Descent (A Hidden Wings Novella: Prequel) (5 page)

Mr. Gray gaped at the assistant
. 

“
Would you like to come inside?” he asked, but his eyes shifted back to the baby.

“I’m so
rry, Mr. Gray, but I really must be going. I have another deadline to attend to,” she replied.

“Is…Is this
?” he asked, stuttering, glancing up to the deliverer and back down to the sleeping baby.

“It’
s a girl, Mr. Gray. And, congratulations,” she said with a smile and a nod. “Please give my congratulations to Mrs. Gray as well. The paperwork is already in order. All we ask is that you take great care of her.”

“Oh, w
e will. And, thank you, Miss…?” he paused, reaching his hand out to shake hers. 

“
Abigail. Abigail Reed,” she said, shaking his hand. 

“
Thank you, Miss Reed,” he said.

She
smiled, knowing that the child would be in the best possible care with the Gray’s. Then she gave him a nod, and left.

Mr. Gray
quietly shut the door behind him. Butterflies turned in his stomach. He wanted to scream and wake his wife, but he didn’t want to wake the baby. His excitement bubbled over as he started up the stairs to their bedroom.

As soon as he entered the room he flicked on the light.

“Sam. Get up,” he whispered loudly. 

“
Jared, please turn the light off,” his wife grumbled, pulling the pillow over her head.

“Sam
, get up,” he urged in a quiet tone. She moaned. “Samantha. I reeeeeally need for you to open your eyes right now. I have the most amazing surprise for you.”

Samantha
pushed the pillow off her face and peeled her heavy eyes open. As soon as she saw the bundle cradled in her husband’s arms, she shot up. Her brown eyes grew wide and she gasped, throwing both of her hands over her mouth.

Her husband
nodded, and tears immediately began to flow from her eyes.

She
pushed off the bed and hurried over to them. Jared pushed back a little piece of fabric, which was covering the precious tiny face. She looked like a little doll. Her porcelain white skin was so smooth, and she had the longest eyelashes, and the softest brown hair. Her lips and cheeks were lightly dusted in pink.   

“S
amantha. Meet your daughter,” Jared said, placing the baby in her arms.

She lovingly cradled
the child in her arms, and then leaned down and gently pressed her lips to her tiny forehead.

“Welcome home,
our sweet Alaine,” she whispered quietly. “You will never be without love in this home.” She then turned to her husband and smiled, and he wrapped his arms around his new family.

“Alaine Gray,” he whispered. “That has a
really nice ring to it.”

Chapter Five

Growing Up

Alaine grew up in a loving home. Her parents treated her as if she was their own, and she never went without anything. They vowed never to keep secrets from her, and when she was old enough, they told her that she was adopted. But that never really mattered in the Gray household. There were always more than enough hugs, kisses, laughter, and a fair share of discipline to go around.

But there was
one major detail that her parents were unaware of, and that was just how different Alaine really was. Different because half of the blood which flowed through her veins was that of an immortal - a Pureblood Angel.

Alaine
would continue to live a normal mortal life until she reached the age of eighteen.

When a
Nephilim child reaches eighteen, a transformation occurs. A change deep within which awakens the immortal part of their being. The part which was lying dormant, and as it awakens, it bestows a special gift unto its host.

Each
gift was rare and unique to the Nephilim it was given, and also different from those of the Angels. Angels are very powerful and have certain kinds of magic, but some of the Nephilim powers were known to supersede those of their pureblooded fathers. This was because each Nephilim possessed only one great power or magic, and one alone, which magnified its ability.

The day before Alaine’s eighteenth birthday was as n
ormal as any other day. Her friends were planning a party after school the next day to celebrate, and all the way home, she was excited. This would be her first party away from her parents, and one that they approved of.

“Hey
mom,” she called out, dropping her books on the kitchen table.

“Hi sweethe
art,” Mrs. Gray chimed. She walked over and gave Alaine a hug. “How was school?”

“Boring
as usual,” Alaine huffed.

“Well, go get changed
and do your homework, while I finish cooking,” she said, scooting her off upstairs.

As soon as Alaine opened the
door to her bedroom and stepped inside, she sensed something was different. An unfamiliar but sweet fragrance enveloped her. It was a scent she had never smelled before, but the more she inhaled it, the more it made her feel calm and happy, and a sense of peace buzzed within her. It was the strangest, most wonderful feeling.

S
he then noticed a tiny golden box sitting on top of her pillow. She walked over to it and held it in her hand. The same scent that had permeated the room strongly perfumed the box. Alaine carefully pulled open the cover, and her eyes sparkled as she saw the beautiful gift inside. A necklace. A delicate golden chain which held a teardrop shaped stone pendant. It was reddish with tiny veins of yellow and green running through it.

