Sad Milk And Honey - Preface

It was always the morning after that got her. The constant throbbing in the back of her eyes that reminded her she needed coffee to get read of this damn hangover. The hollow ache in the pit of her stomach as she realized what a stupid dimwit she was...again. It had become routine for her.
But this morning was different. It wasn't going to happen anymore. She promised herself that. She wouldn't go through hurting herself over and over again for some stupid guy.
But one more drink wouldn't hurt...now would it dear?

Machine - Chapter One - Images of Broken Glass

I spend most of my days like any machine: alone, cold and in the dark. Few people know my real name, Isaiah Midnight, and few people outside my family have ever really seen me outside the confinements of my house. Most people don't even know I exist.
I rarely leave, due to a rare genetic mutation I was born with. Or so that's what my parents have come to make me believe. Because of the lack of sunlight my whole life my skin is nearly translucent and my dark brown hair is almost black. I look inhuman. My eyes especially. Their blue color is such a bright, startling blue they're almost electric.
Twenty years ago in 2100 I had a horrible accident and suffered amnesia. That's what they told me at least. I don't remember a thing from before the accident anyway, if there even was one. I haven't aged since and my parents told me it was because of a genetic mutation. But That's not enough for me. I don't believe it, but I have no better answer. What I do know is that my life is full of lies. Truth lurks somewhere in the dark corners of my mind, I know this. There are answers buried deep within my thoughts.
They've just yet to be found.
"Machine," a voice called, pulling me from my thoughts. I hate that people called me that, but I was so accustomed to hearing it and I'm so machine like that it doesn't matter anymore. I just let them call me that.
I turned to face the woman I called my mother. "Yes?"
"Come on. Grab your cloak and get read. We're going shopping."
It's never a rare sight to see people walking around in dark gray cloaks. Not because of them having a condition like mine, (because for all I know I'm thin only one in the world who has it) but because there are the Elders. They run the town and for some odd reason they hide their faces. My mother came up with the idea of wearing a cloak. It at least got me outside without being bothered (you just don't bother Elders). And it got me closer to people outside of my family.
My lack of communication with the outside world had caused a great fascination to erupt within me many years ago. I just couldn't help myself but be so curious about these people. I craved the time when my mother would take me outside of the dark world I lived in and gave me the chance to observe people closer than from my bedroom window.
Although I am human, I am not fully human. I just know it. Knowing that, for some perverse reason, makes me love watching the 'purebred' humans. And I do not use that term lightly. The Elders and government experiment with humans. I believe I may be one of those experiments, but there's no telling.
"Hey." My mother again. I looked out the window. We were at the market. I spend a lot of time thinking and reading. I often get lost in it. What else are you supposed to do when you're completely alone all the time with no one to talk to?
Walking through the market I stared wonderingly at all the people around me. This was so uncommon for me that I took in everything on the rare occasion I was let out.
A frail figure about a foot shorter than me bumped into my burly chest. She staggered and I put my hands on her shoulders to steady her. Her friend, who had been talking animatedly, abruptly stopped, her eyes wide. She probably thought I was an Elder with my height of six foot, two inches and black cloak. Elders never came in contact with commoners, at all costs.
"Sorry sir," the girl stammered. "She wasn't watching where she was going. Won't happen again. We promise."
"S'alright miss," my voice rumbled out. It was so alien to me. I don't talk much. "I'm not an Elder. Just someone a little sensitive to sun." I lifted my hood a little and winked at the one who had ran into me. She gasped and stared at me.
The girl sighed. "Thank God. I swear if you do that again and it' s not him," she said pointing to me, "I swear I will kill you Kate Niks. I swear it." She pulled her friend away.
Kate Niks. What a lovely girl.
"I hope we meet again, Kate Niks," I whispered.

Machine - Preface

"Machine," she said in thought. "What an interesting name."
It was the first time I had heard her speak. I had seen her many times but never had I gotten close enough to hear the high, clear and beautiful noise that came from the warm depths of her throat. It was lovely, like bells softly ringing in the distance of the summer wind. I closed my eyes and sighed at the sound of it. The bells kept peeling.
But nonetheless I didn't dare approach her. I didn't dare approach any of her kind.
Humans they're called. Me...well I'm nothing more than a machine.

