Áine stood up and looked up at the shaman Ohno.
“I already know about the Montorium’s full transformation,” she said. “But I must asked you to leave you cannot see my daughter tonight.”
“Aw what a shame,” Ohno sighed. “Well then good night Miss Angel.”
Áine followed him to the front door and made sure he left the grounds.
Áine sighed, “Whatever happens to Aisling it’s her decision to whether fight in the war or not.”
Aisling at the moment was down the hall and had been listening to the conversation between the red haired man and her grandmother. She heard her grandmother shut and locked the door and hurried back into the dining room.
“What were you doing?” Mari whispered to Aisling when she sat down at the table. Aisling shook her head and put a finger to her lips then Áine walked into her room and was still in her true form.
Mari stared at her surprised as this was her first time seeing Áine in her true form minus wings. Áine turned to look at Aisling. “We will start the spiritual training now.”
Aisling looked up in surprise but quietly nodded. Then Áine turned to Mari and Kaki, “Please stay in the house.” Áine told them they looked at her confused however they nodded.
Áine went outside and Aisling followed her quietly. They went to the far back of the grounds where Aisling never went because of the thick briars and bushes but somehow they went through easily. Aisling felt her skin prickled and a shiver went down her spin. She sensed something powerful and pure. There was a tight cluster of tall trees it looked like there was no way to go through it but Áine waved her hand and the trees parted to reveal a small clearing. In the glade was a circle of large stones.
“This place is sacred and is closely linked to the spirit planes especially the Heaven realm,” Áine said softly. “I really would prefer the training take place in doors but mediating in this kind of place is critical in your case.” She turned to the small red head girl. “Step into the circle and sit in the center.”
Aisling nodded appearing confused and a little nervous. She walked into the circle and sat down and faced her grandmother.
“Relax and empty your mind of thoughts,” Áine instructed standing outside the circle.
Aisling felt her throat was dry from nerves but she took a deep breath and nodded. She relaxed, resting her hands in her lap and closed her eyes.
Áine nodded with approval. She clasped her hands together as if she was praying her mouth parted open and sang. The area was filled with a clear, graceful voice singing what sounded like a hymn.
The circle began to glow and when Aisling opened her eyes she was somewhere else. She looked around and thought she was floating in the clouds but the landscape would shift and change. The scenery changed to a lush green forest and changed again to a vast blue ocean and then a dark starry sky. She shook her head and could faintly hear someone singing but sounded far away.
“Hello there,” a voice said behind Aisling.
She turned around and stared up at a girl in her late teens with long rusty red hair and violet eyes. She was dressed in a long white toga with a bright green cloak drape over her shoulder. Although Aisling never saw her before she knew her.
“Bree…Brighid?”
“Yes,” Brighid smiled. “We finally meet face to face.”
“Where are we?”
“Well we’re sort of in two places. We’re deep in your psyche and in Heaven.”
“This is Heaven?”
“Hm more or less, stand up girl.”
Aisling stood up and was surprise to feel solid ground she was expecting to float in…wherever they were exactly. “Why does the landscape keep changing?”
“You can stop it and pick any place you want. All you have to do is think about it.”
A beach first came to Aisling’s mind and the next moment they were standing in a beach that Aisling remember from her childhood.
“Nice,” commented Brighid. “I’m surprise you didn’t choose something modern.”
“I like the outdoors,” Aisling paused as she heard the singing continued and it sounded familiar. “Who’s singing?”
“Doesn’t matter,” Brighid said with a bright smile on her pale face. “Come,” she linked arms with Aisling. “I want to show you our legacy.”
Brighid led Aisling down the beach and the scenery changed to a temple of pure white marble or was it Alabaster? The architect looked similar to ancient Greek or ancient Egyptian. People walked around dressed mostly in white and some hand wings attached to their backs; angels.
