Бесплатный фрагмент - Era

From the author.

“Drug use carries serious health risks and can lead to irreversible consequences. This book describes cases where the characters face the negative consequences of drug use. The author urges readers to reflect on the importance of a healthy lifestyle and avoid any form of addiction.”

Chapter 1

I stood in front of the gate, which shimmered with golden light, like liquid amber. They reflected me, but I was not seeing an angel, but something completely different. I didn’t have wings right now, even though the legends always depicted angels as snow-white and pure. My wings were as black as a moonless night, and it made me look demonic. Unfortunately, I forgot what they look like, and I rarely let them down in my angelic life. In the reflection, black eyes stared back at me — I was more the embodiment of darkness than light.

I took a step forward and found myself in the Celestial world, which is legendary on Earth. Vast expanses filled with light and energy stretched around me. In the distance, majestic cities could be seen floating in the air, and I felt the air getting heavier, filled with a premonition of something important.

I’m here again, and it’s not good, I’ve rarely come here voluntarily. Except maybe to see my friends. I didn’t have many of them here, Vito the angel and Tatiana, my mentor, the Archangel. At that moment, I realized that my fate would soon be decided. I was teleported here, and I knew why.

What could I have done wrong? I didn’t save the man. More precisely, I didn’t save him because I felt it necessary to let him go. Yesterday I was in the hospital, where an old man was lying on his deathbed. His family surrounded him, crying with happiness. They thought the end had come, and it was a relief to them.

I could have saved him. I could spread my black wings, give him an angel’s kiss, and preserve his soul in a corporeal shell. But I’ve been thinking too long. At that moment, death had already appeared, but not in the form of an old woman with a scythe, but in the form of a beautiful woman in a black robe. Her eyes were hidden under a veil hat, and only her bright red lips stood out on her face. It was with these lips that she kissed the dying man, and his soul left his body.

Death could kiss an angel, but that would mean his death. I’ve heard a lot of stories about such cases. One day, an angel intervened in a death ritual, and death kissed him. This angel found himself in a stone hall where all the inhabitants of the Celestial Empire were saying goodbye to their brothers.

Now I was standing in front of the gate, and I knew that my fate would be decided today. Perhaps I will be sent to Earth, where I will be unprotected and subjected to suffering. Or I will be sent to the Underworld, where I will feed on the negative energy of people and serve demons.

The angels were afraid of losing their wings and going to earth. For some of them, it would be a welcome outcome to descend into the Underworld, but I didn’t want that fate for myself. Living in the dark, feeding on the negative energy of people — it was unbearable.

I stood there and wondered what my fate would be. But there was no fear. I was ready for any turn because I knew there was no place for weakness in this world. Only strength and determination will help me survive.

I heard footsteps in the distance. Turning around, I saw Tatiana, my mentor and friend. Her blue eyes always radiated warmth and support, but now there was disappointment in them. She nodded at me, and I followed her.

The next night, I was sent to a new ward, a beautiful woman with snow — white hair and a smile that could melt any heart. She was a movie star, but no one really loved her. Her life was full of carnal pleasures and lies. With her, I saw what love is, what passion is, the pain of deception, and momentary happiness.

One night I saw her lying in her bed, crying and taking pills. I knew she wanted to die, but I couldn’t stop her. I could have saved her, but then she would have remained unhappy, and her endless men would have continued to take advantage of her kind heart, beauty, and her body. I decided that releasing her soul would be the right thing to do, and she would suffer endlessly.

I was immediately sent to jail, there was no advice. Tamara and Mikhail were fighting a war with demons back then. And it was not appropriate to investigate the crime of an angel like me. Then many of our people died, the demons did not spare anyone. The most important thing was to preserve the peace of the Celestial Empire and prevent the demons from destroying all the angels. The war ended a couple of decades ago, Mark and Tamara signed a peace treaty, which was backed up by the blood of an angel and a demon.

During that time of war, I went to my new ward. And here is the same old man who lost his angel in the war, sitting in front of me. His wife was still alive then, and he was happy. I felt his love for her, and warmth spread inside me. At that moment, I thought how great it is to be human and feel this wonderful feeling. But his happiness did not last long, his wife died, and the old man suffered for her for a long time. His children were taken from an empty house and brought to him, the old man was often ill and was a burden to the whole family. He begged death to give him a kiss, because that was the only way he could meet his beloved again.

The sky turned orange, heralding the arrival of a new day. I got up to enjoy the colors of nature, but I heard footsteps and saw several pairs of shiny black eyes in the hallway. It was Mark, surrounded by his demons. He moved confidently and swiftly, his commanding bearing speaking for itself. Huge black wings spread out behind him, which sparkled with fiery red tongues in the light of the Celestial Empire.

“Ready to go to Hell?” Mark asked in a low voice, grinning.

“Don’t even dream about it! I replied sharply, wishing I could glare at him.

“Why don’t you want to join us?” You won’t even have to change the color of your wings.

The demons behind Mark laughed softly.

“You don’t help people, but feed on their negative energy. And come to them before you die to take away the last particles of their fear,” I said.

“That’s exactly the difference between us and the angels,” Mark gave me an appraising look. “Your friend Adrian doesn’t regret joining us. He’s released, he can fly wherever he wants. Angels don’t have that luxury.

“I’d rather stay on Earth and suffer for the rest of my days than go down to your hell,” I snapped, realizing that no one has the right to talk to the lord of the Underworld like that.

“Era,” he said softly, calling me by name. “We will meet anyway, whether on Earth or in the Underworld.

He slowly turned around and headed down the far corridor with the demons. This path led straight to the Underworld.

In heaven, where time flows differently, there was a fuss. Glowing angel-like creatures scurried about as if something had happened. I could feel the tension in the air, like before a storm. One of the angels mentioned the death of an angel. Or something even more terrible.

I tried to listen to their conversations, but angels can hide their thoughts. Their speech was like the whisper of the wind, eluding comprehension. Soon, guards and Tatiana appeared at my cage. She didn’t say anything, just gave me a look full of secrets.

They took me to the meeting room. My heart sank with anxiety. I wanted to shout, “Hey, I haven’t run out of time yet!” But I knew it was useless. But on the other hand, the sooner I leave this place, the better it will be for me. Mikhail, Tamara, Tatiana and Mark with their creepy sparkling eyes and horns on their heads will disappear from my world and memory forever.

As always, there was a circle in the center of the hall. Tamara was standing in the middle of it, her face tense with fear. Michael, the Archangel, stood nearby, his face remained impenetrable.

“Era,” Tamara began “now you will go to the new ward. Your mission must be completed. You have to keep him alive, no matter what the cost.”

She handed me a metal pendant on a tray. I took it and opened it. There was hair inside, which I knew belonged to my ward. It was necessary to find him quickly. The pendant also gave me the ability to become invisible to people’s eyes.

Then they brought me another tray with a small glass flask on it. There was a piece of my ward’s soul inside her. I knew what I had to do: drink this part, put on the pendant and go to him immediately.

But deep down, I was tormented by the question: why did they change their minds? Why am I being sent on a mission again? I looked at Tamara and Mikhail, but they didn’t say anything. Tatiana, standing to the side, lowered her eyes, avoiding my gaze.

