The Sun Angel

by Ashley Martinez

  “How do you know?” Will hissed suddenly angry at himself. “We don’t know who we can trust.”

  “You’re right,” Richard leaned back. “Where did she get this spell that reversed Jenna’s mortality?”

  “Jenna got it right after she was turned,” Will answered, “Mae had kept it for her.”

  “Hmm,” Richard thought for a moment. “Do you know where Jenna got it?”

  Will shook his head.

  “Well, whoever gave it to her could’ve very well been trying to prevent her from ever gaining her power again.”

  The group sat in silence each pondering Richard’s words. Richard stood and stretched, “We need to get to bed. It’s late, and we’re not much help to her if we’re all sleep deprived.”

  Every nodded and slowly they left the room.

  Jenna could hear what they were saying and deep below, she was screaming that she was still there and that nothing was holding her there but her mind. She felt her dad’s kiss on her forehead and his goodnight farewell.

  Exhausted from screaming, Jenna collapsed and began crying. She wanted to wake up, more than anything, but she couldn’t find the strength to do so.

  “Jenna,” Will’s voice penetrated her dark thoughts. “Wake up.”

  She tried but failed and told him she couldn’t.

  She felt a tear drop on her cheek, and Will whispered, “Please, Jenna. You have to wake up.”

  Again Jenna struggled to pull herself up, to drag her eyes open, but they were too heavy. Finally noticing her hand in his she focused all her strength on squeezing his hand.

  A gasp above told her she’d done it.

  “Jenna, if you can hear me, squeeze my hand,” Will ordered in his usual brisk manner. She wanted to laugh with relief. Concentrating, she squeezed his hand again.

  “Oh, Angel!” she could hear his happiness. “Squeeze my hand if you’re okay.”

  What did she do? Was she okay? No, she wasn’t okay.

  “Jenna, what do I do?” Will sounded torn and broken. “I’m scared.”

  Wishing so badly to comfort him, she tried pulling herself awake, but the effort exhausted her and she fell back panting from exertion.

  “I’m sorry,” his voice was stronger now. “I only want one thing from you, Angel. Come back to me.”

  Jenna felt his cool lips press on her forehead as she fell backwards into another memory.

  ***

  “What do you think, Jenna, my dear?” Someone asked kindly.

  “Really, Silas, do you honestly think you can convince him of your plan?” Jenna smirked.

  Jenna looked closer at Silas and was surprised. She’d always pictured him to be intimidating, but this small man sitting in front of the Angel version of herself looked anything but. He almost seemed timid, shy, kind, and sincere.

  “I don’t want to lose anyone,” he looked at her earnestly. “I think if we do it my way then we’ll all be happy in the end.”

  “And what about choice and freedom? Have you thought of that?”

  He nodded, “I have. It’s a small sacrifice, and really everyone would have their agency, just later once they came home.”

  “Are you suggesting an army?”

  “It’d be like an army. You’d have ranks, but even down to the last man, we’d be united!” Silas’s eyes twinkled with excitement.

  “And if someone disobeyed?” Jenna asked.

  “They wouldn’t be able to,” he shook his head. “You see, I’ve thought of that too. We’d all be tied together with a certain power only He could control. It’s foolproof!”

  “And what do you get from it?”

  “Glory,” he pulled himself up straight. “I want glory and for everyone to return home safely.”

  “Safely…” Jenna muttered to herself. “You know, I was worried you were after power.”

  Silas looked hurt and confused, “Power?”

  “Yes, Sy,” She paused giving him a measured look before continuing. “I figured you’d be after power seeing as you aren’t as strong as your brothers.”

  He hung his head, “No, I’m not. But I plan on showing them that I am special regardless of what I look like.”

  “Oh please,” Jenna scoffed. “Isn’t being his son enough? You’re the heir to his kingdom, being the oldest.”

