Clipped Wings

XXXII

August 13th 

Began as any normal day usually did. The sun rose breaking through the darkness of the night , a slight breeze tickling the branches of the trees and the flowers that scattered the many grassy banks throughout town. Finnegan sat on his black leather sofa staring out at the sight in front of him grimacing as he sipped on a whiskey. He knew it was morning and drinking was usually not on the cards for many at that time but he didn't care. If he wanted a drink he was going to have one. Watching as cars passed by his road not even taking one glance at his house. Good he thought. Glancing at the mess that lay on his desk he waved it off downing the last of the whiskey in his cup picking up his decanter on the small dark wood coffee table next to him. Pouring himself a plentiful glass of the amber liquid crossing his legs over the arm of the chair so his head was on one arm of the chair and his legs were curled over the other. Beams of sunlight cutting across his form as it started to bleed into his room.

"Fuck off!" He curses to the window hoping for a moment the sky would take a hint and leave but it didn't.

Grumbling under his breath he downed the second glass of whiskey slamming it against the decanter on the coffee table peeling himself off the black leather. Yanking his ruby red curtains shut blocking out the light from the room. He threw himself back into the same position on the sofa taking the decanter in one hand and his glass in the other.

"one for you ... one for me." Finnegan states pouring himself a double measure of the stuff. Wondering for a second if it would be easier to just drink straight from the decanter but he had some class. Even if he was day well morning drinking.

"You do realise it is morning right?" Harper's soft voice filled the room and he almost dropped the glass in shock if he hadn't been sat down. Glancing up at her from his glass he eyes softening when he sees her drowsy face clearly still half asleep. 

" I don't care for time. Rules or anything for that matter. You should know that by now dear Clancy. A dark angel does as he pleases until the end of time. With a little bit of blood shed in between no biggie. " Finnegan says 

Harper nodded as his large jet black wings wrapped around him as if he was hugging himself. Harper lent against the arm of his chair playing with his hair letting it twirl around on her finger noticing how long it had gotten. Praying he wouldn't cut it as he looked better with longer hair. Suited his personality more in Harper's opinion she watched as his eyes turned from black to a shimmery gold and she gasped at how beautiful it was. Her wings almost doubling in their standard size the gold in them shinning much like his eyes. 

Ignoring the countless empty decanters scattered around on his desk , grand piano and book case. Which have been laying there for the past few weeks collecting dust. His alcohol cabinet door left hanging on one hinge where he couldn't find the key and ripped it open with brute force to get to the liquid inside. Alongside the broken cabinet were countless oil paintings that had rips or scratches covering them , all apart from one. One of a porcelain doll in a bright white dress , wings of cream and gold and hair to match , hung above his fireplace in the centre of the room. Downing the third or was it fourth glass of whiskey Finnegan stared at it. His desire was to scratch at the ice blue eyes of the woman in the painting so they didn't feel like they burning deep into his soul. But he could bring himself to lay a finger on it.

"what happened here?."Harper whispers as Finnegan sits up abruptly his eyes changing from gold back to black 

"I lost the key to the cabinet It happens I will just buy a new one don't worry about it. Oh wait you will its fine its my problem to fix ok." Finnegan rambles as Harper notices a painting about the fireplace which was covered in a sheet clearly getting moved at some point or was pretty fresh she couldn't tell. Harper nodded not wanting to press any further a wave of cold tickles her body crossing her arms over her chest. 

"You're cold." Finnegan states as he feels Harper shudder shaking her head as he took her hand in his squeezing it to give her his warmth. Her eyes loosing their shinning blue colour 

"I'm fine. Not my fault your home is like a freezer." Harper starts as a pain takes over her chest and she clutches it tightly gasping for air as Finnegan panics jumping from the chair to her side pulling into a hug so she was sitting on his lap. 

"Let me call a doctor just to check you know it could be nothing but its better to be sure." Finnegan begs but she shakes her head the tightening in her chest getting worse as she gasps for air in his arms. Unsure what to do he just held her.

"I told you get out of her!" Finnegan screams at the sky clearly to the higher darker beings. 

"I won't let you do this to her. Get out of her." Finnegan screams his eyes turning bright red as Harper's eyes flutter from being open to being shut over and over again. 

Harper's arm fell loose off her chest as Finnegan pulls her in closer cursing under his breathe. Stroking her hair he kissed the top of her head over and over again hoping whatever this was would pass and she would be fine. 

"I'm fine Finn." Harper breathlessly whispered but he shook his head pulling her even closer to himself so he could feel her heart beat which with every beat was slowing down. Counting each time a beat happened 

"No .. no .. no just this once Harp please be selfish. be as selfish as you want swear at me for god sake I don't care please. please. just this once be bad again." Finnegan begs as Harper's eyes fluttered closed again Finnegan's eyes darting around the room for the vile of special liquid he had set aside but he couldn't see it from where he was. He sure as hell wasn't going to let go of her to go and find out. 

"I'm sorry I wasn't enough for you." Harper whispers as she weakly lifted her had to touch his cheek bone as it fell Finnegan caught it holding it against skin. His eyes changing from red to a shiny golden red as tears openly flowed from his eyes. As her eyes fell closed. 

"You were enough. you were always enough I ... I ... Harper ... Harper please. please listen to me." Finnegan starts his voice breaking with each word he spoke her eyes opening again for a second as her breathe became shallower and shallower.

"I ... I should have told you this sooner. ... I ... um ... I booked Disneyland. I know you only just told me about your dream but I have known since you were at your mother's grave. I was listening in on you and I heard how sad you were about not being able to afford it. I booked it that night and I was going to surprise you the day I slashed your chest the first time but you know ... So you sure as hell know I am not going to let you leave me like this even if they have different plans for me .... 

I am going to make sure you ok even if it kills me instead. if it rips me limb from limb I don't care. All I need you to do is work thorough this you will be fine I just need you Shout at me , hate me I don't care anything mean. Slap me for god sake ... Slap me." Finnegan rants his voice getting faster and more erratic as he takes Harper's hand in his own. 

Slapping his cheek with it as if it would be the magic that was needed to break whatever this curse was. Finnegan let out a blood curdling cry that echoed throughout the home falling back onto his ears. Harper's body began to glow as each of the feathers in her wings began to drop onto the floor and burst into flames. Her ruby red lips in a perfect pout as her porcelain skin glistened. Finnegan let her body lie in his lap as he continually slapped his face with her limp hand  mumbling incoherently under his breath but one would assume he was saying different iterations of please as Harpers eyes flutter open again this time they burn bright red. Finnegan continues to keep Harper's attention while her eyes are open but she isn't looking at him. She is looking past him her body convulsing in his arms as he screams out. His face bright red just like his eyes. 

"NO !" 

"Harper ... Harper listen to me. Focus on my voice please. Harper I -- I --" Finnegan frantically starts but his voice falls flat.