The rush of wind felt good against her porcelain skin and Ardent felt free. They were up high in the sky, above the ever-changing world below as mountains and forests traversed in a blur, greens melted into grays, only to spill into green again, the occasional pastels mixed with the blur as dragon and angel flew side by side against the glorious backdrop of a setting sun.

Although Ardent tried to fight it, she was starting to feel the affects of her earlier mistake, the spell that almost took her life. Behind her, her wings began to loose their soft feathers, but her stubborn nature pushed her forward and she ignored the fatigue that had begun to plague her body.

”So what exactly are we looking for?” Àskériàn asked, his gaze forward, focused on the task at hand.

She still couldn’t get over the fact that the six-foot mysterious man who she only met a few hours ago, was a welder of dragon magic. His voice was deeper in his dragon form, lower even with an occasional rumble, reminding Ardent of the echoes of caverns within the earth.

”There is a spot in the clouds. “ She replied, her lips formed a thin line. “An opening. Its where the portal sits. The only issue is that I have no idea where it is…” She trailed off, the death spell had messed with her memories, but she wasn’t about to reveal that. Maybe I shouldn’t have…

”You could try locating it with your magic.” His words cut her from her musings.

”Yeah.. about that.” She began, “I’m kind of out of energy.”

Serpentine eyes that were as marbles with flames swirling in them, glanced in her direction. She was struggling to stay afloat, her wing bones were becoming bare. Àskérian twisted his enormous lizard-like body abruptly and swooped down, rushing forward, he caught Ardent on his back.

She stared at him bewildered, then thanking him, she began to examine her battered wings.

”Mmmm.. you should have said something.” He scolded. Is this what happens when angels are tired?

”It seems I’m not back to full strength yet.” She explained, reluctantly.

“I don’t suppose you will tell me what’s wrong with you.” He teased, turning his focus back to the clouds to scan them for any sign of the portal she spoke of.

”No.”

”It was that spell you used wasn’t it?” He pried. “I didn’t know angels knew of such devises. Its scary actually.”

”What!?” She huffed, “How dare you say that. I am not scary! You are a dragon, you’re the scary one.” She voice took on an edge, irritated that he figured out her dilemma so easily.

He chuckled at her frustration. “Tell me something.” She said, “How did you know about my ranking?” Her mind wandered back to how he had saved her. He knew what she was. It was strange.

”Your feline ears and the fact that you have three sets of wings.” His reply caused her to grow self-aware and she hid her ears with the lace of her sleeve from the white armor of her left arm, hiding her tiny wings that crested the bottom of her ears as if they were white Olympian wreaths.

In truth, it wasn’t her felinistic ears that told him what she was, but he couldn’t help but point out the obvious.

”I can tell many things,” He continued without glancing back to look at her. “However why do your feathers fall off when you are low on energy?” He asked wanting to know more about the mysterious creature.

”Even angels have limits, Mr. Àskériàn.” She replied, cynically.

”What kind of spell did you use?” He asked concern etched in his voice, he already knew what it was. More importantly, where had she learned it from?

”I used a death spell.” She explained reluctantly as she looked off into the distance below, refusing to meet his peripheral gaze.

He was appalled. Angels are supposed to be life givers, not end it… His mind wandered off, he tried to not think about what might have happened, had he not found her. The thought caused his dormant anger to stir.

She traced the outline of a scale with her small fingers. It seemed so strange that he could turn from a human to a gigantic beast. The scales were the size of her palm, dark like the color of his human hair causing a great contrast against her pale skin, it was hard to the touch yet smooth as silk.

”What’s wrong? Never seen a dragon before?” He teased, his voice laced with humor. He had caught her musing.

Startled, she froze. She tore her gaze away from her trance and pretended not to know what he was talking about.

She pointed to a village below the clouds. “LOOK OVER THERE!” She screamed, “It looks sooo tiny from up here!” He couldn’t help but throw his head back and laugh at how awkward she was.

”I’m going to try something.” He said once his laughter died down. “I sensed your magic the last time, maybe I can do it with the portal.