  “That’s not the way my Father does things,” Silas explained. “He’s told us he will only appoint the most worthy one and if I ensure the return of his people then he’ll—“

  “Appoint you,” Jenna finished nodding. “I get it.”

  “So? Are you with me?”

  She sat in silence, contemplating her answer before finally, “Yes, Silas, I’ll join you.”

  ***

  Jenna returned to her body. She was heartbroken. What’d happened to Silas? Why’d he turn so evil? Was it because they lost? No, it couldn’t be. She wasn’t able to touch Will well before the War, so what happened?

  She had to get to the bottom of it. She couldn’t sleep any longer. With every ounce of power she could muster, she pulled herself up to the surface and while the darkness fought to take her, she finally broke free and opened her eyes.

  Will was the only one in the room, staring absently down at the cover of a magazine.

  “Will,” she croaked. She flushed with embarrassment at her voice.

  His head snapped up, and he stared at her in surprise before throwing the magazine aside and dragging his chair closer.

  “Jenna!” he breathed taking her all in. As he looked into her eyes, his heart fell. Her eyes weren’t the bright gold he remembered. They had flecks of black in the gold. His eyes narrowed ever so slightly.

  “Who are you?” he asked stiffly.

  “What?” she looked confused and hurt.

  “You’re not the Sun Angel,” he stood quickly pushing the chair roughly so it hit the wall. He glanced outside and knew at once she wasn’t the real Jenna.

  “Yes, I am!” Jenna retorted.

  “What’s going on?” James poked his head in and seeing Jenna awake he called out for everyone to come and strode into the room grinning. “Jenna! I’m so glad you’re finally awake!”

  “Get away from her,” Will commanded making James stop in bewilderment.

  “What’s wrong?” he asked.

  “She’s not the Sun Angel,” Will said adamantly.

  “What are you talking about?” James laughed. “Of course she is.”

  “No,” he shook his head. “Look at her eyes, look outside.”

  James walked slowly up to her and crouched down, “Sorry,” he grimaced. “What about her eyes, mate?”

  “They aren’t solid gold like they were before,” Will pointed out. “There’s black in them.”

  “It could be from all the trauma,” Lena suggested as she glided into the room, smiling at Jenna.

  Will was already shaking his head, “Then tell me, where’s the sun?” He pulled back the curtain to reveal the bright moon.

  “Calm down, mate,” James soothed.

  “No!” Will shouted. “We’ve wasted our time with her!”

  “What’s going on?” Richard stormed in angrily and seeing Jenna awake he immediately smiled, “Jenna, baby, you’re awake!”

  “Dad!” Jenna half cried as he rushed forward to hug her. He felt like home.

  “What are you going on about, Will?” Richard turned to Will as he took hold of Jenna’s hand.

  “Will doesn’t think Jenna’s the Sun Angel,” Lena explained.

  “I don’t think, I know,” he glowered. “Does she even have any wings?”

  “Can we check?” James asked Jenna softly.

  Wings, Jenna twitched. She’d forgotten all about wings. Nodding she sat forward so they could look. She couldn’t feel anything different on her back.

  “I knew it!” Will hissed as he backed away from her.

  Lena gently pulled Jenna’s shirt back down, “Will relax. Jenna just woke up. Her body’s still healing.”


  “We did tear out her wings,” James reminded him. “They have to regrow.

  “That’s what the ritual was supposed to do!” Will shoved his fingers in his hair looking agitated. “The real Jenna must’ve set up a decoy knowing I’d be looking for her.”

  “You don’t know that,” James shook his head. “She could’ve done something to hide the sun if anything were to happen to her, but this, really? We turned her mortal, she couldn’t pull this off without an Angel’s help.”

  “And that’s where this one comes in,” Will pointed to Jenna. “She’s an Angel, just not the Sun Angel.”

  “You’re crazy!” Jenna accused. “I’m Jenna. I’m not an imposter.”

  “How do you know?” Will turned to her.

  “I, uh,” she paused not quite sure how to answer.

