BURNING BLOOD

DIVINE GATES

(Soran)

We were chatting, trying to ignore the fact that Issa and Emrys were f*****g.

"Awkward," said Aria to no one in particular.

"Indeed...

ohm... now I know how she must have felt and why she rolled her eyes at us constantly!!" Lia admitted.

"Constantly?" Alarik questioned with a raised brow,

"Back off, bro!" Lia growled.

"Enough you two!!..." I started to say when Emrys's distress call blasted via mind link.

In a second we all were in his room, staring at a pale Emrys holding Issa.

Like a statue, with her silver eyes glowing purple...

"What happened?" Echo asked.

"We were talking and suddenly she froze... " Emrys murmured.

"Calm down.

She is having a vision!" I replied.

"Soran, are you sure?!",

I nodded.

Aria put her hand on Issa's forehead chanting

"Come forward, turn back!".

Issa blinked a few times. Her features were normal again.

" Aria, thank you!

I had nightmares like premonitions before, but not while I was awake!!

Somehow this one was holding me in a loop." she breathed heavily.

"Maybe it was something you needed to see

or someone..." Aria reassured.

"Perhaps both.

How are you feeling?" I asked Issa.

"Hungry" she smiled.

"Well, if you too are done...

talking...

you can finally grab a bite and we can chat," Lia smirked at her flushed expression.

The next hours flew by.

We were trying to comprehend the meaning of the vision.

Everyone knew the chronology of the past events, well, everyone except Issa.

So we all unraveled our knowledge of the matter.

"If only were all this information written somewhere..." Aria exhaled.

"Che stupida!!" (So stupid!) Issa exclaimed and facepalmed.

"Grimm I need you!!" she spoke to her ring.

"Grimm?!" I asked perplexed.

"The Book of All Knowledge is a Grimoire so I call it Grimm" she retorted giggling.

"I don't know what is stranger...

the fact that you gave The Book a nickname...

or that you are speaking with it!!" Lia was staring confused.

Issa chuckled and laid her hand on the table. From the band appeared The Book.

"Disclose the past to me," she pleaded.

Once again we stood stupefied.

She explained the ring and what she has hidden in it besides The Book.

She found a few pages that told us nothing that we didn't know before.

Slightly frustrated Issa implored

" Please, Grimm I need more fractions...

I'm lost and I need your guidance ".

The Book shooked, closed itself, and reopen. On the page was a golden inscription:

" your future is the past "

She huffed

" Really?!

Now I'm more confused!".

The Book flipped a few pages and show another riddle:

" The second is in the bright light, ascending the stairs to the feathered sight "

"Oh...

It seems that there is a stairway to Heaven" snickered Issa.

" I presume that there is hidden the next gem?!" Emrys asked.

" How will I get there?" Issa said looking at us.

"I'll take you!

Just....need to ask permission first!" I replied and went to contact my sister.

(Issa)

I looked at Aria, c*****g an eyebrow but she just shrugged her shoulders.

The others seemed too quiet. Something was bothering them,

"Spill it out!!".

" Don't be mad..." Echo started,

"We are afraid that except for Soran no one will be allowed to escort you," Emrys said sadly.

"Why?",

"Kitten, we are dark beings and we can not roam Heavens!! I'm not sure if Soran will be able to get a foot down before he's obligated to step away!" Alarik's response made me think.

"But you aren't entirely dark!!

I can feel the light in you as well!!" I stated with my teary eyes.

Somehow, I felt their pain as my own.

"Sure, but only pure light beings are allowed to step in" Lia affirmed.

"Then... I can't go either?!" I whispered.

"What are you talking about?!" Echo asked standing up.

"I'm not pure... not anymore!",

"f*****g with us didn't make you dirty..." Emrys started, but I cut him off,

"No, not that.

The way I acted in Hell...".

I felt like crying. I was changing, I knew that, and something inside me was awakening...

Something dark and feral.

" Whatever it is, we will face it together!!" Echo said taking me in his embrace.

