Abra Ebner - Feather 2. - Guardian

8/11/2019 Abra Ebner - Feather 2. - Guardian

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*5EACE

And though &e ind that the god6s creations &ere exiled to Earth$ &hat they never expected &as the

revolt that could ulti%ately lead to a revolution. +hen cast to live a%ong the hu%ans$ orever

bound to a lie o sadness and tor%ent$ the t&o halves prevailed$ deying all odds and inding each

other. 7espite their need to destroy all they held dear and sel destruct$ the breed adapted to their

challenge$ angering the gods and creating a reunion.

8orriied and driven by a ealous rage$ the gods then set out to )ill all those that deied the%$ ind'

ing their a%using ga%e had turned sour. 7eep in the roots o earth they orged a dagger$ strong

enough to )ill their creations orever$ leaving nothing but e%pty shells o the raven$ servants that

held no heart or soul.

:n their greed they ignored the si%ple act that such a &eapon could be used against the%$ their

hearts too corrupt &ith po&er to understand their o&n de%ise. A%ong the gods creations on Earth

they searched or a &orthy soul$ one so dar)$ that they could buy it &ith the pro%ise o po&er$ bar'

tering &ith his greedy instincts.+hen the soul &as ound$ they besto&ed hi% &ith the dagger$ outlining his tas) to )ill and the ruit'

ul uture he &as pro%ised$ that they never planned to uphold. +hen the soul received the dagger$

he turned into no %ore than a rat$ s;uandering all his riches$ and )illing all his riends$ one by one.

The gods &ere pleased &ith the success o their pa&n$ and as the divine race deceased into legend$

they had all but orgotten the ga%e o the hu%an Earth$ leaving it to sel destruct in a %anner that

&as unstoppable. As they turned their attentions a&ay ro% their greedy crusade$ the gods ound

that the Earth &as no& dying$ the hu%ans inesting the surace li)e a plague.

8orriied$ the gods ceased their previous plans$ inding that no& only a e& o their divine creations

re%ained$ the only beings that could save everyone. A%ong those let &as the irst$ the original pro'

totype o their experi%ents$ exponentially %ore potent and po&erul than all the rest$ and a provenorce that could not be erased$ despite their evil pa&n6s eorts.

:n this they )ne& they needed to recruit her and though inding they &ere no& loc)ed by her &ish'

es$ they &ould not divulge her i%portance to her$ )eeping her po&er a secret and s;ueeUA57:A?


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3A3@ STE*S

The cold granite elt li)e steel against %y head as : lay on the top landing o the stairs$ pondering

%y next %ove. : too) a e& cal% %easured breaths$ allo&ing %y eyes to stay closed as %y heart

raced. : hadn6t ever gotten this ar$ not until no&. The closest : had gotten to %y roo% &as yesterday&hen : inally laid one oot on the botto% step$ and no& here : &as$ at the top$ %y body tre%bling

&ith ear and sorro& li)e a nervous idiot.

Slo&ly$ : began to dra& %y eyelids open li)e a curtain at a play. : elt the granite under %y s&eaty

pal%s$ %y ar%s spra&led out at %y sides and %y legs cascading do&n the stairs. : rolled %y head

to the right$ loo)ing at the doors to %y roo% &ith sad recollection.

:t had been nearly t&o %onths since :6d been bac) at the house$ but : still couldn6t bring %ysel to

go bac) to %y roo%$ to see &hat : eared &ould be a scene o sadness and loss. : had ta)en to sleep'

ing on the couch in the sitting roo%$ despite Sa%6s atte%pts to encourage %e to ace the acts$ and

%ove on. 8e didn6t understand ho& this elt$ he didn6t )no& &hat sorro& &as any%ore$ or ear. 8e

&as dead$ inside and out.

: dre& in a heavy breath and held it as it stung %y lungs. Careully$ : rolled %y head to the other

side$ %y eyes alling on the doors to Edgar6s %ysterious roo%$ a place : couldn6t even atho% visit'

ing. : had never seen it$ at least not in %y current recollection$ but it still see%ed li)e an i%aginary

place$ a place that had never really existed.

Although : had gotten %y soul bac) &hen Edgar6s heart had ceased to beat$ it hadn6t given %e all o

%y %e%ory. There &ere certain things that slo&ly tric)led bac)$ li)e %y expert )no&ledge or

chess$ and o course %y heightened sense o sight$ and sound$ but not %y %e%ory.

: exhaled as : dre& %y head bac) to the center$ staring at the gold lea ceiling. : &renched %y tired

body up as : leaned %y chin into %y hands and placed %y eet on the top step. 7ragging %y ingersacross %y tired eyes$ : heard the s&it cutting o &ings echoing through the large entry oyer.

y hands dropped to %y lap as : loo)ed up$ seeing 8enry and :sabelle circle the chandelier and

sharply dodge to&ard %e. They landed on the top landing as their talons slipped$ grinding across the

granite li)e ingernails on a chal)board. : &inced at the shrill noise as they clic)ed their &ay bac)

to&ard %e &ith haste$ each rubbing their head against %y ar% li)e cats oten &ould.

:n the passing %onths$ 8enry had grated hi%sel to %e as though he &ere solely %ine. : )ne& he

%issed Edgar. There &as a gli%%er in his eye that &as un%ista)able and sad. 8e loo)ed to %e as

his oster %other no&$ and that &as deinitely so%ething : could relate &ith.

: sighed &ith a heavy heart as : scratched the% both on the head. This trip to %y roo% &as al&ays

destined to be a ailed atte%pt$ but : had at least gotten to the top landing. : loo)ed up as %y eyes

caught the gli%%er o so%ething standing in the center o the entry. Sa% &as s%iling at %e as he

stood there in angelic silence. :t &as rustrating that even : could not hear hi% %oving in his sound'

less existence.

B+o&$ loo)s li)e you got pretty ar today$ he hal laughed as he said it.

: &iped the sorro& ro% %y ace beore he could notice$ reverting bac) to conidence as : prepared

%ysel to ta)e on his sarcastic barrage o e%otionless banter. BThan)s Sa%$ %y voice &as sharp$

but %used.

BSo &hy don6t you ust do it$ pour salt on the &ound so you can %ove onD : )no& you6re stronger

than this$ besides$ you )eep tal)ing in your sleep about ho& unco%ortable the couch is. Andran)ly$ you6re boring$ he s%ir)ed.

: pushed %y bro&s together$ B7o you &atch %e sleepD Co%e on Sa%$ that6s creepy.


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8e laughed$ B( course : &atch you$ it6s %y ob. And : li)e being creepy$ goes &ell &ith %y super'

hero i%age.

: pursed %y lips and shoo) %y head. :t had ta)en so%e practice$ but : &as learning to hide %y

thoughts a&ay ro% hi%. : had ound a special roo% in %y head that even he couldn6t penetrate and

: &as sure it &as beginning to rustrate hi%. 8e &as used to the %inds o &ea) hu%ans$ so reveal'

ing. 3ut : &as %ore than hu%an no&$ : &as i%%ortal$ and %y po&ers could so%e&hat rival his$

though : still &asn6t as strong. At least %y intelligence and sharp intuition )ept hi% challenged.

: narro&ed %y eyes at hi%$ B?o$ : thin) you6re trying to read %y thoughts. @ou can6t stand not

)no&ing %y every &hi%$ can youD

8e idgeted &ith his hands as he held the% behind his bac). 8is &ings &ere entirely &ithdra&n into

his shoulder blades to the point that you &ould never be able to discern hi% ro% a hu%an$ other

than the act that his s)in &as cold as ice and his eyes &ere heavily shado&ed in a light %auve.

8e inally s%ir)ed$ snorting in a delicate %anner &hich suggested he &as guilty$ Baybe$ : ust li)e

to hear your thoughts$ %a)es %e eel alive again. 8u%an thoughts are so boring$ &hat to eat$ &hat

to &atch on T-$ &hat should : do to poison the earth today. @ou on the other hand$ your thoughts

are ascinating. 8is eyes suddenly lit up &ith oy.: narro&ed %y eyes even urther$ exhaling sharply. : pushed %ysel o the cold loor and stood as

8enry and :sabelle trotted to&ard %y bedroo% doors. They stopped and loo)ed at %e as though

urging %e to ollo&$ but : shoo) %y head in deiance$ B?ot today guys$ to%orro&$ : pro%ise.

They both loo)ed at %e as though telling %e :6d pro%ised the% that a dolo&ering at hi%$ : rubbed %y bro)en )nuc)les in rue'

ul silence as : %olded the% bac) to nor%al in slo& gentle stro)es.

B: don6t get &hy you choose to inlict pain on yoursel li)e that$ ti%e ater ti%e. : get the point$ you

resent %e$ but get over it$ :6% not leaving unless Edgar releases %y bond to you. 8e paused as hes%ir)ed$ %y heart cru%bling li)e roc)s as he said his na%e. BAnd : don6t see that happening any'

ti%e soon$ he added$ an extra t&ist o the dagger no& stabbing at %y guilty sad soul.


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: gro&led at hi%$ BShut up Sa%. y hand &as eeling %uch better as : t&isted on one oot and

stor%ed to&ard the )itchen$ a sharp angry beat in %y step.

8e ollo&ed li)e a soundless ghost$ B(h co%e on Elly. : didn6t %ean it. :6% not used to being po'

lite.

B+ell then get used to it. @ou6re acting li)e a %onster$ not an angel. 8is co%%ent still stung in %y

heart. Any ti%e he uttered Edgar6s na%e it hurt as though the dagger had stabbed %e instead.B:6% trying$ but it6s hard to re%e%ber &hat eeling e%otion is li)e. : still don6t understand &hy you

chose to get your soul bac). All it does is co%plicate things.

: plopped do&n on a stool and thu%ped %y elbo&s do&n on the copper island$ B+ell try harder$ :

spat.

B()$ let %e %a)e you so%e lunch. +hat &ould you li)eD the desperation in his voice &as &or)ing

and : began to eel guilty$ he si%ply didn6t )no& any better.

B8o& about so%e sy%pathy &ith a side o co%ortD : s%arted.

B+hat6s in thatD

8e sounded genuinely conused and : rolled %y eyes at hi%. @ou &ould thin) he could at least

s%ell his o&n sarcas% being thro&n bac) at hi%.

Bust never %ind. : sighed$ B>o in the upper cabinet$ there should be a box o %acaroni and

cheese$ ust ollo& the directions.

