The Azra-El Series Ch. 18.1

But her head is yelling nooo

She looked down into his sparkling green eyes and found him gazing back with an intensity that set her heart fluttering erratically and brought her stomach lurching to life.

And her heart is telling her to let goo

They forgot the world around them, lost in the depth of each other's eyes and locked by the intensity of their gaze. If the world had come crashing around them, they would not have noticed it one bit.

At that moment, Blaze fought a losing battle against his will to take her face in his hands give her a scorching kiss that she would remember for eons to come.

But her friend is nowhere to be seen

Now she walks in her sunken dream

In the seat with the clearest view

And she's hooked to those dazzly orbs

Slowly, Blaze began to lead her in a sauntering waltz. The music receded to the background in their minds, and their bodies instinctively responded to the rhythm.

But the song is a saddening bore

For she's heard it ten times or more

They glided and wove between the other angels and their duet attracted a few curious glances. Unlike Blaze's dance with Astrid at Saket, this dance was comparatively chaste, except for what was going through Blaze's mind in that moment.

... Sailors fighting in the dance hall

Oh gosh, look at those angels gooo

Suddenly, Lynn raised Blaze's arm over their heads. He gave her a curious look and found a sparkle in her eye. She spun her hand and he chose to twirl under it. After all, He was the short one. Stepping back on her left foot, she pulled him towards herself, switching the positions of their hands to take the lead.

... Oh gosh, wonder if she'll ever know

She's in the bestselling show

Is there life with Mars?

Suddenly, Blaze noticed a change in Lynn. Her pensive gaze was gone to be replaced with a new sense of freedom. However, somewhere deep in her purple eyes, he saw was a sliver of ... trepidation?

It's on the ivka's tortured brow

That the mouse has grown up a rat

Rule Caledonia is out of bounds

To my mother, my dog, and clowns...

Blaze could empathize with the fear. He felt it too. He was comfortable with sexual attraction, but the one he currently felt was a lot more. It brought him a sense of unease. He didn't know her and the knowledge of her potentially being his Kindred was heavy.

He hoped that it was just the puzzle that was Lynn that attracted him. He had always liked to solve things.

~But the song is a saddening bore

'Cause I wrote it ten times or more

It's about to be writ again

As I ask you to focus on

Sailors fighting in the dance hall

Oh gosh, look at those angels gooo

As the cadence of the singer's voice began to increase, their movements became more and more pronounced, the knowledge that the song was going to end bringing in a need to satiate their inexplicable appetite.

Oh man, wonder if she'll ever know

She's in the bestselling show

Is there life with Mars?~

Lynn twirled him again and pulled him to her chest, their bodies finally colliding against each other. He felt her chest pressing against him. She wasn't massively endowed, but that could be a result of the tight undergarment that she seemed to be wearing under the looser cotton top.

Blaze simply gazed into her eyes as she leaned forward and dipped him low over her hand.

The song ended and the angels surrounding them began clapping - mostly for the musicians, but some of the applause was directed towards them as well. Especially from Blaze's group, who had been watching their frolics.

"Do you like the music now?" he asked her smugly, as she pulled him back upright. Her eyes danced around in embarrassment, as she tried to avoid eye contact with the angels around her.

"I never said I didn't like good music," she began to defend herself before she shook her head and let out a sigh. "Yes, I enjoyed it. Quite a lot." Her face was flushed but her words were assured.

"Another?"

"Hmm. Another time perhaps. We shouldn't overdo it. I would like to keep this memorable. Besides, your sister looks a little lonely," she replied, looking at Siofra's table.

Blaze glanced back. Siofra looked like the only company she currently cared about was more drink. Ragna and her friend seemed happy enough to keep talking with each other. However, Blaze didn't refute Lynn's words.

"Come," he said, without letting go of her hand. "I will introduce you to my sister."

"Hey guys, this is Lynn..." Blaze began once they reached the table.

"Lynn Streltsy. Rachel and I are acquaintances," Lynn introduced herself.

"Hey!" "Hello."

"Lynn, Lynn..." Siofra mused in a lilting voice. "Where've I 'eard dat before?"

"General Lynn Sturm?" Blaze offered.

