Page 183 of Scars Like Wings

“He has been making dull threats, trying to call me, and trying to visit my house to intimidate me.”

“Ohmigods, Maisie!” Simone cried out.

“Maisie, you didn’t tell us about that!” I exclaimed, leaning toward her.

Maisie moved her hand as if she was swatting away something in the air. “Because it’s like telling you both how annoying a fly was to me the other day. He’s irrelevant. There’s nothing he can do to hurt me or get me to tell him anything about my bestie. He’s stupid enough to try anything against me, then he is fucked and I will ensure that.” Magic sparked along Maisie’s fingers to legitimize her threat.

“Well, speaking of magic and threats, any news on the dagger? Weren’t you, Teddy, and Talli looking into it before the holidays?” I asked.

Maisie nodded. “We did some research together and at the Archive with Isidora, but she was supposed to be getting more books in today that would give us more information. She held onto the dagger to keep investigating it in case there was something that we missed. She said she would start looking into it as soon as the books arrived. I was going to stop by after brunch to check-in.”

“Do you mind if I tag along with you?” I asked.

“Of course not!” Maisie smiled. “Izzy has been asking about you, so I’m sure she would love to see you. And I like your company or something.”

“Then it’s settled!” Simone declared. “It’s a good thing this outfit is actually surprisingly comfortable.”

The show continued on with the next set, but their performance and the ones that followed were a blur as my thoughts raced. Why did so many people want to kill me? What did they get out of it? The hunters the day my mom had been murdered had mentioned Mom’s and my worth. Why was there a price tag on my existence? What did it mean? Why us? What made us so special that our lives meant nothing compared to the monetary value of our death? Is that why I had lost my mom and Pops? To fill someone’s fucking pockets? I lost a lifetime with them just so someone could buy a vacation home and some jewelry?

The glasses on our table shattered suddenly. Instead of their shards falling to the table, they floated just above it. They were sharp needles, rugged and angry in appearance. It was as if the glass had broken just so to create them. As they hovered above the air like tiny crystal stars, I felt an odd tiny thread to each of them, as if I could pull and control them.

“Byrdie?”

I looked up from the glass to the girls staring between me and the shards on the table. Simone placed her hand over mine, and I immediately felt more grounded to the present. “Are you okay, Bee?”

“Are you doing this?” Maisie asked in awe at the scene. “This is a lot of magic to be able to control so much at once, even if it is small.”

“Yes and yes. I’m sorry for taking you away from the show.” I shook my head. As if reading my thoughts alone, the crystals combined together seamlessly to return to the glasses they were at before, whole as if nothing had ever happened.

“Oh, girl, shut the front door! You can control glass!” Simone’s eyes were the same size as the plates for our food.

I smiled and shook my head. “Not quite glass. More like crystals.”

“But then, how are you able to control glass?”

“Glass is made of sand, which is just very tiny quartz crystals, so it’s kind of like controlling crystals still.” I shrugged.

“That is so fucking cool, dude,” Maisie complimented. I beamed at her words.

As the last notes of the show rang out and the standing ovation died down, the three of us paid and gathered our purses to head on our way. We left the cozy warmth for the crisp still-Autumn feeling December air to head over to the Archive.

As soon as the automatic doors of the Archive opened, I could feel my dragon bristle. My scales rippled with color and power just under my skin. I felt on edge immediately.

I wasn’t the only one.

The Archive’s tree at the center of the Library blew around like it was in a hurricane. Her leaves and branches shook making the shelves and the entire building quake. The ceiling above was dark and cloudy with streaks of colorful lightning flashing frequently. All around, the pages and books were chaotically, erratically, and quickly flying. The patrons were holding down their papers and belongings, looking around concerned and confused. Something was horribly wrong.

The Archive was scared.

“Byrd! Oh, thank goodness, you’re here!” I turned to see one of my favorite Managers on Duty, Paige, standing behind themain circulation desk. Paige was an adorkable cutie pie and an owl shifter. Her brown eyes were wide with fear as I approached.

“What’s going on?” I asked.

“The Archive has been like this since Dr. Rhois went upstairs a few minutes ago! She got a call, said she was headed to the Vault, and asked Journee to go with her. Not long after they left, the Archive started acting like this. I have no idea why.”

Rhois and Journee going to the Vault? That ain’t good.

“Something is scaring her.” I placed my hands on the desk. It was shivering. My heart squeezed so tight I could cry. “Archive? What’s wrong?”

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