EVABELLE

Unimaginable pain seared through Evabelle, like lighting traveling the course of her body. She felt as if the earth had exploded; or maybe it was just her head. Either way she hurt. The world had seemed to fall away. The last clear thing she could remember was leaving the party, being outside; Aza had said something to her and then... that's when things got confusing.

She had had a small headache on and off all day, but it had gotten worse increasingly till she must have passed out, but strange sounds and blurred memories came back to her. Screaming...there had definitely been a lot of screaming. She also remembered someone saying something about Narnia, which was confusing. She remembered someone calling her name, someone's arms wrapped around her, and a soft lullaby sung in her ears, making the pain less... painful.

Evabelle felt herself coming to. Clearer thoughts began to run through her head, though it was still pounding a bit. I must have had a stroke or seizure. I'm probably in the hospital. Her eyes opened and she stared up at the dark sky, blearily. Sky? So she wasn't in a hospital. Evabelle turned her head slowly. Aza was kneeling beside her with her hand holding hers. Aza's eyes were glassy as though seeing something far away, but when she turned to look at Evabelle, her eyes snapped back into focus and she let out a long sigh of relief.

"Evabelle? Oh, Evabelle, are you alright?" Aza released her hand and reached up to feel her forehead. "You have no idea how much you scared me."

Evabelle reached up and grabbed her friend's hand. "You're not afraid of anything."

Aza shook her head. She looked drained. "I wouldn't say that."

Evabelle opened her mouth to speak, but stopped as she saw dark red liquid fall from her friend's face and onto her own dress. She gasped and sat up, but immediately regretted it. The world spun and she felt nauseous.

Aza put a hand on Evabelle's shoulder. "Don't get up." She said easing her back down slowly.

"But Aza," she wheezed. "You're bleeding!" Evabelle could see it now, the long deep gash that ran along her friend's cheek bone, dripping down her face. Aza reached up and touched it lightly, that was when Evabelle saw several more wounds on her friend's arms. "What happened?" She could hear panic in her voice. "Did someone attack you?"

Slowly Aza shook her head. "Umm...well I guess, sort of." Something was distracting her, Evabelle could tell.

"Aza, what happened?" Evabelle tried to sound calm.

Aza hugged her arms, but then drew away quickly, wincing, to stare at her hands that were now streaked with blood from her scratches. "To be honest," she said still staring at them. "I have no idea." She lowered her hands and looked into Evabelle's eyes again. "Do you remember anything or..." she trailed off.

Something was terribly wrong. Evabelle had never seen Aza act like this. "Umm," Evabelle said slowly. "Not much really, but I remember screaming and a lot of motion." Then she added. "I might have been delirious, but I could have sworn I heard something about Narnia."

Aza smiled, and for a moment Evabelle saw the glimmer of her old friend back. "So I did say that, huh? I was wondering."

Evabelle propped herself on her elbows and looked around slowly. "Did Michael's parents bring us to the roof? And why..." Aza's eyes returned to their far away stance as she shook her head. Evabelle looked at her confused. "Then who-" Evabelle's voice caught in her throat as she gaped past Aza.

Two angels were descending upon them. The moon shone bright behind them washing out their faces, but they were both quite a sight. One was pure white and shone brighter than the stars. The second angel was as dark as midnight, but stood out just as much as the other.

Evabelle heard Aza speak as though from far away. "They did."

The two spectacular beings landed lightly on the rooftop, moving away from the moon's glare, allowing Evabelle to see their features clearly. She gasped as she recognized them from the party, Chloe's dance partner and Evabelle's dark prince. At the time, Evabelle had believed them too beautiful to be real. She had been wrong. Now they couldn't be real.

The darker one stuffed his hands in his pockets. "Well looks like our princess is awake."

Evabelle felt her cheeks burning. He had just called her, princess. Beside her, Evabelle felt Aza rise. "Okay, you two, you had better start explaining what is going on. If you don't, I think I'm going to explode, and I will make sure my guts get all over you." Aza was sounding more and more like herself.

The shadow winged boy did a half smile. "That would almost be worth it." He said softly.

Evabelle remembered what Aza had said about him, but she couldn't help being drawn to him. He just seemed to be playing around, not really trying to be mean, but Aza didn't think so. Evabelle saw her eye's narrow.

Finally the paler angel stepped forward, between the two, and spoke. "Of course you both deserve an explanation." He paused and glanced down at Evabelle with an intensity that made her look down, blushing as red as a tomato. "Allow me introduce ourselves." Evabelle glanced back up to see him first gesture to the darker angel then to himself. "In English our names translate to mean Dark and Light."

