Forgotten Glory

Cursed

Ezra is banging on his dumb drum set, waking me up for the fourth time this week. The green numbers on my alarm read 4:30. He's got to be fucking kidding.

I yank my blankets off, stomping over to his room, and pound on the door, "Ezra! Ezra!"

The banging stops, and two seconds later, he opens the door with his soft, innocent-looking brown eyes.

"Yes, Remi? Did you need something?"

"Did I need something?" I shove past him into the room, picking up the biggest part of the drum set and smashing it against the wall, "I need you to shut the actual fuck up."

"Remi!" He runs over to his instrument, tears streaming down his face as he helplessly tries to put it back together. "Remi, how could you?"

"What is going on in here?" Mom and Dad walk in, rubbing their eyes. How the hell are they only now waking up?

"Remi broke it. And she said that word again."

"That word," I scoff, crossing my arms and leaning down into his face, "Fuck, that word is fuck. You're not a child, say it. Fuck."

"Remi!" Dad pulls me away, and Mom hugs Ezra in an attempt to comfort him, "That is quite enough."

"He pounds away at those annoying drums at ungodly hours of the morning for weeks, and I'm in trouble for saying 'fuck' seriously?"

"Remi, you will watch your mouth." He mumbles as he pulls me into his office. He pushes me into a chair before the desk and paces behind it while running his hand through his hair.

"Say something, Dad. I know you want to."

"I can't keep allowing you to behave this way; I've given you way too many passes, Remi." He sits down, "I know that young wings can get angsty as young humans do and that this transitional period can be hard, but I've never seen or heard of a young wing behaving the way you do."

"That's all you have to say, that all these outbursts are all on me. Why do you keep ignoring the fact that just maybe outside factors can be affecting me more than you think?"

"Because they're not supposed to, Remi!" he slams a hand down, leaving an indent in the wooden desk, "You may be a young wing, but you are still an angel and should be behaving as such the older you get."

I flinch backward and open my mouth to respond, "I- "

"No. you don't get to talk. You're fifteen, Remi, yet somehow your ten-year-old brother understands what being an angel is about more than you do."

I stand up, "and how is being inconsiderate of others for ones' own gains what being an angel is all about?"

"It's not, he wakes up early to praise God and he does it so well and beautifully, God is pleased and has already told your mother and I that he has great plans for him."

I take an involuntarily step back, "God's told you about Ezra's destiny? He's only ten."

"Exactly. Think about how that makes you look, Remi. God hasn't said one word to either of us about you or your destiny, and honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if he's disappointed and thinks he's made a mistake."

I stand quietly staring at my father, I've never seen him so angry.

Mom rushes in right as a tear falls down my cheek, "Samuel, how could you say that?"

"She needs to hear it. She wasn't even given a holy name; what does that say about her, huh?"

I frown, balling up my fists, "Fuck you, Samuel." I wipe my face uselessly as more tears fall.

Mom gasps, and Samuel stares at me in shock, "Remi, take that back this instant. I know you're upset that you both are, but that is no way to talk to your father."

"My father wouldn't say that God made a mistake when he made me. Maybe the mistake was making Samuel be my father."

Their eyes go even bigger, and Samuel's filled with regret as he stands up, reaching for me. "Remi, I'm, I was upset."

"Don't fucking touch me," I step back, "I hate you. Go to hell." I rush out as they both call for me while rebuking the words I said, but I do not care.

This isn't the first time Samuel's hinted at something like that, but it's the first time he ever straight out said it. And he didn't even flinch, he didn't care, he said it as cold as he would talk about things he hated. Like I was a cursed thing, an abomination, and maybe I was that to him.

For the next couple of days, Mom keeps trying to get Samuel and me to reconcile, but I won't budge. I am never talking to that man like I did before; he's not my father.

"Remi, you have mail." Mom holds out a golden envelope.

"Thanks," I shove it under my arm and continue pouring milk into my bowl of cereal before sitting down at the table.

"Well," she smiles as she sits next to me. Aren't you going to open it?"

I sigh, grabbing the envelope and tearing it open. I've seen enough of my friends get one of these growing up that I know what it is.

"Remi Kinson, you have been selected as one of the few young wings to go to The Golden Arch Academy. This is an honor and a blessing from the Most High, as he has seen a great light in you, he wishes to bring it forth and help you to use it to the best of your ability. After looking deep within your soul and seeing all that is within you, it's been decided that you be a part of Abaddon's destroyers. Your report date is two days after the full moon's peak."

A glass drops in the kitchen, making Mom and I look up at Samuel.

He mumbles something under his breath that Mom manages to catch.

"Samuel, don't say that." She smiles at me, "This is wonderfully Remi, you got into Golden Arcs!"

"She's going to be one of Abaddon's destroyers, Elizabeth. That is the most frowned upon league, and they're taught to practically be like demons with halos." He storms out, leaving the broken glass on the floor.

Ezra looks at Mom for approval before rushing after him, "Dad, wait." He rushes after him like a fucking puppy.

"Don't listen to you, father; all leagues at Golden Arcs Academy are blessed and have a purpose. Every angel has a purpose to serve God."

I scoff, "Samuel has a point. Abaddon's angels are always so dark and violent, they're the first into battle and destroy everything they touch. Seems fitting, don't you think?"

"Remi," she grabs my face, forcing me to look at her. You are not cursed. You are a blessing, my blessing. God has great plans in store for you."

"You've been saying that for as long as I can remember. Haven't heard a word, have you?" I move her hands away from me and go up to my room, crumpling up the letter as I go.