Fallen (Undergoing editing)

Chapter twenty four

"Lilith, wake up, its noon!" came a shrill voice, muffled from the opposite side of the door.

It felt like I'd been dreaming a dream of a dream.

I awoke to a room filled with sunlight; every square inch was cleaned of darkness. I groaned as Raven—as I remembered from yesterday, banged against the door with a heavy fist before I listened to her footsteps trail down the hallway. With a groan I rolled on to my back and glanced down at the clothes I still wore from yesterday. I'd been too wiped to change into the provided pajamas that sat on an untouched pile at the end of the bed, sitting on the trunk.

I sat up, reliving the brief pain of my cut wing joints. I rolled my stiff shoulders and slid to the end of my bed running my fingers through my crazed hair that stuck up like a frizzed cat in all directions.

"LILITH!"

I sighed and got up to my feet, grabbing the clothes and stomped to the door.

I'd forgotten how bad smelling like old blood and dirt could be like. I nearly scrubbed the skin off my body as I attacked myself with the bar of soap. It felt nice to have my mind dulled by the thick warm fog that swam around me effulging me in tranquility.

Stepping out of the water and padding over to the counter top where my stack of clothes was, I stopped and glanced at myself in the mirror, relaxing once I saw my reflection. The sickly pale complexion was gone now replaced by a fine healthy olive tone that matched the rest of my body. My hair, wet and clean, sat tousled at the top of my head, matching the brightness of my eyes—all together giving me a good alive look.

But.

Again, my back was back was naked, dark cherry red bruises and swelling still dominated my shoulders of where my brilliance used to sit. The only thing there was my birthmark, the mark of a Fallen. Looking at it now, it slowly began to sink in. This was my life now; all because of a mark.

With a shake of my head, I dusted the cruel reminder from my mind and changed into my new clothes.

I found my way easily down the hall to the kitchen where I'd ventured once before, only this time, the kitchen wasn't empty. About a dozen people all crowded about, were seated all around the islands, talking, eating, and munching down on cereal and other breakfast items. Each of them looked to me, shooting me dark unwelcoming scowls before returning to their business. I grit my teeth, my appetite dropping with every secret bash of an elbow or hip-check.

Over in the corner of my eye, I noticed through open French glass doors and on to a grassy stone patio, was a figure sitting alone in the afternoon sun, auburn demon wings held against his back. Quickly snatching an apple from the fruit bowl, I slipped past a few more entering bodies and out through the French doors to the patio.

I was instantly greeted with warmth from the sun and a slight breeze I was tempted to dive into. I closed the door behind me as I made my way over to the bench where Alice sat, staring calmly over the hill and out into the open sky where there was a beautiful view of the tall mountains and falls that ran all the way down. It was beautiful.

"Um—hey."

"Hm? Lilith, you're finally up," Alice turned and smiled politely. "Come sit." He motioned over beside him on the bench.

I sat down with a mumbled, "Thanks."

"So, had an okay night getting organized with your room?"