“I can’t say I’ve been good at keeping my promise lately, Dad.” My voice comes out in a soft, broken whisper as I peer into my own eyes. “I’m sorry for that, too.”
Eight
Kai
Pacing in a dark hallway filled with shadows, I pause. Closed doors of varying shapes and sizes surround me. Some wooden, some metal. Some tall, some miniature. They all have one thing in common: each door is locked. As I run from door to door, jimmying the doorknobs, a wave of anxiety overtakes me, knocking the breath out of me.
I’m stuck. Again.
There is no escape.
I won’t ever escape.
I slip from sleep, immediately jolting and gasping for air, the faint glow of moonlight beaming through my bedroom window bringing me back to my senses.What the hell?I haven’t had that particular dream since before my death. It’s as if the ruling stole the temporary sense of peace I’ve felt the past two years… This must be a joke. A cruel, sick joke.
I run my hand through my hair and take a deep breath, lying back down. Judging by the sky’s current state, the sun won’t rise for another hour or so. I don’t have to head to the ancient library until then. I squeeze my eyes shut, forcing myself to forget the details of the dream I just had.
I could go back to sleep—heaven knows I need it after the roller coaster I’ve been stuck on over the past twenty-four hours. Or I could get a head start on the day with a good walk. Maybe it’s time I smell the roses or something like that. I’m sure that could be considered therapeutic.
Regardless of where I go from here, there’s no way I’ll fall back asleep after that one… So it’s time to wakey-wakey.
I meander into my bathroom casually, slipping out of my pants and turning on the shower’s valve to the warm side. The Middle Realm wouldn’t be nearly as opulent without showers.
In good ole angel-afterlife-fashion, the shower isn’t like the ones in the land below, though. No, instead of plumbing, the water disperses from a small rain cloud resting inches below the bathroom’s marble ceiling. The realm’s divine light powers the cloud, gifted to us by the Archangels. I guess this is one thing I can thank them for.
As I step into the shower, I close my eyes, stand under the piping hot water, and focus on what lies ahead. It’s funny, but I envisioned my afterlife almost entirely differently from my experience so far. Before dying, I thought there could be something else, something bigger in store. I had no clue what that something really was.
But becoming a Guardian Angel for my grieving sister and breaking a divine law so big that it ruined my chances of ascending anytime soon? Yeah,thatsure as hell wasn’t on my bingo card.
Where do I go from here, though? How long will I have to serve in the library? Will Ieverbe permitted to ascend, or will I be stuck here forever? What about my wings? Nearly everyone who stays in the Middle Realm has wings. I was looking forward to seeing the color of mine, but knowing it could take a million years to ever earn them takes the fun out of it.
Look, I know, I know—I broke the law. The honorable thing to do is to accept the consequences and let it be. I had fully intended to do that last night, but as soon as they declared the verdict, my optimism depleted.
The way they punished Cleo struck me, too. It doesn’t take a genius to gather that she finds purpose in her role in the Middle Realm. Being suspended indefinitely over something so seemingly minor irks me.
I roll my head back and release an exasperated sigh. After spending a sufficient amount of time wallowing in self-pity, I decide it’s useless and step out of the shower, wrapping a fluffy cream-colored towel around my hips.
Stepping out of the bathroom into my bedroom, I notice a beam of light shining in through the window onto my bed. The sun breaks across the sky, casting it into shades of lavender and pale pink. It reminds me of the sunrises I used to watch on Earth. While this sunrise is objectively more vivid, I can’t stop images of the Cove’s sunrises from flooding my mind. My old home.
Visiting my old hometown would probably give me the reset I need. A quick visit to the Cove wouldn’t hurt anyone. Hell, no one would even miss me here… If only it were that easy. I turn away from the window and decide to get dressed.
It’s like it’s the first day of school. Only, instead of making new friends, I’ll be cozying up with dusty old books and scrolls, myonly companion being an angel who would set me on fire if she could.
I press the library’s sensor with my pointer finger and await for it to unlock. Hearing the latch click, I open the golden doors and take in the vast space.
I have always called this the “ancient library” because, well, itisancient, but I guess it’s technically known as the “Library of the Sky” here. Striding leisurely, my eyes drift up to the arched ceiling covered in oil paintings of clouds. Yet again, I can’t help but wonder who we hired to paint all the murals in this realm. The style of these paintings reminds me of the famousStarry Nightpainting, with its swirling blue sky. Maybe that same artist took the liberty of painting these clouds after his death.
Unlike other parts of the realm, we can’t have authentic clouds in here, not with all the books and scrolls. Several tall mahogany bookcases surround me, containing thousands of books varying in color, shape, and size, complete with timeless ladders to reach the highest shelves.
It’s settled. Jasper would enjoy this space. I think.
A circular marble information desk with golden accents takes up the middle portion of the room—I presume that’s where they’ll station me. Damn, do I feel inadequate; I haven’t checked out a library book in over a decade, and I never even set foot into the library of the high school I coached at.
Venturing around the desk, I catch a subtle waft of eucalyptus. I follow the scent through the bookcases on either side of me, which leads me to an occupied book nook with a window view.
Am I surprised she got here early? Not in the slightest.
“Eager, are we?” I call out, approaching the cozy spot she’s claimed as her own.
