Sharing is Caring

Third Person POV

---------------------------------------------------------------

July 15, 2001, 2:00 p.m.

Mortal Realm

Central Park, New York

-Prince Helias

---------------------------------------------------------------

Helias descended downwards at a breakneck pace towards the Mortal Realm. He flew fast and quick into a cluster of trees and flared out his wings to land.

Closing his eyes and concentrating, he could hear the sounds of nearby civilization. Opening his eyes, and gazing around, Helias inferred himself in the southern end of Central Park. Quickly gazing around so he would not be seen, Helias retracted his wings (1) and exited the small cluster of trees, walking on the side of the given path.

Helias walked around, observing humanity in their everyday life. He walked slowly, taking in the fresh air and tranquil atmosphere. Helias sighed in displeasure. He wanted to be a 'simple, magic-less mortal' as the Angelique Council called them. In other words, a human.

They had it so much easier, he believed. They only ever lived up to a certain number of years, while Angels could still be alive centuries later. Angels could still die, as could Demons, but it would be a very long time before one of them faded naturally. Humans, while also having laws, weren't as harsh to their children. Yeah, there were some pretty evil humans, but still.

Helias was shaken out of his thoughts, when he heard distant sobbing.

A few feet away from him, sitting on a lone park bench, was a small girl, quietly sobbing. It wasn't a loud wail, or even a painful cry. No, it was a sorrowful sob. One that someone in grief would resort to. When the small girl sniffled, Helias had already made up his mind.

He silently, but conspicuously crept towards the girl with the tear stained cheeks. She looked up when she saw him, but paid him no mind as she looked down at her lap again.

He slowly sank down on the bench and tried to think of something- anything to do to comfort the estranged girl. Helias's eyes lit up as he remembered the panda lilies he had brought with him. He bit his lip. The Mortal Realm didn't have panda lilies, but as Helias observed the girl, he concluded that she couldn't have been more than ten, the same age as he. Surely the girl wouldn't notice.

Throwing caution to the wind, Helias took out the flowers and found that only one had made it intact from the flight down. Swallowing, and then clearing his throat, Helias scooted up the bench until he was right beside the small girl.

"Hey, there...um...are you alright?" Helias could have smacked himself. Obviously she wasn't alright. "Um..whenever my mother is sad, my father gives her flowers to uh...cheer her up." He continued, holding out the panda lily towards her.

She blinked up at him in surprise. Slowly taking the flower. Helias noticed that the girl stopped crying, but there were a few tears that escaped. He reached into his other pocket and pulled out his hand embroidered handkerchief, handing it to the girl, who was intently staring at the lily.

"My name is Helia." He didn't know why he gave that name instead of his oh-so formal Helias. Helias guessed it was because this girl was no Angel and wouldn't have to call him anything but Helia. Here, he was Helia, just another kid, not Prince Helias, someone who should be held at arms length.

 She took the offered handkerchief with a smile. "I'm Rei." She said before using the handkerchief to wipe away any extra tears, bringing the panda lily up to her nose to smell.

Helias stood up and bowed. "Well it's nice to meet you, Rei." He said pompously. She shook her head and giggled slightly. She smiled at him and Helias found himself smiling back. "Thanks for making me feel better, Helia." She said.  "No problem," he replied, glad he was able to make someone feel better today.

The rest of the afternoon was spent in this upbeat manner. Helia and Rei went around the park, making fun of funny looking strangers, pointing at awe inspiring sights, and even played in some of the playgrounds. Helias felt great. He had spent the day as a child that he was supposed to be and it felt amazing. This little respite did much for his mood as it did for Rei as well. There was no more lingering sadness on her face and the green eyed girl was grinning at him.

Looking up, Helias gazed at the sun and found it beginning to set. "Oh, God." He said with wide eyes. "I have to go, my family expected me back hours ago." Rei looked up at him worriedly. "Then what are you still doing here? Go on!"

"I'll be fine," Rei said. "Go."

Helias did something that even surprised him- he hugged her. Well, quickly mind you.

"I'll see you." He said. "Thanks for today, I had fun!" Helias ran into the nearest secluded place he could find. He untracted his wings and after quick surveillance, jumped into the air, slip-streaming back to the cloud bank that held the Soulless Stream. Helias sighed in relief as he landed, noting the sun was halfway set. You know when your parents say not to be out at night because it's dangerous, yeah they weren't lying.

It was very dangerous to be out at night because night was when the Demons roused. Night was the Demons realm, it was when they (and the Demonic Guard) were at their strongest. Scratch that, they were at their strongest during the full moon and even stronger in the blue moon. They were absolute hell when there was a solar eclipse, no pun intended.

Angels rose with the Sun, but the Demon rose with the Moon. Helias had left just in time, who knows what would happen if he was captured by the Demonic Guard that roamed the Earth watching out for lone Angels. Now, Helias wasn't naive enough to believe the Angelique Council when they sprouted their nonsense of Demons torturing innocent Angels and heartless killings, but that didn't mean he was going to stay.

Helias weaved around and dodged the Anglique Forces and Palace Guards as he made his way towards his father's office. The family always waited there for him when he went off on one of his 'reckless adventures' as his mother called it.

Making his way into the office's ornate door, he was immediately bombarded by his mother-the Great Goddesse Noelle.

"Where have you been? It is almost Sunset! What have I told you about being out this late?" His mother stopped her tirade when his father-the Great God Johnathan, rested his hand on his mother's shoulder and said in his soothing voice,"Noelle, the boy is back unscathed and the Sun has not even set yet, he has done nothing wrong. Yes, he could have come back earlier, but he's still a child Noelle, time isn't acknowledged when you're having fun."

Helias's head was bowed down the whole time. He felt an arm go around his shoulders and looked to his left, only to find himself gazing into the soft brown eyes of his younger brother, Nate, or Prince Nathaniel according to the Angelique Council.

Nate smiled at him and he smiled back. They both left their father's office after Helias apologised to their mother for worrying her. The two siblings headed towards their bedrooms, which were right across from each other and they both prepared for bed as their parents settled into their nightly routine as well. The family fell into sleep just as the Moon fell into her place in the glossy night sky. (2)

---------------------------------------------------------------

1) When Angels/Demons retract their wings, their wings become tattoo like on their back. The Demons wings are black on their back and the Angels wings are a light blue. (think periwinkle or silver or something) Untracting is basically bringing out their wings (opposite of retracting)

2) Basically the day is split in half. From dawn til dusk (when the sun is out) is when Angels are at an advantage towards Demons. From Sunset to sunrise is when the Demons are at a power advantage, that's why Angels are afraid of the night. Demons have black wings and blend in with the night sky, guarding the Underworld and looking for lone angels as said above.