Page 42 of Wings of Strife
“It was nothing. I make all kinds of shit in my spare time, and before I started hanging out with you, I was beginning to go crazy with how much time I had. Besides,” Mira rubs the back of her neck, “I haven’t exactly tested that it works.”
“Dude, this is the coolest thing,” Dina says, looking at the small glass bottles.
A million questions race through my head. I want to ask her why she has so much free time. What is it that keeps her from working or doing something she loves? She graduated from the top university in the city so it’s not like she wouldn’t have any prospects. But instead of bombarding her with personal questions she may not feel like answering, I only nod and focus on the pretty blue vials. “So, how does it work? With how many are there, I’m guessing it wears off?” I want to remove the cork and sniff it, but I damp the urge down.
“Exactly. One dose should last approximately twelve hours, give or take. I tried to make it as tasty as possible but with some of the ingredients …” she winces, “let’s just say it’s an acquired taste, but in my experience, the stuff that usually works tastes like shit.”
“Even if it tastes like dirt, if this actually works, it’ll be such a relief. How did you know they tracked my power?” I hadn’t told anyone what the scarred demon asshole had said to me during the attack, so how could she have known?
“I didn’t. At least, not for you specifically, but being the daughter of a guild lieutenant gives me certain perks. Access to books and information that others might not have. That’s how I knew demons could sense power, and then, after learning that you were chock-full of it, I figured something like that might come in handy. I’d kill to join the guild, but since I’m Pure, they won’t take me. So I settle for the next best thing; keeping my eyes and ears open, and snooping around as much as possible.”
“I’m sorry,” I say, passing the vial back to her so she can tuck it safely away. “The guild would be lucky to have someone like you. Thank you for this.”
“Of course. It won’t make your power completely invisible, but it’ll help you blend in better with the rest of us low level plebeians.” She winks.
I stash the leather satchel away in my bag, being careful to position it around something soft so the vials don’t break. As grateful as I am to her giving me this wonderful gift, I also hate to think about the day when I’ll have to use these.
And given what’s been going on between angels and demons, that daywillcome.
We spend a few more hours talking, swimming, and eating. It turns out Mira has made loads of different potions over the years. Some to enhance an angel’s natural abilities and gifts, or even one that could make you invisible. Not all of them worked, but from the way her eyes light up whenever she talks about it, I can tell she enjoys playing potion master. Today has shown me that Mira is cool as hell, and I’m really glad she’s part of our group.
Dina, being my hilarious best friend, asks Mira about making a love potion, hinting at using it on Professor Malik once she graduates, but there’s no way she’d need one of those. Any guy or girl would be lucky to have her without the need of a potion.
By the time the food is gone and we’re all feeling blissfully happy, we pack up our little slice of heaven and put everything back the way we found it. Even though I saw the guys this morning, I miss them. It feels like it’s been more than just a few hours, so I’m excited to meet up with them in the cave for research in a little bit. I giggle, wondering if Castiel can tellwhat’s going on between the four of us or if he chooses to remain in the dark.
Hopefully, it’s the latter.
Opening the boathouse door, I step out into the ocean breeze, breathing in the scent of brine and sand. I close my eyes and tilt my head up to the sun. Even though it’s lower on the horizon, the power of its heat hits me all the same. It’s perfect.
The door closes behind me and Mira comes to stand beside me with a smile on her face. “Don’t worry, I locked it from the inside so no one will ever know we broke in.”
“I want to be you when I grow up,” Dina adds, which causes Mira to snort.
We head away from the beach, with Dina on my left and Mira on my right. Something about our little trio feels predestined, like we were all meant to meet and become friends.
Mira doesn’t let Dina off the hook for her earlier comment. “You know I’m notthatmuch older than you, right? Don’t need to give me a complex.” She fakes a pout, pointing her best wounded animal look—which is actually believable as fuck—in Dina’s direction.
It falls from her face in an instant, and I follow her line of sight, my stomach dropping when I see what caught her eye.
A group of six students, all Fallen from what I can tell, stand between us and the rest of campus. No one says a word as we assess one another. The odds aren’t in our favor, and even though I’m happy not to be alone, I fear for my friends.
Mira and Dina might have chosen to be my friends, but they didn’t sign up for whatever the fuck this is.
Dina sighs. “These assholes just had to ruin our chill day, didn’t they?”
19
With more confidence than I should have, I keep walking, doing my best to ignore the six students fanned out and blocking our path.
Honestly, I’m just hoping they’ll get the fuck out of our way and not cause a scene, but the closer we get, the more I realize that’s not going to happen. They look pissed.
“Does this, uh, happen often?” Mira asks, unsure what’s going on.
I frown. “Well, I mean, I’m definitely the butt end of more than one joke and usually have some asshole or another tripping or shoving me, but I don’t know what the hell this is. Maybe they just want to talk?” But even as I say the words, I don’t believe them.
“I don’t think so, Hayles,” Dina says, worry lining her voice. Shit. If this turns into something more than just verbal sparring, Dina’s father will have a fit.
We make it to a spot where we have to stop because the pissed off Fallen haven’t budged. “We just want to get by,” I say, keeping my voice neutral. Maybe they’ll appreciate a conversation. Though I’m betting they’ll appreciate that as much as a kick to the ass.
