Part 2


Glancing up at Alex, I saw him turn a shade of pink before he swiftly grabbed a menu and held it up infront of his face, blocking my view. "I'll take your silence as a yes then."
"It's not how it sounds.."
"Oh?" I picked up my own menu, a single page of elaminated paper, and inspected the breakfast options. It was strange to think that even though I was dead, I was still having breakfast, at a cliffside café, no less. "Because it sounds like you went into a lot of detail, if she can recognise me just by appearance."
I looked over the edge of my menu, hiding my smile. I found his embarressment incredibly amusing. When he didn't answer me, I took mercy on him. "I'm only teasing you, Alex, relax."
"You're not mad?"
"No, of course not. Although I don't know how I could have been that interesting, to talk about."
He made a scoffing noise, then tried to cover it with a cough. This time he peeked over the edge of his menu, and eyed me suspiciously. "You're really not bothered by it?"
"No!"
He visibly relaxed, still behind his elaminated barrier. "Good. And I didn't talk about you that much-"
"Are you joking? Here you are," Lucy bustled up then, baring gifts of french toast and orange juice. She carefully placed them infront of us along with some napkins. "Alex all you could ever talk about was Aurora, especially over the past year or so. I mean I've heard of guardians becoming attached to their charges - it's expected, since they watch over them all through their lives. But Alec you-"
"Okay! That's enough Lucy. I think she gets it." He glowered at her, as she winked at me and pulled up a chair. I realised she was purposely trying to wind him up, and imediately warmed to her.
"I don't know whether to be flattered or worried," I commented, playing along.
"It's not liek I was obsessed or anything. Just after watching you all day, I'd come here to visit Lucy and we'd start talking. And she would ask all kinds of questions about you, so it wasn't jsut me blabbering on about you."
Lucy shrugged, "I've never met a human before, and Alex is the only Guardian I know. I was curious."
"Does he tell you off for asking too many questions too?" Alex switched his glower from her on to me.
"Yes! Alex doesn't liek curiosity. He likes to follow rules, no questions asked. He also dislikes anything catching him off guard."
"You know I'm still here." He huffed, taking an irritated bite out of his toast. "And so are you," He looked pointedly at the chair Lucy was sitting on. "Don't you have a job to do?"
"All right, sorry! No need to get tetchy," She stood up and returned her chair to the neighbouring table. "I'll leave you be. Is there anything else I can get you first?"
We declined and she left us alone once more. For a long time we sat in silence, munching on our toast and sipping our orange juice. The food had so much flavour here. I had to restrain myself from gobbling it all up in one go.
I gazed out the window at the view, and mused about what I'd learnt so far. Alex obviously was friends with Lucy, and from her comment about never meeting a human before she was probably a 'pure' angel too. And he'd talked about me to her when he'd been my guardian angel, and gone into quite a lot of detail from what Lucy had said. I couldn't understand that - Why would he want to talk about me? What had there even been to talk about? 'Aurora had a tuna sandwich today instead of cheese!' ? My life hadn't been that exciting.
But then again I couldn't even remember my life. Just my sister and my last day. It dawned on me that Alex would know. He'd know everything about me, if what I'd gathered from both his comment when we first offically met, "I feel like I already know you," and Lucy's. And the small fact he'd watched over me everyday of my life.
"Alex, tell me about my life. You know I can't remember any of it."
"I can't, I'm sorry." He looked genuinely apologetic. "I would if I could, but I'm not allowed to tell you anything. You have to find out for yourself, as you progress as an angel."
"But why? And how?"
"Well They say it's meant to help you become a proper force of good, as you won't remember a past that might make you biased towards future charges or cases. Your memories will come back to you gradually, sometimes they'll come to you in dreams, other times they might be triggered by certain objects, places or words."
"Who's They?"
He raised an eyebrow. "You really do have an endless stream of questions, don't you?" He sighed, "They, are the Elders. There's a sort of angelic hierarchy, and the Elders are right up there near the top. Some Gods and Goddesses are above them, others are below, depending on how powerful and important they are."
I thought about this. I was pretty sure Persephone, the only Goddess I'd met so far, was right up there above these mysterious Elders. She ruled over the Underworld, and if my greek mythology was correct, she also had something to do with the changing of seasons. That seemed pretty powerful to me.
"So, I will remember my life, but just not all at once?"
"Exactly."
"Well could you at least tell me what kind of person I was? Like, was I nice, or mean, loud or shy? Was I a good person?" I tried to hide how much this meant to me.
Holding my eyes, Alex leant forward in his seat, "Aurora you were lovely. You were loved by many." He said very seriously, not blinking once.
