I run my fingers across his abdomen, trying to tickle him awake. He trembles, as a soft moan escapes his lips.

  “Mmm, this is a wonderful way to wake up,” he says.

  “Almost perfect,” I whisper.

  “Almost?”

  “The me-and-you part is perfect, more than perfect,” I say, as I make little circles on his chest with my finger. “But I’m worried about Ella.”

  “Of course you are. I am, too. Thalia is expecting us at noon. We should eat something before we go.”

  Right on cue, my stomach rumbles, making Davin chuckle. “I want pancakes and bacon,” I say, patting my belly.

  “Your wish is my command. But I would like an appetizer.”

  “An appetizer?”

  “Yes.”

  Slowly and softly, his lips glide down my neck, stopping only when they reach the lace top of my cami. Little sounds escape my throat. Sounds I never imagined I could make.

  “Delicious,” he whispers, into my chest.

  Unfair. Totally unfair.

  “Better than torik?” I ask.

  “Much better. More delicate. So tender.”

  “Feel free to have a second helping,” I say, breathlessly, as my heart threatens to leave my body.

  “I would, but then we might not leave this room for a very long time,” he teases.

  “You’re bad.”

  “The good bad or the ‘bad’ bad?”

  “Both,” I say, rolling my eyes.

  We shower separately, eat, and are out the door by 11:45.

  Davin’s house opens into a small courtyard. On the left is an elevator that leads to the surface. On the right, a clear door, behind which is parked Davin’s personal vehicle, which puts his Carrera to shame. Thalia’s house is within walking distance, but Davin always rides to meetings—just in case something comes up that requires him to travel. He likes to be prepared.

  We hop inside, and Davin punches in our destination—Thalia’s house. The transport hums as it levitates several inches above the ground, suspended by a magnetic field.

  We accelerate smoothly, under the control of Portal City’s transportation network, and arrive at Thalia’s in less than a minute. Davin’s transport pulls off the main line and parks itself in a guest area.

  I feel anxious as we walk toward the door. Ella is strong. But what she endured last night is beyond tragic. I steel myself and pray for the best.

  Davin waves his hand across the door panel, and the scanner flashes blue. Several seconds pass, and then the door slides open.

  Ella is standing there. I’ve never seen her look so lost.

  “Ella,” I say, as my eyes fill with tears. Reaching for each other at the same time, we meet in a fierce hug, and we sob.

  “She’s gone, Ari,” she whispers in my ear.

  “I know,” I say.

  She steps back and looks me in the eye. “She died a hero. She stepped in front of Cindy Greenwood. She shielded her.”

  I didn’t know that, but I’m not surprised. Maggie always put others before herself. “Oh, Ella…”

  “It hurts. I’m going to miss her so much.”

  “So am I, honey. So am I,” I say, as the tears begin to flow again.

  Davin steps beside me and puts his arm around Ella’s shoulder. “If there is anything you need, anything at all,” he says, as he gently leads her inside the house.

  “Thank you, Davin,” she replies, with a sniffle.

  I’m no more than three feet into the house when Tal sweeps me up into a bear hug. “I thought I lost her. Thank you for saving her.”

  Tal releases me, and we stand, facing each other. “We both almost lost her,” I say in a soft voice. “Have you two talked?” I ask, loud enough for everyone to hear.

  Ella answers. “I know everything. I know I just spent the night on another planet. I know that you healed me. And I know that you changed me.”

  She doesn’t look angry. She looks…resigned.

  “How do you feel about that?” I ask.

  She runs her fingers through her hair and gazes up at the virtual skylight. “I’m having a hard time focusing on things right now. I don’t know. I need some time.”

  “Of course. Take all the time you need. I’ll be here for you. Always.”

  “I know, sweetie. I just wish Mom were here to see all of this,” she says with a tremble.

  I don’t know how to respond, so I hug her tightly. “I love you, Ella. I always will.”

  Thalia and Mom emerge from the kitchen and greet us. “Please come and sit with us in the kitchen,” Thalia says.

  Thalia’s kitchen is much larger and more formal than Davin’s. The table is huge, and being an Olympian kitchen, there are no appliances. It looks more like a conference room.

