Tempest’s POV

I groaned as I slowly sat up, my whole body plagued with a feeling I had never experienced before. Was this pain? I mean, sure I had read about it countless times, but never once in my existence had I ever experience pain. It just wasn’t something that happened in Heaven. But who knows, maybe this was another one of those tests the archangels? Yeah, that had to be it. I mean why else would I hurt? Boy that was a foreign thought.

“Okay, I feel this pain… can we done with this test now, Michael?” I called out for the archangel, cradling my aching head. This was exactly what I would have pictured being thrown off the tallest tower in the Silver City with clipped wings to feel like.

The only problem was that I was surrounded by complete darkness and a very foul odor. What was that? “Michael?” I called out again, feeling another new emotion wash over me—fear. It was never dark in the Silver City…ever. “Okay, this isn’t funny anymore… I’m ready to be done with this test!” I called, only to be greeted by silence. “What’s going on?”

There had to be some explanation to this, right? I mean, the archangels were always watching over me and giving me these odd tasks and test. They never said much besides that I was the key, whatever that meant. I never really felt the need to question the elders. They knew what they were doing, and I’m sure this was just another little test. Now, I just had to figure out how to pass it…

Slowly I pulled myself to my feet and cautiously looked around my strange new settings. The only problem was the area was so dark that I could barely see my hands in front of my face. I had to find the light, that was the key to passing all of these tests. I’m sure I’d pass this one with high marks, just like all the others, and that much I was confident about.

“Okay, Tempest, use the skills the elders taught you. Think logically and channel your inner guide,” I muttered to myself, following the foreign sounds to what appeared to be a street. Well, our streets certainly didn’t look like this in the Silver City, but I guess that was all part of the challenge, right?

Very cautiously I made my way down the street, passing dark and closed buildings. This had to be the weirdest thing I had ever seen. Why would they put locks on the doors, let alone close? Why weren’t they open all the time like in the Silver City? Oh, this was probably just some sort of dream challenge. Yeah, archangel Adam must have been trying to get a rise out of me. He was funny like that.

Though the further I traveled in the darkness, the more worried I started to become. Why wasn’t anything happening? Why wasn’t anyone giving me tests? There was just something about this that was leaving an unsettling feeling in the pit of my stomach.

“Finally, someplace with the light!” I sighed in relief as I approached a large building. I had no idea what was inside but it had to have some kind of answer. I mean, it had the light the archangels were always telling me to follow. This had to be it.

I quickly opened the door to see a group of what appeared to be humans sitting around a small makeshift stage. Wait a second? Humans? There weren’t humans in the Silver City. No… something about this whole thing seemed very wrong. There had to be some kind of mistake… only fallen angels got sent where humans are. No, that couldn’t be…

“W-what is this place?” I asked the very oddly dressed woman coming toward me. What was she even wearing? She had on some kind of black top and bottoms that showed off a lot of skin, which was something that was certainly not permitted in the Silver City… Not to mention the darkness in her eyes and the odd scent. What was she?

The woman looked at me and then glanced over her shoulder, almost as if she were checking to make sure we were alone. No, I didn’t have time for this! I need some answers so I could get out of here and back to my place in the Silver City. “Answer me! Where am I?!” I asked again more frantically.

Suddenly the dark-haired woman grabbed me by the arm and pulled me out of the building with the light. No, I was supposed to stay in the light! “What are you doing? Where are we going?” I protested until I was finally pushed down a small alley.

“Can we... just... please use our inside voices?” Inside voices? But we were outside…and I didn’t even know where here was. I quickly tried to explain how I woke up in the darkness, but she just looked at me with a raised brow. What didn’t she understand our native tongue?

“Why the fuck are you walking like this among humans?”

My eyebrows shot up in surprise from her foul language. And what did she mean humans? I was an angel! How else did she want me to walk around? I couldn’t change who I was. “What do you mean? I am an angel!” I said, standing up to my full height, which still wasn’t as tall as her.

“Then where are your fucking wings, angel?” she asked and I opened my mouth only to realize they were gone. No… no that couldn’t be. Angel’s only lost their wings when they were kicked out of heaven, and there was no way God would kick me out. I mean, I hadn’t done anything wrong.

“I-I...” I stammered, suddenly feeling like I didn’t know who I was anymore. How could I have lost my wings?! They were my whole life…

“Oh come on, don’t cry... There was something about angels crying and it never ending well...” The woman said, trying to comfort me. Though it was really no use if I was kicked out of Heaven.. “Ermm.. Look... whatever happened to you, I’m sure it’s not that bad.”

“They banned me from Heaven!” I yelled, feeling my whole world shatter around me. How could this have happened? I had nothing left to live for, especially on earth. If that in fact was where I was. It had have been a mistake! Yeah, a mistake and I just had to find the right person to get me back to the Silver City.

Suddenly a man appeared and I took a step backwards toward the wall. Why did these humans look so different? It was nothing the angelic glow that all us angels had. It was almost like they were lackluster in comparison. But maybe this man could help me!

I quickly started to explain my story to him but he just turned to the woman and made some sort of transaction. Why wouldn’t anyone hear me out? Did they speak the Angelic Tongue? Everyone back home did and if I was ever going to get out this dirty smelly area, then I would have to find someone who would listen to me.

“So what’s up with you? Why are you walking around all sparkly?” The woman asked after the man disappeared around the corner.

