Flight Without Wings

Chapter 15

       Rey had been successful. With the help of Iegis and Jade, she had freed all the wingless. All of the guards that had fled from me hadn't even tried to fight the countless wingless.

       Jade fed all of them and I told them to use their magic just as freely as winged fairies always had. It would be a lot harder for any of this to happen again if we fought back. All of those stupid standards we had followed didn't help us, but made it easier for those who hated us to harm us.

       I couldn't say I was proud of myself. My actions had originally instigated all of this. It was my case that was weaponized against everyone else. Although, that wasn't the bad part. The bad part was all the lives that had been lost because of me. All of the dead guards had families, and I had forever hurt all of them.

       But, my actions were going to make it easier for wingless going into the future. As long as I lived, none of the monarchs would dare to change the laws. And, once I was gone, enough powerful wingless would remain to uphold what I had done. At least, I hoped that's how it would go. Maybe it would go better, maybe it would end up being worse.

       I just hoped that all of this was worth it. I hoped it meant something, and that the wingless of the future would have easier lives. Or maybe they would have less confined lives.

       Well, it's better to focus on what has just happened. That's more important. Jade lashed out against his father. I'd assumed he'd heard what happened in the meetings from Rey. Good, his father deserved it.

       But, what was I going to do about Staliya? What about my own parents that had been there? These thoughts lingered in my mind as I walked back home.

       I tried opening the door, but it was locked. I called my crackling power and blasted the door to splinters before stepping in, careful not to step on any of the wooden shreds.

       "Who's there?!" Staliya shouted. And then she saw me, and her eyes went wide.

       "Hey Staliya, not happy to see me?" I asked.

       "I, uh, well, you se-

        "Get out."

       "What?" Staliya asked.

       "You heard me." I answered.

       "But, I'm hired by your parents as a servant of this house, I can't just leave!" Staliya protested.

       "Well, I'm not going to keep around someone who would get me arrested." I said.

       "But, you must understand. I was obligated to do so. It's best to follow the monarchs, Zyara." Staliya said.

       "Did you know the monarchs were discussing killing all the wingless they had imprisoned. It took me killing two of them to stop them. You almost killed me, Staliya. So, get out." I threatened, calling the crackling power to my hands.

       "They'll arrest you!" Staliya said.

       "They've tried, several times. Never worked." I said.

       "Uh." Staliya said, her eyes darting around. I stepped forward, and she immediately flew out through the window. Then, I went up to my room and threw off my tattered dress. I put on a violet, almost formal looking dress that had a closed back. Then, I went back downstairs.

       I saw both of my parents there. I breathed a sigh. I didn't want to have this conversation now, or ever. But, it was necessary.

       "Care to explain why you didn't speak out against genocide?" I wondered.