Halo-Born

Chapter 16

 I yawned and opened my eyes as the light peered into the room. The blurriness faded away, and the images focused clearly. A weight was pushing down on my back, and I was feeling cold. There was some air, brushing against my back and my stomach. Was I wearing a shirt? I couldn't remember.

As the images came to me, I saw that my wings were blanketing me. Wait. I don't remember this. I sat up, covering myself with my blanket. I furled my wings slowly. Brooke was on the bed which made me lying on the floor on an air bed. I remember it now. I stayed over here after telling my dad, I would stay a night at Brooke's place. He agreed thankfully. I didn't really mind. He probably wanted me to get out of the house anyway.

The wings, I didn't remember. I could have passed out and they caught me as I fell. Or they made me pass out. I would have to ask Brooke later when she woke up. There was a tiny splatter of blood on the sheets, but other than that it was fine. I didn't feel any pain in my back which was good. Getting some clothes was the hard part.

With the blanket, I tip-toed to the closet. I pulled out a loose shirt with slits already in it and fixed it on my body. I hoped Brooke wouldn't mind me borrowing her shirt. She shouldn't mind. This was an emergency. Besides, I'd probably let her do the same.

As I really woke up, I noticed that Brooke was covered with something white. It wasn't her blanket though. She slept with her wings? At least it looked warm. Brooke stirred in her sleep, and her face scrunched up. I froze as she shuddered. Better get out of here.

I shot out of the room and wandered into the kitchen for a quick snack. Dad would freak out if I wasn't home soon. He expected me to be there by lunch time. I didn't want to yell at him again. It hurt for me to see him angry at me. Of course, someone was awake at six o'clock in the morning. Zachariah was at the stove, wings and all, cooking breakfast.

There was a smell of bacon and...blueberry pancakes? Those were my favorite kind of pancake, but its been years since I've had them. Actually, the only time I've actually had a parent make me breakfast was when I moved here. Mom never had time to make anything like that. Hope always made me my food, and she wasn't the best cook.

Hope stepped next to me and frowned. I rolled my eyes and smiled. Her cooking really wasn't that good. I was the better cook between the two of us. She giggled and agreed. I wondered if Zachariah's cooking was any better than my sister's. I helped myself to a seat and waited.

Zachariah didn't say anything. He didn't do anything which made me agitated. I thought he said he was going to be a dad to me. Guess not. Maybe I should just leave now and not get disappointed. Why did I actually give him a second chance if he wasn't even going to use it. He promised too. I didn't want him to die. Sure he may not act like a dad, but he still was my dad.

He said finally, “Morning honey. How'd you sleep? Fine?”

I grinned as he slapped a pancake and some pieces of bacon on my plate. “Yeah. I'm fine. I just can't remember what happened last night. I didn't have wings yesterday.”

Zachariah took a plate of food and sat down across from me. There was some silence between the two of us. Just a little bit before the angel looked me in the eyes and answered me. He spoke, “You passed out on the couch after you and Brooke were talking. Sometimes your wings will protect you when you don't mean to make them come out. I guess you were cold.”

I rubbed my arms. “Guess I was,” I mumbled. “So, uh, how did you know these are my favorite?”

He chuckled and answered after he took a sip of coffee. “I've lived with you for three years Faith. Every time I made those, you ate the whole plate. I wondered if you would love some eight years later. Hope's weren't as good as mine were they?”