  “You don’t know,” Will faced James. “She doesn’t have but a few memories of the real Jenna’s, her eyes are black, no wings, and the sun is still missing.”

  “There’s not that much black in them, mate,” James pointed out.

  “She’s a decoy,” Will said confidently. “That means the real Jenna is still out there and in danger. We have to find her! Let’s go.”

  “No.” James crossed his arms defiantly.

  “What?” Will stopped at the doorway. “Are you disobeying a direct order?”

  “Yes.”

  “You can’t do that,” Will whispered.

  “I can too. Look Will, this is the real Jenna, and I’m going to stay here and protect her.”

  “Fine, have it your way,” Will snapped. “But don’t forget, if you get in my way I’ll have to kill you.”

  “Same for you,” James nodded. “I wish you the best of luck, mate.”

  Will sighed, “You too, James.”

  “Wait!” Jenna called out. “Are you really leaving?”

  Will glanced at her, “Yes.”

  “Don’t!” She blanched at the thought of being without him. “Please!”

  “I have to find my Angel, and I’m sorry but you aren’t her.”

  “Will, please!” Jenna tried getting to her feet but Richard pushed her back down. “Ask your heart! Don’t look at the facts…look to your heart!”

  Will paused and looked at Jenna. Her eyes were wide and filled with tears, her cheeks were flushed, and he could see her body shake with fear. He wanted to rush to her and hold her, tell her he’d never leave her, but he couldn’t ignore the facts. This wasn’t the real Sun Angel. He should’ve guessed with how different this girl was to the true Jenna, but he was so eager to see the best in Jenna he’d forgotten she’d lost her heart years ago.

  “I’m sorry,” he finally said. “You’re not the real Jenna, and I have to find her.”

  “No!” Jenna sobbed a heart wrenching sob almost making Will run to her but he resisted.

  “Emanuel,” he barked. “Come with me; we have a long journey ahead of us.”

  “Yes, Master,” he nodded and together the two left leaving an eerie feeling behind.

  ***

  “Jenna, please eat,” her dad begged her.

  It’d been two days since Will left, and she still felt cold and empty. She hadn’t been hungry and only picked on things to get her dad to leave her alone. How could Will leave her like that? After all they’d been through, he so readily accepted she wasn’t herself.

  She stared blankly at the TV they kept on at all times in case new information turned up.

  “Jenna!” the TV called out her name.

  Her name brought her attention to the woman who had been giving a news segment on the most recent attacks. She’d stopped talking and was staring straight at Jenna.

  “Jenna, you have to listen!” she glanced around then looked at her again. “I don’t have much time. This is Mae; I’m now being hunted. I don’t know how Silas found out about me, but I now have to go into hiding until the time is right.”

  Jenna continued to stare at the news lady not sure of what to say.

  “Don’t say anything,” Mae continued. “I saw Will, and I know what happened, but trust me, he’ll come back. I sent him somewhere else to do something while you get your strength back. I know why the Sun is gone and why your eyes have changed.”

  She paused and looked to her right, “On no! They found me! Quick, Jenna! The ritual connected you and Will! He put some of his power in you! That’s why you have that black streak in your hair, the black in your eyes. Now it’s up to you to find the Sun! You’ve hidden it—“

  Mae was cut off and the news reporter continued on her story as if she were never interrupted. Jenna sat dumbstruck. Where did she hide the Sun? And what did she mean Will put some of his power in her? She got up and ran to the bathroom to a mirror. Bringing her hair over her shoulder she began combing through it, trying to find the black streak. Sure enough there it was, underneath all her hair at the base of her neck. This was caused by Will and the ritual?

  “Jenna?” James knocked on the door.

  Quickly she opened it and pulled him inside and closed the door again.

  “Whoa, what’s—“

  “Shh!” she cut him off. “Did you hear Mae in the TV?”

  He looked confused, “When?”

  “Just before I came in here?”

  “No, why?”

