Fallen Angels

by Warren DeBary

  The capsule pulsed rhythmically as it rocketed down the tunnel. I tried to find a comfortable position, but my bruised ribs and slightly swollen cheek would not allow it. Even through the sharp jabs of pain, my eyes grew heavy and I struggled to stay awake in the golden light. It had been a very long day and slowly, the world dimmed, then slipped away.

  Chapter 11 – The New World

  You know what is at stake and you put the Project in the hands of one of the Outcast?

  Yes.

  And you see no issue with that, Raphael?

  No. Now is the time when all must choose a side, and she is one of our most powerful.

  Pele is—how would the Earthbounds put it—mad as a hatter?

  Perhaps.

  It could have easily gone either way. Maybe someone not as invested in this as you would be a better choice?

  This is my war; it always has been. Do even you doubt me?

  Not doubting, just wondering at your choices. We are on the razor’s edge. Each decision could have tremendous repercussions.

  I know, Michael. But this is a war I’ve spent a lifetime waging. It will not get away from me now.

  

  Darkness. The dream always started in darkness. The sound of footsteps on the driveway, and I floated above the pavement. A voice cried out, a familiar voice.

  “Matthew!”

  A guttural shout heard from a doorway; orange light spilling into the black night. A figure struggled to hold the doorway closed, trying to restrain whatever it was that was fighting so desperately to escape.

  Tiny fingers reached toward the light, pleading, begging to be returned. The fingers, I realized, were mine. Tears blurred my vision. Someone carried me. Each footstep on the hard stone took me farther and farther away, but my hand stretched and I screamed.

  “Mama!”

  There was a bright light, an explosion.

  She was gone.

  I jerked wide awake, my skin clammy. My hair was plastered to my forehead; my thin t-shirt was soaked in perspiration. The nightmare was still vivid in my mind. After the recent revelations, the images made a lot more sense. Even through this, I thought about the mother I never knew, the mother I’ve never had

  “Good. About time you got up,” George said. He must have been playing some kind of video game, as three-dimensional graphics were frozen in the space above him. “We’re almost there,” he said. He made a gesture and tiny ships zipped above his head. I couldn’t make any sense of it, but George seemed to know what he was doing. No wonder he didn’t like to play on my Nintendo at home. If he had access to a game like this, the graphics must have seemed pretty primitive in comparison.

  I felt the capsule bump and then lurch, and we decelerated.

  “Aww man, I’m almost ready to pass this level,” George said as the tiny ships continued to rocket around. He waved his hand and the graphics vanished.

  The capsule exited the tunnel and through the yellow haze, I saw a small port, much smaller than the one we’d left. The capsule stopped with a bit of a jolt. The shimmering walls dissolved.

  George jumped out. “Those things are fast, but it’s never been a good feeling being twenty miles below the surface.”

  “Twenty miles? Are you kidding?” I asked.

  “Nope, didn’t want to freak you out. At the deepest point, the tunnels go down fifty miles so that they can get under the Earth’s crust; less tectonic activity down there. Scary, but it’s better than being thirty thousand feet in the air in one of those airline death traps,” George said.

  Rene got out of his seat. Without a word, he walked out of the transport terminal.

  “What’s up with him?” I asked.

  “Don’t know,” George replied.

  We followed Rene up a slope for what seemed an eternity. It was a long night, and the only thing I wanted to do was get some rest.

  Finally, we exited the dimly lit tunnel, and I blinked into the light from an early morning sun. The air was chilly and the sky was a paler shade than Hawaii’s tropical blue. We stood on an outcrop of rock overlooking a valley, two twin peaks rising like silent watchers behind us. Off in the distance, green patches of agriculture filled the valley floor.

  A herd of cattle lowed at us from the field just below. My nose twitched at their pungent scent. Rene began the descent down the hillside, the golden grass kept short by the cows. I have to say this about our guide: he wasn’t much for talking and definitely not one for sharing the plan.

