Angel Vesta sat in a tall swivel chair, drumming her fingers on a desk. She opened the folder and read the information again.
To: Head Angel Vesta
Subject: Halo Havens, female.
Age: twelve years, two days.
Education: Grade Seven, Holy Spirit School, Planet Earth
Parents: Mary and Max Havens. Both parents killed in a car accident six months after the birth of their only child.
Guardian: Dora Havens, sister of Max.
Transport to: White Feathers, Star IV.
Signed: Powers
She closed the folder and turned her chair to face a panel of floor-to-ceiling windows with a view of a manicured park.
~~~~
Koze led Halo down a narrow hallway to a set of tall wooden doors marked Private. He pressed a button and stepped behind her when the doors opened.
“Welcome, please come in. I am Angel Vesta, headmistress of White Feathers Academy.”
She wore a long green sweater dress, the same color as her unusual eyes. A single white feather secured her long brown hair at the nape of her neck, allowing it to fall freely down her back. She was the most beautiful woman Halo had ever seen, until yesterday when she met Asia.
“You may leave now, Koze. Thank you.” The doors opened and closed behind Koze.
Sunshine streamed through prism-shaped ceiling windows in a kaleidoscope of rainbow hues on the walls and floor. Tall tree trunks lined one side of the room, their hollow cores filled with books, tapes, and disks. A huge tapestry depicting cherubs playing on a starlit beach swayed as if suspended in air to curtain windows on one side of the room.
“Please, sit down.” The headmistress glided from behind the desk across the room without taking a step.
Halo sucked in her breath, her imagination going wild. The angel moved without walking or flying. She didn’t have wings like Asia, but she could move through the air. How did she do that? She sat on the knotty wooden chair, afraid to move or say a word to the beautiful headmistress.
“Did you sleep well?”
“Yes, ma’am,” she answered with a squirm and looked away from the beautiful angel with a musical voice. She gathered her courage and lifted her chin, determined to act brave.
“It’s a mistake, you see. I’m not supposed to be here. My aunt Dora will be worried. I need to go home.” She paused for effect. “Now.”
“You are supposed to be here. You were chosen, like everyone who lives here was chosen. Your aunt Dora loves you and will miss you, but she understands that you are safe, just as she knows your parents are safe, too.” Angel Vesta spoke firmly, but with a soft voice.
“Are they here, my parents?” She jumped out of the chair.
“No. White Feathers is only for students in their seventh year of training.”
“I’m twelve years old, almost a teenager.”
“Yes, twelve years old and two days, Earth time.” Angel Vesta glided back to her desk, sat down, and opened the folder again.
“You mean I will live with them, my parents? They’re angels, aren’t they?” Her voice was full of hope.
“No, I’m sorry. I do not know the location of your parents. My work is with the angel realms of children, not adults. You came here to find and perfect your talent and make your own special place in the angel realms.”
“My talent? Everybody keeps talking about my talent. I don’t get it.” She collapsed back into the chair.
“Talent is a gift. It is something unique to you alone. Your talent and what you do with it determines where you will go when you leave here. Did you know that angels have jobs?”
She shook her head, focused on the floor, hoping Angel Vesta wouldn’t see the tears gathering in her eyes.
“Angels help keep balance and order in the worlds by watching over living things like plants, animals, birds, and especially people. Some angels specialize in science, medicine, planets, and the elements of nature. They help to make the worlds safe and better places to live. Others study art, music, drama, and philosophy, and use their knowledge to enrich the lives of the people throughout the worlds.” Angel Vesta paused for a few seconds.
“Sometimes when a life ends early, in infancy or childhood, there isn’t enough time to discover one’s talent or make life choices between good and evil. The Guardian angels bring these children to one of the planet villages or, if they are at the critical age of twelve, like you, to a safe haven such as White Feathers. These children grow up, discover their talents, and choose their place in the worlds. You will have a chance to do this at White Feathers. Do you understand?”
She didn’t want to understand. She shook her head violently. She wanted to go home.
“Angels are everywhere, watching, helping, and protecting life in all the worlds. Sometimes angels take a person away from danger and deliver him to a safe place and a new life. Asia brought you here to begin a new life.”
“I’m not supposed to be here. Maybe Asia made a mistake. I mean, it’s not that I don’t like you or the angels and all that, but I can’t stay. Aunt Dora will worry about me. Don’t you understand?” she pleaded.
“I didn’t mean to skate out in the street. I know better. I didn’t want the little dog to get hit by a car.” She wanted to keep her voice steady, to finish the story, but she couldn’t.
“I’m dead. That’s what you’re saying. I’m dead. That’s why Asia came, isn’t it?” She rocked back and forth in the chair, her arms crossed and her hands clasping her shoulders. She was dizzy, cold, and frightened. She covered her face with her hands. She didn’t want Angel Vesta to know how frightened she was.
“Everything will be all right.” Angel Vesta glided toward her.
“No.” She stretched out her arms, palms forward, in an attempt to push Angel Vesta away. “I can’t stay here. It’s a trick. You can’t make me stay here.” Tears became gasps then hiccups. She didn’t want to see Angel Vesta ever again. Then everything went black.