7 Chapter 7

Dario-

As we walked along, I noticed the people of the town. We were dressed drastically different, father, Ryan and myself in out travel gear, leather cut off shirt with God made chain mail under, standard black pants with more armor under those and boots. The people of the town are dressed very formal, just walking around. The women in dresses, that seemed to me made specifically for the person wearing it, their hair was also pulled up in what looked like uncomfortable styles. The men wearing black or brown jackets over white tops. Some were wearing something around their necks that looked to be tucked into their jackets, and ridiculous headwear. The men seemed to have habits for smoking pipes while walking with their canes they didn't seem to need.

What I noticed more than anything, is how no one is staring. I sure am. "Father, the mortals are not reacting to us. Why is that?" My father cleared his throat, "As immortals from another realm, we have a sort of cloak to mortals." He chuckled at himself, "To them, we appear dressed as they are. We won't stand out, as long as we don't draw attention to ourselves. That could cause the cloak to fail." Ryan asked the question I had, "How could a cloak like that fail?" "Right now, we don't look strange to them, but if we suddenly pull out a sword or use magic, they would start paying attention and slowly be able to see through the cloak."

So as long as no one is stupid, I shot my gaze to Quillian, we will be fine. "Wait, could that mean Aria looks completely different? We've been describing her to people as see looks to us!" Father stopped dead in his tracks and covered his face with his hand, "Fuck, you're completely right. I hadn't factored that in." That was a first, father never misses a detail. That's why he is Lord Cyrils head warrior and trainer since Maximus died.

"Damn it. Follow me." Father lead us back toward the entrance to the town, and out into an area covered in trees. "This is the best that I think we will find, I don't think anyone can see us." Father turned to me, "Dario, I've seen the connection you have with Aria before. I don't know that you'll be able to do it, but it's worth a shot." I looked at him confused, "What do you mean?"

"You need to close your eyes and think about Aria. Clear your mind and only think of her." Quillian spoke up, "You think that their souls have linked? Yeah right-" Father covered Quillians mouth, "Souls linking?" Father ignored me, "Do as I say, this might be our only chance to find Aria down here." I took a deep breath and closed my eyes, I started to think about Aria.

I thought about her kindness, the way she cares for everyone, her sweet smile and the feeling I get when she smiles at me directly. I thought about the way her hair shines in the light and how her blue eyes make my heart skip a beat. I saw Aria lying down, she looks so beautiful. Wait, I've never seen this room. This image seemed almost blurry, I hear something, there are women talking, falling from the sky, someone called 'nana'. I opened my eyes and looked to Ryan and father, "I saw her!"

Aria-

I heard voices, that's what woke me. I decided to trust my gut and keep my eyes closed. There was a girl speaking, "I'm not sure where she came from, I just know I saw her fall from the sky! I'm telling you!" The other voice sounded like an older woman, "I believe you child, I know everyone else is dismissing you, but I believe you." The girl sounded happy, "Oh, thank you nana! You are the best! Do you think she will wake up any time soon?" I didn't hear anything so I am assuming she didn't vocalize her answer but she did say, "We need to let her rest though, let's go serve dinner."

I heard quick steps retreating and then a door closing. I opened my eyes to look around the room. It was what seemed like a bedroom, but there were compartments, I couldn't see what they contained, not that I'd know what any of it was. I never looked down to the mortal realm. I didn't understand how they lived their lives, now I regret that.

I looked down at myself, my dress was torn but other than that, I was in one piece. It also made me miss home, father, Jedrek and Dario…

I needed to get out of here and back to the place I landed. Dario would be looking for me, I'm sure of it. I swung my legs over the side of the bed and tried to stand, my legs were a little weak, but after a few minutes, I was able to take a few confident steps. When the door to the room opened again.

