A Cloak Of Feathers

Chapter 4 -Wings

My stomach drops as I fall through the sky, arms flailing, I claw at the air in desperation. The wind whips and tugs at my clothes, the forest drawing closer and closer.

So this is it, I'm going to die. I think of Ma's kind face, the way her eyes twinkle when she laughs and the fine lines around her eyes that crinkle when she smiles. I'll never see her again.

I close my eyes, bracing for the impact. A strong hand grips around my wrist, jerking me upwards. My feet dangle only meters from the highest trees.

"How could you!" I cry, choking back a sob. "I could have died." I cling to the angel, wrapping my arms around his neck.

"I wouldn't of allowed that," he answers gently. "I don't kill humans anymore."

"ANYMORE?" my throat goes tight, "Why did you drop me?" I splutter, nearly hysterical.

"I had to test if you were a vampire," the angel admits nonchalantly, as if it is the most normal thing in the world.

"A vampire?!" I blurt with disbelief.

"You really do ask a lot of questions." He grumbles, swooping to the left to avoid a tall redwood. "I was certain you were human, but I had to be sure." The angel meekly smiles. "Falling would have forced you to shift into a raven by instinct which is far easier to destroy."

I shake my head in exasperation. "I'm sorry, you lost me at vampire."

The angels smile shifts, a stony grimace in its place."There's a lot out there you humans don't know about. More came from the depths than just angel kind during the war of 1998, Vampires and werewolves as such have it much easier at disguising themselves. They are everywhere, anyone could be a vampire. They are parasites," the angel growls under his breath. 

I wriggle slightly, my heart still thumping from the fall. "You don't know if I'm not a werewolf," I challenge, clutching tighter onto the collar of his jacket, catching the faint scent of pine needles and mint.

"Your daggers are made of silver." He replies flatly slowing his pace as we near the mountains. The angel's hand moves from supporting my shoulder, to covering my eyes.

"You don't trust me knowing your secret location?" I sarcastically remark, feeling the wind drop as we descend.

"No, I'll never trust a human," he sternly replies. I roll my eyes under the grip of his palm.

...............

After sometime of begrudgingly sitting still in the angel's arms, we land softly. With his hand still covering my vision, the angel guides me through long grass. The morning dew dampening my clothes as I brush past.

"Where are you taking me?" my voice quivers with uncertainty. I reach down and pat my daggers still hanging from my belt. Thankfully, they survived the flight.

"You'll see when we get there." The angel quips in my ear, holding firmly onto my shoulder.

I try to peek in between his fingers to see where we are heading. I notice a ragged cliff not too far away, jutting out from behind a patch of trees that lead back to the forest.

"I need to pee," I announce, digging my heels into the ground.

"Hold it," the angel sighs, nudging me to keep going but I won't budge. This may be my last chance to escape.

"Do you want me to carry you again?" He answers, annoyed by my stubbornness.

"Just please give me 3 minutes, you can take your hand away too. I can see through your fingers." I plead, tugging his palm off my eyes. I blink as the bright sun sears my vision. From what I can see, we are completely alone in a grassy meadow dotted with jewel colored wildflowers. All I can do is run.