Page 11 of Wings of Strife
No, no, no!
There isn’t enough space for me to flap my wings in here, but I make small movements, anyway. Just a little bit farther.
I finally make it through the machine, but there’s no time to celebrate, not when I notice the tip of my left wing is still between the metal walls, and time has run out. I expect a rush of pain to go along with the sound of metal clashing, but I don’t really feelanything. Only a soft compression around my wings.
What the hell?
As soon as my wing tip is free, I dash toward the finish line, not caring what my time is. How did I just survive that? Is it the same reason an angel blade didn’t kill me?
“Your time is abysmal at best,” Professor Uriel calls out to me. “And if those machines had been real, you’d be out of commission with a shattered wing. Pathetic.”
“Real?” I sputter, not following.
“The university wouldn’t allow an obstacle with real danger, despite my valid arguments.” Under his breath, he adds, “I should have known putting you first would uncover that little secret. Now the entire practice is in jeopardy.”
I can’t even believe this guy. He’s such a fucking dick. Here I am, crashing from the adrenaline of thinking my wings were about to get obliterated, and he’s upset that I revealed the truth?My hands shake, breath unsteady, as I do my best to ignore him and calm my nerves.
He calls out another four names, his hand hovering over the button to start the course, but he doesn’t press it. “I don’t want the knowledge that these machines won’t hurt to deter you from doing your best. And if I detect any of you doing so, rest assured there will be consequences. Got it?”
Students shout their agreement, but Professor Uriel still doesn’t move. “And one more thing.” His shrewd gaze lands on me for a single heartbeat before it advances to the other students. “Once the course starts, youdo notstop. In an actual situation, you likely won’t have time to get your bearings. This is no different. Begin!”
I watch as student after student passes the finish line. Some don’t make it through the hurdle at the end without getting caught in the machines like I did, which at least makes me feel a little better. On Cadriel’s first attempt, he’d passed by me with some scathing remark, but I stopped listening the moment he opened his mouth. I know better than to listen to him.
Karma must have finally caught up to him because he didn’t even make it through a third of the course. He’d taken on too much speed and ran face-first into one of the walls around the first turn. The crunch of his nose breaking is something I won’t be able to forget. He’s a dick, but damn. It was hard to watch. Of course, his injuries weren’t severe enough that he couldn’t insult me on his way to the infirmary. Assholes will be assholes, I guess.
After everyone makes it through one round of the course, Professor Uriel brings us back to the start and tells us to practice. These laps aren’t timed, though the rules still apply. No stopping. Do better.
I have to stop myself from rolling my eyes at this guy’s shitty attitude as I step up to the starting line again. When I makeit through the course this time, I think I was faster, though I still couldn’t finish without getting a wing caught in that last machine. There has to be something I can do differently.
My muscles ache, unused to getting such a workout. I guess the years of keeping them hidden, only using them when absolutely necessary, is coming back to bite me in the ass. But the pain is good. It means I’m growing stronger.
And I need to be stronger to make it through what’s coming.
While I wait for my next turn, I hear a group of Fallen talking as if I’m not even there.
“We’re supposed to believe she killed all those demons at the well? Yeah, right,” a girl with a hawkish nose, pierced on both sides, says to her friends.
“She can’t even make it through the obstacle without getting squashed. There’s no fucking way,” her friend says, a guy with a mohawk who might have been attractive if it weren’t for the sneer on his face. “Not that I want to believe that Pure bitch Seraphina, but maybe she was on to something. Gray wings, gold wings, it doesn’t matter. She’s a monstrosity that doesn’t deserve to be here.”
Their words cut me far deeper than the angel blade had. I shouldn’t let it bother me, not when I’ve heard it a million times before, but this is different. These are Fallen, the angels I always thought I could rely on, and now they’re turning their backs on me.
Tears threaten to spill, but I can’t let them see how much it hurts. That will only fuel them.
Professor Uriel approaches, his lips pursed. “It would appear we have several more items to discuss in your next counseling session. You do realize those are required, don’t you? I would hate for your place at this school to be put in jeopardy.”
As fucking if. Does he actually expect me to believe he’d be upset if I was kicked out? Not after the way he’s treated me.
“Things have been hectic recently. I’ll make time soon,” I tell him, but it’s a lie. I have no intention of being alone with him again.
“Good. Your course time worries me. It might even be the lowest I’ve seen in my tenure here. I’ll need to see a significant improvement in your final score in order for me to feel confident in your continued success here.”
He should really just come out and say it, seeing as I can read his intentions plain enough already. With or without my attendance at his counselor meetings, my place here is in danger.
“Of course, Professor.”
He moves on to speak to another student, berating him on his time loud enough for others to hear. It should bring me some solace that he’s not just picking on me, but it doesn’t.
When it’s my turn to fly the obstacle course again, I almost don’t want to.
