My Teacher
Washington State
1:30 AM
The Red Woods
Electrical glory surrounded Eric, who stood staring back at Albert frozen in place. Electricity wriggled around his body and whipped around ravenously like overgrown tendrils, scorching the trees and boulders around them.
"A T-Thunderbird? You're an actual Thunderbird," Albert's eyes shook both in amazement and from fear.
"I know something else Al, I know your mother is a member of the fallen. What I didn't know was the type of relationship you had with her." Eric replied.
"So you suggested I come here for spring break so you just could show off?"
Eric furrowed his brows, "I didn't come here to show off to you, my brother. I knew from the first day I laid eyes on you, what you were because I have the sight like you have the sight. If you're thinking you're the only special one walking around, trust me you're not. Plenty of supernatural and semi-divine beings walk the halls of Pigeon University. Your mother has a history with my people. I wasn't around when she first dropped by, but my ancient ancestors provided her a home, food, comfort, and sparring partners."
Albert thinks he knows where Eric is going with this. "So, what you're saying is you want to be my sparring partner?"
"Not quite. I want to be your teacher, Al. You are an Elioud, one with all the powers and abilities of his mother. I can also see that you possess a second power; one that's your very own. It's hidden very well from you and it's not the white fire covering your arm."
A thought suddenly crossed his head. "What did you mean when you said your ancestors provided my mother with comfort? Do you mean like a place to sleep? She's an angel, a fallen one, and isn't bothered by extreme temperatures nor is she susceptible to sleep or fatigue."
Eric not only saw the white fire burning more intensely around Albert's arm, but now it extended to his shoulders and cloaked his other arm in roiling wheels of flames.
"As I said, I wasn't alive back then. That is something you would have to ask your mother."
"Liar! Did your ancestors have sex with her!" Albert snarled, his normal dark brown eyes changed to burning white embers that whipped around each time he moved his eyes.
The woods and boulders including the ground began to steam and hiss from Albert's anger that turned the area into a steaming cauldron. If this kept up, the entire reservation could go up in flames.
"As I said, that is something you have to talk to your mother about when you're with her. The word for comfort in my language can mean anything from friendship to companionship."
Albert believed him, and his power regressed back to his right arm. Eric undid his fully powered appearance so he could talk to his friend.
"Your power is tied to your emotions, buddy, to how you feel about your mother. That's dangerous, do you know why?"
"I think I already know the answer, but I'd rather hear it from you," Albert told him.
"Look at the white flames on your arm. I mean really look at them. That's more than just for show, more than just a light show. That fire is the physical manifestation of ALL your mother's power mixed in with a large piece of your father's soul that's also mingled with your own. Maybe this explains why you have her power and separate but exclusive power."
"Is that normal?" Albert wanted to know.
"You and I are not normal, but in a good way. Let me explain. When a human has sex with an angel willingly or unwillingly, the angel's power either fuses with the soul of their conceived child or doesn't. If it does, it gives the child access to some or all their angelic parent's powers. In the scenario where the child's soul does not take to the powers of their divine parent, it lives on like a normal human. As normal as can be expected of course. But your mother seemed to take a piece of your father's soul and mixed it with her own power. She didn't have to do this, but she did out of love for your father and for the new life they made together." A tear rolled down Eric's cheek.
Through Eric's eyes, he saw a smoky version of Lisa and Albert's father embracing each other. The invisible smoke exuded from his burning arm.
"Eric, are you okay? You're crying."
Eric blinked, snapping himself out of his trance. He wiped the tear away from his face and refocused on the task at hand. "You have a wonderful mother, Al. Do you know why I say that? Because she unknowingly gifted you with more power out of love for the two most important men in her life." Eric said smiling warmly at him.
Albert felt himself getting emotional. The fire in his arm dimmed.
"Albert, the higher the angel is or was in the celestial hierarchy, the brighter and hotter their power burns. To us, it may look like white fire, but not all of it is white. There's also something else you must know. You were born into a world where supernatural creatures, no matter how innocent and harmless, are no longer tolerated by Heaven. The Nephilim and Eliouds are not the only ones being hunted and destroyed. Everything from the small earth Gnome to giant Thunderbirds like myself is being targeted by the host of Heaven."
"My mother was talking to Indigo and me about the same thing you're telling me before we got here."
"Because supernatural creatures and races of myths and legend were all creations of The Nephilim and the fallen watchers. My tribe affiliates with more than just your mother; this is a sanctuary and refuge for all non-human races. Sooner or later, we're all going to have to start fighting back and taking a stand and proclaiming that our existence is not a threat to anyone."
A fire stoked inside Albert's chest, and he wanted to do everything he could to be a part of this movement. "You said you were my teacher, right Eric? Well, I'm ready to learn how to use my powers."
"Then the first lesson will be learning to tap into your power without relying on your emotions to trigger it or needing to beg it to come to you."
Albert looked spooked. How on Earth did Eric know he did either of those things to call on his power. Eric smirked and spoke.