The life of a half angel

My past

It was still dark outside when my mother woke me up. Groaning, I turned around to face the wall. "Wake up sweety". Taking a deep breath, I sat up in search of the time. My Hello-Kitty alarm clock on the wooden nightstand showed 3 a.m. It was weird to be woken up at times like this. Sighing, I dropped back onto the bed, peeking through my semi-closed eyes. My mother was on her knees next to my bed. Her dark-blonde hair glistened in the moonlight that flowed through my bedroom window. I never close the curtains, I love the light of the moon. It's like a natural nightlight, keeping me safe from the invisible monsters that lurked in the darkness. I fully closed my eyes again in an attempt to continue sleeping. It was way too early to start the day. Chuckling, my mother stroked through my hair before grabbing me by my shoulders and shaking me awake again. I sat up once more. "What's wrong mama, why do I need to wake up this early?" I asked, rubbing my eyes. She just smiled and waved at me to follow her. Frowning, I kept staring at her whilst she walked through the door and down the stairs. She appeared happy and I couldn't help but wonder if it had something to do with daddy or the circle. Curiosity took the better of me. I pushed the sheets to the side and climbed out of bed. The hardwood floor felt cold against my bare feet. My hand slid down the railing as I descended the stairs. My mother was waiting for me in the hallway at the front door. We walked through our little cottage to the front yard, it was cold outside, especially with two thin pieces of cotton. I started to shake from the cold. The full moon shines her light onto the pebbles below my feet, illuminating the path before me. I was about to complain because of the cold when my mother laid a finger on her lips for me to be quiet. Closing my mouth, I focussed on the sounds in the area. The hooting of an owl reached my ears just like the whistling of the wind. I sighed, creating little clouds in the icy December sky. I turned to look around but saw nothing out of the ordinary. Again, the question of why we were outside in the cold infiltrated my mind. My mother smiled at me and stopped walking. Her gaze aimed at the trees in front of us, yet she remained silent. Knowing my mom, she did everything for a reason, a reason I still needed to figure out. A familiar blue light appeared floating in front of us. It had been a long time since I last saw that light. The light started at the size of a firefly but changed soon enough to the size of a human being. The light was blinding but also beautiful and calming. The human within the light appeared to have wings, the wings of an angel. My mother stepped forward as the light started to fade. She held out her hand to the mystery person. I followed her lead, still not sure of the situation. It could be one of the shadow monsters who were out to get me, just like in the story my mother used to tell. I wasn't one to hide, so I lifted my chin high and took my stance next to her. My resolve, however, broke the moment I recognized the person. "Daddy?" I said before running up to him. "DAD! You are back!" The person in front of me was my father, Marcus. He used to visit us every year for a couple of hours before leaving us on our own. Confusion clouded my mind. Did I forget about him? How come I only recognized him once I saw him? Weird. Some people might think it's strange to have a father who is rarely there, but to me, it's kind of normal. Once a year is not that often, but at least he's trying to be there for us. That must count as something, right? Last year, however, I lost my faith in seeing him again because he did not show up. We thought something had come up and that he would be coming on another day, yet he never came. But now, he is back again. You see, my father is an angel. My mother is a normal human being just like you and me. It is strictly prohibited for an angel to bind himself to a human in any way. This applies especially to angels at the top of the hierarchy, yet it happened. Nobody knows about it, nobody knows about us. We have no family around and don’t have a lot of friends. We only have each other and the circle, which I hated. I always dreamed of playing with friends of my age and checking their houses to see how they lived, but I was never allowed. Sometimes, I asked my mother why I wasn't able to just go to a normal school but she never answered my question. Our house was hidden, deep in the forest of Olivenera, where we lived a secluded life. The moment I was born, my father was called away by the council of angels. These days, there is no such thing as a council anymore. All angels are seen as equal now with only one leader. But back in the day, there was no way he could refuse such a request without raising suspicions, so he had to go. He knew that the moment the council would find out about me, they would hunt us down and kill us all. Once a year, he would still take the risk of seeing his lover and child, I admire his courage. When he visits our place, he tells us the stories of his adventures. Two years ago, he told me how he saved a little boy's life from two tigers! I remember it like yesterday, we were sitting close to the fireplace, I was 13 years old back then. It was one of the best stories I've ever heard. "Alyssa" I heard my name floating in the wind. It brought me back to the present. "How you've grown my daughter, how old are you now?" He grabbed my hand and spun me around. I laughed and clung to my father's arm in an attempt not to fall. "15" I replied. He gave me a short hug and stared at me. The mischief, visible in his eyes. He then grabbed me and lifted me over his shoulder. I cried out and started to laugh out loud. He held on tight and spun me around in circles until we were both dizzy. After that, he placed me back on the ground. "I've missed you, daddy. Is there no way you can visit us more often? There is so much I need to tell you." I grabbed his hand to drag him inside, yet he wouldn't budge. "Caitlin showed me how to make paint from dried flowers! I will make you a painting as well, daddy!" I could barely contain my enthusiasm. He laughed at my futile attempts while grasping my shoulder to make me stop. "You know I am not able to visit more sweety, but I will always watch from above whenever you need me. You know that, right?" I nodded, not able to hide the disappointment on my face. The light that surrounded him a few minutes ago was already gone. An outsider would see 2 adults and a kid right now, nothing more. He folded his wings inwards to his back and put them out of sight. He turned to my mother with a serious expression. "Morgan, can I have a word with you alone please?" My mother, who had been watching us, stepped closer. Her smile vanished from her face. "We have to talk Morgan, there have been some developments and..." She shook his hands from her shoulders and gave him a signal to wait. My mother turned back to me and told me to go inside. I refused at first, scared of what my dad was going to say. He nodded at me to go inside, telling me that I was too young for this conversation. I turned around and made my way to the front door, which was still open. I turned back when I heard my mother sob. Contemplating going back, I decided to go into the house just as she had asked. My mother cried and that never happened. I knew I had to keep myself busy. I turned on the television which revealed the credits for the movie Tarzan. I pushed rewind and pushed play at the beginning of the movie. Then, I got on the wine-red sofa and watched the movie for the millionth time. My parents stayed outside for quite some time, but I kept on watching the movie. I was so engrossed in the movie that I never heard the door open and close. My dad scared me by trying to kiss my forehead before sitting on the sofa next to me. He told me that it was time for another story.

