Feathers & Scythes (Angels & Grim Reapers BOOK III)

Chapter 16: The trio of the past

Anastasia

I felt the softness of fabric on my face. It was divine. I wanted to sleep more since it felt ages from the last time I had felt the soothing need to relax. Fingers, cold and calloused touched my cheek, faint feathers brushed my back. The memories of the battle were still raw. Lucifer's lips, the fire on my back, my powers disappearing.

And Marco's eyes as he swept me up and held me tightly.

Marco...

I am here. His voice was like a lullaby. I held a sob, not trusting to open my eyes.

Come on Ana, wake up. He said again and his fingertips lingered on my cheekbones and lips.

I opened my eyes. Marco was lying right next to me, his black and red pools glowing. Despite the healing bruise on his face and the bandage on his head he was still handsome. But the circles on his eyes and the hollowed cheeks were betraying the fatigue. I was lying on my front and slowly I lifted my left hand, tracing the lines on Marco's pale skin. He groaned and closed his eyes.

"I missed you." The words were soft.

Marco kissed my fingertips, the knowing smirk appearing on his lips. "I missed you too."

"How long was I sleeping?"

"Two days. But we were taken care of."

I tried to get up, but pain exploded on my back. I winced and quickly Marco's arms covered my waist and shoulders helping me. "You are still healing. For a moment I had thought that the wounds were too severe."

I could decipher the meaning of his words. I can't lose you. Sitting on the bed I took in our surroundings. The room had pale blue walls with a wide window at the right, perfect for a winged being to enter or leave. On our left two doors were closed and I guessed the one was leading to the bathroom. And there was no need to mention that the bed was king size.

I turned to Marco. "Where are we?"

His lips twitched into a smile. "Believe it or not, we are at the Third Division. The Healers found us after Leito's request."

My jaw dropped. "Leito helped us?"

"The bastard knows when the shift in power changed. He allied with D."

"And why did I miss this?" the idea of the blue haired boy following Death's command would be a sight to be seen.

Marco sobered. He pushed the comforter back and brushed his hands on my hair. I realized that they were shorter, close to my jaw. Then, as my senses started to return, escaping from the numbness I was sure was a result from the Healers' powers, I lifted my arms, trying to feel my back.

There were no wings.

"Ana."

I got up and bolted to the door that led on the bathroom. It was like the one I had seen on Auge's cloud. A giant pool of crystal blue water was at the middle, while white marble decorated with pearls covered the room. There was a wall length mirror on its left. With wobbly feet, I walked and stood before the smooth surface.

The reflection that stared at me looked...alien. I took in the short hair, the curls falling to my jaw, the hollowed face and the deathly pale skin. The girl that looked back at me was even more ravaged than the one who had escaped the Nether Realm. My arms and chest were bandaged and strangely my body looked smaller without the golden wings on my back.

But still my eyes were mismatched, one iris brown, the other at the colors of dawn. I looked down at my wristbands. The purple metal had lost most of its strong glowing but I could still feel my bond with Marco. What was left to me? Without my powers I could fight. I couldn't even fly.