Aurora Filly Whitewing: She was one of the greatest sorceresses ever to live. Her whole life, Aurora was dedicated to magic. Spells, potions, herbs, or anything else related to Wicca and Sorcery. Aurora Filly gave birth to a daughter on September 22^nd, a day that changed the lives of her whole family. The girl was ill, but special, as she too would consist of the magical abilities of her mother. When she pierced this child’s body with the blade of her soul, the child lived. Angel, she was named, for being blessed with beautiful silver wings. But the father of the girl despised her and her mother, for he hated magic. He sent her through a life of pain and misery, Angel’s only light being the few people dear to her. This is Angel’s story. This is her survival.

Prologue:

Birth

-September 28^th, 6 days after birth-

“My last kin should be more than just another mindless soul. Already I see her different then everyone else, an outcast even before she’s able to fit in.” the soft, cool voice of a woman spoke to the sleeping infant. Her curly red hair neatly fell behind her shoulders, and her dark emerald eyes were set on a magnificent diamond bladed sword in her hands. The hilt was made of pure silver, one side resembling an angelic wing, the other side resembling a demonic wing. “Thy sword shall hold your soul…and thy being will be made of two parts; one light, one dark. Use thy powers wisely, my child, for they conceal your life.”

            The woman pressed the blade of the sword into the sleeping child. A shrill cry erupted, but died down slowly. The beautiful weapon went inside the baby’s body, becoming one with the infant. “Sleep well, Angel, many dreams will follow you. I sense a hard life ahead, but be brave my child.” The woman scooped the baby in her arms, allowing the little girl to go back to sleep peacefully. “Stay Light, as long as you can.”

            “Filly? Filly are you in there?” a soft knock came onto the door. A man’s voice could be heard from the other side. “Filly, dear, you must come out just about now. You’ve been cooped up in your chambers all day. Tend to the children, they’ve become quite restless with your absence.”

            Filly held the baby in her arms, and then looked up to the door. “I’ll be out just now, Edmond.” She heard a small ‘click’ as the man opened the door. His long black hair and deep cerulean eyes locked on the woman. The smile on his face faded as he saw their daughter in Filly’s arms. “Again, I see you spending every moment with Angel. The child is ill, and will die before she’s fully grown. Why must you insist on caring for her so?” He seemed to be pleading for a reply.

            But Filly only walked away from Edmond; to the chambers the baby would grow up in. “’Tis my business. She will live, she will become a woman, and she will do great things that even you cannot accomplish. Nothing you do will stop that.” The woman disappeared down the hall, leaving the king to ponder her words.

Chapter one:

Age Four

A little girl of about three years old wandered down the hallways of the mighty stone castle. Her curly red hair bounced up and down as she went on her way, and her cerulean eyes darted back and forth. Her small pointed, elf-like ears were perked up at attention. A little thumb was tucked in her mouth, as the girl was quietly sucking upon it. In her other arm was a stuffed bunny, white and fluffy. The girl looked almost completely normal, except for the small silver wings attached to her back. Already she was growing to be beautiful, for this girl was half Siren.

            “Angel! There you are! We’ve been looking for you!” a boy of about nine reached the girl. He was a lot taller than her with dark black hair and matching blue eyes. “You have to come back to your room at once. Daddy says you can’t be out of bed.”

            Angel popped her thumb out of her mouth, putting both arms around her plushy now. She looked curiously up at her brother, eyes wide and innocent. “But I’m always in bed, Wade. Why can’t I play just like everyone else?”

            But her brother only tugged at her arm, leading her back to her room. “That can be answered later, Angel. Daddy’s in a bad mood.”

            Angel pouted. “Daddy’s always in a bad mood.” But the girl followed her older brother obediently, not wanting to get in trouble again. Doing something wrong in her family of royalty meant pain, and Angel did not want to experience any more of that.

