Celestia POV

After the carnival fiasco, I had a few days of rest. The study materials Mateo gives me every day are becoming harder, but I love reading about the different topics. Who knew there were so many individual bones that made up the human skeleton? I certainly didn't. Humans study all kinds of subjects while they are in school. With each day I became even more curious as to what that will be like. Do teachers help you learn the material faster or were they just there to examine your progress? Right now, I still didn't know if going to school was in the cards for me, but one day when things are safer, maybe I can try it out.

I can't keep hiding from everything and everyone. My last demonic encounter proved that which is why I need to be more prepared. I always knew fighting was something I would learn one day to protect humanity. It just has to be done quicker now and with a human teacher. Plus the stakes were bigger because I was protecting my family. Both sides of it. I'm not going to let my human family get hurt because of me and I'll die before evil demons use me to kill my Mom or any of my angelic aunts and uncles. That means finding a way to prepare physically, so when my Mom comes back I won't be helpless.

She will come back for me, right?

On Wednesday, someone knocked on my door and I saw Ash opening it slightly "Knock, knock! Dad wants to see you downstairs." He bolted before I had the chance to respond. In the living room, Dad was talking in hushed tones with Isabella on the couch, while my brothers were entering through the open-floor kitchen. "Sweetheart! Come and take a seat. Have you been feeling better these few days?"

They still thought I was sick from the carnival even though they checked my temperature a few times a day and it wasn't abnormal. The strangest thing is that they didn't ask questions. I felt their curiosity every time, but they said nothing. "I'm okay."

Right now they felt excited and giddy. All except Wes. He was feeling focused and calculating like he was planning something. I wonder what has him feeling that way.

Dad continued "Well, we just wanted to tell you something. Wes mentioned that you wanted to go to a certain botanical garden and we thought that we could make a short family trip to Chicago and visit it. Only if you want to, though, if you aren't feeling well, we can always do it another time."

I was surprised. They were going to take me to the garden my mother's message led me to. I looked over at my brother and he smirked at me feeling pleased, like he just achieved a goal. Smiling slightly, I nodded and went to hug my dad. He had no idea how thankful I was and if my mother was there waiting for me... I could finally tell them everything. She would know how to handle everything. Just like she guided me when I was little in Heaven, we would be together again and I'll have my human family, too. This trip could be the most important one in my life. Dad had no idea how thankful I was that they were doing this for me.

...

After lunch, Isabella mentioned that she had packed the boys' bags and asked if I wanted help packing. Since I didn't know what I needed to take for a trip to Chicago I happily accepted her help. I learned that we weren't only going to the garden. Dad had to check in with his office branch in the city and finish something for work. That reminded me I wanted to learn more about lawyers since both Dad and Mateo were working in that field.

A few minutes before we left, everyone was double-checking their bags, when Asher blurted out "Have you ever been on a plane, Aurora?" Looking confused I tilted my head. I know what that is... I think. I shook my head. "Don't worry it's amazing and it will get us to Chicago in less than two hours. The view is amazing I love seeing the world from so high."

At first, I didn't understand what he meant, but a few moments later my brain caught up, and I had a lightbulb moment. Heights aren't a problem for me, but I couldn't help but worry about being that high up in the sky in a giant metal box. Would my aunts and uncles be able to sense me? If they could, then it would be all over in minutes. A freak storm or even a bird flying into one of the engines and we would fall and die. The truth is that I didn't know whether the angels could sense my presence if I were on a plane, but I can't risk the lives of my family. It's something I'm not willing to gamble with.

Mateo must have seen something in my expression because he immediately asked me "Aurora, are you okay?" I didn't know what to tell him. Looking around I didn't see Weston anywhere. He could help me figure something out. Turning back, I headed straight for the stairs and looked for my brother. I found him in his room looking at something on his phone. He looked up at me with furrowed brows.

