Ariana Winters reached the outer fence with the mysterious stranger from the forest. She stopped, turning to him. “Do you mind holding Ole Betsy for a second?”
Ben nodded and took it as she gracefully vaulted over the fence. Once she was over, he handed it back to her as he struggled to climb it, despite it being only up to his waist. Ariana sighed.
Didn’t know he was such a slowpoke, she mused, but if he doesn’t hurry, he’s going to make me late and Dad will ground me for the next year.
“Come on, we’ve got to go! The festival starts in a few hours!”
“Wait, what?” Ben protested as he struggled to climb. “What about my—”
Ariana winced as Ben fell from the fence. He recovered with a groan and brushed himself off.
“Nice,” she teased.
Ben glared before walking with her again. “You said something about a carnival or something?”
“It’s the Glimmering Moon Festival,” she explained as she sidestepped a bush. “The moon eclipses the planetary body in the sky, but instead of casting a shadow, it makes the moon extra bright and beautiful.”
“Huh,” Ben said. “And that’s cause for celebration?”
“Our ancestors thought so. Once they reach their alignment, the elders select a—” Ariana smirked, perhaps with too much confidence, “—a certain talented individual. They perform for the entire village, sort of like a welcoming ceremony for the eclipse.”
“Talented individual?” Ben asked. “I imagine that’s you?”
Ariana grinned. She wanted to brag, yet she wanted it to be a surprise for him—almost a decade's worth of her talent refined by hard work. As far as she knew, nobody else in the entire realm could do what she could do.
After all, she thought, Ben certainly surprised me back in the forest. It’s only fair I return the favor.
Ariana beamed and gave him the short answer. “You’ll see! Just be patient!”
“If you insist.” Ben gave a defeated sigh. “Wouldn’t be the weirdest thing to happen today, anyway.”
I wonder what he means by that? Ariana wondered as she pursed her lips.
I think he’s talking about Robert and Zachy, the voice in her head pointed out. It is kinda weird, to be honest. Not to mention pathetic.
“Shut up,” Ariana growled out loud.
Ben’s brows drew together, his eyes narrowed. “Um…okay?”
“No, not you, sorry. I have a rude voice in my head that I talk to sometimes,” she blurted out.
“Oh. Alright.” Ben stared at Ariana warily. “That’s…fantastic.”
Ariana faced forward as she felt her cheeks warm. Since her early childhood, the voice had been with her. Sometimes, it offered strong, motherly guidance. Other times, it was like a gnat in her ear, always whispering its sarcastic, mostly unhelpful advice.
It’s hard enough making friends, Ariana thought, her lip twitching slightly. This stupid voice always makes it worse.
Ariana’s mind briefly flashed to her childhood, remembering how nobody would play with her, the crazy, quirky girl who was the village chief’s daughter. It carried into her teenage years when her desire for friends ached harder than ever before. Yet she could never figure out the secret to being a socially acceptable person and thus accepted her fate as the village wallflower. Eventually, she had turned to her trusty violin and Leanoir forest, neither of which had ever rejected her.
Ironically, that was what made me popular with everybody, Ariana thought. After her first festival performance, everybody wanted to be her friend and get to know her. She had reveled in it at first, at the attention and love she was getting. And yet, it was all shallow. People loved her talent, not her soul.
If anything, it made her feel more alone than she had ever been.
And now, meeting Ben. Her lips tightened. It must be a sign, a second chance. If I want him to be my friend…
She slowed her walk and exhaled, as if to expel her lonesome past from her soul. …all I have to do is not to drive him away, like the others.
But what about your promise? the voice asked. What about his memories?
Ariana looked behind her and saw that Ben was still walking with her, his earlier confusion gone, his gray eyes ablaze with curiosity. She smiled at him reassuringly as he slowly smiled back.
I’ll get to it eventually, she told the voice before scratching her neck, pondering the mysterious ‘Benjamin Blake.’ When she thought about it, it felt kind of strange that she was dragging a random guy that she had found in the forest to her house. She hadn’t exactly planned how to break the news to her father.
Hey, Dad! I found him in the forest! Can I keep him?
Ariana shook the begging notion from her head as she saw the first set of buildings and dim lamplights at the start of the village. She looked over her shoulder at Ben. “We’re here!”