  Much more nimbly than I thought possible, Rene jumped over a shoulder-high fence that separated the open field from a road. I crept between the rails. Rene glanced at George.

  “Aw, you take all the fun out of it.” George shook his head, taking his hands away from his Kindjals. He crawled under the fence.

  We followed the roadway as it wound through the valley, passing fields of wheat and orchards of pears. After half an hour, my mind began to wander. “So what about the flying cars or something, George?” I asked.

  “Right now, I would be happy with an old Chevy.”

  “Walking is good for you boys. Clears the head,” Rene said without looking back. “Kids are always in a hurry to get somewhere, but never thinking about where they’re going.”

  “Yeah, right,” George said.

  Rene continued on. Fields of wheat and cherry tree orchards gave way to rows of vines that grew from greyish stalks of wood with green coils supported by wires and trellises. A white house sat in the middle of the field of vines.

  “What are those?” I asked, pointing at the vines.

  “Don’t know. Hey, Rene?”

  “Those are grapevines, boy. You don’t know much of nothing. That’s a vineyard,” he answered.

  “Grapes to make wine?” I asked.

  “I’ve heard about this,” George commented, looking at the grapevines around him. “Look at it,” he said as he stared at the fields all around us.

  “I don’t see anything.”

  Rene harrumphed and waved his hand. The vineyard exploded to life. Light and color danced within each fruit, rocketing around the vineyard, curling into and around the vines, connecting the earth with each grape.

  “What’s happening?” I asked.

  “Grapes, boy. Fruit of the gods.” But that didn’t answer my question.

  “Yeah, my father told me about that. He actually tried to grow grapes in the backyard, but Hawaii is too hot. Sentients love to plant vineyards around their homes because they store power. He thinks they were one of the first cultivated plants on Earth. Said the plant has an ancestor from the stars.”

  As if on cue, the grapes nearest Rene erupted with the sound of a hundred tiny bells.

  As I got nearer, the entire vineyard exploded to life, like a thousand flash cameras, the quiet jingling turning to peals of thunder. I backed away, but the vines bristled violently.

  There was a commotion and an older man ran out of the house, holding his hands above his head. My pendant flashed and I could see thick arcs of power connecting the man to his vineyard. A fiery plume erupted over his head.

  “Get away from here!” he yelled. I cringed when I saw what was in his eyes: hatred and fear.

  Abruptly, Rene stepped in front of me.

  “Richard,” Rene said, staring into the man’s eyes. He placed a hand on my shoulder. The man stopped just a few feet away from us. The air above him snapped and crackled. I could see a thick cord of vibrant energy connecting him and the vineyard.

  “You give him Aegis?” the man asked, his eyes intent on the hand that lay on my shoulder. The air above him still sizzled with power.

  “I do,” Rene answered. “Are you going to do something with all that?” He looked at the fiery aura above him. The man he called Richard brought his hands down and the energy dissipated back into the vines.

  “I guess it’s your funeral,” he said, glaring at me. He turned and bolted back toward the house.

  “Rich?” a woman standing just within the
doorway called out.

  “Get back inside, Beth. They can keep that trouble to themselves,” Richard said just before ducking through the front door.

  “What was that about?” I asked Rene.

  He stopped and his golden eyes grew hard. “I’m going to give you a warning. This valley is a very special place, and those who have chosen it as their home are not to be messed around with. No matter what you do or where you go in this valley, remember that it may be your life that is on the line. Do I make myself clear, boys?”

  “But what was that about?” I asked since it had clearly been about me, personally.

  “The people of this valley do not like newcomers.” I knew there was more to it than that, but Rene left George and me behind. I didn’t like the fact that, once again, I was being kept in the dark. But there wasn’t much I could do.

  We continued until we stood in front of a tall, black cast iron gate with yellow rock pillars on either side. Through the gate, a driveway led between two rows of trees that halved another vineyard. At the end of the driveway was a very large oak tree partially hiding a grey-stoned house; well, more like a mansion, really. The mansion had large windows and a grey-tiled roof.

