Light in Torment: An Annora Park Novel: Book Three

Chapter Two: Crumbling Crescent

   "What is HE doing here, baby girl?" Are Walker's first words out of his mouth as he sees Garrett by my side.
   "HE has a name, and it's Garrett.  And Garrett is working this case with me."
   "A case?" And Walker's eyes light up.
   "Yes, a case, what your Coven didn't see it happening?" I ask snidely and instantly regret it.  "Sorry, sorry, that was mean."
   Walker's mouth drops open.  "Okay, what is wrong with you?"
   "What do you mean?"
   "Baby girl, you're a bitch to me all the time, well, a lot of the time, and you never apologize to me for it."
   I feel the ache in my chest intensify and I ignore it.  The burn it back to and I ignore that as well.  I know what is going on and I refuse to acknowledge it.  My bond is straining, hell, it's probably broken beyond repair at this point, 
   "Nothing.  Nothing is wrong."
   "Baby girl..."
   "Don't baby girl me, Walker Sergei Romanoff.  I'm fine. Do you hear me.  I'm fine.  There is nothing wrong with me, except for the dead body we just encountered before we came here."
   Walker sighs.  "Fine, fine, if you refuse to talk about it, I can't force you."  Good guy, knew when to drop shit.  "So tell me about this dead body," And his eyes gleam.
   "It was skinned," this from Garrett.
   "Skinned?" Walker frowns.  "Was it entirely skinned.  That takes talent."
   I can see that Garrett doesn't care for that comment, but like Walker who was being good, so was he, he kept his distaste to himself.  "No, the entire body wasn't skinned, Walker, just the back."
   "Okay, so what's the catch?"
   "What do you mean."
   Walker gives me a "are you stupid look" and says, "Don't play games with me baby girl.  They wouldn't have called you in if something wasn't damned wrong with the scene.  What's the catch?"
   "There wasn't any blood, Walker."
   "WHAT?" Walker yells, and then quieter, "but that's the best part."
   "There wasn't any blood and the the victim was a Fairy, Walker.  I'm fairly certain the murderer was after the wings."
   "The Fairy's wings?"
   "Are there any other sort?" I say dryly.  I move into the parlor and sit down in my favorite chair.  I'm weary.  And my heart hurts.  I'd die before I'd admit it, but I felt like shit.  My body hurt everywhere, even my aches had aches and I was just bone weary.   "God, I just wish I felt better," I mutter, and suddenly a burst of light streams out of my body.  I scream and scream and ripping pain tears through me and I fall off of the chair and onto my knees.  Suddenly the pain is gone and so are my aches and pains.  I feel remarkably better.  But if I feel better than why does my heart still hurt, why the ache in my chest?  I look up and both Walker and Garrett are staring at me in wonder.  Their mouths are both dropped open and their eyes are blown wide.
   "What?" I say.  "Why are you both are looking at me like that?"
   "OH MY GOD!" Garrett breathes out.
   "Annora...baby..."
   "Holy shit, WHAT? What the hell is wrong with the both of you?"
   "Annora do you feel different?"
   "Well I feel less achy and not as tired.  I mean I made that stupid wish without thinking.  But now that you mention it my back feels a little heavy."
   "Annora look at your hands." Walker says.
  I do and I scream, I'm glowing, I'm actually fucking glowing.  "Oh my God.  Oh my God, what is going on?"
   "Annora reach back slowly and feel your back." Walker says again.
   I do and then I really do scream a blood curdling scream.  "OH MY GOD! What the hell is going on? What the hell is back there?"
   "Wings, my beloved," Chamuel says at my side.  He'd materialized without the chime of bells and I yell and fall over.  He helps me up and I feel slightly unsteady.
   "Wings? Wings? I'm not a fucking bird?" I scream.  "Why the hell do I need wings? And how is asking to feel better give me wings and a glowing body?"
   "You've come into your heavenly host body.  Just as my wings are a part of me, yours are a part of you, my amour.  They are so glorious, my love."
   "No, no, just no!" I say.  "Get rid of them.  I don't want them.  I don't need them."
   "You cannot part with your wings, it would kill you.  They are now a part of you, much like your heart." Chamuel says.
   "Hey what's with the materialization without chiming fucking bells things anyway," I say changing the subject, I'm just too weirded out right now.
   "You will not hear the bells anymore because you, too, are a Heavenly Host.  Or at least you have the form of one,"
   "Chamuel..." I breathe out.  "This is...this....is too weird even for me."
   "My beloved, don't think that way.  They are beautiful.  And they can be folded in and disappear at will.  You must just think strongly about it and they will fold into your body until you need them again."
   "But wings?" I shake my head.  "When the heck will I need bloody damn wings?"
   "They are not bloody damn wings, they are angel wings and they are beautiful, just as you are.  I felt you come into your form and I had to come and see.  You are more beautiful than I could even imagine in all the eons of my existence."
   "BUT WINGS?" I shriek again.  "I don't need wings."
   "Not even to fly?"
   "Fly?" I cock my head to one side.  "I can fly?"
   Chamuel bursts out laughing.  "Did you think they were for mere show, my beloved? No you will be able to fly now.  And with the scape of yours I'd say you'll be able to fly very fast indeed."
   Hmmm....now flying didn't sound half bad at all.  I could fly.  Holy shit I could fly.  "Take me!"
   "Uhmmm take you?" Chamuel looks confused.
   "Ann we're right here, and I'm not into public displays—"
   "—oh you are all idiots! And think with your little heads instead of your big ones.  Morons.  I mean, Chamuel take me out flying now!"
   Chamuel's eyes brighten.  "You wish to test them out now? But are you not tired? Most need a little rest when their wings come in."
   "No, I feel great.  Now that I'm over the entire, I have wings and it's weird shit, I feel great.  I wanna go flying!"
   Chamuel's smile is brilliant.  "Then come, my beloved.  Let's go flying."