8e eyed %e &ith an annoying s%ir)$ : )no& he )ne& &hat : had been tal)ing about$ but he &as a

good actor. : only &ished : had been so sarcastic and talented &ith conversation &hen : didn6t have

a soul$ %aybe : &ouldn6t be as %iserable as : &as no& because : &ould have never co%e here$ nev'

er %et Edgar$ and : could have lived on in %y oblivious depressed dar)ness.

The box %ade a dull ingling sound as he tilted it do&n out o he cabinet and the noodles shited in'

side. : thought about %y eggs and syrup and &ished Edgar &as here to %a)e it or %e$ only he)ne& ho&. : &as never %uch o a coo)$ and %y appetite hadn6t really been great any&ays. : &as

still sic) over the loss and : &ondered i the sin)ing eeling o sadness &ould ever leave. (ten they

say ti%e heals all &ounds$ but so ar$ : elt as though %y &ounds &ere still gaping$ gushing sadness

and blood &ith every painsta)ing %o%ent that passed.

Sa% eyed %e &ith a )no&ing glare. : had allo&ed hi% the torture o that thought$ letting hi% )no&

ho& %uch : resented his atte%pts at illing the gap Edgar had let. ailed atte%pts$ li)e eating sugar

&hen you6re starving. There &as an abrupt and odd loo) on Sa%6s ace and : analy


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BThan)s Sa%. 4oo)s great$ : s%iled.

8e narro&ed his eyes at %e and : could eel hi% navigating every corner o %y brain$ co%ing up

e%pty handed. 8e grunted$ his chest rising as he &al)ed into the sitting roo% behind %e &here he

thre& his body onto the chaise lounge.

: pic)ed at the soggy %ass beore %e$ urging %y sto%ach to ind it so%e&hat appeti


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: leaned bac) against the cushion o the chair in shoc). y ne& ound talent to read :talian had ta)'

en %e by surprise and : &as over&hel%ed by the act that : &ould no& be able to understand the

stories in this boo). : lipped through the pages &ith hunger and haste$ re%e%bering ho& the boo)

had been hal e%pty$ as though uninished. As : ca%e across the a%iliar picture o the &hite cat en'

tering the cave$ : &as surprised to see that &hen : turned the page$ it &as no longer e%pty.

: gasped in horror$ dropping the boo) ro% %y ace and into %y lap as the pages anned closed and

: lost the spot. : &as not entirely sure about &hat : had ust seen$ but the bare gli%pse had caused%y heart to beat li)e never beore. : too) a deep breath as : grabbed at the pages$ hungrier than be'

ore as : anned the% bac) to &here the cat had been. : too) a deep breath and turned the ollo&ing

page again$ %y eyes alling on a ne& i%printed i%age.

There &as a &hite raven in the &oods$ its body hunched over and its eyes screa%ing as a dar) cloud

o blac) ravens dove do&n on her. The scene &as ar too a%iliar and : elt %y head surge &ith sud'

den pain. Though %y %ind screa%ed not to$ %y eyes could not resist the te%ptation to read the cap'

tion.

(n this day$ she &as ta)en. The dar) soul &as tric)ed$ ho&ever$ the raven &as nothing %ore than ashell$ but the doo% ahead &as heavily &eighted=

:t &as %e. The &hite raven had been %e. : ran %y ingers over the detailed i%age$ re%e%bering the

ear that had cut its &ay through %y body. : loo)ed to the trees that surrounded %e and to %y sur'

prise the cat &as there$ its tail popping as it ran a&ay$ ust as : had re%e%bered.

: turned the page as : urged %ysel to ill %y %ind &ith its torturous i%ages$ but then sla%%ed the

boo) shut. +hat : had seen there : &as never prepared to see again. :t &as the i%age o t&o ravens$

one &ith a dagger through the other6s heart. y breathing ;uic)ened and %y ingers tre%bled on

the cover o the boo). y pal%s began to s&eat and as %uch as : &anted to read urther$ : couldn6t

bring %y screa%ing %ind to pull open the cover.

y eyes &ere s;uee


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B(h and loo)$ EdgarG 8e &as li)e a s%all child at a candy store$ no sense o %ourning about hi%.

: &inced &hen he said his na%e. BCould you please not say thatD

8is eyes shot to %ine$ his %outh t&isted in a s%ile$ B(h yeah sorry$ orgot that he &as dead.

: exhaled$ %y chest depressing as ar as it could. 8e &as so rude.

B(h but hey$ loo) there$ Sa% pointed to the couple in &hite$ argriete and= : couldn6t bring %y'sel to even thin) the na%e.

: nodded$ loo)ing a&ay. Sa%6s s%ile san) and there &as an a&)&ard silence that gre& around us. :

ound %ysel loo)ing up in surprise by the sudden eeling. : had braced %ysel or another rude

co%%ent$ but one never ca%e. y eyes %et his and &e loc)ed stares or a %o%ent. The s%ir) &as

gone ro% his ace and he &as searching %ine in a disco%orting &ay as though so%eho& eeling

the sa%e loss : had.

Ater holding the stare a %o%ent longer than necessary he loo)ed a&ay. BSorry$ he %u%bled$

bac)ing out o the roo% and sitting on the railing.

: &as a little shoc)ed by the co%prehensible loo) on his ace. 8e had actually expressed a bit o re'

pentance. The boo) elt &ar% in %y hands as : ell bac) to reality$ re%e%bering : &as still graspingit. : elt the cover again$ i%agining that &hat : held &as a hot pie$ rather than a cul%ination o the

past. The boo) &as alive$ and in so%e strange &ay$ it )ne& everything that &as happening.

: lipped the pages in %indless %otion until they &ent blan)$ careul not to loo) at the last e& i%'

ages. There &as still only about hal the boo) &ritten and : &ondered i this %eant that there &as

still %ore to co%e$ %ore to explore. At any rate$ : no& had evidence that the cat &as really there. :

this boo) had dee%ed it so i%portant to record$ then it &as surely a character that : &ould %eet

again.

Sa% sighed and : )ne& he &as ust trying to get %y attention. y ga


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B+hat6s your dealD Sa% chuc)led$ a%used by %y disco%ort.

B?othing$ : paused$ considering a %ean re%ar) but iguring there &as no use &asting it$ B@our

hands are cold is all.

8e laughed$ B@eah &ell you eel li)e an inerno$ so=

: shoo) %y head$ grasping the boo) out ro% under %y no& s&eaty ar%$ B+hatever.

BSo &here do you &ant this hun) o un)D 8e &as trying to get %e pissed o and &as nearly suc'

ceeding.

: let out a sha%eless breath as : lu%bered to&ard the %iddle o the roo%. The one thing : could al'

&ays count on &as that Sa% &ould never give %e any pity. That &as so%ething : truly could not

handle$ especially no&. +ith a s)eptical eye : loo)ed around the roo%$ analy


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a%ong hu%ans$ as a hu%an$ : ust didn6t see things the sa%e &ay and : reused to thro& out that

part o %y lie. : couldn6t step on the little people that got %e to &here : &as today. 3esides$ they

&ere %y riends.

Sa% loo)ed over his shoulder at %e$ narro&ing his eyes.

BShut up$ : spat &ith sudden ervor$ sensing his need to express his disdain$ yet again.

As %uch as : tried to )eep %y thoughts ro% hi%$ at ti%es it &as still diicult$ especially &hen :&as daydrea%ing. @ou can6t control the natural lo& o thoughtH they6re li)e trying to capture the

&ind$ possible$ but hard. :t did have its advantages though and : )ne& that the one &ay to get bac)

at Sa% &as to ill %y thoughts &ith Scott and Sarah$ the very hu%ans he see%ed to despise &ith

such proound hate.

B: you hate the% so %uch$ then you don6t have to co%e. And actually$ : thin) :6d preer i you

didn6t$ you6re nothing but an e%barrass%ent any&ays$ and the act that you loo) dead could really

reep people out. : pressed %y nose into the air and crossed %y ar%s &ith stubborn independence.

8e laughed$ BSorry sugar can6t do that$ : have to co%e. :t6s %y ob. : sa& the trouble%a)er in hi%

rising.

: gro&led at hi%. B: hate you Sa%.

8e chuc)led$ B: )no&$ but that6s not really %y proble%$ bla%e your little lover boy.

A sudden screa% rose in %y lungs and : let it out$ sha)ing &ith anger and hate$ but he didn6t even

&ince. Bust go a&ayG

8e shrugged and let the roo%$ %y bitter hatred reusing to %uster as %uch as a ro&n ro% hi%.

y ace &as burning hot as : loo)ed to&ard the heavens$ cursing Edgar or binding Sa% to %e or

all eternity. This &as &ithout a doubt so%e sadistic tric) he had planned. 3ut then again$ : doubt he

had planned on dying.

: thre& %ysel onto the couch and glared at the painting. The &ar% boo) sat next to %e and :placed %y hand on the cover and allo&ed the eeling to cal% %y ury. : needed to ind that cat$

%ore than all else. : ust )ne& there &as so%ething there$ so%ething it possessed that &ould help

lead %e or&ard$ and to Edgar.

There &as also the daunting %atter o Edgar6s roo%$ &hich : igured &ould house the largest ac)'

pot o inor%ation. Though it &as hard$ %y %ind longed to )no& &hat it &as li)e. : hated the un'

)no&n$ but at the sa%e ti%e$ the %ystery o it spit satisying gallons o adrenaline through %y

blood. : &as addicted to the thrill$ heart and soul.

Another &ise plan &as to go bac) do&n to the college$ and not ust to see Sarah and Scott$ but also

brea) into his lab. : igured by no& they6d probably gotten a ne& proessor$ but &hat had they done

&ith his thingsD :t %ade sense that Edgar &ould have planned or so%ething li)e this$ and &ouldhave never allo&ed a hu%an to stu%ble upon his lie and learn about our secret &orld in such a

careless %anner.

: : &ere to suddenly re'appear on the ca%pus$ ho&ever$ : &ould need a plan. *erhaps : &ould tell

the% that Edgar and : had run o to be %arried$ but then he6d died in a horrible car accident and so

: &as here to collect his belongings. : pondered over the idea$ inding it had serious holes$ but it

&ould have to do. : laughed to %ysel$ &ondering &hat everyone &ould thin) o the scandal$ espe'

cially ?urse 7ee.

A strange eeling o liberation overca%e %e and %y heart illed &ith &ar%th and purpose. +hining

and pouting &as not getting %e any&here and : elt exonerated that : no& had a plan$ a solution.