She stared at him, hope brimming her brown eyes. “You really think you can?” She asked in amazement. She had created the portal and the only beings who could sense it were the angels. I guess it’s because he uses dragon magic. She thought to herself.

”Hold tight, take care.” He warned then with a burst of his almost translucent wings, off they flew. Ardent’s screams could be heard as they rushed forward. She wrapped her arms around his neck, her arms were not long enough for her to grasp her hands as she held on for dear life and she found herself digging her fingers into his scales.

Ignoring her intruding touch, he concentrated hard on the object that seemed to flow with the energy he felt from the angel, the energy of life. It had to be the portal she spoke of. Then he saw it.

A golden circle in the sky, just where a few clouds parted, with a transparent center that took on a resemblance of a mirror, reflecting the clouds back in to sky. As he got closer the center pulsed with golden light.

”That’s it!” She squealed with delight, still trying to hold on for life as she peered over his big head.

”Alright then, hold on.” He gave the last warning with another powerful push of his wings and then they both disappeared through the golden brim as it stretched to accommodate his girth.

Time and space shifted itself around them and for an instant, Àskériàn wondered if he made the right choice by diving into unknown territory. She had somehow wiggled him into trusting her, a trait the legends spoke of angels having and the confirmation unsettled him.

Another shift in the warp of time and space and they were in a dark expanse lit with numerous stars of multiple colors. There was no end to the world around them, it was like a vacuum, void and empty, except for the dancing light of stars around them. He was surprised to find that he could breathe, but the atmosphere almost seemed to match that of the world they left behind, except, it was purer.

He was astounded, never before had he seen anything like this. “Is this it… your world I mean?” He asked as he glanced back to where she sat on his back with his peripheral.

She was glowing, her hair was a cascade of fire flowing down her back. Her feathers had begun to fill her wings again to replace the ones she had lost and her whole body shimmered with starlight.

Her white, red and gold raiment almost caused him to go momentarily blind as it shone with iridescent waves. At once she lifted herself into the void with an elegant push of her wings. “Aha! It feels much better in here!” She shouted with laughter.

He watched her with contained amusement, “Feeling better?”

She stopped in front of him and gave him an apologetic look. “Forgive me,” she began, “it’s been a while since I’ve been home. The energy here is overwhelming.” She continued. “Mr. Àskériàn, would you like to see my kingdom?” She asked, her hands folded in front of her.

More curiosity arose in him. “Are dragons allowed in your kingdom?” He asked. Did I make it to Heaven? No! Heaven isn’t… dark… or is it?

”Oh of course!” She exclaimed, “Everyone in my kingdom is unique! No two people are alike, and we don’t have any dragons.” She trailed off, “besides! You aren’t a complete dragon.” She reasoned.

He considered her offer, apprehension took hold, slowly. “I could make sure you get there, after that, we will see.” He answered finally after hesitating.

More delight sparked on her pale face. How much more hype could one person get? He asked himself. What am I getting into? Driven by curiosity and another hidden motive, he followed the mysterious angel into the void.

In the distance a cluster of clouds came into view. He could see a castle cradled within their puffy bodice and he was mesmerized by the beautiful structure with its quartz walls that reflected the stars around it, intertwined with stone and gold parapets. As they grew closer, he noticed the castle was on an enormous floating mass of land that was cradled within a tuft of colorful clouds.

The echo of children’s laughter and distant voices drifted to them as they flew closer and he realized that a city sat below the castle. Just like the radiant quartz structure that had its own luminesce, the buildings of the city were on smaller islands that were nestled in the depths of more clouds which seemed to take on psychedelic colors as they faded into the void’s atmosphere. The buildings seemed to amass themselves together in a quartz city.

Each island connected to another in a labyrinthine way and then he noticed a round platform with a fountain in the center where they bridges met. Clear water trickled from a star shaped stone at the top of the fountain and downward in sparkling waterfalls into a round basin at the bottom. The basin was large and thick enough that one could rest on it. The platform seemed to be the center of the maze of bridges and islands and a long stone stairwell crested the far side, leading upward under a set of parapets that were connected by a stone arch.