This time the story is about a little girl whose father was an angel and whose mother was human. He tells me that the girl would be half human and half angel. She would meet more angels and eventually save the world. I wish I was that half-angel, but I know I was born human, so to me, it is just a story. My mother enters the room with three cups of steaming hot strawberry tea. My father takes the first cup and gives it to me before taking one of his own. I carefully nip the tea and feel the heat of the liquid warming me up. In the meantime, my father continues telling stories. My eyes closed on their own accord after the third story. I yawn and quickly opened my eyes again. My father chuckles and reaches back into his leather jacket. He holds his closed hand in front of me and pushes something into my hand. I open my hand and reveal a tiny golden bracelet, decorated with a white angel. He helps me put it on and smiles sadly. "Goodbye little one, it's time for me to go. Have a great life with your mother and take good care of her. One day I will return to you, I promise. Then we can play a game, or paint, or do whatever you want. "I nod but know something was off. It sounds more like a forever goodbye than a normal goodbye. I might be young but I also know that my mother's tears are there for a reason. He wasn't coming back. I give him a big hug whilst refusing to let him go. "Please don't go daddy, mommy is unhappy without you. I can see that and I also don't want to miss you. I try to convince him with a puppy look. Sometimes it helps between yes and no, but I knew the chances were slim. He wipes a tear from my mother's cheek. "I have to go, girls. I have a crucial assignment that I cannot refuse, not again, but I will pass the Kristal mountain on the way back, okay?" I nod and show a small smile. I love crystals and the colours they give when the sun touches them. We have six of them scattered around the house. Unfortunately, I was never allowed to touch any of them. My mother is afraid of me dropping or breaking them, I am clumsy after all. My mother uses the other crystals for her special Wicca circles. In her opinion, every colour and stone has its own meaning. Purple amethyst, for example, is mostly used for cleansing, relaxing, and purifying purposes. Clear quarts would help to magnify powers and intentions, and rose quartz is for love. I look at the bracelet on my right arm, it has a small variety of crystals embedded. My father rises from his seat and walks to the door. We follow his example, me holding his hand the whole time. He kisses my hand and lets it go. "Are you really coming back daddy?" I wanted to be certain. He smiled, but his smile never reached his eyes. "Of course, little one. I would do anything in my power to come back to you." He walks to my mother and whispers something in her ear before kissing her passionately. She nods yes and kisses him again. He walks back and spreads his giant wings. The light and energy surround him just as they did when he arrived, bringing a sense of peace and happiness. Unfortunately, I still feel sadness through the energy. He waves until the light becomes too bright. Tears fill my eyes as he orbs away. I have to stay strong for my mother and help her. That is my job. He will return to us very soon, right? Yet I know that wasn't the case. I will myself back up the stairs to my bed. I jump up and stare at the bracelet again. I will never take it off. It will be my new talisman. I kept staring until the sun rose. I yawn again before falling asleep. The next morning was different as I couldn't remember a thing that happened that night. Maybe that's a good thing? Because you cannot miss someone you don't really remember, right?