Stained Glass Haze - Chapter One - The Beauty of a Thunder Storm

Thunder cracked as my best friend, Braeden, and I ran home from the baseball field. The storm had come on suddenly while we had been playing ball with a few of our friends. It was a pity because in two short days we would be starting our senior year of high school. None of us wanted the summer to end, and yet it would whether we wanted it to or not.
Raindrops started to fall just as we reached Braeden's house. There was a moving truck in his next door neighbor's driveway.
"Hey Braeden. Looks like you're neighbors finally decided to move in," I yelled over the loud rumble of thunder.
He looked over. "Looks like it. And there's three cars. Maybe they have a teenager."
I looked at the house and saw the figure of a girl standing in the window of the attic. They definitely had a teenager.
"Look up at the top window," I said.
"Not right now Heatyn. It's starting to rain really hard. Common, let's go inside," he said.
We headed into the air conditioned house to find his mother in the kitchen, like always, cooking.
"Hello boys," Mrs. Williams said. "How was your game?"
"It was good Mom," Braeden said heading straight for the fridge. The boy had a stomach like a yeti.
"Not too much Brae," she said, "dinner will be ready soon."
I looked at the clock. It was almost six.
"You staying tonight Heatyn?" Braeden asked me.
"I suppose. You don't mind do ya?"I asked his mom.
"Of course not honey. You know that you're always welcome here," she said with a sweet smile.
My stomach growled loudly. Braeden and his mother laughed.
"A little hungry Heatyn?" he asked me.
"I haven't eaten since noon Brae. You know I need to eat at least every three hours."
He laughed again. "Yeah yeah. I know."
We walked out of the kitchen and down into the basement. Braeden's twin sister, Schuyler, was sitting on the couch with a girl I did not know.
"Get out Sky," Braeden said, "the games on."
Both girls turned around. Lightning flashed in through the window and I stopped in my tracks when my eyes locked with the girl's sitting next to Sky.
"No Braeden. Me and Ghillian are watching basketball right now. I'm not gonna let you kick me out just so you can watch a meaningless game of baseball. It's the state championships."
Braeden sulked. "Fine. I'll guess we'll have to watch basketball tonight."
My eyes were still locked with Ghillian's strange gray eyes. Her long raven hair hung in gentle curls and her lips were full and red. She was utterly beautiful.
"Heatyn?" Sky said.
"What? Yeah?" I said looking to Schuyler.
"I said, are you going to sit down or not?"
I looked back at Ghillian. She'd turned around. "Yeah."
I walked over to the recliner and sank gratefully into the puffy chair. I was worn out and had not realized it. It had been a long day.
A little while later Braedon's mom called us up for dinner. I all but scarfed my food down. There wasn't much conversation in the duration of that period and before I knew it I was almost snoozing in the recliner again.
The already dim light faded quickly as the day came to an end. Before I knew it the game was over and my cell phone was vibrating in my pocket. I took it out and the caller ID read 'Mom'.
"Hello?"
"Where are you young man?" my mother all but screamed into the phone.
"Where am I always at?"
"Braeden's?"
"Yes mother," I said.
"Well why didn't you call me? Come home now."
She sounded angry. I was almost eighteen and she still treated me like I was ten.
"I'll be home in five," I said before hanging up.
Braeden, who had fallen asleep, opened his eyes groggily. "Heading home?"
"Yeah. Mom about had a shit fit. Wonder what's up with her today. Dad probably called or something."
"You'd think she'd be over their divorce by now," Sky said.
"Tell me about it. I'll see you later guys."
"Wait," a quiet voice said. I turned back around.
Ghillian was looking at Schuyler. Sky shook her head.
"Never mind Heatyn. Go home before your mom shoots someone or blows a casket," Sky said to me.
I walked up the stairs and out the front door. My car was parked at the end of the driveway and it was still pouring out. I made a mad dash to my car but was still soaking wet by the time I was safely inside of the car.
"Shit." My wipers weren't working. It took me ten minutes before I could get them to work. By the time I pulled into the driveway and walked into my house it was after ten. My mother was sitting in the living room watching television.
"Where have you been?"
"I couldn't get my wipers to work," I replied.
"Bullshit."
"What the hell is wrong with you?"
"Don't you dare use that language with me young man!" my mother screamed at me. "You're just like you're fucking father."
"I knew it!"
"What?" she demanded.
"It's about him. Why the hell do you always take it out on me when you have contact with him. If this is how it's going to be until I graduate then in two weeks when I turn eighteen I'm out of here," I screamed.
She was stunned. Her face darkened. "You have no where to go!"
"I'll go stay with the Williams'. They'll take me in and I won't have to deal with you all the time."
She stood up. "You wouldn't dare."
"Try me."
She raised her hand, but I didn't flinch away like I normally did.
"You leave and you'll never be welcomed back. Just like your God damn father."
"You do this again and I won't want to come back. And I mean that," I said turning on my heal and heading up to my bedroom.
I hated this house.

