When Angels and Demons Fall in Love

Chapter 5

Kurt

In the woods where we had first escaped our captors, I watched Elizabeth sleep. She looked so happy. I myself was shaken up by the experience more than anything. Angel had almost killed me, but I still felt bad for him. I doubted that he was doing anything more than try to survive, just like I was. I felt a surge of guilt, remembering his mutilated wing. They'd looked like Elizabeth's, except his were larger and pure white. I hadn't meant to hurt him, only to throw him to the ground so that it looked like I was trying. Now, his wing would forever be useless.

Elizabeth and I had agreed to try and find my family. I hadn't told her what that man had told me because I had convinced myself that it wasn't true. I hoped I was right.

I yawned. The past couple of days had been the most excitement I'd seen in my life. I was exhausted, but at the same time, I was still terrified to sleep. The last few times I had slept (by choice or not), I had woken up imprisoned in a strange and hostile environment. I didn't want to admit it, but I was afraid. I pulled out my bible and began to flip through the worn pages. I stopped at one of my favorite verses. I began to whisper it aloud. "If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you." I looked down at myself. Even though I knew what the verse was actually talking about, it still made me feel better when someone had called me names. It made me feel like God had made me for a special purpose, rather just being a horrible mistake. Now, I was starting to realize that persecution didn't end at name calling. I had almost died because of people who saw me as less than human. I shivered as the events of the past few days played through my head. The people had laughed when I had been hurt and cheered when I caused another person pain. They fed off of my fear. They enjoyed seeing my despair. All because I was a mutant. I felt a few tears roll down my cheeks and viciously began to wipe at my face.

I jumped when Elizabeth grabbed my hand, stopping me. She was looking up at me with understanding in her eyes. Sitting up, she used the edge of her shirt to wipe off my face. I smiled gratefully. She leaned against me, and after a second's hesitation, I put an arm around her shoulders. "I always knew that some people fear me just because of how I look, but I didn't think that they would ever-" I broke off, lost for words. Elizabeth sighed. "When people don't understand something in the world, they fear it. When they fear it, they want to control it or destroy it." I thought of my family, who had taken me in, the demon, the monster. "Not all people are like that," I said. "Come with me. You can meet people who will accept who you are. You can perform in the circus. I think everyone would love you!" She seemed to think about my offer for a moment. "Are you sure that no one will try to hurt me, Kurt? You can say that for a fact?" I answered without any hesitation. "Absolutely," I said confidently. I smiled mischievously. "They did take in a demon, didn't they? Why wouldn't they take an angel?" She swatted my shoulder playfully. My laugh was interrupted by a yawn. "Go to sleep, Kurt. No one here will hurt you," she said, before yawning herself. I leaned back against a tree trunk, still hugging Elizabeth lightly, and slipped into sleep.

I woke up for an unknown reason, until I felt Elizabeth shivering against me in the frosty air. Her wings surrounded both of us, but she still shook like a leaf about to fall from a tree in autumn. I pulled her closer. She woke up and smiled, touching my arm. "You're furry," she said with wonder. I made a face. "I prefer not to think about it." The light layer of fur on me is unnoticeable unless you touch it, but it still made me feel like a bigger freak than I already was. Elizabeth giggled. "I don't mind. It's soft!" I grinned, pushing any negative thought from my mind. I was determined to enjoy the small moment. "You noticed my new conditioner," I said with mock surprise. "I take the state of my fur very seriously. The velvety texture is very hard to get." Elizabeth raised her eyebrows, trying and failing to look impressed. "You must tell me who your barber is!" she gushed. "It is so beautifully done!" I grinned. "If you must know, darling, it is my mother that cuts my hair." Elizabeth burst into laughter, and I joined in.