Author's Notes:
Ooh. Someone mentioned if I would include different types of angels. I looked into it and was surprised at how many different types and categories of angels there were (excluding the fairies and pixies I mention in this chapter). I am going to do some research on it. I've never been too religious, so my knowledge about angels is derived only from the stuff I've read as a kid.
Something Important to consider:
Someone commented that I shouldn't be like people who write something and make the later chapters for pay.
This book and anything that follows is never going to be for money
. But I'd like people to consider something. Writing takes up a lot of time. It may take only an hour or so for you to read a chapter of this length, but it takes a lot more for an author to write it. I am financially stable and currently have a lot of free time, so I can do something like this for fun. However, not everyone is as lucky as I am. Please consider supporting people whose work you like and need the money to continue that work.
The pegasi drawn carriage was a wacky looking contraption. It had two wide airplane wings on the sides, and a mushroom shaped inflatable leather top that seemed to be filled with buoyant air. It seemed as if someone tried really hard to make the thing float but did not put much effort in its aesthetic look nor tried to make it into an efficient flyer. It was, however, quite spacious.
"Is the duchess aware of our meeting?" Jie Er asked Elyssa after the carriage leveled at a height of about two thousand feet.
"Yes, but she doesn't know why we are meeting her." Elyssa replied.
"What did you tell her?" Blaze inquired.
"I just told her that my friend and her aunts are coming to visit and that I want her to meet them"
Cali came into view a couple of hours after they started from Varan. If Elyssa hadn't referred to it as a town, Blaze would've assumed it to be a city. It was quite vast with spread of over a couple of yonders. Unlike Varan, large buildings were not concentrated at the center and the whole town seemed to be arranged into distinct blocks. It seemed to have a population of at least twenty or thirty thousand people. Vast fields of farmland surrounded the town, and irrigation canals cut through the lands from the eastern river.
The carriage flew over the town wall unimpeded and sped towards the center. It headed towards a small hill to the middle eastern part of the town.
"That's the duchess mansion. Mum got herself transferred when I moved to Varan" Elyssa said, pointing towards the lone mansion at the top of the hill.
However, to call it a mansion was doing it injustice. It reminded Blaze of lavish French chateaus. The acreage of both the mansion and its surroundings was huge, essentially occupying the entire hill. The central building was at least a few hundred feet wide, with elaborate towers, spires, and steeply-pitched roofs.
"Transferred?" Blaze questioned.
"Anyone above the rank of an earl gets transferred about every decade or so" Elyssa explained as if it was common.
Hmmm... Why would hereditary positions have transfers? Either there are concerns over consolidation of power or the positions work more like the civil service,
Blaze wondered as they flew over the numerous fountains, lawns, play courts and ponds that were spread over the hill. It seemed as if the hill housed more than just the duchess and her retinue. Or, her retinue was extra-large.
The carriage landed between the entrance of the mansion and the extravagant fountain at the front. Elyssa jumped out of the carriage, with excitement, and Blaze followed her. As soon as they stepped out, the large and heavy wood doors of the mansion swung wide open and two angels walked out.
"Mum!" Elyssa shouted and ran up the stairs to her mother. Blaze waited for his two aunts to step out as he observed the two angels.
Even without the difference in attire, Blaze could easily make out Elyssa's mother from the two angels. The resemblance with Elyssa was conspicuous.
Duchess Marigold was a small but striking woman; small for an angel at around 6'5. She had piercing gray eyes that seemed to take in everything, a small red mouth, a thin soft nose, and voluminous pecan colored hair that was put up in a fontange.
She wore a sky-blue neck gown that revealed plenty of cleavage. The gown reached the floor but had wide cuts at her hips which revealed her bony hips and long thighs. Blue diamonds studded her breast coverings and a blue diamond circlet adorned her hair. A couple of blue sleeves covered her slim arms and a flared black and blue collar enshrined her head.
She gave Elyssa a quick but warm hug and waited for her guests with a gentle smile. As they climbed the stairs, they noticed the conspicuous air of nobility the duchess exuded. And although Blaze had been irritated with Elyssa, the Duchess did not cause a similar reaction. She radiated poise and elegance. She made him feel assured and that everything around her was in her control.
"You must Elyssa's dear friend! I've been quite excited to meet you. You're very beautiful" the duchess exclaimed taking Rebecca's hands when the trio reached her.
"Mum! She's my friend" Elyssa exclaimed pointing at a wryly grinning Blaze.
Rebecca sprouted a jubilant smile and Jie Er seemed a little miffed. Did that mean she looked old enough to be Rebecca's aunt?
The duchess seemed taken back for a moment.
"Isn't she a bit young to be your friend?" she whispered in Elyssa's ear, as if the others could hear her.
"Sigh! That's why we are here. I will explain once we get inside"
"Ahem" the duchess cleared her throat. "Hello little one. You're also very beautiful"
"Not as much as you Min Marigold. Thank you for having us over. This is my Aunt Jie Er Lokra and this is Rebecca Flynn. Umm... she is also my aunt, I guess" Blaze replied with an amused smile. The duchess already seemed a lot more approachable than she looked.
"Aren't you a charmer. Come on in everyone. You all must be hungry. Siv has prepared a delectable breakfast for us" the duchess replied taking Blaze's arm and leading them inside.
Siv was the other angel standing beside the duchess. She wore a skimpy black and white suit and seemed to be the duchess's butler. She looked to be the oldest angel among the group.
They entered the chateau and stepped into a wide receiving chamber with long corridors leading to the interiors. The dome like ceiling was high with a massive central chandelier. Elaborate depictions from some angel tale were painted around the center, like the ceiling of the Sistine chapel.
Rebecca and Blaze looked around, a bit bedazzled by the grandeur.
They took one of the corridors filled with portraits of grand looking angels. and walked to a huge dining room. A long twenty angel glass dining table with silver cutlery stood at the center.
The duchess sat down at the head of the table and the others followed suit. Elyssa and Blaze sat to her left and the two older angels sat to her right.
"Shall I begin the meal, mistress?" Siv asked the duchess.
"Please" she responded, and soon several maids started bringing dishes, course by course; ranging from different kinds of breads and hors d'oeuvres to soups and salads.
"So, you wanted to discuss something?" Anastasia asked after they finished eating.
"Mum, can we get some privacy?"
