Page 14 of Rejected Darkness

"Well, hurry up, and maybe we will have time to see the nurse as well to patch you up some." Isis throws a towel at me as she walks past and into the showers.

Food, painkillers, and sleep in that order is exactly what I need to get through the rest of the day. If only it was that easy.

Chapter 7

Arabella

"Feeling any better?" Isis questions while I'm in the middle of stuffing my face full of food. She got me right as I took a large bite, so I can’t answer until I finish chewing.

"I don't think she can answer you right now. She's too busy being a pig. Maybe she should sit in the pen far away from us," Stark snarks as he takes another bite of his burger.

"That's a little harsh, Stark," Harper retorts. "She had a busy morning. I'd be just as hungry as she is if I worked as hard as her. First, expending a ton of magic in our first class and then worked her ass off to fight the top fighter in our class. Yeah, I'd be exactly like her."

"Thank you, Harper," I mumble around the bite of pasta I just shoved in my mouth. Both of them are right. I am being a pig, considering I just inhaled a slice of pizza and have now moved on to the alfredo. On a normal day, I wouldn't even consider eating this much food. I would be ashamed for even eating a slice of pizza instead of going for a salad like my father expected of me. Slowly, I put the fork down and push my plate away now that I've lost my appetite. Go figure the asshole Stark would be the one who makes me lose my appetite.

"Arabella, what's wrong?" Isis questions, pushing my plate back in front of me. "You earned that food and then some. Fuck Stark and his asshole comments. Eat whatever you want."

"Thanks, Isis. I'm okay, though. I started to feel nauseous from all the food. I think I'm going to head back for a small nap before going to my next class." Getting up before they can say another word, I grab my tray and head to the door where the trash and tray collection is. I don't bother looking back to see if they are looking at me or saying something about me. Instead, I just walk out the door and go straight back to our dorm. I know I shouldn’t let comments like Stark’s get to me, but that’s not something that just disappears overnight. The reactions are ingrained in me. My father’s wants are ingrained in me.

Getting back to my room, I grab some painkillers and crash onto my bed, setting an alarm for forty-five minutes. That will give me enough time to wake up and get to my next class. As I try to get comfortable, my hand hits the journal under my pillow. I found it hidden in all my stuff this morning, but I have no idea how it got there. I have never owned something as old as the leather it is bound to and the handwriting I don’t recognize. At first, I thought it was a mistake that ended up in my stuff but then I saw some words that caught my attention. Fallen, Lucifer, and Seraphim. Deciding that reading a small bit won’t hurt, I get so wrapped up in it that the next thing I know it’s about two in the morning, and I had read half the journal in one night. A part of me wants to read more of it, but I know if I do, then I will never sleep, and that’s what my body needs right now more than anything.

Tucking the journal away for after classes, I let sleep claim me for the short time I have. Hopefully, it's enough for my small amount of healing powers to kick in. I would much prefer not to go to the clinic later today because the pain has become toomuch. I can already feel the bruising on my ribs forming, and it's only going to get worse. Damn my powers being broken.

"Does anyone know why the angels have laws?" the teacher questions about five minutes into the start of class.

When I walked into the class a minute before it started, I almost turned around and walked right back out. I am the only angel in the class, everyone else is a fallen. It’s terrifying and overwhelming. I don’t even understand why I am in this class to start with. I know Angel Law like the back of my hand. It has been shoved down my throat my whole life by my father. I guess that alone is the answer as to why I have the class. He doesn’t want me to forget anything or get any ideas while I'm away from home, away from him. It’s probably his way of reminding me that he controls me and that I need to fall in line with his demands.

"Because angels are control freaks?" the Fallen that kicked my ass earlier in the day jokes. Several others in the class laugh as well.

"Arabella, you just recently arrived here, and I heard you were at the top of your class. Why don't you give us the answer?" she asks, turning all the attention my way. Every set of eyes turns to look at me, more proof showing that I’m completely different from everyone else in the class.

Great. First day of class and I once again am the center of attention. I hate it so much.

"Teacher's pet," someone coughs from behind me.

"If we didn't have laws, then we would live in chaos. Infighting would be taking place, and there would be more death than peace," I answer, giving the simplest response I can. I knowthat isn't the exact answer that she's looking for, but I also don’t want to be, as the person behind me said, a teacher's pet.

"That's a very basic overview answer," she sighs and shakes her head at me.

Yup, I knew she would be disappointed.

"The laws are there because if they weren't, Arabella is right, chaos would reign. Angels are a competitive species and believe that the stronger you are, the better angel you are. Now, the Seraphim recognizes this isn't true and created rules that would protect the weaker angels. Everyone deserves a chance at happiness," she explains, pausing.

In the second she takes a breather, questions begin from the back of the classroom, more specifically from the asshole who kicked my ass earlier today. "What about the fallen? Don't we deserve happiness as well? You all did Lucifer dirty for no reason other than you didn't like him and created him as the first fallen, destroying his life and the life of his family."

"Yeah! What about the fallen?" another student chimes in. "We didn't do anything to receive the treatment you wished upon us. Just because we have a power you deem to not be angelic-like or because we don't follow your stupid rules we are stuck being less than? Most of us continue to be punished because someone in our families, past or present, did something that you Angels didn’t like. How is that fair?"

I hate that in a way I understand where he is coming from. If I wasn’t my father’s daughter, I’m sure the Seraphim would have found a way to kick me out for not being angel-like enough. They teach us in school that if an Angel commits a heinous crime, they are either sentenced to death or forced to become Fallen. Their families have a choice and can either follow their loved one or say goodbye and never see or speak to them again. The children born to a fallen angel are forced to become fallen themselves. They get no say and automatically take the title their parentshave. When they are born their wings are even black or dark shades of gray like the fallen. It’s as if they have had no chance to become an angel and prove they are different than their family, thanks to the curse the Seraphim placed on the family member who was cast out. It’s wrong but that’s our society. Angels are hardasses and one of the meanest races. They say it’s because we are superior, and they need to maintain order. I disagree but what does a little defective angel like myself know?

"That is enough!" our teacher scolds in an extremely calm voice. "The fallen follow angel laws because they broke angel laws and needed punishment. It has nothing to do with powers. Lucifer broke the rules plain and simple. Now, get these ideals out of your head before I fail you all. Class is dismissed and don't you ever bring this up again!"

Several Fallen begin complaining as they gather their stuff and walk out. I remain quiet, gathering my books and putting them in my bag, not wanting to draw further attention to myself. It's clear the Fallen hate angels and my being an angel in their class isn't going to earn me any favors right now.

"Arabella, please stay behind. I'd like to speak with you," Seraphim Sybil states right before I leave. Turning around I grab one of the desks at the front of the room and take a seat while we wait for everyone to exit. Out of the corner of my eye, I catch several people staring at me as they pass. Whether it is because I'm an angel or because I was told to stay behind, I'm not sure. Knowing my luck it's probably both.

"Can I ask what this is about?" I inquire the second the door is shut behind everyone. I'd really like to get to the library for my work-study position and find some food because, of course, I'm still hungry.

"I wanted to let you know I spoke with your father. He wants me to ensure you get a quality education here and what is expected of you when or should you return to Aeris, which leadsme to my point. Do not listen to what the fallen angels say in this class. They don't understand why our rules were created or are in place for. They need this class to understand that if they should break Angel law, they will be punished more severely than they have been."

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