            Back in her room, Wade led his little sister to her bed and tucked her in as best as he could. The boy then left her room, shutting the door silently. Angel sat in her bed, alone, hugging her bunny to herself. She was always cooped up in the chamber, never allowed to do anything at all. “Maybe Daddy doesn’t want me to play?” she said to the plushy, as if it could hear her. She sighed, taking in a large amount of breath. Almost immediately, Angel covered her mouth, coughing uncontrollably.

“The child is ill, and will die before she’s fully grown…”

            Angel could not remember these words, but what had been said so long ago was true. The girl was slowly dying of consumption. She, like her older sister Christina, was cursed with the disease. Neither was expected to live their lives to the fullest. As the child sat in bed, coughing, a knock was heard on the door.

            “C-c-come in.” Angel said, catching her breath. She lay down in her bed, breathing hard. The girl could not sustain herself very well at the moment.

             A man looking of about the age of 18 entered the room. In truth he was about 200 years old, but the race he was allowed him to look eternally youthful. He was tall and handsome. With long silver hair and matching ice blue eyes. His body was lean and muscular, and upon his back, were large white wings. “Angel!” The man said happily. “How is my favorite sister doing today?”

            The little girl seemed to cheer up instantly at the sight of her older brother. “Dyne!” she exclaimed, smiling brightly. She reached her arms out for a hug, but not daring to leave her bed.

            Dyne walked over to Angel, hugging the girl tightly. She scooted to the side, allowing the man to sit next to her upon the bed. He never lost his smile, and his eyes remained on his sister. “So, how are you feeling?” he poked her nose lightly, hoping it would keep her cheery.

            Angel continued to smile, laughing as he touched her nose. “Hey, stop that! It tickles!” they both laughed a little more, but soon the girl looked down to her bunny, frowning. “Daddy still won’t let me play.” She said sadly.

            “He’s just concerned about you, Angel.” Dyne said gently, not wanting to hurt the feelings of the three-year-old girl. “You are in no shape to be playing. Do you want to be sleepy all the time?”

            The girl shook her head, fully comprehending. At such a young age, she was already intelligent. Understanding some of the most complex things thrown at her. “But I want to have fun! I want to be like everyone else!”

            Dyne smiled again. “You are like everyone else.” He wrapped his arms around his sister, kissing her forehead softly. “You’re just cuter.”

            The girl laughed again, feeling happier already. Suddenly she piped up, a grin on her face. “Guess what tomorrow is!”

            “Tomorrow? I have no idea what tomorrow is. Can you tell me?”

            The girl smiled even wider. “Tomorrow’s my birthday!”

            Dyne smiled himself. He loved his little sister more than anything, and to see her happy made him feel joyful. “You’re birthday? Already? How old are you going to be, Angel?”

            The girl held up four small fingers. Already at a young age, she could count to at least ten.

            “Four years old? My, my, aren’t we getting big!” her brother replied, in mock surprise. Of course he couldn’t forget his own sister’s birthday. The idea was preposterous.

            Nodding gleefully, Angel added, “I’m going to be a big girl now! Now that I’m older, daddy will have to let me play outside!”

            At that comment, Dyne did not smile to his sister. He looked at her sorrowfully for a few moments before nodding his head slowly. “I’m sure he will.” Dyne stood up from the bed, hugging Angel tightly one last time. “I think it’d be wise for you to rest well. I’ll see you tomorrow morning, birthday girl.” He grinned, and then turned his heel, walking out her bedroom door.

-September 2^nd, three years after birth-

“King Edmond Whitewing, may I ask why I have been asked to see you on this fine day?” A tall man stood in the king’s chamber. He had long black hair, stunning emerald eyes, and fine black angelic wings. He was tall and muscular, looking slightly similar to Dyne. In age he, too, was almost 200 years old. Still considered young.

            The king stood with his back towards the man, scratching his chin thoughtfully. “I have called you here regarding my daughter.” He said. Edmond looked to the man standing behind him sharply. “I believe you have seen Angel once or twice, yes?”

