The Ascended (The Saving Angels 3)

"Never mind, it's just a phrase we use to show when we're optimistic."

"Ah yes, well, optimism is good."

"Haniel, Is this the spot you marked on the map?" John called from the front of our pack.

I was startled to see that Haniel and I had allowed a gap of about a hundred yards to grow between us and the others. Picking up our pace, we finally stepped into a small flat clearing where the rest of our group was waiting. We had been hiking up a fairly steady incline the entire day, so it was clear why Haniel chose this relatively flat spot for us to make camp. The clearing was unobstructed by trees, leaving a clear view of the majestic snow-covered peak. Judging by the dark ominous looking clouds starting to roll in, it was clear we could be in for some heavy snow. The temperature had definitely dropped the higher we had climbed. I untied my hoodie from around my waist and slid it over my long-sleeved shirt.

"This is the location," Haniel said. "It is imperative that you set up camp immediately. Victor is undoubtedly aware of our presence and you will need to prepare for what could come. I must now meet with The Light," he said, stepping out of the clearing into the dark woods beyond. "Do not tarry," he added before disappearing into the trees.

"Sheesh, talk about trying to freak us out," Jaime grumbled, dropping the double-sized sleeping bag she had been carrying onto the ground.

"It's fine babe, we'll have the tents up and nets around our campsite in no time flat." Paul said, pulling Jaime in for a quick hug.

"I'm not worried," she said, clearly offended. "I was just pointing out that after spending thousands of years with humans, you would think Haniel would have a little more tact. Especially with the youngins' around," she added jokingly, knowing it bugged the guys to be called that.

"Ha, that's so funny," Robert said sarcastically, dropping his pack to the ground.

Within minutes we had all the supplies lined up on the oversized tarps that we brought to cover the ground. The guys made quick work of erecting the three tents and then went to work stringing up the mesh netting that Shawn had reassured me would keep out most of the creepy crawlies.

Kim, Kieran and Sam set up a mock kitchen area and started preparing dinner on the campfire that John had started. Since it would have been disastrous if Lynn, Jaime, Jenna and I helped in the kitchen, we instead unrolled the sleeping bags and got busy placing them in the appropriate tents. I couldn't help crinkling up my nose as I crawled into one of the tents dragging a sleeping bag behind me. The smell of the nylon material triggered unpleasant memories from my childhood when I had gotten the flu while camping.

"Ugh," I muttered as the smell crowded my senses.

"That's right, I forgot you hated "tent smell," Lynn said, climbing in behind me. "Are you going to be okay sleeping in here?"

"Yeah, I'll be fine, besides I'm not sure how much sleeping I'll be doing anyway. The nightmares so don't make sleeping worth it," I said, smoothing out the second sleeping bag.

"Nightmares?" Lynn asked concerned.

"Yeah, I pretty much have them every night," I said, aggravated that I had let it slip out I was having them.

"What are they about?" Lynn asked with concern laced through her words.

"They're always the same. I'm in some kind of pitch black chamber. I can't see anything and I'm petrified to move because I'm afraid I might fall into oblivion. Then, when I finally work up the nerve to move, I realize I'm not alone," I said, shivering slightly as I recalled the terrible oppressive darkness and voices from my dreams.

"Krista, have you told Haniel."

"No way, I just know he would have used it as an excuse to make me stay at home," I said defiantly.

"I'm not so sure about that," Lynn said, smoothing out one of the sleeping bags with her hands.

"What do you mean by that?" I asked curiously.

"Well, let's face it Krista. We all try to act blasé about it, but there's no denying you got some serious kickass powers now. We all know it, including our see-all-know-it-all Archangel. We definitely need you here. Haven't you noticed how protective Haniel is of you, like, hiking beside you the entire afternoon?"

"I thought he was just doing that because he didn't want me to feel like the odd man out," I said, trying to analyze her words. My new powers were no secret, but were they really all that spectacular?

"I don't know Lynn. So what if I can now change over Forgotten Souls without even trying anymore. I'm not sure how that skill will be able to help us in this situation, especially if Victor is using nothing but Daemons…"

"Hey, why wasn't I invited to this party?" Sam asked, crawling under the flap of the tent to join us and settling on the stretched out sleeping bag beside me.

"What, you didn't get the secret party vibe I was trying to send your way?" Lynn mocked.

"I must have missed that one. Anyhoo, I agree with Lynn, your powers are something else."

"Oh great, can anyone else hear us too?" I asked self-consciously, not crazy about everyone in camp knowing about my bad dreams.

"Nah, it was just me. I was moving all our packs of clothes closer to the appropriate tents and I caught Lynn talking about your steroid powers," she quipped.