Page 64 of Wings of Strife
“Can’t you see we’re in the middle of something, Castiel? As her school counselor, I really must insist—”
“No need. I spoke with Principal Cael and he’s agreed to transfer counselor-ship of Miss Hayliel to me.”
Uriel sputters, but Castiel only feigns confusion. “I thought you’d be happy to have a little time free on your calendar. It’s no bother to me, and with her thinking of changing her focus of study away from Wingology, this makes the most sense.”
Wait. What? I am? Sure, I’ve thought about it, but it’s not like I mentioned it to anyone.
Either way, I’m grateful to Castiel for this ingenious idea and rush to his side with a nod. I don’t bother looking over my shoulder, not needing to see Uriel’s face to know he’s pissed as hell.
As I follow Castiel down the hallway, I can’t help but worry, though.
Have we just made everything worse?
28
The walk back to Castiel’s office in the main hall is more tiring than it should be for the distance. I can’t stop looking over my shoulder every few seconds, wondering if Professor Uriel is following us with his blade.
It’s foolish to think he would. That man lives behind a carefully crafted facade, one that appears righteous when really he’s just a slimy bug beneath it all. If others knew the truth, he’d hate that almost as much as he hates me.
Castiel doesn’t say anything to me, even when we pass through the threshold to his classroom and he shuts the door. He wastes no time pulling out the silencing candle and lighting it. Only then does he speak.
“Are you harmed more than what can be seen?”
I don’t even realize what he’s talking about until I look down and notice the small line of blood from where Uriel’s blade pressed into me. The wound is already healed and only the crimson stain remains. I barely even felt the wound. Is this what the protection amulet does?
I nod. “More shaken than anything.” The heat that usually races through my limbs is gone now, leaving behind a chill. I know it’s my body coming down from the high of adrenaline, but it doesn’t make it any easier or stop my body from shaking.
“Do you feel comfortable enough to tell me what happened, or would you like a moment?”
I consider his question before answering, realizing quickly that I need to get it off my chest as fast as possible. I don’t want this to fester inside for any longer than necessary. Quickly, I tell him about Uriel showing up early to pull me from class, the weird sensation that pressed against me when I stepped into that room and how it cut off my mental connections. He seems concerned at that, but waves me on.
I begin to explain the interrogation, then recall the recording I took. I didn’t even turn the damn thing off, so I stop recording and press play, letting it speak for itself. Hearing it again so soon after it happened has acid bubbling in my stomach. Even my own voice sounds foreign, as if it comes from someone far stronger than I ever could be.
Castiel doesn’t interrupt even once, letting the video play through until he showed up. “Honestly, I don’t know what would have happened if you hadn’t come. How did you know where to find me?”
“Your friends wasted no time finding me after your distress call. They tracked you to just outside the door and wanted to bust the damn thing down themselves, but I asked them to let me handle it.”
My heart soars at knowing what lengths my friends would go to in order to protect me, but I’m glad they didn’t. Deep in my soul, I know the only reason Uriel let me out at all was because of Castiel. Another professor and the not so veiled threat of the principal. If three pissed off students had shown up in his place, I don’t even want to think about what might have happened.
Oblivious to my internal thoughts, Castiel continues. “Uriel’s behavior concerns me, so I don’t want to push him more than necessary until we know more. I hope you understand.”
I nod. He doesn’t know just how fully I do understand. The less involvement they have, the better, though I know they wouldn’t agree. As much as I want to do everything on my own, solely because then it’s only myself at risk, I understand that it’s not feasible. Still, they don’t need to be going off, making silly decisions that put them in the line of fire any more than they already do.
Especially not when they can die and apparently I can’t.
I’m the entire reason for this shit storm. My gray wings, then gold, and now with rumors spreading about the incredible things I’ve endured. It’s my fault. My mess. My problem. And once the truth gets out, there’s not a doubt in my mind things will get worse.
“Do you think Uriel knows what I am?”
“I’m afraid I don’t know. His questions make me think all he has are suspicions, but we can’t know for certain.” He motions for me to join him behind his desk. “Come here. I have something that might help take your mind off everything, at least until our pretense of a counseling meeting is done and you can get back to your friends.”
My eyes light up curiously at the book Castiel pulls from the same hidden drawer where the candle was, but instead of questioning him about it, I take the conversation in a differentdirection. One that has hope blossoming inside me. “Did you really talk to Principal Cael about becoming my councilor?”
“I did. And what I said about you changing your major isn’t something you need to decide on now, but it worked to move the switch forward.”
“Thank you,” I tell him, wondering what it is I did to deserve someone as kind as him on my side.
“No need for all that.” He waves a hand dismissively. “Now, do you remember the friend I spoke to about you before we knew you were a Seraphim? He retrieved this from his old family estate and agreed to lend it to me as long as I kept it in my care and promised to be gentle with the ancient pages.”