Sparkly? What did that mean? “Huh?”

“I mean – why don’t you look like a human?” And here she was with this human question again. Was that a requirement in this odd city?

“How do I ... get to look like a... a human?” I asked cautiously, still not liking the idea of being a fallen angel, banned from my home.

“Uhmm... Pick a human you like and steal his or her look?” What? Steal their look? Was this woman crazy? I was an angel, not a super hero. What did she expect from me? “Beats me! I don’t know how you guys fucking do it! You just do!” she exclaimed, throwing her hands up in the air.

“You guys...” I mused, trying to figure out why she kept referring to angels as ‘guys’. Wasn’t she an angel, or was she a human? “And who are you supposed to be? And what’s that your holding?” I asked, pointing to small bag in her hand. Was that powder to open up the portal to the Heavens?

“This?” She half chuckled. “This, love, is something that will make me get through the day, but you – in trouble if you as much as look at it.” In trouble? Why? Wasn’t it just portal powder?

“You didn’t answer my question,” I pressed, eagerly waiting for her to get me home. But just as she opened her mouth to reply, another voice echoed through the alleyway.

“Well, well, well... Looky what we have here,” a deep voice grumbled, making my heart jump in my chest. I quickly looked through the darkness to see three sets of eyes glowing back at me. Oh, thank God! Other angels were here!

As they neared I slowly started to realize that these pristine looking men were not angels… well, not anymore at least. Their once light eyes instantly darkened in the core, causing me to take an uneasy step back. No, they weren’t angels, they were the fallen angels that had been kicked out of Heaven and started working for him. Even I could tell that no good could come of this meeting.

“The lost pup has finally come home?” The medium sized man laughed, looking at the woman to my right. They knew each other? Wait a minute… that meant she must have been a demon! It all made sense now! The dark eyes and the smell! “And who’s this? A new addition to the family, Pandora?”

“Pandora?” I exclaimed, looking at the woman with wide eyes. “You’re a demon!”

“Yeah, well, you’re not perfect either. You’re glowing for fuck sake!” she retorted cheekily, and I just shook my head, mentally kicking myself.

“At least I’m not a demon! I can’t believe how stupid I was...” I mentally chastised myself before turning toward the men. Even if they were fallen angels, maybe they could still help me.

“Enough,” the very buff, and very handsome looking man roared in deadly tone. Okay…so maybe I didn’t have the best judge of character here. “You’re gonna come out of your free will or Vengeance here and Johnny have to tie you up?”

I swallowed thickly and took another step backwards. Somehow going with these men didn’t seem like the best idea to me.

„You know I broke out of Hell once already...” The woman retorted, and my eyes snapped over to her. She escaped Hell? How? Was that even possible?

“I wasn’t talking to you,” the man’s hazel eyes turned on me and held my breath, fear spreading through me veins. “So how will it be?”

How will what be? I didn’t even do anything wrong and they wanted to take me into custody?! I quickly looked over at Pandora for assistance. She wouldn’t just let these guys take me, would she?

“Don’t do it, Pandora.” The big brute warned after I mouthed for help. “Don’t be a hero.” No, please do be a hero, because I certainly didn’t know what to do.

“A hero?” she laughed, rolling up her sleeves and stepping in front of the group of barely men. What was she going to do? “I’m no fucking hero. Just the friendly neihbourhood demon.”

The next thing I knew, she hauled off and punched the big brute right in the face. Well, that was before the green eyed one tackled her to the ground and started beating her.

“No! Stop! Please!” I begged, trying to pull them off of her. “She was protecting me!” I yelled, pulling on the big brute’s arm. He responded by reaching backwards and pushing me into the shortest man with a mohawk. He chuckled as he secured my arms behind my back, forcing me to watch the brutal beating Pandora was receiving.

“Please stop!” I cried only to feel my take in a deep breath from the nape of my neck. “It’s all my fault, not hers!”

“Come on, beauty, don’t blame a demon’s mistakes on yourself… or do you still think you’re good?” the one with green eyes laughed before kicking Pandora in the ribs. I let out a light shriek and shielded my eyes. I had never seen such violence.

“Stop! You’re going to hurt her!”

“Oh, she even smells like Heaven. Gates is going to love this one!” my captor chuckled, as the other two-pulled Pandora to her feet. Gates? Who was that? “She’s even got sacred markings on her back!” He continued, almost like he was inspecting me. Didn’t all angels have markings on their back? I mean, the archangels always did.

“Gates will certainly like that,” the big one replied. “Not to mention the return of his dear Pandora,” he sneered, pulling her up to her feet. “If only she would learn her lesson and her place. What do you think he’ll do to you this time?”

“Fuck you, Shadows,” Pandora spat, struggling against her hold. “I’d rather go back to hell than see his face!”

“I think that could be arranged,” the green-eyed one chuckled. “But for now, we have to make a delivery. I’m sure Gates will want his fresh meat!”

“Who-who’s Gates?” I asked, my voice shaking as the group of men dragged Pandora and I down the alley toward a parked vehicle.

The three men threw their heads back with a laugh before the big brute turned on me, his hazel eyes glowing in the darkness. “Only your worst nightmare, sweetheart.”

Notes

Well, there you have a little bit of Tempest's back story. There is a lot more to come so please tell us what you think! :)