I gulped, suddenly overcome with emotion. "Thank you," I whispered, averting my gaze back out across the clouds. After I was sure my voice wouldn't break or wobble, I took a sip of my orange juice before continueing. "I guess I wasn't loved by all though, evidently." I indicated our surroundings.
That look I'd seen before on him crossed Alexs face then, at the mention of my death. It was filled with sorrow and regret. I suppose he must have taken my death badly, especially if he'd had to stand by and watch it happen, after watching me my whole life. "Hey, don't blame yourself," I reached over and squeezed his hand that was resting on the table, fiddling with his napkin. "You couldn't have stopped what happened."
He looked up at me and away nervously, almost guiltily. "..Could you?" I asked hesitantly, suddenly unsure.
"I-I wasn't there." He took a deep breath, still avoiding my gaze. I pulled my hands back and rested them on my lap. "I should have been there, but I wasn't-"
"What are you saying?"
"I was called away that day. I saw you leaving your house that morning, with your sister, and you were fine. Then.. Then something came up. I had to go away. Then I came back and you-you were... well, you were trying to pick up a camera, and your body was lying at the bottom of the stairs." He shuddered, staring into the distance with a haunted look in his eyes as he recalled my death scene. It was obvious he was just as disturbed as I had been.
He snapped out of his trance after a moment, took in our empty plates and glasses, and jumped up from the table. "Lets go."
I had to quickly scramble out of my chair and almost run to catch up to his long strides. Lucy was standing behind a counter, writing on a chalk board. Alex strode past her without any acknowledgement. "Uhm, what do we owe you for breakfast?" I asked, not sure what the currency was or how Alex expected me to pay for it since he was already out the door.
"Nothing, don't worry." She looked at me worriedly. "He's very sensitive about that."
"What, paying?"
"No, your.. death." She raised her eyebrows. I somehow wasn't surprised she knew what was up with her friend. "He won't forgive himself for not being there. He feels he could have helped in some way, effected the outcome or something. No please, let me say this," She added when I went to speak. "Don't blame him, it really wasn't his fault. He's tormented himself over it."
"I don't blame him, of course not. He didn't kill me." I looked at her searchingly. I felt liek she knew a lot more than she was letting on. "I have to go," I looked out through the entrance, and could see Alex still stalking away in the distance. "Thanks for the food, I'll probably see you around?"
"You're welcome, Aurora. Come back anytime." She smiled at me like we were old friends, then went back to writing on her chalk board. I quickly exited the café and started running after Alex.

CHAPTER THREE

I sat at a little café on the edge of a cliff. Clouds blocked out any view of the drop, if you looked over the edge. I could see as far as the horizon line, with the sun halfway up the sky. It was beautiful, and I had a rare moment of being too stunned to speak.
Alex had led me down the 3 wide stone steps, worn smooth and low in the middle from being constantly used. His house was like a small, beach cottage, all on the one level and shaped in a U, with the patio at the centre leading out to the main road.
From the pavement, I couldn't see any other houses. Just several fields, filled with long grass and wild flowers and bordered by the old fashioned stone slab walls covered in moss and delicate little flowers, like those you'd see in Cornwall. If this was heaven, I'd hate to be a cosmopolitan.
We turned right, and the road soon turned into a dirt track. Alex didn't speak as he walked slightly infront of me leading the way, allowing me to take in my surroundings properly. Eventually the track split into two directions; we could either keep following the road straight ahead, or go left and follow a path. I was midly surprised when Alex took to the left path without hesitating. I assumed he knew where he was going - he did live here afterall.
The path meandered down a slight slope, and Alex held back the occasional branch and prickly plant. Suddenly I looked up and could see right across the sea of clouds to the horizon line.
We walked right to the edge of the cliff, and leaned on the wooden fence that was the only thing separating us from falling. Could you fall to your death, in this life? What happened if you did fall from here?
You fall from grace.
I jumped, as a breaze whispered the words past my ear. Whipping my head round I couldn't see anyone else.
"Did you hear that?" I asked, breaking our comfortable silence.
"Hear what?"
"That voice.. it was like a whisper or something."
"No, I didn't hear anything." He looked at me for a moment, before looking back out at the view. "What did it say?"
"Oh.. nothing." I decided against telling him. I didn't want him to think me any weirder than I already was. "Probably just the wind." I looked away, feigning nochulance.
We'd continued to follow the new path along the edge of the cliff, parallel to the wooden fence that separated us from the sheer drop hidden by clouds. It was so peaceful here, no wonder Alex lived here. The sun was pleasantly warm on my skin, and a light breeze prevented it from getting too hot. And the view was spectacular. I couldn't help smiling to myself as we walked.
