Page 11 of Wings of Torment
“Huh? Did you catch that, Raph?”
“Not quite. Can you try again, sweetheart? Maybe this time without the hand over your mouth.”
My face flames, but I drop my hands to find both Raphael and Theo watching me with different expressions lining their faces. Theo looks concerned, but Raph only looks playful, like he knows how to get me talking.
“Whimsical Wares is Pure only. I snuck in once, and it didn’t really go so well.” The memory of being chased, of barely escaping without getting caught, slips through my mind. Would they let me in with gold wings, or would they punish me for even trying?
“That’s so fucking shitty.” Theo looks angry, and it takes a minute for me to realize that he’s mad on my behalf. My heart flutters at the thought of this Pure angel feeling so strongly against his own kind.
“Yeah, fuck that place,” Raphael adds. “It’s almost lunch. Why don’t we walk around and see what sparks our interest? Today is about relaxing and having fun. Anything that threatens those plans can fuck right off.”
My grin grows so big it hurts. “I love that! And at this point, anything is better than staring at the same old books and hoping for different words to appear on the page. It feels like I’m going insane.”
“Well, if you are, we’re coming too. Might as well throw us all in the same straight jacket.” Raphael kisses my cheek before dancing away with the cart of books.
Theo cleans up our workstation while I email the principal, letting him know of our departure. They might have lifted the lockdown, but we’re supposed to notify the school of our comings and goings as a way for them to track who’s on campus at any given time. At least wecanleave, though, and with everything that’s happened, I can understand why they’re doing it. By the time Raphael is back, we’re ready to head out. It’s weird leaving the campus and walking through the gate I haven’t even stepped toward since arriving. Has it only been a month since the school year began? So much has happened that it feels far longer. Have I really only known Raphael and Theo for such a short time? When did my relationship with these angels change, morphing into something I’m not sure I could live without?
After the attack, it seemed like maybe I’d get there with Zeke too, but the space between us shifts like the ocean tides, ebbing and flowing so rapidly that sometimes it feels as if I’ll drown.
We walk down familiar streets, making our way toward the merchant district and ignoring all signs of Whimsical Wares. Despite knowing this area, it feels somehow new with these two angels at my side.
“Have you guys ever just wandered the streets like this?” I ask them, spreading my arms wide before closing my eyes, in love with the freedom of this moment. I feel their gazes on me, and I can’t stop the surge of something hot and potent from spreading through my limbs. When I finally open my eyes again, Theo is watching me with a familiar heat in his eyes.
He smiles. “Not in this district, but Raph and I were always escaping the confines of our homes and exploring the housing district. If we were fast enough, we could usually make it to where the housing district meets the entertainment district. We found this old park not maintained or visited by anyone else. The structure was rusted and broken, but it’s where we went to get away.”
His expression shifts near the end of his story, turning darker and almost painful. I’m desperate to ask him about it, but I stay silent, not wanting to ruin the mood. It’s not the first time I’ve seen a flash of it cross his handsome face. Maybe in time he’ll open up to me about it.
“Oh yeah. Theo and I were little hellions. We were both running from something, in our own ways, but we always had each other. Day or night, it didn’t matter. If we needed one another, we risked the wrath of our families to show up.” Raphael nudges into Theo as we turn down an unfamiliar side street. Their friendship reminds me of what Dina and I share, and I wonder what she’ll think of our little outing.
A gust of wind hits me in the face, bringing with it the delicious scent of pastries, coffee, and freshly baked bread. “Oh, fuck.” The words come out more of a moan than I intended, but holy shit. My stomach rumbles, reminding me just how hungry I am.
The scents come from a restaurant up ahead with a cute patio out front, complete with umbrellas to block the sun and cozy-looking chairs. It’s quaint, homey, and exactly where I want to have lunch. My joy blossoms further when I find a sign that saysEveryone Has To Eat, Just Take a Seat.
Another group of angels approaches from across the street, eyeing the last empty table on the patio. Raphael grabs my hand and sprints toward it, pulling a chair out for me. I don’t miss the unsatisfied mutter from the other group, but at this moment, I can’t find it in me to care.
Theo adjusts the umbrella to block just enough of the sun that it doesn’t blind us, but still lets us bask in the warmth. The perfect day.
As I read the menu, I salivate. Fucking hell. The prices aren’t wildly expensive, and it’s not like I’ve spent much of the money my parents sent me to school with. If I’m mindful of spending, I should be able to get through this meal without embarrassing myself.
The waitress comes over to take our order, her eyes widening as Raphael and Theo list off item after item. Maybe it shouldn’t surprise me, given how much they usually eat at school, but that doesn’t cost money. This does. Just how well off are they?
When the waitress turns to me with pen and slate in hand, I mumble off my measly order consisting of a sandwich, side salad, and a peach smoothie. She walks away, looking almost annoyed, but I can’t be bothered to care. I won’t let a damn thing ruin today.
It’s not long before the food arrives and our table is overflowing with sandwiches, soups, cheeses, and a platter of different sweets.
“Help yourself to anything that interests you,” Raphael says between bites of buttered bread. “We have more than enough for the three of us.”
“I dunno …” Part of me wants to say no. If I eat some, I’ll feel shitty without paying and there’s zero chance my budget will cover even a third of this. But the call from that warm, flaky bread is too loud to ignore.
“Then let me decide for you. Try this.” Raphael shoves the bread forward, hovering just in front of my mouth and I’m lost in the aroma. I bite into it with a moan, my eyes rolling back into my head because fuck, that’s good.
“Thanks, guys. You’re welcome to try some of mine, too. I think they even make their own seasoned croutons.”
We eat the rest in silence, and I end up trying a bite of almost everything they ordered. By the time we make it through the food, I’m beyond full and wishing I wore something a little more flexible. This was worth it, though.
Theo excuses himself, heading off to find a bathroom and leaving Raphael and me alone.
“By the Archangels, this might be my new favorite spot,” he says before stealing another gulp of my peach smoothie. “Of all the things you tried, which did you like best?”
