Prologue

“For seventeen years, I have searched for the secrets your mother has hidden from the wards and I wouldn’t think it could have been this,” Gabriel said, staring at me with his crystal clear blue eyes. I clenched my teeth together tight, my jaw aching in protest.

 

“I guess this is the part where you turn me into them and they throw me away like I didn’t mean anything to them. Like I didn’t serve them and lay down my life for them,” I said.

 

"You are just like your mother. I hope you know that. She always had something against the elders," He said, shaking his head.

"My distaste for the elders comes from my father. What wrong had he done to the elders that they found it necessary to make a fool out of him. They chained his wings and pulled them off. He did no harm yet he was killed for what, being a reaper? Being a soul collector? He wasn't a killer and he did nothing to the elders yet he paid their price but instead of fighting and being the monster you have accused him of being, instead of being a coward, he took the punishment. And the worst part was his seven years old daughter had the chance to stare into his eyes as he died. So tell me, what wrong would throwing me to the sharks do if they have taken all that I am already?" I said.

"Aria, you were too young to understand the elders judgement and I fear that you still don't understand," he said.

"I understand, Gabriel. I understand that my mother was the smartest woman I have ever known yet she was a fool to think that you would ever understand and protect me," I said. He looked at me, his eyes filled with pain at my words.

"Your only seventeen, the worst the elders an do to you is cast you out permanently. If you wish for it, I will be your guardian but my duties will always lie here," he said.

"This is my home. This is all I know," I said, my voice just a whisper.

"I know, Aria. I know," he said.

Chapter One

  I stood before the fourteen elders. My guardian, Gabriel, stood beside me. I stood at the glass floor, down at the city below me. This city is called Halo City. The elders thought of it to be a joke considering us angels don't really have halos. Such things don't exist.

"We, collaboratively, came to a final decision," Michael, the leader of the elders, spoke. I looked at the chain that bound my wrist together and then back to the city below me. "Aria, daughter of Ariel, you are hereby Casted out of this world and if you are to ever return without noble justification, you are to be terminated as seen fit. Do you understand these terms?"

"I do," I answered.

"Farewell Aria," he said. The elders stood, eyes closed and hands glowing, as they summoned the portal. I looked at Gabriel and then back to the floor which was now becoming a pool of black at my feet. I held my breath to stop the scream that was forming at the back of my throat. The fall seemed to laugh last forever. But I regret rushing it when I dived into a ocean of water. I floated for a second before swimming up to the surface. Gabriel stood on the surface of the water, a lit cigarette, between his thumb and middle finger. He let a breath of smoke out his lungs and looked down at me. His eyebrows pulled together in pity and he held out a hand to me. He pulled me from the freezing water, cradling me in his chest. I could feel his shoulders tense as his wings expanded. He flapped his wings softly until we were a few feet over the water. Then, he sped off. I buried my face in his chest and fell into a deep sleep.

                                                           ************

I stood before a Queen, my step mother, Alessandria. She looked down at me, her hazel eyes burning with a deep emotion. Betrayal? Hatred? I respectively bowed down. Could this be the woman my father married?

"Stand up," she ordered. I stood, looking down at the dress I was now wearing. It was a lacy black Victorian dress that fell to the ground. "Do you know why you are

here?"

"No, your majesty. Isn't this just a dream?" I asked.

"No. This is more than a dream and you are more than just some half breed child. Just because you've been exiled from that world, doesn't mean you are damned to it. Your home is also here," she said.

"I don't belong in either," I said, looking down.

"Aria, did your father ever tell you of his bloodline?" She asked, standing up and descending the few steps that separated us.

"No, I was too young to understand. I was only a young girl when he died," I said.

"Well, I shall explain. Your fathers descendant was one of the first seven rappers. He was the most trusted reaper and everyone loved him which then lead to him becoming king of the land of souls. Every child of that bloodline has become a king. Even your father, who lived in a village most of his life because his mother was just a commoner. His father sought out to find him before he died and made sure his son would continue the bloodline and he did. You would be the first female in that bloodline, Aria. You will be the first Queen," she said.

"Aren't you queen?" I asked.

"You can't become royal by marriage, my dear. Only by blood," she said.

"I can't become a Queen," I said, stepping away.

"You still have till you're eighteen to decide so think about it. Just remember that none of your descendants ever said no to their duty as their peoples leader," she said.

"How do you know who I am?" I asked.

"Your father told me, of course. He was no more than a close friend to me. I'm glad he found love with your mother. I just hate that he is gone," she said. She took a ring off her index finger and held it out to me. "When you need, you'll know how to use this."

"Is it time for me to go?" I asked.

"For now," she said. "Sweet dreams, Aria."

                                                          ************

"Aria, wake up," I heard Gabriel say.

"I'm up. Will you please stop poking me?" I asked

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Tag der Veröffentlichung: 13.08.2013

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