            The man looked at the king, almost stunned. He wasn’t sure what he was asking, but was a little afraid of the idea. He nodded slowly. “I have never met Angel, but I have seen your daughter. She is very sweet… very innocent. What of her?”

            Turning fully around, Edmond looked at the man. “Her birthday is coming up very quickly. I want you to meet her. Marry her, once she’s old enough. That is, if she survives.”

            “What kind of demand is that? You’re insane!” the man exclaimed, taken aback by such a suggestion. “I will NOT be forced to marry your daughter. As kind and innocent as she is, we don’t even know if she’ll live long enough. To give such a person hopes and dreams that may not even be fulfilled? I cannot promise you anything of the likes.”

            “Do it, Sir Ryne DeLucan, there’s plenty of money in it for you. And as you said yourself, she’s sweet and innocent. What more can you ask for?”

            Ryne looked at the king, glaring. “I don’t want your rotten money, your fortunes, or your promises.” He spat upon the ground, turning around hastily. “I will not give you my word for anything, but I will get to know Angel well.” He paused right before he left the room, his gaze to the floor. The girl… she would grow up to be beautiful and kind, he knew it already. “Fate will tell what happens, your highness.”

            The king watched Ryne DeLucan leave his chambers with a smirk. He thought to himself, almost grinning. “Queen Aurora Filly Whitewing has already foreseen your future. This conversation was almost unnecessary.”

“Angel, wake up!” a kind voice could be heard from her bedroom chambers. A tired Angel rolled over to see Dyne smiling. In his arms was a finely painted box. “Happy birthday Angel!” he said with a grin, holding the gift out.

            Angel jumped up as fast as she could, smiling cheerfully. “Thank you Dyne!” she took the box from his hands, and set it aside almost as soon as she got it. She hugged her brother with all the strength she could muster.

            “Well, what are you waiting for? Open it.”

            Angel looked to the box, grinning. “But it looks so pretty!” she then looked to her brother, who was smiling just like her. He nodded slowly, still in a way to suggest her to open the parcel. Angel opened the box carefully, peering inside. “What is it?”

            Dyne smiled wider, taking out a plushy penguin from the box. “It’s another plushy for you, Angel.” He realized that she had never seen a penguin before, or had ever heard of them. “It’s called a penguin. They’re cute, wobbly birds.” He then looked to his sister, still grinning. “Not as cute as you though.”

            Angel held the penguin plushy tightly to her. “I love it! It’s the best gift ever!” she smiled brightly. To see her in such a happy mood was spectacular. Her whole face lit up, like she didn’t have a care in the world.

            He couldn’t stop himself from grinning. Dyne ruffled his sister’s curls before standing back up. “Oh, that reminds me. Mother and father want to see you. They say they have a special surprise.” He wasn’t quite sure what it was himself, not receiving any details at all. Dyne still looked to his sister. “Come on, I’ll walk you to the great hall.”

            The little girl hopped out of bed, holding the penguin in her arms still. “Can I bring my new pen-guin along?” she was having trouble sounding out the new word, but it didn’t stop her from trying.

            Dyne looked at the gift, hesitating. He wasn’t sure if it would be taken away, and he knew how devastating it would be if that were to happen. “Keep the penguin here next to Bunny.” He smiled. “Let the animals keep each other company, alright?”

            Angel nodded happily, taking one of her brother’s hands. She set the penguin plushy next to her bunny one and slid out of her bed. “Okay! Let’s go!”

            The young man picked Angel up, setting her upon his shoulders. She put her arms around his neck, laughing and giggling cheerfully. The two traveled over to the great hall, where the rest of the family was, chatting away mindlessly. A girl of about eight years old stood in the room, hands neatly folded behind her back. She was of average height for her age, very pale, and very thin. She had short black hair, reaching to her chin, and emerald green eyes. Unlike Angel and Dyne, she looked completely human. The other siblings of the Whitewing family resembled this child, looking humans. Looking normal.

            As Angel was set down, she ran over to the girl, smiling happily. “Chrissie!! Chrissie!” she shouted, hugging her older sister tightly.

