Page 21 of Glass Wings
She laughed out loud, victorious.
“What about yourself?” Allienna stammered, unable to keep the relief out of her voice. “What price did I pay you?”
“You might see this deal as one-sided, but you have just given me everything to form a path to get what I, too, look to achieve.” Ayurveda’s stoic face broke into a smile that was anything but comforting. Allienna’s eyes widened as she decided that it would be better to leave the matter alone. She did not want to know, and she could be long gone before it mattered, anyway.
Without another word, Ayurveda raised her body into the sky until she was no larger than a speck, and with a slight shake of the entire realm, the sun appeared back in the sky.
Allienna gasped, now alone and victorious. She turned around, facing the mountain's peak towering before her, and ignoring her wings, started working her way through the extreme incline to the temple entrance by putting one foot in front of the other.
Once through the other side of the portal and surrounded again by the temperature of a cozy fire, she let herself flop onto the bed. A rush of glory rose within her as she shimmied and swayed her hips with her shoulders. She had served her entire life, never asking for anything. Trapped in a relationship, never knowing what else could be out there for her, never swaying, would all be rewarded. She would cultivate and grow the truest love, a love for her child. She might never again feel alone in a room that pushed expectations down her throat.
“Allienna?” Arryn’s voice sounded out of nowhere, and Allienna whipped around to see the concern in his eyes as he looked at the burns in her dress, exposing her stomach and other patches of skin.
“Why were you in Mrilyosis?” he asked.
“I was looking for you.” Her heart beat faster from the lie. “I woke up, and you were gone. I thought maybe you had decided to go and stretch your wings, clear your head.”
Arryn nodded, already dismissing the garment that hung off of her. Allienna stepped up to him, putting her hands up to caress his face, and placed her lips again on his, feeling the familiar burn mixed with crippling anxiety.
Arryn growled, “Not again. You can’t faint twice in a single day. You have been pulling too much from me.”
She kissed him again to keep his mind from wandering back, from asking more questions. “Take me to bed.”
Arryn did what he was told and scooped her up, before laying her down gently on the bed while entangled in between her legs. She wanted to writhe in agony, as was normal for this much contact. She swallowed her pain and gasped and moaned, filling her role as the love of his life.
7
Hadley | Sacramento, California | Early 2000s
Colorful paper confettiburst into the air, followed by the loud pop of an uncorked champagne bottle.
“You are killing it, bitch!” Hector yelled, holding the six-dollar champagne bottle above his head, letting the liquid foam spill over the top and drip down his arm.
Hadley whooped in support of their celebration. It had been two weeks, and she was officially caught up on rent. There were no more eviction notices, and their refrigerator was filled with food.
Hector took a long gulp straight from the champagne bottle before moving towards the kitchen counter and pouring the drink into a glass for each of them.
“I have an announcement,” Hector said, his accent thickening, rolling his tongue on the roof of his mouth as the alcohol hit his blood. “I have decided that this town is too small for me.”
“Does that mean that you’re leaving now?” Hadley asked, surprise evident on her face.
“Someday soon, hopefully. I have received invitations to audition for both the Los Angeles and the San Francisco Theater Schools. No more of these small-time community theaters for me.”
“That’s amazing,” Hadley said, sipping her champagne, genuinely excited for her best friend. A slight hint of sadness crept into the back of her mind, knowing that keeping Hector from being homeless was a big reason she ventured into such a sinful profession.
“I know, I know! Auditions are back-to-back days in January, so I will be adding a few extra hours a day of conditioning and technique. Here, I can start now!”
Hadley squealed as Hector’s hands found her waist and lifted her into the air, the drink in her hand spilling onto the carpet under their feet. He laughed, filled with joy. These past few years had been so hard and Hadley was ready for both of them to thrive.
“Now give me 20,” Hadley joked, kicking her feet while still dangling in the air. Hector let her go and as she fell, caught her around her waist so her feet hit the champagne-soaked carpet gracefully.
“You’re pretty good at that,” she mused, taking a few steps over and sat down on the couch. She found the remote and turned on the TV, pulling up a music app and filling the silence with blended retro songs that were hard to not shake your hips to.
“I want to know about this job, Hadley,” Hector said. “What wonderful employment have you found that pays you so fast? The last time I worked at that clothing store, it took almost three weeks for me to see my first paycheck. Are they hiring? Can you put in a referral for me? I mean, I guess I wouldn’t have time with my new training schedule, but it would be nice not to look like the broke, starving artist at the auditions.”
“I’ll take care of you, Hector. I won’t let you go without.” Hadley promised.
“Ah, my new sugar momma. You know, I always thought that I was beautiful enough to have a sugar momma or daddy. I won’t letgender get in the way,” he laughed. “Seriously, though, I want to hear about what you do with your days now. I haven't gotten to talk to you in the past two weeks.”
