Page 6 of Wings of Strife
We each take one of the cotton pads and splash some water on it before scrubbing. Where do we even begin? The attack tonight? Finding Roderick? Before that? It feels like far too much information to share after everything we’ve been through. And I’m too damn drained of energy to consider the consequences.
“We’ve been researching my wings.”
Castiel nods. “Are you referring to your transformation from gray to gold, or to what caused the demons to turn to ash?”
I bite the inside of my cheek and look at my friends, unsure if I should admit the truth or not. When Theo nods, I let it all out. “Both. For the most part, all we’ve found are dead ends, but we stumbled onto something else. Strange demonic behavior with angel involvement. That lead brought us nothing but grief tonight when the demons attacked. Thankfully, the guild intervened but …” I trail off, glancing at Raph, Theo, and Zeke for … what? Reassurance? It doesn’t even feel real to me, and yet I’m supposed to tell another angel about it like it’s a fact?
My mouth opens and closes several times, but the words never come.
“What happened, Hayles?” Dina asks with worry in her eyes.
“I …”
Raphael saves me by saying the words I can’t. “They stabbed her with an angel blade. Three times.”
All the blood drains from Dina’s face, and she watches me with fear in her eyes. I can read the questions behind her eyes as she takes in every ounce of blood on my skin, every tear in my clothes. She wants to know how much longer I have left.
“We thought we’d lost her,” Theo adds, his voice raw, like the admission of that was far too hard to say out loud.
Dina swallows, tears welling. “But we haven’t, right? There’s a way to fight this?”
“I’m fine. Really,” I tell her, trying to reassure both of us. Sweat builds on my forehead, the heat in my blood making me wish we could open a door.
The room falls into silence for one eerie moment, then Dina rushes to my side and pulls me into a hug. “Fuck, babe. How is that even possible?”
“Well, since you’re here,” Zeke says to Castiel, “we were hoping you could tell us.”
As unsure as I was about telling him anything, now, more than ever, I hope he has the answers.
He purses his lips, assessing me. “Eventually, I’m going to need the entire story, but it’s obvious you need a little reassurance that you can trust me. I get that. As for your question, I’m afraid I don’t have a concrete answer. Theories? Yes. But if you allow me, I’d like to reach out to a few of my friends outside the university to confirm my suspicions.”
My stomach drops. Telling Castiel was hard enough, but involving other angels, ones we don’t even know? That’s the last thing I want.
Raphael places a cool hand on my shoulder, and a little of my unease dissipates. “Is that a good idea, though? The more angels who know about this, the less likely the information stays secret. Hayliel has already been through enough.”
“I agree. She has. And because of that, I would never do anything to put her in harm’s way. I will be as discreet as possible.”
There’s a tug on my mental bonds, and I try once more to open the pathway. Again and again I try, but each time I fail—and my desperation grows with each futile attempt. I wear the heat of their gazes like a brand.
Fuck this.I push everything I have into the mental bond until it snaps.
Pain erupts in my skull, bouncing around like a game of pinball. The throbbing sensation sends me stumbling into the desk behind me as stars explode behind my eyes.
“Guys,” I croak, putting even more of my weight onto my weak arms where they rest against the desk, but I won’t be able to hold myself forever. It feels like I’m slipping away. Down, down, down into nothing but darkness.
The ringing in my ears is loud enough to drown out everything. Every sound. Every voice. Even my own thoughts.
Gentle arms wrap around me, and someone runs a finger along my temple, soothing the ache. I don’t know how much time passes before the pain subsides, but eventually the murmurs of my friends and the sound of Castiel’s voice break through.
“Miss Hayliel, I’m just going to check your pulse. It won’t take long.”
Castiel stands in front of me. He presses a finger against my wrist, silently counting before offering me a reassuring smile.
“Good. Your pulse is strong and steady. But how do you feel?”
“Achy, and like I could sleep for an entire week.” That’s the simplistic answer, anyway. The real answer is that I feel like maybe I haven’t truly survived anything at all.
“I think that’s to be expected, given the circumstances.”
