Wingless ~Book Two of Winged~

Flora

I wake up in Etheriel and I's hotel room on the bed with the thin comforter covering up to my waist. Etheriel is sitting in a chair across the room, his back to me. He is hunched over with his thumb and index finger pinching the bridge of his nose. Dominic is leaning against the wall staring at the popcorn ceiling. His hands are cleaned of my blood. I look around. How am I alive? I was bleeding so bad.My hand slowly and shakily goes to the area where Dominic forced his hand. It's healed, completely. I press my fingers to the spot for any hint that there was a wound there, but nothing.

"When were stucco ceilings ever popular?" Dominic questions, still observing the ceiling.

"Uh... 1950's until about 1980's." Etheriel responds and looks up at the ceiling too.

"Why? It looks gross and messy." Dominic comments.

"It looked cool at the time and was suppose to have acoustical characteristics." Etheriel responds.

"Ever live in a home with a stucco ceiling?" Dominic asks and looks at Etheriel.

"Yeah." Etheriel laughs and I love the sound. I sit up and can't help but smile. Dominic looks over, seeing me move, and Etheriel also turns around to look at me and he stands up with a small smile when he sees me awake. Dominic leans away from the wall and faces me as Etheriel comes to my side of the bed.

"Hey, how are you feeling?" he questions quietly. My hand instinctively goes to where the wound should be.

"Good... Why... Where did it go?" I question and his eyes shift down to where my hand is touching.

"Do you remember that angel from the diner?" Etheriel asks quietly and I nod, recalling the girl with dyed grey hair and he coming to my side before I blacked out. "God led her to us and she healed you." Etheriel tucks a strand of my hair behind my ear. Domini watches closely from across the room and instantly turns to the door five seconds before I hear it open. Nathan comes into view holding a brown paper bag and behind him, a foot shorter, is the girl with grey hair, her hands on her hips.

"Flora." The voice says as the girl glares at Dominic before turning to me.

"Trinity!" She smiles like I we have been friends forever. She pushes Etheriel away from my side and sits down. Etheriel narrows his eyes a little at her. She leans over and plays with my hair. Nathan sets down the paper bag onto the coffee table. Flora's smile falters for a second, but her smile returns as quick as it went. So fast I could have imagined it. Although she is smiling brightly, her eyes have a hint of concern.

"What's wrong?" I whisper and Dominic tilts his head slightly, confused.

"Nothing, dear, why do you ask?" She says with a questioning look.

"Your smile... you look concerned." I whisper and Etheriel takes on a look of concern as Dominic takes a step forward. Flora sighs and leans back, not smiling anymore. Nathan turns and looks at her closely.

"There's a small side effect to God talking into your mind." Flora whispers and Dominic narrows his eyes at her.

"What are you talking about?" Dominic questions. Flora sighs again.

"Since she's half human, God talking to her has one serious side effect." She looks down at her hands. "Tumors begin to form..." She whispers and Dominic's crossed arms drop to his sides.

"Are they operable?" Dominic whispers and Etheriel is frozen in his place. Nathan is emotionless although his eyes are filled with mixed emotions.

Flora shakes her head, still looking down while biting her lip. "No... It starts off with one in a possible operable spot and then more appear becoming impossible to operate and eventually... death." She whispers the last part barely audible.