"What's up, Rory? I'm done here just needed to pick up my phone charger." Closing his bedroom door behind me I hurriedly explained to him what I feared. Turns out, I didn't have to worry long because he proposed the perfect plan. "We can just split up. Dad and us brothers can take the plane, while you, Mom, and our grandparents can take a car." He was so smart! But I also sensed something I didn't like. There was a moment of fear right before he got the idea to split up the travel groups.

"Why were you afraid for a moment, Wes? It was a split-second feeling, but I caught it." I worriedly looked at my brother, who was playing with his phone.

Sighing exaggeratedly, he answered me "I forgot you were like a radar for feelings."

"Hey! I told you, it's called Divine Intuition!"

Smiling he continued to tease me "Sure it is, Captain Sonar... Ugh, it's just that me and Ash haven't been in a car for longer trips since the accident. Ash loves to travel but prefers planes, which is probably why he is excited about today. It would take us more than ten hours to get to Chicago by car and I... I don't think I can make it that long, you know?"

Of course! Why didn't I think of that? "I'm sorry, I didn't think of that Wes. We don't have to go by car, I'm not even sure about the plane anyway, I could be paranoid..." 

He took me by the hands and stopped my blabbing. "Hey! You were right to worry. I'll go tell the others, you don't have to stress over any of it." I got up to go with him, but Mateo was waiting outside of the room. He was feeling a little jealous and hurt, which confused me.

"You know, if you were afraid of going on a plane for any reason, you could have just told me. I would have fixed it." Now I felt bad for keeping this from him. Wes said the family would probably react rationally and not believe me, but in moments like this I wish they knew, so I didn't feel so awful. My cheeks were burning from shame and I looked down. "Promise me if something's bothering you, you'll tell me or any of us. I know you have Wes to share with and I'm glad you've gotten so close. I'm just saying that everyone else is here for you, too."

The stupid tears started forming and I hurriedly hugged Mateo, so he wouldn't notice I got emotional. "Thank you, big brother. I love you!" Receiving a hug back from him felt like we got a step closer to our sibling relationship. I promised myself that I would find a way to tell the rest of my family. It isn't fair of me to keep it a secret when Mateo and the others obviously felt left out. It was never my intention to make them feel that way. But I have to fix it. Who knows, if my mother is waiting for me in the garden, maybe I won't have to do the explaining myself.

Downstairs, Wes had already told the adults, so when Mateo and I came down, Ash was already coming our way. "Why didn't you say anything? I would never make you go on a plane if you're afraid, little sister."

Dad was a step behind him "Sweetheart, please say something next time. I don't want you to do something you aren't comfortable with, we can always compromise. Me and the boys will take the plane, like Wes suggested and the rest of you can travel by car. You can even stop halfway to spend the night at a B&B. I don't want you guys driving at night. We have some work to do on Thursday at the office anyway before our appointment to tour the botanic garden on Friday.

...

Grandma Gia, Leo, and Isabella were the only ones left with me after my dad and brothers took off for the airport. They chose the route from an app on a smartphone device and even found an inn for us to sleep in tonight. These devices were like magic, you could do everything on them and I was pretty sure Ash explained only the basics to me.

Humans really have come a long way technology-wise, but they had a lot to figure out when it came to their spiritual enlightenment. Evil swayed and tempted them from all directions, but only some chose to stay away from its alluring pull.

On the way there I had no problem falling asleep in the car. I found that car rides make me sleepy, even if I've slept a whole night before. Of course, that didn't help when night fell and I couldn't fall asleep. This time not because of nightmares or anxiety, but because I wasn't tired at all. Excitement also stood in my way of a peaceful night because I was going to get to see my Mom. That's what she said, that I'll find her there if I can solve the riddle. A part of me didn't want to get my hopes up that she would be there, but a bigger part ignored all that and had hope.

In the morning, we had breakfast at the inn and this time, I didn't fall asleep in the car. The closer we were to Chicago the more interesting the scenery around me became. I had never seen big cities up close. Every time I came to Earth with my angelic family, we went to places shaped by nature, they didn't take me to human cities. The buildings looked so shiny from afar, especially the tall ones. I wasn't a fan of the lack of nature in the big cities, though. Grandma Gia and Leo told all kinds of stories during the car ride and the view from the windows kept my attention occupied. I didn't even notice when we got to our destination.