  “Well,” Thalia says. “We have a lot to discuss.”

  Ella comes up beside me and kisses my cheek. “I’m going out for a while. I’ll see you soon.”

  “Where are you going, honey?” I ask.

  “Tal and I need to talk. We’ll be back before you leave.”

  I nod and stand, facing Ella. “I’ll be here if you need me,” I say, as I grasp her hand.

  “I know, sweetie,” she says as she takes Tal’s arm.

  “I’ll see you later,” I say, as Ella and Tal walk outside.

  The door slides closed and Thalia sighs. “Ella is not happy with Tal, and the fact that he did not confide in her.”

  “She’s probably not so happy with me, either,” I say.

  Mom reaches over and squeezes my hand. “She’ll be alright. She’ll understand. We’re family now.”

  Ella’s grandparents are gone. She has no close relatives left. And she’s still seventeen.

  “She’ll be a minor until July,” I say to Mom. “Won’t social services…”

  “Maggie designated me as Ella’s guardian in her will. I called Mr. Jarvis this morning. He will file the necessary court papers on Monday, and I will be her legal guardian until she turns eighteen.”

  “How could I even doubt for a moment that you wouldn’t be two steps ahead of any potential problem?”

  “You doubted me?” Mom asks, smiling.

  “Not really. What about the funeral?”

  “Thalia and I will take care of the details tomorrow. I’ve made preliminary arrangements with a funeral home.”

  Thalia clears her throat. “We are all part of the same family now. I wish we could take Ella’s pain away. But she is strong. She’ll get through it.”

  Mom and I nod. Ella is one of the strongest people I know. She will get through this.

  Thalia puts on her business face. “I’ve arranged for a team to take down Bodden’s Zon organization. They will study the intelligence reports and decide on a schedule. It seems they run a rather large prostitution operation in Charlottesville—featuring high school girls.” She grimaces. “Apparently they were recruiting in Edgewood and decided to have a little fun. The mission should be interesting because the brothel’s patrons include a United States senator and two congressmen. I’ll keep you posted.”

  “Thanks,” I say, “but I have other priorities right now, such as how my mom and Ella were changed. It almost seems miraculous.”

  Thalia sits up straight. “Perhaps, in a way, they were miracles, Ari.”

  “I’ve learned much from you, Thalia. I’ve learned that all beings, including angels, are subject to natural law. Is there something you have failed to tell me?”

  “The fact that life exists…” She reaches across the table and squeezes my hand. “The fact that we exist is pretty miraculous. Don’t you think?”

  I remember many evenings, sitting by
the lake behind my house, gazing at the stars, and wondering where it all came from. How was the universe really formed? How could reality have become…real? How remarkable is it that I can even ponder such things? “Now that you put it that way…”

  “There is no limit to what is genetically possible. There is still so much we don’t know,” Thalia says with pursed lips.

  “We don’t know how my mom and I came to be angels. Do you really have a theory?”

  Thalia locks eyes with me. “I do.”

  I watch intently as Thalia taps her data panel. A holographic image of a man slowly forms over the table.

  It’s my dad, and somehow I am not surprised. Not in the least.

  “That’s my dad.”

  Mom doesn’t look surprised, either. She and Thalia must have discussed this yesterday.

  “Where did you get the image?” I ask Thalia.

  “It is nearly one million years old. Your father is being honored. The occasion was a ceremony marking the defeat of the Zon and the formation of the Olympian Governing Council. He was known as Damas—which means father in the ancient dialects. His given name is actually Damian, a fact that is not widely known on Olympus today. He was the Elder leader.”

  “My dad was the leader of the Elders?”

  “Yes, dear,” Thalia says.

  “Why? Why did he keep this from us?” I ask.

  Thalia gives me a helpless look and shrugs.

  “Never mind, I’m just thinking out loud.”

  “Ari…?”

  “Yes, Mom?”

  “He’s alive.”

  I gasp and suddenly feel a little lightheaded. “My God,” I whisper.

  “There is something else,” Thalia says. “This morning, I discovered an obscure reference indicating a daughter.”

  “In addition to me?” I ask.

  “Yes.”

  “And you know who she is?” Mom asks.