A New Friend

Uriel

It didn’t take long for me to find the portal. It was the center of the Celestial Kingdom. Many angels walked in and out of it like it was nothing. The large stone archway was decorated with lightly colored granite, only to look like an oversized mirror that was twenty feet wide.

I stood behind the corner of the bakery Mom likes to go to on Sunday mornings to plan my studies for the week to keep me busy. It was small and only had a few tables, and she said the carrot cake was delicious. I licked my lips, peaking inside, wanting to taste something sweet and savory, but the itch in my wings made me flutter at the real reason I was out here.

To go to a party!

That will have a lot of free snacks!

My wings fluttered again, them not looking at all the same like the other angels. Many female angels donned large white and ivory wings, while mine held a hint of gold at the tips. I inched forward, only to have a few stares and their walks continued like there wasn’t a care in the world. I let out a sigh. No one was out to get me. There was no evil here out in the open with too many angels around.

I was just ordinary, and that was fine with me. The cloak that would hide me was heavy and burdensome. Having people react when I smiled at them was much better than them not seeing me at all. Once I reached the portal, I watched how people came in and out. They stepped so effortlessly inside, and those coming out didn’t even blink.

“Need some help?” A smooth voice spoke. She wasn’t wearing the normal clothing everyone else was wearing, like robes or wrappings of fine linen. She had on a light tan pant suit with silver trimmings and her hair cut short in a cute pixie cut.

“Hello,” my eyes widened. I haven’t even talked to anyone else other than my Mom and Dad, but the excitement of meeting someone new overshadowed my shyness.

“Are you trying to go through?” The glint in her eye and the smirk on her face looked friendly enough. I nodded, giving her a bright smile. “I would love to help you,” her tall form bent over. Her beautiful face was blemish free and her movements so eloquent. The reading glasses sitting on top of her head gave her a studious look while she continued to study me. “Can you please tell me who your parents are?” Her smile brightened mine all the more.

“Of course, It’s Goddess Hera and Arch Angel Michael,” I beamed proudly at my parents’ titles. The beautiful woman’s eyes only widened slightly, licking her lips while rubbing her pointed chin. “I see,” she chuckled. “I knew it, those sneaky bastards.” She whispered.

Ope, she said a bad word.

“May I ask your name?” I picked at my fingers, waiting for her reply.

“Of course, dear, if you can tell me your name?”

“Uriel!”

“Good girl, now let’s get you closer to the portal, and I can show you where you want to go.” Before I could remind her that she was to tell me her name, she had me stand in front. The mirror waved slightly as bodies moved in and out, but mostly, it stood still. “Think in your mind where you want to go, and may I ask where you are going?” Her eyebrow raised.

“To the Underworld, there’s a party!” Letting out a soft laugh, she covered her mouth.

“Oh, this is going to be interesting and I wouldn’t miss it! My name is Athena and you, child, can accompany me and I will get your there on time.” I clapped my hands excitedly, prancing right beside the portal.

“You will! That would be so great! I don’t get out much and I was worried I would get lost!” Athena’s eyes squinted, looking around us. “I’m sure you don’t and I think today might rectify that, hmm?” I nodded quickly, sticking my finger to the mirror.

Squishy

Grabbing my hand and putting it in the crook of her arm, we walked through together. I didn’t have to think, and we immediately came out on the other side. “You might feel light-headed your first time.” My hand went to my forehead to slow me down.

As my eyes fluttered open, we had arrived in the Underworld. It was significantly darker with a red light source instead of a bright yellow one that lit the sky. The ground was mostly deep red dirt until a cement pathway came into view. Small bushes of deep green and red roses outlined the path with tiny fireflies inside.

“It’s a different kind of pretty,” I leaned down, pressing my finger to the flower. It wasn’t real, it was fake, but it was the realest fakest plant ever. Athena watched on, amused at my behavior, sniffing at the fake flower.

“You said you have never left your home before? Your Mother and Father wouldn’t let you out?” I shook my head.

“Mom said it was too dangerous outside, but I got an invitation in the mail today and while they were waiting for the stork in their room, Mom screamed ‘yes yes!’! I was so excited, I never thought she would even let me! I got dressed and left as soon as I could before she changed her mind.”

“Holy shit,” Athena whispered. She paused in the middle of the path, her hands on her knees to catch her breath. “What are you, the goddess of, little one?”

“Innocence and Grace,” I hummed, watching these really gigantic dogs running around the gated palace. Their bodies were as big as mine!

“The fates are just want to watch the realms burn,” Athena nervously chuckled. “What about after the party? Have you thought about what will happen then?” Athena had my arm held in the crok of her arm again, probably from keeping me from stopping every five seconds, but I haven’t been outside this long before, especially in such a different place.