Both girls stared. Aza spoke first as usual. "Well no duh." And when the two winged boys just stared, she added. "You're quite a literal group aren't you?"

The angel smiled softly. "You could say that. But I prefer to go by Lucis, and this is Delaney, but he prefers Del. We are Anahalians..."

"Are you sure you're not an angel?" Aza interrupted.

"Quite sure." Lucis replied still smiling. "Anahalian is a general term. In your language it means guardian or protector. Many of your legends tell of us just like many of the others."

"Guardian angels." Evabelle said softly, not thinking they could hear her, but all eyes had fallen to her. "I... I mean I've heard stories." Evabelle felt herself blushing furiously. Just talk to them like they're normal people. Aza had said, but there was a problem. These guys weren't exactly normal.

Lucis nodded. "Yes, we are often referred to as those."

"Wait, wait, wait." Aza cut in. "You said something about others. Do you mean to tell us that there are werewolves and vampires and all the other things you hear about in fairytales?" She put her hands on her hips and stared at Lucis.

He was silent for a moment. "Yes," he said finally. "But they're most likely not quite the way you would have remembered hearing about them."

Aza shook her head and looked at Evabelle. "I can't believe this is happening." She whispered then looked up at the two Anahalians. "Usually I would write this off as an enormous practical joke, but I'm well aware that it isn't." She said, touching the gash in her cheek.

Lucis tilted his head to the side sympathetically. "I am so sorry about that. It is our fault that you were injured." Then he quickly ripped a piece from his t-shirt and passed it to Aza. "We will take you home soon, but this is all I can do for you now."

Aza took it slowly. "Wow," she shook her head, staring at the piece of cloth. "I thought only princes in fairytales tore their shirts for a lady in need." Then she looked up and them again. "Although, I'm beginning to wonder if I'm not in one."

Evabelle felt the same. Many in her position would probably think they were dreaming or hallucinating. Evabelle never remembered her dreams and it just seemed so real, but then she could be hallucinating, perhaps she truly was in the hospital and now she was just having a weird medicine induced vision.

"Why? I must ask again. Why us? Why is this happening?" Aza cut through Evabelle's thoughts once more.

Del flipped his hair from his face and Evabelle caught her breath. "And as I said before, this was never supposed to involve you." He growled.

Aza glared at him. "You make it sound like I've done something wrong."

Del glowered right on back. "Maybe that's because you have."

Lucis shook his head. "Enough you two. You most certainly have not done anything wrong..." He glanced at Aza expectantly.

"Azalyn Kendall, but most people call me Aza."

"Aza, this is no one's fault." Lucis reassured. Then he turned to face Evabelle. "All of this is happening because it's your birthday, Evabelle."

"My birthday?" Evabelle blinked. She didn't remember telling them that it was her birthday, and for that matter she didn't remember telling them her name either. "How do you know so much about me?"

Lucis's eyes seemed to dim the stars. "Because you are our last hope, Your Highness."

The loudest silence echoed in Evabelle's ears. Your Highness? What was he saying? Then another thought occurred to her, what Del had said. Well looks like our princess has awoken. What were they both saying? Evabelle shook her head. "No, no you must be mistaken."

"I assure you we are not." Lucis responded. "You are Princess Evabelle, the last of the royal bloodline to the Anahalian people."

Evabelle sat up straight. "I'm no princess! I don't even have wings!" Then she ducked her head in embarrassment at her outburst.

Lucis knelt beside her. "But you do," he said softly. "Only you can get them back." He took her hand gently, but she pulled it away, heart hammering.

"Back? I never had..."

"Yes, you did. You were sent here for protection. It was the only way to save you. Now we need you to save us." Lucis said softly. "You can't remember anything past the age of seven, because we had to make you forget your life as an Anahalian. You can never remember your dreams, because it was the only place to store your memories and thoughts of your past. It is all stored in your subconscious. Once you awaken, you are conscious and therefore can't remember."

Evabelle stared at him in horror. "You know that... I... stay away from me!" Evabelle shoved herself backward, trying to once again rise to her feet, but a large hand pressed her down again. She looked up and saw Del standing above her, his hand still on her shoulder. She hadn't even seen him move. A terrified squeak escaped her lips. "What do you want me for? How am I supposed to save you?"

"When you were sent to earth an illness had begun, a plague, if you will. It's a dark and terrible illness. It changes us into monsters. The Annihilators, the bat-like creatures that attacked you tonight, are the final stage."

