Winged

Chapter Eleven

Sabrina

I peek through the cover of the clouds, appearing as a large bird, an eagle, perhaps, from down below, circling for her prey.

My muscles strain from the hour of flight I took, the land that I had seen located so far away yet steadily getting larger and larger.

The ocean sparkles beneath me, awash with emeralds and turquoise, sunlight bouncing off its small crescents of waves. I peer at the island.

Port Liera.

Where they were being held.

It didn't look far now, fifteen minutes longer and I'd be there. My plan of action? I'd fly in under the cover of the clouds and then...

Well, despite the long time I had been airborne, I still hadn't worked out how to find and free the girls. Of course, I had a magic that I could wield, yet it was steadily draining from my blood, my bone marrow working hard to reproduce the magic literally flowing through my brain.

It was strange, how I remembered things. I knew it, yet how I learned it, whether I went to a school or was taught at home, or even if I lived on the streets as a child, listening through windows- it was all a blur.

I knew it, but I didn't know how.

The psychology of magic; It was a DNA mutation passed down genetically, the mutation evolving and changing as the generations passed- Why barley anyone had the same ability twice. The magic was created with blood in the bone marrow, then transported across the body. Royals could dip into their reserve, and pull some out to perform their magic, but once the body was depleted of magic, it stopped.

Some of the more powerful royals had astonishing levels of magic in their blood- they could go on for days using their magic fully.

As I was, I could already feel my manipulated wind draining.

I stop pushing myself along with it and am shocked by how damned slow I am.

My wings beat in the wind, still propelling me forwards, but the simple effort in keeping me from dipping below the skyline and moving forwards is utterly exhausting.

Half an hour then.

I sweep up high until the air gets thin, looking down at the earth as I steadily gulp down large breaths of air.

The ocean covered most of my view, not that I was complaining, it did look stunning, but Port Liera sat for forwards, many small fishing boats scattered around the docks along with two larger vessels.

Port Liera was a fishing trade hot-spot for merchants and tourists, with all the fish, eel, squid, and even a legendary Siren catcher who made millions each day with his shows.

Even I had heard of him.

Somehow.

With the air thinning every second I rise, I fix my sight on Port Liera.

And I glide.

Annabelle

Of course, I was still wary of the princess, but after she gave me chocolate... I couldn't resist liking her. I'm absolutely convinced that food could be the best method of winning me over, especially if it's chocolate.

Coming from a poor town in the middle of nowhere, our food being hand-grown and clothes hand-spun, cocoa was never something I had tasted, but now I don't know how I had lived without it for so long.

The way it melted slowly in your mouth, the satisfying crack as you bit a piece off... And don't get me started on the nuts and berries mixed in with the chocolate she let me have!