Chapter 2

Before leaving for Angel Academy, I went to Raph to let him know I would be leaving. He was my closest friend, and I didn't want to leave without saying goodbye.

I found him in the gym, punching a heavy bag with fierce intensity. When he saw me, he stopped and turned to face me, his expression softening.

"I'm leaving," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. Raph's eyes narrowed, but he didn't say anything, "I'm going to Angel Academy," I continued, trying to keep my voice steady. "I need to learn how to control my powers."

Raph's expression softened. "I understand," he said, his voice low. "But Hollow, promise me that you'll be careful. These Descendants, they're not all good, and there are some who will do whatever it takes to gain power."

"I know," I said. "But I have to do this; I must learn how to control my powers and find my place in the world."

Raph nodded slowly. "I understand," he said, his voice tinged with sadness. "But if anything happens, you know you can always come back here if you need anything. You're family, Hollow."

I felt a lump form in my throat as I looked at him. Raph had been there for me through everything, and it was hard to imagine leaving him behind. But I knew I had to go.

"I'll miss you, Raph," I said, my voice cracking. "But I'll come back. I promise."

With that, I turned and walked out of the gym, leaving Raph behind. As I walked down the street, I felt a sense of excitement and trepidation building within me. I was about to start a new chapter in my life, and I didn't know what the future held.

But one thing was sure: I was ready to embrace my true identity, learn how to control my powers, and become the best Descendant I could be.

The next day, the Headmaster appeared at my door early in the morning.

I was ready with my bags packed and my heart racing with anticipation. I said goodbye to my apartment, knowing that I wouldn't be back anytime soon.

"So where do angels go to school? I asked as I followed him down the street.

"The Academy is called Angel Academy, and it is actually located in a hidden dimension we like to call Eden," Zadkiel explains, "It is a place where you can learn without the fear of demons and fallen angels."

"How do we get to Eden?" I asked.

The Headmaster smirked as he stepped into an ancient church, "We can cross through dimensions by touching the altars in a church."

I followed him inside, marveling at the grandeur of the architecture. As we stepped closer to the altar, I felt a strange energy tingle in the air.

Zadkiel approached the altar and placed his hands on the wood. A moment later, a glowing portal appeared in front of us.

"Are you ready, Hollow?" he asked, turning to face me.

I took a deep breath and nodded, my heart racing with excitement and apprehension.

Together, we stepped through the portal and into a world unlike any I had ever seen before.

Eden was a place of indescribable beauty; I saw that I had entered a whole new world. The sky was a deep shade of blue, with flecks of white clouds in the sky. There were rolling hills, grand mountains, lakes, ponds, and streams in the distance. The grass was a brilliant shade of green, and it felt springy under my feet.

As we walked through the lush landscape, I could hear the bees buzzing and the birds chirping, filling the air. I felt a sense of peace and calm wash over me, knowing this was where I was meant to be. I smiled as I sniffed the air; it smelled sweet and fragrant as we walked through the lush gardens through the metal arch that looked like angel wings with a large halo overhead. I felt a sense of peace settle over me. For the first time in my life, I felt like I had found a place where I belonged.

We eventually reached Angel Academy, a sprawling campus that stretched for miles. The buildings were made of pure white marble, and the gardens were filled with exotic flowers I had never seen before.

The Headmaster led me toward a towering building made entirely of white marble. As we approached, I could see the structure ornately decorated with intricate carvings of angels and other celestial beings.

"This is Angel Academy," Zadkiel said, gesturing towards the building. "This will be your home for the next few years as you learn to control your powers and become the best Descendant you can be."

I nodded, feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness. This was my chance to finally understand who I was and what I was capable of.

As we stepped inside, I was immediately struck by the grandeur of the entrance hall. The walls were lined with towering pillars, and the floor was made of shimmering white marble. In the center of the room stood a massive statue of an archangel, its wings outstretched in a show of power.

"Come," the Headmaster said, leading me towards a set of double doors. "Let me introduce you to Jeremiel, the Headmaster said; motioning to the front of the entrance stood a man with striking red hair and piercing green eyes.