            The frail girl hugged her younger sister weakly. “Hiyas, Angel.” She said softly. Her voice was quiet and glassy. This girl was very weak and very ill. “Happy birthday.”

            Angel smiled, looking up at her sister, Christina. “I’m a big girl now!” she grinned, standing up fully, putting her little hands on her hips.

            Christina smiled, laughing softly. “Okay, you’re big!” she then widened her smile into a grin. “But I’m still bigger!”

            Dyne chuckled, watching his two younger sisters giggling and being happy. They were the two ill ones, and it was clear now that Christina was not going to live much longer. His gaze shifted over to the others. Sitting alone in a chair was a man with long dark hair and green eyes. He was watching Angel contently, as if he were in deep concentration. It was Ryne DeLucan.

            Dyne walked over to the man, grinning broadly. “Ryne, my old friend! How nice it is to see you after all these months!”

            Ryne’s stare shifted over to Dyne, where he, too, smiled. “Dionysos! It’s been a while, hasn’t it? I’m going just fine! And yourself?”

            Dyne looked at his old friend, laughing still. “Dionysos? Please, don’t call me by my ridiculous first name. Just keep it at Dyne!”

            Angel blinked, hearing upon the conversation. Her ears were quite sharp, even at her small age. “Dyne and Ryne? That sounds funny!” Angel and Christina laughed at that comment.

            Ryne smiled to Dyne slyly. “See, even your sisters find it odd. Let me call you by your full, proper name!”

            Laughing a bit more, Dyne nodded. “Alright, alright. Keep it at Dionysos, but

only this once. I don’t like that full name you know.”      Ryne nodded. His gaze rested upon Angel once more. He seemed to be thinking deeply about something.

“…I want you to meet her. Marry her, once she’s old enough. That is, if she survives.”

Ryne stared at the girl intently. She truly was innocent and sweet. Just by looking at her he knew that she would grow up to be almost purely innocent. “Dionysos… the redheaded girl is Angel, right?”

            Dyne blinked once or twice. The question was certainly out of the blue, but it wasn’t too farfetched. Dyne nodded. “Angel is the redhead.” He looked at Ryne curiously. “Why, I thought you would know that.”

            Ryne laughed slightly, shaking his head. “You have five sisters. I wanted to know if I was right.” He then stood up, ready to walk over to Angel. “You wouldn’t mind if I actually met the child.”

            Dyne shook his head once more. “Not at all, in fact.” He lowered his voice, just in case someone else could hear him. “I have to leave the castle in a few weeks. Father has requested I become a knight instead of sharing my duties to the throne.” He sighed. “I have to leave for training. I believe it’ll take months. Could you keep Angel company while I’m gone?”

            His friend looked to him, smiling. Ryne needed that chance to be alone with Angel if he had to get to know her. He nodded. “Of course. What kind of a friend would I be to refuse such?” Ryne then continued his original concept. He walked over to Chrissie and her sister, smiling kindly. “Why hello, hello. And who might you two be?”

            Christina looked up to Ryne, curtsying low. Formal introductions had to be given out to elders, for if they weren’t it would be such a matter of disrespect. “Lady Christina Iris Whitewing.” She bowed her head as she went down, raising it after speaking her name. “’Tis such an honor to meet you.”

            Angel blinked, watching her older sister. Still young, she didn’t know how to curtsy too well. She clumsily mocked Christina. “Lady Angel Sourie Whitewing.” She almost tripped as she stood back up, getting caught by Christina. The little girl giggled, “He, he… such an honor…”

            Ryne couldn’t help but to laugh at the little girl’s action. He thought it was pretty cute. He smiled, bowing low. “Sir Ryne DeLucan.” He then stooped down to be the same height of the girls. “But just call me Ryne. We don’t need to be too formal, right?”

            Christina nodded in agreement. “Yes, sir… I mean Ryne. Please, just call me Chrissie then.” She looked down at her little sister. “And just call her Angel.”

