Page 84 of Glass Wings
There were sweatpants in this closet this whole time?
She shook her head, feeling so grateful for the warmth, comfort, and shielding that they would do for her. She pulled off her slip as Amis turned around, giving her some sense of privacy.
She still didn’t like him.
“Who is the group? The group of friends?” she asked as she put her feet into the top and pulled it up until it hit the underside of her wings. She next stepped into the softest, most luxurious sweatpants and savored every new inch of her skin they touched as she pulled them up.
“Silly rich humans that think worshiping Sheng will get them more status in life. Jokes about political parties often depict the wealthy in cults or performing satanic rituals. This group is the real-life manifestation of it.”
“What do they get out of it? What does Sheng get out of it?” she asked, turning around, her wings brushing against the hanging rack of clothes behind her, knocking a few pieces down.
“Oops, I guess I’ll have to get more used to that,” she gave Amis her most charming smile. She needed to get this shackle off of her ankle.
“They get power, status, being around the influence of immortal wealth. Sheng gets company. This type of life, alienated from your kind, is a torture in itself,” Amis said.
Hadley considered this for a moment, digging in a little too deep while Amis walked back around her, positioning himself back by the door.
“Sheng’s kind? There’s more of him?” she asked.
“Yes.” Amis looked bored again. “He is the most senior. Most of the rest are relatively young in comparison.”
“Oh, why is that?” she asked.
“I think in large part due to your father wanting to annihilateSheng’s community around him over time,” Amis said, a positively toxic smile spreading across his face.
“I don’t have a father,” Hadley said.
“I think biology would disagree, my dear.”
Hadley heard the thumping of quick footsteps coming their way as Amis moved to the side, allowing Sheng’s body to come through the door.
“I came back as soon as I heard,” he said, nearly breathless.
Sheng took a sharp inhale, studying the scene in front of him before covering his mouth with one hand. He stared at her, eyes wide, before walking up to her and pressing his forehead against hers, taking both of her hands in his.
“Are you alright?” he whispered. Hadley jumped back at his touch, and he looked up to make eye contact and frowned.
“I’m so sorry I missed it. I wanted to be here for it, for your wings coming in,” he explained.
“You knew?” she asked him, confused.
Sheng ignored the question, turning to walk out of the closet as he pulled her behind him. Their bodies jolted as the chain lost any remaining slack and clanged in distress.
“Get this ridiculous thing off of her,” Sheng yelled at Amis. “You and I will discuss how you treat the lady of this house later.”
Amis scoffed, his eyes filled with malice and surprise. Hadley saw the formality between the two fade and reveal something that she hadn’t noticed before. Was it competition? Was it disdain? She couldn’t quite put her finger on it, but it was apparent that the boss-employee relationship had a lot of history.
Hadley felt her shoulders drop; the breath that she wasn’t aware she was holding released as Amis pulled out a small key and moved down to her ankle, releasing the restraint. She looked to Sheng, a smile creeping across her lips as, once again, he was her unexpected savior.
“Thank you,” she said as Sheng inspected her ankle for any injuries.
“Are you healing quickly?” he asked her, concern on his brow.
“Almost immediately,” she responded.
“Incredible. Hadley, you are incredible. And your wings . . . I’ve never seen anything quite like them.” Sheng moved his hand softly, stroking the top right of her wings.
“Angel,” he whispered as Hadley's body turned to liquid, a raging river as his soft stroke moved across this new virgin skin. Sheng saw Hadley’s head dip back from the sensation, and his eyes caught fire in response, turning red.
