Fallen

Chapter Six

A steady knock at the door broke Harpers focus from her task. Lifting her head, she let her hands fall away from her hair, abandoning the attempt to tame her dark waves. She kept her green eyes on her reflection as she called out a weak 'come in'.

The mirror reflected the entrance of her mother, stepping in to her room with an air of grace that Harper had always envied. Despite her own gifts, her ability to entrance others so easily and keep them captivated, she had always longed for a more subtle ability. To have the same effect, but with the way she moved, or her presence rather than her direct and purposeful influence.

Her gazed remained on her mother, dressed in a long, dark green gown, as she stepped up behind the chair Harper occupied. She knew with little doubt that she gained her gifts from her mother. Her dark hair, her green eyes, and her ability to control a room with little effort, were all things her mother had mastered even without the angelic influence Harper possessed. Looking at her now, she couldn't deny how much they still looked alike.

Anne's eyes roamed over her daughter, before an appreciative smile touched her lips.

"You look lovely," she praised, bringing her hands to Harpers shoulders.

"Thank you,"

"Are you almost ready?"

With a slightly dramatic sigh, Harper nodded. She had been spending the last hour preparing for the gathering that evening, and to her, it was exhausting. Her makeup was simple, barely visible as she knew Angels valued natural beauty, not Earthy enhancement. This reminder had been drilled into Harper all day long. Her dress was a long, royal blue satin sheath that hugged her curves, but was still demure. The thin straps, coupled with the gentle dip in the neckline allowed her to be sexy, without exuding sex outright. Again, something that was greatly forbidden to emphasize. All that was left was to add a gentle wave to her long, dark hair, and Harper would be ready. At least outwardly.

The expression caused Anne's smile to fall.

"I don't feel I need to remind you of the importance of this gathering," she urged, her eyes imploring Harper through their mirrored reflections. "The climate around the community is unsteady at best. We had hoped for a more positive result with the coming of the Angels, but your father fears they are not as impartial as we would hope."

Harper couldn't hold back her snort. "Of course they aren't, mother. Regardless of if they have been directly involved in the dealings with the Fallen, they know of us. I don't presume that heaven is immune to the same rumor mill tendencies that we see on Earth. They knew of us, and our reputation, even before they came here."

Anne's frown deepened, although she did not argue with Harper's words. Because, she knew, there was no denying the probability of truth behind them.

With a resigned sigh, Anne squeezed Harper's shoulders. "Nevertheless, we need to make every effort to change their opinions of us, if they have them yet at all. This gathering could be the start of that. They are unfamiliar with the ways of Earth, and this adjustment may work in our favor. Show them that it isn't always so black and white, when faced with humanity and mortality on a daily basis."

"I'm sure they don't need a party to see that, mother," Harper argued gently. "Let them spend a little time here, and it will become quite obvious. Let them come to our schools, our jobs. See that when you force those who were once Angels, like them, to effectively mingle in a world where almost everything is considered forbidden, it is almost impossible to be what we are expected to be. We are expected to be human, to live as them, but at the same time turn our backs on everything that is considered inappropriate or a sin? It is a contradiction, and one that even they wouldn't be able to live up you, I bet."