I realized that I had no choice. I would have been executed tonight. Of course, I wanted to go to Earth, but the decision wasn’t made by me, and no matter how much my gut protests, as long as I’m in the form of an angel, I have to obey. I took the flask, took a sip, and felt everything freeze inside. It was like an icy liquid, freezing all the senses. The fear was gone, and only determination remained.

Tamara nodded and said loudly.

“Fly, Era!”

With these words, I flew away, feeling the pendant guiding me to my ward. I knew he was in a dark place, and that he wasn’t sober. But I was ready. My mission has begun.

We walked in silence along a long corridor decorated with frescoes and statues. I could feel my heart beating faster and faster. I knew that something important was waiting for me, which could change my fate forever. Ahead was the trial of an angel named Era. It’s me.

When we entered the hall, I stopped to look around. Tamara, the ruler of the Celestial Empire, sat on the golden throne. Archangel Michael stood next to her, his gaze cold and stern. I felt a chill run down my spine.

But my attention was caught by a figure standing in the center of the circle. It was Mark, the head of all demons, the king of hell, the lord of the Underworld. His black mask with bright red stones sparkled in the light, and the grin on his face disgusted me. Not to mention his terrible horns that curled inwards. His creepy eyes sparkled with flames.

I knew that Mark rarely appeared at such meetings. He only came when the angels wanted to invite someone to descend into the Underworld and continue serving the demons. I wasn’t ready for that option. My path was chosen by me, and I will not allow any demon, even a lord, to decide my fate.

Tatiana stood behind me, and I felt her support. She knew that my fate was hanging in the balance, but I wasn’t going to back down. Tamara, the guardian of the laws of the Celestial Empire, rose from her golden throne and said loudly:

“Era, you’ve broken the holy rule once again. This is the third time you haven’t saved a man.”

I stared at Tamara in silence, her eyes glistening with tears. She understood that my action had raised doubts about the authority of the guardian. Mikhail, the second most important angel in the Celestial Empire, stood next to Tamara, his face was unreadable, but joy could be seen in his eyes. He knew that if I was spared, his place on the throne would be closer.

“What did you do?” Tamara continued and didn’t let me answer. “You were supposed to protect our charges and keep them alive.”

I was silent, but my silence was louder than any words. I knew what I had done was wrong, but I couldn’t change what had happened. And even if I were given the opportunity to change something now, I wouldn’t do it. The souls of my charges deserved peace.

“Era, you’re going to be executed,” Tamara said. “You will lose your wings and go to Earth.”

I felt my heart skip a beat, it’s one thing to imagine how this would happen, but it’s another to hear this verdict here in the courtroom, in front of witnesses. My exile from the Celestial Empire meant that I would never return here, but I knew that this was the only way to become alive. To experience the full range of feelings and emotions accessible only to humans, but not comprehended by angels.

“I’m ready to go to Earth,” I said, looking straight into Tamara’s eyes.

Tatiana, my mentor and loyal friend, ran up to me and grabbed my hand.

“The Guardian! What is it?” she exclaimed. “Please give the Era one last chance!”

Tamara looked at Mark, who was boring into me with a look full of wild interest in my person, it seemed, he even licked his lips.

“You have a choice,” Tamara continued, as if she hadn’t heard Tatiana. “You can go to Earth after going through the execution of an angel, or you can go to the Underworld and continue to serve our demon brothers.”

I closed my eyes and made a decision, but I was about to repeat it when I heard a voice.

“You have one day and one night to make a decision,” Mikhail said, signaling to the guardian angels.

I was grabbed by the arms and dragged to the cage. I saw Tatiana watching me go, full of fear and pain. The gates of the hall closed, and I found myself in a cage under the open sky.

Night fell on the Earth, and I looked up at the bright stars, feeling my heart fill with joy. Soon I will be free from the shackles of the Celestial Empire and will finally be able to become a human being.

I remembered how I became an angel. I woke up in a place where light and darkness intertwined in a bizarre pattern. The endless sky stretched around me, studded with stars like diamonds. I didn’t remember how I got here, but I felt like it wasn’t just a dream.

Tatiana was standing next to me, blue eyes, snow-white robes and big white wings. She looked at me and said,

“Welcome, child.” You passed the test. Now you will serve in the Celestial Empire.

I didn’t understand what she was talking about, but I felt I had to obey. The woman took my hand and led me through the vast expanses of the sky. We walked past angels with wings of different colors — gold, silver, emerald. But none of them had wings like mine — dark, almost black, like night.

“Why do I have such wings? “I asked, unable to contain my curiosity.

Tatiana stopped and looked at me with a slight smile.

“Your wings are a symbol of your destiny” she said. “You will protect those who need help and punish those who break the laws. But remember that power is not given to you in order to use it on your own.”

I studied a lot before I was given my first mentee. I had a few other angels with me, we were all children. And we all lost something very valuable and important to us back on Earth. We all had our memories erased, Archangel Michael did it skillfully, but sometimes I had a picture of a burning house in front of my eyes, my face was wet with tears and there was a burning smell in my nose.

And now the day has come for accepting the angelic essence, we all take turns drinking nectar, which tastes very sweet, but as soon as it enters the body, it turns into poison and it seems that it breaks your ribs from the inside. That’s how the man in me was being killed, and on the same day we were supposed to spread our wings. Everyone throws out their wings in turn, and, overcoming the pain, I also open my wings for the first time. And they’re pitch black.

From that moment on, I was not loved in the Celestial Empire, black wings mean I am a demon. But it wasn’t like that, I was an angel. One of the angels, Vito, treated me very kindly. He’s a good friend of mine, and for the first time we learned to fly and traveled around the Celestial Empire in a race. Now we rarely meet, he has a ward, and I had them too.

The first was a little boy, I was afraid that something would happen to him, I always protected him. He was born into a big family, and his mother and father didn’t care about him at all. They worked a lot, and the boy spent a lot of time alone. At first, I felt very sorry for him, because he couldn’t find a common language with any of the people. But when he turned eight, I realized that there was a huge darkness in this little boy. He killed his dog, and then my angelic heart literally bled. I cried over the poor dead animal, but I couldn’t bring it back to life. Then the boy killed an innocent cat that had accidentally wandered into his family’s yard. That’s when I realized that if this creature in human form gains physical strength, then humans will take the place of animals.

And so, one beautiful summer day, as always, I accompanied my ward. He was playing with a kite and did not look at his feet, his gaze was directed at him. There was tall grass ahead, and the boy did not see that there was an abandoned well right there. He fell right there, and I could have saved him, but I stood there and watched this cruel creature die.

After this incident, I appeared in court. It was the first time I was teleported to the Celestial Empire; it was unpleasant and painful when you are literally twisted and sent through space. I was losing energy at the same time, but it recovered quickly.

Tatiana, my mentor, was more worried about me than I was. She tried to convince the council that I didn’t deserve to be punished.

But Tamara and Mikhail were adamant. They said that I was unworthy to wear angel wings and should be banished to the Underworld or sent to Earth. I felt tears welling up in my eyes, but I couldn’t do anything. That was when I felt fear and found myself in a cage for the first time. That night was endless, raindrops were falling from the sky, cold, and the sky seemed to be crying with me. Tatiana managed to convince the council that I was worthy of another chance.

