**Quote: "The strength of a woman is not measured by the impact that all her hardships in life have had on her; but the strength of a woman is measured by the extent of her refusal to allow those hardships to dictate her and who she becomes." ~~C. Joybell C.**

Chapter 5

The harsh sun light peeking in from my window forces me to open my eyes to the blinding white spots dancing before my eyes. Cringing I throw my hand over my eyes and curl under my blankets. **

I move my right foot to make sure it's still working. Nate had said something about my powers coming back. Pepper mentioned I was a Healer so at least that's cleared up.

Just before I slip into a comma-like-state I realize what I just thought. Then my eyelids fly open and the full force of yesterday hits me hard enough to knock the breath from my lungs and I just lay there trying to suck in some air.

Oh. Good. God.

Wait!

What if it was just a dream?

A crazy lunatic kind of dream.

Taking a deep breath I decide this is the only way I can stay sane, without all the angels and evil angels sitting atop my shoulder.

Rolling out of bed I dress, wash up and head down stairs. Like any other normal day. But of course once I reach the bottom of the steps, reality bitch slaps me in the face. My dad races around the corner with a surprising amount of life in his eyes and he grabs me around the shoulders.

"Where have you been? I came home and you were gone and it's been almost ten hours." The worry in his voice actually makes me choke on my own tongue.

"Um...dad you have never cared when or how I came home. I was with Eliza at her house by the way." My lie is partially true.

The faint trace of concern wipes off his face faster than I can blink and it's replaced with boredom and anger. He shoves me back into the banister of the stairs and steps back.

"I heard about the explosion at the theater in town. If you had gotten all blown up who would pay the bills around here and who would clean the house? How selfish can you get?" His lip curls in disgust and I catch a slight whiff of Bud Light.

I ignore his complaining and I try to focus on calming the sickening fear that is starting to bubble up in the pit of my stomach.

"At the theater, did you hear if anyone died? It would be on the news I think."

"Yeah, it was on the news. That slutty news lady said there were no 'casualties' or whatever. Apparently some 'heroic' teens pulled the injured out and just left like that. The firemen said something about a faulty gas line that caused the explosion. Who cares about them anyway? You're alive which means you can get to doing your chores." With that he grumbles something about watching the game and getting more Bud Light.

The truth of yesterday comes right back at me like it had never left. A pain right over my heart keeps throbbing and it doesn't seem to want to go away. Sucking in a ragged breath I dash upstairs and snatch my phone off my nightstand. Before I can think of anyone to dial something catches my eye. Right next to where my phone had been is a pack of gummy bears and a yellow note. I reach for it slowly and slowly I flip it open.

Marie, these are for you. If it makes you feel better you are welcome to throw them at me. ( Just not the orange ones because I think they taste like medicine.)

P.s. Text me and tell me if you will give us a chance and if you will then meet us at 3. ~Eliza

I sink onto my bed and let out an annoyed sigh. I know the gummy bears were a peace offering but my mind doesn't even comprehend what they told me last night.

I could call Eliza and yell at her until my hurt pride was satisfied. I could also call an Institute and have them all committed.

Or I could wait until three and give them a chance to explain.

I hate my reasonable self. I think as my thumbs move lighting quick over my keyboard.

Meet me at the stream behind my house. You get one chance.

She replies only seconds later.

K. Nate will meet U there. Could I come over 2 night? We have some things 2 discuss.

My pent up anger screams at me to tell her no and leave it at that. But something more reasonable inside me tells me to be more mature. Losing my best friend means I will have no one.

Ok. We can talk, bring Pepper. She is in this too.

Shutting my phone I inhale deeply and I start to seriously think about starting to meditate, so my head won't explode from craziness.

***

Waking early meant that I had time to eat a huge bowl of Lucky Charms and watch my favorite show Supernatural. Sadly even marshmallows and Sam and Dean can't keep me calm.

After an hour of finishing chores and listening to almost every song on my playlist I finally just grab my old, worn sketchbook. Climbing out of my window and onto an out stretched limb I start to make my way to the top of the tree.

At the top there are two thick crisscrossing limbs that make a perfect place to sit without fear of falling. Sitting up here, so far from the earth made me feel like I could leave all my problems on the ground where they can prowl around the trunk of the tree. Just waiting for me to come down so they can attack me with worry and stress.