"No, no. Nod her," Siofra drawled, her eyes narrowing at Blaze for a moment before suddenly widening like saucers. "I know!" she exclaimed, pointing a finger at Lynn. "You're dat angel dat she is-"

"REALLY CURIOUS about," Blaze yelled, jumping to Siofra's side and closing her mouth.

"Right, reeely curious," Siofra said, pulling Blaze's hand down, while a puzzled Lynn looked between the two. Blaze wiped Siofra's saliva on her sleeve and sat down beside her.

"Actually, the name Streltsy sounds familiar to me as well," Ragna commented, unintentionally coming to Blaze's rescue.

"You've probably heard of the Streltsy division of Angalnebo," Lynn replied, pulling up a chair and sitting between Blaze and Ragna.

"Oh, yes," Ragna nodded, "Any relation?"

"Yes. The division was named after one of my ancestors."

"Oh, wow!" Ragna exclaimed. "That's amazing. Are you from Angalnebo, then? Is your mother in the division?"

"No. Most of my family these days are mostly merchants in Caledonia. We haven't lived in Angalnebo for many generations."

"Eh, you're one of us then," Ragna smiled, butting her shoulders against her friend sitting beside her. "What do you guys deal in?"

"Mostly heavy cargo. Metal, energy stones ..."

The conversation quickly turned towards shipping companies.

Siofra finished another glass and beckoned to a waitress for more. Blaze had lost track of the number while he had been with Lynn.

"Oi, I think you've had enough," Blaze scolded her.

"Go away and just lemmebe... You had no eyes for lil' ole sister while you 'ere dancing...," she slurred. "I never been dis drunk before, and it helps me forget da 'ell I've been through. Auntie's a demon in disguise."

"Training," Blaze explained to Lynn. He considered putting a stop to Siofra's drinking but decided against it. He wanted her to learn a lesson when he was around to take care of her.

He let her be and turned to Lynn. "So, Lynn. What do you like?"

"Horses," she replied without a pause.

"Horses? Not Pegasi?"

"I like Pegasi too, but horses are my favorite creatures. I guess it's because I know I can never run like a horse. Nothing compares to the feeling of riding a wild horse when it runs through the grasslands along with its pack."

Soon, the two angels began to talk about things they liked.

Lynn wasn't very forthcoming with her identity, but she was open about her interests and views about the world.

Amongst her varied interests were reading, writing, and flying to the top of mountains. She especially loved to soar through the clouds, all by herself, and feel the freedom of simply floating along. She had apparently been a late bloomer in the flying department and flying had remained special in her mind.

Blaze had gotten so used to the idea of flying that it had somehow become as mundane as standing up or walking. But when Lynn talked about soaring through the clouds, the joy in her words made him recall the first time he had felt the wind buffeting against his face and coursing through his feathers. It truly had been the most freeing experience in either of his lives.

Defying gravity had always been his dream superpower, but now that he possessed it, it wasn't that special anymore. However, listening to Lynn talk about flying made him want to fly beside her and share her joy.

As one thing led to another, their conversation soon diverted to another subject that he usually loved discussing with Elyssa. Philosophy.

"I don't agree," Lynn said when he told her that he didn't think much of the concept of duty to nations. He had never respected the idea of actions deriving from a sense of obligation. One had to do something because they really wanted to.

"Duty for the sake of duty is how you get a stable and moral society," Lynn continued. "If everyone acts according to their desires and impulses rather than their moral obligations, we will get an anarchy, not a good moral society. Though the demons seemed to have constructed a stable society based solely on their desires, it is not a moral society.

I do not deny that good actions stemming from a desire to do good may be in a way superior to those stemming from duty. However, even angels cannot achieve a functioning society based purely on the goodwill of people. Not right now, anyway."

Blaze had a counterpoint, but before he could say anything, Siofra interjected. "Blazey, I dun feel too gud."

He looked at her and found her looking a little green. "Shit! Let's get you outside," he said, taking her hand. Siofra stood up but she stumbled and fell.

Blaze caught her under his arm and felt her whole weight on him. Her legs seemed to have turned jelly. He quickly scooped her up into his arms.

Ragna and her friend stood up to follow, but he told them that he'd take care of her and that they should just enjoy the party. Lynn silently tagged along.