Chapter 2

When I finally reached the place where my ward was, I found myself in a noisy bar. People were dancing, laughing, and drinking strong drinks. But in the midst of all this fuss, I noticed him — a young guy with curly hair and brown eyes. He was tall and strong, but there was something strange in his gaze.

There were girls hanging around him, but they seemed somehow inanimate to me. Their auras were dim, as if they had already lost their vitality. One of them came up to him, kissed him and took out a small bag of powder. My ward smiled and accepted the powder. I realized that it wasn’t just alcohol, but something much more dangerous.

His aura began to sparkle, they went up the stairs to the second floor and found themselves in a room. A dirty, dim room where the walls screamed about what they had seen here. He fell on the bed, laughing and smiling. I felt a chill run through my body. It was wrong. It was too dangerous.

But I couldn’t just leave. I should have stayed and helped him. Most likely, I was given one last chance, Tamara won’t forgive me anymore, and I’ll really be executed.

This time, everything was not going as usual. There was a taste of blood in my mouth, as if something foreshadowed trouble. My ward, calm and confident, suddenly closed his eyes and smiled, as if sinking into a dream. But his dream was strange: distorted images and shadows surrounded him.

The girl standing next to him didn’t give up. She took out a syringe and bound my ward’s arm with a tourniquet. I appeared in front of her suddenly, and she looked at me in horror, seeing my physical appearance. Her eyes widened in fear, and she screamed, dropping the syringe. At that moment, I spread my wings, and the girl screamed and ran out of the room, slamming the door behind her.

My ward continued to sleep, his altered sleep did not allow him to wake up. I removed the tourniquet and took his hand. The first time I did this, I saw the black-colored poison begin to seep out of his veins. I held his hand until a white liquid began to appear, and my ward’s blood became clear.

I sighed and went back into the invisible realm. My ward woke up a few hours later, looking around in confusion. There’s a black feather from my wings on the bed. I looked at it warily and bit my lip. He went to the window, took out cigarettes and lit up, still not understanding what had happened to him. His blood was pure and he was sober. He remembered going into the room with a girl, but she wasn’t there. He looked around the room, saw a syringe and a rubber tourniquet, and left, heading through the dark streets to his house.

His house was a small apartment on the second floor, cluttered and dusty. He took a shower, and I saw him naked. His body was beautiful, as if he was made for the light. If he were an angel, he would be called the standard of beauty in the Middle Kingdom.

I was sitting on the windowsill in my ward’s room, watching him. He slowly, as if reluctantly, collected the scattered things, but soon gave up this occupation and went to bed. His breathing became even, his eyelashes trembled, and he fell asleep. I thought about how he sleeps, and noticed that his eyelashes were long and beautiful. They were trembling slightly, as if he was dreaming.

But this dream wasn’t like the one he’d had at the hotel. He was walking through a sunlit clearing towards a girl. She was very beautiful, and he was smiling, enjoying this dream. Suddenly, he turned over, and I noticed that his aura was purple-green. It was strange, because people usually have yellow or bright white auras. I thought about what that might mean.

At that moment, I felt the effect of the drunk part of my soul weaken. I decided to take advantage of this moment and go to the Celestial Empire to ask Tatiana what this aura means. I knew that she was always ready to help me and answer my questions.

When I arrived in Celestial Empire, I was surprised by the silence in the corridors. Usually there were always a lot of angels here, but there was no one there now. I saw Tatiana standing in front of me with her eyes downcast.

“Era, what are you doing here? What is it?” she asked.

“I want to know what the purple-green aura means,” I replied.

Tatiana lowered her eyes and said nothing. It was strange, because she always answered my questions. Now I got the feeling that she was hiding something from me, and it made me uneasy.

“I can’t tell you anything,” she finally said. “You have to go back to your ward. He’s always in danger, be careful.”

“What does that mean?” I asked, but Tatiana didn’t say anything again. Her blue eyes darkened slightly, and I realized that she was holding some kind of secret.

At that moment, Archangel Michael appeared in the hallway. He quickly flew up to us and said loudly.

“Era, what are you doing here?” You should be by your ward’s side, and I ask you not to appear here in the Celestial Empire again until you have enough energy.

I felt that Mikhail and Tatiana were feeling fear. Something had happened, and I had to find out what it was.

But Mikhail didn’t say anything. He just teleported me back to my ward’s apartment. I was there at the moment when dawn began to break through the window. I looked at the sleeping man and realized once again that he was very handsome. If I were a human, I would experience the full range of emotions from such natural beauty. But now I could only say that it was really beautiful. But the cluttered apartment’s furnishings didn’t match that beauty.

I decided that I had to figure out what was going on with my ward and his purple-green aura. I knew it wasn’t just an accident, and that there was more to it than that.

And now my ward has awakened. His face was clouded with pain, and he continuously touched his head, as if trying to calm an invisible ailment. He was getting ready to leave, and I saw how his hands deftly put clothes in the bag, as if they were not just things, but symbols of his upcoming adventures. Suddenly there was a knock on the door, he said something unintelligible and went to answer it. There was a thin woman on the threshold, an emotion of irritation and even anger could be read on her face.

“Alex,” she said loudly and crossed the threshold of the apartment. “When will it all end? You’ve littered the whole apartment, and I still haven’t received the rent.”

“Don’t yell! Alex barked and continued packing his bag.

“What does that mean?” the woman was surprised and widened her eyes.

“That’s what it means,” he replied in the same tone and clutched his head again. “My father had to transfer the money.”

“That’s it! I’ve had enough!” The woman said loudly. “Pack your things and get out, now I have to clean this apartment for another week after you!”

He approached the woman, and it seemed to me that he was going to hit her, but this did not happen.

“Okay,” he replied more quietly and tried to control his emotions. “I’ll pack my things and leave now. Just stop yelling.”

“You’re a fiend!” she said and moved to a safe distance from the guy. “Your poor father.”

My ward did not answer anything and returned to the bag with things, the woman soon left the apartment.

With the phone in his hand, he dialed the number and plunged into the conversation. His voice sounded confident, but there was a hidden anxiety in it. He made appointments as if he knew that each of them could change his fate. Being his faithful observer, I watched his every move, trying to understand what was hidden behind this stormy energy and abundance of emotions.

He left the house and got into the car. The car was bright yellow, like a small sun on wheels. It was a sports car that raced along the winding roads, leaving only a plume of dust in its wake.

He arrived at a roadside cafe, where he was met, apparently, by a friend. They had a long conversation, but my ward’s friend was laughing, and my ward remained serious. I noticed yellow and reddish spots in his aura, which indicated numerous connections with people. But there was something wrong with him. There was far from a positive energy coming from him, even sitting at a distance, I could feel it.

I could have flown closer and eavesdropped on their conversation, but I decided to stay in the shadows. I didn’t know how many years I was going to be with Alex, and I wanted to understand him from the inside, slowly getting to know him. So, I continued to watch, trying to unravel the mystery that lay behind his outer shell.

Suddenly, he got up and left. His car, like lightning, disappeared into the night, leaving behind only a light haze. I followed him until he stopped at a large house that looked more like a castle. An elderly woman came out of the house, and her eyes filled with tears when she saw him.