Images of Angels - Chapter Three - The Rebellion Begins

Everyone looked at Bridget
"I'm sorry?" Lola said.
"You all know the story," Kyle said. Her and Bridget had been talking. "Ths 'child' of Serenity and Liam is the only one that can save us from this hell. If she even exists."
"Yeah," Bridget said. "Kyle and I have connections with a few angels and if we play our cards right we could very well get some information on the whereabouts of the child. Last time anyone knew, she was with angels."
"Serenity's closest companions," Kyle finished.
"Okay," Conner said. "But that was fifteen years ago."
"Yes I know. But if I talk to my friend Sarah, she might be able to contact Evelyn, who was known to be around Serenity often," Bridget said. "And I'd have to do it soon."
"This baby could be anywhere in the world girls," Brennan interrupted. "How would we be able to get anywhere? The demons have watch guards everywhere."
"Well we can't very well stay down here until the angels do something about it!" Kyle exclaimed. "They're good people but they don't give a shit about us!"
"And plus if we can't stay here until it's all over. We'll be dead by then!" Bridget added.
Everyone was silent as they contemplated this. It would be safer just to stay here. Yet they could go out and do something, but then again they could all get killed out there as well.
"Why don't we sleep on it?" Lola suggested. Everyone was getting tired, she could see.
"Sounds good," Brennan said. Kyle and Bridget were going to protest but he stopped them by putting his hand up. "There's no harm in it. Plus it's been a long day. We all need food and rest. Get some...please."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Everyone had gone to bed, but Kyle couldn't sleep. She was restless. They needed to do something now. If they didn't do something soon things were just going to get worse. They were getting worse as they all sat down here sleeping.
So she decided to take things into her own hands.
"Uhhhrgh," Kyle mumbled as she flipped herself off of the couch she was on. She made sure her dagger was still in it's sheath and made her way stealthily down the tunnel to the entrance of their cove.
Kyle crept out of the tree stump and walked towards Aed's castle. Once she reached the area where trees were spread out and scarce she hovered close to the ground. The brush was thick and black in the dim light. Kyle's clothes were black so she blended in. Only Jager or Aed would really be able to see her.
But they weren't looking for her.
"Find all your pets Aed?" Jager hissed into his companions ear as he walked past his chair in his sleeping quarters.
"All but two. Bridget and your dear pet Kyle, escaped," he said.
"No," Jagger uttered angrily, "she was not my pet!"
"Well then what was she my dear friend?" His grin was sinister, evil. "You're sex toy?"
Jager just mumbled.
"I'm sorry what was that?" he sneered.
"She was my fighting companion and...occasionally my bed mate," Jagger said, defeated.
"Ahh," Aed said.
Kyle walked into the room turning her knife so the light glinted off of it.
"He never asked. Normally forced," she said.
"Kyle," Jager said, a smile creeping across his face. He went to wrap his arm around her waist but she pulled away.
"Don't touch me," she spat at him.
"Now don't be that way sugar," he said brushing a lock of her curly red hair out of her face.
"I said, don't touch me," she said.
"Looks like she needs taming Jager," Aed chuckled.
"Aed leave," Jager ordered.
"This is my castle!" he protested.
"Leave."
"Fine," he said, and he left.
"Now Kyle. Sheath your knife. I taught you all you k know. There's no way you'll get me."
Kyle did as she was told and sheathed her knife in it's holder in her boot. She walked over to Jagger and ran her finger down his chest.
"Now that's my girl."
Kyle leaned in and kissed Jager's neck. He leaned his head back and Kyle nibbled on his neck. Kyle unbuttoned Jager's shirt and slipped it off his shoulders. She pushed him back on the bed and he growled deep in his throat.
"Come and get it my little tiger," he coaxed.
Kyle climbed on top of him. Jager started kissing her neck and bare shoulders, running his fingers over her skin tight clothes. He slipped her shirt over her head and rolled over so he was on top of her. Trapping her. He began kissing her bare abdomen all over, completely losing himself in his lust.
Kyle waited until she knew he wouldn't notice to grab her dagger. It glinted dangerously in the low light. Kyle admired her knife for a few moments while Jager sunk deeper into his own little world. He was like a feeding vampire when she got him going like this. The predator becomes the prey. Weak. Vulnerable.
Finally she was disgusted enough from the feeling of his cold lips on her body. She lifted her dagger and plunged it straight into his back.
Jager gasped as she pulled it out of his back. He fell off of her and onto the floor. Standing over him, Kyle smiled wickedly.
"I told you not to touch me," she hissed.
Jagers gaze was vacant, his vision hazy.
"You've....gotten...better," he gasped.
"Learned from the best trickster on Earth."
"You always were my little...rebel. That's why I love...you so...much," he whispered.
Kyle's smirk turned into a glare. She turned her dagger upside down and shoved it into Jager's stomach.
"Aahhrgh," he let out a scream. His eyes drooped and his body went limp.
"How much do you love me now little tiger?"

