Page 4 of Wings of Death

I don’t think I will ever forget that day. It’s etched into my memory for life. I saw Lacinda cornered by the Zelon, its sharp teeth snapping at her neck. She’s lucky to have survived. If her powers hadn’t surged at that moment and blasted the Zelon into a thousand pieces, she would’ve been eaten.

I grab my bottle from my bag and take a sip of water. “To this day, I still can’t believe you went into the Dark Forest.”

She gulps, the memory clearly playing through her mind as it had mine. A group of male seconds who pretended to be her friends tricked her. They led her into the Dark Forest after drinking at a party. They dared her to go to the area that the Zelon had been last seen, and she did. She’s brave like that, always has been.

Zelons are protectors of our Kingdom, but extremely territorial and will kill anyone and anything that steps into their territory in the Dark Forest. They are long, muscular creatures, similar to a lion on Earth, but with wings, and much larger andsharper teeth. They don’t have fur, but dark-purple, almost black skin with a feathery tail that can shoot poisonous spikes.

I noticed Lacinda was missing, so Demetros and I followed the screams. We ran into the assholes fleeing rather than bothering to help her. Demetros didn’t have his powers yet either, so she was damn lucky hers had surged at that moment and saved her life. Killing a Zelon is punishable by death, as they are an extremely rare species in our Kingdom, but luckily for her, a life-and-death situation cleared her for it.

“Yes, well, some people can be very convincing.” She looks away as she subtly wipes the tears from her eyes.

Demetros and I stare at one another as I silently mouth the words, “Comfort her.” He rolls his eyes, scoots a little closer, and rubs her back.

“The main thing is you didn’t die, right?” he says, trying to lighten the mood.

She laughs. “Yeah, I guess.”

I smile as I close my eyes and stretch my arms out wide at my sides. A gentle breeze floats past me as the scent of fresh pine needles fills my nose. I attempt to call forth my powers, visualising myself with them. Taking deep breaths, I channel everything I have. I speak to the gods, unsure if they can hear me or not, but I’ll try anything at this point.

Please, gods above, if you can hear me, bless me with my powers so I can be the angel I was born to be. Give me the strength I need. I will be a worthy guardian…

A cool sensation surges from deep inside my chest, and I blink my eyes open as a bright light surrounds me. I can no longer see Demetros or Lacinda. What is that?I shield my eyes as a figure steps into view. It’s a female, that much I can tell, but I can’t make out her features, just her silhouette.

“Zarla Quinn.” The female’s voice is like music to my ears as she floats just above the ground.

“Who are you?” I whisper.

“There are some things that must remain unspoken.”

My brow creases in confusion, but I am unafraid, somehow knowing she won’t harm me.

“What you seek, I cannot give you. You must prove yourself worthy of such powers. Your powers will be strong. You must be ready for them, and you are not yet ready. Be patient, be brave, and they will come.”

And as if someone has flicked a switch, the light disappears, and I blink to find Demetros and Lacinda staring at me.

“Zarla? Did you hear me?” she asks.

I rub my forehead. “Did you guys see that?”

Lacinda jumps down from the log she’s perched on. “See what?”

I rub my eyes as I internally try to make sense of it all. Demetros is staring at me, waiting for an explanation.

“What happened?” he asks as he too jumps down from the log to join us in the clearing.

I press my fingers into my temples as I move around the clearing. How can I explain this without sounding insane? I stop and face them both.

“I think I just spoke with a goddess.”

CHAPTER TWO

Demetros gently takes hold of my arm, and I stop pacing. “You spoke with a goddess?”

Reluctantly, I meet his gaze, unsure whether to lie or tell them the truth. I mean, would I sound like I’m crazy, hallucinating or something?

“I don’t know. It was strange,” I say as he releases me, and I take a few steps away. “Someone spoke to me. I don’t know who, but?—”

“But what? What’d she say?” Lacinda asks, her gaze intent.

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