“Hi, is your father at home?” – he asked.

“I’m glad you’re back,” the woman replied, her voice trembling with emotion. “You’ve lost so much weight, how do you feel? Is everything okay?”

“I need a father,” his ward replied firmly.

And at that moment, I realized that this was not just a man in front of me, this guy was not simple, so far, I had seen nothing but his gloomy lifestyle, but it seemed that soon I would get to know him even more.

The woman replied that her father was not there, he would return only in the morning. My ward frowned and entered the house. I followed him, trying to catch his scent and voice. Indeed, there was a subtle almond scent coming from him. We found ourselves in a spacious room with moldings and gilding. He sat down in a large armchair and sighed.

“Alex,” the woman called. “Can I cook you something?”

“I’m not hungry,” he replied coldly. The woman hesitated on the threshold and left.

His name was Alex, a bit of an unusual name for these places, but it wasn’t the name that mattered. The color of his aura, which I had never seen before, had so many emotions boiling in him at the same time, and his face remained stony, it seemed as if he had never been touched by wrinkles. He might have been twenty-seven years old, or maybe thirty. There are human faces where it’s hard to read age, and Alex was just such a face.

Alex was clearly not in the mood to talk to a woman. He wanted a drink. I felt this thirst. Sometimes we angels can sense the needs of our charges.

He got up, opened the alcohol cabinet and took a bottle. I ran my hand over it and watched Alex. He filled the glass, raised it to his lips, took a sip, and grimaced.

“What a piece of trash,” he swore and got up in search of another bottle.

But I repeated the trick, and he winced again. Then he gave up, took a bottle of water and took a sip.

“Sofia,” he called loudly to the woman. I saw his eyes. He seemed to be looking directly at me, even though I checked the pendant and made sure he couldn’t see me. I stepped aside and continued to watch.

The woman came in, straightening her apron.

“Is there nothing to drink?” Alex asked.

“All the alcohol is in the bar,” she replied softly, pointing to the cupboard behind him.

“There’s some kind of trash in there instead of alcohol,” he barked and sat down in an armchair. “Make me something to eat.”

The woman nodded and left. I sat on the windowsill and watched Alex through the transparent curtain. He was obviously nervous, but I didn’t understand the reason for his stress.

Sofia brought him food. He picked at his plate reluctantly, glancing at his watch. It was already late at night, but he hadn’t slept. He seemed to be preparing for something important. In the morning, his eyelids drooped, and he fell asleep right in the armchair. I was distracted by the rising sun. It was very beautiful here: a small garden near the house, a white gazebo in the back. For almost a hundred years, I have not been able to get used to how a person knows how to arrange his world. More and more often I saw beautiful houses, statues, paintings. It was very beautiful, sometimes it seemed to me that people were trying to look like angels, they surround themselves with luxurious objects, create houses in bright colors, just like in Celestial Empire. And this house was gorgeous.

Suddenly, I was startled by a noise in the hallway. A tall, gray-haired man entered the living room. Alex woke up and rubbed his eyes. It was his father. They started arguing.

“That’s enough! I’m tired of your antics!” The man exclaimed.

“Don’t talk to me like I’m a child, “Alex replied furiously. “You took up my upbringing too late.

The father clutched his heart and sat down on the sofa. I came closer. And maybe I should save him, but I can’t do that without spreading my wings, and of course I’ll waste some of my energy, but something told me that I should save this man in a critical situation.

“I promised your mother,” he began, breathing heavily. “That I can raise you as a good person and wait for the grandchildren. I failed the first mission, let’s see what I can do with the second one.”

Sofia brought the pills. Alex frowned, watching his father.

“You’re going to America today,” the man said, loosening his tie. “My partner is there, he needs an assistant. You’d rather be in another country than me identifying you in the morgue.”

“What are you talking about?” Alex was indignant.

“Your friend Artyom disappeared a couple of weeks ago,” his father continued. “I have seen his parents, they have aged during this time. And yesterday he was found in a ditch, he died of an overdose.”

Alex quietly sank into a chair, shocked by the news.

“Yes, that’s right,” the father replied calmly, looking at his son. “Pack your things, my assistant will book your tickets.”

Alex got up, took a few steps, and looked at his father.

“I’ll fly, but later. I want to say goodbye to a friend”.

My father nodded and looked out the window. He was clearly worried about his son’s future, and that was why he insisted that Alex move.

On the second floor, Alex was packing his suitcase. He picked up the photo from the table, looked at it, and wiped away a tear. I was very surprised by this, he blushed, and indeed tears were streaming down his cheeks.

“Mom, I promise I’ll change,” he said softly. I felt sorry for him. This guy was clearly suffering. I sat down next to him and touched his cheek.

He shuddered as if he felt a touch. Alex wiped his tears and looked around, trying to figure out who it was. I checked the pendant and thought: this was the first time such a phenomenon had occurred. This has never happened to any of my students.

“I’m going crazy,” Alex said softly and rubbed his eyes.

I moved away so I wouldn’t touch him again. I’ve never noticed this before. What kind of person is this? Why did I get such a ward? He went to the bathroom, cleaned himself up for a long time. I felt a sweet and fresh scent — his perfume. When he returned, his lower body was covered only with a towel. I admired his torso again while he dried his hair and put on fresh clothes. Obviously, he was going somewhere. But I couldn’t let him go, I had to accompany every step of his difficult life with my presence.

Chapter 3

He was driving his sports car at breakneck speed. I realized that he was one of those people who constantly risked his life. Such people often die in extreme situations, and death overtakes them quickly. There is a possibility that an angel might bump into her. Now there was a fear that I might not be able to save him in time, he behaved very riskily, as if there was another spare life. I followed his solar car, trying not to lose sight of Alex.

The car stopped at a house on the outskirts of a village, and Alex confidently got out of it. There were very beautiful houses here, and in one of the courtyards there was even a fountain with the image of a little angel with wings. It was very touching, but at the same time I realized that this is not what angels really look like. We are not sweet and kind creatures, we are stone inside, we try to be objective and just without emotions and warmth in our hearts, at all costs we must protect our wards from ourselves and their wrong actions that lead them towards death. A man with black hair came out of the house. I found myself next to Alex. He turned around as if he sensed my presence. I stepped back to hear them talking.

“What are you doing?” The man asked.

Alex frowned and looked around. I understood how he did it, but now I have to be careful not to start driving him crazy and reveal my existence.

“It’s nothing,” he replied, and they entered the house.

They were sitting on the second floor. The man brought two bottles of beer. I quickly ran my hand over the bottle Alex was about to drink from. Realizing that he would drive again after that, I frowned.

“Have you heard about Artyom?” Alex asked, putting his feet up on the coffee table.

The man nodded and sighed loudly.

“We’re not all eternal, brother.”

“I understand, but then I didn’t go to a party with him, even though he really invited me,” Alex took a sip of beer and grimaced, leaving the bottle.

“Don’t blame yourself, “the man said. “If you had gone, there would have been two corpses. And you’re here with me right now, drinking beer.”

Alex nodded and looked suspiciously at the bottle. I smiled and settled down on the windowsill.

“Hera, I’m flying to the USA tomorrow after the funeral,” Alex said sadly but confidently. It was as if he had accepted his father’s decision.

