United

One Death. One True Love.

Belinda's weight suddenly disappeared. I had my eyes closed and all I heard was a loud noise, struggles and then silence.

I opened my eyes and I saw Jasper on top of Belinda. I looked at her and she had the star shot arrow buried on her chest. 

Suddenly she turned into ashes.

She was dead.

Jasper had killed her to protect me. To save me.

I felt Harry's strong arms wrapped on my waist. And even though he was with me and I felt loved and protected and saved, I also felt a sharp stab of uncertainty, remembering all the dark things that had just happened. There were so many unanswerable questions running through my mind, so many awful events I felt I’d never understand. Until now, that I had finally recovered my memory.

But Stella’s death, poor sweet innocent Stella, her violent, senseless end. It overwhelmed me, and my lip began to quiver. “Stella's gone, Harry,” I said, “Belinda killed her. She killed my best friend and she was going to kill me to. Colleen warned me.”

“I would never let that happen.”

“How did you know to find me here? How do you always know how to save me?” I shook my head.

“I'll always find my way to you. I'm so glad you recovered your memory.”

"You gave up everything for me. I'm just a human. I'm-"

"You're my love."

I blushed. 

Behind him, the remaining silver light in the room pooled and split in half. I turned to watch it, my heart thumping, as the glow finally gathered, as it had around Harry's figure, around two distinct shapes:

Colleen and Celine.

Celine's wings were already unfurled. They were broad and plush and three times the size of her body. Feathery, with softly scalloped edges, the way angels’ wings looked on greeting cards and in movies, and with just a hint of the palest pink around the tips.

I noticed them beating very lightly, and that Celine's feet were a few inches off the ground.

Colleen's wings were smoother, sleeker and with more pronounced edges, almost like a giant butterfly’s. Partially translucent, they glowed and cast shifting opalescent prisms of light on the stone floor beneath them. Like Colleen herself, they were strange and alluring, and totally badass.

“Girls,” I said, a smile sweeping across my face.

Celine smiled back, and Colleen gave me a little curtsy.

“What’s going on out there?” Harry asked, registering the worried expression on Celine's face.

“We need to get Elena out of here.”

The battle. Was it not over yet? If Harry, Celine and Colleen were all here, they must have won, right? My eyes flashed over to Harry's. His expression gave nothing away. 

Harryl’s teeth were clenched. Even his wings looked stiff with fury. “I'm so stupid,” he muttered, “I should never have let her get this close. I was so blind.”

“I tried to warned you numerous times, Harry.” Colleen said. She lowered her feet to the ground and tucked her pale pink wings behind her back so she could sit down on the altar. “But you wouldn't believe me. You still thought it was the old Belinda.”

“I knew she hated me... That much to wanted me dead. Even though... I kinda understand her.” I said. I rubbed my neck where the dagger had nicked me.