Looking up through the rustling, dark green leaves I catch glimpses of the bright blue sky, and fluffy white clouds passing lazily above me.

Opening up to a blank page I grab the pencil that was wedged in the middle. For a few minutes I just study the texture and color, imagining every stroke in my mind.

Letting my hand take on a mind of its own I'm absorbed into a deep concentration. After the first branch and leaf are done I'm oblivious to everything surrounding me and I get a relieving brake from the tangled knots trying to strangle me.

***

A quiet breeze sliding across my skin makes me stop shading and I realize that the warm day had suddenly become quite cool.

Looking at my watch it takes a moment for the time to sink in.

"Son of bi-!"

My cussing is cut off as I shut my sketching book and start jumping from limb to limb at a dangerous pace. I wonder if Nate would care if I showed up with a broken arm.

Its only three minutes to three and the run will probably take seven minutes tops. Quickly shoving my feet into my Nike's I jump into my tree again and then just catapult to the ground. At a dead run I'm there fairly faster than I had first thought.

The stream shoots off rays of bright light, reflecting from the sun to the smooth pebbles. As the water softly flows by my thumping heart beat dulls and I take a deep breath to calm my nerves.

Looking around slowly I see no one.

I guess I'm not the only one late.

The thought races across my mind just as a hand clamps down on my shoulder, causing a mix between a squeak and a scream erupt from my mouth.

Spinning around I feel the breath from my lungs swoosh out of my body, leaving a rattling emptiness in my ribs.

Nate stands there in dark jeans and a white long sleeved shirt that stretches slightly over his broad shoulders.

"Sorry, didn't mean to scare you." Although he said the word 'sorry' the amused smirk curling his lips tells me he's the least bit apologetic.

That gives my temper enough fuel to take a step back and to get my composer back in check.

"Eliza told me to expect you. She failed to mention that you were going to try and give me a heart attack." I snap.

"Nice to see you too. I was hoping we could talk at my house. There are a few things we need to discuss."

Nooo, really? "Ok, well I'm guessing it's going to take a while, because I don't see a car." Once I say the words I mentally face palm.

"Oh...you're going to fly."

"Us. I'm going to fly us."

Without another second to waste Nate's shoulders roll forward, his muscles contract and wings as black as obsidian with paper white tips, stretch out behind him.

His hand slowly extends towards me and I realize what he wants. Despite my best judgment I let my fingers curl into his and he pulls me forward so that our chests are just barely touching.

"Just put one arm around my neck and with the other I just want you to grip my arm. Whatever you do don't let go."

"This is such a Superman and Louis Lane moment." I mumble as I follow his instructions.

"Who?" His question stings me right in my nerdy heart.

"Nothing."

It almost feels normal, my slightly pale arms sliding over his warm skin, and it sends shivers shooting across my body.

I can almost feel him vibrate with an unexpected amount of energy that seeps into my very bones. It makes me tighten my grip, not wanting the smell of cedar or his very presence to go away.

Nate laughs at my reaction, but I notice that he pulls me a bit closer as well. Probably for my protection, I'm sure.

His wings give one powerful pump and we are suddenly shooting through the air.

Instead of closing my eyes I pull my head away from Nate's shoulder and look around. The sight overwhelms my artistic eyes.

Wispy, white mist swirls and spins around us. Splotches of red, yellow and orange paint the clouds to our right, the colors coming from the afternoon sun. Looking down I only see green streaks of woods and farm land. We are speeding too fast and nothing is close enough for me to distinguish.

Cool air presses into my eyes but I can't seem to close them or look away as at least fifty ideas involving a lot of paint and hours of concentration fill my brain.

The feeling of slowing down makes me snap back to focus. We stop and almost float over a clearing in a patch of woods. Then without warning Nate folds his wings into his back and we plummet to the ground, at the mercy of gravity.

Wind rips at my hair and I press my face into Nate's neck, too scared to watch us crush into the ground, shattering our bones. When I feel a slight jar I slowly lift my head to look around.

We are on the ground.

"How...how did you do that?" My question comes out regrettably shaky as I pull away from Nate's comforting warmth.