“Did your father arrange for you to travel?” The man chuckled.

“Yeah,” Alex sighed.

“You know, Alex,” Hera lowered his eyes. “Maybe it’s for the best. It’s time to stop hanging out, hotels, and endless girls.”

“Shall we go to the monastery?” Alex joked and fell silent when he saw that his friend was serious.

“I also thought about going back to my father’s workshop, repairing cars and earning money for beer and pizza” Hera left the bottle and began to look for something in his pocket. “By the way, I got some fun pills yesterday.”

Hera handed Alex a bag. He took it and looked at it carefully.

“And how? What is it?” he asked, looking at his friend.

Hera smiled and, as if forgetting the momentary conversation about changes, suggested.

“Watch interesting cartoons. Take a pill, and I’ll get you another beer.”

He left the room, leaving Alex alone with the bag. I mentally exclaimed, “Don’t take it!” But Alex had already opened the bag and popped the pill into his mouth. I sighed and realized that I needed to act.

I cautiously approached him and ran my hand over his stomach, just under his ribs, without touching his body. It worked instantly: Alex felt sick and rushed to the bathroom.

I settled back on the windowsill, smiling. Now I knew for sure that he would drive completely sober.

“Brother, are you feeling ill?” Hera’s voice was heard.

“Something strange is happening,” Alex replied and returned to the room.

I froze when Alex took the feather from my wings out of his pocket and told me about the events at the hotel.

“I don’t remember anything,” Alex said. “I woke up, there’s a syringe on the floor, and there’s a feather on the bed.”

Hera examined the pen carefully.

“It looks like a crow,” he suggested.

“Maybe,” Alex agreed and rolled up his sleeves, showing his arms. “And yet, when I woke up, everything was clean.”

“Listen, brother, “Hera laughed softly, as if he didn’t believe Alex’s story. “What is it called? Regeneration, right?”

“No,” Alex shook his head. “I was in a rehabilitation center, and even in a few months nothing has changed. And then it all went away overnight.”

Hera shrugged his shoulders and opened a second bottle of beer. Alex continued.

“And so, I just dropped the pill, and it’s already in the toilet.”

“Forget it, “Hera waved his hand. “It happened to me: I got so drunk the day before that I didn’t drink a drop at my mother’s birthday party.”

Alex frowned, seeing that his friend didn’t believe him. I breathed a sigh of relief and watched them. They discussed something for a while longer, and then they said goodbye.

“I’ll see you at the funeral tomorrow,” Alex said gloomily and shook his friend’s hand. He nodded.

I didn’t want to fly overtaking a yellow car. When Alex opened the door, I slipped inside and got into the passenger seat. It was safer for me and for him, if something happens on the road, I’ll be there and I can save him quickly.

“What’s going on?” Alex cursed, closing the door and looking around the interior. I froze like a statue. He didn’t fasten his seat belt. I sighed and turned off the car.

“What do you want?” Alex frowned and tried to start the car again, but to no avail. Now her heart was under my control.

Alex slammed on the steering wheel, cursed, then buckled in. The car started up and started moving.

“What the hell,” Alex muttered to himself and pulled out onto the road.

***

At night, the ward slept soundly, without turning over. I was looking at the moon outside the window — it couldn’t be seen from the cage in the Celestial Empire, only the stars. I wanted to fly there and find out the truth from Tatiana: why was I pardoned and why was I sent to Alex? I looked at the guy again: his eyelashes were trembling, he was dreaming, but I didn’t intrude on him and continued to look out the window.

I wondered why Alex was hurting himself. Doesn’t he love himself? He’s very handsome. Maybe it’s his mother. She’s probably dead. How old was he then? Some angels can read the memories of their charges, but I’m not one of them. I can heal, neutralize dangerous substances, enter dreams, and even create my own dreams. But I can’t read other people’s memories. As my friend Vito used to say, it can be developed. He has been training for so long that he is now able to read the thoughts and memories of his players even from a distance. I smiled, remembering how long it had been since I’d seen him. We can communicate like people on the phone, but it’s a one-way connection. An angel flies to the Celestial Empire if his name is called, if he is not busy saving the ward. We can clearly hear our voice and our name.

Vito and I often met in the tower of the Celestial Empire, but after my first trial, we began to see each other less often. No, Vito didn’t change his attitude towards me, but I was afraid to leave my ward unattended, even though he called me several times.

I looked sadly at the sky, where the stars were dimming, heralding the dawn. I really wanted to see my blond friend right now and find out how he was doing, and I wanted to tell him about the strange things that were happening to me. Maybe Vito knew something about the color of the aura, or he himself had encountered such a phenomenon that the ward seemed to feel the presence of an angel.

Chapter 4

Alex put on black trousers and a shirt, but decided not to wear a jacket. He looked at himself in the mirror, and I stood behind him. And I noticed one very strange thing. We looked alike: similar facial features, eyes, cheekbones. This similarity suddenly struck me. It was like we were brother and sister. I noticed that his aura today was bright purple with green edges.

Moving away from Alex, I began to watch him. He put on shoes and applied perfume. Suddenly, there were footsteps in the hallway and a knock on the door.

“Are you ready?” Alex’s father asked, looking at his son.

“Yes,” Alex replied shortly.

“I remind you that you will leave for the airport immediately after the funeral. The suitcase has already been loaded,” the father said sternly, getting ready to leave.

“I’ll leave,” Alex replied coldly. “But I want you to know that I’m not doing this for you, but for Mom.”

“At least this way,” his father said softly.

“There are many moments in my memory that prove that you never loved me,” Alex continued. The father froze and listened attentively. “She died because of you.”

“What are you talking about?” My father flared up, coming closer.

Alex didn’t back down. They were almost the same height.

“If you hadn’t faked your death and made her believe it, she would still be alive,” Alex said, looking into his father’s eyes.

“If I hadn’t done that, most likely, no one would have been left alive in this house,” the father replied furiously, glaring at his son. “And even you.”

Alex didn’t say anything, just looked into his father’s eyes.

“I’m waiting in the car,” my father said, and slammed the door and left the room.

Alex looked around the room, making sure he hadn’t forgotten anything. Then he sighed, looked at his mother’s portrait, and left.

I flew after the black sedan. There were two people in the car: a man, Alex’s father, was driving, and Alex himself was in the passenger seat, staring out the window with a detached look. I have already attended the funerals of my wards’ relatives, but every time it was unbearable. To see them suffer, to see their hearts burst with pain. And the worst part is that you can’t help them through the pain. There is no magic cure for human pain, not physical, but mental. At such moments, I can literally hear their soul crying.

The car stopped at a building decorated with flowers and wreaths. Alex got out of the car, followed by his father. Two people came out of the building: a woman and a man in black. The woman, all in tears, immediately rushed to Alex with her fists:

“How could you? It’s all because of you! You got him hooked on this stuff, he died because of you!”

Alex was silent, not saying a word. The man accompanying the woman took her by the shoulders and gently pulled her aside.

“Don’t talk nonsense, Svetlana,” he said. “The guy is worried too. He’s grieving for our son.”

“He left him. He did it on purpose, my son died, but he stayed alive. You see, he’s alive,” Artyom’s mother persisted, her voice breaking, she was on the verge of hysteria.

