The sheer power of the angels caught her off guard. She thought about it for a few minutes and stepped back.

"Your angels," Althea said. "But how is that possible? How can I see your true form without my eyes burning out?"

"The power you have is rare," Ezra said. "I am your Guardian Angel, and my brother here, he's an archangel."

"Archangel Michael..." Althea finished. "What are you doing here? And what power are you talking about?"

"You already know that you're an Empath, and while those are rare, you can sense things that others can't. Like spirits and demons," Michael explained. "You are a special case. You're not just any Empath, you're a Nephilim and an Angel Conduit."

"I'm sorry, what?!" Althea exclaimed. "Did you say Nephilim and Angel Conduit?!"

"I guess she took it better than expected, brother," Michael said.

Althea had a hard time believing everything. It was all coming to her and smacking her in the face. She paced around the room, muttering words under her breath.

"My child, you do not need to worry. I know this is a lot to take in, but you will understand in time."

"Remind me again what an Empath is. I've only read about it in books, but I know nothing about the other powers," Althea said. "I've never even heard of a Nephilim or Angel Conduit."

Ezra and Michael looked at each other as if to communicate without words. Ezra turned toward Althea, who stopped pacing and sat down.

"An Empath is rare," Ezra explained. "You can sense the feelings of others and you can sense other... let's just say entities."

"You rarely learn to be an Empath. You are born with it, or you are not," Michael chimed in. "As for a Nephilim and an angel Conduit, I am sure that you know what a Nephilim is."

Althea remained silent. Thinking.

"Are you saying that I'm half angel and half human?" Althea asked.

Michael nodded. "And the Angel conduit thing? Do you mind enlightening me?"

"Angel Conduits are rare, rarer than empaths. When people think about conduits, they think 'object or a person as a gateway,' if you may, of supernatural powers," Ezra said. "But unlike those conduits, Angel Conduits are born specifically to channel the powers of the higher up. They are also gifted—they can see angels, or at least the form we want you to see."

"But if that's true, shouldn't my eyes be burned out by now?"

"No. You don't see our true form. We're strictly light, and looking at our true form will kill you. However, you can see an outline that is safer for mortal eyes," Ezra responded.

*~*~*

Ezra didn't think it would be this hard to convince his charge that she was special. She sat motionless for a bit before Ezra sat down next to her. Althea looked at him. The two locked eyes, and no one spoke for a few minutes.

"I know this is hard to believe, Althea, but you are special," he said.

"How special? What are you trying to convey?"

"We are trying to convey that people like you haven't been around in years," Ezra explained. "The last one we had was three hundred years ago. Trust us, Althea, we wouldn't have approached you if we didn't know."

"This goes back to what? Exactly?" Althea asked.

"It goes back to a prophecy that dates back thousands of years ago," Michael joined in. "The prophecy states that there will be a time when the person who can hear us and see us will one day come back. They will help fight something malicious that not even the mortals can decipher."

"And you believe this person is me?"

"Yes," Michael answered.

Ezra sighed. He would explain it later; hopefully then Althea would understand.

"We have stalled too long. Those people are a threat to humanity."

Althea remained still; her brown eyes trailed them as if she were unsure about what to say.

"Those Servants of Evil are planning to summon something into our world, and if we don't stop them, then everything will burn," Ezra said, determined to get Althea to understand.

"What is it?" Althea asked.

"Something that my father sealed away to keep humanity safe," Michael said. "Now, will you help us?"

For a good while, Althea hesitated. Ezra and his brother stayed quiet. The breeze outside made the trees rustle. The wooden church creaked.

"Do you mind if I think about this?" Althea asked. "you're telling me I have these abilities and that it's up to me to help save this place, but I don't know how. Besides this is a lot to take in and I would really like to think about it."

"Take your time," Michael said. "But before you go, Ezra is going with you."

"How will I explain that to Abigail?" Althea asked. "If she saw a man in the room, she'd freak out."

"I don't have to be visible all the time," Ezra stated. "I can make myself known only to you. Your friend would not know."

"Right, and if you solidify?" Althea asked. "How will I explain that?"

"When the time is right, you will understand," Ezra finished.

Althea thanked Michael for helping her and giving her the chance to think about this situation. Althea and Ezra walked out together, and back to the dormitory.

*~*~*

Peter was just leaving to search for the Rosa Rubirosa when Jennifer came back from her mission and sat down on the couch.

"How did it go?" Peter asked.

"Well, I think I did a significantly better job than you," Jennifer said.

"And why do you think that?"

"Well, let's see, I threatened her as well. You were rather soft on her."

"I don't know what you are talking about," Peter responded.

"Peter, the last time we were trying to summon something, you got rather soft on the person I sent you to collect."

"Why do you keep bringing that up?" Peter complained. "Margaret was nothing but a source of weakness."

"Margaret is the reason we had to leave that school in the first place," Jennifer said. "Even then, Ezra got in the way and so did she. I'm glad that we got rid of her, but now here we are yet again with another girl and that same stupid angel."

Peter groaned. The last time it happened, they were attempting to cast the same spell, since they thought it was the right time. Peter remembered that day all too well.

It was midday and Peter snuck away from his friends to meet up with Margaret, a girl with red hair and green eyes. They always met in secret since they didn't want either Ezra or his friends to know. Peter arrived at the lake only to find that Margaret was nowhere to be found.

"Margaret?!" he called out, searching for her. He left the dock to search the forest. When she never showed up, he made his way back to the pond. Peter was about to give up when he noticed something floating in the water. He walked over to the object and noticed that it was a body.

"Please, no..." Peter said to himself, and stepped into the water to drag the body out. She had thick red hair and from the length, it reminded him a lot of Margaret. The minute pulled the body out and flipped it over he wanted to throw up. Margaret was stabbed in the chest, her blood pooled from the wound. He checked for a pulse and found that she did not have one. Tears brimmed the corner of his eyes, and he wasn't sure what to do.

"Hello?!" Jennifer called out, forcing Peter out of his thoughts. "Earth to Peter? Are you going to stand there and do nothing?!"

"Sorry, what were you saying?" Peter said, despite the memory. He filed that away and focused on what was in front of him. "No, of course not... is there a point to this? Because I have to get that flower petal."

"My point is, don't go soft on this girl. Remember the end goal."

"Fine..." Peter walked out of the dorm room, slamming the door behind him.