Fate

21

Chapter 21

There was a knock on the door and I paused my pacing to go answer it. Holden was finally here and he could tell me if I was one step closer to being me again.

I opened the door and a man in all black stood in front of me. Tattered wings clung to his back. A hood covered his face from view but his eyes were dark.

I screamed and tried to shove the door shut. Only he was faster and slammed it open, knocking me onto the floor. My head hit but I was determined to stay awake and fight. I owed Lucy that much.

He stood over me and I kicked him, knocking his legs out from under him. I rolled so he didn't fall on me and scrambled to my feet. I grabbed a knife from the rack and held it out in front of me.

"Did Andreas send you?" I asked, adrenaline coursing through my body. My teeth were gritted and my chest was rising and falling with each breath I took.

Kellan and Lucy ran out and stopped when they saw me and the man on the floor.

Before any of us could make a move, Holden appeared in the doorway. There was a large sword attached to his side. He pulled it from the holster and shoved it straight through the attacker's heart.

The man was on his knees and stayed that way for several quiet seconds before I dropped to the floor and the sword went through the rest of his torso.

Without missing a beat, Holden walked inside and shut the door behind him. He went over to the man and pulled the sword out. He tossed it aside then nodded to Kellan.

"Grab his arms and help me to the tub. If Andreas is watching, the roof won't work."

"Why would you take him to the roof?" I asked, dropping the knife onto the countertop.

"To burn him and destroy the body." Holden said, his voice cheery and happy. Like this wasn't murder and wasn't a crime.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Are you okay?" Lucy asked, looking at me with her eyebrows scrunched together. The worry on her face was obvious. Aryan was standing beside her, his own worried expression coming out.

"I hit my head when I fell but I'm okay." I said. The fall hadn't hurt when it happened but I was feeling it as time passed. I felt dizzy and a little nauseous but I knew it would pass eventually.

"I can't believe he did that. What a coward."

"Who told you those trainings would come in handy?" Aryan asked, running a hand through his messy hair.

Lucy elbowed his side. "Don't you dare take credit for that."

He laughed. "I was going to say you. Jeez."

Holden walked out of the bathroom and I was surprised at how little blood he had on him. It was like he knew what he was doing. Like he'd done it before.

His sleeves were pushed back and his white shirt was ruffled but nothing that would suspect him of murder.

Except he, and Kellan who was following behind, smelled like bleach and death. And it made me want to throw up.

"The smell will dissipate in several days. It'd be best if you opened a window."

"What about the body?" I asked, standing up straighter.

"We've dissolved it, basically. There's no evidence there even was one."

"Except the blood." Kellan said.

Lucy was already walking toward the kitchen. "I got it."

A smile played at Kellan's lips and he followed her.

I looked at Holden. "How is it possible for my wings to grow back?"

He seemed surprised at my sudden change in subject but he answered smoothly. "Not all angels have the ability to do it. Only a select few."

"A select few? What does that mean?"

Holden shrugged. "I'm not sure. I can do it but Lucy cannot."

"I haven't tried it out." Aryan said, holding his hands up in the air. "And I don't want to."

"There's a gene in the blood that tells you if you can or not."

"Why wouldn't you have tested for that already?"

"Because I was trying to be sure you weren't going to die. I have strict orders to follow, you know."

"From who?"

"Lucy."

I rolled my eyes. That didn't surprise me. "Can you test my blood now? I'm dying to know."

Holden smiled. "Yes, yes, of course."