There had to be a &ay to ind Edgar$ even in death. Ater all$ Sa% &as dead$ but he could still be

here a%ongst us and this act gave %e hope. +hether : believed in ghosts$ the aterlie$ reincarna'

tion$ or not$ this &orld had rendered %e surprised too %any ti%es to count$ and : &as hoping it still


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had surprises let that could help save %e.

:t &as hard to eel so level %inded about so%eone : still elt : barely )ne&. Though our lie together

&as i%possibly long$ %y %ind only granted %e the real experience o those e& cherished %onths.

: brought %y hand to %y nec)$ re%e%bering ho& it elt &hen Edgar had touched %e. The &ay his

breath &ould trace %y s)in had been intoxicating and s&eet$ and the &ay his body elt against %ine

&as no& no %ore than a distant tic)le. The electricity o our connection &as undeniable$ pre'deter'

%ined$ but still so s&eet$ and so real.

: longed to learn %ore about Edgar. 3uild the %e%ory o hi% in %y %ind until it &as so rich$ that :

could al%ost &ill hi% to be here. 8is ace &as still resh on %y conscience$ and loo)ing at his re'

se%blance in the painting granted %e the ability o seeing his ace every day$ re%inding %e o %y

goals$ and purpose. There &ere no other pictures o hi% any&here in the house so this &as %y only

reerence$ and to %y deep regret$ it included atthe&.

7espite %y goals$ there &ere other things that needed to be done as &ell. or one$ : needed to learn

ho& to ly again. : : could only re%e%ber &hat it elt li)e$ : &as certain : could acco%plish the

eat. Edgar had told %e to i%agine being &eightless li)e a eather on the &ind. So every night$ as :

lay on the couch trying to dro&n out the annoying hu%%ing noises Sa% %ade in his atte%pt to pre'

tend to be sleeping$ : i%agined %ysel loating li)e a &eightless cloud above the earth$ li)e Edgar

had done &ith so little eort.

Sa% &ould be helpul in this$ though : &as uncertain ho& long : &ould be able to handle his sar'

cas% &hile he taught %e. 7espite %y utter hatred or hi%$ he &as %y riend$ and a part o %e had

to love hi% or that$ no %atter &hat. At the end o the day$ : &as at least relived that : &asn6t alone$

and in this$ : elt that : could survive the ti%e and handle the sadness : no& endured.

The couch enguled %e as : pulled the &ar% boo) into %y lap$ coddling it as though it &ere a teddy

bear. Exhaustion overtoo) %y li%bs li)e a blac) &ave o dar)ness as : iled %y list o things to do

a&ay in %y head and rested against the ar% o the couch$ the leather ya&ning painully under %y

&eight. : breathed in until no %ore breath could ill %y lungs$ the rich s%ell o the pillo&s laced

&ith the s&eet s%ell o honey$ o Edgar. : stiled bac) %y tears$ telling %ysel that there &ould be

no %ore. :t &as ti%e to be strong$ and %y turn to suer as he had or %e or so long.

*4EASE ASTE? @(U5 SEAT3E4TS

Bust don6t get resh &ith %e$ got itD : placed %y hands on Sa%6s as he gripped %e under %y

ribcage$ his body close at %y bac)$ poised to lit us into the air.

BA&$ Sa% &ined$ BThat6s no un. @ou don6t li)e being groped by an angelD

: tried to pinch his hand as hard as : could but he laughed at %y eeble atte%pt$ B@ou &ish.

A chuc)le gathered in the bac) o his throat. B@ou bet ya$ his voice &as illed &ith alse pretenses

and sarcas%.

: )ne& he didn6t posses the heart or those )inds o thoughts$ but still$ he li)ed to push the envelope

on %y level o privacy. 8e al&ays snuc) into the sitting roo% &hile : &as trying to dress. : )ne& he

elt nothing$ but he enoyed the entertaining &ay it %ade %e s;ueal &hen he caught %e o guard. :t

&as clear : needed to suc) up %y pride and %ove bac) into %y roo% at this point$ but light ca%e

irst on %y list o priorities.

B() Sa%$ :6% ready. : exhaled and clenched %y ists into a tight and deter%ined ball.

: elt hi% s;uee


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spread out around us$ anning the air &ith little eort and so%eho& inding lot. : had lo&n &ith

hi% beore$ but this ti%e : had so%ething to concentrate on. The ground belo& %e began to %elt

a&ay as &e lited s)y&ard and %y eet let the earth. As &e rounded into the &ar% air$ Sa% t&isted

us to the let as &e le& straight up$ %y ga


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BSa%$ : said his na%e as though trying to beg %oney ro% hi%.

8e tilted his head bac) and turned to ace %e$ his ace t&isted. B: %ean$ : &as told you &ere stub'

born$ but not insane.

: glo&ered at hi% as : pushed past his shoulder and &al)ed in bris) steps in the direction o the &a'

terall &here : had irst %et Sa%$ though : hadn6t )no&n it at the ti%e. 8e ollo&ed li)e a dar)

cloud behind %e and : s%iled$ satisied by the act that : had orced hi% into helping %e.B: you die$ at least : &on6t have to protect you any%ore$ so : guess that6s the upside. 8e chuc)led

as his eet lacerated the grass$ leaving an obvious trail o our existence behind hi%.

B: : die$ : &on6t have to listen to you any%ore either$ so it6s a &in'&in or the both o us$ : retort'

ed. B@ou )no& as &ell as : that thro&ing %ysel o a cli &ill stir up the %e%ory o light in a

purely instinctual &ay. :t6s an ingenious and sane idea$ ad%it it. : loo)ed over %y shoulder at hi%.

Sa% shrugged$ B+hatever$ : still thin) you6re a suicidal idiot. 8e lited his eyebro&s as he tried to

portray %y irrationality.

>ru%bling$ : pic)ed up %y pace as &e &al)ed into the trees. y stride &as %uch aster than it had

been &hile : &as a depressed lethargic hu%an$ and the hour or so it had ta)en %e to get to the clithe irst ti%e$ &as easily covered in thirty %inutes.

BStill thin)ing this &as a good ideaD Sa% as)ed as &e stood &ith our toes ust over the edge o the

cli. : used to ear heights$ but no& it %ade sense not to. Sa% &as %y inevitable saety net$ li)e

&earing a harness or bungee cord.

: loo)ed over the edge to &here the &ater crashed into the la)e$ erupting up&ard to&ard us and

spraying across our aces. The %ist nearly ro


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release. All %y ears %elted a&ay and : ound it &as easier than ever to concentrate as the rush o'

cused %e.

y %ind no& ound i%%ense clarity$ as though preparing itsel or the s&eet release o death. y

eyes reused to open and : urled %y bro& in deeper concentration$ eeling a spar) o so%ething rise

in %y soul li)e a bright light co%ing ro% a distant %e%ory. : concentrated on the light$ &atching

as the rays began to spar) around the edges$ gro&ing brighter.

4i)e a sudden &ave$ %y body beca%e &eightless and : elt the corners o %y %outh curl into a

s%ile. As : %oved %y ar%s : ound that the air around %e elt thic)$ as though it &ere &ater and :

could s&i% through it. A orgotten instinct urged %e to %ove and li)e a baby in a pool$ : began to

stro)e %y ar%s$ a%a


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&ard the ground$ pic)ing up speed and testing %y li%its.

B+hat do you thin) you6re doingG : heard hi% yell behind %e.

+hat do you thin)D : retorted$ caring nothing or the act that : &as in the or% o a rare and %yth'

ical bird.

: heard a distinct gro&l as he ound hi%sel helpless to stop %e as : dove to&ard the buildings and

he tilted and turned a&ay$ araid to be seen by the students that %oved li)e s%all pa&ns across thegravel paths.

+ith clu%sy eort$ : anned %ysel do&n onto the roo o the hatchery$ eeling %y talons scrape in'

to the &ood roo &ith surprising ease$ as though cutting through the rosting o a gingerbread vil'

lage. : struggled to gather %y &ings behind %e as : shot %y eyes around the co%pound$ searching

or a a%iliar ace.

: &or)ed to recollect the ti%e o day and ound that based on the position o the sun overhead$ it

&as roughly noon. +ith anxious haste$ : released %y grip on the roo and lited %ysel s)y&ard

&here : anned %ysel to&ard the caeteria$ thin)ing that it &ouldn6t be long until Sa% &ould hunt

%e do&n. y &ings ban)ed to&ard the &indo&s as they s&irled %e do&n on the bac)side o the

structure &here : landed on a pile o crispy pine needles that &ere %ounded on the ground next tothe &indo& o the open dining space. y body bounced and : struggled to right %ysel$ inding %y

&ings &ere o little use as hands.

+e had al&ays sat in the ar bac) corner$ and %y sharp eyes caught sight o the a%iliar table as it

bac)ed up to the glass. y heart leapt in excite%ent as : sa& the silhouette o t&o people sitting

there$ loc)ed in vivid conversation. +ith slo& diligence$ : hopped closer to the glass$ trying not to

reveal %ysel though : )ne& at so%e point$ so%eone &as bound to notice.

As : approached$ : gently placed %y bea) against the pane$ loo)ing up bet&een the grids to the

aces that sat there. y chest heaved &ith sudden recognition as : loo)ed into the a%iliar aces o

both Sarah and Scott$ %y chest u%ing &ith the &ar%th o a riend. orgetting %y bird'li)e state$ :

began tapping on the &indo& &ith %y bea)$ atte%pting to get their attention in a &ay that &as both

insane$ and rantic.

They stopped &hat they &ere doing as they both loo)ed at %e$ their aces illed &ith sudden sur'

prise as Sarah brought a hand to her %outh and gasped$ pointing at %e &ith her other. ?o& that :

had their attention$ : ound %ysel e%barrassed as : reali


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EdgarD +hatD y body began to sha)e ro% the rush o adrenaline$ ear sha)ing %y core &ith both

love and tric)ery.

Suddenly$ : elt %y body lurch as : &as ripped ro% the roo.

B@ou6re co%ing &ith %e$ : recogni


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Sa% reached do&n and grabbed %y shoulders$ liting %e to %y eet. : elt asha%ed by %y sudden

ani%al reactions and : loo)ed Sa% in the eyes. +ith all the eelings over&hel%ing %e$ : had nearly

orgotten the tas) o lying and the act that : had %astered it. : &atched Sa%6s ace &ith careul

diligence$ inding there &as a spar) o so%ething in his eye$ so%ething rese%bling pity$ but also un'

derstanding.