When they arrived at the looming stone gate, she pulled Ben over to a few people in town that she knew to introduce him. He didn’t open up to them like she had hoped, instead opting to hide his angular face in his shoulder—length black hair.
Maybe he isn’t a people person or something, Ariana thought.
They continued to walk down the gravel sidewalk. The light from the streetlamps flickered and danced, a reflection of the festivities. People rolled out their wooden carts, pitching their homemade crafts, products, and food. They waved as they recognized Ariana, no doubt in anticipation of her upcoming performance. She smiled and waved back.
Ben spoke up, “So where’s this person who can help me?”
“You mean my father?”
He nodded.
“Don’t worry, we’re almost there.” She turned to him and smiled. “I’ll introduce you guys. Just be polite, and maybe he won’t throw you out.”
“Throw me out?” Ben’s eyes narrowed. “Of what?”
“Me and Dad’s house. Duh.”
For a moment, Ben fell silent. “Why—”
“—because the goal is to stay there with us, doofus. Not to be rude or anything, but you don’t seem to have anywhere to crash.”
“Are you sure your dad would be okay with that?” Ben asked, his skin paling. “Bringing a random guy over to spend the night?”
Ariana laughed dismissively. Clearly, Ben didn’t know much about her father. He may have been stern, yet he was always fair. It didn’t matter who it was.
Remember those guys who asked you out after your first performance? The voice asked. When he threatened to vaporize them?
Oh, Ariana realized, I forgot about that.
“Well, dad is a pretty accepting guy, Ben,” Ariana said, trying to give him a reassuring answer. “I’m sure you’ll do fine.”
Truthfully, Ariana had no idea how her father would actually react, but she had to have faith that it would go well…for Ben’s sake, at least.
----------------------------------------
Ben and Ariana finally arrived at her house—a humble, dark wood building threaded with a fine line of flowing elegance and sharp robustness. Full-grown vines blossomed over the structure, interspersing the earthy colored wood with vibrant flowers that he found relaxing. It reminded him of a greenhouse more than an actual abode. Maybe Ariana and her father were obsessive gardeners, or hippies. As far as he was concerned, the latter was far more appealing.
He hesitated as Ariana reached for the door. As far as he knew, her father possibly being able to help was a step in the right direction. At the same time, he wasn’t sure exactly what would happen if this lead turned out to be nothing but smoke.
Would I be stuck here? Ben looked back. What about her?
Ben exhaled slowly. He knew he would likely have to go if he figured things out. It made him feel guilty to leave Ariana behind despite her efforts to help him.
It makes me feel like I’m just using her or something.
The door to the house flung open as Ariana called into it. “Dad! I’m home! We have a guest!”
Ben watched as a tall figure made its way from the back of the house. His dark skin glistened like a million diamonds as he passed into the daylight. He wore a white and grey tunic, trousers, and a bronze belt with glowing symbols and a sword. From his back stretched two even mandibles covered in white feathers with a faint glow, like a small, gentle flame. Ben’s eyes widened; his jaw hung open.
Ariana’s father was an angel.
“Greetings.” Ariana’s father evaluated Ben with narrowed eyes. “My name is Zachariel, Chief of Riverglade Village. And you are?”
Ben continued to stare before Ariana nudged his side. He took a deep, shaky breath, struggling to regain his composure, though all that came out was a shy, half-hearted greeting.
“Uh…hi.”
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Ariana rolled her eyes, grabbing Ben by the neck. “Er, what he means to say is that he’s honored to meet you!”
The angel eyed his daughter. “And what is this stranger’s name, pray tell?”
“Uh…” Ben stumbled across his words. “B-ben. Benjamin Blake, sir.”
Zachariel paused as he assessed him, his eyebrow arched. He grabbed his hand, shaking it as he studied him. “Nice to meet you, Ben. I’m sure there’s much we can learn about each other.”
Ben’s eyes narrowed as he glanced at Ariana suspiciously. She beamed and gave him a reassuring thumbs-up. His legs tensed as he considered taking off in the opposite direction, away from the sudden insanity of the crazy violin girl with fish for friends…and an angel for a father.
“Relax,” Zachariel said, though a hint of suspicion tinged his voice. “You have nothing to fear, so long as you have nothing to hide.”
Do I have something to hide? Ben wondered. After a moment’s consideration, his brain offered no answer. He ever so slightly shrugged. Well, I guess I can’t hide anything when I can’t remember anything. What he doesn’t know won’t hurt me.