Images of Angels - Chapter Two - 15 Years After Birth

"Great," Aed said to Jager, "Liam has destroyed my kingdom in search of that damn child!"
"Calm, Aed. If that child is brought up by someone other than him, she could very well overthrow us all. At this point she's more angel than demon," Jager said in a bored tone.
"But my kingdom is burning!" he said, exasperated.
"Well get over it Aed-y boy."
"Don't call me that," he hissed through clenched teeth.
"Get over it," Jager said again looking outside. "Better go round up your slaves before they all get away."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Down below the demon's castle, there was pandemonium. Liam had raided the city, burned the house and slaughtered many in search of his daughter.
A young woman was hiding just outside the palace walls, waiting to escape. Her eight year old son was hiding about a hundred feet away from her.
"Momma," he said.
"No, no Ian. Stay there," she pleaded. The demons were still searching for stragglers.
Their ruler, Aed, a Flameon demon, walked up to where Ian was hiding.
"Well what do we have here?"
"No," the woman uttered.
Ian started crying for his mother as Aed picked him up and started walking away. "Your mommy's not here son," he said.
"No, my baby!" she screamed getting up to follow. Something caught her ankle. She yelped.
Something covered her mouth.
"Shh, ma'am. You're safe with me. Follow me to my base. There's a few refugees there already," a low voice whispered in her ear.
The man took her hand and started running into the woods.
"So what's your name lady?"
"Bridget. Yours?"
"Brennan. Come on," he said stopping by a tree stump and knocking a little rhythm on it. It popped open and an orber bounced out.
Bridget gasped.
Brennan chuckled. "Never seen an actual orber before?"
"No," she said. Everything about him was pale. From his green eyes to his cornsilk hair, to his translucent skin.
"Bridget, this is Conner. His mate, Lola, is here as well," he said as they climbed into the hidden refuge.
"There's on other human besides you and I, five faires and two wizards, who are young but bright nonetheless," Brennan said as they reached the bottom of the ladder.
"Are you going out again Brennan?" Conner asked.
"I have to. I hid a few people and saw one more. I have to go get them."
"My child?" Bridget whispered.
"I'll do what I can," Brennan said grabbing her hand and giving it a quick squeeze.
"Be safe," she said. She barely knew him, yet she feared for his life.
"Wait," a female voice came from down the tunnel. "Brennan let me come."
"No Kyle," he said bitterly.
"I can defend myself, despite what you think," she said. She pulled out a dagger. "I was trained by Jager himself to use this. Almost staked him once."
"Yeah, right Kyle." He didn't sound impressed.
"Dammit Brennan, I don't need you to protect me! I want to help!"
"No," he said, "end of story."
She huffed and stalked back down the tunnel.
"Go you two. I'll be back later," Brennan said.
"Be safe Bren," Conner said.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Brennan ran swiftly through the woods to find the wizard and wiccan he had hidden not far from the palace walls before he had found Bridget.
"I hope they're still there," he said out loud.
He came around the corner. They were still there and there was one more as well.
"Thank the lord," the wizard said.
"Follow me," Brennan said to the three people in front of him.
They walked quietly behind him to the tree stump. Brennan knocked and this time Lola popped out.
"Hurry," she said, "I felt something dark orb to somewhere around here. It's close."
They hurried down the ladder and tunnel to a room around three hundred feet underground. Everyone was sitting on the ground not talking.
"How many?" Conner asked.
"Three," Lola answered.
"What are your names?" Brennan asked.
"I'm Nala," the female said.
"And I'm Declan. We're wiccans," the young male said.Brennan noticed they were holding hands. The boy was the one who had not been there before.
"I'm Gallagher," the eldest said. "I'm a wizard."
"I thought so," Lola said. She had an unusual knack for sensing powers.
"I'm Brennan. I'm human and so are Kyle and Bridget," he said pointing to the two girls.
"I'm Conner and this is Lola, we're orbers."
"These two," Brennan said putting his hands on their shoulders, "are Roni and Flynn. They're wizards as well. Where are the fairies Conner?"
"We're here Brennan," a voice squeaked from a small plant in the corner.Five little heads popped out of the leaves.
As they came out Brennan named them. "This is Bek, Peter, Eründ, Drina and Tania."
"So now that introductions are over," Bridget spoke up, "what are we going to do?"

