Voices of the Spirits

Betrayal

I don't know how long I stayed there, bleeding, cradling my sister's dead body. Her body had a soft white glow to it in death, eventually fading as her body was drained of blood from the numerous cuts on her.

What was that... it never happened before, I thought distantly.

Her soul was leaving her body. I suppose that's an effect of my awakening. It's not something you should worry about yet, child, Lucifer told her quietly.

Oh... right. I have another soul in my body.... And I should probably get off the floor, too... I thought dully. I could hear some voices in the distance, screaming at me, telling me to die, crying. What are those voices? I asked him.

Child... I don't hear them. I'm sorry. His voice was getting fainter as the voices grew in strength. Colors started appearing in my vision, a mix of whites and greys and blacks vaguely forming people. They were screaming and hollering at me too, the way that Mother did when she hurt me and did things to me. Why were they mad? Were they even people anymore? They seemed... dead.

Dead. It was like two years ago, when the scary voices kept following me around. Dead. Like Elli was now. Could she be one of the voices? Child, don't talk to them. Just ignore them. How about we give your sister a proper burial? The dead won't answer you.

Why not? They could tell me where Elli went.

Child, your sister went to the dwelling of angels. She wouldn't still be in the human world, the fallen told me gently.

"But why can't she be here?" I cried aloud.

You know why, he soothed. You're already familiar with death. Do you want to give her a proper sendoff?

Yes, I cried again. I stood shakily on my tiny, damaged legs, nearly falling over because of the weight of the wings on my back. How long is it going to take to get used to these wings?

The fallen angel gave the mental equivalent of a shrug. You're injured and your body is tiny. You will get accustomed to it, just not easily at this point.

Is there any way to make them smaller right now? I asked tiredly, nearly falling over again.

That would be easier, wouldn't it? Lucifer mused. But no, there isn't.

I didn't bother replying this time; I was too tired. My eyes were drooping, and I was swaying on my feet. I stumbled over to my sister, attempting to carry her on my back like we did when we were smaller. It failed because of the wings, obviously, and this time I did fall over. And I couldn't get up... I was so tired. Could I just sleep, just for a minute?

My eyes drooped farther down, and I fell asleep.

***

When I awoke, I was lying on a tattered mattress in an equally tattered room. I could tell it was hastily whitewashed. Do you know where we are, Lucifer? I asked him.

I can't see anything if your eyes are closed, girl. He thought to her dryly. That makes more sense. I slowly opened by eyes, taking much more effort than I thought I would. The room was how I pictured it except for the young man next to me in a cloak. He had brown hair and hazel eyes with nothing at all remarkable about him except for the way he held himself, looking as though he would easily spill all of your secrets at any cost.