Chapter 20

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I awoke with a scream as my wing bumped something and shot a horrible pain through me. I sat up quickly, and heard a strange voice. I grabbed my father's arm, and hid my face in his sleeve.

I heard the sound of fire catching, and squeezed Dad's arm tighter. Someone sat down next to me, and I looked over and saw Finny in the dim light. I looked to where the fire was, and saw it was only a lantern. I loosened my grip on my father's arm, but refused to let go.

"Look who's awake," said the strange voice. I hid behind my father's arm once again. I'd had enough of people. Human after human always coming and trying to kill me. I didn't even want to look at the stranger.

But Dad's arm didn't feel tense, like he had to protect me. What was wrong with him?

"Sorry to scare you. I know you've been through a lot. I promise I won't hurt you."

I then realized I was acting like I was five. I released my father and stood, wobbling. Finny quickly stood next to me, and I held onto his arm for balance.

"Who are you?" I asked, trying to make up for my moment of weakness.

"I'm Alex," was all he said.

"Why are you here? Why can't you people just leave me alone?"

He was quiet for a moment, then said, "I want to help. Your father filled me in, and I got supplies for Maria to care for your wings."

I gasped, then turned to my father. "How much did you tell him?"

"Everything."

"Why would you do that? He could be just another stupid human working for that man who happens to be trying to kill me, in case you forgot! Maria's ex husband is still out there as well!"

Dad stood and grabbed my shoulders. "Selena, listen to me. He's not who you think he is. He-"

My father was cut off by the sound of wings opening and meeting the wind. The only person I knew with wings was me, and mine were broken. I looked around, and my eyes fell on Alex, and to both sides of him, wings. The same colors as mine. Well, the same as mine had been.

I just stood there, gaping. How? I was the only one of my kind, wasn't I? It had never really occurred to me that there could be more, but angels and demons don't breed that often.

"Who-" was all I could say.

"Alex," he replied.

"But I thought...."

"So did I," he said.

I stared at him, and he smiled. "Please, I know I'm good looking, but there is really no need to stare, is there?"

I knew it was humor, and I found it funny, but I didn't laugh. "You really came to help me?"

Alex nodded, then seemed to remember something. He grabbed some boxes and a bucket and brought them over to Maria. He kept talking to me, though. "Your wings are in pretty bad shape. Maria told me she needed this stuff to at least stop the bleeding, then she'll fix you up when you return home."

Home. My home was in the demon world, where my father would probably send me and Mom once all of this was over. But somehow I felt like I would never go back.

I nodded to Alex, and my father gently pushed me down, trying to get me to sit. I sat, one of my wings bumping a tree behind me. I held back a scream as I turned my back to Maria.

She untied the top of my dress and opened it to see my wings. Usually, I wouldn't mind the others, but now there was a strange boy around who happened to be exactly like me. But healthier, of course.

Maria extended my wings as far as she could, and I still suppressed my screams. I bit my lower lip so hard it started to bleed.

She started scrubbing my wings with soap and water and her glove, since she didn't have a rag. She tried to be gentle, but the pain was still terrible.

I felt tears run down my cheeks, and I squeezed my eyes closed. I didn't want to cry in from of Alex, for some reason. I felt like I should try to be strong, to prove I'm worth helping.

Maria finally stopped washing my wings and started bandaging them. She couldn't do anything for now besides stop the bleeding, and I had never been more thankful to have her.

Once she was finished. I stopped biting my lip, took a deep breath, and opened my eyes. Alex was smiling at me.

"What?"

"I expected screams. I'm impressed."

"I'm surprised you're smiling and not saying something about my wings."

"Why would I do that? I know about what you're going through, and I want to help. Commenting on it won't help you."

I smiled at him, then turned to Maria and hugged her. "Thanks," I said.

"Of course," she replied, then handed me a box. "Alex bought this for you. He thought you'd rather wear it then one soaked in blood. You can go over behind those thick trees and change." She pointed to her right, where a group of thick trees were.

"Alright." I carefully stood and slowly made my way over to the trees and changed.

Surprisingly, the dress fit perfectly. Barely enough light from the lantern to see reached me, but I could tell the dress was solid black and soft.

I tied the top of the back of the dress, and left the rest of the back open for my wings. I walked back over to the group and sat back down next to my father.

"Looks like I have good taste," Alex said.

"Yes, you do." I replied simply. Then I added, "Thank you."

He waved his hand. "No need. I just happened to think about it."

I smiled at him, and we fell quiet.

Dad was the first to break the silence. "Alright. We need to get back to the dilemma at hand. Maria and I will head out in the morning to Christopher's lab, while Finny and Selena stay here." He turned to Alex. "Christopher and his men will be looking for you as well. I would like for you to stay here and help guard Selena. She cannot protect herself in her current condition."

Alex looked at my dad with a laid back smile. "You could have just said "help guard Selena" and had me at that."

I smiled, then yawned. Dad seemed to notice, and checked his pocket watch. "It is almost two. You should all probably get some rest." He said it to everyone, but was looking at me. "I'll keep watch."

I nodded and carefully lay down in the grass. Alex tucked his wings into place and lay on the other side of the little campsite we had. Finny lay next to me, and Maria stood and went to talk with my father.

I quickly fell asleep, feeling safer than I had in years.

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