The woman continued to cry, shouting unpleasant words at Alex. Her soul was crying uncontrollably and suffering, I heard the rapid beating of her heart, saw her tears. The tears of a mother who lost her son. But the man still managed to lead her away. Alex gathered his strength and entered the building. Inside, his friend lay in a coffin, motionless and cold. Alex cautiously approached the coffin, as if he couldn’t believe his eyes. He rubbed his eyes, covered his mouth with his hand, and tears rolled down his cheeks.

Alex’s father left the building and walked over to the car. He took out a bouquet of flowers from the back seat and laid them by the coffin. Alex stood silently by his side, looking at his friend’s motionless face. Then he went outside, where Hera was already waiting for him.

“How are you?” Hera asked, looking at Alex.

“It’s lousy,” Alex replied gloomily. “You should have heard his mother screaming.”

“Yes, I saw that she was hysterical. The ambulance arrived there,” Gera added, pointing towards another building.

Alex was silent for a long time, smoking a cigarette. His gaze was fixed on the building where his friend was lying. I was wondering what was going on in his head right now. Has he thought about changing his lifestyle in order to finally choose a different path? He spoke softly:

“I’m going to the airport.”

“Come on, brother,” Hera replied, smiling slightly. “Don’t forget, I’ll be waiting for you in Russia.”

Hera hugged my ward and lowered his head. Alex nodded and headed for the car. The father was already behind the wheel, waiting for his son. They set off again, immersed in silence. I flew next to him and kept looking at the thoughtful Alex, his eyes were red with tears. I really didn’t want him to suffer, but I knew he wouldn’t change any other way.

Alex took his suitcase out of the trunk and, without looking back, entered the airport building. It was a little noisy and cool inside. He knew that he had a long way ahead of him, he would live in another country and did not know when he would return to Russia. But I just looked at him thoughtfully and saw something strange in him.

His father, Oleg, was standing next to him, holding documents in his hands. He was calm and confident.

“I hope you do well there,” Oleg said, looking at Alex. “I transferred the money to you, so you’ll have enough for the first time. Your partner will provide you with an apartment. If you feel good there, then don’t come back.”

His father sighed and, lowering his eyes, said faintly,

“I don’t want to feel what Artyom’s parents felt.”

Alex didn’t say anything. He just held out his hand in farewell, and his father squeezed it tightly. Oleg looked at his son with concern, but at the same time he sighed, as if he knew that now his life was not in danger.

“Be careful,” he added.

Alex nodded and, without turning around, went to the reception desk. I could feel his heart beating faster, but he was walking steadily forward. In a new country, he will start a new life, away from questionable friends and away from his father, who did not have a very positive influence on him.

It was quiet inside the plane. Alex was sitting by the window, looking at the clouds passing through the porthole. I could feel the excitement inside him. It’s the fear of something new, but I was there, and I knew I would do everything to keep him alive.

He refused alcohol on board. He closed his eyes and seemed to fall asleep. I was looking out the window at the pink fluffy clouds. I realized that I was flying to the Celestial Empire that night. I had a lot of questions that Tatiana would help me answer. I was hoping that she would be able to talk to me today.

***

I was walking through the airport, following Alex, and I couldn’t take my eyes off his bright aura. He walked confidently, carrying his luggage, and stopped to look at his phone. People were hurrying around, but I ignored them, absorbed in watching Alex.

My gaze happened to fall on a couple who had probably just returned from a trip. They were greeted by children. A little boy with funny curls on his head, with a joyful squeal, rushed to his mother and hugged her with great pleasure. This moment was so warm and tender that I involuntarily stopped to admire them.

I’ve always dreamed of feeling someone’s warmth, hugs, and kisses. But my thoughts were interrupted when I heard a voice calling for Alex.

“Alex,” a man’s voice said. I turned around and saw a slightly gray-haired man approaching us. He was dressed quite unusually for his age: bright shorts, a white T-shirt and a red cap.

“Vladimir?” Alex asked uncertainly.

“That’s the one,” the man laughed and, shaking Alex’s hand, pulled him to himself to hug him.

“How you’ve grown!”

“Vladimir, I’m already thirty,” Alex replied, trying to distance himself from the man.

“But I saw you very young when I visited your father,” Vladimir continued. “How old were you then? Ten years old?”

“I was twelve, “Alex said gloomily, looking away. His dark eyes met mine for a moment, and I felt my heart tighten. I quickly checked if my pendant was still there. He was there, as always.

“Yes,” Vladimir replied, ceasing to smile. “Well, let’s go. I’ll tell you everything on the way.”

They walked out of the airport, and I stayed away, trying not to attract Alex’s attention. But he seemed to sense my presence and periodically looked around. I kept my eyes on him, watching his movements in this crowded place.

I realized that it was better to stay close to Alex, so as not to get lost in this huge city. When Vladimir opened the door of his car, I literally slipped inside.

We were driving through New York, and I couldn’t take my eyes off its beauty. Everything was glowing: the buildings, the lanterns on the streets. I smiled, realizing once again that man is capable of creating beauty even without the help of nature. This city with all its lights was literally mesmerizing.

“This is New York,” Vladimir said, looking at Alex with a smile. He just smiled slightly and stared out the window.

“Do you like it?” Vladimir asked.

“It’s beautiful,” Alex replied shortly.

“You will live on West 68th Street, my former bachelor apartment is there. There is a cafe nearby. And we’ll be working in Manhattan. For now, you’ll be driving a rented Toyota. And then, if you want, you can buy yourself a new car,” Vladimir smiled again, but Alex didn’t seem to share his amusement.

I entered the apartment that Vladimir had provided for Alex. He was already there and showed him around the room with a smile.

“Everything is here,” he said, pointing to the furniture. Washing machine, refrigerator, microwave, bed, wardrobe. By the way, here’s a brand-new MacBook for you. Set it up and you can use it for work.”

Alex glanced at the white box that stood on the table. His face remained cold, but I noticed his eyes narrowing slightly as he examined the equipment.

“There is no TV, but there is Wi-Fi, paid for a month. So, you can find something interesting on the Internet,” Vladimir continued, taking out his keys. “It’s from your car. She’s across the street.”

“Okay,” Alex replied shortly. “And who will I work for?”

“In the marketing department,” Vladimir replied, slapping him on the shoulder. “Aren’t you a marketing specialist by training?”

“I’m more of an advertiser,” Alex said coldly. “And I’ve never worked.”

Vladimir grinned and patted him on the shoulder again.

“I know, that’s why you’re going to be an intern. Do you have a sense of humor?”

Alex smiled slightly.

“Then we’ll work together,” Vladimir said, and turned around and headed for the exit.” Get some rest, I’ll see you tomorrow at eleven.

He stopped and took out an envelope, handed it to Alex.

“I almost forgot. This is your new SIM card and money, an advance, and I think you’ll need them for the first time. I recommend having lunch and dinner in a cafe. Cooking at home is expensive.”

Alex thanked him and shook his hand.

“Then rest,” Vladimir repeated. “The shower is over there. Till tomorrow.”

