Page 4 of Wings of Strife
Lieutenant Atlas fixes a medal on the lapel of his uniform, wiping off a streak of dark black blood from the shiny surface. If only it were that easy to clean up the mess our city has fallen into. “Great job today, all of you. You,” he focuses on me, “are one lucky angel. Whatever they stabbed you with must have been one well-made knockoff. It had everyone here fooled. In the interest of secrecy, I won’t mention your wing research, though I admit I’m quite curious about what you’ll find if you continue.”
“As am I,” I tell him. “Thank you.” It takes all the energy I have left to keep my mouth shut and not ask him why he thinks the blade is a knockoff. Is that even a possibility? It would explain how I’m alive, at least, but it doesn’t explain the manic look of triumph on the scarred angel’s face. He truly believed that I'd met my end at his hands.
I watch as the lieutenant leaves us, wondering what it is about him that has me so confused. In reality, it’s most likely the fatal wound I somehow survived messing with my mind.
That, and the utter lack of sleep.
Raphael and Theo are arguing with the guild healer about whether they consent to being treated before we leave. They don’t, and for some reason, Raphael is adamant that we have to go. Eventually she gives in, but not before making us all promise that we’ll get seen bysomeone.
To my surprise, Zeke has stayed quiet throughout all of this. He didn’t argue with the guild healer, or even with Raphael and Theo. All he’s done is stare at me in a way I can’t even begin to decipher.
Is hescared?
“Feel like you can stand, sunshine?”
I force a laugh, hoping to hide the fact that my body doesn’t feel like it’ll doanythingI want it to at this point. “I’m certainly willing to try.”
Raph and Theo pull me to my feet, hovering as if I might collapse any second. They aren’t wrong to worry. Still, I can’t help but look at it in a positive way. Other than a bone-deep exhaustion and some uncomfortable achiness, I’m feeling pretty good. Much better than I should be, considering the wounds I had just moments ago.
Lieutenant Atlas gathers the guild members and orders them to pack up.
Zeke finally breaks his silent streak, though I wish he’d ask a different question. “Think you’ll manage the flight back to campus?”
Honestly? No. There’s a better chance I’ll pass out in the sky than make it all the way back, but I don’t tell him that. “Hopefully. I’d rather not walk or have you three carry me all the way there. But I’d prefer to wait until they leave before we go, if that’s okay.” Having an audience while I put on my wing jacket and attempt the trip back is really something I’d rather avoid.
“You got it, firefly.”
We wait in silence as the rest of the guild members take to the sky, the last of which is Lieutenant Atlas, who throws one last look our way before taking off with his metal-tipped wings glinting against the growing sun.
Knowing there’s a mole in the guild only makes me suspicious of everyone. Zeke says we can trust Azrael, but what about Atlas? What about the woman who just healed me?
Despite my aching body, the relief I feel at letting my wings out is damn near orgasmic. Raphael and Theo help me into my flying jacket, taking great effort to be gentle, while Zeke only watches on with that same look on his face as before. I want to ask him about it, but now doesn’t feel like the right time.
The hovering should piss me off, and maybe tomorrow it will. But right now, I’m just happy to know that I’m not alone.
My body throbs, limbs trembling, and all we’re doing is standing. Fuck. This isn’t good. Still, I don’t want them to know. I’ve seen the haunted look on their faces. What happened here scared the shit out of them.Allof them. It would be cruel of me to worry them further, wouldn’t it?
A distraction. That’s what I need. “Any chance our little rendezvous went undetected?” I ask Raphael, who’s on his slate again.
“Maybe. But the longer we stay here, the lower our chances are. And that,” he points to the sky where the sun continues to brighten, cresting over the horizon, “certainly isn’t helping.”
“Good point.”
Theo clears his throat. “Are you sure you’re up for this?” he asks, his face pale. “We can find another way—”
“I’m fine, really.”
And fuck, I hope it’s true.
3
Isurvived an angel blade.
Isurvivedan angel blade.
The words play on repeat in my head, but it doesn’t matter how much I say them. It doesn’t feel real. Not when all we know about them is how they kill our kind. Full stop. No deviation. I even saw it with my own two eyes after Roderick stabbed that man. Could he have survived? Was my running away what killed him?
It’s all too much.
