Era

“I was twelve, “Alex said gloomily, looking away. His dark eyes met mine for a moment, and I felt my heart tighten. I quickly checked if my pendant was still there. He was there, as always.

“Yes,” Vladimir replied, ceasing to smile. “Well, let’s go. I’ll tell you everything on the way.”

They walked out of the airport, and I stayed away, trying not to attract Alex’s attention. But he seemed to sense my presence and periodically looked around. I kept my eyes on him, watching his movements in this crowded place.

I realized that it was better to stay close to Alex, so as not to get lost in this huge city. When Vladimir opened the door of his car, I literally slipped inside.

We were driving through New York, and I couldn’t take my eyes off its beauty. Everything was glowing: the buildings, the lanterns on the streets. I smiled, realizing once again that man is capable of creating beauty even without the help of nature. This city with all its lights was literally mesmerizing.

“This is New York,” Vladimir said, looking at Alex with a smile. He just smiled slightly and stared out the window.

“Do you like it?” Vladimir asked.

“It’s beautiful,” Alex replied shortly.

“You will live on West 68th Street, my former bachelor apartment is there. There is a cafe nearby. And we’ll be working in Manhattan. For now, you’ll be driving a rented Toyota. And then, if you want, you can buy yourself a new car,” Vladimir smiled again, but Alex didn’t seem to share his amusement.

I entered the apartment that Vladimir had provided for Alex. He was already there and showed him around the room with a smile.

“Everything is here,” he said, pointing to the furniture. Washing machine, refrigerator, microwave, bed, wardrobe. By the way, here’s a brand-new MacBook for you. Set it up and you can use it for work.”

Alex glanced at the white box that stood on the table. His face remained cold, but I noticed his eyes narrowing slightly as he examined the equipment.

“There is no TV, but there is Wi-Fi, paid for a month. So, you can find something interesting on the Internet,” Vladimir continued, taking out his keys. “It’s from your car. She’s across the street.”

“Okay,” Alex replied shortly. “And who will I work for?”

“In the marketing department,” Vladimir replied, slapping him on the shoulder. “Aren’t you a marketing specialist by training?”

“I’m more of an advertiser,” Alex said coldly. “And I’ve never worked.”

Vladimir grinned and patted him on the shoulder again.

“I know, that’s why you’re going to be an intern. Do you have a sense of humor?”

Alex smiled slightly.

“Then we’ll work together,” Vladimir said, and turned around and headed for the exit.” Get some rest, I’ll see you tomorrow at eleven.

He stopped and took out an envelope, handed it to Alex.

“I almost forgot. This is your new SIM card and money, an advance, and I think you’ll need them for the first time. I recommend having lunch and dinner in a cafe. Cooking at home is expensive.”

Alex thanked him and shook his hand.

“Then rest,” Vladimir repeated. “The shower is over there. Till tomorrow.”

He left the apartment, leaving Alex alone with his thoughts. Alex closed the door behind him and, looking around, looked back at the apartment. Everything was new, unfamiliar, but at the same time somehow familiar. He felt that here he had to start a new chapter of his life. I sighed and realized that my place would be on the windowsill, as always. She loved watching her charges from this point, and most importantly, she could see what was happening around her, how other people lived. How is life going there, outside the world of my wards? And, of course, from that point on, I understood when night falls and I can go to my angelic home.

He went into the bathroom and turned on the shower. The warm water helped him relax and wash away the stress of the day. After getting out of the shower, Alex wrapped himself in a towel and returned to the room. He opened the refrigerator and took out a pack of cookies. Sitting down on the bed, he felt fatigue overwhelm him. But he knew that tomorrow would be a new day, and he had to be prepared for any eventuality.

He lay down on the bed and closed his eyes. Tomorrow he will have a new life, new people, new tasks. And he was ready for it. At least, that’s what I thought. And it’s time for me to fly to Tatiana. I stepped onto the parapet in the open window and soared up.

Chapter 5

I landed in a familiar tower, the walls of which were decorated with ancient runes. This place has always made me tremble, because I felt safe here. I looked up at the sky, which seemed almost like home to me, and said softly,

“Vito.”

