Page 63 of Wings of Strife
“The last time we spoke, you didn’t notice any changes within your body resulting from your golden wing emergence, but that’s not the case anymore, is it?”
Outside, I’m unaffected by his words, but inside I’m screaming. What does he know and how does he know it? “I’m not sure what you mean,” I say, acting confused and not giving anything away.
He slams his fist on the desk, causing me to jump in my chair.
So much for unaffected, Hayles.
“Don’t play dumb with me, Miss Hayliel. It will not end well for you.”
I sit up straighter in my chair, not liking his tone. “I’m not playing at anything. You watch me struggle on the obstacle course every week, Professor. I’m slow and disoriented. Nothing has changed.”
He clucks his tongue and strolls around the room. My gaze follows him, not wanting to let him out of my sight.
“Your inability to improve there is quite worrisome, and as your counselor, I must caution you that failing to pass the test will result in you not moving forward with your friends.”
“I’m trying,” I grit out, but I know we aren’t just talking about the stupid obstacles anymore. If I fail, it’ll only make his plan of getting rid of me that much easier. I wonder what Castiel will think of his threats, or even Principal Cael. Would he really not allow me to progress if I don’tdo better?
I’m so lost in thought, I don’t realize that Uriel has moved until I feel his presence behind me, along with the cool touch of a blade against the base of my throat.
“My gut is warning me there’s something you’re still not telling me.” He presses the tip of the blade down until I feel a pinprick of pain and the amulet beneath my shirt warms against my bare flesh. “Let me ask again. What other changes have you noticed besides the golden wings?”
I freeze, unsure how to answer him. From where he holds the weapon, I can’t tell if it’s a regular blade or an angel blade. We already knew he was working with the mole at the guild, so it’s not a stretch to assume he’s also working with the angel supplying those awful blades. Neither will kill me, of course, but if it’s anything like last time, it would still incapacitate me for a while.
A shudder runs through me. I don’t even want to think about what he’d do with my unconscious body.Focus, Hayles. What is he searching for? And what can you give him that will make him believe you’re playing along?
“I’m always hot,” I tell him, playing up the tremble in my voice in the hopes he’ll back off.
“What do you mean?” he asks, not relieving the pressure on the blade.
“I don’t know. I can’t find anything about it, but I’m always so fucking warm. That didn’t happen before.”
He takes a step back and begins pacing again. This time he doesn’t speak to me, but he isn’t exactly silent. Is he arguing with himself? I strain to hear the muttered words.
“Is it possible she really doesn’t know anything? No, I know what my task is, but if she hasn’t discovered—of course I haven’t forgotten what’s at stake, but how do I steal her knowledge if she has none?” On and on he murmurs. It’s enough that I’m beginning to wonder if he even knows I’m still here.
When the room grows silent, all the hairs on my arm stand on end.
“You think you can fool me, missy? Trick me into believing that you don’t know precisely what you are? That you don’t know the exact reason you survived that deadly blade?” Even though he’s behind me, I keep my face as calm as possible and wait to see what happens next.
I feel his movement first, the air whipping toward me from behind in a flurry, but he never reaches me. Someone pounds on the door, two hard knocks that have Uriel halting, weapon raised and glinting in the low light of the room.
The handle has runes etched onto it, but from my vantage point, I can’t see if the end holds a glittering soul stone. If he’s carrying an angel blade now, things are bleak indeed.
The knock sounds again, harder this time.
Who could it be? Clearly not someone Uriel is expecting, but that doesn’t rule out the Fallen he’s working with.
Have my guys found me? Do I want them to, if this lunatic might have an angel blade?
“I’m in the middle of something right now. Please come back later,” Uriel calls through the door, sounding less crazed than before.
“Open the door, Uriel,” Castiel replies. I keep the relief at his voice tucked inside. The feeling doesn’t last long though. Uriel shoots me a death glare over his shoulder.
Does he know Castiel is working with us? Would he harm a fellow teacher? Shit, shit, shit.
Castiel doesn’t wait a moment longer, somehow managing to unlock the door without breaking it, and even Uriel looks shocked. Cool as ever, like he didn’t just barge into my makeshift mental torture chamber, Castiel says, “Ah, there you are, Miss Hayliel. When you didn’t show up for our meeting, I began to get worried. Thankfully, someone saw you headed here with Professor Uriel. Come on now, we have much to discuss.”
I get up to leave, but the asshole stands in my way.
