Chapter 7- A New Member

"Dad, was I dreaming it all or was there an Angel and a Devil in front of us." Angel questioned when everything was ordinary again.
"I don’t think it was imaginary, Angel." He could still feel the wisps of the smoke.
Angel turned her head to face her father. "What do you think the prophecy meant?"
Vyu stayed deep in thought for a long time before answering. "I really don’t know. I guess we’ll find out when the time comes."
"The Devil did say that they make no sense what so ever."
They stayed on the floor clearly not wanting to get up. It was quiet but then Angel finally broke the silence.
"What was Mom like before she died?"
"Well…..she was graceful, beautiful, stubborn, kind-hearted and brave. You’re a lot like her you know. You even look like your mother. Thank heavens for that."
Angel chuckled a little at that. "Really?" she asked. Vyu nodded. Angel liked the thought of her being similar to her mom. "When she died, was the whole village sad or was it just you?"
"It was the whole village."
"Weird. They never talk about her."
"Oh trust me. They were very sad. She was their leader after all."
"Their leader?"
"Yea. She was the one who lead them out to battle."
"Mom took part in the war. Just like you?"
Vyu laughed at that comment. "You know, when you mother was out there fighting Nesemis, I was here, waiting for her to come home."
"No way!"
"Yes way." Vyu smiled. "The only reason I’m leading the army is because I owed it too the village."
"What do you mean?" This was the first time Vyu had said more than three sentences about her mother.
"It was our job to protect the animals of the village. Since your mother passed away, I have to take over."
"So if you pass away, it’s my job to protect them?"
Vyu looked at her. He could always get an idea of what she was thinking.
"Angel, what are you thinking?"
She stood up and Vyu followed suit. "Dad, I want to join the army, just like Mom."
"NO!" Vyu shouted instantly.
"Why not? Mom did it!"
Vyu was red in the face. "Yea, but it was her choice!"
"And this is my choice! I want to do something to help!"
"You can still help without actually going out to battle! It’s dangerous! You could get hurt!" It was reasonable enough words but Angel could tell it wasn’t what her father really had in mind.
"Dad, you know I could take of myself out there! What’s the real reason you won’t let me join?"
Vyu sputtered. He couldn’t believe his own daughter would press him on this subject, but he would have to tell her.
"BECAUSE IT KILLED YOUR MOTHER!!!!!!! It wasn’t you who killed her, it was the war. All the stress and danger and-and…."
Angel was suddenly very quiet.
"I couldn’t take it if I lost you when I already lost your mother. I just can’t. Please try and understand, Angel, and stay safe here. Not in the battle."
"I understand Dad." Vyu let out a breath of relief. "But I still want to take part in the battles."
"An-gel!"
"I’m sorry Dad, but I’m going whether you like it or not." She walked out of the kitchen and headed toward her room. The one that used to belong to Miirii*.
The next morning Vyu trudged to the kitchen to get a cup of tea before the day’s battle to find Angel in there making him one.
"Angel! I already told you that you couldn’t come with me today."
"And I told you I was coming anyway." She replied calmly, despite the desperation on Vyu’s face.
"You are sooooooo stubborn!" he commented. "Just like you mother. She would always get her way."
"Does that mean I’m going to get my way?" Angel asked, hopeful, as she set down the cup of tea.
He sighed, exasperated. "If you really want to break your father’s heart."
"Thank you, thank you, thank you!" She ran to give him a hug and then disappeared in her room to ready herself for battle.
"I’ve been hearing some interesting things from…..animals. " Angel said later on when they were walking to the town square where the soldiers met before battle.
"Really? What might those things be."
Angel hesitated before answering. "They said that you and Mom were…………….magic." Angel glanced at Vyu for any signs of the truth.
"That is interesting isn’t it."
"Dad, is it true or not?"
"You’ll have to find that out for yourself."
"But Da-ad!" Angel stopped walking.
"Stop whining and come on. We’re here." Her dad gestured to the church where the decision for war was made.
When Vyu entered with Angel, the silence turned into a buzzing murmur. Everyone gave glances toward Angel. It was Peter who confronted them.
"Vyu, what were you thinking!"
"What do you mean?" he asked genuinely confused.
"Why did you bring Angel with you?" Peter deliberately whispered this but Angel heard anyway.
"Peter, it isn’t his fault. I begged him to bring me with him."
"Angel, it’s not that we don’t want you here, but it’s just that,,,,,,,,"
"That it’s too dangerous for a girl."
"I don’t mean it like that! But it is too dangerous for you."
"Yea. It’s too dangerous for me but it isn’t too dangerous for you guys. Or my mother." She said squinting her eyes.
"It’s still dangerous for us. And it was dangerous for your mother too."
"Then what’s wrong with me going to the battle?"
Peter looked at Vyu helplessly. "She’s good."
"I know." Vyu replied. "How do you think she persuaded me?" Then he walked away to get ready to face Nesemis. Peter turned to follow him but Angel pulled him back.
"Wait. Peter. So does my Mom and Dad have magic powers?"
He looked at her questioningly. Angel squirmed realizing how stupid the question sounded if it turned out that the magic thing was all a joke.
"He didn’t tell you?" Peter questioned.
Angel shook her head.
"Well if he didn’t tell you, you would have to find out for yourself." Peter replied, then walked away.
Angel stormed after him in frustration. How would she find out?
"Angel, are you ready?" Vyu questioned.
She nodded, refusing to back out.
Vyu handed her a dagger and a sword.
"Lets go."