            Angel didn’t seem to be too interested in names at the moment. She up righted herself, eyes now sparkling. She looked at Ryne’s large, black wings, almost stunned. “Pretty!” she exclaimed, running over to touch them.

            The man ruffled his black, angelic wings slightly. He peered over his shoulder to Angel, who was now poking his wings curiously. He couldn’t help but to laugh a little more, finding the girl very adorable. Ryne turned around, picking the Angel up and setting her down on his lap. “Don’t be touching those feathery things now.” He smiled, poking her nose lightly. “Or I can touch yours.”

            Angel blinked, spreading her small silver wings out wide. “But I like them! They’re pretty!”

            Ryne smiled. “Want to see a magic trick?” he asked. He wanted the girl to stay happy and amused.

            Angel nodded. “Yes! Yes! I wanna see a trick!” she kept her look bright and curious, as if the word ‘magic’ excited her very much.

            Ryne placed his palms to face Angel. “Nothing in my hands…” he then shook out his arms. “Nothing in my sleeves…” Ryne placed his hands together, putting the light fist to his lips and blowing slightly. It was only to make for an effect. “One, two, three, and…” he spread out his hands. Five white doves went flying out across the great hall. “Presto!”

            Angel looked at the birds in awe, along with Christina. Both of the girls were very impressed, neither of them knowing how to perform any types of magic. Angel looked back at Ryne, laughing and giggling merrily. “Yay! Amazing! Do some more!”

            Ryne smiled, nodding. “Alright, alright. Just a few more.” But at that moment he was interrupted. A hush fell across the room as someone else entered the hall.

            The rarely seen, Queen Aurora Filly Whitewing entered slowly. Her red curls bouncing behind her back and her emerald eyes gazing around. Her attire, matching that of a sorceress, flowed as she walked. She had lard red wings, folded in tightly behind her back, almost blending in with her hair. Aurora stopped as she reached her chair, sitting down and looking about. “Resume your actions.” She said simply, as if she was not amused. The queen’s gaze turned to Angel; a small smile spread upon her lips. “Ah, the birthday girl. Come, my dear.”

            Angel obeyed her mother’s request, happily running over to the woman. “Mommy!” she cried. The queen was rarely seen these days. Only about three or four times a month would she actually be seen in public. And that was only for special occasions. All the other times, Queen Aurora Filly Whitewing would be up in her chambers, studying sorcery and mastering her magic techniques.

            Now the woman was bonding with her child. She brought Angel up to her lap, smiling at the young girl. “Four years old we are now?” her voice was soft and crisp. It was almost cold, but still had warmth to it. “It seems like only yesterday when you were a baby in my arms.” Filly looked at the girl, still smiling. “Do you know why you were named so?”

            “My name?”

            “Yes, your name. Angel Sourie.” Aurora said, nodding.

            Angel shook her head.

            “You’re back is full of the most wonderful silver feathers imaginable. Only an angel could hope to have wings such as yours.” The woman traced a finger down Angel’s back, right in between her wings. Angel shivered slightly. For any winged person, it was a sensitive spot. “And Sourie comes from the Italian word, ‘sourire’ which means to smile.”

            Angel looked at her mother dumbfounded. A four-year-old child could not understand the meaning to her words, no matter how smart they were. “Mommy, what do you mean?”

            Aurora shook her head. “Never mind, my child. You’ll understand when you’re older.” She then rummaged through her sleeves, enchanted so she could carry items. “Hmm, four years old… I believe it is a decent age to start learning magic.” She pulled out a fire-y orange orb from her sleeve, presenting it to Angel. “This will help you get started.”

            Angel took the orb in her hands. As it touched her fingertips an odd warmth spread through her body. “Mommy, it’s pretty, but it feels funny.”

            Filly only laughed. “It shows that you, like me, are a sorceress.” The woman set Angel off her lap, getting ready to head back to her chambers. “I must go now, Angel dear. Plenty of work to be done.” The queen acted like she didn’t care much for the child at all, only as if she was there to give her the gift. Her emerald eyes looked sharply to Ryne, and she said softly. “Teach her magic in your spare time, Sir DeLucan.” And with those words she disappeared down the halls.