“Oh! I forgot to mention something,” Ariana said, perking up. “Ben has amnesia and nowhere to sleep tonight. Can he stay with us?”
The three of them stared at each other; the angel’s previous easygoing expression vanished. Whatever fragile understanding Zachariel and Ben had come to, chances are Ariana’s little suggestion had shattered it to pieces.
Zachariel’s eyes narrowed. Cold, unforgiving authority took over, the easy smile falling to a hard, flat line. He turned to Ariana; his eyebrow arched as he gave her a questioning look. Ariana’s expression remained steadfast, determined. Her father sighed, firmly placing his hand on Ben’s shoulder. “Ariana and I are going to discuss this. Privately.”
She rolled her eyes. “Dad, come on…”
“If you would please wait here for a moment, Mr. Blake.” He removed his hand as he gestured for Ben to stay put outside. “I promise this won’t be long.”
Ben sighed as the door slammed behind him. He spun and took a glance at the village from the cottage’s hillside view. People were walking about, carrying various things, and helping to set up what he assumed to be the ‘Glimmering Moon’ festival that Ariana was going on about earlier.
It seems fun, I guess, Ben thought, But I’m not sure I can afford the distraction or looking like a threat, especially to the one person who supposedly can help me.
Ben exhaled and closed his eyes. He tried to recall the brief flashes of his past from the forest, but his forehead ached. The memories blurred as his mind danced behind his eyelids, as if purposely denying him…and taunting him.
Damn it, Ben thought as he shook the fuzziness from his head. Instead, he leaned in closer to the small cottage, pressing his ear against the door as he focused on the ongoing argument between Ariana and Zachariel.
“You find him in a forest, take pity on him because of his supposed memory loss, and now you want him to stay…with you?”
“Yes, Dad!” Ben heard Ariana argue. “He has nowhere to stay!”
“I get that, Ariana, but you don’t know if he’s telling the truth or if he’ll hurt you. You, of all people, know what’s out there.”
“He won’t hurt me, Dad. He’s not a demon.”
“You don’t know that. Look, the fact remains that you don’t know where Ben is from. Or even if he’s—”
“—He needs help,” Ariana protested. “I promised I’d help him!”
“I’m perfectly okay with helping him, Ariana, but I’m sure he can find somewhere else—”
“Please?”
After that, no other noise erupted from them. Based on the silence, Ben figured Ariana had deployed her begging look. Apparently, it worked on angels, too.
“Ugh. Fine.” Ben heard the angel say. A moment later, the door to their cottage flung open as Zachariel and Ariana walked out. “You can stay for one night. After that, I’m afraid you must figure out another arrangement. Perhaps an inn or something.”
“Of course! Thank you, sir,” Ben said, as a strange burning sensation erupted across his hands. He instinctively rubbed them together hastily to make it go away, like scratching an itch.
Zachariel stared suspiciously and nodded. “Certainly.” He stood to his full height, cupping his hands behind his back. “Besides, you need my help, apparently.”
“Yes, sir. Well, like Ariana said, I have a memory issue. She said you might help me.”
The angel’s eyes narrowed. “We’ll see about that. Let’s take our conversation elsewhere, shall we?”
Ariana tried to walk with them. “Hey, wait! I wanted—”
Zachariel turned around. “Don’t you have to get ready, Ari?”
Her cheeks flushed. “It doesn’t take that long. I can—”
“—go. Now.”
“But—”
“Ariana Marie Winters!” Her father’s eyes narrowed; his voice deepened. The two stared at each other for a moment before she broke eye contact and stared at the ground, gripping her forearm.
“Yes, sir.”
“We won’t be gone long, I promise.” His expression softened as he sighed. “Look. Get dressed, do the warmups and we will meet you at the festival later.”
Ariana nodded slowly, avoiding her father’s ethereal eyes. Zachariel sighed before leaning in, whispering to her. Her eyes brightened up as she shook excitedly, skipping back into the house.
Ben arched an eyebrow. “What did you tell her?”
“I just provided an incentive.” Zachariel shrugged. “Ariana wants time to get to know you.”
“She does?” Ben blinked. “Huh. Alright.”