"I've spent many lives flying and landing in tight spaces. After a while you start to learn the best techniques. I'm truly sorry for not warning you." Almost as an afterthought he adds, "Nothing in this world would incline me to hurt you voluntary."

The sincerity in his voice presses deeply into me and I let him slide on practically giving me a heart attack for the second time today. At least his apology was real this time.

"Come on in. We can find a place to sit and then start our discussion."

As he walks to the front door I am able to absorb my surroundings with more of a focused eye than I did last night.

We are surrounded by thick, dense forest which tells me we are close to my house but probably on the outskirts of town.

His house is a one story cottage, with an almost canopy green paint job. If I had spun around quickly the house would have blended into its background. There was a covered porch with only two dark wood chairs and a low set table in between them.

The door is connected to a screen and after unlocking it he stretches to the side and makes a sweeping motion, for me to enter, with his arm.

"Ladies first."

His eyes spark with amusement and I can't hold back the contagious smile.

"Such a gentleman."

"I've had centuries of practice."

His words remind me of why I'm here and so I quickly move past him and into the entry way. The inside is much larger than it had looked from the yard.

"Let's move to the living room, it's much more comfortable."

Ever so gently he leads me out of the entryway with his hand resting on my elbow and I have to fight the rush of blood from reaching my cheeks.

Once we are seated I take in the furniture that is almost identical to the set in his bedroom.

Two leather couches sit across from each other, with a long sparkling glass table in the middle. Following the theme that I noticed last night, drawings and paintings line the walls. The only strange thing about the room is that there are no pictures. Other that the occasional portraits no modern pictures of family, friends, or even of himself are to be found. Only old fashioned drawings that I assume portray them in their past lives are hung up. All he has to do is pack the furniture and artwork, and no one would know he was here, like a ghost.

When my gaze stops wandering I find Nate relaxing in the couch across from me, not talking, and just staring with a smile that sends shooting sparks up and down my spine.

"So, um...what were you going to talk to me about?"

"Your past."

"What about my past? Yesterday you said that vision that I had was a memory. That can't be possible. It's not like I was in a coma and then woke up with another life!"

"Marie, you need to calm down. With you acting like this you won't be able to fully process what I'm saying."

His calming voice helps a bit but I am still on edge.

Breathe, breathe. Listen to what he has to say. The logical side of my brain tries to reassure me.

After sucking in some much needed air I lean back and try to look composed.

"Ok, so what about my past."

"You were born in 1207 and you lived only until you were seventeen and since illness was common back then the doctors had their hands too full to deal with a poor girl. When you died God knew there was something special about your soul. In your human life poor folk had very little to no money. Yet when you were able to scrounge some food together, instead of being greedy you would share with anyone on the street. He knew that for so many years you put everyone before yourself. So he made the decision to make you a Healer.

"But when his Archangels met you they saw something more than just a simple Healer. They saw a surviving light that had fought through all the darkness in the world trying to cloud it and still flickering with life. What they saw was strength that had been lost to most Healers for a long time. Instead of giving you just the ability to heal a handful of people before growing weary He gave you the Mark of Earth. Whenever you heal someone a swirl is added to an almost puzzle like part of your body. Almost like a tattoo. It's invisible to all humans but when you heal someone the swirls come to life, glowing green.

"It represents you as someone of importance. When any Angels alike see this mark they know how important you are. All in all I stayed with you to help keep you safe from the dim minded humans and the bloodthirsty Fallen."

Raising my palm to stop him I ask a question that pops into my head. "If we can constantly come back to earth why should we worry about the Fallen if they can never kill us?"

"Well I'll put it to you this way. When God first created the world he made the sweet and gentle lamb. But he also made the fearsome and hungry lion that would kill the lamb for dinner. For us Angels all the Fallen have to do is spear us with a red rock encrusted dagger and we would be permanently stuck in Patellina to live there and it's a lot worse than it sounds. When an Angel is forever trapped in Patellina it's like eternal torture. They practically go mentally insane, and physically it's painful as well. Think of a life line. When a Healer can't go back to Earth and help people, or a Guardian can't protect the healer at all times, or maybe a Messenger can't serve the Angel they are assigned to, then their life line is cut. It's so painful and it drives them over the edge not being able to do what God gave them a gift to carry out.

