Diabolus: The Lost Phoenix

Chapter Thirty Three

BEVERLY WOODS

When I take a look through a small, almond form window, I catch myself admiring the view. Clouds move constantly, flowing as sheets hundreds of feet apart, yet giving the appearance of one dense layer from the land below.

As we move forward, the ocean meets sky a hazy pink band separates the delicate hues, as if mother nature were rebelling against the endless blue, adding the colour of blushed petals. Somehow, I find this view calming me down. But at the same time, it's hard to calm down; as if my heart couldn't stop beating so fast after we left that old church.

With those fake IDs we were keeping for moments like this, it wasn't hard to get those plane tickets to reach our destination and at the same time, be unnoticed. The hardest part was to get into that plane, because all I could think about was what I will see once I will get out of it.

Chicago. The place that I used to call home. And, my father.

My hands spread like pale starfish around my white, hot coffee cup; and they are cold as well as the rest of my body, resisting the warmth that struggles to seep into them. I keep asking myself what I should say. If I should have some sort of speech prepared for the moment when I will see my dad? Or be impulsive, and ask him the question straight away?

Speech. That is the right answer. Because the moment I will see him again, I know I will lose all the strength and anger. He's my father, after all. A father that lied to me.

"Baby."

When I turn my head back to the left, I find Kai's green eyes locked on me. Last time I checked, he was asleep; silently snoring, his head was right next to my shoulder, like the cutest inked baby I've ever seen.

"I haven't noticed that you woke up."

"Did you sleep?"

"No. I couldn't."

His hand slowly, gently slides into mine, the tips of his strong fingers tickling my palm. The warmth seems to electrify my icy hand, but after all, that's what I needed. Someone to comfort me, someone to touch me. Reassure me that I am not alone in here. And yet, the only person that could do that, is Kai.

"I know how hard it is for you. But I will be there, I will be there with you."

"That's the point, Kai... I don't want you to be there."

For a nanosecond, his eyes widen, the shock he couldn't hide for a moment after hearing my words. But then, he just tightened his fingers around mine; as the realisation makes his eyes soften. Not only realisation; support. Respect. Everything what makes me fall in love with Kai more and more with each day.

"I want you to be around, don't get me wrong. But I don't want you to be in there, because if he sees you, my father will refuse to talk."

"I understand that. Just you and Brooklyn."

"And Avery, of course."

When I say the last syllable of her name, I suddenly catch her eyes, staring at me from the seat next to us. The window light from behind her, makes her appearance be only a silhouette, but I still can clearly see the look on her eyes. Sadness, anxiety. Sometimes I forget that it's not only me that was hurt, or lied to. And Avery's destiny is even sadder than mine.

"You haven't talked about that with her, have you?"

"About what?"

"The chance that you girls are related."

"No. I mean... It's obvious, already."

"But do you know how she feels? Does she know how you feel?"