B:6% sorry it happened this &ay Elle. : should have told you sooner. 8e s%ir)ed then$ and : gave

hi% a conused expression$ inding the s%ir) had no place in our current conversation. B3ut : thin)beore &e discuss it urther$ &e should get you so%e clothes.

8orriied$ : loo)ed do&n at %y body$ reali


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B+hatever. 8u%an lover$ he snorted$ loo)ing ;uite pleased &ith hi%sel.

: stopped then$ a pile o boo)s in %y hand. B+hatever happened to you any&aysD : )no& you used

to be hu%an$ so &hat6s your proble%D +hy do you hate the% so %uchD : pressed the boo)s onto

the shel$ pleading or the% to it.

8is %outh san) into a sole%n line and he shrugged at a loss o &ords. : had caught hi% o guard$

his inability to hide the pain leaving hi% exposed and helpless. : elt a little guilty as : &atched hi%$eeling as though %y re%ar) had been no better than his oten piercing blo&s and : never &anted to

do that to anyone. : shooed :sabelle o the couch as she snapped at %e &ith lethargic eyes. Slo&ly

easing %y body do&n next to Sa%$ : concentrated on his ace$ inding it a rare co%%odity.

B+hat happenedD : urged &ith a careul %ind$ %y anger no& ading to understanding.

:t &as diicult to see Sa% at such a loss or &ords &hen he &as oten so &itty and ;uic). : igured

he &ould have given %e a sharp repulsive ans&er$ : hadn6t expected that he6d actually cla% up over

it. 8e sighed$ dra&ing his eyes up ro% his lap to %ine. : gave hi% a tiny s%ile as : reached or his

hand$ eeling ho& the cold cla%%y s)in %ade %e shiver as : began rubbing it out o habit in %y at'

te%pt to %a)e it &ar%.

B: died. The &ords &ere lat and cold$ &ith no hint o sarcas%. 8is %outh &as still a straight line$the closest :6d ever seen to a ro&n. B: died due to the hu%an need or violence$ and hate. This is

&hy : can6t stand hu%ansH they &aste everything as though it %eans nothing. 4ie is so special$ so

a%a


22/117

y heart split at the thought$ BThat6s horribleG

8e nodded$ B3ut no %atter ho& %uch : try to hate her$ : can6t. She6s only hu%an ater all$ &ea) and

i%pressionable. 8e shoo) his head as though disagreeing &ith hi%sel$ B: don6t thin) she really

loves hi% though$ not the &ay she loved %e$ or at least that6s &hat she thin)s about. She &onders

&hat lie could have been li)e i : hadn6t died. : &e had a lie no&$ instead o her and that a%es

guy. 8e snorted. B3ut that6s the &ay it &as al&ays %eant to be$ this &as our ate.

: said nothing as he paused.

BThe unniest thing though$ and : &ish you could have been there$ he raised one eyebro& and

pointed at %e &ith a sharp hand. B(ne day$ : %et a%es at the bar. :t &as his bachelor party and :

scared hi% so bad that he nearly let her at the altar. : &anted to %a)e sure he &as &orthy enough to

be &ith her orever.

: chuc)led$ BSo &hat did you doD

B: threatened hi%$ naturally. : told hi% that i he ever did anything to her$ :6d rip hi% li%b ro%

li%b. At irst he didn6t believe %e$ but then : placed his or) in %y hand and cru%pled it in one

s&it and easy %ove%ent. : &atched hi% s&eat$ his thoughts %ortally terriied. ro% that %o%ent

on : )ne& he &as convinced.

: %ade a %ove to as) i a%es had ever told her about the incident$ but Sa% beat %e to it.

B( course : also threatened that i he ever told her about %e$ :6d have to )ill hi%. The poor guy got

so nervous he began pu)ingG *oor chap. >ood thing is$ ever since then$ he6s been %ostly good to

her.

BostlyD +hat does that %eanD : gasped as %y eyes beca%e &ide &ith a%a


23/117

or hi% &as not the ans&er$ he )ne& &hat he had done$ and ran)ly$ he didn6t really see% to eel all

that sorry or hi%sel. : sighed as : sat there &atching hi%$ it elt good to )no& he had a sot spot$

so%ething : could use against hi%$ as horrible as that sounds.

+e had inally connected$ and or the irst ti%e : no longer sa& Sa% as the gru brute he had al'

&ays see%ed. There had been a heart once$ and love$ and no& riendship as &ell. : could under'

stand &hy Edgar had chosen Sa%$ he &as a co%plicated %ess$ and so he )ne& :6d li)e it.

: leaned bac) into the couch$ listening to the steady %uled tic)ing o Edgar6s cloc)s &ithin the

chest. Their constant re%inder o ti%e alling a&ay &as o%inous$ yet it &as dierent &hen you

)ne& it &ould never end$ though &orse at the sa%e ti%e. : : never ound Edgar$ :6% not sure i :

&ould be able to stay here or eternity$ but : &ould have to be certain : searched out every possible

lead. : )ept the dagger ro% the ight in a dra&er in the )itchen. : )ne&$ that should : ever chose to

leave this lie$ : &ould leave the sa%e &ay Edgar had$ beside hi% orever.

Sa% &as still staring into space except his eyes &ere no& darting about the roo%$ his ace li)e

stone. : sat up and loo)ed at hi% &ith a hint o alar%. So%ething about the &ay his bro&s &ere

s;uee


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: grabbed it and he yan)ed %e up$ %y head s&i%%ing. ?ot only did : not &ant to see the cat$ : also

didn6t &ant to see either o those roo%s. : elt %y s)in change ro% a bright lushed red to star)

&hite as the sudden lood o orced e%otion too) over %y soul$ stinging &ith tartness in %y throat.

B@ou can do this Elle. ?o& is not the ti%e to beco%e a &i%p. Sa% s;ueeuardian Angel$ or i in

act he &as an Arc Angel in sheep6s clothes.

: balled %y hands into ists as Sa% &aited or %e. Ta)ing the initiative$ : pushed past hi% and

stor%ed into the hall. : : died &ho cared any&ayD This is &hat : &as here or$ and this &as %y

ti%e. 3esides$ &hat i the cat ended up being s&eetD Then : &ould have a ne& pet.

Sa% chuc)led$ B5eally$ a pet ElleD @ou6re such a &o%an.

BShut up$ : hissed over %y shoulder$ narro&ing %y bro&s.

: halted at the botto% o the stairs as the crystal chandelier luttered above %e$ sending sharp tings

o sound through %y heightened senses. The cat &ailed again and %y heart leapt. y eyes shot to

the let$ to&ard %y roo%$ and : couldn6t help but eel at least a little bit relieved. : &asn6t all too ex'

cited about the idea o having to go into Edgar6s roo% or the irst ti%e on a hunt. : had planned to

spend %ore ti%e &ith it$ ta)e it in stride as it deserved.

Sa% &al)ed up beside %e$ BCo%e on$ it6s ust a cat. This &ill be easy$ and it6s rightened. :ts little

heart is racing.

: loo)ed at hi% &ith sheepish eyes beore &iping the pitiul loo) o %y ace and pressing or&ard.

: gru%bled as : ascended each step$ %y ists clenched and ready. : elt Sa% behind %e and it helped

%e to eel brave$ but also that at this point there &as no turning bac)$ he &as li)e a &all.

y bare oot positioned itsel on the top stair li)e a ballerina as the cat &ailed again$ holding the

sound and ending it &ith a sharp up&ard pitch o agony. : pursed %y lips and orced %ysel or&ard

to&ard the doors. y pace slo&ed as : approached$ %y hands held beore %e as though ready to

grab at anything that %ay attac). y last e& steps &ere so silent and slo&$ that even the dust re'

%ained settled on the loor$ %y toes no& an inch ro% the entry.

: &atched the light creep out ro% under the door and %y heart u%ped as a s%all shado& paced be'

hind it. The cat &as acting as though it &as trapped but : )ne& better than to all or that. :t see%ed%ore li)ely that the cat6s purpose &as to %a)e %e co%e get it$ particularly in this roo%.

Ta)ing a deep breath$ : lited %y hands and reached the% both out to&ard the handles. 4o&ering

the% onto the cold gold$ : exhaled and pressed do&n$ thro&ing the &eight o the doors open as the

light ro% the roo% poured over %e and into the hall. : shielded %y eyes ro% the light$ bringing

%y ar% to %y orehead as : &inced$ %y heart stopping and %y %ind racing.

T8AT +AS EAS@

: coughed as the dus) settled and : anned %y hand beore %y ace$ allo&ing the ha


25/117

veal its ne&ound secrets. As %y ga


26/117

BCan you hear &hat she6s thin)ing at allD : loo)ed up at Sa%$ hope illing %y eyes.

8e pursed his lips in thought$ his eyes ixed on her head. B?o= he paused$ the reservation in his

voice suggesting %ore$ BThere6s so%ething though$ but : can6t really tell &hat it is$ very intriguing

though. 8e &as nodding no&$ li)e a philosopher in deep thought.

: )ept petting her$ her ur shedding all over %e. B@ou have so%ething to say girlD : s%iled do&n at

her and she popped her head to&ard %e$ %eo&ing in obnoxious &hales as though hoping to tal)li)e a hu%an.

Bust be a girl$ listen to those vocal cords$ so &hiny and de%anding$ Sa%6s ace &as %used and

distorted.

B@ou6re ust ealous$ : s%iled at Sa%$ a sassy loo) on %y ace.

Bealous o a catD 8e chortled. B8ardly. Thing can6t even ly$ and its body is li)e pudding$ sur'

prised : didn6t s;uee


27/117

Sa% chuc)led behind %e$ inding hi%sel a%used by %y endearing thoughts about %y ne& pet. :

loo)ed do&n at her and stro)ed %y inger over the cro&n o her head. B: &onder &hat it is you

)no&$ : &hispered to her$ careul not to &a)e her.

A rude snort &as replaced by Sa%6s chuc)les$ BAlright this is sic)ening$ :6% out o here.

: turned and s%ir)ed at hi%$ content &ith that act that : had inally %anaged to %a)e hi% %ad$ or

perhaps it &as ealous. 8e loo)ed at %e &ith resent%ent as he glided to the doors and &al)ed out othe roo%$ not bothering to shut the% behind hi%. y %uscles relaxed as Sa%6s departure allo&ed a

&ash o relie to tric)le over %e.