I hid my face in the crook of his neck and sighed deeply.

I felt protected, loved, ...

Eerie energy drifted around my heart soothing my doubts.

"Issa...

they agreed to meet us!" Soran softly spoke.

"Where?!" I asked.

" Dhei thinks that is better to meet midway.

The land between Purgatory and Ascending is neutral so you don't need to go alone." Soran responded.

"When?" my question was quiet, like a whisper.

"Tomorrow morning, at daybreak!" he said rapidly scanning my face to see how I truly felt.

I just nodded and leaned back on Echo. His body warmth was alleviating, and soon I dozed.

(Aria)

"We are going home.

Please be careful and call if you need help!!" Lia said.

"I brought some medicines and ointments that will help if you get injured.

Still, I hope you'll don't need them!!" I said to the man holding my dear friend, my sister.

Their love for her was obvious.

Lia looked at me and nodded. We were needed at the hospital.

More and more creatures were showing in Asteria and around the borders.

Some were just curious to see the Seer, others wanted to be selected as the next leader, and of course, there were the troublemaking ones... conflicts and injuries for banality!

We didn't say anything to Issa, because she was worried enough but we made an agreement to never let her alone. I trusted the four men to do their job, protect her!

Some creep could easily harm her or worse turn her into a nightmare!!

I smiled to myself thinking about our lives a few years ago when her grandmother took us in and told us that she is unaware of the supernaturals.

The simplicity of life that we took for granted...

The real battle is yet to begin.

(Issa)

"Beautiful, you need to wake up" Echo whispered.

Rubbing my sleepy eyes I saw that I was still in his arms.

Blushing I mumbled

"You could have put me down or in my bed...",

" Oh no...

I enjoyed how you pressed yourself into me...

Your delicious curves wrapped around my torso...

snoring like a hell hound but a cute one!!" Echo snickered and kissed my forehead.

" Shut up!!" I said with a smile and went to my room to prepare myself.

I heard Soran yelling

"were a dress and no shoes!!".

" Ok!!" I didn't question his request.

I didn't have time and I was too nervous to even speculate.

Quickly I put on a long-sleeved, satin, light green dress, that reached the floor.

Simple yet elegant.

I let my hair down with just a hairpin above my left ear.

It was my mother's and my precious belonging.

I calm myself touching the pin in my curls and went to the library.

"Such a vision!!" said Emrys and winked at me.

I blushed, again.

Then I looked at them and my breath halted. My vision become amber.

They were all in their true form, half-naked and barefoot.

Emrys and Alarik wore black leather pants, while Echo and Soran had dark grey linen pants that were so low on the hips.

I licked my dry lips at the eye candy in front of me.

My hungry eyes roamed their body shamelessly when I heard Emrys chuckle.

"Are you done stripping us with your eyes?!" Echo said.

"We can play later kitten, now it's time to go!" Alarik's voice made me blink a few times and regain composure.

Soran took my hand in his saying

" Mmmm... when you look at me like I am a meal is so turning on!".

"Ha!?

What?! Me?!

I...no..." grumbling I slap his torso.

Smiling Soran led me to the big mirror and bitting his finger he draw a symbol on it.

The surface changed. I could see tall grass on the other side.

Without a word, we all step in.

On my left, I saw a huge, never-ending wall, that divided the scenery into two parts.

On my right was a wide staircase going up somewhere.

There was no sound of birds, no wind, no one!!

"So this is no-man's land?!" I asked nervously.

"Yes!" A melodic voice broke the silence.

On the staircase stood three beautiful women, wearing white dresses with a silver-looking armor vest on it.

The first approach with a steady pace.

"Welcome Seer!

I am Mary Kace Dhei, your guide today!" she said seriously.

"Thank you.

You can call me Issa." I was squeezing Soran's hand.

"Hi sis!!" he said nonchalantly.

She just rolled her eyes at Soran.

"This are Pooja and Rain," she motioned to the other two.

"We are the three guards of Ascending".