He left the apartment, leaving Alex alone with his thoughts. Alex closed the door behind him and, looking around, looked back at the apartment. Everything was new, unfamiliar, but at the same time somehow familiar. He felt that here he had to start a new chapter of his life. I sighed and realized that my place would be on the windowsill, as always. She loved watching her charges from this point, and most importantly, she could see what was happening around her, how other people lived. How is life going there, outside the world of my wards? And, of course, from that point on, I understood when night falls and I can go to my angelic home.

He went into the bathroom and turned on the shower. The warm water helped him relax and wash away the stress of the day. After getting out of the shower, Alex wrapped himself in a towel and returned to the room. He opened the refrigerator and took out a pack of cookies. Sitting down on the bed, he felt fatigue overwhelm him. But he knew that tomorrow would be a new day, and he had to be prepared for any eventuality.

He lay down on the bed and closed his eyes. Tomorrow he will have a new life, new people, new tasks. And he was ready for it. At least, that’s what I thought. And it’s time for me to fly to Tatiana. I stepped onto the parapet in the open window and soared up.

Chapter 5

I landed in a familiar tower, the walls of which were decorated with ancient runes. This place has always made me tremble, because I felt safe here. I looked up at the sky, which seemed almost like home to me, and said softly,

“Vito.”

There was no response. I frowned and just stared into the distance, hoping that my blond friend would show up soon. But time passed, and he wasn’t there. I repeated his name a few more times, but it was all in vain. In the end, I realized that maybe he was busy saving his ward.

I called his name the last time, but he never showed up. I went down the stairs from the tower and walked along the corridor, where I was greeted by several angels. They looked at me warily, as always. To them, I was a demon because of my unusual appearance. But I stopped paying attention to it a long time ago.

The hallway was long and bright, but there was no sign of Tamara or Mikhail. Apparently, they were deciding the fate of an angel again. I needed my mentor, Tatiana. Whenever I appeared in Celestial Empire, she felt it and came out to meet me. But she wasn’t there now. Am I really going to fly away without getting an answer?

I went out onto the balcony, which was located near the stone hall. From here, there was a view of the Garden of Eden with its green beauty and warm sunlight. I immediately remembered the butterfly that I revived here. And then I saw a beautiful butterfly with golden wings. I held out my hand, and she carefully sat on it, carefully clinging with her paws. I smiled and blew on it, watching it flutter between the flowers and fly away into the depths of the garden.

I really wanted to walk around this place, but I knew I didn’t have much time. Dawn is coming soon on Earth, which means that Alex will wake up. He’s alone in a strange city, and I have to protect him. But why would I want to do that? A couple of days ago, I dreamed of going to Earth and living a human life. Has everything really changed so quickly?

I shook my head, trying to get rid of unnecessary thoughts. Jumping from the balcony, I found myself near a waterfall. Scooping up cool water with my hand, I clenched my fist and felt my strength returning. Now I’m ready to return to the big city called New York.

***

When I came in through the window, I saw that Alex was no longer asleep. He took a shower and got dressed. After leaving the apartment, he went to the car. Starting the engine, he drove towards the office.

The office of the company where he was to work was located in the city center. It was a modern building with large windows and glass doors. Alex parked the car and went inside.

He was met in the lobby by a security guard who checked his ID and let him inside. Alex took the elevator to the right floor and found himself in a spacious corridor decorated with paintings and flowers. I noticed that it’s very nice and cozy here. I walked beside him. Alex saw several doors and, going up to one of them, knocked.

“Come in,” a voice called from inside.

Alex opened the door and entered the office. There was a man sitting at the table, the same one who had met him on arrival yesterday. He had short dark hair and penetrating eyes. It was Vladimir, his new boss and his father’s partner. He looked very strict today, wearing a dark suit, tie and a crisp white shirt.

“Good morning, Alex,” Vladimir said, getting up from the table and extending his hand. “It’s good to see you.”

“Good morning, Vladimir,” Alex replied, shaking his hand.

Vladimir pointed to a chair opposite the table.

“Have a seat.” Let’s talk about your first day.

Alex sat down and looked at Vladimir. He felt that this man would play an important role in his life. I walked around the perimeter of the office and examined the decorations on the walls. There were a lot of awards and diplomas. In the background, I listened to what Vladimir and Alex were talking about.

“So, you will be an intern in the marketing department,” Vladimir began. “Your main task is to help our marketers with data analysis and development of advertising campaigns. Do you have any experience in this field?”

“A little, “Alex replied. “I had an internship at an advertising agency.”

“Don’t worry, “Vladimir said with a smile. “We will help you to adapt. You will work under the guidance of our senior marketer, Felicia. She is an employee with a lot of experience and will help you with everything.”

“Thank you,” Alex replied quietly.

“Now let’s talk about your responsibilities. First of all, you will need to study our database and learn how to work with analytical tools. You will also have to participate in the development of advertising concepts and help in the implementation of marketing strategies.”

Alex was nodding, but I could see the excitement on his face. He knew he had a lot of work ahead of him, but was he ready for it? As far as I could understand, his life always took place near his father, who provided him with everything he needed. Alex never worked, he just burned his life with alcohol and substances. Can a person really change so quickly?

I looked closely at Alex’s face and realized more and more that he was very handsome for a human being. High cheekbones, prominent chin. I could hear a man’s voice in the background.

“If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact me or Felicia,” Vladimir added. “We are always ready to help.”

“Thank you, Vladimir, “Alex repeated.

“Well, let’s get to work,” Vladimir said, getting up from the table. “Felicia is waiting for you in the office. If you need anything, just tell me.”

“Okay,” Alex replied and left the office.

He walked down the hall to Felicia’s office. On the way, he noticed several employees who smiled at him warmly. But he didn’t smile in response, and in general, you couldn’t read any emotions on his face right now, as if he were made of stone.

When he opened the door to Felicia’s office, he saw a woman in her thirties with long red hair and blue eyes. She was sitting at her desk, typing on her laptop.

“Hello, Alex,” she said, lifting her head and smiling. “Nice to meet you. My name is Felicia.”

“Hello, Felicia,” Alex replied in another language, shaking her hand. “Thank you for agreeing to help me.”

Felicia’s smile widened. And then I started studying the girl, she had fair skin, freckles not only on her face, but also on her neck, chest and arms. She was wearing a bright blue dress, and I looked at her curves and studied Alex’s reaction to her. He smiled back at her, did he really like the girl.

“You’re welcome, Alex. I’m sure you’ll get used to it quickly. Let’s start by exploring our database. Here, take this,” she handed him a folder with documents. Here is everything you need to know about our current projects and tasks.”

Alex took the folder and began to look through it. And then I heard his heart start beating faster. I approached him and looked at his face, it was red. Either he was just nervous, or he was embarrassed.

I followed him down the hall to another office and noticed that Alex was looking at the back of Felicia’s dress. I ran my hand through Alex’s hair, and he immediately got distracted and ran his hand over his head. Smiling, I beat Felicia to my favorite spot in the office, the windowsill.

***

Alex was sitting on the couch with his legs tucked under him, staring into space. His thoughts were far from reality, but his father’s voice brought him back to the present. He sighed, trying to collect his thoughts, and said softly.

“It’s all right.”

“Alex, I hope that you can change your life and become a better person,” his father’s voice sounded soft, but there was firmness in it.

Alex replied sharply.