BAs : &as saying little )itty$ you and : have a lot to discuss. The cat again cooed in her sleep as :

&al)ed bac) across the roo% to %y bed. A sharp breath escaped %y lungs as : tried to overt %y

ga


28/117

&as$ the &hole scene dissipated around %e in the ear that no& gripped %y head. : tried all : could

to grasp onto the drea% but there &as little : could do as %y heart throbbed in pain and the &orld

returned.

K K K

: &o)e suddenly$ the roo% no& dar) and the candles bursting to lie as : opened %y eyes. Startled$ :

loo)ed around$ orgetting that : had allen asleep in %y o&n bed$ in %y o&n roo%. y breathing

&as heavy as : continued to grasp onto the drea%$ begging it to stay and tic)le %e &ith the hope o

Edgar.

: &as so used to &a)ing in the sitting roo% that the strange reali


29/117

She chattered in agree%ent as : bent do&n and grabbed the boo) out ro% under her pa&. : giggled

as she then curled up on the &ar% spot let behind by the boo) as though cuddling in to hear a story.

: lo&ered %ysel onto the cushion beside her as : lipped the boo) open$ anning the pages until :

got to the bac).

As : had guessed$ there &as a ne& page and : &as ;uic) to scan the etched i%age as it literally dre&

itsel beore %e as though not yet ready or vie&. : &atched in a%a


30/117

strong to deny.

: laughed$ B@ou said the %agic &ord Sa%$ tuna.

A sour loo) crossed his ace and : could tell he &ould never say the &ord again. 8e bac)ed his &ay

into the )itchen &here she ollo&ed$ u%ping onto the stool behind the bar and sitting &ith both

%anners and innocence. : ollo&ed and sat in the second stool as Sa% reached into the cabinet or a

can o tuna &ith a begrudged grunt o irritation.8e ru%%aged through the utensil dra&er &here : assu%ed he &as searching or the can'opener$

inding nothing as he ca%e up e%pty handed. : &atched a%used as he placed a bo&l beore hi%$

unauardian1 3oo) T&o$ eather 3oo) Series

BSa%$ ust get over it$ she6s staying. 3esides$ the lo&er beds could use the ertili


31/117

begin %oving or&ard. :sabelle &as cla&ing into the bac) o the sil) chair$ her eyes slanted &ith

anger as she &atched the cat$ her ga


32/117

regret as she loo)ed at :sabelle$ :sabelle giving the cat a s%ug loo) o hierarchy. B@ou too :sabelle$

you can6t go &ith %e on this trip. She clic)ed her tongue as she snapped at %y ear.

Sa% shrugged to hi%sel in an atte%pt to %a)e 8enry get o his shoulder. :t &as clear he still

hadn6t gotten up the nerve to touch hi%.

BAre you about readyD : &as stiling a giggle as Sa% continued to sha)e his body but 8enry re'

used to let go as he balanced hi%sel &ith his &ings.: &al)ed up to Sa% &ith a ro&n$ trying to clasp at 8enry as Sa% reused to stop thrashing. :

grabbed 8enry6s &ings and pulled hi% ro% Sa%6s shirt as he cla&ed at it &ith desperation. B:t6s o)

8enry$ : cradled hi% in %y ar%s as he snapped his bea) to&ard Sa%. : gave hi% a )iss on the

head$ BSa% can6t be bro)en in one day %y dear$ have patience.

8enry too) a deep breath and exhaled as the eathers on his chest relaxed into deeat.

Sa% let out one last violent shiver as though sha)ing o the s%ell. B4et6s ust go o)D he gave %e a

reproachul glare.

: dropped 8enry to the ground as he spread his &ings and le& up to the top banister o the stairs in'

stead. : &al)ed to the door but Sa% beat %e to it$ grabbing the handle and opening it or %e.B(h loo) &ho6s the gentle%an no&$ : teased.

8e s%iled$ BAter you$ &itch.

A chuc)le dragged in %y throat as the &ar% su%%er air %et %y ace. The co%%ent didn6t hurt be'

cause it &as true$ and : &as proud to be a &itch. : heard hi% shut the door behind us and : &al)ed

do&n the ront steps and into the %eado& &ith little hesitation as it all disappeared behind %e. : had

done this so %any ti%es no&$ it see%ed nor%al or %y palatial %ansion to ade into thin air.

BSo are you going to co%e &ith %e the &hole ti%eD (r are you going to bac) out at the irst sight

o a hu%anD : loo)ed bac) at Sa% as &e stepped through the tall grass. The &ay it hoo)ed around

%e in its everlasting love &as at this point borderline annoying and : loo)ed or&ard to the gravelpaths o the College.

Sa% &atched %e ight &ith the vegetation in a%use%ent$ B:6ll probably )eep a sae and healthy dis'

tance. 8eaven orbid : should catch a co%%on cold.

: laughed at his absurdity$ BThey6re not that bad Sa%$ really.

8e shrugged$ B?o : suppose not$ but :6d rather ust %ove on ro% the%. There is so %uch lie$ or

rather ater'lie$ to live. : can6t &aste it pining over so%eone :6ll never have.

: nodded$ %y bro&s urled in rustration$ BAre you saying :6% &asting %y ti%eD

: loo)ed bac) at his ace again$ his &ings no& protruding ro% his sides. B*erhaps$ he considered

the state%ent so%e %ore beore continuing. B@ou should ust %ove on. So%eday they &ill be goneand you6ll be bac) to s;uare one$ saddened by the inevitable loss due to the hu%an cycle o lie. :t6s

an unnecessary pain you can avoid no&$ beore you get too attached.

Bove on to &hatD :t6s not li)e the &orld is heavily populated &ith %y )ind$ :6% al%ost a hundred

percent certain : a% the last one. 3esides$ :6% already too attached. The heat o the thic) su%%er

air &as beginning to %a)e %e hot and : elt a bead o s&eat or% on %y bro&. B:6d rather live

decades &ith riends as they gro& old than spend it sad$ avoiding lie.

: loo)ed bac) to&ard the &oods as t&o cold ar%s hoo)ed under %ine and &hipped %e s)y&ard.

B:6% not about to trudge through there li)e a hu%an$ Sa% yelled into %y ear. BThat &ould ta)e

hours.8e s&ung %e into his grasp &ith little eort$ hoo)ing one ar% under %y )nees and the other behind

%y bac). : s;uealed$ not eeling so %uch rightened$ as ta)en o guard. The gentle &aving %otion


33/117

that his large &ings created as &e cut through the air &as %uch dierent than %y ;uic) sharp raven

stro)es had been and : li)ed it. 8is body &as li)e having the air conditioner on ull boar &hile rid'

ing in a car$ and : couldn6t deny that this &as a %uch better idea than &al)ing.

: had thought about lying do&n to the college %ysel$ but then : re%e%bered that : &ould li)ely

end up na)ed$ and that &asn6t going earn %e any 3ro&nie points &ith Sarah. : )ne& she &asn6t ex'

actly excited about Scott and : being riends$ but ho& could she really %ind &hen it &as %e &ho%

had set the% up. 3esides$ : had no control over the &ay Scott loo)ed at %e$ that &as his ault.

+e glided in silence over the expanse o orest that separated %y ho%e ro% the College$ the air

changing ro% &ar% to hot depending on the various at%ospheric poc)ets &e &hipped through. As

the trees thinned : could ust %a)e out the e& log structures that &ere scattered belo&$ standing

solid on the ban) o the %il)y blue la)e.

y heart raced as &e approached$ inding that the trip &as a lot shorter than : had expected. The ad'

vantage o ta)ing the ti%e to hi)e here on oot &as that : &ould have had %ore ti%e to thin). Even

i it &as a %ere thirty %inutes at %y heightened pace$ it &as still ti%e to prepare. Sa% ust reected

any or% o hu%an activity$ no %atter &hat the reason and it had oiled %y detailed plans.

Sa% ban)ed hard into the orest surrounding the school$ landing in a thic) grove o trees and ernsthat shielded us ro% any curious ga


34/117

began to appear beore %e. : &as entering ro% the east side$ through the cluster o greenhouses. As

: passed the glo&ing green buildings : peered through the &avy glass$ noticing ho& the plants there

see%ed una


35/117

B8iG : sang bac) to her$ the strange eeling o true happiness ir)ing %y %e%ory. :t had never oc'

curred to %e until no& that it had al&ays been a battle to s%ile in %y ti%e here$ both %entally and

physically. Every day in this past lie o dar)ness had been such a battle$ such a ight to live.

B(h %y$ it6s li)e seeing a ghost dearG +hat brings you bac)D 8as another session &ith *roessor

Edgar gone badD A vindictive chuc)le ru%bled in her chest as she thought to hersel$ B8ere to set'

tle a score no& are &eD

: cringed at her reerence to Edgar. B(h= : paused to gather %y thoughts$ B+ell :6% ust bac) or

a visit$ ca%e to see Scott you )no&= ?othing ;uite that dra%atic.

She chuc)led$ B(h you oxG : al&ays )ne& you and Scott had a thing or each other. 3ut : should

&arn you$ : believe he6s seeing so%eone$ and actually : thin) he6s engaged. She pursed her lips in

a hal s%ile$ %oc)ing %e &ith her loving thoughts. BSarah : believe her na%e &as. 8er bro&s

&ere ixed in a painul %anner$ her hal %oon glasses teetering on the end o her nose as she

che&ed on her nails$ still perplexed.

: ;uic)ly rolled %y eyes as she loo)ed a&ay. Scott &as engagedD : grunted$ &ell that &as ast. 3ut :

suppose so%eone li)e hi% has to loc) it do&n beore the girl reali


36/117

the chal)board. B(h :6d love oneG She s)ipped over to %e in a surprisingly light'ooted %anner

and s;uee


37/117

: &iped %y eyes and urled %y bro&$ angry that : could be so &ea). A sharp exhale escaped %y

tre%bling lips as : orced %y body a&ay ro% the &all$ %y legs struggling under the &eight as :

pushed %ysel or&ard. There &as no telling ho& long it &ould be beore Edgar ca%e out o that

roo%$ and : &as certain that : didn6t &ant to be here to &itness it. That &as all the proo : needed

or today.