A small café came into view, that was built right on the edge without the fence to keep you at a distance. It had a nice, cosy look to it, with painted white wood walls, and lots of windows.
Inside it was all white-washed furniture, with lots of vases of flowers. It was so airy and light, from having windows on the three walls with a view, yet felt cosy and safe and welcoming. I imediately felt this was a place I could get used to visiting. We headed to a table that pressed right up the the glass of the window, with my chair facing the view, and Alex's with his back to it.
A woman appeared beside us almost straight away, startling me. "Hi, Alex," She smiled to him. She was small and curvy, with long blonde hair piled on top on her head, and the clearest peaches and cream skin I'd seen. But before I could envy her her perfect looks, and the smile she'd given Alex, she turned to me and that smile widened and turned warm. "You are exactly how I imagined you to be."
I was momentarily stunned. She seemed to radiate happiness and freindliness. Alex quickly jumped in, "Ah, Aurora this is my friend, Lucille. She owns and runs this café."
"Call me Lucy," She beamed at me. "I can not believe I am actually meeting you. I mean Alex talked about you so much it felt like I'd already met and known you forever, but to actually meet you, face to face. It's crazy!"
"Oh, uhm.. Thanks, I think." I looked across to Alex who was looking very uncomfortable, and raised my eyebrows.
"Okay, so, Lucy! Get us some toast or something, please?" He gave her a beseeching look, and she hurriedly dropped two menus on the table and rushed off to go deal with the order. Reluctantly he returned his attention to me, and somehow managed to look both indignant and sheepish at the same time. "Sorry about that... She tends to blabber on a bit."
I held his gaze for a moment, "Talk about me often, do you?" I pretended to inspect my nails, feigning disinterest.

Part 4



I digested that, and tried not to show the mild distress I felt at coming so close to such a fate. Of course I had no idea what this fate I now had was either, but I was willing to bet it was a good deal nicer.
"But I broke her gaze," It sounded more like a question.
"Yes, she let you go. Your resistance obviously indicated a strength not seen in simple spirits."
"No, Alex. I broke her gaze." I turned and looked him in the eye, to make sure he took me seriously. "I did resist, yes. But then I could hear you talking, and you sounded like you were walking away and I wanted to follow you. I didn't want to be left alone."
He considered this, his eyes never leaving my face. I could practically see the wheels of his mind turning over all the possibilities and explanations behind this. Eventually he murmured, "Hmm. I'll have to speak with Persephone as to what that means."
"Is it unusual?"
"Aurora, I've only just managed to train myself to break her gaze." At my questioning look he expanded on his answer, "It is important for angels and archangels alike to stay in the peak of health and top condition. For our senses to be acute and reflexes sharp. Persephone likes to spring traps on us spontaneously - she gets bored very easily, and finds these exercises entertaining - where she grips us in her gaze, and we have to fight it until either she gets bored and releases us or we break free ourselves."
"And you've only just been able to break free yourself?" I was getting worried now. What did that say about me?
"Yes." He searched my eyes for something, probably a reason for why I was so different. "But you doing that within a day of becoming an angel from a human no less, where you aren't even at your full power. And on your first turn. That's.. pretty spectacular."
I smiled meekly, not sure whether I liked being spectacular. It felt like just another word for 'freak' or 'different'. I didn't want to be different. I wanted to fit in. A sudden flash back triggered by that thought brought me previous feelings of wanting to fit in and surrounded by friends. I got a vague impression of a memory, of me on the outskirts of the groups of people socialising. OF being more interested in reading and animals than make-up and the latest celebrity gossip.
As quickly as it arrived, the memory flickered away from me. My mind fought to grab onto it, to delve deeper into it but it danced away until it faded. For a moment I forgot Alex was watching my face, and realised he must have misinterpreted my obvious frustration as anxiety. He immediately turned earnest.
"Spectacular in a good way, I mean. You're making Angelic history!" He gave me a lop-sided grin. It sounded odd when he used words like 'angelic' as technical terms, as actual names for things, and not just as a way to describe someone or something. Like if you wanted to emphasise a child's innocence, you'd say they were angelic. I couldn't get used to this minor shift in vocabulary. "Honestly Aurora, don't think of this as some drawn out end to your life - Think of it as a bright new beginning where you've the potential to become legendary. You've definitely got the potential to do great things, no question." He smiled reassuringly at me.
"Thanks.." For laying on the pressure. "I'll keep that in mind."
