She had always been the odd one out, a misfit if you like, never really fitting in or belonging anywhere. When your Father is in the military, moving from place to place, and in turn from school to school, becomes a way of life; no sooner did she start to settle in and make new friends, than it'd be time to move on yet again.
As an only child, she wanted for nothing, except for one thing, a sibling of her own or even a friend, company her own age. Her Parents had made the decision to adopt, rather than to have a child biologically their own, and so while they were both fair skinned, Irish redheads, who'd burn if they so much as stepped into the sun, she couldn't be more different; with long onyx black hair, a year round tan and jade green eyes.
Predictably, being so different in looks from her Parents, and also forever the 'new' girl, meant she also became an easy target for bullies, and having no friends by her side she became withdrawn. Never to be seen without her head in a book, she'd read not of Princesses in faraway lands, but of Angels and Demons roaming the earth, and how Angels were there protecting the Mortals from harm.
One day, a few days after moving into yet another new home, it was such a beautiful sunny day that she went out into the garden to enjoy the heat. Unlike her Parents, she was drawn to the sunlight and could spend hours in it without ever getting burnt. Unlike the previous homes, this garden had unusual purple flowers and red moss growing, quite different from any flowers she'd ever seen before. As she crouched down for a closer look, she became aware of the presence of someone watching her from the garden next door.
As she glanced up and shielded her eyes from the sun, she saw another girl, maybe a few years older, with the same long onyx black hair that she had, but the palest skin. As she stood up and turned to face her, a little nervous that yet again she will be ridiculed by this older girl, she gasps as the girl takes off her sunglasses and reveals one pink and one blue eye, before smiling and introducing herself as her new best friend.
From that moment, the two became firm friends and the older girl became like the big Sister she'd never had. Suddenly, it didn't matter that she'd never had a sibling, she had one now and all she'd ever wanted. While other kids would be told stories of Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy, her new friend would tell her long stories of how she was an Angel, and one day she would be able to join her in protecting the Mortals from the Demons trying to descend them to hell.
At times, she'd mention how drawn to the light she was, and the older girl would simply smile knowingly, and say it was because she came from the light and it'd always be inside of her, burning brightly and keeping her strong.
The years passed, and before she knew it it was time to move on yet again, this time for the last time as her Father was now retiring and so they would be moving to a permanent home by the sea. She had never felt so distressed to be moving, because this time she'd be leaving the only friend she'd ever known; all she had to take with her was the memories of many happy times, and the many stories of Angels she'd been told.
Time moved on, the years passed in a blur, until one night. Out in a packed club, she suddenly hears a voice she'd not heard in many years . . . 'but it can't be?' she says out loud. Turning towards the girl speaking, she sees a girl with long, onyx black hair and the palest of skin. Thinking of how many people have long dark hair and how it couldn't possibly be her, she edges closer.
As she became aware of her presence, the girl turned to her, and suddenly those pink and blue eyes were upon her, focused intently as though seeing her for the very first time. 'Lia?', she says ... 'I never thought i'd be seeing you again, it's about time!'.
The next thing she became aware of, was a blinding light and once again, the older girl, now a woman, saying to her to not be afraid, how she is now an Angel and all of the stories told were true; that she'd had an accident and would've died if she hadn't been transcended. Feeling a tingling sensation along her spine, she gasped as the most beautiful, sparkling, black and red wings pushed through her skin and grew to be almost as tall as she was.
'You're an Angel of Valor now, Lia . . . you always were a brave one and i saw it in you from the moment we met' the older one says. 'I'll introduce you to your new family in time, and Magic, who will be teaching you all you need to know to be able to fight Demons, and protect the Mortals from harm' . . . 'this is just your beginning'.