Celestia POV

I couldn't sleep at all after waking up last night, so I opted to do more research on Google. Coming upon many websites, I found some different opinions and interpretations of the Bible. My conclusion was that humans were very confused about the truth. Supernaturals liked it that way, but I felt bad for people. I suppose times had really changed since humans knew that monsters really were out there. That's why it's our job to keep evil at bay, so people can keep their belief that everything is normal and not be as afraid as they were back then.

It's my job too, even though I am not a full angel, and battling evil excites me just as much as all the new negative feelings I've been getting did. I never looked forward to my training starting in Heaven. Everyone was so sure I would be just as good at slaying evil as my father was... who turned out wasn't my real father, but I never looked forward to it. I knew that hiding wasn't an option forever. Now that I was down here, I could learn to fight and stop evil from spreading. Maybe that way my angelic family would see I am good and accept me back.

The first step will be to decode my mom's message. Hopefully, I will find out where I need to go to do that soon. I ignored my feelings and abilities since waking up in the hospital, but now that I finally have some time to myself to think about it, it's not normal. I couldn't read my family and people's feelings as well as I am able to do it now. My mother must have done something when she visited me in the "nothingness."

I heard a knock on my door and shouted from my desk "Come in!" My dad was on the other side smiling at me when I looked up.

"Sweetheart! I see you're awake. How are you doing today?" So far, I felt normal today and even the sigils didn't hurt as much as they did before. Mostly they itched, but Grandma Gia told me that was normal and not to scratch them.

"I'm fine, dad. Do you need something from me?"

He smiled reassuringly. "No, I just wanted to see if you're awake. I am off to work today. Your grandparents will be in the house along with Wes and Ash. Isabella will be back in the afternoon." He hesitates a little and doesn't continue. My dad feels nervous and is preparing himself emotionally for something. "Aurora, I wanted to ask you something. How do you feel about Isabella?"

I hesitated before answering. How did I feel about her? I tried to decipher my feelings but they were all over the place. I didn't hate her, but I didn't love her either. She was trying to get close to me, but I still don't know why. I suppose I can use my newly found power of Divine Intuition and read her emotions. Then I can decide for sure how I feel. "I don't know yet, but I will soon." My dad frowned and he felt confused.

"It's okay. Take as much time as you need. Also, I wanted to ask about your mom." Now I was the confused one. He had to have met her. I wouldn't be here otherwise. "Do you know how we can talk to her? Or if you can tell me about where you lived before, I can send someone to look for her there." Panic. I felt scared because they couldn't know. That would put them in danger. I had to lie to him... again. I dreaded it, but to protect them from my angelic family, I would sin if I had to. I just hope I was better at it this time.

"I don't know if you can reach her in any way." I stalled, but my dad didn't pressure me into answering him right away. "I don't know what I can tell you about my previous home. It's very beautiful and high up... in the mountains." My voice couldn't keep a steady volume and I squeaked out the last part. My cheeks were warm and I am sure they were very red, too. I felt awful doing that. I couldn't look at my dad anymore because of the feelings of shame.

"Okay, sweetie. We will find her on our own somehow. I am sure she wants to see you very much and misses you. Although I didn't know her very well, she seemed like an amazing person." I appreciated that he tried to change the topic, even though I am sure he knew I lied. "Did she tell you anything about who your father was?" He wanted to know if my mom told me about him. I remembered how my angelic family praised him.

"All I knew was that he was a warrior, one of the best at what he did. Everyone said one day I would be like him. I guess they were wrong." He took my hands and made me look at him. He felt hurt and I didn't want to do that to him. Why did he have to ask these questions...

"They weren't wrong sweetheart. You are beautiful like your mother but also smart and strong. You are like just like your dad even though I hate bragging. You may not be a warrior, but your heart is pure. Not everyone has to be a fighter or a warrior to be great. You don't have to slay the monsters, sweetie. That's what we are for, your family. I promise we'll take care of the monsters and be the warriors, you just have to be yourself."

If only he knew how wrong that was. They couldn't face the monsters I needed to fight to prove to my angelic family I was good. They were just human, but I loved the fact that they wanted to do it for me. I felt really loved since finding my human family and I can't ever thank them enough for that.

My dad went to work before I could ask him if someone could teach me how to fight. It would be some kind of start at least. Weston didn't take long after that to show up in my room under the pretense of asking me how I slept. I countered him "How did you sleep?" He grimaced. He felt exhaustion and anticipation. The guilt was also still there. I didn't even know what I could do at this point to make him see it wasn't his fault.

