An Angel's Crusade (An Angel's Wings Sequel)

Chapter Eleven: No Way but War

Kinsley

The minute she left, Kinsley wanted to go back.

She hadn't realized how lonely she'd feel being by herself in the thick shadowy forest.

Though the woods are quiet, they are also deafening. Birds sing endless secret tunes. Creatures damned to the earth make their way around the thick brush. And then there is Kinsley. Her dark wings flapping soundlessly at her sides, the only silence in the forest.

She's never felt so alone, so vulnerable.

She should have stayed. She should have listened to Alex.

What if something happened to him? What if Owen goes looking for her and hurts Alex to get back at her.

No. For him to do that, he'd have to know about her and Alex's past. And the only other people who know are Iris and Leo and Leo took that secret to the flames.

Though she's only been flying for a few hours, her wings ache and her eyes threaten exhaustion. After her argument with Iris, she never really fell asleep. She just lay in the tent listening to Payton's soft breathing. Even when Bailey came strolling in, a bandage on her leg, Kinsley had remained silent and still. She felt the other girl's glare and hatred, but she only stared at the ceiling of the tent.

Eventually, Bailey drifted off to sleep and Kinsley had two breaths to envy.

Later, Iris silently walked in. Though Kinsley could tell from her harsh breathing that she was frustrated, the red-haired White Angel was as silent as a mouse as she made her way to where her friend laid and crawled in next to her. She quickly fell asleep and Kinsley laid alone, listening to the sounds of the three sleeping girls.

Kinsley lands on a branch in the middle of a tree.

What she would give to be listening to them sleep rather than the forest around her.

She takes in her surroundings. She sees a lot of green, but spots a lone stag searching the ground for loose plants.

By now, other animals have scavenged and picked the land dry, stocking up before everything starts dying as it does starting October. By the end of September all of the green will be gone, in exception to the great pines.

She watches in silence as the stag drags his nose and antlers through the soft soil, looking for something that isn't there. Soon, he'll realize it's hopeless and try his luck elsewhere.

Suddenly, the stag lifts his giant head, his ears perked and his body tense. Without hesitation, because if he hesitated, it would mean his death, he leaps away, his strong lean body propelling him to great speeds.

Maybe she spooked him. But his head hadn't gone her way, but rather to her left.

Kinsley places her hand on her sword hilt.

It could have been anything. Another deer, some other animal. She's just being paranoid.

Suddenly a body slams into her from behind, knocking her from the tree. She tries to extend her wings, but she falls to fast and lands hard on the forest floor, knocking the breath out of her.

She stands with difficulty, still trying to regain her breath.

As she struggles to breathe, four Dark Angels surround her.

Scouts.

"Kinsley?" The girl in front recognizes her and immediately lowers her sword. The other scouts copy her, except one who stares at Kinsley with uncertainty.

"Jayden!" she gasps, relief filling her as she meets her friend with a hug. "What are you doing out here?"

She takes in her friend. Jayden's hair is almost white, the sun bleached her blonde locks years ago. And with her black wings, her snowy hair and bright blue eyes, Kinsley is shocked Owen picked her to be a scout leader. It's even more shocking that Jayden is only seventeen. She shouldn't be on a mission. In fact, the whole scout troop is un-Changed.

"Jayden, she's a traitor," the scout with his sword still raised says. His eyes flick nervously from his troop leader to Kinsley. "We're supposed to capture her if we found her."

Kinsley tenses. The order is to capture. That is not good.

"She's my friend, Jared. I don't give a White Angel's ass if she's labeled a traitor. The only traitor is Owen."

Kinsley trains her eyes on her friend. "What do you mean?"

Jayden meets her eyes. "When they got back from the mission, they took Naomi and executed her. Mateo said that she was the leader of the mission."

Kinsley freezes. "Naomi's dead?"

Jayden nods slowly. "I'm sorry. I know she helped you."

Kinsley closes her eyes. Vicki, Naomi, Leo. All of them dead. For what? What is the point of this war between the Dark Angels and the White Angels? Doesn't anyone realize it's all for nothing?

"Where is Owen?" Kinsley asks.

Jayden shrugs. "Last I heard, he was on his way back here with reinforcements for the White Angel rebels."

Kinsley's heard drops. "Reinforcements?" He's bringing an entire army up here. If he attacks the White Angels, there's going to be more bloodshed than there ever has been and the White Angels aren't going to win. Kinsley's seen how many Dark Angels there are, and there is just not enough White Angels to even make it an even match.

It's going to be a slaughter.

"When?" she asks, suddenly in a hurry.

"Maybe five days, a week at most." Jayden narrows her eyes. "What are you doing to do, Kinsley?"

If Owen comes, there's going to be major casualties from both sides. "I have to warn them," she says spreading her wings.

"Who? The White Angels? You know where they are?" Jayden suddenly shifts on her feet. "Kinsley, if you warn them, they'll launch an attack on us."

"Then you go warn the Dark Angels."

Jayden reaches for her sword and Kinsley places her hand on her hilt.

Either way, there's going to be bloodshed. One way, the Dark Angels ambush and the White Angels are slaughtered. Another, the White Angels ambush and the Dark Angels are slaughtered. Or, a war starts and maybe each side has a chance. But without time, the White Angels won't stand a chance either way.

Kinsley takes a breath and releases her sword, allowing her hands to slowly rise. She meets Jayden's gaze steadily. "Jayden, there's no other way." The other Dark Angel keeps her hand on her sword. "Just give them time. Give them a chance."

"Why should we?" the Dark Angel who had called her a traitor asks.

Kinsley flips her eyes to him. "Because we're not like Owen or Jerome or Mateo. We still have our minds. We're a lot more like the White Angels than we are similar to Changed Dark Angels." Kinsley's mind goes to Vicki. How Jerome murdered her in cold blood. To Leo and how Owen shoved his sword through his stomach. To Naomi, who died for Owen's cover up. "If there is going to be a war. Then let it be fair. When we decided we were going to use swords, the White Angels didn't run for guns. They kept it fair. Let us keep this fair."

Jayden and her scouts remain silent for a few moments, all staring at Kinsley. Finally, Jayden nods. "We'll try to buy you more time. You warn the White Angels, but keep them from ambushing us." The other scouts nod in agreement.

Kinsley relaxes. "Thank you." She starts to flap her wings.

"And Kinsley," Jayden starts, grabbing her attention. "If you know where Iris Cooper is, you'd better warn her too. Mateo still wants her, and maybe even more than before."

Kinsley's heart drops, but she nods. Waving farewell to her friend as she starts her way back to the White Angel camp, hoping that Iris is still there.