Black Wings

Revealed Secrets

"Nope. You're lying." I whispered.

"How the heck could I make something like that up?!" Jake cried, "please...."

"No I don't believe you."

Jakes irises changed color yet again, but this time they were a normal blue.
I had to believe him. What other thing could it be anyway.

"Jake, your eyes change color a lot." I said changing the subject, "why is that?"

He looked at me like I had no idea what I was talking about but I persisted. "It's pretty the way they go from gold to purple to blue. They turned almost black this morning. That freaked me out."

He smiled and inched closer to me, "yeah, they do that. It changes depending on my mood. As he spoke his eyes turned back to gold.

"So... I found this notebook after you, uh, healed me and disappeared. I'd assume you'd want it back." I said, placing my hand on the cover.

"Did you read it?" He asked.

"Maybe just a little..."

Jakes eyes softened and he took the journal from my hands gently. "It's okay."

He bent over to put the journal on the floor and I noticed something on his back. There were two very large jumps protruding from his shoulder blades.

What were those about?

"Jake?" I asked, "what's on your back?!"

His eyes widened, like he'd been caught.

"You really want to know? It might freak you out a bit."

I nodded slowly and he slid his shirt off. The first thing I noticed were his toned abs. Then I saw what the bumps really were. They were wings! Huge wings with black feathers. The feathers were glossy and sleek.

"Jake! I had no idea! What are you?"

"I'm half bird. Black Bird to be precise. Sorry I hadn't told you." He stood up as he spoke and faced the door of my room, away from me. Jake stood in the middle of my room, black wings extended to their full length. Which, on average, was about a fifteen foot wingspan.

"Can I, um..." I stuttered, feeling stupid.

"Sure, just don't pull my feathers or I'll cut you." He warned.

"Ha. Okay I won't." I answered as I reached out to touch his strong wings. The feathers were soft, like a cats fur.

"Wow.." I breathed, "this is amazing!"

He folded his wings and turned and leaned in close to my face.

"Wait until I show you what you can do."

"What?"

"Come on, Cassie!" Jake urged, pulling me by the wrist and out my screen door. He pushed me out the door. "Hold on to my neck and don't let go."

I did what I was told and Jake picked me up into his arms bridal-style. In one powerful bound, he launched us into the air. I screamed in terror.

"Where are we going?!" I yelled over the rush of wind in my ears.

He said nothing except, "a lake."

And I freaked out. Was he going to throw me in it?! We arrived within a minute or so. He lowered me to the ground and I sighed in relief. Jake set me on a big flat rock.

"Dang it!"

"Dude, whats your problem?"

"I forgot your swimsuit. Where is it?"

"Top drawer to the left in my dresser. It's hot pink. Why?"

"Be right back!" Jake shouted as he launched himself into the air and took off, leaving me alone.

I couldn't believe I had a friend that had wings. It was a lot to take in. His wings were beautiful too...

"I'm back!" Jake called, landed gracefully by my side. He set the two pieces of pink fabric by my side.

"Put this on. I'll turn around so you can change."

"No. I want you to go behind that tree, I don't trust you all the way yet."

"Fine." He went behind the tree and I changed my clothes.

"Okay! I'm done!" I said and he fluttered over to the waters edge.

"Stay right there." He commanded.

Jake held his hand about a foot from the waters surface. He lifted it slowly with a clenched jaw and closed eyes. The clear liquid started to rise with his hand as he brought it up. The water swirled around his fingers until it became a dripping wet sphere in his hands.

"What the--"

"Don't ask, just sit down on that rock again."

I was beyond confused. What the heck was he even doing?

Jake moved the water to his left hand and reached into his pocket to fish something out. He pulled out a small blue scallop shell necklace. It had a gold chain that glistened in the sun if the light hit it right. Gold sparkles lit up his face. He slipped it around my neck and stood back a couple feet.

"Don't take it off, whatever you do. It will help you breathe." He explained, "I'm serious."

He held up the ball of crystal clear liquid and chucked it at me. It swirled around me and my legs went completely numb.

I had absolutely no idea what was happening to me.

Jake watched me, a smirk dancing on his lips. I looked at him in terror.

The skin on my legs had turned a metallic blue and gold color. I was horrified. I felt different too....

Of course, that was the last thing I remembered before I passed out....