Chapter 2
Iwhipped my head around to find the source of the voice. I was ready to beat their wings in and see if they had the talons to say it again.
“Tharic Zamarien, don’t be so quick to forget your wings haven’t been forged as an Ascendant yet. You will treat Safah, and every angel here, with respect.”
Okay, so maybe Farasee Esau wasn’t so bad. At least I could count on him treating us all equally. I scoured the clustering angels to find Tharic. The egotistical ashrat was towards the front of our numerous group. He floated above the sandy floor as if he were our king.
I scowled. Tharic was tall, broad-shouldered, and muscular.
His Papi made sure he’d been trained well.
His pale skin looked luminescent under the sunlight.
He stared at me with a strong jawline and piercing gold eyes that matched his golden hair and wings.
Tharic Zamarien glared at me like I was the sea rot beneath his new sandals.
I glared back wanting to peel his skin and let him roast.
Instantly I knew he was cut from the same cloth as the rest of his family.
Zamariens were full of pride, wealth, and had the ear of the Empràr.
I always wondered how they’d earn the ear and trust of the emperor.
They were notorious for demanding the Farasee Order remove all its females since they thought we “tainted” the Order.
Females were nothing more than playthings to a Zamarien.
No one was louder on this front then Farasee Kaelthos Zamarien, Tharic’s Papi.
Manmi taught me, according to him, females were to be seen and not heard.
Our place were in our home villas as wingmates, bearing younglings and keeping the villa in order.
The thought was so astronomically preposterous I nearly threw up on the spot.
“You don’t belong here, Anathelle,” Tharic spat. The angels had fallen silent. “You’re not fit. You’re only here because your Manmi is dead. A waste. A bag of bones even the Fallen dogs didn’t care to lick up themselves when they finished with her.”
I flinched, snapping my head back as if I’d been struck. Stars. That blow hit true. And it hurt. As a family, we Anathelles were still mourning Manmi’s loss. And this demon of a Zamarien decided to use the loss of her life as a weapon against me.
Well, two could play that game. I was a grown female. Not some suckling child that couldn’t defend herself. If he wanted to go low, I would go straight to the Hèls.
“I’m here because I actually have a brain, sunburned ashrat.” I crossed my arms. “Or are you so slow you couldn’t take two seconds to read that I scored the highest marks as both a Spirit Filer and an Incense Fuser on my Ascendant exams. It’s pretty public knowledge.”
I batted my lashes at him, smiling sweetly. Like poison.
“Unlike you who needed your Papi to convince the Order to let you in on…let me check my notes again…oh that’s right. On principle,” I said, and pointed to my temple. “Even though you’re dumber than a chest of seashells.”
Ellabeth wheezed. A male floating close to us, with pretty brown, hawkish eyes, grinned wide, eagerly looking between Tharic and I.
Tharic scowled, his eyes flashing with fire. I watched him. The tightness of his breaths. The veins crawling up his neck. His hands turning into fists. If he was going to attack, I would be ready for him.
Manmi always said Zamariens had short tempers, long mouths, and cruel hearts.
I could never let myself be caught by a Zamarien, especially alone.
Their hatred for Anathelles ran long. Deep.
It didn’t help I had over seven generations of Matriarchs serving as Farasees in the Temple, outside of Manmi who was killed by a Fallen attack at the Seal Gate—the portal between Hallowed and Fallen angelic realms.
“Enough,” Esau cut in, stifling a yawn. He pinched the bridge of his nose as if he was developing a headache just from being in our presence for too long. “There will be no violence in your ascent. Am I clear?”
“As glass, Farasee.” I answered Esau, but I kept my eyes on Tharic.
Tharic didn’t respond. He didn’t need to. His eyes promised all I needed to know.
Violence.
“All eyes on me.” Esau didn’t have to raise his voice. Every head snapped to attention. Even Tharic.
I linked arms with Ellabeth again, trying to calm my racing hearts. All seven were beating like wild drums. I had to get through my first dawn without fighting. Just this first one.
“I hope he chokes on the way up.”
I slid my gaze to her aquamarine ones. “Out for blood?”
“He ticked me off.”
I snorted. Same.
“Once complete, your results will be distributed throughout the Farasee Order across all twelve Sorellien Islands. It’s important for the temples across the Ouanaviel Empyrean to know about this generation of Ascendants aspiring to be Disciples.
Those who excel, will also be noted by High Farasee Manazzra Ahabiah, and the Profèt of our empyrean, Profèt Samael. ”
Ellabeth and I gasped.
High Farasee Manazzra Ahabiah? The male was a Faraseeical legend.
He’d been alive since the beginning of the Fifth Age.
He’d seen the formation of the Ouanaviel Empyrean from its inception.
