War from Under the Bed

Fighting for a Lost Cause

Henry finished tying Owen to an old chair they found. They had dragged him off to a separate room in the barn. It was dark and musty, but good for an interrogation. As he worked, he wondered whether they were doing the right thing. I mean, this guy was the man who had saved Sadie's life before. Why would he be a traitor? Still...Sadie wasn't the kind of child to make up stories about this kind of stuff. She clung to his pants, trembling like a leaf. Her magic was going crazy, sputtering and flickering like a living animal. He hoped it wasn't bothering her.

"Alright, let's wake him up," he said, putting a hand on her head, "You can do it. Just a gentle nudge." Sadie stared at him and nodded. She placed a hesitant hand on his chest and the angel jerked awake. Henry couldn't miss the confused look on his face in the low light coming from his orb that floated just above their heads.

"Henry?" Owen said, tugging at his restraints, "what...what's going on?"

"Why don't you tell us," Henry said, his voice soft. He really didn't want to do this...

Owen chuckled, nervous, "Is this a joke? Is this pay back for something I did? I swear, when I ate your berries, I didn't know they were yours."

"This isn't about the berries Owen," he shouted and the angel fell silent, "Sadie claims your a traitor. Is that true?" Please say no...please just say no...

Owen laughed, "Why would I be a traitor? If I were a traitor, why would I be traveling with you guys?"

"Liar...."

Henry looked down at Sadie who was no longer clinging to him. Her face was determined, her lips pressed together in a stern line. The fear was gone, her magic blazing and some wafting from the locket like a protective mother. It was breathtaking...and terrifying at the same time.

"What do you mean Sadie?" Owen said, his smile becoming hard to look at, "I'm telling the truth. A traitor wouldn't protect you."

"You liar!" she shrieked, looking more agitated by the second.

"Slow down," Henry said, kneeling down next to her. He never seen her this angry...well maybe at him she has, but there was real hatred in her eyes and she was shaking. "Why is he a liar?"

She turned to him and whispered, "He's feeling something...I don't know what it is...He's nervous but it's different..." A bit of fear filtered through her anger, "He feels like a monster..."

The barn shook, the old wook creaking as shouting came from outside the room. The anger was gone and Henry could see his own fear mirrored on Sadie's face. This was not going as he planned.

"I guess the jig is up..." Owen said, his nervous demeanor gone. He was no longer the angel Henry thought he was. His magic was blazing, looming over him like a predator. His face had no kindness. It was the face of an angel with a purpose...and Henry could guess which purpose that was.

He scooped up Sadie and kicked open the door as Owen ripped his restraints apart. This was not how he wanted this to go. He was hoping that this was all a misunderstanding, that they would have just had a civil conversation and no one would get hurt. Instead, he's dodging angels and monsters alike with Sadie clinging to him. It was chaos. The barn looked ready to collapse as Henry ducked under a blade aimed for his throat and step sided a wave of ooze. He shielded Sadie from the dead bodies littering the floor. So many of his fellow angels...he nearly got skewered by a stray spear before he decided it was time to fly. HIs wings burst out and he launched into the air above the raging battle. He needed to get her out of here before the other angels noticed just who he was holding.

"Hold it right there Henry..." Owen said, hovering beside him with dagger in his hand, "You're not going anywhere with that girl...she's coming with me."