SIX ROTATIONS LATER...
"The damage was caused by the dangerous chemicals in the bleach. Because it was laced with magic, there's no way for us to heal it, your Highness."
I stared into the mirror, tilting my head with the new pair of glasses on my face. I clenched my fists and glared at my reflection.
A priority for Angel shifters was maintaining physical perfection. From the clothes that cloaked our body, to each little strand of our hair, we were taught being perfect was essential for the moment angels would be called to assist the Starlight God Jehovah in proclaiming justice and help Yuikimiru, the Starlight Goddess of Life, in rejuvenating a new world.
Now with glasses, I was no longer considered perfect. I didn't have 20/20 vision, all because of one selfish person who called herself my 'mother.’
Michael appeared behind me with a guarded expression. He placed a hand on my shoulder and squeezed it gently. "We'll figure it out. Maybe another healer in a different realm can fix them," he whispered to me, but I knew those words were just that: words.
I turned away, ignoring the looks that came from Marissa, Father, and the doctor, striding out of the medical office. After a short time, I heard a set of footsteps following me; I knew without looking it was Michael.
We reached the private section of the castle and entered the living room where Claire was humming away and reading a magazine. She lifted her head when we entered and her eyes lingered on the glasses on my face.
"Aww. Look at this? What imperfection is on that angry face of yours?" she mocked. Michael growled and took a step forward, but I tugged on his long sleeve shirt to pull him into the kitchen while I ignored Claire completely.
I wasn't in the mood today and Claire knew it. This was her fault. What kind of mother would make fun of their child for something they caused? I got a mug from the counter and set the kettle on to boil water.
I had recently started drinking tea. Marissa said it would help soothe my anger and keep me relaxed. I didn't know if it really worked, but I did like drinking the hot liquid.
"You okay, Daniel?" Michael inquired.
I didn't answer and continued to stare at the kettle.
He doesn't understand my anger. In a world full of perfect angel shifters, I would never fit in. I already didn't have friends. Why would someone want to spend time with me now? I'd be bullied too, like Michael. What if he leaves me? I'll be alone and people would make sure to let me know what an outcast I am.
I wasn't perfect anymore and that was exactly what Claire wanted for me.
I thought Michael had left the room, but then he sighed and arms wrapped around me; I felt his chin rest on my head.
"Listen. Just because you have glasses, doesn't mean you're a nobody. Your vision doesn't define you. That isn’t what tells the universe that you are Daniel Moore. You said I shouldn't listen to the bullies. You shouldn't think someone won’t like you because you have glasses," Michael lectured.
"How could a girl like me with glasses? They're ugly," I grumbled.
"They aren't ugly. You just need the right ones," Michael countered.
I lifted my head up to stare into his gold eyes. A part of me envied him. He'd find a beautiful lover to match his perfection, yet no one would want to be with me because of my flaw.
I still didn’t regret defending him, though. He'd been protecting me before I could even crawl. I just hated the situation I was in.
"I asked Marissa if she can take us to get a few pairs. We'll get ones that compliment your face. Does that sound a little better?" he questioned.
"I guess," I replied sullenly, lowering my head to stare at the kettle as it began to whistle.
"I'll get a pair too," Michael offered.
"Why? You don't need them," I pointed out.
"I'll start a fashion trend. Like in those magazines. They'll envy our looks."
I chuckled and looked back up at him. "You’re awesome, brother."
"I know. It's all thanks to my little brother," Michael replied with a wide smile, stepping away to get his own mug.
"You don't like tea," I reminded.
"That's because Marissa always gives me some weird herbal shit," Michael complained.
"If Marissa hears you swear, she's putting soap in your mouth again," I cautioned.
"It's all good. At least my mouth will be clean and fresh." He laughed.
I smirked and he took the box of tea from the cupboard, giving me a bag to put in my mug. He poured boiling water in each cup, and I watched him pour an excessive amount of sugar and milk in his before we moved up to his room.
"You know, just because we're angels, doesn't mean you can have that much sugar," I pointed out when we entered his room.