“I don’t know, but I would love to travel. I’ve read all about Earth and Bergarian but I haven’t read about this place,” I hummed, annoyed. “It’s probably because it’s dark. I used to be afraid of the dark, so I guess Mom was just looking out for me.”

Athena stopped in her tracks. Her tall form leaned over as my head fell back. “And do you think your Mother was doing you a favor by just locking you up inside the house and not showing you have to maneuver around the worlds?”

My mouth that was hung open closed sharply. My eyes now looking at the dark path in front of us, the dogs lined up in rows hiding the pretty grass and flowers on the other side.

Mom had taught me a lot. My time spent in the house I itched to go outside and there were days I would cry on the floor as a child because I couldn’t go out. Then I learned that even when I threw a tantrum, I wouldn’t get my way, so I just complied. I stopped fighting. I stopped asking the questions to get me to the outside world and only did what Mom told me because it made her happy. She was happy and I enjoyed seeing it. I really did.

But did it only hurt me?

“You are a smart girl, Uriel, I can sense it. Did she teach you anything about the gods?” I bit my lip, pulling at the now worn away lip gloss I had put on earlier.

“She did.” I rubbed my ballet toe into the textured cement. “All about the powers gods had, but never told me names.” Athena let out a harsh breath. “And you did not question?” I shrugged my shoulders. “It didn’t matter. She just wouldn’t tell me.”

“I am the Goddess of Wisdom and War,” I gasped loudly. She was my favorite. She was so smart and a woman, she could go into battle and beat all sorts of people up. My eyes felt they would fall out of my head and land at my feet.

“Athena, Goddess of Wisdom and War?” She nodded, smiling. “You were my favorite! You are so smart! You also specialize in practical reason and looking at things from every angle, even in just every day's speech!” Athena smiled, her hand petting my head.

“That’s right, and I already know that your mind is special. Did you know that?” I tilted my head to the side, rubbing my itchy nose.

“I-I don’t know about that. Mom says I still have a lot to learn before I can even be on my own.” Athena chuckled.

“You are not a child,” her arms crossed. “You are smart and you are old enough to walk around between all the realms if you wanted. In fact, when we get back to the Celestial Kingdom, I will demand you spend some time with me.”

“You will!?” I clapped my hands excitedly. Athena only nodded her head, grabbing my arm and pulling me to the massive, dark palace. As we walked, my thoughts went deeper than I ever thought they could.

Did my mother play with my head and make me feel inadequate all these years? That I couldn’t hold myself up in any of the realms? Such little faith she had in me? She tutored me herself. I graduated from a human high school level at the age of eleven. I did all my mother’s budgeting for our house and for her job because I get bored at home all day. Making mistakes wasn’t me, I always did everything perfectly, correctly and neatly.

Did she think I would make a mistake outside? Outside, away from her? How was I to know if never tried? In all the movies I watched, so many children made mistakes and they did them on their own. Now, at the age of twenty-five, I don’t think I’ve ever been given the chance to learn about life on my own.

My bottom lip stuck out, only to have Athena squeeze my hand. “Don’t think too much about it right now, Uriel. It will work out by the end of the day,” she chuckled again, like a hidden secret she was keeping.

The dogs stood up, back straight and their large teeth protruding from their maws. They growled, and some barked at the passing angels and people walking by. Many flinched away, but once I came close, the noises stopped. Ready for them to bark, I leaned up against Athena, but they didn’t. They gazed at me, like large over grown puppies.

“Hi puppies,” I whispered, yelled to them as Athena led me inside.

Large men, red with horns popping out of their heads, looked down at me with the spears they were carrying. They were so tall and gazed at me. “Hi!” I waved as we walked past. “Who are they?” I whispered to Athena, now being utterly aware of the large room full of people and species I had only read about.

“Those are demons. You find them here in the Underworld that serve their King, the father of the baby. “Hades.” My mouth opened to ask another question, but a woman, assuming the mother, Parisa, was standing at the top of a grand staircase decorated with gold, silver with hints of red and black. My hand tightened around Athena as Parisa stood by the intimidating, slightly scary looking King of the Underworld holding a tiny baby.

“The baby!” I cooed a little too loudly. Several stares came by me. Looking around, I just waved, smiled and whispered a sorry before my eyes caught hold of another man standing on the balcony. He was the same height as Hades, his eyes were cold, and his fists gripped the balcony railing so hard they look as if it would break. My heart fluttered at the sight of him. My eyes didn’t want to turn away. Stiff back, jaw clenched, but he still looked pretty.

Like really pretty.

Maybe he needed a friend...