There was no response. I frowned and just stared into the distance, hoping that my blond friend would show up soon. But time passed, and he wasn’t there. I repeated his name a few more times, but it was all in vain. In the end, I realized that maybe he was busy saving his ward.

I called his name the last time, but he never showed up. I went down the stairs from the tower and walked along the corridor, where I was greeted by several angels. They looked at me warily, as always. To them, I was a demon because of my unusual appearance. But I stopped paying attention to it a long time ago.

The hallway was long and bright, but there was no sign of Tamara or Mikhail. Apparently, they were deciding the fate of an angel again. I needed my mentor, Tatiana. Whenever I appeared in Celestial Empire, she felt it and came out to meet me. But she wasn’t there now. Am I really going to fly away without getting an answer?

I went out onto the balcony, which was located near the stone hall. From here, there was a view of the Garden of Eden with its green beauty and warm sunlight. I immediately remembered the butterfly that I revived here. And then I saw a beautiful butterfly with golden wings. I held out my hand, and she carefully sat on it, carefully clinging with her paws. I smiled and blew on it, watching it flutter between the flowers and fly away into the depths of the garden.

I really wanted to walk around this place, but I knew I didn’t have much time. Dawn is coming soon on Earth, which means that Alex will wake up. He’s alone in a strange city, and I have to protect him. But why would I want to do that? A couple of days ago, I dreamed of going to Earth and living a human life. Has everything really changed so quickly?

I shook my head, trying to get rid of unnecessary thoughts. Jumping from the balcony, I found myself near a waterfall. Scooping up cool water with my hand, I clenched my fist and felt my strength returning. Now I’m ready to return to the big city called New York.

***

When I came in through the window, I saw that Alex was no longer asleep. He took a shower and got dressed. After leaving the apartment, he went to the car. Starting the engine, he drove towards the office.

The office of the company where he was to work was located in the city center. It was a modern building with large windows and glass doors. Alex parked the car and went inside.

He was met in the lobby by a security guard who checked his ID and let him inside. Alex took the elevator to the right floor and found himself in a spacious corridor decorated with paintings and flowers. I noticed that it’s very nice and cozy here. I walked beside him. Alex saw several doors and, going up to one of them, knocked.

“Come in,” a voice called from inside.

Alex opened the door and entered the office. There was a man sitting at the table, the same one who had met him on arrival yesterday. He had short dark hair and penetrating eyes. It was Vladimir, his new boss and his father’s partner. He looked very strict today, wearing a dark suit, tie and a crisp white shirt.

“Good morning, Alex,” Vladimir said, getting up from the table and extending his hand. “It’s good to see you.”

“Good morning, Vladimir,” Alex replied, shaking his hand.

Vladimir pointed to a chair opposite the table.

“Have a seat.” Let’s talk about your first day.

Alex sat down and looked at Vladimir. He felt that this man would play an important role in his life. I walked around the perimeter of the office and examined the decorations on the walls. There were a lot of awards and diplomas. In the background, I listened to what Vladimir and Alex were talking about.

“So, you will be an intern in the marketing department,” Vladimir began. “Your main task is to help our marketers with data analysis and development of advertising campaigns. Do you have any experience in this field?”

“A little, “Alex replied. “I had an internship at an advertising agency.”

“Don’t worry, “Vladimir said with a smile. “We will help you to adapt. You will work under the guidance of our senior marketer, Felicia. She is an employee with a lot of experience and will help you with everything.”

“Thank you,” Alex replied quietly.

“Now let’s talk about your responsibilities. First of all, you will need to study our database and learn how to work with analytical tools. You will also have to participate in the development of advertising concepts and help in the implementation of marketing strategies.”

Alex was nodding, but I could see the excitement on his face. He knew he had a lot of work ahead of him, but was he ready for it? As far as I could understand, his life always took place near his father, who provided him with everything he needed. Alex never worked, he just burned his life with alcohol and substances. Can a person really change so quickly?

