To Fly Once Again, To Shine from ~Within~ {Open}

[phoenix]

Business flowed as usual at the bakery. The sweet aroma of pastries leaving the oven permeated throughout the cozy room. The laid-back atmosphere added to the magic of baking. It was a magnet for bringing people together, no matter the circumstance. Atarah stood with her back turned behind the counter decorating the cakes. The colored icing swirled with each new creation, for any celebration. She finished her last design before calling it a day. The young woman quickly helped a few customers then let someone else take over. Atarah changed out of her work wear and into something more casual. She exited the back door, into the alleyway, and settled onto her motorcycle.

Atarah let out a deep sigh as she lifted her face. Her eyes slowly opened, watching the clouds glide in the sky. A hint of green around her iris lit in the sunlight. She placed her helmet over her head then revved it up. Atarah zoomed into the street causing the front to rise as if she was on a horse. Scorch marks, along with smoke could be seen after she sped up into the distance. Huge skyscrapers with shiny glass facades sparkled in the background. It was the closest thing to flying. As she rode deeper into the city, the young woman caught curious glances from passing pedestrians. The Angel shook off the attention she was receiving, which wasn't hard to do considering the tinted face shield. She wouldn't be surprised if some mistaken her for a male, but that was another story.

She decreased her speed when she was in the "heart of the city." A church towered over the buildings around it. The carved figures stared down at their new arrival. The Angel revealed her lovely face, taking in the fresh air. Atarah flipped her hair back wards. A breeze lightly lifted the silky strands. She slid off the bike as she gradually moved up the stone steps and towards the wooden doors. Atarah made her way down the pathway that lead to the alter. The empty pews basked in the sun's glow. She subtly curled the sides of her lip when she noticed three candles on the iron stand. The young woman reached into her pocket to grab her lighter. She swiftly flicked it to create the spark between her fingers. Atarah lit the wicks, providing light in the darkened area.

An old grand piano grabbed her attention. She let her fingertips touch the keys before allowing herself to sit. Atarah concentrated as the distant whispers inside her mind began to cease. She started to play a melody as the angel gained the confidence to sing. Her voice was a soothing mezzo-soprano. The words sounded as if she was in an opera, with each quavering note rippling throughout the room.

Listen

ave maria
gratia plena
dominus tecum
benedicta tu
in mulieribus
et benedictus
fructus ventris
tui Jesus

sancta maria
sancta maria
maria
ora pro nobis
nobis peccatoribus
nunc et in hora
in hora mortis nostrae

(sancta maria
sancta maria)

maria
ora pro nobis
nobis peccatoribus
nunc et in hora
in hora mortis nostrae
amen amen

The angel pressed the last soft keys, raising her fingers from the piano. She let the sudden silence comfort her.

[Deleted]

There was another Angel in the church this evening, but she was not as obvious as the one playing the beautiful melody on the church organ. Kylie was homeless and she had been using a hidden set of rooms under the church as her base of operations. As the music echoed through the church, Kylie's beautiful blue eyes opened slowly. She was asleep on a very small cot in the basement of the church; but this was certainly a great wake up call.

Swinging her legs over the edge of the cot, the picturesque body of the Angel rose to her feet. She was dressed in a simple white flowing robe since she had been sleeping, which only added to her angelic look. Her feet were bare and her large white wings were folded close to her back through slits in the robe. As she pulled her brown hair back smooth, Kylie walked across the room.

She nearly picked up the handguns that were kept by the cot but then she figured whoever was playing that music couldn't have been dangerous. In a way, the very presence of the weapons in the church should have been a travesty against God. But on the other hand, Kylie was not a normal angel, she was an exterminator, a huntress of evil creatures. She ascended the stone stairway slowly towards the church.

As the large wooden door at the top of the steps opened, the angel stepped into the back rooms of the church and then she moved into the main area of the church. Blue eyes spotted the girl seated at the organ and Kylie silently moved towards her. As the girl sang the last few lines of the song, Kylie's own beautiful voice joined her perfectly. After the end, Kylie's plump lips curled into a sweet smile and then she whispered "beautiful... not many Humans could do it that well. But then again, you're not Human are you?"

Kylie grinned slowly. She could see the aura around the girl, she was obviously an Angel like herself. Bare feet carried Kylie a few steps closer and then she offered her hand. "I'm Kylie... formerly Ariella - or Ariel - the Archangel." She thought any other Angel would know her name, for she had fought in the great war that resulted in the casting down of Lucifer.

[phoenix]

"beautiful... not many Humans could do it that well. But then again, you're not Human are you?"

