A Toy With Wings

Three

"Goldbloom, sit down," commanded the All-Father.

I look around to find a seat. The sapphire conference room is luxurious, with rich blue drapes, curtains and carpets. Simple quaint paintings in gold frames covered with blue bits of glass. Squashy blue armchairs and tables.

Almost every armchair was occupied, and the only empty one I could find was next to Evangeline Youngspire.

Shit. Just my luck.

I sit and say as formally as I can, "I apologize, sir."

"Hmph," was my reply.

Very polite.

The All-Father stood. He was a heterochromatic, with one eye of sky blue, and the other a glistening grey. He wore plain silver robes that billowed around him, and his pale blue, feathered wings were spread.

I admit, I'm jealous. Blue wings are rare. My white ones...not so much.

The All-Father recites all the rest of us by name, clearly and patiently. "Anson Nightdust, you shall be partnered with your co-worker, Julian Ashpeak."

An attractive blond lad (I'm assuming he's Anson) with wings tinted midnight blue nodded and smiled at his partner.

"Kevin Whitehunter, you shall be partnered with your mentor, Jezebel Chesterfield."

A punk chick with artificial red hair grins encouragingly at a blond boy.

"Jay Rabidgrip, you're with Bono Rabidgrip, your brother."

Almost identical brown-haired young men high-five.

Just four of us left. I'm probably partnered with Evangeline Youngspire, but I can still hope.

Right?

"Orson Goldbloom..." the All-Father speaks, and I hold my breath, praying that I'm not with Evangeline, that I'm not with Evangeline, that I'm not with Evangeline.

Waiting mere seconds for him to assign my partner seems to be an eternity all of a sudden.

"I'm pairng you up with Evangeline Youngspire."

Shit!

"She's your apprentice and your girlfriend, right?" The All-Father always looks serene and lithe, but I think he's smiling.

I quickly shake my head. "Not the latter, sir, not the latter."

For fuck's sake, I. Am. Not. In. A. Relationship. With. Evangeline. Youngspire. And. I. Will. Bonk. Anybody. Who. Dares. To. Ask. Questions. About. It. On. The. Head. With. A. Wrench. OKAY, FUCKERS?!

"That leaves us with Brittany Waterbend with Vanilla Grassgem."

I mentally snicker. I've heard of names like Rose or Ivy or Daisy, but Vanilla? That took the dumbass parents's minds to a whole new level.

One lad raises her hand.

"Yes, Mr Rabidgrip Number Two?" responds the All-Father.

"Sir, may I ask, why are you pairing us up?" asked Bono Rabidgrip.

"The other leaders and I have voted to promote all ten of you. Congratulations, you're now fully-qualified field agents for the organization!"

Ashpeak brings out a bottle of champagne, tucked among folds of his ashy brown wings (why are my wings not like that?) and offers it around.

The All-Father shakes his head. "Heavens, no. Or at least, not yet. I have done that for a reason. I think that this video shall be sufficient."

He brings out an iPod and plays a video.

In the video, a woman of about twenty stands on the scene of a volcano, shouting into a microphone. Hot winds howl by, whiplashing her dark hair. Her brown eyes are tinted with worry.

"The volcanoes near Hell's gorge are active," she shouts. "And one has already erupted. Volcanologists have, per analysis, estimated that the volcanoes might fully erupt at any time in a span of five to ten days," the young reporter's eyes sweep across the horizon, which is a mess of lava and pumice chunks. Then she turns back to the camera. "In the meantime, please make sure to take all measures to protect yourselves from the lava. This is Virginia Hamilton of CNN news."

Then, the video stops.

"What does that have to do with anything?" I ask. Then, when everybody glares at me, I quickly add, "Sir?"

"She is speaking in code," the All-Father replies. He plays the video again.

"The volcanoes near Hell's gorge are active," Virginia shouts.

The All-Father pauses the video. "That line is code for 'the devils in charge of producing the Underworld lava are active again."

Oh.

The video continues.

"...And one has already erupted. Volcanologists have, per analysis, estimated that the volcanoes might fully erupt at any time in a span of five to ten days..."

Pause.

The All-Father translates sadly, "Five of our best agents have died, and we would need ten more to help. Which is where the organization would like you to step in."

"In the meantime, please make sure to take all measures to protect yourselves from the lava. This is Virginia Hamilton of CNN news."

End of video.

"Well, the second-to-last line is a reminder to you all," the All-Father says. "Bring enough weapons and rations. And by the way, Virginia isn't really called Virginia. She's actually Amber Skyward. One of our most famed field agents. Cut off her wings to go undercover," then he smirks, "Do you all accept?"