"Good, it wasn't much, but I got a good shut-eye until morning. I got up early and took Ash with me to the store. We got painting supplies for our project." He smiled at me and I saw Asher coming in with a large box in his hands. He put it on my bed and turned to speak to Wes.

"You could help you know with the supplies." Turning to me he smiled and greeted "Good morning little sister. Did you sleep well?" I nodded. They both brought a lot of stuff into my room and quickly started unpacking. I saw a few different brush kits, canvases varying in size, and different colored tripods. Wow! They got a lot of stuff. One of the larger boxes contained different paints. I looked up quizzically at them.

"Why did you get so many different brands of paints?" Ash looked down, while Weston was proud when he answered.

"Because we love our sister and want to spoil her..." Ash smacked him lightly on the back of the neck and Wes winced. "And we didn't know which types of paint you liked to use so we bought the best brands of each." I didn't want them to spend so much money on me, it didn't feel right. Before I could voice my feelings Ash looked in my direction.

"You don't have to use all of them. We can return whatever you don't want to use. It's okay." I immediately felt better. Other people might need them more than me. Ash continued "Now, let's set this up, so you can show us your painting skills sis!"

It didn't take us long to set up the tripods for each one of us, with all the supplies. I wanted to see my brothers' skills too. I managed to convince them to try out painting, while I drew the garden. Grandma Gia barged into the room before we could start painting though.

"What are you guys doing, you haven't had any breakfast. Go downstairs and eat. Now!" Now that she mentioned it, I was hungry. I hadn't noticed before because other things were on my mind. In Heaven, I didn't need to eat food, so having regular breakfasts was new to me. Grandma Gia put her arm around my shoulders and led me downstairs after my brothers ran down first. "You need to remember to eat regularly, my beautiful little angel! Don't skip breakfast."

I was startled. Did she know? I looked up at her, but all I felt from her was...love. She loved me. There was no suspiciousness of any kind. Did she know what I was and didn't care? Maybe if all of them didn't care I could tell them what I really am. But how can I be sure they won't turn on me after finding out? I stopped overthinking the topic when we got downstairs and I smelled an array of scents. Whatever we were having for breakfast smelled delicious and my stomach growled.

Grandma Gia led us to the table and presented us with all the delicious things on it... or maybe just me. I get the feeling everyone else already knows what these are called. "First, we have a delicious frittata with vegetables and the one on the other end of the table that looks similar has vegetables and ham in it. Try them both, but only eat what you like. We also have zeppole donuts with powdered sugar if you want something sweet. There is also some homemade bread and cheese if you prefer a simple breakfast." Everything looked so amazing and it smelled divine!

I had a little bit of everything because I couldn't pass up to try it. My taste buds must have been dead in Heaven because I could have sworn food didn't taste this perfect up there. The family laughed and talked throughout the meal, but Dad was already gone, when we got here. I hope he got to try some of these amazing foods. "Are you not hungry anymore Rory?" Weston asked me.

"I just wanted to save some for Dad and Mateo, since they aren't here, it's delicious and they shouldn't miss out on it." I answered him and the whole table quieted down. Grandma Gia looked at me horrified.

"Young lady, you better eat everything you want, do you think I am new? Your dad and brother already had breakfast, he loves my zeppole donuts, I even gave him the recipe, that's how much I love that man." Isabella laughed at her.

"Mamma, you already loved him even before you learned he could cook!" Everyone was waiting for Grandma's retort. After she swallowed her food, she answered.

"Yes, but knowing he has the "special touch" in the kitchen is what made me decide to give him the recipe. No offense Isabella, but you don't have it. You can cook, but your food is missing something that can't be seen... I see you there smirking Alessandro. You can't even cook, I swear you both are all your father inside. You only inherited your looks from me, but the passion and love for food aren't there. That's why when I'm gone James will inherit my recipe book."

Asher hurried to explain from my left side "Grandma protects her recipes like they are top secret. She makes the best food ever and no restaurant can match the taste of her food." I believed it, it was magnificent. Lighthearted chatter continued throughout breakfast. I love the feelings I get whenever I am a part of this or similar family activities. 

Before Ash, Wes, and I could go upstairs to start our project, Mateo entered the kitchen with some kind of bag. He unzipped it and a familiar smell engulfed my senses. "I thought we could have dessert from our favorite ice cream place. I brought everyone's favorite flavor." He took out a paper cup with two scoops inside.