-January 20^th, four years after birth-

Angel was walking down the hallways again, thumb in her mouth. Her pointed ears perked up, she stopped at the sight of an open door. Voices could be heard from inside, urgently. It was the king and queen speaking to each other.

            “I told you, Filly. Taking care of an ill child was pointless. Eight years… eight! And she’s gone!”

            “Edmond, there wasn’t anything we could do. And what would have happened if we had thrown the girl out at birth? Christina would never have the chance to live at all!”

            Edmond’s voice seemed to relax. Angel could hear him pacing back and forth through the room. “We could see this from the beginning, Filly. What of the other child? She won’t live much longer than thirteen, I expect”

            “You’re wrong. She will live. The concept of magic in her body is keeping her alive just a little bit longer. Just enough for her to grow up.”

            Edmond’s voice shouted again. “Just a little longer? It’s pointless! Kill the girl now! Get her out of the castle!”

            A powerful slapping sound was heard next. “What a horrible person you are! To think such wretched thoughts and actually mean them! Edmond Whitewing, I would have expected more from such a leader, but you don’t care for the children at all! Is war the only thing you care about? Is suffering and death the only thing that keeps you going?”

            Angel had heard enough. She stood by the door, eyes widened. She choked out a few times, tear welling in her eyes. ‘Chrissie? Dead?’ she thought. ‘Kill me too?’ the girl was too afraid to move, and her tears became louder by the second. She knew she couldn’t be heard, but the thoughts in her little head were overwhelming.

            But Angel seemed to be saved at that moment. Gentle hands picked her up, rushing the girl back to her room. “Hush now, Angel, everything’s going to be alright.”

            Angel closed her eyes, crying openly now. She and the mysterious person were out of earshot of the room, and it was okay for Angel to be doing so. “Daddy! Daddy is going to kill me! Just like he did to Chrissie!”

            “He did not kill your sister. Chrissie was sick, it was no body’s fault.” The voice had come from a man. It was soft and gentle, as if the person really did care about the girl’s feelings. Once they reached Angel’s room, he set her down on the bed, gently wiping her tears. “Don’t be crying… you’re a big girl now, aren’t you?”

            Angel looked up through her tears to see the kind face of Ryne. She sniffled many times, only to break out in a fit of coughing. Ryne sat down with her, holding the girl in his arms, rubbing her back without disturbing her fragile wings. As her coughing died down, the girl’s breath became shorter. She was too tired to cry now.

            “Chrissie’s in a better place now. Away from this life you hate.” He looked down to the girl. “She’s happy where she is, and all she has to do now is wait for you to join her.” He shook his head slightly. “But she can wait hundreds of years, as long as you live your life to the fullest, Angel.”

            Angel looked up at him, wiping her face dry. “You promise, I’ll live hundreds of years like you and Dyne? And I’ll get to be with Chrissie again after that?”

            Ryne nodded.

            “And… you mean she’s not gone forever? That she’s just somewhere else now?”

            Ryne nodded once more. “She’s happy, and she’s waiting.”

            Angel smiled a little, hugging Ryne as tight as she could. But most of her strength was gone, and her feeble hands did not give him much to hold on to.

            “Everything’s going to be okay, Angie. Just you wait.”

            Angel looked up at him, laughing a little. “Angie?”

            “What, you don’t like it?” Ryne smiled a little. “I think it sounds cute on a girl just like you.” He poked her nose lightly, hoping to cheer her up quickly.

            Angel smiled wider, giggling louder. “Angie is a funny name, but I like it!”

            Ryne grinned, hugging the child closer to him. “I’ll stay with you for now, Angie.” He held her tighter with those words. The girl, now exhausted, yawned quietly. She soon drifted off to sleep in his arms. Ryne rocked her back in forth slowly, looking down upon her head. “I’ll stay with you…” he said quietly.