Alex suddenly leapt up from the bed and stood at the foot of it. His clothes were remarkably un-wrinkled from lying down all that time. I couldn't recall him leaving to change them. "Alex did you change into fresh clothes?" I sat up, my back stiff from staying in one position for so long. I was vaguely aware that my hair must have looked a right state, where my tears had run down my cheek and soaked the left side, which was the side I'd been lying on. But no matter what I looked like, Alex merely threw me a look that clearly said what-are-you-talking-about-you-crazy-fool? and proceeded to open all the curtains.
"No, Aurora. I stayed next to you the whole time. Didn't you realise?"
"Well that's what I thought but your clothes aren't even wrink-"
"Enough of your questions!" He threw open a set of french doors on the north wall, opposite the bed, and turned back to face me. At that moment, with the light streaming in around him through the doors, he looked truly angelic - and in the literal sense. I was temporarily awed by his beauty. "Since you are obviously feeling better, I think it's about time you got up." I was beginning to wish he'd go back to being silent and soothing.
"Okay, but please - answer me two more questions?" I sat forward with my legs crossed under me, suddenly eager for the answers.
"Fine."
"How long have I been in here for? Like, I know it must have been a few hours.." I shrugged embarrassed by what now felt like merely a bad dream.
Alex looked me straight in the eye and said seriously, "Seven days."
I stared at him for a long moment. "I never."
"But you were. If you're actually interested in hours then you've been in here one hundred and sixty eight hours." He briskly looked the room over with a critical eye. "Don't get me wrong - it's a very nice room - but I'm just about sick of it right now. Don't look so worried, Aura, it isn't unusual for a newly turned angel to hide away for seven days give or take. During that time you complete the transition from human soul to pure angel. It is a time of rebirth and creation - and where you humans got that idea about god creating the world in seven days."
Again I simply stared at him, trying not to let my jaw drop open. So much information to take in. But I found myself somehow absorbing and registering it quicker than before - seven days before, apparently. "So you mean there was actually some truth behind - No! I need to concentrate." I mentally filed that away to be asked at a later date when he wasn't restricting my curiosity. "Right, question two. What time of day is it now?"
Alex gave m an incredulous look, "That's your second question? Really?"
"Yup."
"Mid-morning. Now get up and get ready," He strode over to a door I hadn't noticed before on the west wall, and opened it wide. "If you want to change or freshen up or anything, you can do so in here. I'll wait out through the french doors, then we can brunch."
"Did you honestly just say 'brunch'?"
"We watch over you humans so much, we're bound to pick up your lingo. Now come on!" He gestured towards the new doorway. I swung my legs over and jumped out of bed, trying not to smile at his indignant expression, suddenly feeling rejuvenated. I practically bounced over to him.
"Seven days.. wow." I purposely looked him up and down, indicating his clean freshly ironed looking outfit. "And you didn't change your clothes once?"
"Is that another question?" He raised an eyebrow.
"You answered the one about you saying brunch!"
"Ah, but you were being rhetorical. I simply chose to expand on my use of the word." He abruptly gave me a wolfish grin that lit up his eyes. "I'll be just outside if you have anymore questions.. and I'm sure you will." He then strode away leaving me no choice but to go into the new room and wonder what he meant by 'I'm sure you will'. Was he teasing me? I knew I'd been very curious but who could blame me..
All thought left me as I entered the room. To my left a pole went right along it, from which many dresses, cardigans, skirts and tops hung. To my right the wall was lined with racks of shoes and accessories. I now understood what Alex had meant. He knew this was sending my curiosity into overdrive.
I walked forward, trailing my left hand along the many items of clothing, and my right over the many pairs of shoes, and then necklaces and rings. It struck me how all the dresses looked similar; floaty and feminine, and different tones and hues of white, from ivory to cream, to a pearly pale grey-lilac. The shoes were all a variation on my flat dark brown leather gladiator sandals; from basic flip-flops to the type of gladiator sandal that encased half your leg.
At the end of the rows of clothes and shoes, was a door frame without a door. I walked hesitantly through to find a large bathroom. There was a huge bathtub with clawed legs, and fancy shiny gold taps. I walked over to the sink that was also gold-tapped, and had a mirror hung behind it. I braced myself for whatever state I must have looked before I stepped in front of it.
Staring back at me was a clear skinned, bright eyed version of myself. My hair was for once shiny and silky looking, tumbling in smooth spirals down to my waist, unlike the usual tangle of curls I had to deal with every morning. The last time I'd seen myself had been my dead body, and that versions face had been drained of colour and devoid of expression. Now my skin with still as pale as porcelain, but my cheeks had a natural blush to them, and my lips were a nice pinky red colour. I gave myself a shy smile, watching as the dimple in my right cheek appeared near the corner of my mouth, as my lips stretched.