Blaze quickly took Siofra outside and set her down in the garden, hoping that the fresh air would do her some good. However, as soon as she was out of his hands, she rushed to a nearby shrub and began to retch. Blaze went up to her side and patted her back while holding up her hair with his other hand.

As Siofra continued to empty the contents of her stomach into the bush some of the splatter reached his clothes. He didn't mind. He glanced at Lynn. "See, I do this because I love her," he told her. "Not because I feel it's my duty as a friend or a sibling. That's what gives it meaning. I do this because I like her so much that I cannot let her suffer by herself. My love for her is freely given. There are no other clauses."

"I have no doubt about that. But think about the other side of this incident. It was desire that led Siofra to this state. Moral duties prevent situations that could've been avoided."

"Oh, come on. She was just having fun. She didn't want to be sick."

"That's the thing, Blaze. Most angels don't intend to harm themselves or others, but simply blindly follow their desires and it leads to unwanted results. Maybe not for you, but surely for the society. Blindly following duties may also lead to such results, but having a framework helps in controlling the outcomes."

"At the expense of moral freedom. What about-"

"Can you two stop your blathering about the damned morality of my drinking habits?" Siofra interjected. "My head is splitting. Take me to a bed first and you two can quibble over my actions later," she said, wiping her mouth against her sleeve.

"Sorry, Siof. Will you fly or do you need a lift?"

"If I could fly, I would've already flown away from you two pricks."

"You can go back to the party," Blaze told Lynn, once again picking up Siofra and cradling her in his arms.

"I have no moral obligation to attend the party and I'd rather hang out with you," she joked.

After informing Ragna, the three angels headed back to Fulla's mansion. Siofra's head lolled onto his chest and she quickly fell asleep. She may have blacked out, but Blaze had no way to confirm it.

***

Blaze found Fulla, Jie Er, and Rebecca lounging around a campfire in the fields outside the mansion. They were lazing around and gazing at the stars, eating mutton chops and drinking mead.

"Just drunk," he gave them a quick explanation about Siofra's state, before taking her inside. Making sure that she was comfortable on her bed, he pulled the covers over her and placed a bottle of water by her bedside.

"You're a good sister," Lynn told him. "I've always wanted a sibling."

"So, did I. However, I think Siofra has filled that void for me these past few months. And, I get the feeling that she pretty much considers me a pixie at this point."

Lynn laughed. "You do behave like a pixie."

"Let's go for a fly," Blaze said suddenly, taking Lynn's hand.

He manifested his wings inside the room and opened the large, arched wooden windows of their room. The mansion was modeled in a Vaikunheim fashion, but the windows were made for Aranyan weather. He pulled Lynn and picked her up in a princess carry, before jumping off and soaring up into the night sky.

It was a cloudless night, but the stars sparkled like diamonds, while the town gave out a serene, halo-like glow. The muggy sea breeze brought a comfortable warmth to the cold skies. It made their clothes and feathers damp, but neither of them seemed to care.

"Tell me more about why you like horses more than Pegasi?"

"Don't know," Lynn shrugged her shoulders. "They give me a sense of absolute freedom. Though they cannot fly, it never feels like they even want to. They just run wherever they want. And when they run, it feels like they are one with nature. The Pegasi are too trained and too proud to have the freedom of a horse."

"Can horses run faster than Pegasi?"

"Of course. There are very few land animals that can outrun a horse. Pegasi can fly faster than a horse can run, though."

"You should take me horse riding sometime."

"I'd love that. Our mansion at D'warka has thirty horses."

They flew around in carefree conversation for a while, but the night had to end, and Blaze couldn't fly forever.

"Would you like to have dinner with me in town tomorrow?" he asked her as he descended.

"I can't. I have some work tomorrow, but we can hang out before dinner."

"Oh. It's fine if you're busy," he said, unsure if he had been rejected.

"Let's meet at five in the evening. I shall wait for you by the town hall," she told him, sweeping away his insecurity.

"Okay."

He landed in front of Fulla's mansion and set her down.

Lynn smiled at him and stepped back, manifesting a pair of beautiful silver wings. They seemed to shine in the dark and under the moonlight, they seemed like they were made of star material.

"See you tomorrow," she said, and took off.

