Psyche & Eresto Part 1: Second Life
Chapter 2: Second Life
"Is this real?" Kim asked, her mouth agape.
"It's as real as can be," Eresto claimed. "And there's more to see. There are people to meet, too."
"But how is this possible?"
Kim was standing at the bathroom window, water dripping off her to the floor. As she stood at the window, she gaped at the details of the landscape outside. Her mind raced trying to come up with possibilities of what had happened and where she was. "Wake up, Kim!" She thought. "I'm not dreaming. And I'm sober. What is this?"
Kim leaned back against Eresto, her head against his chest as she looked out the window in disbelief. "This is incredible," was all she could say.
Below the window there was a series of paths leading to a forest, which stretched off into the distance. But it didn't look like any forest she had ever seen before. The canopies were of varied colors: red, blue, green, yellow and others. They stood in stark contrast to the sky, which was colored as a pastel yellow sky that didn't look natural or at all possible. She had never seen anything like it.
"I know you have questions," Eresto said softly in her ear, "but if you trust me, there are explanations coming."
Kim felt a pin prick in the back of her mind when he said the word "trust," and she needed answers. She couldn't wait. She turned around to face him, arms around his neck as she looked up into his blue eyes. She sensed something she hadn't before: he had a power and a presence to him. He seemed to glow, and suddenly it appeared to her that he looked like more than a man.
"Who are you, really?" She asked.
"I'm a watcher," Eresto smiled. "I and angels like me watch over the Earth, mostly over humanity. This is where we live, or at least those of my order. It's called the First Step."
Kim turned to look up at him, her hand on his hip. "You told me that you work in a museum," she smirked. "And you told me you were a bad liar."
Eresto shifted uncomfortably. "Well," he sighed, "if I had told you that I was an muse who inspires art and desire, would you have agreed to come with me to my heavenly home?"
Kim laughed. "Definitely not."
"There are things that you can't be told about," he said, glancing out the window. "You have to see them for yourself."
"Fine," she admitted. "But then, where are we? And what happened to my apartment?"
"If we're going to talk about these things, we should probably get dressed." Eresto said.
Kim sighed and pressed her cheek against his hard chest for a moment. "I suppose."
Kim had hardly ever gotten dressed so fast before in her life, wanting to get answers to her questions. Eresto requested that she wear a red dress for her first time out on "the grounds," as he referred to them. She decided to agree to avoid argument because she wanted to have answers quickly before walking anywhere with Eresto. When she had put the dress on and tied the sash, she realized she looked beautiful.
Eresto had put on an outfit of red and white, with white shirt and pants and a red vest. Kim noticed he looked great with it on, and that it looked something like a uniform. He put his hand through his hair, moving it out of his face. His long wavy locks had fallen into his face. Kim suppressed a chuckle at how cute he looked trying to straighten out his hair, almost like an awkward teenager.
"Okay, hot stuff," she said with hands on her hips. "Where's my apartment?"
"Easy," he looked up and smiled as he buttoned the top buttons of his shirt. "It's right back through the door we came in earlier." He pointed behind her, and there it was. It looked exactly like the front door of her apartment, and she was confused.
"Just through there?" She asked.
"That's all it takes to go back," Eresto answered. "But before you test it out, would you go for a walk outside with me?"
"Yeah," she wanted to get a closer look at what she had seen from the window. "Let's go outside." She took his hand.
Eresto led her out of the suite. They were in a hallway that eerily resembled a hotel, but very functional and without decoration or much character. The white walls almost shined, similarly to the suite they were in. It was amazing how bright everything was here with no noticable light source.
"This is crazy," she thought as they walked toward a staircase leading down towards the ground level. "Not an hour ago we were walking outside, on a street and in a completley different building."
They walked down the stairs that led to a large open area. Eresto was explaining that there were a number of palaces like this one, where angels like him lived and could travel to earth and elsewhere. He spoke very enthusiastically, like he might tell her everything about the angel way of life in an hour. She listened but couldn't really understand or care about some of the specifics of what he was explaining. Mostly she wanted to go outside and see if the landscape she saw from the window was real.