“Mom?
” Alaine called downstairs.

“Yes?” she answered.

“Thank you for the beautiful necklace!”

There was silence
for a few moments, and then Alaine heard her mom’s footsteps prancing up the stairs.

“What necklace
?” she questioned, peeking her head into the room.

“This necklace,” Alaine said, holding it up.
“It’s beautiful. Thank you so much!”

Mrs. Gray shook her head
, her brow crinkled in confusion. “Honey, I didn’t give you that necklace. Where did you get it?”

“It was sitting
on top of my pillow. Are you sure you didn’t---?” Alaine asked again, thinking her mom was joking, but the look on her face clearly stated that this was definitely not a joke. She was positively baffled. “Well, do you know who gave it to me?”

“I’m
not sure, and am almost certain your father didn’t get it for you. And there haven’t been any visitors today. I’d know because I didn’t leave the house all day,” Mrs. Gray noted. “It is a beautiful necklace. I’ve never seen anything like it. Well, maybe your father did get it for you, and wanted to surprise you. Sometimes he can be sneaky. We’ll ask him when he gets home.”

Alaine nodded and smiled as
her mom gave her a kiss on the head, and then sauntered back down the stairs to finish dinner.

She sat at the edge of the bed and
held the box in her fingers, examining it, wondering if there was anything that would give away its benefactor. She pulled out the small cushion from which the necklace rested, and her stomach twisted at the sight of a delicate golden-flaked paper, folded exactly to fit at the bottom of the box. She carefully removed it and as she did, the same sweet scent began to waft from it as she began to unfold, what looked like a letter.

It
was handwritten in the most beautiful cursive she’d ever seen. Her stomach twisted with excitement and apprehension as she read the first three words.    

My dearest Alaine,

I am so sorry that I
have never had the pleasure of meeting my beautiful daughter in person. Please know this. I have always kept a watchful eye over you. Now that you will become eighteen, I wanted to present you with this gift. It is a small token of my love, on the day before your transformation.

Do not be afraid of your gift, and as much possible, keep it secret. Human minds will never be able to comprehend it, and human hearts will be envious. One day, I will send someone to explain, but until then, remain steadfast to your own heart and discernments.
They will, at most times, steer you in the right direction.  

The adornment is
a Bloodstone of Christ, one of the rarest and most sacred of all amulets known to both men and Angels. This stone will give its wearer protection, power, and health. Wear it always my daughter, for there are many evils that abound in your world.

There is a small mark on the back of your
neck, which is the mark of your descent. Keep it hidden, especially from those who ask. Knowledge of this mark could lead to death.

My wish is that fate will one day bring us together, for it has been a weighted burden upo
n my heart. There are many troubling and perplexing circumstances which have kept the distance between us, but always know this… I love you, and have always loved you, my beautiful Alaine.

Keep s
afe,

Your Father

**********

Alaine sat
on the edge of her bed and read the letter over and over countless times, to the point that it became embedded within her heart and mind. It was so simple, yet filled with so many complexities.

Her fingers brushed
the back of her neck in search of the mark he spoke of. She wondered why a mark of descent could lead to death, but she couldn’t question something she could never find answers to. Her mother mentioned a strange birthmark there, but it was very small, and easily concealed by her hair, so she’d never given it a second thought. Now, she would be sure to keep it secret.

Why, a
fter all of these years had her real father chosen to make contact with her?

How
could he have known where she lived or knew her name, without any type of contact? But the biggest question that reeled in her mind was that of the transformation. What kind of transformation? This one question would drive her crazy with wonder. 

Alaine
loved the Gray’s with all of her heart. They raised her like she was one of their own, and she trusted them completely. But there was a feeling, deep inside of her, which was telling her that she shouldn’t share the contents of this letter with them. That this letter was to remain a secret between her and her blood father, whoever he was. 

Plus, A
laine knew her mother well. She knew if she let her mom read the letter, she would freak out, and cops would probably be involved. That was something Alaine didn’t want to deal with, especially on her eighteenth birthday. 

Up until this moment
, her birth parents were merely a passing thought. Alaine did wonder who they were, and what they looked like, but her thoughts never lingered because of the love the Gray’s had given her. But now, after reading this letter, they would be all she could think of.

When Mr. Gray
came home that evening, he confirmed the necklace wasn’t from him, and assumed it was from one of her friends. Alaine nodded in agreement, although she already knew the truth.