As : &al)ed &ith a slo& lu%ber do&n the path and into the opening in the center o the co%plex$ :

ound %ysel disappointed. ( course : hadn6t expected his ghost to re%e%ber %e$ ho& could itD :t&as ust a hologra%$ a ig%ent o dust and air. :t had no heart$ no %ind$ and no soul. 3ut there &as

a part o %e that hoped$ hoped the search &as over and he &ould inally co%e ho%e. As : put %y

hand to %y chest$ eeling or that a%iliar burn o love$ instead : elt nothing. : couldn6t eel hi% the

&ay : used to$ and in this : )ne& he &as gone.

: orced %y legs up the hill to&ard %y old cabin as : dried %y eyes so%e %ore. : one thing &as

true$ seeing his ace as though he &ere alive ueled %y urges to ind hi%. This &as not a ;uestion o

%oving on$ it &as %oving or&ard. or&ard to hi% and to the ans&ers : needed.

4(-E A?7 A55:A>E

y chest rose as : too) a deep breath and leaned in &here : listened to the %uled voices and

laughter behind the a%iliar pine door. 4iting %y hand$ : rapped it &ith eagerness against the

&ood$ re%e%bering ho& it had elt to hear that noise ro% the other side as Scott had relentlessly

done every %orning beore class.

The voices hushed and : heard a scra%ble o eet on the loorboards. : exhaled and rolled %y eyes$

hoping : &asn6t brea)ing up so%e sort o love session. y heart raced$ &hat &as : going to say to

the%D +hat &ould be %y excuse or abandoning the% li)e : had$ leaving the% behindD

As %y thoughts raced the door le& open and a gust o &ind rustled through %y hair.Scott stared at %e &ide eyed$ his a& gaping. B?o &ayG he yelped$ thro&ing his hands in the air

li)e a rag doll.

: grunted hard as he ran to&ard %e$ hugging %e &ith a orce : never thought he could posses.

BElleG he yelled again$ his voice piercing %y ears as his chin rested on %y shoulder$ his ar%s li)e a

vice around %y &hole body.

: loo)ed over his shoulder and into the roo%$ Sarah6s %outh &as gaping in the sa%e %anner Scott6s

had$ her eyes glittering &ith &hat loo)ed li)e tears. A eeling o e%barrass%ent overca%e %e and :

%ade a ;uic) %ove to s%ile in %y atte%pt to ease the tension.

8er gaosh you loo) dierent Elle$ but still the sa%e. 8o& are youDG Scott6s voice crac)ed$ the sound

co%orting %e so%eho&$ he hadn6t changed at all.

B(h :6% o)$ : heard so%e interesting ne&s though$ : &renched %ysel a&ay ro% Scott as politely

as possible and : closed the gap bet&een Sarah and : in ust seconds. y hand grasped her let and :

pulled it to %y ace to exa%ine the e&els.

Sarah blushed and : heard Scott6s nervous laugh behind %e$ illing the air &ith a sense o ti%id ux'


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taposition.

B(h it6s beautiulG : gasped$ ta)ing in the s%all dia%ond solitaire that &as delicately perched atop

Sarah6s ring inger. : turned %y ga


39/117

&hen : irst %et you$ : said : had a thing &ith nature$ and you appropriately dee%ed %e Jother

?ature6D : s%iled at the title$ inding it still as absurd$ but true.

8e shrugged$ his eyes narro&ing at %e$ B@eah. 8e paused as he rolled so%ething around in his

%e%ory$ B:6ve been %eaning to as) you about that. 8e brought one inger up to his chee)$ his at'

te%pt at thin)ing hurting %y o&n head.

: laughed$ B@eah &ell your assu%ptions are probably true$ so let6s go &ith that.8is eyebro&s shot up in a%a


40/117

BSo= Scott loo)ed thoroughly conused$ BSo then &hat are youD

: crin)led %y bro&. Even : didn6t )no& exactly &hat : &as. BA &itch$ : replied. :t &as the only

thing that really %ade sense in the hu%an language. :t still sounded corny saying it$ but it &or)ed.

Scott and Sarah both raised their eyebro&s$ agreeing in unison$ their conusion so%eho& resolved. :

had expected the% to act a little %ore horriied about the &hole situation$ but here they &ere$ ust

ine &ith the &hole thing$ or at least see%ingly so. 3ut that had al&ays been Scott6s style$ so%eho&una


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They &atched as : closed %y eyes and began to concentrate as : had at the &aterall. : pictured %y'

sel alling$ pictured the &ay the air &hipped past %y ar%s and illed %e &ith the eeling o ree'

do%. : put %y ar%s out to %y sides$ Edgar had never been this dra%atic$ but then again$ changing

&as %uch %ore natural to hi% because he did it all the ti%e.

: too) a deep breath$ %y body no& eeling the air around %e get thic)$ li)e &ater. There &as a sud'

den and over&hel%ing eeling o dro&ning as : began to s&i%$ and as : did so$ : elt %y ar%s push

the air as %y &ings began to ly.

: heard unani%ous gasps as : opened %y sharp eyes$ ;uic)ly cutting let as : nearly hit the &all be'

hind the%. 5elieved that : had escaped possible inury$ : soared in a tight circle bac) to&ard the bed

&here : landed in a sot pile o covers$ %y body still clu%sy as they tangled around %e. Struggling

&ithout the use o ar%s$ : righted %ysel in a %anner that &as ar ro% graceul.

Sarah &as chuc)ling under her breath but : really couldn6t bla%e her. :t &as obvious that : &as ne&

at this and : &as certain : had %ade a co%plete ool o %ysel.

BThat6s a%a


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: nodded$ B: thin) you6re right. And these are the things : need to ind out.

BCan &e helpD Scott gave %e an anxious loo).

y ga


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%ine to )no& at this point. Either &ay its secrets could do little change %y lie in the &ay 8eidi had

hoped$ because %y lie had already done so. : )ne& that had she )no&n o this passing o the git$

she &ould only be proud o %e or inding so%eone : care enough about to trust &ith it.

: s&allo&ed hard$ B+ell : should probably get going$ but :6ll be bac) soon. : &al)ed into both their

ar%s as they &rapped %e in a hug$ B:n the %ean ti%e$ loo) into that eather. : stepped bac) and

patted the% both on the shoulder. Scott &inced a&ay ro% %y touch as : patted hi% a bit too hard.

B@our secret is sae &ith us. Sarah s%iled$ B:t6s so coolG @ou6re a &itchG she &as u%ping up and

do&n$ clapping her hands.

: &inced$ the title still gro&ing on %e. BThan)s. : ust had to tell so%eone$ and : pro%ise there6s

still %uch %ore to sho& you. And &ith that : &in)ed and &al)ed out the door.

7UST

: trudged %y &ay bac) up the hill as : heard the undeniable screech o excite%ent erupt ro% the

cabin. : )ne& it &as either the act that they had opened the envelope : had handed the%$ or thatthey &ere truly that excited about %y existence. As : stepped one oot into the shelter o the trees$

Sa%6s voice &as suddenly right next to %e.

: u%ped and grabbed %y chest$ giving hi% an evil glare.

B+hy did you do thatD 7on6t you )no& they6re hu%anD he &as panting as though he had ust run a

long distance.

B7o &hatD y voice &as innocent$ as though : had no idea &hat he &as tal)ing about.

B@ou ust outed yoursel to the &ea)est %inds in the &orldG @ou can6t trust that they &on6t tell any'

one. : this gets out$ there &ill be a &itch hunt. 8is voice got lo& and &as ull o doo%.

B(h seriously Sa%$ this isn6t the !006s. : they told anyone it6s %ore li)ely they6d be carted o to

the psyche &ard than start a &itch hunt. : laughed under %y breath.

8e thre& his hands in the air$ unable to accept &hy :6d open up to a hu%an.

: glared at hi% deeper$ B@ou )no& &hat the dierence bet&een you and %e isD

Sa% shoo) his head.

B: actually posses the hope to trust so%eone$ &here you deny any sort o riendship or love. : s&at'

ted at a ly that had landed on %y ar%.

8e snorted$ B+hatever$ but you ust signed your death certiicate honey.

: glo&ered at his crude reerence$ BThey6re ine Sa%. And don6t ever call %e honey.

8e laughed as &e &al)ed through the trees$ B@ou6re such a suc)er or &ea)ness. :t6s disgusting.

B@ou6re disgusting$ : retorted.

8e ro&ned$ B: beg to dier$ and :6% actually very clean. 8e opened his ac)et to&ard %e$ baring

his strong pale chest$ BSee. Ta)e a &hi. :t6s li)e a ne&born baby.

: loo)ed at hi% &ith revulsion.

8is &ings suddenly sprung ro% his bac) and : rolled %y eyes$ bracing %ysel or &hat &as to

co%e. 7espite %y atte%pts to resist hi%$ he scooped %e ro% the orest loor and &e shot s)y&ard.

B@ou )no& : &as enoying the &al)$ : said as he held %e against his rigid chest.

8e s%ir)ed$ B@eah$ &ell :6% enoying the excuse to %a)e you touch %e.


44/117

: &riggled in his grasp$ disgusted by his lecherous advances. Though : )ne&$ or at least hoped he

&as o)ing$ it &as still enough to drive %e %ad &ith anger. B@ou6re a pig$ : spat at hi%.

8e laughed$ B(h ust ta)e it easy princess$ you6ll live. :6% not that bad$ you6re hurting %y eel'

ings.

The s%ug loo) on his ace suggested that there &ere no eelings to hurt$ so it really didn6t %atter

ho& vile : &as to hi%. +e soared over the trees as they lashed belo& in a blur o green and bro&n.8aving Sa% &as li)e having your o&n dragon$ or *egasus$ except :6d hope i :6d had one o those$

they &ouldn6t tal).

Sa% loo)ed do&n at %e$ B7ragons are dangerous and a *egasus is too aloo and ditsy$ you %ay as

&ell have a cric)et to ride. Trust %e.

: laughed$ B@eah right$ li)e those even exist.

8is eyebro&s shot up$ B7id you ever thin) : &ould existD

: pressed %y bro&s together$ o course : had believed in angels$ but he had a point. : never really

thought :6d end up being riends &ith one. :t had al&ays been a hu%an airy tale that angels could

exist a%ongst us$ invisible and )ind. Though %y thoughts on their personality &ere tragicallyscre&ed$ the stories had at least been true. : guess there &as a lot o truth to airy tales and stories

these days$ so the truth &as$ there &as no truth.

The %eado& &as soon visible over the canopy o the orest and : sighed &ith relie. : needed a rest.