Atarah was in a trance as she became lost in the mirrored pattern. It was so easy to get distracted by its radiant glow. A soft whisper brought her back to reality. Her eyes wondered at the thought of an unexpected audience. The Angel shifted her legs at an angle while slightly turning her upper body. Thin wavy strands draped over the side of her face as she avoided eye contact. Her diamond hues momentarily changed to silver, which was the cause of being around another Angel. Atarah quickly blinked as she managed to suppress that side. She often fought to keep herself from getting exposed.

"Not many humans can sing a prayer in Latin either." she replied. The young woman realized that she couldn't hide her true nature from a fellow Angel. Atarah effortlessly shook the hair from her once hidden visage. She scooted out from the bench to properly introduce herself. She noticed the slight distinction in height, but her shoes gave her that extra inch. A light smile emerged when she took a few steps closer. Atarah gently squeezed her hand, returning the greeting.

"I'm Kylie... formerly Ariella - or Ariel - the Archangel."

"Nice to meet you Kylie. I've heard a lot about you, but never thought I'd actually have the opportunity to be in your presence."

"I'm Atarah....but others know me as Phoenix. I'm the Angel of Resurrection." she continued. She purposely left out the Archangel part, mainly because she was very modest about her position in the heavens.

"Have I awoken you from your slumber?" she apologetically asked. Her eyes drifted to Kylie's robe as a hint to how she formulated the question.

{OOC: Sorry it's so short.}

[Deleted]

Kylie smiled sweetly as she nodded in response to the girl's name. She had heard of her, more than once, they had even battled Lucifer together even though they never met... Heaven was a huge place. Her wings were clearly obvious, large and unhidden since she had no desire to stay secret.

When the Angel asked her question, Kylie smiled as she spoke very softly "you did, but it was the best wake up I've had in a very long time. And I have heard of you... we fought together against Lucifer's army oh so long ago. Shortly after that, I was sent here to eradicate the dark children of Hell... and I have been doing such ever since. Lately this church has been my home because it is safe. But you are welcome here... and I shall show you the secret basement area if you wish?"

Kylie kept a smile upon her beautiful face as she shifted on her bare feet and then a yawn escaped her lips followed by "oh I'm sorry, so didn't mean to hit you with my morning breath!" Kylie giggled slightly. It still amused her that little things like that made her more Human than Angel sometimes.

[phoenix]

Faith is not belief without proof, but trust without reservation.

"You did, but it was the best wake up I've had in a very long time. And I have heard of you... we fought together against Lucifer's army oh so long ago. Shortly after that, I was sent here to eradicate the dark children of Hell... and I have been doing such ever since. Lately this church has been my home because it is safe. But you are welcome here... and I shall show you the secret basement area if you wish?"

She slowly exhailed through her nose out of relief. After all, Atarah wanted to make a good impression. The young women calmly listened as she focused all her attention on Kylie. She nodded at the mention of fighting for God in that fateful battle. The memory was still fresh yet the moments in between were a blur. Each journey she had taken on Earth, through the ages, had served its purpose. She had been here and back again with every completed mission. Atarah slightly frowned at the length of time Kylie had stayed behind. The Angel wondered if she would ever return.

Her arched eyebrow lifted at the comment about it being safe. The safest place she knew was Heaven. Atarah was a drifter, never staying in one place, but recent events had pulled her to this location where the most activity had been for Evil. "Just as Vampires are your game, mine are Demons...and any Black Angel who stand in my way." She was a Warrior Angel, so it was part of the job description. Though it wasn't entirely why she was here, she figured she'd keep the rest to herself for now.

"Wouldn't mind a quick tour." she replied.

"Oh I'm sorry, so didn't mean to hit you with my morning breath!"

"That's quite alright." Atarah grinned before she quietly laughed. The Angel motioned her arm outwards, "After you, m'lady." she playfully spoke. She was curious about the church and wanted to explore it. Atarah followed closely behind Kylie.

God isn't looking for people of great faith, but for individuals ready to follow Him.

[Deleted]

Kylie, too, had often wondered if she would ever return to Heaven, but recently she had come to the conclusion that she probably never would. And she was alright with that, she would continue fighting Vampires and Lycans and other evil for eternity if it was God's will.

She turned on her bare feet and quietly sauntered across the church towards the back room where the priests would prepare themselves. Even though she wasn't trying, there was a natural sway in Kylie's hips beneath the white gown. Sunlight peeking in through the stained glass windows silhouetted the Angel and gave any prying eyes a view through the thin cotton.

