Page 7 of Wings of Strife
I frown, unsure whether I want to fully admit the next part.Now isn’t the time to hold back.“I’ve been having issues connecting telepathically since. I was trying to reach the bond with my friends when the pain overwhelmed me. Do you think it’s gone forever?”
I can’t make myself look at my friends, but their concern floats around me like wisps of smoke.
“Your body survived an ordeal today. The aches and exhaustion are part of it, I suspect, and I wouldn’t be surprised if the telepathy was too. You and your body need rest.” Castiel eyes the others. “All of you do. For now, I want you all to go back to your rooms. Clean up and get as much rest as you can. I’ll cover for your morning classes, but you’ll need to attend in the afternoon.”
“Thank you,” I say, my voice weaker than before. At this rate, can I even make it back to my dorm?
Dina takes my hand in hers, offering it a quick squeeze. “I’ll grab some food and bring it back to the house. Could one or all of you stay with her until I’m back? I’ll bring enough food for everyone.”
“Of course,” all three of my friends say in unison, even Zeke.
“Good, good. Stick to the skies and use your balconies. The fewer angels who see you in your current state, the better. I’ll reach out to my contacts right away, discreetly, of course,” Castiel assures us as we head toward the window. Only after we’ve unlocked and opened it does he add a few last parting words. “You can trust me.”
Our gazes lock for the briefest of moments, but all I do is nod.
I really hope we can.
4
The flight to Fallen house was more than a little terrifying. Between Hayliel’s exhaustion and our inability to connect with her, we had to rely solely on observation and instinct to make sure she made it safely.
But once again, she proved just how strong she really is.
“You guys don’t have to stay, really. I’ll probably be a while in the shower. Plenty of time for you to go clean up,” Hayliel says, leaning against the doorway of her bathroom as if it’s the sole reason she’s still upright. When we don’t respond, she adds, “I’ll be fine. You should really go take care of yourselves.”
A small smile tugs at my lips. Even after everything she’s been through today, she’s more worried about us than about herself.Silly girl.“We know we don’thaveto, but if it’s all the same to you, we’d prefer to stay.”
Something that looks like relief flashes across her face, but all she says is, “Suit yourself.”
With the door shut, it’s only Theo, Ezekiel, and I left in her room. Dina should be back soon with food, which should help us all settle a little. If that’s even possible.
Zeke looks pained, though I can’t see any visible injuries, and Theo appears unsettled. It’s going to take work to get him back to where he was before last night. All the progress we’d made on sealing his old wounds has been reversed, leaving them fresher than ever. But for now, there’s no point in focusing on the past. We need to look ahead.
None of us speak, not until we hear the shower turn on. There's a sense of déjà vu with the three of us together like this, worried about a girl who has all of us wrapped around her finger. “We aren’t going to be comfortable leaving her alone for a while, are we?”
“No,” Theo croaks. “I don’t even want the door separating us.”
“Her loss of the bond worries me. Hopefully, it’s just as Castiel said and she’ll be able to get it back.” Zeke begins to pace as we fall back into silence, the water pounding from beyond the bathroom door soothing the ache her absence causes.She’s only washing up. She’s fine.
Zeke stops his pacing and turns to us. “What if I offered to teach her—and you, if you’re interested—what I’ve learned from combat training with the guild? It would be a bit more sophisticated than the combat class they teach here, more than what I offer to Malik’s classes. I don’t know, just a thought.”
I’ve never seen him so unsure of himself. Usually he’s more arrogant than confident, and all it does is piss me off. Today must have really shaken him up.
“I’m in,” Theo says without pause. “I thought I knew enough to defeat those pieces of shit, but looks like I was wrong.”
“Me too. But when the odds are stacked against us like they were this morning, I’m not sure any amount of training will turn the tides in our favor.” I don’t want to be a Debbie downer, but fuck. How many demons attacked us this time? Twelve? Fifteen? More? Having proper training might have evened the playing field, but we’re still no match for their damn blades. Not without our own.
For the first time since Hayliel went into the bathroom, Theo looks at me, his eyes the clearest I’ve seen them all morning. “You know, you might be onto something. I’d forgotten about it until now, but I remember reading about a plant that, if dried out and ground into dust, could weaken demons upon inhalation. Honestly, I assumed it was a myth, but maybe it’s real.”
Zeke snaps his fingers, looking intrigued. “Now that you mention it, I’m pretty sure I’ve seen a few guild members with pouches strapped to their belts. I wonder if it holds the substance you’re talking about.”
I nod, finally feeling like we have a sense of direction instead of being lost at fucking sea. “Then let’s see what we can find there. My brother used to talk about this angel who creates protective clothing with runes hand-stitched directly onto the fabric. I’ll do what I can to get their contact information.”
“That soundsexpensive,” Zeke adds, grimacing. When he sees my expression, he adds, “It’s not that I’m against it. I just can’t contribute financially to something like that, and I want to set expectations. I want the clothing for her, but I can’t afford it.”
Watching him, I can tell it cost a lot for him to admit. “Let’s just focus on getting information first. We may not even be able to find them.”
“Alright.” Then as if remembering something, he pulls the deadly blade from the sheath at his side and holds it out for me to examine. “Do the runes look off to you?”
