Angel

-Prologue-

Humanity was a selfish, arrogant thing. Too high and mighty on its galatical throne of advancement and intelligence with its man-made jewel encrusted crown that screamed, "I am King."

     To those looking in on humanity and what it was to be human, it was plain to see the self-centered, egotistical brutality of the race. Even to those who closely resembled the humans, it was as bright as the sun to see the ways of humanity.

     These beings were most commonly known as Angels, humans born with a mutation that altered them both in mind, spirit, and body. The mutation was an alien, practically a mystery to anyone who studied and anyone who possessed it.

     Humanity fears what it does not know. So to keep the public feeling protected and safe, the government kept the Angels a secret. A nice, well hidden secret. No records of birth, no information in the system. It was like they never existed.

     Human laws didn't apply to these beings. They could live how they wanted, do what they wanted. They could slaughter each other like animals and the humans wouldn't care. As long as a human never got hurt by an Angel.

     A strange system, but it was how the world worked. The government only once involved themselves with the Angels by funding construction for homes, so to speak, for the mutants. The homes were intricate mansions in each state of America and each country in Europe. They were hidden in remote locations where the Angels would live and learn as normally as possible without direct contact with a human being.

     Erin lived in such a home in a secluded area in Spain, where she had lived as long as she could remember. She had never known anything other than the manor's grounds and halls, and knew only the Angels that lived in the house with her. Despite being surrounded by dozens of Angels, she was only close with a few. And she preferred it that way. Social encounters weren't exactly a forte of hers.

     Today was an average Saturday morning. No classes, no lessons, no structured meals. Despite the time creeping up on eleven, the manor was silent and still, everyone taking advantage of their warm beds and the free day. Everyone except Erin.

     Instead, she was in the manor's study, scanning the screen of the computer intently with her green eyes as her finger scrolled the page down. It was a recent article, written by a famous journalist who worked for the government and had interviewed an Angel scientist on the mutation. The article was only released online and to the webpages only accessible to the computers in the Angel Manors. However, the information was the same as what she already knew; unknown origins, wings and abilities, and the 50-50 chance a baby could be born with it. Sighing, she exited out of the article with a soft 'click' of the mouse and opened another article, an older one, one that she had read at least a dozen times.

     "Searching for the hidden answers again?"

     Erin jumped at the sudden voice filling the silent space and lifted her head, her eyes meeting another pair of green.

     "Professor Liliana," Erin breathed. "You startled me."

     Liliana chuckled and walked over to Erin, sitting in the chair across from her. "What are you doing up? Your classmates are all still asleep," she said, a smile lifting her lips.

     Erin blew out a breath. "I don't know. I thought I could find something this time," she said as she leaned back in her chair.

     Liliana sighed softly. "It's no use, Erin. Our mutation is a mystery that no one can solve."

     Erin gave a weak chuckle and clicked on the red 'x', the web page disappearing. "Someone has to know something," she said quietly.

     Liliana shrugged. "Maybe," she said simply before standing. "Or maybe it's better we don't know anything."

     Erin gave Liliana a look. "That doesn't make any sense."

     Liliana laughed. "Sure it does!" she said before extending a green-marked hand to Erin. "Come on. Since you're up, I'll make you some breakfast," she said.

     Erin sighed and took Liliana's hand. "You are the best cook in this place," she said with a smile.

     Liliana chuckled. "I wouldn't say the best, but I am pretty damn good," she said, her smile now crinkling the edges of her large, almond shaped eyes.

     Erin chuckled as well and let Liliana lead her into the manor's large kitchen, where the Earth Angel started to prepare breakfast. The scents of food started to stir the sleeping Angels and soon, the manor was teeming with life. For a second, everything seemed right with the world. A little confusing and full of questions, but right nonetheless.