I looked closely at Alex’s face and realized more and more that he was very handsome for a human being. High cheekbones, prominent chin. I could hear a man’s voice in the background.

“If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact me or Felicia,” Vladimir added. “We are always ready to help.”

“Thank you, Vladimir, “Alex repeated.

“Well, let’s get to work,” Vladimir said, getting up from the table. “Felicia is waiting for you in the office. If you need anything, just tell me.”

“Okay,” Alex replied and left the office.

He walked down the hall to Felicia’s office. On the way, he noticed several employees who smiled at him warmly. But he didn’t smile in response, and in general, you couldn’t read any emotions on his face right now, as if he were made of stone.

When he opened the door to Felicia’s office, he saw a woman in her thirties with long red hair and blue eyes. She was sitting at her desk, typing on her laptop.

“Hello, Alex,” she said, lifting her head and smiling. “Nice to meet you. My name is Felicia.”

“Hello, Felicia,” Alex replied in another language, shaking her hand. “Thank you for agreeing to help me.”

Felicia’s smile widened. And then I started studying the girl, she had fair skin, freckles not only on her face, but also on her neck, chest and arms. She was wearing a bright blue dress, and I looked at her curves and studied Alex’s reaction to her. He smiled back at her, did he really like the girl.

“You’re welcome, Alex. I’m sure you’ll get used to it quickly. Let’s start by exploring our database. Here, take this,” she handed him a folder with documents. Here is everything you need to know about our current projects and tasks.”

Alex took the folder and began to look through it. And then I heard his heart start beating faster. I approached him and looked at his face, it was red. Either he was just nervous, or he was embarrassed.

I followed him down the hall to another office and noticed that Alex was looking at the back of Felicia’s dress. I ran my hand through Alex’s hair, and he immediately got distracted and ran his hand over his head. Smiling, I beat Felicia to my favorite spot in the office, the windowsill.

***

Alex was sitting on the couch with his legs tucked under him, staring into space. His thoughts were far from reality, but his father’s voice brought him back to the present. He sighed, trying to collect his thoughts, and said softly.

“It’s all right.”

“Alex, I hope that you can change your life and become a better person,” his father’s voice sounded soft, but there was firmness in it.

Alex replied sharply.

“And I hope that someday you will learn to understand me.”

He got up and started pacing the room. I watched him, invisible, feeling something begin to cause a pulling sensation inside me, something that had never happened before.

The father continued,

“I really want to see you successful and doing what you love. Alex, while I’m alive, I really want to see my grandchildren.

Alex grinned and went to the window. I was sitting in an invisible sphere, and his words touched me.

“Of course,” he said mockingly. “I saw my boss here today. She’s such a cool thing, the red-haired beast. She has everything with her. I’ll probably suggest tomorrow that she make you grandchildren right at the workplace.”

His words sounded rude, and I blew right in his face. Alex backed away from the window and turned around, checking that it was closed. His eyes were confused, but I kept looking at him, trying to figure out what was going on in his head.

“Alex, this concludes the dialogue. I see that it’s too early to talk about changes,” the father said calmly but firmly, and hung up the phone.

Alex threw the phone on the table and went back to the window. I couldn’t stand it and blew on it to cool it down a bit. He staggered back, his face contorted in surprise.

“Who’s there? What is it?” he asked, looking around.

I got up and walked past him. My attention was drawn to the MacBook box on the cabinet. I pushed her lightly, and she fell to the floor with a crash. Alex started and turned around. I smiled, watching his reaction. When he experiences fear, his face becomes stony and his features become sharper. It made him even more attractive.

“If Tatiana had been watching me, she would have wagged her finger at me,” I thought.

I shouldn’t scare my ward. But I didn’t like the way he talked to his dad. After all, he has to honor his parents, and he spoke so rudely about Felicia in a conversation with him.

These thoughts made me frown. I knew I had to find a way to help Alex, but how do I do that without interfering in his life?

Chapter 6

Alex barely slept last night. He listened attentively to every sound from the neighboring apartments and from the street. He woke up several times, and in order not to disturb him, I just sat quietly next to him, protecting the remnants of his sleep.