Blaze watched her form until it disappeared into the town. When he went back to his and Siofra's room, the pixie woke up to his presence.

"Did ya kiss her?" she asked him with a groggy grin.

"What? No! We aren't like that," he denied, and Siofra's grin got wider. She saw the heat rising in his cheeks. "Go to sleep, you drunk pixie," he told her, before hiding inside his covers.

***

That night, Blaze had a strange dream. He stood gazing down the steep edge of an alpine cliff that was high enough to give vertigo to most angels.

"Daddy," he heard a fearful little voice that tinkled like a wind chime in a spring breeze. Two dainty little hands clutched his right hand.

He glanced down and found himself staring at an explosion of orange, red, and silvery-golden hair. The long-flowing hair started out as golden-silver before slowly turning orange and then red towards the tips that reached her ankles.

The little girl's head barely reached his elbows.

"Daddy, I am not sure about this," she said, looking up and peering at him with big, brilliant blue eyes. They were cute and slightly downturned, and Blaze found himself getting lost in them. Her gently rising ginger brows were currently scrunched, and her long lashes fluttered with innocence.

Her face was a gently curving oval and her nose was small and cutely rounded.

Though she seemed young, she looked a little short to be an angel. However, when he glanced at his feet, he realized his mistake. He was taller. Much taller. Realization struck him like a waterfall.

Fuck no! he screamed in his head. He wasn't ready to be no one's father. His instinct was to pull away his hand and flee, but his hand did no such thing. Instead, his grip on her hand tightened. As if he wanted to comfort her.

"It will be alright, dear," he heard himself speak. His voice was deeper than he was used to.

He felt his wings sprout from his back and unfold. Glancing back, he found them larger, wider, and grander. There was also a strange sensation of something wanting to burst out of his lower back and ankles, but the older Blaze chose to curb that feeling.

"Your wings are always so beautiful," the girl whispered, raising a hand and feeling his feathers.

Awesome, not beautiful! Blaze corrected her, but the same words did not flow out of his mouth. "Your wings are much more beautiful than mine, dear," he said, gently brushing the hair atop her head. It felt smooth and fluffy. "I can't even imagine how they'd look once they grow bigger."

The girl nodded and peered over the cliff again. "Dad, I am not sure about this," she told him seriously, like a grown-up. "Why can't we do this the normal way? Slowly and one step at a time..."

"Nova, do you know what happens when a skeleton goes skydiving?" he asked her.

"What?!"

"It doesn't come back down in one piece."

Blaze wanted to face-palm himself but couldn't. Oh god! He has dad jokes too.

However, the girl burst out laughing. Tell him he sucks, girl. I shall disown you if you don't.

The older Blaze suddenly grabbed his daughter and jumped off the cliff. A shrill scream tore through the skies as the two angels plummeted. At least some things haven't changed, younger Blaze approved.

The girl wrapped her limbs around him and clutched him with all her might. It brought an incredible warmth to Blaze's heart and melted it. Two brilliant wings of gold and white, as large as the twenty-year-old Blaze's, sprouted from the girl's back.

"Flap your wings, dear," the older Blaze whispered in her ear, using his wings only to slow their descent.

The girl flapped and Blaze felt the pull against gravity. They slowed and gently came to a halt as Nova rapidly beat her wings.

Still clutching him, she looked at him with angry eyes.

"Oi! Wake up!" Siofra's voice brought Blaze back to reality.

Opening his eyes, he found himself hugging Siofra just like he had been hugging Nova. Nova! That's a good name.

"Lemme go, you big oaf," Siofra groaned from his chest.

Blaze only tightened his grasp and nuzzled his chin against her bushy orange head. "Nope. You're irresistibly cuddly," he told her.

Her hair was similar to Nova's, but he was sure she wasn't her mother. His affection towards Siofra was too much like a brother's.

He had an inkling about who the mother of Nova was in his dream. But for all he knew, Nova could simply be his own. Maybe he had the ability to grow a stiff wing like the rest of the angels. He wasn't sure how this angel body of his worked. The only thing he knew for sure was that if he ever had a daughter, he would name her Nova.

Siofra stopped struggling and hugged him back. His arms felt different than usual.

***

Later that morning, Blaze asked Jie Er's permission to go out again that evening.