Page 8 of Wings of Strife
Carefully taking it from him, I focus on the faint lines etched into the handle, but runes aren’t really my area of expertise. As much as I don’t want to cause Theo more pain by looking at the weapon that harmed so many of his loved ones, we need him.
“Theo, can you tell us if you notice anything strange about the runes here?”
He walks over to us with stiff movements, taking the blade into his trembling hand and inspecting it. His thumb traces an edge several times before his eyes dart up to meet Zeke’s.
“I noticed the same thing. It’s too hard to tell for sure, given how weathered this weapon is, but I don’t think the death rune fully connects,” Zeke says, confusing me.
“But what does that mean? Is that why the blade didn’t kill her?” At least that would make sense, even if it doesn’t explain the glow to her skin or the loss of her mental connections.
“We can’t say for sure,” Theo says, handing the blade back to Zeke. “Add it to our list of things to deal with after we get our girl back in full.”
He walks away, leaving Zeke and I to stare after him. Not that I disagree with him. We’re all exhausted, both from the sleepless night, the fight, and the pain of our almost loss. Nothing will come of trying to figure things out today.
Zeke clears his throat. “Sounds like we have a plan then. Since Dina isn’t here, I’m going to head upstairs to shower and change. Want me to bring you each some clothes?”
Theo doesn’t answer. He’s fallen silent again, staring at the bathroom door. “Sure. That would be great. Thanks. If Dina arrives with food before you’re back, we’ll save you some.”
“Appreciate it.” Zeke tosses the words over his shoulder as he opens the balcony door. He doesn’t step out right away, pausing at the threshold before turning around completely. “Is he going to be okay?”
I look at my best friend and ask myself that same question. “We’re all fighting something that others can’t see. What happened today with Hayliel was all too real for him, but he’s survived worse. Besides, I’m here to make sure he does.”
“He’s lucky to have you,” Zeke says, a sad smile curving his lips. “If there’s anything he needs, just let me know.” He doesn’t wait for me to respond before escaping out the balcony door and leaving me and Theo alone.
The events of last night and this morning have clearly shifted something in that grumpy asshole. Offering support? Leaving us—no, trusting us—to be with Hayliel while also offering to bring us clothes is something I don’t think he’d have done even a month ago. Maybe there’s hope for him yet.
Now it’s Theo who needs me.
I consider my options. I’d wanted to step outside and call Rad—thoughwantedmay be too strong a word—but with Theo and I alone, we have the perfect opportunity to talk. He’s more likely to be honest with me, and himself, if angels like Zeke aren’t looming.
Theo has his ear pressed to the door, his brows drawn tight in concentration. I’m not surprised he’s so worried about her. The last girl he saw stabbed by that blade was dead within minutes, and he’s still experiencing the effects of that trauma. Even though our girl survived, I don’t think his brain will let that be enough to stop the worry.
“Any issues in there?” I ask, placing a hand on his shoulder.
“Probably just dropped something.” His words should reassure me, but he doesn’t leave his post at the door.
“Come sit with me.”
He shakes his head. “I should really stay here in case she needs me.”
“Just for a little bit, Theo. If she needs you, she’ll call. But if she just needs to break down and cry alone in the bathroom, don’t you think we should give her the privacy to do so?”
His eyes are bloodshot when he finally looks at me. All I want to do is tuck him away somewhere so he can focus on his own recovery, but that wouldn’t do any good. In Theo’s mind, he needs to make things right, and that’s the only way he’ll feel like a decent angel.
I’m surprised when he steps away from the door and follows me toward the small seating area of Hayliel’s dorm. Instead of sitting in one of the plush chairs, though, he throws aside the corner of the rug and sits directly on the floor. Shit. That’s a good idea. Until Zeke comes by with a change of clothes for us, we’re disgusting.
“I know you want to talk about everything, Raph, but I just can’t. There’s too much going on in here.” He hits the palm of his hand against his head.
“Hey,” I say, taking his hand in mine, “we don’t have to rehash everything. I just wanted to check in and remind you that Hayliel is alive. She isn’t Serah.”
He yanks his hand back, freeing it from mine. “But she could have been! And just like last time, I was too weak to stop it.”
“None of it was your fault, Theo. Not then, and certainly not now.”
“Then why does it feel like my chest is caving in? Every little sound coming from that room has me on edge. What if she’s lost the capability to connect with us again? What if there are more severe consequences than we even fucking realize? These awful thoughts just won’t leave my fucking skull.” He drops his head into his hands, pulling at his hair. “Ever since that awful day at the skatepark, all I’ve done is train so that if something like that ever happened again, I’d be ready. I’ve researched and prepared,and what did it fucking get me? Nothing. Anotheralmost-dead girl.”
My chest aches to see him like this, to hear the personal blame he puts on himself. “We all failed, Theo. You. Me. Zeke. Even her. None of us came fully prepared, despite what we may have originally believed. But I’ll be damned if I let it happen again. Whatever rebellion we’ve stumbled into isn’t going away, so it’s up to us to be ready for whatever comes next. She’s a part of it too, and the last thing she’d want is for you to blame yourself.”
Water no longer sounds from behind the closed door of the bathroom. Theo shifts closer, leaning against the wall near the door like a sentry.