He followed the angel up the open flight of stairs and noticed that water spilled down in streams on either side of the stairwell just at the edges. It disappeared into the void as the bottom step met with the platform below, the streams did not and just vanished as if the water filled the void with the stars.

Beyond the arch and the parapets was the palace courtyard. He didn’t have time to take in his surroundings as a sharp pain jeered through his being, a golden spear pierced his lizard-like chest.

Ardent stopped abruptly and stared at him, her eyes wide in horror. “NO!” She screamed. Instantly a golden wall encompassed both of them.

”STOP!” She cried as she turned to face the threat. Before her, on the outside of the barrier stood four Knights, two masculine and two feminine figures standing with their weapons, ready to charge.

”M’Lady get away from it!” Cried a short female knight. Dark hair fell down a small frame dawned in a blue under shirt, black pants and armor lined with blue feathers and the white fur of a tiger. Brown fur-lined boots covered her feet, feathered trinkets were held at her waist along with a crystalline blue sheath. A breast plate the same color stood proud with dark blue gems lined at the top. A blue cape flowed down her back under her dark locks, an emblem of Arcadia clasped the cape’s ends just over her breast plate. Pointed ears jutted out from her hair in a teasing manor, pale like the color of snow that matched the rest of her skin. Fierce, concerned, deep-blue eyes watched them, ready to attack.

”Stand down Ardent Knights!” Ardent commanded.

”But milady!” The female warrior protested with a voice that sounded like bird-song.

”It’s alright,” Ardent soothed. “He isn’t a full dragon and he is a friend.” She explained, casting a glance at Àskériàn.

Reluctantly, the knights eased from their stances, their taunt bodies relaxing under Ardent’s command, except for the older masculine knight.

He wore heavy metal armor made of silver, underneath the heavier armor was chain mail. His armor was a stark contrast with his auburn hair that lined his head and the small amounts on his face in a goatee, a pair of glasses sat against the bridge of his nose. His sword still drawn, he seemed to be in an inner conflict, not wanting to back down, but half wanting to obey the angel’s order.

”Sir Knight! I demand you take down your weapon!” She commanded again with a glare.

He glared at Àskériàn through his glasses, his brown eyes full of distrust. “I’m sorry, but you are being a bit reckless, bringing that thing here.” He chided in a husky voice.

The angel looked back at her new companion. Thing meant dragon. “Please turn to your human form, Mr. Àskériàn.” She ordered or rather pleaded.

He hesitated. “If they want to attack…” He responded with amusement in his deep voice.

”Do it now!” She hissed.

He released himself to his human form, shimmering in a midnight gust as the ebony dragon vanished and the man clad in darkness that she first met stood behind her. The knights stared in shocked awe.

Approaching her friend, Ardent examined his injury, the gilded spear stuck out at an angle from his chest, the golden tip had disappeared through the black leather, green ribbons hung right before the spearhead. It had almost impaled his heart, but it hadn’t gone deep enough, and it was up too high, which meant the knight who threw it had attacked as a warning.

She removed the spear gently and winced. The spear had been imbued with Sir Sean’s fae magic. “Hold still.” She commanded softly as a warmth spread over the wound. She placed her palm against his skin and concentrated.

Angels have the power to heal. Àskériàn remembered the old folk lore. His wound disappeared along with the pain; he felt his flesh net itself back together under her hand. When she removed it, in the place of the wound was a tattered hole in the black fabric of his tunic.

She turned to face her knights. “Stand down!” She barked again at Sir Knight.

”Fine.” He replied, grumbling under his breath, the sound of metal hissing as he sheathed his sword, his metal armor creaking with his movements.

When the golden barrier disappeared, the small elf-like knight ran and tackled the angel in an embrace.

”M’LADY!, You took forever this time.” She cried.

The angel patted her friend’s head. “Forgive me Miss Rain. I’m back now, that is all that matters.”

”You know how the other world affects you. Why did you stay so long?” Rain demanded.

”I… got lost.” Ardent replied with a forced smile, not wanting to reveal anything. If they knew what she had tried to do….

”AGAIN?!” Rain cried, tears glistened in her eyes before she shook her head.