  “She told me why I have the black in my eyes,” she gripped his forearm, noticing for the first time how solid he was.

  “Why?” he asked bewildered.

  “Will put some of his power into me when he performed the ritual. And look at this,” she pulled her hair back, revealing the black streak.

  “What does it mean?” James gently ran his fingers through the black hair.

  “I don’t know,” Jenna shrugged when a sudden burst of pain rippled through her shoulders. “Argh!” she gasped and fell into James.

  “What?!” he asked in surprise as he held her.

  “My shoulders!” she cried out. It felt like something was trying to escape her, tearing through her skin.

  “Turn around,” James spun her around before she could move.

  “ARGH!” Jenna fell to her knees as another wave of pain rocked her.

  James pulled up her shirt to reveal scars of an upside down V on her back. Blood was beginning to roll down as feathers were pushing through her skin.

  “It’s okay,” James soothed her, “your wings are growing in.”

  “What?” She gasped, “It hurts!”

  “It’s going to hurt, love,” he sighed. “There’s nothing I can do for you. Fortunately they’ll grow faster than most Angel’s wings. Here let me cut some holes in your shirt for them to grow.”

  “Why will they grow faster?” she panted as another wave of pain washed over her.

  “You’re the Sun Angel,” he answered as he cut two long slits in her shirt. “You heal faster.”

  “How long will it take?” she gritted her teeth.

  “Everyone is different. Do you want me to get your dad?”

  She shook her head, “No, just stay with me please. Try distracting me.”

  “Okay, let me see,” he thought for a moment. “Why don’t you finish telling me about what Mae said.”

  “She said she’d seen Will and sent him off to help with something but that he’d be back with us soon,” Jenna put her head to the cold tile as she felt what could only be feathers pushing out of her body. The pain reminded her of having them torn out.

  “Anything else?” James interrupted her pain.

  “She told me the reason why the sun is gone.”

  “Why’s that?”

  “I’ve hidden it,” Jenna groaned as the pain became too much for and she passed out.

  ***

  “Jenna,” James was shaking her shoulder softly.

  She blinked twice and realized she was still lying on the tile in the bathroom. Her shoulders were sore and tired and her back hurt, but the excruciating pain was gone. Standing up she felt off balance.

  “
They take some time getting used to,” James said looking a little worried.

  “What’s wrong?” Jenna caught on fast.

  “Well,” James stood and turned her to face the mirror.

  She gasped in shock as she took in the huge gold wings behind her. She felt the feathers tickle her arm and looked down to see her wing tips touching the floor. Surprise rippled through her; the tips of her wings were black like they’d been dipped into the ink of the night’s sky.

  “Why?” she half whispered to herself.

  “The ritual, like Mae said,” James guessed. “More proof of the power Will transferred?”

  Jenna nodded and looked back at herself in the mirror.

  “Tell me, love,” James looked at her in the mirror. “What happens next?”

  She smiled at him, “We find my sun.”

  Thank you for reading

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  Acknowledgements

  I would like to give a personal thanks to the many people who have helped take my dream and make it a reality.

  First my mom, Mega and sister, Holly for being my personal cheerleaders and having endless conversations about the story to make it better. For reading it over and over again and always enjoying it. Without you two, this story would still be a dream.

  To my editor, Amy. I love all your comments. You’re the best!

  To Sarah, my illustrator. I couldn’t be more pleased with the cover! You found the image in my head and perfected it!

  Finally a big thank you to my husband, Vince, for surprising me with a new laptop when I told him of my story and passion for writing. Thank you for enduring all those lonely nights while I was lost in my imagination, I love you.

  Biography

  Ashley grew up in a small town in a valley of the Rocky Mountains. Loving adventure, her and her husband moved across the country to the Gulf of Mexico in Southern Alabama where they currently reside with their two children.

  When Ashley isn’t playing hide and seek or building forts with her children, she can always be found with her nose in a book or working on her novels.