Argathripe - Book 2 ~ (The Dead City Series)

🙤 · ┈┈┈┈┈┈ · Chapter 19 · ┈┈┈┈┈┈ · 🙦

I woke up looking at something blue, with white blobs in it. Am I dead? Is this Heaven? I couldn't seem to really think straight. My back really hurt, and so did my wings. If this is Heaven, why am I in pain? How did I die? I didn't know what had just happened. I couldn't remember any of the events. The white blobs seemed to be moving. Wait a minute... I tried sitting up.

"Oh! No no no no no! Don't move! It'll hurt like crazy," I heard someone say.

I knew their voice, but couldn't seem to put a face to them.

"Wha' 'appen?" I slurred.

"Both of your wings were broken. You've also been clipped," I still couldn't put a face on them.

"Where... are we?" I asked, still in a slow mindset but being able to actually speak clearly now.

"Clouds. Katrina said that you had gone for a flight in the clouds at some point, so we figured it would be a good place for you to wake up at," Then I remembered who it was.

"Why'd you come down here for a little incident?" I asked him.

"Well, it wasn't exactly a 'little incident'. The Eye has been gaining on our forces lately. I figured something was up. Now we have a small idea of what's going on."

I sat upright and immediately regretted it. Everything hurt like crazy, especially everything on my back.

"Salhom-" I cursed.

"What did I say?" He said, coming over to me by crawling on the fluffy cloud.

"I thought it was forbidden to say It's actual name?" I said, moving my head a bit so I could look at him.

"It's not forbidden, people just think it is. Also, don't you think calling The Eye 'It' is a bit pretentious?" The commander said in a matter-of-fact kind of voice.

I somewhat smiled at that. "The other prophets?"

"They're back at the palace, packing up."

"When do we leave? How long have I been out?"

"About a week. Scarlet was getting very worried, and so was His Majesty."

"A week?!" I exclaimed.

I couldn't believe I had been out that long. We were supposed to leave the day after Angel Season.

"I can't believe I made them wait that long," I said, putting my hands on my face and rubbing my eyes.

"Hey. Don't be like that. It wasn't your fault," He said in a serious tone of voice.

"But if I weren't so weak-"

"No. Stop it. You're easily stronger than most people. If you keep beating yourself up about something that wasn't your fault, I'll smack you."

I sighed, but didn't move my hands from my face.

"C'mon. I'll bring you down to the palace. You'll be going with Scarlet to the Demon Kingdom. I honestly think it's a bit harsh, but A. insisted," He explained, standing up and holding a hand out for me to grab.

I reached for his hand, but my back hurt like the Demon Kingdom itself.

"I can't," I said.

"Yes you can. I don't know what you're feeling, but I know that you're strong enough to stand up. I can carry you down, but you gotta stand up," He said, not moving.

I got onto my knees, groaning every once in a while, and slowly got up, using the commander's hand to help me keep my balance. My knees seemed to disapprove of the idea of having to work, and kept threatening to give out from under me. I held onto his hand as if my life depended on it. I was worried I would fall down. My wings were all patched up, and were in a permanent position that was folded against my back. It made me feel safe, but I also knew that I wouldn't be able to use them for however long. He grabbed my waist from behind, and for a second I got a weird flashback from the second time I went to Angel Season. I knew he meant nothing by it, but I was reminded of one of the worst times of my life. Soon we were quickly gliding down to the palace, and I held onto his arms as if I knew he was about to let go of me. My wings were sore, but I didn't complain. I felt my feet touch the ground and I let go of his arms, and he let go of me. He kept a hand on my shoulder, as I still felt that I could fall down at any given moment. He walked me inside very slowly, but soon I could walk pretty normally. He stayed close to me, but I could walk without stumbling. We tried to be quiet as we closed the doors behind us.

"I'm going to get changed. Then I'll come back out here," I informed him.

"Be careful about your wings. They're very 'fragile' right now."

"'Kay."

I walked over into the bedroom wing, and stealthily got into my bedroom, closing the door behind me.

After I got changed into some jeans, the biggest struggle I found was taking my shirt off. They had put a white shirt on me, but it didn't come off any different way. I was worried I would hurt my wings anymore. I sucked in a deep breath, and took the shirt off as fast as possible. My left wing got caught. I was stuck.

"Halp!" I shouted at literally anyone.

About five minutes later there was a knock on my door.

"Halp," I said, my voice muffled by the shirt in my face.

The door opened, and I heard a small laugh. I heard the person come closer to me. Then I heard more than one person.

"How are you feeling?" Katrina asked me, laughing a bit.

"No."

"I've never felt that way before. What's it like?" Scarlet continued the conversation.

"Shut up and help me. My wing got stuck and it kinda hurts."

I heard a snipping sound and immediately remembered when the followers had clipped my wings. I took a step back and tripped, I heard quick footsteps, but I didn't feel myself touch the ground. Someone was holding me, one armed. More snipping, and I soon saw that someone was cutting the shirt with scissors. It was A. She was the one holding me as well. She helped me get back to my feet.

"Sorry. I had just remembered-"

"I know. Who do you want to help you get changed?" She said, cutting me off.

I thought about it. Theo, Katrina, and Scarlet were in the room, waiting for me to reply. I didn't know.

"I dunno. Someone who won't make it weird, I guess."

Theo stepped forward. So did Scarlet. Katrina just stayed put. I realized she was just playing on her phone, not really paying attention.

"Scar, I guess. Since she'll have to be able to help me in the Demon Kingdom as well," I said, thinking out loud.

"True. Scarlet, you help him with the shirts and stuff. I need to leave like," A. looked at her watch I didn't realize she had until just now, "right now, actually. Alright. Bye guys! Do your job!"

Scarlet quickly gave A. a quick hug, then Theo decided it was his turn to hug her. A. looked at Katrina questioningly, and Katrina gave her an approving nod and half smile. A. nodded back, then turned to me.

"If you break your wings again, I might just put you out of your misery," Her eyes and tone of voice looked like she wanted to smile.

I smiled a bit at her. Then she left the room. A little while after, Katrina and Theo left the room. Scarlet looked at me.

"How do I do this," She asked me.

"I dunno," I said back to her.

I went over to my closet and pulled out a shirt. I tried to put it on, but it almost immediately got stuck somehow. She came over and helped me put it on.

"Oh, okay. That's it?" She said.

"Yeah, I think so. I can put on my sweatshirt by myself. Thanks," I said to her.

She smiled and walked out of the room, closing the door behind her.