As he was enthusiastically giving a history of the palace, Angelhome, Kim decided she had to do something. "It's like an angel barracks, isn't it?" She interrupted.
"Barracks?" Eresto asked.
"It's what army soldiers live in on earth. This palace is like that." She said. "Very functional, not very well decorated, a place to live while serving duty."
Eresto laughed. "Exactly," he said.
"That chandelier is absolutely beautiful," Kim was looking to the ceiling of what appeared to be a large entryway to the palace. Anchored by a gilt bronze corona, the single tiered chandelier had beautifully carved arms and a rich interplay of metal and crystal that shone. She craned her neck and swooned for a moment before noticing that it had no candles and seemed to be for decoration only. Like everything here, it seemed to give off its own light.
"What do you think so far?" He asked as they approached the bottom of the stair.
"Incredible," she answered, looking down from the ceiling. "I can't wait to go for a walk outside."
Kim noticed near the bottom of the stair a handful of people were gathered. Eresto stirred and seemed happy to see them. There was a woman clad in a beautiful blue dress not unlike the one Kim was wearing, along with three figures that were wearing uniforms similar to Eresto's. They looked up at the pair coming down the stairs, and Kim felt self-conscious as all eyes seemed to be on her.
"Look at this! A vision of red and white, two together as one." The woman angel said. She was tall and slender and wore the red vest and white shirt and pants that seemed to be the angel uniform. Her long blond hair flowed down over her shoulders and nearly reached her chest.
"Welcome, mortal," one of the males smiled at her. "Eresto, can we have an introduction?"
"Of course, Lord Corran," Eresto said as they arrived at the bottom of the staircase. "This is Psyche, my Lover. She crossed over just a little while ago." Kim wrapped her arm around his and leaned against him slightly, feeling uneasy with all the eyes on her.
Kim looked at the woman in blue. Though she was somewhat tall for a woman, the angels looked large in comparison. She was on the arm of one of the male angels. She had long dark hair like Kim's that flowed down her back, with darker skin and looked like a Latina. She smiled up at Kim as she leaned against her angel.
"We were hoping to see you two soon," said the female angel. She turned to Kim and held out her hand in greeting. "I am Abeldine, Mistress of this Palace and commander of our order who live here. I bid you welcome to our home and yours, if you'll have it, for as long as you wish to stay."
Kim took Abeldine's hand. Her grip was firm and she seemed strong. She had a masterful presence and demeanor, and Kim was unsure if she should bow or kneel. She found herself bowing her head slightly and bending her knee awkwardly. "Good day to you, Mistress," was all she could think to say.
"And I am Corran, keeper of this Palace," said the male who had requested the introduction. "I trust your stay has been pleasant so far. If ever there is anything I can provide to help you, just let me know." He bowed to her and then held out his hand in greeting.
"Thank you, Sir," Kim replied, taking his hand and smiling tentatively. His grip was firm and his touch gave a warm and caring feel that she had noticed from Eresto when they had first met. "Thank you for your hospitality." She withdrew her hand shyly, feeling a bit small and weak. She was in awe of the presence of these beings.
"As I tell all mortals that come here," Abeldine spoke authoritatively, "if there are comforts from your earth home that you wish to bring here, you may. There is a door leading back to your world and you may use it at any time, whether to leave or to retrieve belongings you wish to have with you here. Your life back on earth is still there, and you will not be here against your will."
"Thank you, Mistress," Kim replied, still unsure what to make of everything.
"Lord Corran and I have business to attend to," Abeldine declared, stepping away. The two angel commanders walked away, leaving Kim and Eresto with the other pair.
The angel with the woman in blue spoke. "Eresto, good to see you!" He exclaimed in a boisterous and deep voice. He seemed practically a giant, a head taller than Eresto, and as wide as two people. The woman with him was quite a bit taller than Kim but still seemed small in comparison.
"Balthus!" Eresto called out. He let go Kim's hand and embraced the other angel.
"Hey, Eresto," said the woman warmly as Eresto stepped back and took Kim's hand again. "Aren't you just glowing today."
"Thank you, Cassandra," Eresto said happily. "And yes, I am fine today thank you."
