Under His Dark Wings (Dark SBI)

Chapter Five

The morning sun filtered through the curtains, casting a soft, golden light across the living room as Kristin sat tensely on the edge of the couch, her wings tucked tightly against her back. The TV screen flickered before her, the morning news show cutting to a breaking story that sent a chill down her spine. Schlatt's call from the night before had already informed her about what she was about to hear, but now it was going to be announced to the rest of the city. Watching the news now, the unease she was feeling solidified into a cold, hard knot of fear in her chest.

The reporter on the screen spoke in a steady, professional tone, but the gravity of her words weighed heavy on Kristin's mind. "A dangerous criminal has been spotted in the area," the reporter announced, "as of this time his motives remain unknown." As the screen cut to the shaky footage of a dark alley, Kristin's heart sank further. The video, taken by a young wannabe journalist, showed a shadowy figure- Soot -skulking through the narrow passageways near Las Nevadas casino. His form was obscured, the black clothing blending seamlessly into the darkness of the alley, but when the occasional ray of dim moonlight shone upon him, he was unmistakable.

The video had been uploaded on a personal page, "Purpled," and was titled with a disturbingly casual flair: "We caught Soot being a sneaky boi?!! (GONE WRONG)." Kristin's talons sunk into the palm of her hand reflexively as she watched the video play out, the boy's bravado quickly turning into a scene of horror. Purpled, the young journalist, had handed his camera to a friend and foolishly approached Soot, asking for a personal interview. The moment he stepped out of hiding, Kristin's breath hitched in her throat, knowing instinctively that something terrible was about to happen.

The video cut off abruptly, the last frame showing bloodstains on the pavement as the friends of the ill-fated journalist ran for their lives. The reporter returned to the screen, her face grim as she reported that Purpled was still missing. The police were asking for any witnesses who had seen or heard anything suspicious that night to come forward. But as the reporter began to describe Purpled, Kristin couldn't bear to listen any longer. The past tense in the woman's voice made it clear- they already suspected the boy was dead.

With a trembling hand, Kristin reached for the remote and switched off the TV. The silence that followed was deafening, the weight of what she had just witnessed pressing down on her like a leaden shroud. She sat there for a long moment, her mind racing as she tried to process the news. Soot was here, in her city, lurking in the shadows and leaving a trail of blood in his wake. And now, an innocent boy was likely lost because of it.

Her wings ruffled anxiously as she stood, pacing the living room as her thoughts spiraled. Tommy was still asleep in his room, blissfully unaware of the danger that now loomed over them. The thought of him being out there, vulnerable to someone like Soot, made her chest tighten with fear. She couldn't let him out of her sight, not until this threat was dealt with.

Soon she was standing in the kitchen, her wings quivering slightly as she watched the pancakes sizzle on the stove. Her mind was still a whirl of anxious thoughts, but she forced herself to focus on the task at hand. She added a generous handful of chocolate chips and blueberries to the batter, hoping the sweet breakfast might soften the conversation she knew she had to have with Tommy.

She set the table with care, arranging the syrups and jams in neat rows, and then paused, taking a deep breath. This wasn't just breakfast- it was a peace offering, a bribe, a mother's desperate attempt to shield her child from the harsh realities of the world, at least for a little while longer.

Taking a deep breath, Kristin left the kitchen and headed to Tommy's room. She found him buried under a heap of blankets, his curly blonde hair a wild mess poking out from the top.

"Tommy, sweetheart, time to get up," she called gently, her voice warm with affection.

Tommy groaned, squinting at her through half-lidded eyes, the sight of him so small and vulnerable in his grey and black raccoon pajamas pulling at her heartstrings.