Impure: Angels

Part One: Angels and Demons

"I believe in everything until it's disproved. So I believe in fairies, the myths, dragons. It all exists, even if it's in your mind. Who's to say that dreams and nightmares aren't as real as the here and now?"

-John Lennon

Chapter One: An Invitation to Hell

"Hi, I'm Emily and I'll be your server today," Emily Clarence announced to the young couple sitting in the booth before her. She slipped out a notepad and pencil from her apron. "What can I get you?"

"The Western omelette with home fries, please," the man said, his voice deep and melodious. Emily scribbled down his response.

"The same for me, please," the woman seconded, and Emily scribbled a 2 beside the order.

"Great, I'll be back with your breakfasts in a minute," Emily smiled, then turned away and started toward the kitchen. Henry's diner was relatively small, five rows of booths up on one side and tables spread out across the checkered floor. The walls were a warm shade of purple and the atmosphere was warm and welcoming. It felt like once you stepped foot in the diner you were suddenly family with everyone else inside. That was why Emily loved working there. The staff was like her second family, all so kind and generous.

A hallway at the back of the diner from which the bathrooms branched off of led to the kitchen, where the chefs were going about their business calmly, because it was only seven o'clock and the diner was almost completely empty, save the couple Emily had just served and an elderly man reading a novel at one of the tables.

Emily entered the kitchen and stuck the order slip on the silver wheel, then turned around and exited the room after politely greeting the kitchen staff. When she'd re-entered the dining area she saw a familiar redhead sitting at one of the booths who waved her over with a smile. Emily took a seat across from her best friend, Sam.

She was a petite girl, her face never without a smile plastered on it. Her long scarlet hair flowed down her back, and her blue eyes like the ocean were lit up with excitement. She wore a lime green sweater, black jeans and orange converse, an odd collection of clothing that surprisingly worked and suited her perfectly. She was always quick to crack a joke and Emily had never met someone she couldn't make smile and thriving in life like everybody wishes they could be: intelligent, well-liked, beautiful and, most of all, happy. And Emily didn't think she could have had a better best friend.

"Why are you up so early? I thought you vowed to murder anyone who woke you up before noon on Saturday," Emily said, smiling. It was quite boring working the early shift, because there was nothing to do. She was thrilled to have someone to talk to and something to do.

"Well, I was just too excited to wait to tell you. I got a text this morning from Zach! He invited us to the party he's throwing tonight!" Sam was beyond excited, Emily could tell. She, however, was not so pleased.

"Why the hell would I want to go to Zach's party?" Emily asked, quite unsettled by the fact that her friend would think such an unlikely thing about her.

"Look, I know you're not a huge fan of Zach," Sam admitted sheepishly. "But his parties are the best! I've wanted to go to one forever, you know that. I just . . . don't want to go alone."

Emily sighed, defeated. She knew Sam had had a crush on Zach since she was seven, not unlike most other girls in their grade. Zach was the kind of guy who walked around as if life owed him something, like he was better than everyone else, and Emily was positive that he thought so. He wore a leather jacket and rode a motorcycle and therefore everyone was under the illusion that he was the perfect candidate to have a sexy romance with. But Emily saw the truth in him, that he was nothing but a stuck-up, rich, hideous man with no goals who would ultimately end up broke with a severe case of syphilis. He was a modern King Henry XIII. But Sam had always wanted to go to one of his parties, and they were incredibly fun, so people said, so Emily finally decided what the right thing to do was.