"Red rock is a stone discovered by the Fallen almost as soon as they first existed. It's a rock that is just a simple smooth stone. A very powerful witch who practices dark magic has to bless the stone for it to work. Luckily the ritual is very hard to complete. When encrusted into a Fallen one's weapon and sliced into one of us it glows bright red from our spilled blood. That is the reason to its name."

Wow, that really makes the smooth pebbles in my stream a lot less mesmerizing.

"Although I'm thankful for more information about the people-" I pause and shake my head before continuing, "I mean creatures trying to kill us, isn't there something your forgetting? Like my past and why I can't remember you or the others and why I can't recall my other lives."

"That information is important to what has happened to you. I just need you to trust what I'm telling you."

"From now on I will trust you and your word. Let's just get on with this." I add the last part on with a softer tone so he knows I'm not trying to be difficult.

He takes a deep breath and rakes his hand through his tousled hair, exposing a faint scar that runs across his forehead and into his hairline.

"When we first met all we did was fight. Arguing about anything from the way I constantly drank and got into fights, to the way you would wander off to heal without me. One day you took off into the village to visit a few sickened children without telling me. The Fallen caught up to you and without training there was nothing you could do to defend yourself. By the time I got there, you were severely injured but healing fast. I took the Fallen out without much trouble. After only a day Royce came to tell me that we were being summoned by the Archangels.

"Once we arrived they described rather harshly why you were so much powerful when healing and so important to protect. The pathetic angels had not even bothered to tell you what power you held when you had been chosen. We also learned that if the Fallen were to get their hands on you they would cut out your heart and proceed to choose someone to...ah, devour it. Furthermore, gaining your power of healing and producing the Mark of Earth. They could heal their own people and begin to multiply the power to others. Fallen Angels are cursed to never be healed or heal one of their own. That is why it's so easy for them to die."

My mouth hangs open and I find my hand pressed over my rapidly beating heart.

"You've got to be kidding me! They want to kill me and eat me for dinner?"

"I know it's a lot to take in but you have to know I along with Eliza, Pepper and Royce would never let that happen. We are your family and we care about you more than our own lives. Every one of us would risk our lives to save a family member."

Although fear still clings to my heart I feel warmth flow over me and calm my jumpy nerves. I have a family. Maybe not by blood but sometimes having the same ancestors doesn't define a true family.

His dark eyes search my face for any signs of freaking out. I give him a small smile to encourage that he continues with his story.

"After the meeting with the Archangels you and I started to take everything more seriously. I stopped drinking and I didn't pick random fights anymore. You made sure that I was either with you or aware of where you were headed. After a while I was upgraded to training Guardians to protect their wards. When the general of the Angel's army was killed in combat by red rock I took over and soon was in one of the most powerful spots an angel could rank, aside from the Archangels. You strengthened in Healing almost every day and soon we were both two of the most powerful angels on Earth.

"We were also becoming closer to each other. No longer enemies we were friends. Of course Pepper, Royce, and Eliza were right there beside us. Eliza was one of the first female lieutenants to join me in the army of the Angels. But there was something different about you and I. Three lives passed before we even changed our relationship. In that lifetime we had become inseparable best friends. In the next life we fell for each other."

I can only hope that he doesn't hear my increase in heartbeat or the loud swallowing I seem to be doing constantly.

"After a few lifetimes I proposed, but we never got a chance to marry before the Fallen got in our way again."

"Stop!" My panicked voice tells him that now I'm freaking out. Before I have the chance to say what is currently pounding around in my head Nate reaches into the collar of his shirt and pulls out a thin silver chain that I hadn't noticed before.

He hands it to me wordlessly and with wide eyes I take in the ring at the end. Just looking at it sends a familiar explosion of happiness and love through me so fast that my head spins slightly.

It's a thin golden band with a diamond set up slightly and circling around the stone is tiny emeralds that shoot rays of green onto the ceiling. It's by far the most breathtaking ring I've ever seen.

I bring them both closer to my face and I feel a warm breeze float across my neck. A rush of unexplainable feelings washes over me, stealing my breath and putting a dark swirling mist over my eyes. Nate's piercing gaze fades away as a different scene takes place around me.