The angel nodded briefly and strode down the gravel roads of Riverglade village with Ben close at heel, his wings held, his hands clasped behind his back. The streets were busy—not exactly teeming at the brim—but still lively as the entire town anticipated the upcoming festivities. Banners and lanterns with various moon and star patterns adorned the small buildings. Many people wore sparkles on their clothing, as if to mimic the moonlight.
As they walked past a dark alleyway, Ben could have sworn he saw three sets of glowing red eyes staring at him. He squinted to get a better look, but they disappeared.
Zachariel cleared his throat, pulling Ben’s attention away from the alley. “I noticed you don’t have the aura of a demon, but something is off about you. So, I am going to ask…” His eyes narrowed, his voice became edged and threatening as he loomed over him, his hand on the hilt of his sword. “Who are you really?”
Ben’s heart thumped faster. “I-I don’t know, sir. All I know is my name—”
“How convenient,” Zachariel coldly remarked.
“—and that I was trying to save someone before, but I don’t know who.”
The angel paused, his intense gaze never wavering. “Save someone?”
Ben nodded quickly. “Yeah, someone close to me, I think. Got a few flashes in the forest, but—”
“You ‘think?’”
“—I mean, I try to remember, but my mind doesn’t let me. It’s like—”
“That’s not helping your case, Mr. Blake.”
“Look,” Ben said as he grit his teeth. “I’m not trying to hurt your daughter or anything. I mean, she’s great and all, but I don’t even really wanna be here, wherever this is!” He looked him in the eye, man-to-angel. “With all due respect, sir, I just want to know what the hell is going on.”
Zachariel stared at Ben steadily, the dark expression fading. “You’re telling the truth, aren’t you?”
Ben nodded.
The angel let out a quick grunt of what sounded like disappointment. “Well, if that is true, then I suspect you don’t know how you got here, either.”
“Honestly, I was hoping you would know,” Ben said with a shrug. “Or that maybe you had some angel magic to help me remember or you know…something. Anything.”
Zachariel shook his head. “Unfortunately, no.” His left wing briefly fluttered. “As much as I wish I did. That’s not my specialty.”
So, Ariana bringing me here was pointless, after all.
“Back to square one, I guess.” Ben said, grimacing.
The angel scratched his beard. “Not necessarily. There might be someone who can. A friend of mine, but she’s up in the mountains. Back on Earth, she specialized in that sort of thing, helping people confront the things that they had tried to forget. If you like, I can point you in her direction in the morning.”
Ben forced a smile to convey gratitude. “Thank you, Sir. Anything helps at this point.”
“Well, it’s not a guarantee.” Zachariel sighed as he straightened his posture, clearing his throat. “Anyway, I’ve stated earlier, I will allow you to stay with us tonight—”
“—I mean, I’m grateful,” Ben said, interrupting him. But wouldn’t it be better for me to find a hotel or something?”
“Ideally, yes.” The angel rolled his eyes. “But Ariana insisted on it. She didn’t want you to feel unwelcome.”
Wow, Ben thought, either she has no idea, or she’s trying to get me killed.
“I’m sorry.” Ben’s cheeks flushed. “I wasn’t keen on it either. I don’t want you to think I would ever try to make a move on her or hurt her or…”
The angel shrugged. “Don’t worry. That activity that you’re surely thinking about is almost impossible in New Eden.”
“Almost?” Ben stupidly asked.
Zachariel glared at him. “That subject aside, Ariana seems rather comfortable with you. I find it strange, considering that she has known you less than a day. She has never been particularly good with people, even after becoming the village celebrity.”
“Really?” Ben arched an eyebrow. “Why is that?”
“Ariana is…unique, particularly with the way she engages people, though it often sets her apart in many ways. Some good, others not so much. Being my adopted daughter certainly doesn’t help, either.”
“Huh,” Ben said. “You’d think that she would be best friends with everyone.”
“What makes you say that?”
“I mean, I know she’s a little crazy and whatnot…”
Zachariel’s eyes narrowed.
Ben paled a little. “…but at the same time, she’s sweet. I don’t think any other person would have wanted to help and offered me a place to stay as she did. Her personality is…I dunno, pure. Innocent. Full of life.”
The angel paused momentarily, a warm smile forcing his stern expression aside. “She truly is a special girl. The fact that she connects with you in a way that she hasn’t with anyone else” Zachariel glanced at Ben. “Well, I hope it will be a good thing. For her, and perhaps even for you.”