Images of Angels - Chapter One - Before Birth

"That little whore!" Kassandra screeched. A dark aura hovered and rippled around her.
"It's just what I heard Kass," Corly said. "I'm not sure about anything."
"Liam is mine!"
"Kassandra, he went to Serenity," Corly said.
"'Tis not the point my dear. She was with a demon."
"But Kas-"
"Corly, This conversation is over dear. I love Liam. End of story. I despise her. Now you're dismissed."
Corly huffed. "Fine." She had hoped to torture the little bitch. Angels and demons were not meant to mix. It had never been done, sure, but who knew what could become of it. Kassandra wanted to do it on her own.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Liam walked into his chambers. The lights were out and she was hidden so he did not see Kassandra.
"Liam," came from the corner.
He jumped. "Lord! Kass you frightened me love. What are you hiding for sweet?"
"She's pregnant."
"Excuse me?" he stuttered.
"I had a vision. And your one little night of fun has created a mutant. I love you but this is inexcusable."
"Kass, you don't understand," he began.
"Oh don't I?"
"She said it was how it needed to be. That our child would be the strongest being ever to live!" he said with excitement burning brightly in his eyes.
Kassandra gasped, "But what about our child?" Kassandra was pregnant as well.
"The baby will be pure blood demon. Serenity's child will be half and half. With powers of both."
"Didn't you ever think about your child overthrowing us?" Kassandra exclaimed angrily. "Taking our place of ruling the earth?"
"But it's my child, therefor the heir to our throne. Once the baby is born I will be able to find it, it is my baby you know," Liam explained softly.
A wicked smile played across Kassandra's lips.
"So we can raise it as a demon and to take our place."
"Precisely," he said. "Now let us sleep my love."

Images of Angels - The Beginning

The child had finally come to the people of earth.

A child yet to be named, beautiful and silent, sat in her mother's arms. Serenity kissed the bright babies head sweetly.
"Evelyn," she said handing the giggling baby to her Shadow friend, "you and Lotus must take care of her."
"We will serenity," the young dark angel said.
"She must not...meet the harsh cruelties...of the world until...it is time," Serenity said between struggled breathes.
"When will it be the right time?" Lotus, a Luminat angel, asked.
"The demons have already begun to...take over. I do not expect anything of you two...but to keep my baby...safe. But there will be a rebellion...in the distant future. She will know when it's time. She is the only...one who can stop the demons. My half angel half demon daughter. I love you...baby," she cooed, "and you will one day save this place from destruction."
Lotus and Evelyn exchanged glances.
"What about you?" Evelyn asked.
A tear slipped from Serenity's eye. "The only thing that matters is this child, Reena," she said.
And then Serenity's bright light dimmed as she drifted into eternal darkness.