"Oh, nice to meet you!" I replied with a smile.

The two nodded their head and motioned to Alarik, Echo, and Emrys to follow.

"Don't worry Issa. They are escorting them back.

Soran can stay here to guard you." Dhei said.

I stared at her. Soran was gorgeous but she was so much more...

She had high cheekbones, a small slim nose, heart-shaped mouth, and stunning monolid, dark hazel eyes that seemed to bland width the grass beneath me!!

Her soft, brown hair was in a thick braid resting on her left shoulder.

"Wow!!

You are so beautiful!!

But, don't get me wrong, you two have nothing in common!!" I blurted out.

She laughed and said

"We have the same mother, so fortunately for me, I'm not a leech like him!".

I giggled at Soran's expression.

" Don't worry!! I still like you!" I reassured him.

He kissed my hand and then said

"We can bicker later who is better, now, please assist Issa".

" Good... Soran stays here with me.

Issa, follow the staircase.

You'll locate the Seraphim that holds the answers you search!" Dhei said and hugged me.

With a lump in my throat, I release Soran's hand and went to the stairs.

I looked back and give them a weird half-crooked smile.

My heart thumped like crazy.

I was afraid that my latest actions condemned the search.

"Anima candida!!" (pure soul) a whispering voice broke my inner monologue.

I looked and saw an angel with three pairs of peach-candid wings. The first one was hiding half of the face. I could glimpse at the point of the nose and her mouth. The second was wide open, with some golden strands here and there.

The third enveloped her feet.

She too wore a white, long dress and had an armor west, but golden.

Her hands were slightly crossed and held something.

" I apologize for staring!! I never saw a being like you." I said, lowering my gaze.

"Do not worry child!

I'm not here to harm you!!",

"Please, I will not bother you longer. Can you give me the gem that I need?!" I asked.

"No Annissa, I can not!!",

"Why...?"I didn't know how to address her. (Was it a her?! Well, I see breasts, maybe...)

" You can call me Peril" the angel answered my thoughts.

I almost choked with my spit.

"Peril, please.

I know that how I acted recently is bad, but I need all the gemstones to rebuild the crown!!" I pleaded.

" I'm not retailing... sadly, the gem isn't here anymore!".

"Do you know where it is?" I asked worrying.

Peril closed her mighty wings behind, showing me a cascade of dark mahogany hair.

"The Bright one took it before falling from Grace!!" she said and gave me a small silver coin.

"Hmm, thanks.

Ok, I know how to find it.",

" By the way, what is this for?!" I asked holding the coin.

"Hic and Nunc!" (here and now)

I still didn't understand.

"This is a gift, a piece from the Siver City's Gates.

Change it in a blade of your choice. Whit it you can obliterate any supernatural being!" Peril said and flew away.

"Thanks!" I shouted and began to descend the stairs utterly confused.

Change the coin?! How?!

The moment I stored it in my ring a blur passed on my right.

I felt something is wrong.

Now I was practically running down, jumping three steps at a time.

Just as I stepped on the grass something hit me hard on my left side, breaking my ribs.

I fell and screamed in agony.

Dhei and Soran were quickly at my side.

She took out two long daggers and give one to her brother.

Both eyed me in concern.

"Pooja, Rain!! Intruders!!" She yelled.

The blur attacked again, this time cutting Soran near the elbow.

I blinked, holding my hand in front of that thing. I felt my power leaving my fingertips reaching it.

Like a slow-motion, the blur regains form, hissing and bearing his bloody teeth at me.

Slowly dragging its tar-black limbs to my way.

It was a walking nightmare!!

Soran and Dhei acted as one, slashing the thing in half.

Whit a screech it dissolved.

I was in shock.

"Took her back. If you need me..." Dhei was saying.

"I know. Thank you for saving my love!"

Soran said returning the dagger.

He took me in his arms. I clasped my hands around his neck, and my legs around his waist, still trembling.

I felt his hands tightening around my back and his wings hugging me gently before diving up.