“This is where I lived during my prime,” Brighid said smiling at the angels passing by. They never took notice of Aisling or Brighid but Aisling realized that they couldn’t because what they were seeing was more like an illusion. Brighid watched as her eyes grew dark. “But then things changed…” The dark look disappeared replace by a bright smile. “Why do you think angels are different from other beings Ash?”
Aisling blinked at being addressed by one of her old nicknames, “They…are old, older than demons and humans I think.”
“No angels were born at the same time as demons in order to keep the balance between good and evil. What else?”
“They live in Heaven and they’re the embodiment of all that is good and pure…” Aisling said not sure where Brighid was getting at.
“Ah…Heaven is the most wonderful place,” said Brighid sighing her eyes looked far away and wistful. “So beautiful and peaceful…you always feel free and save. You don’t feel hunger, fatigue or pain. You can change your surroundings by your will.”
Brighid let out another sigh and looked at Aisling, “There’s no place like it.”
Aisling nodded, “Okay…I take your word for it but,” Aisling hesitated and said, “There’s something I want to know.”
Brighid’s smile faltered but quickly composed herself, “What is it?”
“Why does Morrigan hate me I mean hate you so much?”
The smile completely vanished this time Brighid sighed. “A long time ago during the mortals called the B.C. area; Morrigan defied the immortals by not taking sides in a war between the humans as it was part of her duty. A trail was set and then Morrigan was sentenced to face the Fort of Shades. If she only accepted that her actions were wrong she would have not have been disgrace but she became a Fallen along with her sisters.”
The scenery changed again Aisling saw an angel bearing a masked helmet. The angel faced a giant gate that Aisling remembered from her dream. The gates opened and a dark figure stepped out. Aisling saw it was Morrigan followed by two women she didn’t recognized but she presumed they were Morrigan’s sisters.
“BRIGHID! HOW COULD YOU!!!” Morrigan roared her gaunt and ashen face was contorted in rage. “THIS IS YOUR DOING!!! YOU DAMNED US FROM HEAVEN!!!”
“Morrigan Fay calm yourself,” The masked angel said she put her hand on the sword strapped to her side as Morrigan advanced towards her. “The Fort of Shades is never wrong this was met…” Morrigan swung down her blade and angel’s head was severed.
Aisling gasped and covered her eyes from the gruesome scene.
“It was my decision for Morrigan to be sentenced to the Fort of Shades,” Brighid said solemnly. “So Morrigan blamed me for the cause of her damnation and she took her anger out on me. But ending my life wasn’t enough for her. She wanted me to suffer for eternity like she will have to suffer as a Fallen forever. But my soul passed on and was fated to be reborn.”
Aisling removed her hands from her face and saw they were back on the beach. She looked at Brighid, “She’s still after me…” Aisling said in a hoarse voice.
Brighid nodded, ‘That is why you must leave the Earth world and become a true angel.” Brighid said as she clasped Aisling’s hands tightly.
“What?”
“If you become a true angel you won’t be in your friend’s way and put your family in danger. If you become an angel you’ll become so much stronger you can fight the demons and end the war.”
Aisling looked down and bit her lip, “….but my family….I can’t leave them or my friends and I’ll never grow old right?”
“Angels can be any age they want,” Brighid said. “You can visit your family and friends but you can’t stay with them as an angel Heaven is your one true home.”
Aisling frowned and pulled her hands away from Brighid and crossed her arms. “You’re talking like I’m weak and a burden but I’m not useless the cards…”
“Oh yeah the cards they were torched weren’t they because of your carelessness.”
Aisling flinched and looked away.
“Believe me Aisling there’s only one way…”
~*~
Áine continued to sing softly and watched Aisling sitting in the center of the circle. Her face looked calm and peaceful but she sensed the young one was struggling deep in her psyche.
When it comes down to it Aisling must decide.
***
Phew! I’m so hot right now and my back freakin’ hurts! DX
But I had to finish this. Aisling needs to hurry up with her training
So what will Aisling choose? You’ll have to wait for my next post; XD