”Now, now…” The angel replied but she was interrupted by Àskériàn’s approach. He placed a hand on her shoulder. “Not to worry there, I won’t let her leave alone again. I swear it.” He said to comfort the distraught girl, placing his other hand over his heart as if taking an oath, causing Ardent to glare at him.

All four of the knights stared at the stranger with curiosity. “My friends, I would like you to meet, Mr. Àskériàn.” Ardent introduced him, “ He saved me and helped me find my way back.” She explained. Their expressions, though skeptical, softened at her words.

”Mr. Àskériàn, this is Lady Rain Bors,” She said extending her hand to the small she-knight who had tackled her.

”Lady Seraphina Galahad, “ she said motioning to the other female knight.

Lady Seraphina had white long hair that fell to her waist. Jutting out from the top of her head was a set of white-furred round ears, like that of a hamster.

Well that’s different. Àskériàn couldn’t help but notice Seraphina wore a black eye patch over one eye, her left eye was free and it was a light lavender color. Her armor consisted of black leather with red stitching and linings. A few artifact trinkets hung at her waist from her red belt. Her weapon was a strange looking thing that brought the word umbrella to his mind.

”Sir Knight Lancelot,” Ardent continued gesturing to the heavily armored knight who had trouble taking her order. He just nodded to Àskériàn, his eyes still full of distrust.

”And Sir Sean Tristan of the Ardent table.” She handed the short black-haired knight his javelin.

Sir Sean was younger than the other knights or so he appeared. He wore white light-armor that had intricate ivy-green patterns of flowers sewn into them. A golden metal plate hung on his pelvis along with several other plates that hung on his knees, just above his verdant boots and the golden breast plate that adorned his chest. Each plate held an assortment of violet gems in them, the color of the fae.

”These four, are the Ardent knights.” She introduced them as she turned to face her dragon friend.

”You must be pretty important for them to attack me like that.” He said with a chuckle.

”That’s because she is.” Rain retorted. Then one by one the four knights knelt at the knee before them. Àskériàn was momentarily stunned by the familiar show of respect, but it wasn’t for him, it was for Ardent. Understanding hit him like a freight train. “You’re royalty?”

Ardent stiffened at his question, then she turned to him after relieving her knights of their stances. “Yes and no.” She replied cynically.

”Well which is it?” He asked exasperated.

”I’m a chosen queen.” She explained finally with an expression of steel. “All of the people here chose me as their leader by choosing to stay here. Outside of this world I am nothing.”

Sean stepped in, interrupting their conversation, earning one of Ardent’s fiery glares. “Next time don’t attack unless stated otherwise.” She scolded with an irritated tone. Sean huffed in return, his emerald gaze drifted with interest to Àskériàn. Ardent decided to take her leave and slipped from the crowd.

”So you have dragon powers huh? Mind teaching me some things? I want to use them with my Basquias here.” Sean said showing off his enchanted javelin.

Not sure what to say to the knight, Àskériàn replied, “Mmm.. maybe, but I don’t think you can learn dragon magic like that… I can try though.” Dragon magic was just as rare as angel magic, it was a secret magic that only the Morians new how to harness, though his skills were not voluntarily won.

The young knight jumped with joy at his words. Àskérian then noticed that Ardent had disappeared. “Wait, where did the angel go?”

Rain spoke up. “Well you see, she has to rest. The other world takes a lot out of our queen. Give it a day or two and she will be back to herself.” She explained.

”But she was fine when we came through the portal” He protested, thinking back to the sparkly girl in the void, then he remembered the death spell. What had it cost her?

”She does that.” Lady Seraphina joined in. “She doesn’t like for others to worry over her, but we all know how the world affects her. She stays cheerful but she needs to rest. In the meantime, let us show you around the kingdom.”

He contemplated on whether or not to tell the knights of their leader’s actions, then thought better of it. Still learning that she tried to take her own life, knowing she was an angel and now finding out that she was a leader to a kingdom sent even more rage into him. No, he wouldn’t let her die that easily. It seemed she needed protection from everything including herself.