  I felt like I had been here before. The dryness of it, the smell of the vines in the field, I don’t know. But I shook the thought from my mind.

  We walked up to two gigantic redwood doors at the top of wide stairs.

  “Pretty nice digs, dude!” George said, looking things over.

  “Yeah, really,” I said. “But who lives here?”

  “You do,” George replied with a grin.

  Rene knocked on the door. After a few seconds, there was a soft click and the door slid open. “This is Ravenstone,” Rene said, but I didn’t hear what he said next because the most beautiful girl I had ever seen was standing in the open doorway. She had gleaming black hair held back by a band that almost matched the color of her electric blue eyes. She wore jeans and a white blouse that flowed with the slight breeze.

  “Is she here?” Rene asked.

  “Um, no. She went in town for supplies. But she’ll be back,” the vision replied. Her voice was heavily accented, although I couldn’t quite place where from.

  “May we come in?”

  “Oh, of course.” She blushed as she stepped aside. George and I followed Rene. The girl’s eyes met mine for a second, and I swear my heart stopped. I almost fell over George.

  “Hey, loverboy, ease up, okay? I’m not your type,” George said as I felt my face flush with embarrassment.

  A matronly woman rushed up from a hallway to the left of the portico, wiping her hands on a clean white apron. The smell of cooking wafted down the hallway, and the only thing I wanted to do more than sleep was to eat.

  “’Bout time you got here.” The woman looked us over. “You don’t have any bags. Must be starving, though. Don’t just stand there. C’mon,” she told us as she motioned to the girl. “I think we should get some food in these guys.”

  We followed her toward the smell of large pots bubbling on a stove.

  At the base of the counter, a small dog sat back on his haunches. He had white fur with black and brown patches. One big black patch was shaped like a figure eight on his left side. He must have weighed about twenty pounds and looked as if he hadn’t missed a meal in his life. Bright brown, inquisitive eyes followed us as his small black nose sniffed in our direction.

  “Have a seat over there.” The woman pointed to a nook just off the kitchen. “Oh, and don’t mind Bailey. He’s on a diet.” The small dog barked, as if in indignation that anyone could possibly put him on something as demeaning as a diet.

  The nook overlooked a large, green garden visible through a bank of wide windows. A door on the far side of the nook led out to a garden, its lush green a marked contrast to the golden hills we’d come though.

  The girl stood there watching.

  “Where are my manners?” The woman said as she hurriedly slapped pieces of bread onto plates, lathering them with thick butter and honey. “Allow me to introduce Miss Kayla Pendrake. She is one of Ms. Emily’s students and helps out around here from time to time.” She stuck the concoction in front of each of us and we dug in. As soon as the small dog realized he wouldn’t be getting any food from the counter, he sauntered over to us, ducking under the table.

  “She lives here?” I asked hopefully.

  “Oh, no. She lives down the road, but Ms. Emily teaches her, so there you go.”

  I glanced at the girl. “You’re not eating?” I asked.

  “No, just had breakfast. I have to get back to my studies. Excuse me.” I was somewhat disappointed as she left the kitchen.

  “In case you care, my name’s Maggie. I do the cooking and feeding and the smacking of kids who get out of line,” she commented, playfully pointing a wooden spoon in our direction. “And you’ve met Bailey. Don’t give him anything,” she said as the dog continued to stare through the glass table.

  Maggie went back to the stove and began scooping huge amounts of country-fried potatoes onto plates, then drenched them with a thick brown sauce. She topped the whole thing off with a few sausages and placed them on the table. I dropped a couple of pieces for the dog.

  “God, I’m starving,” George said.

  “When are you not starving?” I asked.

  “Only when I see your face. Disgusting things make me lose my appetite,” he replied.

  I was about to respond but was interrupted when Rene walked into the kitchen, nodding at Maggie. He looked at George and me, a glint in his ancient eyes.

