Chapter 10
Mira sat up in bed, sweat beading on her forehead. She had just had the same dream for the third night in a row. Ayra was alive. The dream was so vivid, so real. She could feel Ayra's presence in the room with her. She could hear her voice calling out to her. But it couldn't be real, Ayra was dead. So why did she keep having these dreams?
When Ayra had died. It had been so tragic. Mira had been devastated. She had lost her best friend, her confidante, and her partner in the fight against evil. She'd never regretted not showing lovmore… But now, these dreams were making her question everything she thought she knew…
The next morning Mira gathered her courage and went to seek answers from the Agency. She hoped they had uncovered some new information about Ayra's death or the circumstances surrounding it. However, the response she received was the same as before – Ayra was gone, and there was nothing more to be done.
Mira left the Agency chambers feeling deflated, frustrated and more confused than ever. They couldn't even grant her audience with the regional commander. She spoke with a desk person through a glass. It was Ayra Sharma they were talking about here! What exactly was going on?
She couldn't shake off the unsettling feeling that something was amiss and that there was more to Ayra's death than what she had been told.
Despite the council's reassurances, she could not ignore the vivid and haunting dreams that plagued her every night, each one feeling more real than the last.
She wondered if the dreams were trying to tell her something. Perhaps a message from Ayra herself. She decided to investigate on her own, she went to the academy libre for graduated battle angels, scouring the archives for any information that may be useful. However, the more she delved into the mystery, the more elusive the answers seemed to be. She left back to her home late in the night with the resolve to question those who were close to Ayra.
Mira's intuition was telling her that she needed to keep digging to uncover the truth about Ayra's death. She couldn't ignore the unsettling feeling that something was amiss. As she walked back to her apartment, Mira replayed her conversation with the Agency over and over in her mind, searching for any clues or hints that she may have missed.
Nothing.
Was there really nothing hidden in all the veiled words of those people?
••••••
The next day, Mira decided to visit Ayra's grave. She needed to see for herself that Ayra was really gone. Maybe then her heart's longing for her friend would reduce and her dreams would stop
As she stood in front of the headstone, tears streaming down her face, Mira felt a strange sensation wash over her. It was as though someone was watching her. She turned around slowly – looking out the side of her eye at first – to see a woman standing a few feet away. There were of course other people in the cemetery but none had come this close. She'd been alone since she got here and expected to be till she left because Ayra's grave was a bit isolated. Add that to the fact that she'd never seen the woman before. And since the lady wasn't using any spell to hide her identity – Mira knew from shape shifting 10A in battle school – she wondered who she could be.
Mira's heart raced as she turned around to face the woman. The stranger appeared to be around her age, with piercing blue eyes and dark hair that cascaded in waves down her back.
Mira's grief over Ayra's loss slowly gave way to curiosity and suspicion. She couldn't help but wonder if this woman had anything to do with Ayra's death.
"Who are you?" Mira asked, her voice surprisingly steady.
The woman smiled gently, and walked over. "I am called Isadora." her voice was a tiny bit raspy like she screamed a lot, but it was gentle, "I was a friend of Ayra's. I'm… sorry for your loss." She sympathised, staring straight into Mira's eyes.
Mira was a bit taken aback. She'd never heard of Isadora before. And of course she couldn't understand why Ayra had never mentioned her.
"What kind of friend?" Mira asked, her voice rising in frustration, confusion and suspicion. "Why have I never heard of you?"
"You have been seeing her haven't you?" Isadora evaded.
Isadora's voice was soft, but there was an edge to it when she asked that question that made Mira uneasy. She had been hoping to keep her visions of Ayra to herself. Now, a total stranger knew about it and despite Mira wanting to walk away and not look back, she knew she had to get at least an explanation from this woman.
There was this thing about Isadora: she looked so young, but there was just something about her voice, her speech and her attention that made you almost know that she wasn't.
Mira looked at Isadora, unsure of how to respond. She didn't know this woman well enough to confide in her. But she also needed answers.
"Who?" Mira asked, deciding to feign ignorance and see where that got her.
"Ayra," Isadora replied, patient. "You've been seeing her in your dreams, haven't you?"
Mira hesitated. Then she nodded slowly"Yes...I have." she admitted.
Isadora's expression softened. "It's okay," she comforted.
"I understand. I've had my own share of visions and premonitions over the years. Sometimes it can be overwhelming, but it's important to trust your instincts."
Mira felt a slight wave of relief wash over her as she felt a small sense of kinship to this woman, but then she stamped it out as she realized that she still didn't know who this woman was.
Filled with curiosity, Mira couldn't help but ask, "What are you saying?"
She needed answers. An explanation for the visions that had been haunting her dreams and for the mysterious woman who seemed to know more about her than she did herself.
"You are a seer." Isadora replied.
Mira's brows went up. Her lips curved as she stifled a small chuckle. The idea was indeed comical.
"A seer?" she repeated. "I'm an angel ma'am. A battle angel, not a seer." She thought to herself.
Isadora's expression grew more serious. "It means that you have the ability to see things that others cannot. Visions of the past, present, and future may come to you, and it's up to you to interpret them and use that knowledge wisely. Seers are rare, and their abilities are highly value–."
"Well I know that. Every angel worth their salt does. What it has to do with me is the issue. There is no seer in my family. I have done nothing when of receiving the gift. What – How – you are not making sense!" Mira was stunned. She had never suspected that she could have any kind of special power, let alone one as significant as this.
Isadora took a deep breath. "You should calm down. It's not something so deep seated. I don't know how, or why, apparently that doesn't concern me. Or you either. All I know is that I'm your guide on this new journey."
Mira took a deep breath, clenching and unclenching her fists. Her mind raced. But the quiet, still voice that had been with her ever since the day she realised she was an orphan whether her parents were dead or not, whispered once more that she should look beyond her confusion, and anger, and pain, and suspicion, and just take the hand offered her.
"H-how do I control it? How do I make sense of the things I see?" She whispered.
"It takes practice and training. I can help you, Mira. I've been a seer for many years, and I've learned how to use my gift to help others. If you're willing to learn, I can teach you everything you need to know."
Mira felt a mix of excitement and apprehension. The idea of exploring her abilities and discovering what she was truly capable of was thrilling, but the thought of delving into the unknown was also a bit scary. "I…I don't know if I'm ready for this," she admitted.
Isadora placed a reassuring hand on Mira's shoulder. "You don't have to make any decision right now, Mira. Take some time to think about it. I'll be here whenever you're ready."