The bastard angel

Chapter Seven

'So wings, aren't first on the study list?' We began this training quite quickly after my small breakfast, considering the previous evening and all the events that unfolded, it was the only thing my poor stomach could manage at this point. After all the horrid and brutal dreams my aunt gifted me, I had had to roughly eject all of the previous evening's repast, such as it was.

'No, as I said, they are merely a physical manifestation of what you are, they are not what makes you who you are.'

'Quite a solemn thought for the morning. So, what is first on the list?'

'Miracles.'

'Couldn't start with something simple for the first day.'

'My sister has been gracious in allowing you two weeks to come to terms with your new role, and this is important for you to master now. We'll begin with practising those each morning as the theory is a complicated matter.'

'Why am I not surprised.' We are seated in his study, a beautiful spectacle and on any other occasion I would have taken advantage of the reading chairs and Andrew's birthday presents.

'There is no need for that. Now, there may be differences in what I can manifest and what you can so we'll start with something small.'

'How small is small?'

'The weather.' He gets up to open the curtains. The windows reveal a much brighter outlook than I was expecting. I suppose after last night I expected to see dark clouds, perhaps a roll of thunder and lightning splintering the sky in two.

'Only a couple of clouds. One thought from either of us and we can make them change direction.'

'Changing a cloud's direction is considered a miracle?'

'As I said, we're starting small. Your previous work depended on a multitude of factors, didn't weather play into it?'

'This is London. I planned plays expecting rain, and with a contingency in case the weather changed for the better.'

He nods. 'Watch.'

I do and I see the cloud move to the right.

'Was that you or was it just luck?'

'A miracle. Now, it's your turn.'

'What happened to theory?'

'That happens now. What is important to remember is it is you who is bringing this forth, concentrate and focus on what you want to occur.'

'On a cloud moving.'

'Come and stand by the window. It may help for you to see what you are to focus on.'

I focus, and I will the cloud to move back to where it was, only for a burning pain to start in my shoulders which I recognise and with sickening dread, and my new clothes tearing, my wings make a surprise reappearance. The pain is still there but stops when my skin has stopped knitting itself together.

Thankfully, the cloud still does what I wanted, so I suppose it was a miracle after all. I let out a breath I did not realise I was holding and I squealed like a younger girl would.

He nods at the window. 'Well done,' but then he turns back to see me, dishevelled

as I now am. 'I thought I said we're not focusing on those.'

I do not like his haughty tone and I feel the unwelcome draft on my skin as I try to gather what remains of my clothes around me a little tighter.

'I didn't mean for them to make an appearance.'

'But they did nonetheless.' He studies me intently but turns away when he catches my eye. 'This must be part of you being only half angel.'

'I thought I was born into this family and inheriting your brother's nature.'

'You were still born a human though.'

'Ah, yes, I remember you said you were there when it happened. My aunt took great pleasure in telling me the details of how I was born in a poor house.'

'Your mother was a braver woman than your aunt. Your aunt could not even begin to imagine the details of what your mother had endured before your arrival.'

'You were there?'

'I did say I was. Go and fix your appearance and return to me here. We'll try something else afterwards.'

X

It doesn't matter what I do - and I do manage to copy the miracles that my uncle shows me first, mostly weather-related - that my wings make an unwelcome appearance each and every time.

The first few times I stagger a little under their weight, but later I stand a little steadier and I suppose it can be said I'm killing two birds with one stone.

Still unbelievably painful and I could imagine the noises Anton would have made about the cost.

'You have made a lot of progress today. Far more than I would expected. Tomorrow you can fix your clothes to avoid the mess that has been made today.'

X

During my recess break at school, I call two of my dad's colleagues - in my car in the parking lot to avoid detection and wait for the rejection to come. It doesn't.

'Of course, we can do that, Tony. I'm quite sure his name is attached to a lot of what I was telling Alex about the other day after his classes yesterday.'

'You're sure?'

'Of course, I'm sure. In fact, I could get the whole department on board to do this. Wouldn't be much of a hard sell, your father was behind most of them getting hired.'

There is so much I want to say to him, but all I can manage before the school bell goes is a quick 'Thank you.'

'Don't mention it. Tell your Dad I said hello and that we all miss having him here. And when he's ready, his office is waiting for him.'

X

I sit on the couch and keep an eye on the clock on the mantelpiece. Waiting for the school recess time and he is able to call the college. 

Bigger miracles are harder and so I concentrate and focus but it is no good. I can't perform miracles when one wing is still broken. 

Tony is on his own for this one.