He handed the orange one to Weston, which smelled like peach. Next was a banana with chocolate flakes flavor for Asher. Isabella got a strawberry, while Grandma and Grandpa got vanilla with some kind of syrup on top. Cousin Antonio received chocolate with something white on top of it, which was coconut flakes... I think, while his dad got the Oreo cream flavor.

With Google's help, I became an expert on ice cream flavors after I went with Dad to that shop. I didn't want to be unprepared again, and by the looks of the logo, the ice cream was from the same place. I guess it's a family tradition. "And for my little sister, her favorite flavor - white chocolate!" My eyes bugged out. How did he know I liked this one best, so far? I was feeling love from him and everyone else in the room, which made me emotional. Mateo almost dropped the ice cream on the ground because I launched myself at him hugging him tightly.

After pulling back I felt my cheeks heat from embarrassment. We sat, ate the ice cream, and headed to my room afterward. I don't know if Ash or Wes could paint, but they didn't want any instructions and we soon started painting.

I lost track of time and immersed myself in the art. I tried remembering every little detail from that place. One painting wasn't enough and I ended up doing a couple with different views I remember in the garden. In one of them, I painted my Mom smiling at me. I will never forget her face. One day, I will see her again and I will do everything to make it happen. When I was done, my clothes were a mess and there was paint everywhere. Looking out the window I realised it was dark outside. My phone indicated it was after eight in the evening.

I couldn't go downstairs and eat with dirty hands or clothes, so I took a quick shower. I longed for it to last a little more, but Grandma Gia would probably be mad that I didn't eat anything after breakfast, so I decided to make it a quick one. I got dressed in new clothes and went to put my dirty ones away. Before I could go to the laundry room, Wes intercepted me at my door with Ash trailing behind him.

"Yo, Rory! Grandma is livid you haven't eaten since breakfast and she is on a warpath. We volunteered to get you, so you better hurry up. Are you done with your paintings?" I smiled at him worry creeping in a little. I think he meant she is very mad, but I am not sure. I opted to answer him fast, so we could get downstairs.

"Yes, you can go see them, if you want." They were both eager and speeded into my room past me. I knew I had to get downstairs, but I wanted to know what they thought about my paintings.

Ash was so sweet "Aurora, these are amazing, you are so talented. Maybe we can get Dad to agree about going to an art college or something. These are astonishing!" I was so happy he liked them. Weston was quiet though. I looked over at him and he was staring at the one with my mom on it. It was like he was in a trance or something. He wouldn't look away. Ash pushed his shoulder a little and said "Say something jackass!" 

I hurried to fill the silence because it was making me nervous "You don't have to like them, Wes. I know they aren't that good, but I hope we can at least use them to find the garden." My brother was currently shocked and I don't know why. Did he not believe me that I could paint?

Ash started to speak "Don't mind him Aurora, he hit his head a lot when he was a kid. Let's go downstairs to eat and..." He didn't get to finish his sentence before Wes took my hands and led me in front of the painting.

"Why did you paint that woman Aurora? Who is she?" I was confused. He always called me Rory and now he is using my first name. Why? I didn't answer right away, and he took me by the shoulders and asked again, raising his voice a little. "Who is she?" Involuntarily my eyes watered. None of them had ever talked to me like that before. I didn't do anything wrong. I flashed back to the moment my Uncle Michael was waking me up on my last day in Heaven before my Mom saved me and brought me here.

Asher immediately recognized I wasn't comfortable and yanked me away from Weston. "What is wrong with you? You're scaring her!" Somehow I got my breathing under control and looked at my brother. He was past curious, it was practically a need by now and it was suffocating me. I answered him, so he could stop feeling like this.

"That's my mother." He paused for a beat and both of them looked at me. At least the feeling of needing to find the answer was fulfilled and it wasn't uncomfortable anymore. Weston's shock abruptly faded away and he stormed out of my room. What happened?

How will Aurora's human family react if they find out about her origins?

Why was Weston so shocked to see her mom?

Question of the day: What's the best present you've ever gotten?

A/N: Happy International Children's Day!!!

Sorry about disappearing for a while guys. I was very busy, but I think going back to the regular schedule of posting a chapter once a week is going to be manageable from now on (unless there is an emergency).

I will finally get back to reading all the Wattpad books on my list little by little. Have a wonderful June <3

-Fiona Fel