"You can drink your plain orange pekoe tea. I need my sugar and milk to save my taste buds," he retorted.
We laughed and sat on the floor, glancing at the window above Michael’s bed. The blinds were still open and the sun was beginning to set, giving us a glimpse of the little twinkle of stars that were moments away from making their grand entrance as the sun began to disappear beyond the horizon.
"Soon, Daniel," Michael whispered.
I turned to meet his gaze and saw the confidence in his eyes. "Two and a half cycles more and we can go," he confirmed.
"Why two and a half?" That would mean I'd be nine seeing as my seventh birthday was coming up. I didn't see why we couldn't leave now. As royal children, we were far more intellectually advanced than the average human our age.
Adding the extra knowledge Michael and I gained through books, we would be fine on our own. It wasn’t like we had issues with money. If Marissa came with us, she'd ensure we were taken care of, at least until we got old enough to find some type of job.
"You'll be nine and I'll be eleven. I heard the knight program in Heila begins accepting students at age eleven. I think I'd be able to enter. Or figure out some way to continue my training. Heila welcomes every race. Even some humans live there. They wouldn't bully us. We'd finally be accepted," Michael revealed excitedly.
"Really? Even with my glasses?" I wondered, tilting my head.
Michael's smile widened and he nodded. "Yup. I looked it up with Marissa. There's a place there that has an entire store filled with glasses." He set his cup of tea down and spread his hands out wide to indicate the size of the building. I gawked at him.
"A whole store? Not just a wall?" I asked. I was lucky to have the silver basic glasses that sat on my face now because we didn't have such stores. Everyone was perfect, so why would you need eyeglasses?
"An entire store filled with glasses on every wall from top to bottom," Michael affirmed.
I grinned. "I can't wait!"
We turned back to the window, relaxing in silence as we continued to sip our tea. I lowered my mug back to the floor and pondered what living in Heila would be like.
Would I have friends? People who would play with me and eventually train with me too? I blinked and the room before me shifted to a balcony.
It was spacious and thin gold and pink curtains fluttered in the wind behind me. I turned my head and spotted a boy who was the same height as me. He had short black hair styled to one side and wore a maroon dress shirt and black pants.
He looked to be a little older, maybe nine or ten, but I could tell right away he was someone who would lead a nation. The very image of a future King.
He turned to face me and bright tyrian eyes met mine. He blinked as if he was unsure who I was, but then a second later a smile formed on his pink lips. A wide, teeth showing smile that felt genuine, making me wish he would one day be my friend.
"Let's be friends, Daniel Moore!" he exclaimed.
"Daniel?"
I blinked and looked up to see I was back in Michael’s bedroom. I looked at Michael who now knelt in front of me. My glasses were in his hand and he had a worried look on his face.
"What?" I asked, feeling confused by his anxious tone and concerned expression.
"Did you just have a vision?" Michael asked.
I frowned, unsure what he was referring to. "What's that?"
Michael frowned and placed my glasses back on my face. "It's when you get a glimpse of the future. It's called foresight, but some angels only have little traces of it while others can see anything from the past to the future."
"Like...a fortune teller?" I questioned, remembering I'd read something like that in the past.
Michael nodded. "Yes. Hmm... I could be wrong, but I think Mom used to be able to do that. Well...that's what I heard Father tell Marissa once when I was snooping for books in Father's library."
"Is it bad?" I asked.
"No. It's a pretty cool gift." He smiled, reassuring me. "What did you see?"
I looked at the remaining bit of tea left in my mug and smiled. "I made a friend."
Michael looked puzzled, but he relaxed and sat back on his heels. "Did you now?"
I smirked and nodded quickly. "He said we should be friends. He looked like a leader. Like he'd rule a country one day. He had purple eyes too!"
"Well then. Guess we'll have to wait and see what the future holds when we go to Heila,” Michael hummed.
I nodded in agreement and we both returned to finishing our tea.
A friend. Maybe I'd finally find my calling as well?