Fallen (Undergoing editing)

Chapter five:

The sun settled into the horizon and lit the sky up in a deep caramel cinnamon that exploded all over the clouds like a massacre. I sat on a thick branch, leaning against one of the tallest trees in Avon that looked out to the open sky and all the angels that flew through it, wings gallantly soaring through the gusts and air.

It was peaceful up here, where all the bad thoughts seemed to just slip away. The wind caught my feathers, ruffling them. I watched as the sun sank deeper below the clouds, back to its home where it would soon rise again.

         In the corner of my eyes, I saw Enrique come land on the branch beside me and tuck his thick wings against his side, his mature musky boyish scent of fresh air filled my nose as he lowered himself down beside me. I picked at the bark beside my leg and tossed it into the air where I watched it climb an inch or two into the sky before it fell to the ground below.

Enrique was still, his face peaceful as he gazed at the sun. I narrowed my gaze searching the dark corners of his face where I found remnants of sadness in his eyes and to the edges of his mouth, as if something troubled him.

I stiffened. "He's dead, isn't he?"

Enrique didn't even flinch nor look surprised. He just stared with a lost expression into the sun. "Yes," he replied stonily. "Lilith, I am so sorry—"

          "When is the funeral?" I asked with no emotion, my insides hard like diamond.

Enrique paused, his eyes wafting over me before he ruffled his wings uncomfortably. "The ceremony for all the fallen Guardians will be tomorrow at twilight."

I nodded curtly and chewed my tongue, feeling the odd pricklings of sadness.

          "Lilith..."

          "It's fine," I said briskly. "What's done is done, Falcon's gone, I get it."

Enrique moved to me until I felt his hand brush softly against my black spotted feathers and over my wound that was bandaged.

          "I am always here, Lilith, I will never leave you."

I felt no warmth like I usually did with his comforting touch and his body next to mine. I felt no connection. His words were like air how they went right through me.

          "You'll never mean to, you'll just get snatched away like everyone else." I stood from him and opened my wings as I jumped into the air and soared away into the approaching night.