Angel Wings (Angel Fire Series #2)

LUKE Chapter 5 - Hell

From this point on it is from the POV of Luke.

LUKE

Something is in my mouth. I cough. I cough so hard I feel as if my lungs are going to come out of my mouth. I gasp for air but it's too thick. I roll over, wincing when I kneel on my bent wing. The ground digs into my palms but I ignore the pain. This helps, gravity will get this shit out of my lungs. I cough some more. My eyes sting and my head throbs. Power throbs under my skin demanding release. I haven't had a surge like this is years, centuries even. 

A bead of sweat falls along my brow to drip on the floor. It's hot. Too fucking hot. The ground is black and warm. It's so black it absorbs the light of the fire that's coming from somewhere. The walls I see are black too. There are cracks with a red glow coming from them. A tar like substance dribbles from a hole in the ceiling.

I try to stand but my wings are dead weights. I can't lift them. They droop to the filthy floor. They ache where they join my back as if I've been flying for too long. I itch all over. I look at my arms. They're caked in blood that's dried. I feel like shit and I look like it too.

I try to stand but my legs wobble. I lean against the wall and take in my surroundings more. Bars. I lunge at them and pull but I have no strength.

"He's awake." A whisper. I barely hear it. More whispers follow.

"Tell master."

"He's here."

They overwhelm me. All of them rush into my head. I try to block them out, try to cover my ears. But I can still hear them. Pressure builds behind my eyes. My temples throb. Hundreds of voices.

"Tell his father."

"Get master."

"He's awake."

"Shut up!" I yell. They all go silent. The throb remains. It travels down my neck, down my spine. It travels to every feather. The heat is sticky, it coats my skin like cling film causing beads of sweat to sting my eyes. My body shakes and I feel weak but at last, it's silent. I fall to my knees, my forehead resting against the bars.

Fatigue tried to drag me into darkness. I fight it. It's not safe, I'll be vulnerable if I fall asleep. Footsteps draw me from my internal battle. They're heavy and echo in my cell.

Cell. I'm a prisoner. I force myself to look up. A figure is fast approaching. The owner of the loud footsteps. It's so dark I can't get a good look. Until finally he steps into the light of a torch flickering on the wall.

I recognise him, but I'm not sure where. His hair is black and slicked back. His eyes are just a dark. Like two swirling pits that want to suck away your soul. He's tall and too damn familiar. His wings horrify me. Black and leathery. Not a single feather. The have horns at the arches above his shoulder and at the tips. One swipe would be deadly. He smiles and it sends a chill down my spine.

I'm looking at an older version of myself.

"My son." He holds out his arms as if expecting a hug. I'm grateful for the bars separating us.

I spit on the floor. "I'm no son of yours," I hiss. "Why am I here?" He continues to smile but he clasps his hands together in front of him.

"Denial. I expected better from you. You'll learn your place soon enough. But first, we have to get rid of that stain on your body." His eyes narrow on the mark he is talking about.

My mark that signifies my bond to Emma. It is only now that I notice I'm shirtless. The mark has grown again and now covers half of my body. A swirling dance of colours that's almost too beautiful to look at. As if it has a mind of its own, the mark throbs.

Her name fills my mind and I forget I am not alone. I must get back to her.

"You touch it and you die."

He chuckles. "We'll see," he says. He bows his head and walks back into the darkness. His footsteps echoing once more until they disappear entirely.

"I'm coming, Emma." I whisper to myself. But first, I have to get out of this place.

I try to stand again using the bars for support. My wings seem to weigha tonne but I persist. My knees don't shake so much when I reach my full heightbut my vision blurs. Something is still not right. My head pounds once, butit's enough to send my falling onto my back and back into unconsciousness.