IX. Wings
My fingers flew across the keys subconsciously as the music enveloped my body in its warm embrace. I felt the emotions flow through me as I continued to play, the thrum of power vibrating throughout my body.
Music had always been a passion of mine in times of need. Ever since I was a toddler, I could be found behind the body of a guitar or on the bench of a piano after a severe whoopin'. I had learned to hold back when I felt the urge to do something that could possibly put me in a troublesome place, but I just fell in love with the art.
After I finished the song I was currently playing, I sighed and turned around to face Daniel. After our introduction, he had asked what I like to do. Music was my instanteous answer. He had asked me to demonstrate and I played my favorite.
"That was magnificent." His warm smile sent chills down my arms and I dropped my head, a light blush forming on my cheeks. His heat radiated off of his arm as he sat down beside me. I looked at him through my curtain of hair and waited for him to speak again.
"Viola," I felt a hint of disappointment from the loss of attention, but pushed it down, "What exactly do you think.." His voice traveled off, a question obvious to all but me.
"Special." Was her whispered response. I gazed at them, irritation growing at the realization that they were talking about me infrontofme.
"Can you at least save your discussions on me for when I'm not around?" I snapped, crossing my arms. Daniel looked over at me again and I flushed, tightening my crossed arms.
Viola rolled her eyes and set her glare on me. "You're not a damn human. Not fully anyway." She snapped back, snatching her glass of wine off of the table and chugging it down.
"What the hell does that me-" The sound of my phone ringing caught me mid sentence and I groaned, pulling my cell out of my back pocket.
"Hello?" I sighed, waiting for my mom to respond on the other line.
"It's Adam." My brothers voice hit me like a freit train. My throat constricted and I nearly began crying.
"Adam," I choked out, "What's going on?" I felt like my voice was too loud in the surrounding silence. He took a deep breath on the other line.
"Come down to the hospital. Please. I need to see you." He sounded broken as he whispered these words.
"It's almost-" I glance at the clock, "Ten at night. Visiting hours are over." I mumbled sadly.
"Ask Vi." He said and hung up before I could respond. Since when were they buddies?
I turned my phone screen off and slid it back into my pocket. Both Daniel and Viola watch me as I stand and adjust, stretching and pulling my sweater back on.
"Adam said to ask you for help getting into his hospital room considering visiting hours ended about two hours ago." I fixed my gaze on Viola and watched her sigh, grabbing her own sweater. Daniel matched us, grabbing his own jacket off the couch and sliding his sneakers on. Viola led us to the front door, pulling her sneakers on.
We took Adam's sleek black convertible to the hospital. The drive alsted about fifteen minutes and I was so focused on what my brother could possibly need this late that I didn't bother to question the expensive car.
We pulled into the parking lot and climbed out of the car. Viola whispered something into Daniel's ear and ran towards the entrance. Daniel grabbed my hand and directed me towards the back of the building. I was out of breath when we reached a stopping point.
"What are we-" I gave him a confused look, but he simply hushed me.
"Quiet," He pulled me to his chest and tucked my head in, clouding my vision in darkness.
I heard the faint sound of air whistling in the distance, but everything around me was tight and still. I could feel more than just Daniel's arms wrapped around my body, but I was being held too tightly to look and see.
Within seconds, I was lifted off the ground and replaced on solid ground. Daniel let go of me and I caught a glimpse of what looked like black wingscurl in behind him. I glanced around and realized with an odd curiosity that we were in my brother's hospital room.
"Adriette," his voice sounded weaker in person and I nearly passed out after I rushed up to Adam's bed. He smiled softly at me. "I'm just tired. I'll be okay." His eyes slid past my face and to the boy behind me. "Who the hell is he?"
"Daniel," He spoke for himself, "I'm Viola's cousin." I gave him a shocked look when I realized I didn't know how they knew each other either.
It's complicated, his voice spoke in my mind once more and I felt my heart beat accelerate slightly. It was still new to me, so I was caught off guard when I realized his voice had been in my mind again.
"Thank you for getting her to me. Where is Viola?" Adam wrapped his hand around my own amd it was ice cold. I frowned at this, but said nothing.
"She's distracting the nurses so they don't come check in quite yet." Daniel leaned back against the furthest wall, obviously trying to give us space, and pressed a pair of ear buds in. I silently thanked him, sure he could hear me, and turned to my brother.
"What was so important you had to see me right away?"
Adam glanced at the door then turned back to me. His eyes were flooded with concern.
"This wasn't an accident. I'm certain of this. Somebody was out to get me. I just don't know who or why. I think I know what happened that night when Vi spent the night. Look, this man came to see me and-" Adam's confession was cut short by the door swinging open and a wild eyed Viola crashing in. Daniel's ear buds were instantly removed.
"We have to go. Now. The nurses are coming." Her voice was hushed despite the fact that there was no point anymore.
Daniel wrapped an arm around me before I could say anything to my brother and dove out of the window. I almost screamed but the sight of huge dark wings uncurling behind him stopped me. We instantly soared upwards and out into the sky. If I could glance past us, I'm sure I would have seen Viola doing the same.
The flight wasn't long. We circled back around to the dark field across the street from the hospital parking lot and landed with a light thud. Without a second thought, Daniel dropped his hand into mine and hauled ass across the street to his car. We all climbed in and he sped off.
"What the fuck just happened?"