The memory of Vito came back to me. We met when I was a little girl, the youngest among the angels. It wasn’t until I started spreading my wings that I realized I was different from the others. The angels’ reaction to me quickly made it clear that finding friends would not be easy. And then a curly-haired blond boy came up to me and took my hand.

“My name is Vito. And you?”

“Era,” I replied uncertainly, without taking my eyes off his blue ones.

He smiled and pulled me along. We walked through the corridors of the Celestial Empire at night when no one saw us.

“Let’s be best friends,” Vito suggested. I nodded, not hiding my joy. He wasn’t intimidated by my black hair, dark eyes, and wings.

Our friendship was quickly discovered. Mikhail did it first. He looked down at me, as if he was examining whether everything human in me was dead. Are there any memories of earthly life?

Michael, the Archangel and teacher of the rules of the Celestial Empire, was harsh with everyone, especially with me. I found out that he was against my joining the angels. There was something about me that he disliked, but he never said it out loud. When we got older, Vito and I often flew to the tower, imagining what our wards would be like.

“I want to take care of a little girl,” he said one day. “To see how she grows and becomes beautiful. How are you.”

I didn’t think much of those words at the time. Vito was like a brother to me. We could appreciate the beauty and admire it, but inside we remained cold. We couldn’t love, hate, or experience other emotions. But the more I learned about people’s lives, the more I realized that if we could feel, it would be love.

“Oh, Vito, where are you now?” I thought, looking up at the stars. I really wanted to share my thoughts with him. Although he had previously known about my desire to go to Earth, the meeting ordered otherwise. Now I was in an apartment in New York watching my ward fall asleep.

Dawn came slowly. Alex lazily got out of bed and looked out the window. He looked tired, and I regretted scaring him yesterday.

I watched him take a shower and was once again convinced of his beauty. Suddenly, I noticed a small scar on my back. I wanted to take a closer look at him, but I restrained myself.

“Good morning, Felicia,” Alex said with a smile, looking at the red – haired girl. I stood behind him and watched them interact.

“Good morning, Alex,” the girl replied, coming closer and straightening her hair. “You look tired. Didn’t sleep well?”

“It’s nothing,” Alex replied, but I noticed how he stole a glance at Felicia.

They were discussing work issues, but I could see that Alex couldn’t take his eyes off the girl. His heart was beating faster. Did he really feel something more for her? I’ve been following Alex all day like a shadow.

He visited Felicia and Vladimir several times, then had lunch in a cafe opposite the office. That’s where I saw his real emotions. He looked at her indifferently, as if he missed the past. Then he sighed and went home. I flew after him until he stopped at the bar. It was a small place, similar to the place where I first saw him.

The bar was stuffy, there were a lot of people, everyone was relaxed. Alex sat down at a table and ordered a drink. I wanted to step in, as usual, but I decided to wait.

A girl with lots of tattoos and piercings sat down next to him. Alex smiled and ordered more drinks for both of them. I wanted to stop him, but curiosity got the better of me. What will happen next?

Suddenly, I noticed a demon in the middle of the hall. He was looking right at me. I frowned and rushed to him, but he was gone.

What was the demon doing here? They usually appear before death, but none of the people looked like they were going to die soon. Everyone was young and cheerful, they were dancing and having fun.

I wanted to go back to Alex, but I lost sight of him. I tried to feel his emotions, but the taste of blood appeared in my mouth. When I saw a dark corner, I went there and saw him. He was with that girl in the dimly lit bathroom. There was a tourniquet on his arm, and a puncture mark on the curve. The girl was laughing, taking off his shirt and trying to get into his pants. I couldn’t stand it and forcefully opened the door. They didn’t seem to notice anything strange and continued on.

After flying out of the bar, I looked up at the sky, saw the first stars, and took off. I stopped when my hair started to get covered in frost. I took a deep breath and realized that no matter how much I liked it, I had to go back. I have to protect Alex, who seemed to have started a new life, but quickly exchanged it for a fleeting high and dirty carnal pleasures.