The day had been hard enough and the &ay Edgar6s ghost had stared right through %e &as eerie$ as

though : &ere nothing %ore than a %oving statue$ or a &orthless hu%an.

Sa% dove do&n into the opening$ but instead o setting us do&n$ he s)i%%ed the grass. +e le& u'

riously through the %eado& as : &inced and turned %y head &here : buried it in Sa%6s chest as the

a%iliar &atery &all appeared beore us$ ust as it had the day Edgar and : had gone out on the

sno&%obile. : elt as &e crashed through it$ the rippling crac)ing around us li)e glass and &ater.

: elt as Sa% protectively tuc)ed his body around %e as though &e &ere no& a bo&ling ball$ thecrash o %etal and glass shattering all around us. +e sla%%ed hard against &hat : supposed &as the

bac) &all o the garage and : grunted as the breath &as )noc)ed ro% %y lungs.

As Sa% released his captive ar%s ro% around %e$ : %oved to punch hi% in the sto%ach but resist'

ed$ iguring : &asn6t up or the pain.

B+hy did you do thatD : yelled$ his hands cuing %e as : struggled against his conines. Anger

boiled in %y heart$ the type o anger that drives even the sanest %en into a %urderous rage.

8e laughed$ B: al&ays %eant to destroy that thing.

: loo)ed over his shoulder at the %ass o green %etal that &as balled up around hi% and s%ashed

into the &all as though it &ere nothing %ore than sot oil. BSa%G That &as %y carG

B@ou6ll get over it$ he pushed %e out o the &rec) o %etal and a&ay ro% hi%. B:t6s not li)e you

&ere using it.

B: hate youG : screa%ed$ %y ace no& hot &ith ury$ B+hy do you insist on doing this to %e$ all the

ti%eG 8is childish attitude to&ard lie &as rec)less.

8e shrugged$ B: ust li)e to pull your chain Elly$ ta)e a chill pill. 8e put his hand up to %y ace as

a s%ir) curled across his %il)y chee)s and his eyes gli%%ered li)e a%ber %arbles.

: struggled to understand &hat he %eant as : gru%bled at hi%$ the sound echoing o the &alls o the

long garage. y e%otions &ere useless against his inuriating %as) o conidence as : &iped the

loo) o sadness ro% %y ace. : &al)ed to the hun) o %etal$ %y 7atsun co%pletely unrecogni


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46/117

sealing it or all eternity. y nerves halted as : ound %ysel discouraged. inding no other logical

action : too) a deep breath and thre& %y shoulder against the door$ dust alling on %e as it inally

gave. : rubbed %y ar%$ noticing a dent : had no& %ade in the &ood as a gust o sealed air gently

ble& across %y ace$ the s%ell li)e old paper and library boo)s.

: pee)ed through the s%all opening$ the cat thrusting her head through the crac) and t&isting it

around as though hunting or a %ouse. :n the s%all area : allo&ed %ysel to vie&$ : could see a

large stac) o boo)s$ cob&ebs clinging to the% &ith ti%e$ greater than that since Edgar6s death. Adi% light &as cast upon the%$ the dust loating through the rays and tic)ling %y nose.

: snee


47/117

8e nodded$ B@eah$ you6re right$ : suppose you6re %ore Jin distress6 than you are a Jda%sel6.

To %y surprise he stepped bac)$ allo&ing %e %y space to explore. :t &as the irst ti%e he hadn6t

overstepped his boundaries and : relished in the %o%ent$ iguring this %ay be the only one. 8e

leaned against the hall &all$ crossing his ar%s across his chest$ his &ings co%pletely hidden behind

his bac). : glanced at his ace &ith e%otionless thought$ %y %ind spinning &ith the uture tas).

The cat stood at %y side$ staring into the dar) space$ &atching as the dust ell around us.B:6ll be here i you need %e$ Sa% added as : loo)ed straight ahead$ %y ga


48/117

+here is sheD

: ran %y ingers across the heavy in)$ &ritten over and over on a nu%ber o pages. :t had see%ed as

though he had gotten a taste o lie &ithout %e$ but disli)ed everything about it.

ATT8E+

+as &ritten in large print across t&o o the pages$ as though a %urderous re%inder o his hate and

anger. : Edgar had )no&n he &as still alive$ : &ondered &hat had )ept hi% ro% hunting atthe&

do&n. 8e had the po&er to prevent the events that had no& unolded$ but or &hatever reason$ he

hadn6t. There &as a part o %e that &ondered i he had battled bet&een his hate or atthe&$ but

then also his brotherly duty.

: closed the boo)$ inding his &ritings no& cold and terriying as : loo)ed bac) at the des) itsel.

There &ere three dra&ers set into the bac) ra%e and : reached or the irst$ pulling it open and

loo)ing inside. There &as a vile o in) and a e& pen tips that had been shoved inside$ a e& no&crac)ed and useless.

: slid the dra&er bac) and %oved to the next$ slightly larger than the irst. : pulled it open &ith t&o

hands$ urling %y bro& as the dra&er stuc) or a brie %o%ent as it dragged across the ragged

&ood. There &as a sudden chro%atic glitter o colors that sho&n ro% &ithin and : s;uinted as %y

eyes adusted to the light$ straining %y po&erul ga


49/117

As : loo)ed a&ay ro% the rings in %y hand %y attention then ell on the paper that &as no&

clasped in the other. : loo)ed at it closely$ inding the aded %ar)s that had been careully scribed

across it a%iliar. y heart ceased as : turned the page into an upright position and began to read=

(ctober 20$ !0/

Today &as beautiul and Edgar and : inally gave in to the traditions o this &orld and &ere %arried.Everyone &as here$ all dressed in blue$ as : had re;uested. +e &ere %arried on the highest %oun'

tain$ in the crisp air o the heavens$ and a&ay ro% any lie$ but our o&n. : &ill cherish this union

or eternity$ a sy%bol o &hy &e are here$ and our purpose in this lie=

: gasped$ rolling the rings in the pal% o %y other hand as : reali


50/117

across %y body. : s&ept the clasp bac) and around %y nec)$ astening it beore tracing %y ingers

across the chain and bac) to the ring$ eeling the &ar%th as it ell against %y chest.

This &as all the lie that &as let o Edgar$ the only breaths : no& elt. : loo)ed at %ysel in the %ir'

ror$ %y eyes catching the gli%%er o the opal ring on %y inger$ %y %e%ory no& recogni


51/117

&ard into a bout o laughter. : s%iled$ inding the happiness bitter s&eet and ull o true oy and lie.

As : continued to ponder the scene$ %y %ind suggested a scenario. The topic &as that the irst girl

&as telling %e a o)e$ or rather po)ing un at &hatever it &as that &as outside$ and or dra%atic e'

ect : pictured it to be Sa%$ una&are o our voyeuristic ponderings.

: s%iled$ inally inding that there &as co%edy in Edgar6s &orld and a sense o a%ily and riend'

ship. : continued to s%ile as : scanned the hu%ored eyes o %y riend$ inding the a%iliar silveryglo& and the oyster grey o her dress li)e that o so%eone : had loved dearly. :t &as then : re%e%'

bered that it &as argriete$ and %y s%ile gre& deeper.

: u%ped as the cat leapt ro% the chair onto %y sto%ach$ turning to ace the painting as : &as. :

placed %y hand on her bac) as %y s%ile began to ade and %y eyes beca%e &ide. She let out a

pained %eo& and loo)ed at %e$ her eyes conir%ing %y sudden reali


52/117

Bargriete$ : pleaded. B: ust thought= the eyesG : pointed to the painting.

Sa% ollo&ed %y hand$ setting %e do&n as he rushed to &here the cat &as no& t&isting in the

sheets$ no longer rese%bling a cat$ but rather a deor%ed lion.

BElle$ help %e. >rab one o her li%bs. Sa% ushered %e or&ard &ith his hand$ no& sho&ing con'

cern or the ani%al rather than hate.

: rushed to the bed$ %y eyes trying to discern &hat a li%b &as at this point. : grabbed a large de'or%ed pa&$ pressing it hard against the sheets as %y eyes reused to blin). 8er cla&s thrashed at

%e$ her %ove%ents &ild and lagrant as though controlled by so%ething other than hersel but a

dar) evil that had lived inside her. Suddenly$ her cla&s ell out as so%ething began to press though

&hat little ur &as let$ so%ething bare$ and sot.

BSa%G Sa% loo)G : grabbed his attention a&ay ro% the restraints he had on her as he loo)ed to

&here : &as. All the ur had gone no& li)e a scab being torn a&ay$ revealing the resh pin) s)in o a

hu%an.

Sa% laughed then and let go.

: loo)ed at hi% &ith alar%. B+hat are you laughing atD This isn6t unnyG : spat.As soon as the &ords let %y lips it all ceased and the last bit o ur ell a&ay. She &rithed one last

ti%e as she coiled into hersel li)e a baby$ her breathing heavy. : stared in be&ilder%ent as she lay

na)ed a%ong the debris o her or%er sel$ terriied and cold.

BSee$ she6s ine$ 8is s%ile &as s%ug.

y %outh ell open as : scanned the being beore %e$ the hu%an igure$ yet so%eho& not. 8er ace

&as sheltered in her hands$ the di% light o the roo% harsh against her young s)in. As her breathing

slo&ed she pee)ed ro% behind her hand$ trying to lit her body but ailing as she ell bac) against

the bed. : )nelt do&n beside her as her eyes %et %ine$ glittering &ith the sa%e light as beore.

: put %y hand out and placed in on the spine o her bac)$ BargrieteDShe &hi%pered then$ and : )ne& : had been right.

5E'A7USTE?T

: pressed a hot cup o &ater into argriete6s cold hand$ her body still tre%bling &ith shoc) and ear.

8er grateul eyes &atched %e$ her hair stringy and &hite as it cascaded do&n the robe : had given

her.

B: ust can6t believe it$ : loo)ed at Sa%$ B:t6s really her.

Sa% shrugged. B:6ve seen a lot o &eird things in %y lie$ but this is deinitely a irst$ he chortled

under his breath. BAl&ays so%ething ne& &ith this ob$ he added.

: loo)ed bac) at argriete as she hastily sipped at the cup$ her hands clu%sy as she grappled at the

porcelain as though it had been decades since she had hands.

B:6% ust happy she6s not a nasty cat any%ore. Sa% laughed$ his eyes scanning argriete as he

read her thoughts$ Band she is also. 8e pointed at her.

