Fallen Demon

Chapter 12: Diana

My body still ached with pain as I slowly made my way around the extravagant garden. There was no other angel here making a sigh of relief slip out of me. I didn't want to be around anyone and their sympathy. I wanted time alone away from watchful eyes.

I stretched out my wings behind me. The sun warmed my soft feathers making me feel at ease. I wanted to tuck them inside me but I couldn't. I tucked them behind my back with a frown. I was powerful so why couldn't I make them hide inside me?

I should be able to. I'm strong, aren't I? I felt the power that I had taken from Lavana. The strength I had felt back then was exhilarating. I clenched my hand in slight anger as I tried to calm myself with the aroma of flowers. Why couldn't I feel that strength again? Chills broke out through my body as I remembered her power. Would I have been even stronger if I had chosen to be a demon?

No, I couldn't think like that.

Everything should be easier for me. I was an angel. No demon could compare to me. I made it into the heavens. I belonged here. Lavana was nothing compared to me. I was strong.

I belong here.

The words echoed in my head like a broken record as strolled through the gorgeous array of flowers. I could feel the lightness in every step as I let myself fall into the peace that surrounded the heavens.

I belong here.

The words felt heavier the more I repeated them but I didn't stop. I need the words to feel as light and true as my steps. I would never fall out of the skies.

My fingers ran across the smooth marble containing the stunning colors of the flowers. I smiled slightly at the beauty of it all. But the gentle feeling didn't last as my head began to scramble. Everything became unstable around me and I couldn't seem to keep myself up. I crashed into the soft grass as the pain began to burn and consume me.

My breathing was strained as I began to curl up into a ball while clinging to my head. I could feel my wings spread out to shake and twitch behind me. The bandages on my shoulder came loose as chills began to course through my body. I tried to reach out from something, anything, but I only found grass. I could feel the world blur and it didn't take long for it to completely disappear as I began to scream in agony.

Nervous jitters wrapped around my body as I helped Lavana unpack.

"Diana," Lavana's voice doubtful as she called my name, "I don't know. I–I just don't think we should leave. Especially without anyone knowing... The town isn't big but it's-it's unfamiliar to the both of us. And we were warned about going into the forest alone. It's too big and the whole reason we're here anyway is to help with the damage the riv-"

"Lavana! It'll be fun! We'll be exploring! We don't know where we are! It won't be dangerous if we don't go out too far! Why wouldn't someone want to go exploring! I want to see everything!"

I was shaking under the pressure of the images flooding me. Everything was happening so fast I didn't know what to do other than scream.

I rolled my eyes as Lavana kept wringing her wrist. We stepped into the dining hall for lunch. Unfamiliar faces met our eyes as we went to grab food. Lavana kept her head down as I glared at the people around us in order to keep them from approaching.

"Lavana," I greeted her with a smile, "We don't know anyone here and they don't know us," I wasn't going to stay here the entire time but I needed to convince Lavana, "We can leave and come back and no one would be the wiser."