“And I hope that someday you will learn to understand me.”

He got up and started pacing the room. I watched him, invisible, feeling something begin to cause a pulling sensation inside me, something that had never happened before.

The father continued,

“I really want to see you successful and doing what you love. Alex, while I’m alive, I really want to see my grandchildren.

Alex grinned and went to the window. I was sitting in an invisible sphere, and his words touched me.

“Of course,” he said mockingly. “I saw my boss here today. She’s such a cool thing, the red-haired beast. She has everything with her. I’ll probably suggest tomorrow that she make you grandchildren right at the workplace.”

His words sounded rude, and I blew right in his face. Alex backed away from the window and turned around, checking that it was closed. His eyes were confused, but I kept looking at him, trying to figure out what was going on in his head.

“Alex, this concludes the dialogue. I see that it’s too early to talk about changes,” the father said calmly but firmly, and hung up the phone.

Alex threw the phone on the table and went back to the window. I couldn’t stand it and blew on it to cool it down a bit. He staggered back, his face contorted in surprise.

“Who’s there? What is it?” he asked, looking around.

I got up and walked past him. My attention was drawn to the MacBook box on the cabinet. I pushed her lightly, and she fell to the floor with a crash. Alex started and turned around. I smiled, watching his reaction. When he experiences fear, his face becomes stony and his features become sharper. It made him even more attractive.

“If Tatiana had been watching me, she would have wagged her finger at me,” I thought.

I shouldn’t scare my ward. But I didn’t like the way he talked to his dad. After all, he has to honor his parents, and he spoke so rudely about Felicia in a conversation with him.

These thoughts made me frown. I knew I had to find a way to help Alex, but how do I do that without interfering in his life?

Chapter 6

Alex barely slept last night. He listened attentively to every sound from the neighboring apartments and from the street. He woke up several times, and in order not to disturb him, I just sat quietly next to him, protecting the remnants of his sleep.

The memory of Vito came back to me. We met when I was a little girl, the youngest among the angels. It wasn’t until I started spreading my wings that I realized I was different from the others. The angels’ reaction to me quickly made it clear that finding friends would not be easy. And then a curly-haired blond boy came up to me and took my hand.

“My name is Vito. And you?”

“Era,” I replied uncertainly, without taking my eyes off his blue ones.

He smiled and pulled me along. We walked through the corridors of the Celestial Empire at night when no one saw us.

“Let’s be best friends,” Vito suggested. I nodded, not hiding my joy. He wasn’t intimidated by my black hair, dark eyes, and wings.

Our friendship was quickly discovered. Mikhail did it first. He looked down at me, as if he was examining whether everything human in me was dead. Are there any memories of earthly life?

Michael, the Archangel and teacher of the rules of the Celestial Empire, was harsh with everyone, especially with me. I found out that he was against my joining the angels. There was something about me that he disliked, but he never said it out loud. When we got older, Vito and I often flew to the tower, imagining what our wards would be like.

“I want to take care of a little girl,” he said one day. “To see how she grows and becomes beautiful. How are you.”

I didn’t think much of those words at the time. Vito was like a brother to me. We could appreciate the beauty and admire it, but inside we remained cold. We couldn’t love, hate, or experience other emotions. But the more I learned about people’s lives, the more I realized that if we could feel, it would be love.

“Oh, Vito, where are you now?” I thought, looking up at the stars. I really wanted to share my thoughts with him. Although he had previously known about my desire to go to Earth, the meeting ordered otherwise. Now I was in an apartment in New York watching my ward fall asleep.

Dawn came slowly. Alex lazily got out of bed and looked out the window. He looked tired, and I regretted scaring him yesterday.

I watched him take a shower and was once again convinced of his beauty. Suddenly, I noticed a small scar on my back. I wanted to take a closer look at him, but I restrained myself.

“Good morning, Felicia,” Alex said with a smile, looking at the red — haired girl. I stood behind him and watched them interact.

“Good morning, Alex,” the girl replied, coming closer and straightening her hair. “You look tired. Didn’t sleep well?”

“It’s nothing,” Alex replied, but I noticed how he stole a glance at Felicia.

They were discussing work issues, but I could see that Alex couldn’t take his eyes off the girl. His heart was beating faster. Did he really feel something more for her? I’ve been following Alex all day like a shadow.

He visited Felicia and Vladimir several times, then had lunch in a cafe opposite the office. That’s where I saw his real emotions. He looked at her indifferently, as if he missed the past. Then he sighed and went home. I flew after him until he stopped at the bar. It was a small place, similar to the place where I first saw him.

The bar was stuffy, there were a lot of people, everyone was relaxed. Alex sat down at a table and ordered a drink. I wanted to step in, as usual, but I decided to wait.

A girl with lots of tattoos and piercings sat down next to him. Alex smiled and ordered more drinks for both of them. I wanted to stop him, but curiosity got the better of me. What will happen next?

Suddenly, I noticed a demon in the middle of the hall. He was looking right at me. I frowned and rushed to him, but he was gone.

What was the demon doing here? They usually appear before death, but none of the people looked like they were going to die soon. Everyone was young and cheerful, they were dancing and having fun.

I wanted to go back to Alex, but I lost sight of him. I tried to feel his emotions, but the taste of blood appeared in my mouth. When I saw a dark corner, I went there and saw him. He was with that girl in the dimly lit bathroom. There was a tourniquet on his arm, and a puncture mark on the curve. The girl was laughing, taking off his shirt and trying to get into his pants. I couldn’t stand it and forcefully opened the door. They didn’t seem to notice anything strange and continued on.

After flying out of the bar, I looked up at the sky, saw the first stars, and took off. I stopped when my hair started to get covered in frost. I took a deep breath and realized that no matter how much I liked it, I had to go back. I have to protect Alex, who seemed to have started a new life, but quickly exchanged it for a fleeting high and dirty carnal pleasures.

Deep night descended on the Earth. Alex walked down the street to his apartment, and I silently slid from roof to roof, watching him. There was alcohol in his blood and something else. I was back on the roof and saw that demon.

“Stop!” I shouted and rushed downstairs. But the demon was gone.

I looked at Alex. He had already entered the apartment and collapsed on the bed. I wanted to fly to Mikhail and ask him what the demon needed. But I couldn’t leave Alex. He was unconscious.

I searched the area all night, but the demon didn’t appear. Maybe he got lost or waited for death to collect the strongest negative emotions.

***

Alex’s phone was bursting in his pocket, but he was asleep. His wild nighttime adventure in New York made itself felt. I knew he wouldn’t go to work, Vladimir would probably send him back to Russia. Sighing, I realized that I couldn’t break the rules and change his life. My mission is to keep him alive, and he’s alive: his heart is beating, he’s sleeping. Even in the morning, he started having distorted dreams. Who am I to guide him on the right path? Especially yesterday, when I was distracted, he had sex with the first girl he saw and consumed something much worse than alcohol.

It was only in the afternoon that Alex lazily got out of bed. He looked at the phone, dropped it and went into the shower naked. I could see how bad he was: he turned on the hot water to keep warm, but nothing helped. Outside the shower, he wrapped himself in a towel and shivered. Wet hair, shaking body — it seemed like he was dying. But I understood: these are the consequences of substance use.