She nodded to&ard %e$ her speech lost ro% her ater so long$ trapped in the body o a eline. Sa%

had been unable to hear her thoughts &hile she &as ani%al$ but no&$ it had all beco%e clear so he

&as acting as %y interpreter.

Sa% loo)ed at %e$ excite%ent lacing his thoughts. B:t6s ascinating isn6t itD +hat i there &ere %ore

li)e her$ &hat i there isD 7o you )no& &hat this could %eanD There could be %ore o your )ind


53/117


54/117

: too) a deep breath$ B@ou %ean$ ater that day in the &oods &hen : ollo&ed youD

She nodded.

: let out a sharp laugh$ B+ell$ : &ish you &ouldn6t have %ade %e chase you. : raised %y eyebro&s

at her.

She shrugged$ her ace t&isted into an innocent gri%ace.

: snorted. B7on6t act so innocent$ : shoo) %y head.

8er ace no& loo)ed shoc)ed and accused.

: laughed$ putting %y hand on hers$ B: &as ust )iddingG

argriete exhaled in relie$ grabbing her heart or dra%atic eect. B:= should=have guessed$ she

paused to s&allo&$ Bo)ester. A s%ile crept across her ace.

: giggled. BSo do : see% the sa%e$ you )no&$ as : used to beD

She shoo) her head yes$ her eyes bulged and serious.

B5eally$ so then : don6t see% at all dierentD 3ecause you do )no& ho& : ended up leaving this lie

rightD %y eyes searched hers$ &ondering &hat she could )no& about &hat had happened.

She rolled her eyes$ craning her nec) to prepare or speech. She &as getting better alar%ingly ast.

B: sa& it=happen$ her eyes beca%e grave$ B: )no& &here=you &ent=: had been there.

: paused$ %y heart rate surging &ith the thought. B@ou )ne& &here : &as$ &hile : &as deadD y

%ind rested in a selish place$ a place &here : could ind Edgar.

She shoo) her head no$ but then beca%e lustered and shoo) her head yes. B@es$ but no=you

&eren6t ever=dead=

B+hat do you %eanD : shot bac) beore she &as able to inish.

B@ou= &ere caged= She too) a deep breath and closed her eyes$ Basleep. She scooted closer to%e and : could see she &as atte%pting to be secretive$ but &ith Sa%$ it &as no use. 8er voice &as

hoarse as it let her lips$ B@ou can only die= i you are stabbed by the dagger o the gods$ &hich

atthe& had= stolen. She s&allo&ed hard$ B3ut= : really believe it &as besto&ed to hi% by the

gods the%selves= another pa&n in their ga%e= against us.

: loo)ed at her in astonish%ent$ inding her speech nearly nor%al other than the occasional drag o

hesitation in her throat. BThe dagger$ : &hispered. B3ut= %y ace t&isted$ B: have it.

She gasped at %y &ords$ coughing as the breath tic)led her throat. B@ou doD

: gave her a sole%n nod.

Excite%ent illed her eyes$ B: you have it$ then &e can use that against the%.BAgainst &hoD : as)ed$ inding the story no& lost.

She narro&ed her eyes at %e$ conused by %y co%%ent$ B@ou don6t )no&D

: shoo) %y head.

BEdgar %ust not have told you$ she coughed hard$ phleg% releasing in her ancient throat.

: &inced.

She continued$ BThe gods=

: cut her o$ B: )no& about the gods$ and ho& &e got here$ but : never )ne& about the dagger.

She shoo) her head$ B3ut do you )no& about ho& the gods %ade the dagger$ and &hat it doesD

: shrugged.


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She s%iled to hersel$ as though content &ith the secret )no&ledge she possessed. B+ell the dagger

)ills us. 3ut$ it can also )ill the%. :t6s said that &hoever rids the earth o our )ind$ is then &orthy

enough to challenge or a seat a%ong the gods. The gods are threatened by us$ because though they

created our )ind$ they %ade us better than the%selves. They6re ealous$ and scared.

: blin)ed a e& ti%es as : let the inor%ation process. B3ut ho& did atthe& get itD y voice &as

no& a lo& %ur%ur$ to %atch hers.

BThey gave it to hi%$ because they )ne& he had enough rage and hate to )ill us all$ but &as also

&ea) enough$ that he &ould never &in over the%. 8e &as set up to ail. argriete sighed$ and a

s%all s%ile crept across her ace. Batthe& &asn6t al&ays ho& you )no& hi% today. 8e &as once

handso%e and )ind and he loved %e so %uch. There &as never a gli%%er o evil in his beautiul

silvery eyes$ not until= 8er ace changed suddenly$ B: re%e%ber the day$ the hushed voices ro%

the roo% belo& %e. : )ne&$ but no one ever believed %e. Except you Elle$ you al&ays did.

: &atched as her eyes began to &ell &ith tears.

B@ou believed %e. 3ut Edgar silenced you rather ;uic)ly.

The ring on %y chest suddenly breathed hard against %y s)in$ as though reacting to the co%%ent in

a negative ashion.

B+hen : ound out &hat &as going on$ : &ent to the gods. :t too) %e %onths to ind &here they hid$

and to you$ : &as already dead. :t pained %e to do that$ but : )ne& : had to$ it &as %y ault that :

had allo&ed %y other hal to beco%e so naive and gullible$ : )ne& it &as %y ob to ix it. A violent

cough silenced her.

: handed her another cup o &ater that &as sitting on the coee table.

She too) a heavy sip$ allo&ing it to tric)le do&n her throat. B3ut the gods laughed at %y eeble at'

te%pts$ and cursed %e to roa% the earth as a cat until the day so%eone cared enough to utter %y

na%e$ as you did. : a% orever stripped o %y ability to ly$ and the lie o the raven has let %e. :n

that or% o the cat$ they )ne& that atthe& &ould eventually ind %e$ )no&ing he hadn6t yet ta)'en %y soul but as ti%e dragged on$ : thin) he gave up. She set the cup bac) on the table. BAll o it$

it &as all a sic) ga%e.

: loo)ed into %y hands. B?o &onder : hate onopoly$ : &hispered under %y breath$ re%e%bering

Scott and Sarah.

She laughed$ hearing &hat : had said.

: s%iled. B3ut no& that &e have the dagger$ &e have the po&er$ rightD And all that is let is you and

:D

She shoo) her head$ B:6% not sure$ li)e : said$ : thin) Edgar survived. or &hatever reason$ : thin)

they6d )eep hi% alive. Ater all$ he &ould be the last %ale hal.: grabbed the ring in %y hand$ t&isting the &ar% %etal through %y ingers.

argriete continued to spea)$ her voice changing ro% gru$ to nearly %elodic. B:6% not sure &hat

their %otives are$ : al&ays believed it &as to rid us ro% this earth$ but no&$ : don6t see the rational'

ity in that. +e have the dagger$ but it6s no use to us i &e )ill the%$ but perhaps there6s a &ay to bar'

gain &ith the%. : it6s true that &hoever holds the dagger has a rightul chance on the throne o the

gods$ :6% sure they6re not going to &ant to have that alling into the &rong hands. There are %any

creatures that roa% this earth$ creatures that aren6t natural here. The gods have allo&ed too %uch

vulnerability$ and :6% sure they6re nervous that &e6ve got it. *erhaps=

She trailed o$ her eyes gla


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have it$ so they6ve ta)en Edgar as collateral.

y heart leapt. @esG :t %ade sense. : suddenly couldn6t help but hold bac) %y happiness and : gave

her a huge hug$ s;uee


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argriete %ade a %ove to get up but the blan)et t&isted around her eet. She began to all to the

loor$ but suddenly$ in a lash o light$ she changed. 8er our pa&s hit the &ood &ith a sot thud$

graceully unscathed as the blan)et ell around her.

: yelped$ pulling %y hand to %y %outh as : dre& in a terriied breath. : &atched in horror as ar'

griete loo)ed up at %e &ith her eline eyes$ %eo&ing &ith a hint o disdain. : continued to hold %y

breath as she blin)ed$ her body suddenly &rithing as it did beore$ but %uch ;uic)er this ti%e.

She breathed hard as she inally changed$ laying on the ground in her hu%an or%$ na)ed and sha)'

ing. Sa% had a lecherous s%ile on his ace and : slapped hi% hard$ rushing to her side and &rapping

a blan)et around her.

BThat6s going to ta)e getting used to$ she breathed as : helped her o the loor.

: s%iled$ B: thin) you and : have the sa%e proble%s to &or) on.

She leaned her &eight on %e as : &al)ed her to&ard Sa% and he scooped her into his strong grasp.

BTa)e her up to %y bed$ &here she can rest$ : s;uee


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ing up beside us. B@our blood &or) &as nor%al$ i not too nor%al. Muite literally$ your platelets

see% suspended in space. @ou6re not aging.

8e touched the lea as though he &as araid it &ould bite. BAnd then there6s this issue$ he pluc)ed

the lea ro% the log and exa%ined it. B: haven6t really igured this out yet$ other than you see% to

secrete a vita%in rich gas. :t6s co%pletely odorless$ but acts %uch li)e a phero%one$ attracting and

sti%ulating all that surrounds you. 8e loo)ed %e in the eyes$ telling %e that his previous attraction

last year had been a scientiic reaction$ not necessarily love.

: nodded$ B: )ne& : &ouldn6t age$ but it6s so odd$ as though everything inside %e ro


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try to put things right.

BSo you really thin) he6s still aliveD Sarah6s ace &as t&isted &ith conusion.

B@eah$ :6% positive. : grabbed the ring that lay around %y nec)$ a breath surrounding it and tic)'

ling %y ingers. BThere6s a possibility that he6s still out there so%e&here. A riend o %ine believes

she )no&s &here$ so :6ll be leaving or a &hile.

BA riendD Sarah tilted her head.

: loo)ed her in the eyes beore loo)ing at argriete.

B(h= Sarah nodded$ still conused by argriete in her cat or%$ but co%ing around to the act

that she &as li)e %e$ and could change.

B: &anted to co%e and say goodbye. :6% not sure &hat &ill happen$ but there6s a possibility that this

could be the last ti%e : ever see you. y eyes ell into %y lap.

Scott put his hand on %y bac)$ B?o Elle$ : )no& &e &ill see you again$ so this isn6t goodbye. 8e

s%iled and gave %e a &in).

: elt &ar%th gro& in %y heart. 7espite %y leaving$ it &a

Documents

Abra Ebner - Feather 2. - Guardian