Page 49 of Glass Wings
A silence fell among the group, Amis and Arryn staring at Djoser as if he were a circus animal.
“Tristan appeared in your tandem visions?” Arryn asked. Djoser nodded and looked to Reign in support, who only looked bored, flicking her nails.
“To summarize, we have no Waihema support because everyone’s already dead. There is no actual war to fight because no one has been condemned by the gods. I’m ready to get back home, then.”
“Tristan didn’t say that we wouldn’t get summoned, Reign,” Djoser interjected. “He said that everything may be happening exactly as it should.”
“We only need twenty years,” Amis stepped back into the conversation. “I can breed a humble army. We can ensure that we have more warriors to fight. These villagers are raised knowing that they are here to balance the magic. Even the meek would stand up and perform their duty. We are their deities. They serve Kinnari.”
“How many more infant deaths would that cause?” Arryn asked defensively.
“If you want warriors, this is the way,” Amis said matter-of-factly. “You invited yourselves here and have no idea what we all sacrificed to ensure even your own personal survival. Anything other than gratitude from you will not be tolerated.”
Arryn stood in silence, ignoring the tension being thrown his way. He darted his eyes up. A sadness lingered for the smallest moment before being masked by determination.
“I will not risk my child. We return to the temple and go to Mrilyosis immediately and demand an audience with the Life Gifter. I can’t and won’t take any chances. I must keep Allienna safe. If her baby were to get taken from her, I don’t know what she would do.”
Reign cleared her throat.
“Reign, too,” Arryn added, “of course, we need to keep Reign safe, too.”
“Thank you for your consideration, my lord.” She rolled her eyes and turned her back on the group, taking steps towards the dirt path that they entered the village through. The villagers watchingscattered as a few stray children stayed, eyeing the woman with no shame. She smiled at them and continued onward.
“Amis, you will come,” Reign demanded.
“Now? I need to prepare,” Amis said. His back muscles lifted him upright, to attention, as his body betrayed his mouth at her command.
“There is nothing to prepare. We will go now.”
15
Hadley | Sacramento, California | Early 2000s
“You’re tellingme that you got to go to a party in this house in that dress you wore on Halloween?” Hector asked, his mouth hanging open. Hector’s car, though visually in great shape, purred like an angry kitty cat, shaking violently as Hadley got out.
Hector parked his beat-down burgundy SUV a few houses down and rushed around to the trunk before bringing a gallon jug of water back up to the front hood. He popped the hood and began pouring water somewhere in the thick of black, steaming metal car parts.
“Maybe after you're done here today, we can throw some of that money into getting this radiator fixed. You know, if you suddenly have a mega-rich sugar daddy out of the blue.”
“You sure changed your tune on this quickly.” Hadley rolled her eyes.
She looked back up at the house, its extravagance overwhelmingher even more in the middle of the day. At night, it felt somewhat spooky, but now it was just an extreme show of wealth.
Hadley noticed a few neighbors peeking out at them through their windows. Hector was right. They should get his radiator fixed.
Hector pulled his body back out from the car's hood, smiling at Hadley like a regular heartthrob mechanic from the romance books she read in high school.
“I would switch places with you in a heartbeat,” she said, anxiety building up more and more every time she glanced at Sheng’s house. She didn’t understand why she was here. Sheng being so insistent that she came back so quickly made her uncomfortable. She grabbed her wrist, the feeling of being tied up flooding back to her.
“Blow his brains out, princess,” Hector laughed, throwing his arm around her shoulders. “I’ll be back in a few hours after dance class, but if you need me sooner, I won’t silence my phone.”
“Wait, you’re leaving me here? You’re supposed to stay for my protection.” Hadley looked at him in utter disbelief.
“Why? You’ve already met him. You’ve established that he’s not a serial killer and willingly have come back.”
Hadley considered it for a moment, recalling that Sheng did save her from the pirate. Then, it hit her; maybe she was needed back because she hadn’t done her job. She didn’t have sex with anyone that night. Maybe she was here to be confronted about it. She was in no mental state to suddenly perform for multiple people.
“I’m not going in,” she said, walking back to the passenger side of the car and opening the door with every intent of sitting and pouting.