As she entered the back room of the church, Kylie walked over to a large wooden sculpture on the wall and pushed on it to give way to a set of stone stairs. Once down the stairs, they were in a large open room with stone floors and no windows. The only light came from a few candle sets on the walls. There was a small green army cot between a pair of wooden crates used as nightstands. Upon one of the crates was a pair of silver handguns. There was a large black iron gun cabinet on one wall. It was locked, but through the door an entire arsenal was visible, everything from shotguns to an automatic assault rifle. There was also a white dresser with chipped paint.

Kylie looked around slowly and then she held her hands out as she turned back to Atarah. "It's not much but it's home for me..." As Kylie said that, she walked over to the cot and pointed to the pillow and then she continued "If you ever need to get into the gun cabinet, the key is under there. The guns are all loaded with silver bullets... might not destroy a Vampire but it'll definitely slow 'em down."

Once she said that, Kylie walked over to the dresser and opened the drawer. She got out some clothes and then she shed her gown right there in front of the other Angel. Under the gown, she wore nothing. Many tattoos were visible upon her back, which was all Atarah could see. Shamelessly, Kylie slipped into a pair of blue jeans and a blue tank top, still with no undergarments if Atarah was paying attention. It was still daytime so she would not dress in her hunting attire just yet.

[phoenix]

Atarah slowed her pace, providing enough space between the two. She placed her hand into her pocket while her eyes scanned the area. The silver chain that hung around the belt loop swayed along with her movements. She quickly reacted when she almost bumped into Kylie. The uncomfortably self-conscious Angel looked down at her feet. She smoothly managed to regain her composure. Her attention accidentally drifted below her lower back. The way the robe clung to her curves was the first thing she noticed. Atarah panicked at the emotions associated with it. She shook her head, trying to rid the thoughts.

The Angel focused on the carved sculpture that seemed to be there for a purpose. When Kylie pushed it aside, a hidden stairway made her eyes widen with amazement. She cautiously watched her step as she continued to follow. Surprisingly, the basement wasn't as creepy as she'd expected. The part with no windows, however, made her feel uneasy. Atarah glanced over to the black iron gun cabinet that hung on the wall. She was impressed by her collection. The young woman found it pointless to fight with guns against her opponents. But still, she wasn't hesitant to use one. Atarah softened her expression when Kylie turned towards her.

"It's not much but it's home for me..."

She wasn't materialistic, nor bring herself to judge another person's dwelling. Atarah was pleased with what she saw. The Angel observed the pillow as she listened.

"If you ever need to get into the gun cabinet, the key is under there. The guns are all loaded with silver bullets... might not destroy a Vampire but it'll definitely slow 'em down."

"Do you often get house calls?" she asked. It was likely that some would foolishly try to set foot in the church. Which proved her point as to how the area wouldn't completely be safe. Earth was a battle ground between Good and Evil. "I suppose if all else fails....chop their head off, right?" she innocently shrugged, softly sighing. Atarah was no hunter, but knew enough to keep herself alive. Both Angels had their specialties.

She turned diagonally towards Kylie as she noticed her changing. The unique selection of tattoos on her body were noticeable. The Angel swiftly turned her face away, a slight blush emerged from her cheeks. She wasn't used to anyone being this open that they've just met. Had the thought of being strangers escaped her mind? Atarah's body language relaxed at the sight of the clothed woman. "As long as I'm welcomed here....though I wouldn't want to intrude....would it be ok if I slept in the bell tower, tonight? I like to star gaze before I fall asleep. Sleeping in high places amongst the stars... reminds me that I'm not so far from home."

Her eyes filled with a glimmer of sadness at the thought of being home sick. Atarah leaned against the wall with her arms crossed. "So, what do you normally do on a day like this?" she curiously asked. If there were tasks that needed to be done, she would let her get to it.

[Deleted]

Kylie smiled sweetly through her full lips as the other Angel asked if she could sleep in the bell tower and then she nodded, her brunette hair swaying gently behind her head. As she nodded, Kylie added "of course you may. It gets cold up there but I'll bring you blankets before I leave for my hunting."

When Atarah asked Kylie what she usually did during the day, she giggled slightly and then she answered "sleep. No no I'm just kidding." She grinned playfully and then she walked over to an old desk in the corner and opened a silver laptop there, tapping a few keys. "Normally I take it easy here, or I go relax at the cliffs... unless I get information on a sleeping Vampire. Hmm... but I have nothing from my seekers today. Do you have something you'd like to do?"

Kylie turned back towards Atarah as she smiled still. Her blue eyes swept over the other Angel quickly, trying not to be too obvious about it. She was beautiful and Kylie found herself attracted to her already. She had no plans for the day, but she found herself wanting to spend it with Atarah.