  “Mr. Rising,” Rene remarked as he took a seat at the table next to us. His huge frame dwarfed the small breakfast table. “You’ve been put into quite a mess.”

  “Uh-huh!” George gave an exaggerated nod of his head.

  “You should have been brought to me years ago. But John had other ideas. Don’t know if it was for good or bad, but now we will make it right.”

  I looked up at him, not sure of what to say. Finally I asked, “How do you know my father?”

  “I’ve known your father for years, Matthew. Know your mom, too.”

  “You knew my mom?”

  “Yes, of course. I’ve been well acquainted with your family. Who do you think gave them that pendant around your neck?”

  I was stunned. Who was this man?

  “Before you go asking a bunch of questions, as I already told you, you’re in deep with the wrong kind of creatures. They are going to try to kill you again and it will be a hell of a time to try to stop them.”

  When I heard that, I choked, spitting a mouthful of water across the table and knocking over my glass.

  “Matt, that’s really gross, man. Way to impress.” George moved his plate away from the liquid that was making its way across the tabletop. I grabbed a napkin from the counter and did my best to wipe up my mess.

  “You will be safe here for a time. But we have to make it so you can protect yourself,” Rene said.

  “How do we do that?”

  “As a descendent of the Starborn,” the old man continued, “you have the right to be tested as Malakhim.” George smiled behind him.

  “Malakhim,” I said. “You mean I’m an angel?”

  “Malakhim have been confused as divine for thousands of years,” Rene said. “Don’t confuse the matter. You have the right to be trained as Malakhim.”

  “Like George?” I asked.

  “Yes, George has taken the pledge and is continuing his Malakhim training.” I glanced at George, who nodded. “I just spoke with your father, and he agrees. It’s time for you to be given the choice to be one of the Malakhim.”

  My family was Starborn? What did that mean?

  “But who tells you what to do?” I asked Rene.

  “The Council,” he answered.

  George glanced at me. My thoughts continued to return to the tired face of my father. I thought of how he was always burdened with a weight I had never understood.
Now I knew what was burdening him: all of these secrets, these mysteries. I’d been lied to my entire life, tricked, kept in the dark.

  Now, some strange man I’d never met before was telling me I was the descendent of the Starborn and that I needed to be trained. Trained to do what, for whom? It was more hidden agendas, just more lies, and that made me angry. I was tired and my mind swirled in the confusion of a world I knew nothing about. A world that seemed to think I was something that I was not.

  “Listen, I don’t know who you are. But all I want to do is go back home. I was fine until all this crap happened.”

  “You can’t go back there. Make no mistake, Matthew. They will kill you,” Rene said.

  “How do I know that? All I’ve gotten from any of you are lies,” I said. Rene grimaced fiercely.

  “I didn’t lie to you,” George said.

  “Really?” I almost yelled.

  “Nah, I just didn’t tell you anything. There’s a difference.” George stared at me and I glared back.

  “All I know is that I’m tired of these secrets. I’ve been led around by the nose my entire life. I’ve had enough!” I could feel the pressure building behind my eyes, but this time, Rene was somehow in my mind, calming my anger. It was very unsettling and it strengthened my resolve. I wasn’t going to be anyone’s pawn. Slowly, I felt his presence recede.

  “I’m not training or anything else. I want to go home.”

  Rene looked at me. His golden eyes had lost their sparkle. He looked like he wanted to say something but exhaled heavily instead.

  “Matt, think about what you’re saying, dude,” George said, but I was certain I was not going to be a Tool, yes with a capital T.

  Rene rose, his mauve coat whipping as he turned to the door.

  “Mr. Koa, as you know, it is his choice,” Rene said. He turned back to me, staring with those golden eyes. It was that same unnerving stare I’d seen since the very first moment I’d ever come in contact with this old man. “Matthew, I should not have asked you to make a decision this important without rest. Will you at least allow me to train you in the Elements?”