Page 56 of Wings of Strife
“She was, I swear it! I—” The squeak of noise from inside has me desperate to look, but I stay put, holding tight to the protection amulet hanging on a chain around my neck.
“Well, where is she now?”
I don’t hear a reply, only sharp breaths until a third voice says, “We don’t know, but she can’t have gone far.”
“Then find her!” it growls fiercely, and I jump into action.
I don’t know who or what this cloaked figure is, but I know in the very marrow of my bones that I won’t enjoy finding out.
I consider flying up to my balcony, but that’s too risky. Without my flight jacket, my wings will act like a beacon, and besides, it’s the first place they’ll look for me.
But where else can I go?
I take off in a run, unsure of my final destination. All I know is I can’t stay here.
Keeping off the path, I stick to the forest. It’s slower and louder, but my brain isn’t working enough to care. I can’t get caught. Not when something tells me they weren’t coming to find me for just any old reason. Their intent, even if the Fallen students don’t realize it, was malicious.
Breaking free of the forest, I push onward. Light from the arena illuminates far too much, so I run parallel to it until I can curve around the back. A twig snaps from somewhere behind me, almost causing me to trip as my heart goes haywire. Fear takes over, forcing my limbs to move faster, push harder. Enough that I almost slip on a few fallen leaves and branches, cutting my pants on the thorny bushes, but at least I stay upright.
It’s only when I see the fence that lines the backside of Power house that I realize where my feet have taken me.Raphael.
Air escapes me in big bursts, but not from being out of breath. I’m scared. Terrified.
What if Raph doesn’t answer?
Once again, I consider letting my wings out just long enough to fly up to his balcony, but it’s too risky. If the angels from the Fallen library see them, they’ll know where I’m going and it’ll put Raphael at risk. I can’t do that. I won’t.
I’d rather be caught and taken than cause him any harm.
Resolved, I sneak around the far side of Power house and silently enter through the front door. I don’t run into anyone on my trek to Raph’s room, and by the time I knock on his door, my heartbeat has returned to analmostnormal frequency.
It takes three knocks before he answers, looking like he’d just rolled out of bed. “Sunshine?” he asks, sleepily.
I feel awful for waking him, but it doesn’t stop me from falling into his arms. He catches me, picking me up into his arms and cradling me like a baby.
“What happened?”
A sob escapes me, yet no tears fall. It’s like my mouth forgets how to form words because I can’t get any to pass my lips.
He carries me into his room, shutting the door behind him and leading us to the bed where he settles us both. We just sit there, his arms wrapped around me, soothing away the fear holding me tightly in its grasp.
“You’re safe now. I won’t let anything happen to you.” He doesn’t pressure me to answer his questions or even speak, content enough to just sit with me until finally I pull away.
“I’m sorry,” I start, feeling awkward.
“You have nothing to apologize for. Ever.”
I chew on my lip, unsure of where to begin.
“What happened, sunshine? Did someone harm you?”
I shake my head. “Not physically.” Then I tell him everything. How I couldn’t sleep, leaving out the part about my nightmares for now, and how I went to the library to work on a project instead. In a voice that doesn’t even sound like my own, I explainwhat happened in the library, what I overheard, and how I ran straight to him without even realizing.
He pulls me in closer until I can feel his heart banging against his ribcage. It soothes me.
“I’m so glad you’re okay,” he whispers against my skin. Then his voice turns darker. “The pieces of shit coming after you need to fucking pay.”
I nod against him, letting my fear turn into rage. I’m so fucking tired. Tired of being scared. Tired of being targeted. I don’t want to run and hide anymore.
