Flying Without Wings

Some of the Angha Soldiers had decided to stay living in our house - without really asking us. But since they helped us to rebuild it after the fight, they felt they now owned it to. Audrey, Monty, Humphrey, Bear and Clementine had built themselves rooms around the house. The rest of the Angha Soldiers moved into number 36 of Hyacinth Street. Zenasia had shown us how to extend the house on the inside without changing the size of the outside, just like hers was. I didn’t really understand how it worked, but was glad it did. Our room stayed the same, I liked its cosy and humble feel, and after the past year I needed a place that felt like home. Zenasia had left the day after our home was repaired. Audrey had tried to make her stay but she wouldn’t. She took Mavis and disappeared into the night. She was no longer a Zimrugh Savior but she wasn’t an Angha Soldier either. She was a lost soul like she always had been. She promised to visit Audrey, every decade or so if only to tease her about dating an old man. After Gomez was killed Audrey had gone into Montgomery’s arms, which was where she really belonged anyway, even Humphrey could see it. They complimented each other, like exotic spices added to a fine rum and together they brought sass to the house. Clementine had decided to stay with Clive and took on the role of resident cook and became close friends with Edgar who was of course everyone’s favourite healer. Life was very different but at the same time, it almost went back to normal. I went back to work, although not in an office, and everyone else did to. All the Angha Soldiers decided we should meet weekly, for the sake of our Angha and for ourselves. The older Soldiers promised not to lose each other like they had before. The agreement was for weekly catch-ups but Pete, Lydia, Evelyn, Freddy, Edgar and a few of the others would come over almost nightly. We would share wine, cheese and keep each other company and the memory of Gomez alive. The Angha played in the basement which Zenasia had somehow made into a park, just like our new extensions our basement was now somewhat bewitched and was just like the Secret Garden Party room of house number 36. The floor was mossy and there was trees, waterfalls and flowers. It was a place where the Angha could play and fly and stretch their leathery wings. Bastian and I would often go down there and watch Marvillo fly around. We talked about everything and he never kept a single secret from me again. Every so often someone would bring up Dr Salem and we would wonder where he was. But with no Zimrugh Saviors and no captured cries, we just hoped that he wouldn’t return.

The sun set on another freezing day in Cullen, the end of the battle changed our lives but not the world around us. This story isn’t a cliché that ends on a sunny note. The rain still poured, the birds still chirped and darkness still came. But as a laugh ran around the kitchen table and Montgomery opened another bottle of wine, I knew that no matter what happened the Angha Soldiers would be by my side.

The End.