"Oh!" The girl dropped the tray she had, "You woke up! Let me go get nana, please lie back down on the bed." I sat back down on the bed as she ran out of the room, I didn't want to be on the bed fully just in case I needed to run. She came back a few moments later with an older woman, she had a gracefulness about her. The woman walked over to me, "How are you feeling child?" I looked from her to the younger girl in the room, then back to the woman, "I'm feeling fine, thank you. I would like to leave though."

The older woman gave me a strange look, "How will you get back to where you came from?" The young girl saw me fall from the sky, I don't know how to explain that. "Well, um I-" The young girl got excited, "I saw you fall from the sky! Where did you fall from?" I didn't know what to say to them, I was never told what to tell a mortal!

I could pretend to not remember, "I'm sorry, I don't remember anything." The girl sounded sad, "Aww that sucks!" The older woman waved her hand and the little girl lost her smile, "I'm sorry nana, bye miss!" She waved as she left and closed the door. I noticed she hadn't cleaned up the tray she dropped earlier. "I know where you came from." I turned to the woman, "I'm sorry?"

She smiled, "I'll explain, you can call me Abigail or nana. Most of the orphans do." Abigail sat smiling at me, "Martha, the young girl who was here, was out with some of the older kids exploring the hills. She ventured off into a little area by herself and said she saw you fall from the sky, well towards the end, you almost floated to the ground… That's what Martha says anyway. When she ran to you and yelled for the others, you were unconscious."

That didn't explain her knowing where I came from… "I'm sorry, I don't know what to say." I was never good at lying, but I'm not doing a bad job. Abigail shook her head, "I'm sorry young Goddess, you're not going to get out of it." I felt sick, how did she know I'm a young Goddess. I was worried my face was going to give me away, but I remained calm. "You see, I've dealt with your kind several times over my life. The first one was, yes about 4 thousand years ago, but I know you don't have a real concept of time in your realm."

4 thousand years? This woman can't be that old, "You couldn't have been around 4 thousand years ago." Abigail laughed, "Oh, but I was." I was getting nervous, my gut was telling me to be cautious of her when it was just her presence in the room.

"If you know what I am, then you understand I have to leave." She tilted her head slightly looking at me, "There is no way back child. Once a God or Goddess falls, they can never go back." "That can't be true, Gods and Goddesses have left our realm thousands of times and come home with no issue." Abigail shook her head, "They didn't fall. They chose to leave, there was a choice." I wondered if that was true…

"Listen, stay here tonight to rest. That fall couldn't have been easy." I was feeling rather drained, maybe resting would be a good idea. I just wouldn't sleep, I needed to leave the second I had enough strength. "One night, that should be enough, thank you." I smiled at her, trying to keep my composure. She nodded, "I will have Martha bring you dinner… Again, please enjoy it." Abigail stood and glided out of the room. I laid back on the bed, keeping my legs dangling off the side for a moment.

There was a knock this time, "Come in." I said, it was Martha with another tray of food. "I'm sorry about the mess from earlier, I will clean it up." I smiled at Martha, there was something about her that made me feel some joy in this place. "Thank you Martha, would you like some help cleaning?" Figured I'd offer, I'm a guest I suppose. Martha shook her head though, he pigtails bouncing on the side of her head. "Nope, I've got it. Thank you though!" With that she turned and had the mess cleaned up in minutes.

"Enjoy your dinner!" "I will, thank you Martha." She smiled and left the room closing the door behind her. I looked at the food she'd given me. It looked delicious, some sort of stew. The aroma made my mouth water, but I shouldn't eat anything. Abigail could have done something to it that would hurt me. I don't know what being down here will do to me, I could be just as vulnerable as a mortal.

Sitting on the bed, I start thinking about how I got here, I remember falling, fast. I was too shocked to even scream. I don't remember anything though. It went dark as soon as I couldn't see Zale anymore... That was it.

I looked out the window, I was on a ground floor, so it would be easy to slip out when the sun went down. That's the plan, I'm waiting until nightfall and then I'm leaving this place. I need to find Dario and figure out how to get home.