I looked... Healthy.
And more alive than before I died.
Filled with a strange sense of happiness - for all was not lost, as I had thought before. There was now a life for me beyond death, and I apparently suited it, if my reflection was anything to go by. I half ran and half skipped back to the walk-in wardrobe, and had a quick rummage til I found a short sun dress like my own cotton one, except it was more an ivory than white colour, and the neckline went into a V from spaghetti straps. I shimmied out of my oddly uncreased outfit and into the new one. It was a perfect fit, thankfully.
With one last glance at my reflection, and after folding my dress over the edge of the bath tub to be put away later, I swept out back to the bedroom. I was literally the cliché of someone with a spring in their step.
The french doors seemed to lead out onto a neat little outdoor patio/mini courtyard, with flowerbeds lining the walls. Alex sat on a stone bench that faced west. Opposite my bedroom, and to the right of Alex was another set of french doors that led back inside the building. To the west, where Alex was facing, the outside walls of the building carried on for around three metres, where the patio stopped and was enclosed by a dainty picket fence. From there I could see steps down to the pavement and road. Across the road was a huge field fenced off. The sky was a clear blue, with the smallest clumps of white fluffy clouds dotted here and there. I felt like I'd been transported to Cornwall or a rural part of England.
Alex jumped up from the bench when I stepped out onto the stone patio with him. "I see you didn't waste time in changing your outfit." He observed, looking me over.
"It was okay for me to change, wasn't it? You don't mind that I borrowed this dress?" I suddenly realised I hadn't even asked if I could wear it.
"Do I look like I own that dress? It's yours. Alond with everythign else in there. So of course it was okay if you changed."
"What? All those clothes? and shoes? They're all mine?" He couldn't be serious.
"Yes, Aura. Why did you think the dress fit you? They're all your exact size."
But apparently he was. "But how? How is it all my size? and all for me? I don't even have a place to live, or put all those clothes in!" Just my luck, to be given the wardrobe of my dreams, then not be able to keep it.
"Yes you do, this is your home now. That was your bedroom you were in for seven days, your wardrobe, and your bathroom. And before you ask," He gestured towards the other set of french doors. "Those lead to my rooms. So yes, you would be sharing a house with me, unless you feel uncomfortable with that, in which case new accomodation can be arranged." He saw me open my mouth again, and interrupted me. "And I don't know how all those clothes appeared, in exactly your size. But it happens for every human-turned-angel. Almost like a starter pack. I'm sure you noticed how the items were different variations of the last outfit you wore while alive. I'm guessing that's a way of playing it safe, as 'they'" He made quote marks with his fingers, "probably assume it was an outfit you liked, and so it's more likely you'll like your new wardrobe. So just accept that it happened. I know you're dying to ask me more questions, but just try to accept it for now."
I eyed him for a moment, digesting what he'd said. "But aren't you even curi-" I cut myself off when he shot me a look that clearly said I shouldn't bother asking that question. Resisting the urge to sulk and glare at him, I instead asked, "So how do you know I'm dying to ask more questions?" I raised an eyebrow.
"Well apart from the fact that that's all you've done since you died, and then relived your death, I think anyone would know you love to ask questions." I couldn't help glaring at him then. Grinning he carried on, "But you also forget, I've known you for a long time. I was your Guardian Angel from when you were born, eighteen human years ago. I'd like to think I knew you well by now."
Now that caught my attention. "So how old are you then? Obviosuly you're at least eighteen years older than me, even though you only look about twenty-one."
"Oh, you could say I am twenty-one." He laughed.
Feeling ridiculously like we were in a scene from Twilight, I persisted and asked, "And how long have you been twenty-one?"
"Since the mid-to-late 18th Century." He watched my reaction soberly. I was stunned into silence. So that made him around two hundred and fifty years old, give or take half a century. Whoa. I could tell he was slightly weary of my reaction, as if he expected me to run screaming or something.
"So I guess you're a bit older than twenty-one, really, then." I thought about that for a moment. "That explains your weird clothes," I said flippantly. He immediately flashed me a relieved smile that quickly turned a mock hurt.
"You wound me! What's so weird about my clothes?"
"Well not so much weird, just the only people I've seen who wore billowy shirts and tight trousers were Mr Darcy and his lot." I smiled innocently back at him. "Although I've no idea if they were from the same century as you or not." I shrugged.
"You know, for all I said about knowing you well by now, you still surprise me." He placed a hand gently on my back and started to guide me towards the picket fence and steps. "Now, let's go get something to eat."