Page 10 of Wings of Torment
Like discovering what the fuck the demons were after.
I walk over to the open space set up for interns, which has the unfair nickname of theinfant bullpen. I sit down at my desk,unlock the slate there, and begin detailing events. It’s quiet, which should help me focus, but I can’t keep my mind on task.
What the hell is going on here? Lieutenant Atlas mentioned a bigger concern, but what was it? Does it relate to the influx of calls received to the main line, or what my dad mentioned about every angel in the city thinking they saw a demon? There are too many variables, and it’s starting to piss me off.
Before I can spiral out of control, I make a mental note to dive deeper into this and check the call logs. Maybe I’ll discover something helpful there, but for now I need to get this report done. As much as I don’t want to admit it, there are angels at the university relying on me. Wounded students, scared students, and even the students I can’t seem to escape from.
Regardless of my distaste for Raphael and Theo, something about what happened today, both at the Guild and the school, doesn’t smell right. I’m not enough of an idiot to let those feelings stand in the way of justice.
And whatever complicated shit lies between Hayliel and me, I won’t let that get in the way of digging up the truth.
5
How is it that this great university has three separate libraries, yet not a single one holds anything remotely useful? I press the tips of my fingers to my eyes, hoping it’ll help me miraculously find something when I’m done. It doesn’t.
Since the attack a few days ago, there’s been a flurry of activity at school. Between frightened students heading home to their families and both school and Guild nurses working endlessly on the physical and emotional toll the battle had on us, things have been rather frenzied here. It’s partly why Raphael, Theo, and I have kept holed up in the house libraries. Easier to pretend things aren’t so fucked up. And easier to avoid the heavy stares of the other students.
I’ve kept my wings locked up tight, part of me hoping students will just forget and move on. Avoidance sounds like exactly what I need. Even Gagiel had reached out, making sure I was alright,but ultimately asking if the rumors were true. It’s not that I don’t trust him, but … I’m not just the color of my wings and I’m tired of others treating me like I am. Am I being overly sensitive? Yes. Gagiel is so kind. There’s no way he’d have meant to make me feel that way, yet the feelings are there all the same.
We didn’t miss the fact that the Guild had sent someone over to assess the damage and gather any additional information about the attack. I saw him once, outside the Power house window. He looked nothing like Zeke does in his uniform. In fact, the new lieutenant made Zeke look like a fucking rainbow in comparison.
Over the past few days, Zeke has made himself scarce, but I have to assume he’s the reason the Guild is here. Maybe he’s agreed to help us after all.
Despite the lockdown being lifted, no one from our friend group cared to leave, and as much as I wanted to see my family, I haven’t told them about the change. Try as I might, I can’t seem to figure out why I’m so nervous. Mom and Dad are my biggest supporters. Through every ounce of trouble I experienced growing up, they were there for me. Even when I fucked up. Even when I let the bullies win or stooped to their level. So why am I hesitating? Theo says it’s because I’m tired of feeling like I only bring problems, and that, at least from his perspective, if I can find out something factual and true about my wings, then maybe I can present them with a solution too.
I denied it at first, but the more I think about it, the more I realize he’s right.
Theo stayed on campus for a similar reason, or at least that’s what he said. He’s more helpful here than at home, but something tells me it’s more than that. He let it slip that home is with his grandparents, and even though I’m desperate for more of that story, I don’t feel comfortable prying.
Raphael’s excuse for staying was obvious, though I’m pretty sure he’s going to have major consequences because of it. If I try, I can still hear the shriek his mother made through the phone when he explained he’d be remaining on campus. It’s one thing to visit home when that place brings you comfort, but when all it does is add more weight on your shoulders, it’s not a place you want to be anymore. We’ve been through enough shit lately that we don’t need any more. We need a break.
Unfortunately, Dina hadn’t been so lucky. Her dad was furious that she’d been put in danger like that and, according to the messages I received from her over the last two days, he’s even considering pulling her from the university. She’s fighting it though, and it sounds like she’s at least convinced him not to do anything for now. Thank the Archangels for that. Hopefully she’ll share more about what finally made him agree when she’s back on campus later this evening.
I glance over at the large stack of books on the cart beside us. The bottom portion is our discard pile, holding the books we’ve already been through. Those don’t have a single useful item. The top rack is the books we haven’t been through yet, and as much as I’d like to think they hold new information, I’m beginning to doubt we’ll find anything at all.
It helps that we have more to look for now. Before, our focus was super specific: gray wings. Now we’re looking for any mention of golden ones, color-changing wings, and whatever the power was that killed those demons. With all of that to go on, it shouldn’t be so hard, right?
Raphael slams the book shut, causing a student sitting in another section of the library to jump. “This is fucking painful,” he admits, pushing the book away from him. “What I want to know is, are there truly no books to be found, or did someone get rid of them all?”
I grimace. “Well, if they got rid of some harmless words on a page, I’d hate to know what they’d do to me if they found out what happened during the attack.”
Theo frowns, not liking that prospect one bit, and Raphael puts a hand on my arm. “I won’t give that possibility even a single thought, sunshine.”
Holding tight to his comfort, I follow his lead and force the thoughts from my mind. They don’t deserve to take up even an ounce of space there.
“I know! Why don’t we go somewhere? Classes are back in swing tomorrow, and we haven’t done anything to blow off a little steam.” Raphael beams, his smile so infectious that I can’t help but join him.
“Yes. A thousand times, yes.”
Theo shuts his own book, perking up at the change in topic. “What did you have in mind?”
Raphael practically bounces in his seat. “I thought we could stay close, keep it old school and not use our wings to get around, but that means we have to stay nearby. There’s a market not too far from here that we could check out. Whimsical Wares, I think it’s called.”
My stomach drops all the way to the floor, and I let out a little frustrated groan before dropping my head into my hands.
“What’s wrong?” Theo asks. “Have you been?”
I mumble out a reply, not really wanting to explain to these two very Pure angels why I can’t go, but knowing that I have to.