"Annihilators?" Evabelle shivered. That didn't sound good.

Aza, who had been by Evabelle's side the entire time, had the same shocked expression that Evabelle had when Del had appeared above her. She shook herself. "Yeah, you weren't exactly conscious during all that, or at least not completely. You asked if I was attacked. It was more like overwhelmed by a bunch flying skeletal bat monsters."

Lucis continued to watch Evabelle, and she really wished he wouldn't. "Your friend saved your life tonight. She was very brave to face them all on her own."

Evabelle looked up at Aza. "I have no doubt she was brave." She said.

"That brings up another question that needs explaining." Del spoke. "How could she even see them?"

"I don't know." Lucis replied, glancing up at the darker young man, giving him a strange knowing look. "It is such a rare thing for a human being to have the Sight."

"Hold up," Aza was looking back and forth between the two Anahalians. "The Sight? Are you saying I wasn't even supposed to be able to see those things?" Her eyes suddenly widened in realization. "That would explain Chloe's reaction." She said softly.

Lucis now turned his attention to Aza, to Evabelle's relief. "It was a miracle that you could see them, otherwise Evabelle would not be here, but it is admittedly strange."

Evabelle thought for a moment. "What about the others, like Chloe and her gang? They could see you... I mean aren't you under some sort of magic spell to make you invisible too?"

Lucis shook his head. "Unfortunately, no, we don't have the same power. If we fly above everyone during the night though, we have some advantage. It's more of a chameleon effect. We were both on the ground, and so quite visible to your friends. They may not have seen the Annihilators, but they could see us."

"Oh, yeah this is all beginning to make sense." Aza nodded.

Evabelle really wished Aza could explain it all to her, because she didn't understand anything at that moment.

A sudden thought occurred to Evabelle. "Chloe, she was there and Beatrice and Darla. What's going to happen to them? Are they going to get hurt?"

"Actually CJ and Sophie were there, Beatrice and Darla went inside." Aza commented.

Evabelle turned to her. "Well are the bat things going to attack them now?"

Lucis spoke and Evabelle's gaze flipped back to him. "No, all those things are after are you. They wouldn't have attacked Aza, if she hadn't gotten involved."

"So, in a sense it is your fault." Del muttered.

Aza whipped around to glare at him. "Yeah, it's my fault Evabelle, your last hope, wasn't captured or killed. That was all my fault."

Del opened his mouth, but Lucis spoke first. "I am sorry Aza, please excuse my brother, he..."

"Hold up," Aza said again. "Brother? You mean to say that you two are related?"

Lucis nodded.

Aza shook her head. "I might be willing to believe that vampires, werewolves, pixies and elves exist. I'm willing to believe that you exist, considering everything, but that the two of you are siblings; that just seems a little farfetched. I mean you're nothing alike."

Lucis raised his eyebrows. "Family doesn't have to be alike, it rarely ever is."

"I think she means," Evabelle began. "There's usually some sort of resemblance, some characteristics that blood siblings share."

"Blood doesn't make family." Del said softly, making Evabelle jump.

"So you're adopted?" Aza asked.

Lucis shook his head. "We are blood brothers, from the same parents, twins actually, but you don't have to be related by blood to be family, is what Del is saying." He gazed at Evabelle. "I believe you understand that."

Evabelle blinked, thinking of Chi and her mother, true it was sometimes hard at her home, but they were still a family, though none of them were closely related. She nodded. "I think so." Evabelle swallowed and returned the angel's gaze. "Lucis," she said his name for the first time and something flickered in his eyes. "How am I supposed to save you?"

Lucis sighed and rose to his feet. "You have to come with us. You are the only one who can reach the cure. It was revealed by an oracle that only an Anahalian of royal blood can save us. We believe that if we can get into the Tomb of Legend we may be able to figure out what you must do to cure this disease."

"G-go with you?" Evabelle stammered. She swallowed once more. "Where is this Tomb of Legend?"

"In the land of our people, Jovis. It will be difficult getting back there. Coming here was one thing, but returning home may not be so easy. We had permission to get transport here. But the Elder Council has been very agitated lately. They will be cautious of our return."

"How long will I be away?"

Lucis shook his head. "I don't know," He paused, before adding. "But as our princess it gives you right to the throne.

Evabelle's eyes widened. "You mean just go and take the throne, as in rule another civilization. I don't know anything about being a princess!"

"That is you decision. We would, of course assist you in any way. Teach you the ways. But if that is not what you want, then just for the cure, as I said I am not sure, but I assume it will take some time."