"Greetings, Headmaster," he said, bowing to Zadkiel. "And who is this?"

"This is Hollow," Zadkiel said, gesturing to me. "She's a new student here at Angel Academy."

The man nodded, his eyes scanning over me. "Welcome, Hollow," he said, his voice excellent but polite. "I am Jeremiel, the head of the Descendant Council; I will be taking you to be tested to be aware of what abilities you hold and whom you descend from."

I nodded, feeling a sense of nervousness wash over me. I had always known that I had some power, but I had never been able to control it.

Jeremiel led me to a large chamber, where several other Descendants were already waiting. They all looked at me curiously as I entered, and I felt my heart race with anticipation.

"Welcome, Hollow," a woman with bright blue hair said with a warm smile on her face. "My name is Ariel, and I'll conduct your test today."

I nodded, feeling a sense of comfort wash over me as Ariel led me to a large crystal. She instructed me to place my hands on the crystal, and as I did, I felt a strange energy surge through my body.

Images flashed before my eyes - memories of a life I had never known. I saw black flames of death, the faces of ghosts, and the familiar tingle when I rose the dead animals from the ground.

When the crystals began to glow an eerie purple with black swirls making the angels in the room gasp.

"She is descended from Azrael, the Angel of Death," whispered Ariel.

I felt a shiver run down my spine as Ariel spoke. Azrael, the Angel of Death. It was a heavy title to bear, but it also explained the strange power that had always been within me.

"What does this mean?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

"It means that you have the ability to control death," Jeremiel said, his voice serious. "But it also means that you must use your powers responsibly."

I nodded slowly, feeling the weight of my new identity settling over me. I had always known I was different, but I didn't realize how different until now.

As the testing session ended, Ariel led me to my dorm room, where I would stay for the next four years. I only acknowledged where we were going once we stopped before door number eight.

When Ariel knocked on the door, a tall and stocky woman with twin braids and big blue eyes answered the door.

"Hello Judith, I want you to meet Hollow," Ariel said, gesturing towards me.

Judith's eyes widened as she looked at me, taking in my appearance. "Welcome to Angel Academy," she said, a smile spreading across her face. "I'm your roommate Judith Michaels."

I smiled back, feeling a sense of relief wash over me. Judith seemed kind and welcoming, and I hoped I could make friends during my time here.

As I entered the room, the first thing I noticed was the bright red sectional couch that took up most of the right side of the room. It was big enough to sleep on, and we had separate rooms with attached bathrooms. Against the wall by the door was a small desk with a computer on it. A tall and thin girl with dark brown skin and short back hair sat alone on the couch, engrossed in the episode of RuPaul. Her eyes were wide with amusement, and she leaned forward, her elbows on her knees and her chin in her hands.

The walls were a light pastel pink with navy blue accents. The furniture was all made from white polished wood with navy blue cushions and floor pillows; the furniture here was probably more expensive than in my house.

"Hollow, this is our other roommate Lavender Jophiel," says Judith, "Lavender, this is our new roomie, Hollow."

Lavender was a beautiful girl with short black hair, dark brown skin, tall and voluptuous, silver-blue eyes, and an angular face with high cheekbones.

"Hi, nice to meet you," I said, smiling warmly at Lavender.

She smiled back, a glint of mischief in her eyes. "So, you're the new girl, huh? What kind of powers do you have?"

"I'm descended from Azrael, the Angel of Death," I said, my voice quiet.

Lavender's eyes widened in surprise, and momentarily, I thought she might be afraid of me. But then she grinned, a mischievous twinkle in her eye.

"Well, that's certainly interesting," she said, her voice dripping with amusement. "I'm descended from Jophiel, the Archangel of beauty, and Judith is the daughter of Michael, so I guess you could say we're quite the pair."

I laughed nervously, feeling a sense of relief wash over me.

As the night went on, we spent hours talking and getting to know each other. Lavender and Judith shared stories of their time at Angel Academy, and I listened intently, eager to learn more about this new world I was thrown into.