We met up with my brothers at a suite in a fancy hotel downtown. It was really spacious and elegant. Dad and Mateo had to work until late, so we had the day to ourselves. Ash and Wes were hungry, so Grandma proposed we go to one of their old friends' Italian restaurants in the city. In the afternoon, we took a boat architecture tour, while the adults chose to go back to the hotel. It was amazing, but I was also anxious. This was my first time being among big crowds of people and I was a bit unsettled.

When Dad and Mateo came back their first stop was the couch, where me, Wes, and Ash were lounging while watching TV. "Hey guys, we heard you had some adventures today!" Then his next question was solely for me. "How was everything, sweetheart? Did you have fun?"

That had me smiling because it was little things like this that made me feel loved. "It was new and there were so many people walking around. A little overwhelming at times but I loved it." Each time I felt the pressure from the emotions of people around me, my brothers seemed to notice and distract me by revealing a childhood story or just talking about something that made my brain think about something else. While I didn't feel the emotions myself, like an empath would, I could still recognize them. It wasn't something I could turn off either. Or at least I didn't know how to, yet.

"I'm glad you had fun. Big city streets can be overwhelming, but you can get used to them if you want to spend more time in places like this."

The adults decided to have dinner brought to us by room service and my brothers bickered about which takeout place to order from. They each had a favorite and wanted me to try it.  Grandma Gia had the final say though and we had some food brought to the suite from the hotel kitchen. Isabella spoke after we were finished with dinner. "What time do you guys want to leave in the morning for our visit to the garden?"

Wes was the first to answer "The earlier the better." Everyone looked at him curious though. Personally, I couldn't wait to see the garden again. Not only because of the memories but also because I felt that going there would lead me to find something important. Wes knows that I am hoping Mom is there waiting for me, but he doesn't fully believe she will be there himself. His feelings are conflicting because he is also a little afraid, but I haven't asked him why yet.

Dad said, "Okay, let's all get some sleep since we are apparently leaving early tomorrow."

That night I wasn't surprised that I dreamt about my mother and some of our time in Heaven. I remembered how after I saw my Dad and brothers' car crash she never left me alone to wander off again. That's probably why I had a babysitter after that for the times I couldn't be with her or any of the aunts and uncles that were close to us.

Actually, Sophia (my nanny basically) wasn't an angel. She was one of the human souls who passed away and lived in Heaven. Even though angels occupied a different part of Heaven compared to human souls that moved there, Mom would bring her to us for the times she left me alone. I was so excited to meet her for the first time because I had never seen a human before. She was so kind and beautiful. Always took care of me like family and told me all kinds of stories about her life on Earth.

I wonder if my Mom thought that the other angels would learn that I was a Nephilim if they spent too much time with me. Maybe that's why she preferred to get a human to be my babysitter.

Before I woke up I remembered how Sophia taught me the recipe for Lemon Ricotta cookies with glaze and chocolate sprinkles. Maybe I should make them for my family when we return from this trip. To thank them for taking me there. I hope it will make them as happy as I was when I tried them for the first time.

Why is Weston afraid the night before the garden trip?

Were you surprised that Sydney wasn't the first human that Aurora met?

Question of the day: What kind are your favorite cookies?

A/N: Hello guys! It has been a while hasn't it? You're more than welcome to be mad about the time between the last chapter and this one. I am mad at myself too. I let work and everyday life consume me to the point when I was stuck in the story. You can probably see it in the writing during the first part of this chapter, I wasn't sure if I should add it until the last moment or directly skip to the garden trip.

Have a wonderful and spooky October! Also on a personal note, I wanted to ask you guys something. How do you guys deal with procrastination? (asking for a friend...Kidding, asking for myself xD)

-Fiona Fel