Evabelle shivered. "You're asking me to just drop everything and go with you, to just leave my family and friends to do something that is beginning to sound more and more impossible?"

Del made a sound. "It's not like you have a choice."

Lucis gave him a look then looked back at Evabelle. "Of course you have a choice, but..."

"By staying you put your friends and family at risk and for sure you will be taken and killed." Del interrupted.

Evabelle gasped. "No," she breathed. "This can't be happening."

Lucis took her hand once more. This time Evabelle was too shocked to pull away. "I am so sorry, Evabelle. Now that you have your powers, you are easy to track."

"Powers? Wings?" Evabelle shook her head. "You say that I have them, but I don't understand."

"It is little hard to explain, and we don't have much time, but the basic story is that it was all locked away on your eighth birthday. On the exact time that it was locked away, it would be released on your sixteenth, when you were old enough to help." Lucis explained.

"That's what that stroke thing was about?" Evabelle said slowly.

Lucis nodded. "There is much more to tell, but I cannot now. We couldn't find the Annihilators. They are still out there. We need to move you now."

"Wait, what about me?" Aza asked suddenly.

Evabelle jumped once more. Aza had never been quiet for so long. Evabelle had practically forgotten she was there.

Lucis turned to her. "We will take you home along with Evabelle. There she will pack whatever things she requires. And you will be safe at home. Once again I apologize for all the inconvenience."

Del smiled. "And finally you'll be out of our hair." He said, taking pleasure in the thought.

Aza glared. "I-"

But Lucis turned back to Evabelle. "At least that is the plan if you accept."

"It's like you said. I don't have much of a choice." Evabelle hung her head.

"I am sorry." Lucis whispered. A long silence blew around Evabelle. There were always sounds in New York, but they seemed to have all gone still. "Can you stand?" Lucis asked after a few moments.

Evabelle leaned forward and pressed hard on her hands to push herself up. Aza reached out a hand to her friend and Evabelle accepted it. When she was pulled to her feet, she expected a wave of dizziness, but none came. She looked at Aza who was watching her carefully. Evabelle did her best to smile reassuringly, but she wasn't sure if it turned out.

Lucis smiled. "Good, let's go." He then stepped forward and scooped Evabelle up with a speed and grace that took her breath away. His wings flapped once and they began to rise.

"Great, I'm stuck with you again." Evabelle heard her friend grumble from below.

"You think I'm happy about it?" Del muttered in response.

So Lucis had carried Evabelle away. Had he been the one that had sang to her as well? Evabelle felt tense. She had never been held by a man. Why must she feel so uncomfortable? She glanced over Lucis's shoulder and saw Del and Aza forcefully ignoring each other. Evabelle suddenly thought of her in Del's arms and felt a trill of excitement slide through her. Then she glanced up at Lucis. He is nice. She thought. I just need to relax.

"Do you like the view?" Lucis asked and Evabelle jumped. He laughed softly. "Don't worry, I won't drop you."

She glance down and the streets below and breathed in deeply. Thousands of lights covered the planet. It appeared as though a rainbow had exploded and scattered its remnants across the surface of the world. Then Evabelle looked up and saw more stars than she had ever seen in her life, billions of pinpricks of light and hope. "Whoa." She breathed. She felt as though she was soaring through the universe. "This is incredible."

"Flying, it's one of the best feelings in the world." Lucis whispered.

Evabelle nodded, dazed. Without realizing what she was doing she released her arms from around Lucis's neck and spread them wide as though she were flying herself. She felt a smile spreading up her face. Before she could stop herself, a laugh had escaped her lips.

Evabelle felt Lucis shudder as he laughed as well.

"Do you mind telling us where you live?" Del complained, cutting through Evabelle's momentary joy.

Lucis turned. Del glared at them. "This one has refused to speak to me." He shook Aza roughly who gasped and clung on to him.

"Hey!" She objected.

"So it can speak." Del replied.

Lucis rolled his eyes, but his smile remained. He then looked at Evabelle. "Where is your address?"

Evabelle amazingly kept her nerve as she directed the two angels over building after building, over streets and lights until they reached the McCarthy apartment building, the only home that she had really known...or at least the only home she could remember.

~(A/N: I know this one is a little longer than the other parts I've been posting, but this was the best stopping point for this chapter. There's a lot of info, so I figured it was better to let it go long. There will only be one other part of this chapter. So far, I've been posting in threes. Anyway, let me know what you think! Please vote and comment! Thank you!!)~