There would be no Farasee Order if it wasn’t for him.
Profèt Samael wouldn’t even be the leading voice of spirituality for the empyrean, if it wasn’t for Manazzra.
If I did well during my first season in the temple, he would know?
Stars.
I’d do whatever it took to make sure the High Farasee learned of me. My Matriarchs had paved the way. Now it was my turn.
“Do us all a favor,” Esau said. He crossed his arms. “Don’t die.”
My eyebrows shot to my hairline.
“I’m sorry,” Ellabeth said. “What did he just say?”
“Any questions?” Esau asked with a voice that suggested he didn’t actually want to answer any. Hands shot into the air. The Farasee sighed. He folded those battering rams he called arms and picked an angel close to him.
The female had pink hair, tawny brown skin, and a little bounce in her float, her pink wings bouncing, too. I pressed my lips into a thin line. She was too cheery. Too excited.
She was not making it in.
“When do the gates close?”
“Why do you care? Make it in before they do. Next?” Farasee Esau snapped.
“I swear, I hope he doesn’t become my Presbitari. I wouldn’t be able to deal with him as my professor,” grumbled the male with the pretty brown eyes. He was wrinkling his nose at Farasee Esau in annoyance.
I laughed. “What if you do?”
The male looked at me. “I’ll pluck my own wings out. No lie.”
Ellabeth and I laughed.
“Safah,” I said, smiling up at him.
“Daelun.”
“I’m Ellabeth,” Ellabeth said from around my shoulder, keeping her voice low. “Your eyes are really pretty. You could break some hearts with those.”
Daelun’s grin stretched, his brown eyes glittering. “I’m worse with my mouth.”
I grinned wide. I liked him already.
“If we survive this Hèls of a climb, friends?” I asked him.
“Who am I to deny an Anathelle?” he teased, wiggling his eyebrows. “Absolutely yes.”
Ellabeth and I laughed. He was funny and cute. Maybe this wouldn’t be so bad after all. We turned back to Esau.
I was ready to Ascend.
I’d been trained my entire life for this moment. Manmi had Ascended all the way into the Order as a Farasee. So did Granmanmi. So did Great-Granmanmi. And my Manmi before her. I would not be the first of our bloodline to fail.
“Let us begin. When my apprentice, Apprenti Assefah, calls your name, enter the waterfall. He will only call you once. So pay attention!”
“Taraji Hoksa!” called Assefah, floating by Farasee Esau in his purple Apprenti robes.
I didn’t bother looking at who it was. I needed to concentrate. I took deep breaths, regulating my heartbeats. My hands pricked with needles, but I refused to give in to nerves. The time had come. I would Ascend.
“Marai Vithoria.”
“Anida Melin.”
“Kyree Forrest.”
“Ellabeth Riventhelle.”
Ellabeth squealed quietly. “I love you. I’ll see you inside!”
Ellabeth squeezed me, and I squeezed back. “I love you, too. Show them how it’s done!”
She beamed, and released me, cutting through the thick crowd with the grace of a dancer. Her light blonde hair shone prettily beneath the sun as her wintry colored wings flapped behind her. Her flight robes were loose around her limbs but still hugged her slender frame in a flattering way.
I watched my best friend—for the entirety of my one thousand cycles—fly forward.
Without hesitation, she spread all seven pairs of her wings and dove into the waterfall.
Once she was fully submerged, I couldn’t see her any longer.
I threw up a prayer to the Infinite, praying Ellabeth would be alright and make it successfully to the temple.
More names were called in rapid succession.
“Lavender eyes is all alone now.”
“Let’s see if she makes it like her weak Manmi.”
“Really. She died at the hands of Fallen. How pathetic.”
Jeers were hurled my way like bricks but I said nothing, ignoring them all. Manmi always said the biggest key to conquering entry into the temple was focus. Distraction meant death. These idiots would not be given the satisfaction.
“She’ll die before she makes it in.”
“I hope so. Tired of seeing these Anathelle bloodthorns among the Order.”
My cheeks flushed. I didn’t give in to the bait. I’d been called a whore before. I wouldn’t let it throw me off my game now.
Focus, Safah.
“Safah Anathelle.”
Finally.
I flew into the air, above the remaining Ascendants. I reached the waterfall, took one deep, steadying breath, and dove in.
Stars.
The water was heavy. At least it was as clear as the Ouanaviel Sea. I could see in front and above me, which was all that mattered. Every few strides there were pockets where I could duck my head in for air before I kept flying.
Bracing myself, I spread my wings and began cutting through the water after the angel above me. While pressing through the heavy peals of water, I heard the call for the next angel to begin the ascent after me. Bone chilling terror spilled into my blood.
“Next. Tharic Zamarien!”