Chapter 8
Ifroze, instantly recognizing my error. We were not back home in Port Emprarèl—the capital of the Ouanaviel Island—the epicenter of the Ouanaviel Empyrean.
We were in Temple Efysis. Home to the Profèt, the High Farasee, and the elite of the Farasee Order. She wasn’t my Granmanmi here.
“Forgive me, Farasee,” I said, composing myself.
I quickly lowered into a respectful bow, curling my wings over my bent form. It was an act of respect to bow to our Farasees. Especially those with a known reputation throughout the empyrean.
“Farasee Asarah,” I said, still bowed. “Wings high and good dawn.”
The temple auditorium had fallen deathly quiet. You could hear a feather drop. Granmanmi Asarah was no ordinary female of the Order.
She was the only female Farasee who faced a Fallen Shadowlord head on. And won.
Not only had she killed the fallen angel, and took out a quarter of his legion by herself, she also used his decrepit carcass in a ritual that instilled protection of Temple Efysis against Fallen invasion. The empyrean had come to know the ritual as Blood Rites.
To every angel in this room, she was a living legend. And now they were looking at her up close, and would do anything to win her favor.
But to me…
She was the one who brushed my hair when I was a youngling, with gentleness and patience, wrangling out stubborn coils with makristi oil.
She was the one who taught me how to recite the Davithien hymns.
How to cultivate a deep love for the Infinite at such an early age.
She fed me mangogos on her knees and snuck me fetafa—slabs of gooey cheese melted and mixed with honey—while Manmi and Papi weren’t watching. She was more than a second Manmi to me.
She was home.
“Granfifi.”
I lifted my head. Looked into her mauve eyes. There was a weight of love, a world of peace, an overwhelming sense of home I felt in that singular statement. I nearly sobbed.
Granmanmi’s eyes filled with pride. With joy.
She threw her arms open wide. Without a word I shot to my feet and threw myself into her arms, squeezing her tight.
“Granfifi,” she murmured into my hair. “I am so proud of you. Well done, my child.”
She embraced me like it was my tenth cycle all over again.
For my riseday celebration, she’d made me my favorite cake from scratch.
The gooey dessert was stuffed with chocolate, caramel, and toffee in multiple layers.
A rare treat since Manmi kept me on a strict diet.
But Granmanmi had made me the cake anyway and dared my parentlings to keep me from eating it.
Granmanmi wrapped her wings around me now, tucking me close to her chest as she breathed me in.
“I always knew you would Ascend. Only the Infinite knows how long I have awaited this dawn. This season,” she cooed, breathing softly in my ear.
I tipped my head into her shoulder, burying my face in her neck, and silently cried. I didn’t care if the Ascendants looked on. I hadn’t laid eyes on Granmanmi in cycles. Holding onto her now was a gift.
“My Safah,” she cooed. “How your Papi has tried to keep you from me.” She chuckled. “I always told him he couldn’t. Now that you are under the covering of this temple, of me, no one can come between us.”
“Just like old times?” I giggled, looking up at her.
Her eyes twinkled like the stars. It was like staring into the universe and finding your place in the wildness of the realms.
“Just like old times,” she whispered, as if she was sharing a secret.
I grinned, clinging to my Granmanmi. It was like listening to a lullaby on a moody twinight while it rained outside.
Like when Evanae—my little sister—and I would sit on the veranda and watch the rain droplets kiss the surface of the Ouanaviel Sea as Granmanmi would sit in the rocking chair and hum.
She would create light shows for us with her ability to summon the stars.
“My Safah,” she breathed again as I struggled to rein in my tears. “Welcome to the beginning of your life.”
I shook with tears. Those dawns of Sifting hadn’t been enough. The sheer terror and madness of the Starfellien Ascent was catching up to me now that Granmanmi held me. The auditorium watched on. I didn’t care. She was my Granmanmi. And I had every right.
“Want to know a secret?” She pulled back her head and spoke only for me to hear. “I think that Zamarien fool will reconsider before approaching you again.”
I snorted, bursting into laughter. I wasn’t so sure about that, but I had to admit, it was good knowing she was aware not only that he came after me, but also that I evaded him and won our not-so-silent war. If Granmanmi knew, then any other Zamarien in the temple would find out, too.
“Amaryss would be so proud,” she said, caressing my cheek. My throat instantly swelled again. “Look at you. Carrying the torch.” Her eyes shone bright. Pride swelled in my hearts. “We are holy…”
She waited expectantly for me to finish. I lifted my chin, finishing in a strong whisper.
“To whatever end.”
“To whatever end, my sweet star. Never forget it.”
She kissed my forehead, more than once, and tucked me to her chest again in a deep embrace. Then someone started coughing. Loud.
“Safah, move. You’ve been hogging her long enough. It’s my turn!”
Laughing out loud I scooted out of the way. I’d barely left Granmanmi Asarah’s arms before Ellabeth charged her at full speed in a wide and warm embrace. Granmanmi held Ellabeth like she held me. The same way she had since we were both big enough to fight but still too small to talk.
“My sweet Ellie. Our jewel of the sea.”
Ellabeth blushed, squeezing Granmanmi tight. I smiled wide. Ellabeth and I had always been like sisters. Our families were extremely close, as if we’d been one big family for several millennia.
When Ellabeth released Granmanmi, she flew to my side and linked our arms. “Way to show that Zamarien monkey how to fight for his bananas.”
I snorted. Loud. Failing to cover my mouth as I burst out laughing.
“We love you, Granmanmi,” Ellabeth said to Granmanmi Asarah.
I grinned, nodding in agreement. We flew to either side of her, giving her a massive kiss on both her cheeks in tandem, leaving Granmanmi beaming, her eyes bright and tinged with the kindness of all the Elledelle realms.
“Now,” Ellabeth said. “I have a few friends you need to meet.”
I noticed a fading bruise beneath her eye and the dip in three of her wings.
“One of the males got you during the Ascent, too?”
Her sharp eyes assessed herself then she snorted.
“Some backscratcher named Tavax.” Ellabeth shrugged. “Tavax Branai, I think. I got him, too. But he got me worse. I’m fine. Come on.”
Ellabeth grabbed my hand, dragging me through the watching Ascendants. They were quiet, looking between me and Granmanmi Asarah. Then they looked between Ellabeth and Granmanmi. Then Ellabeth and me. Too many watched us, calculating if we’d be better as their allies or enemies. I preferred neither.
Floating after Ellabeth, we reached a group clustered to the back of the auditorium on the opposite end of the entrance. Ellabeth beamed, excited to introduce me to the group. Then a voice, clapping like thunder, spoke out in the quiet.
“Tharic, my bibi! There you are. I knew you’d Ascend.”
Ellabeth and I shared a look before turning around.
The majority of the room frowned when the new angel surfaced. My stomach churned, twisting with acid as I watched the golden-haired beast—dripping in Farasee ivory—glide to Tharic. Tharic floated like a king—head raised, shoulders back, poised expression.
“Farasee,” Tharic bowed his head, “I told you I’d see you again. In the temple of course.” A pause. “Isn’t that right, Papi Kaelthos?”