“Makes it weird that she was the one to find me, doesn’t it?”
The angel assessed him for a moment. He looked forward and shrugged. “It certainly does. It almost seems like you were intentionally placed there. Needless to say, I’m…concerned.”
Ben studied his shifting feet to avoid the angel’s piercing gaze. “I don’t blame you. Although…” He glanced at the angel, “…Ariana seems familiar, like I already know her. Earth, maybe?”
Zachariel froze in his tracks, grimacing. “That is impossible.”
“What do you mean?”
“She never made it out of the womb.”
“What?” Ben’s breathing stopped; his eyes widened as he processed the revelation. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”
The angel nodded sadly. “Such a shame. She would have been one more light for that cursed world. Regardless, I brought her here and raised her. Aside from her tragic beginning, she turned out quite beautifully.”
As Ben thought about it more, he smiled. “Hard to disagree with you there. I don’t remember much about Earth yet, but something tells me it isn’t all that great. Her being in an afterlife like this? She’s probably better off.”
Zachariel eyed Ben with an arched brow. “What gave you the impression that New Eden is an afterlife?”
Ben glanced at Zachariel’s wings. “Well…”
The angel chuckled. “No, unfortunately, New Eden isn’t quite what you would think. I’d consider it to be more of a second chance rather than an afterlife, but that’s not entirely true either. The people that are brought here by us angels typically had short or tragic lives, sometimes both. That aside, I do what I can to ensure my citizens have as happy an existence as I can grant them.” Zachariel sighed, melancholy in his voice. “This place—while well protected by the other angels and I—isn’t exactly free from the vices and evils that consumed the Earth. My duty is to follow the Creator’s will and try to guard my people against any potential danger.”
“Danger?” Ben asked. “People can still get hurt? Or die?”
“Unfortunately, yes.” Zachariel’s jaw visibly tightened, then he relaxed it. “But we can discuss that in further detail later. For now, all we need to worry about is the festival and getting you ready for travel tomorrow.”
“Yes, sir,” Ben said with a nod. “Anyway, I appreciate everything you and Ari are doing for me.” He looked around at the now-ongoing festivities. People scoured the streets excitedly with their friends, partners, and sometimes children. Smiles adorned their faces as the upbeat music echoed from the town square. He smiled.
“It almost seems like a shame to leave.”
Zachariel nodded. “Certainly. Perhaps once you’ve figured out your—” His shimmering ethereal eyes suddenly narrowed and focused in on Ben’s right shoulder.
“What?” Ben blinked, then followed the angel’s gaze just in time to see a bright light erupt into a small but aggressive blaze.
Ben’s eyes widened. He was on fire.
“Woah! Crap, crap!” The flame grew as Ben tried to smother it by aggressively smacking it. He dropped to the ground, rolling around in the gravel until it finally extinguished. Ben’s chest heaved as Zachariel stared down at him.
“I’m okay, I think.” Ben sat up, shaking himself out of shock and regaining his focus. He scanned the immediate area, his eyes searching some of the other townsfolk who had stopped, their brows furrowed in concern. “Did someone get me with a torch or something?”
The angel continued to assess him, his eyes darting up and down. Finally, he inhaled. “Actually Ben…maybe you should stay here for a few more days.”
A few more days? Ben thought. Is he serious?
“Uh, are you sure?” Ben asked, standing to his feet quickly and brushing himself off. “I don’t want to impose or anything.”
“You won’t, rest assured.”
“But you said that tomorrow…”
Zachariel sighed, then looked him square in the eye. “Look, Ben. I know you want to leave, but I promise your stay here won’t be too long.”
Ben’s jaw clenched. “Why?”
“There’s something I need to…investigate,” Zachariel said. “I think keeping you close is my best option.”
“I think…”
“I insist,” the angel said, ending the argument with the two simple words.
Ben dipped his head, opting not to argue further. “Yes, Sir.”
“Don’t be too downtrodden now. It won’t be a complete waste.” The angel said, his voice carrying a confident yet hesitant encouragement. “You may even remember a thing or two.”
Ben avoided Zachariel’s gaze. The angel placed a hand on his shoulder as he exhaled sharply.
“Why don’t we go find our seats?”
Reluctant, Ben nodded and looked forward to the town square. The Glimmering Moon Festival was about to begin.