Halos Rust Too

Chapter 1

Elijah woke up with tired and blinking eyes. He turned his head to look at the digital clock on his wall beside the bed; it was just another Wednesday, which meant he would study with Dante in the morning and go to help Mrs. Izebel in the afternoon. Not that he didn't like the routine, or studying, or helping Mrs. Izebel. After all, that's what he was made to do, according to the career assignment test he took with everyone else his age six years ago. And everyone was happy with their careers. Of course they were. The test wouldn't be wrong.

Elijah yawned and stretched, his back and shoulders popping. He sat up, but stayed sitting on the edge of his bed for a few moments, gazing at the bed against the opposite wall. Angel was asleep still, his curly hair peeking out from under the blankets. Elijah knew that Angel would wake up while he was leaving, and run to the door like he always did. He smiled a bit at the thought then went into the bathroom to brush his teeth.

Sometimes, he wished he knew what he looked like. He knew he was big, they had measured him at career assignment. He had been 6'4" and 265 pounds, and he's pretty sure he's only grown an inch or two since then. But he had no clue what his face looked like. Angel just told him that his face was handsome, and that didn't help much.

Just like he thought, Elijah heard a yawn when he got to the door. By the time he finished unlocking the door and looked behind him, Angel was already there and looking up at his purple eyes. Elijah cupped Angel's face with one hand. He loved that face, the big doe-like brown eyes, the soft brown skin, and especially the expressions he always found upon it.
"Why do you always run? You've never missed me." He spoke playfully, and those brown eyes sparkled joyfully back
"Maybe I would miss you if I didn't run. I don't want to take that chance."

Elijah kissed Angel's forehead, "I know you won't. I'll see you at lunch sweetheart. Don't sneak up on Mr. Smith like that, he'll have a heart attack."

Angel laughed and Elijah smiled at him then walked out the door with a final wave. Everything looked as it always had; everything outside was washed in the soft blue of the ocean that pressed in all around the dome. He could see the edge of the dome from where he and Angel lived. But before that, right across the street, was his destination: The Library, where the Grand Elders met to talk or study. He crossed the road and instinctively looked at and briefly read the inscription on the archway, even though he had it memorized by now:

There are no mirrors in Canaan

For vanity is a distraction

There is no pain in Canaan

For wounds are healed as you sleep

There is no hunger in Canaan

For the gardens ensure there cannot be

There is happiness in Canaan

For that was The Builders' intention

He was glad to be living in Canaan. Things were better here than they had ever been on land, and certainly better than they were for mermaids.

Dante was waiting in the doorway with his arms crossed and his nose scrunched in annoyance. "Why do you never come early?"

"Why do you always come early? You know I won't show up until 7 either way." Elijah took out his keys to the Library.

Dante became more annoyed and scowled at Elijah. He hated that Elijah had the keys, just because he was a few years older. "Maybe one day you'll think about me a bit and just come early."

Elijah ignored the comment and successfully unlocked the door. "Let's get breakfast so you can calm down a bit," He said once he got the door open, and went in before Dante could respond.