I sat in my comfy love seat in front of a fireplace, finally feeling free to just let go of my composed persona. My confusion, hurt and anger took root inside me while I thought about mother. The fact she hid this big of a secret from me, I wondered if she ever intended to tell me anything at all.
I remember asking her about father often when I was little. She would always have this faraway, sad look, that after some time, I stopped asking. All she ever told me was that he was dead. But, was she talking about my descendant father or the archangel one, I can’t be sure right now.
I pictured her in my mind, her short dark hair and just as dark, freaky eyes. I smiled to myself; it was one thing we all shared, at least partly. I thought about every time we spent time together, every moment I kept dear to my heart.
As I was gazing into the burning flames in front of me, my mind reached for the echo that suddenly went through my head. I felt my blood heating just like earlier and instantly, I was sucked into a new body. I wasn’t in my room anymore, but in the office in the Warrior’s Headquarters. Me, along with my mother, brothers and none other than Valerian.
“I need to go there. It must be some kind of clue she left behind.” I heard myself, or rather, my mother say. I could feel she was frustrated with my brothers.
“No.” Andras said. “You can’t just follow little clues like that, without the proper plan.” He was leaning against the desk, fuming.
“I agree with him, mom.” Elek added. “I know you’re used to do everything your way, and the Unit lets you because you’re good. But this is serious now, at least keep them in the loop this time.”
She sighed. I wasn’t sure about what they were talking about so I snooped a little through my mother’s memories. A book in the wrecked room flashed across my mind. Only one word was circled in a hurry, a name of some place.
“Fine. I will speak to the high commanders, but connecting with them every once in a while is as far as I’ll go.” My eyes went straight to Valerian, who sat casually in the chair listening to them talk. “I don’t believe she disappeared just like that right after you spoke to her. Especially since you don’t want to tell us what she told you to make you go to the academy early.”
That got my attention. I always wondered what was that about. “I told you already, Liliana. You don’t want to open that can of worms. Not now, probably not ever.”
Something in his words made my mother stiffen. I felt a memory trying to surface in her mind, something important. But then, as if made to, it vanished in a second. What on earth did my mother had so important to hide.
I felt my head nod. My eyes raked over the twins who were confused just as I was. “Fair enough. I’ll go and see why Melinda pointed at that particular place; we’ll be in contact. And Valerian,” she locked him in a hard glance. “keep my girl safe.”
I didn’t hear anything else because my mind was flying back to my body. I jerked back in my seat and blinked twice. I just got a lot more questions on top of the ones I already had. Unfortunately, answers would have to wait because my mind was fried. I barely kept my eyes open and my energy was declining rapidly. I guess long distances took some strength I didn’t have just yet.
Crashing on my bed, my mind emptied and I sank into dreamless, relaxing sleep.
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The next morning, Nerine woke me by bursting into my room. She wanted to know everything that happened after I left the dining hall. So of course I had no choice than to tell her everything on our way to breakfast.
“So, what you’re telling me is…your real father is freaking archangel?!” she shouted which made me look around to see if anyone heard. Luckily, this part of the hallway was empty.
“Yup.” I answered awkwardly. I wasn’t used to the fact just yet, and considering I’ve never met him I wasn’t sure I would be any time soon.
“But you don’t know who it is?” she repeated what I already told her.
“Nope.”
She stopped in her tracks, and make her usual thinking face. Oh, boy. “Okay. We’ll just have to snoop around ourselves until we find the answer.”
Yeah, right. Completely easy task. Just look around. I find if it was that easy to do it, people would already know he was on the Earth. “Not sure it would be that easy, Ner. But sure, why not. I want to know, you want to know, so…any plans where to start?”
“Of course. We have afternoon classes together, so we go to the library after that. I figure we should start from there.”
“Fine.” I didn’t think she would suggest that we start today, but I may should’ve. “But if I come to you with my brain fried and my body in pieces, know Valerian is the you should blame.”
Her brows went up in surprise. “Ooh, why’s that? Are you planning to engage in some interesting kinds of physical activity today? Riding, maybe?”
I let out a defeated sigh; she only just began. “Yes, how’d you guess that? Your siren skills must’ve provided you with a sixth sense .”
“Don’t be an idiot.” Nerine laughed. “You know I’m right.”
Rolling my eyes, we proceeded towards the dining hall. Unfortunately, princess Zoe came into view. And she wasn’t happy at all. Although, that might’ve changed when she saw me if her smug grin that arose was any indicator.
I knew she was going to speak before she managed to open her mouth. “Oh, Theia. Wait up, darling.” I nodded for Nerine to go, as I wasn’t planning to stay here very long myself.
Zoe seemed even more pleased that Ner was leaving, which only confirmed my suspicions that she was up to something. “You know, Theia, I had a thought earlier.”
“Which one would that be?” I asked, merely to see where this was going.
“I thought,” her tone dropped low; it turned compelling and her bright green eyes turned even brighter. Oh, she was trying something alright. “you should maybe skip your morning classes. Let me go in your stead. That would be wonderful idea, don’t you agree?”
I watched her amused. The bitch just really tried to glamour me. If I knew anything, it was about that angelic ability. The only thing was, it seemed it didn’t work on me. Another question I would need to ask Valerian about. “Really? I think I should go to my morning classes, and you should work on your glamour skills. Don’t you agree…darling?”
Zoe’s left eye twitched which made my smile break lose. “Know your enemies before you try something next time, princess.” I mean, it was the truth. It doesn’t matter that she didn’t manage to do anything only because I was, luckily, immune.
“Bitch.” She bit out and stormed off. Touchy.
Rest of the morning until my first class with Valerian went without further incident. Although I’m sure there would be plenty more. I still haven’t decided if it would be smart to bring up his comment to my mother right away but…I was too curious. As I said once before, I’m not really a patient person.
So as I was walking through the trees beyond the lilies field, I was trying to think of anything but the fact that I’ll be experiencing excruciating pain very soon.
“Don’t drag, with the speed you’re going our lesson will start tomorrow.” Valerian’s voice came from somewhere above, scaring me to death. My foot caught on the tree root and I almost fell face first on the ground.
I know I should’ve paid more attention to my surroundings but Jesus! “Well if I fall and die, there won’t be any classes at all, so you can enjoy your free time.”
He shrugged unbothered. “Even better. For me, of course. Now hurry.”
With that, he flew ahead and left me in the dust. I can’t even count the amount of times I wanted to slap his smug face and it’s been only few days. These classes would be testing my restraint, I could already tell.
When I reached the river a few minutes later, Valerian was already standing there in his jeans and shirt that accentuated his more-than-perfect muscles. His broad shoulders were definitely one of my favorite things. Fortunately, I wasn’t in the best mood so my obvious gawking was minimal.
“Come here.” He waved in his direction. “Now that you’re finally here,” I opened my mouth to defend myself but he gave me a stern look. Okay, now I felt like a child. Which to him, I probably was no matter how much I would like to think otherwise. “the first thing you’ll need to learn is how to call onto your wings.”
It was like a switch turned inside my mind, and I became completely serious and ready to learn. Gone were my fears of pain, I just wanted to know as much about my powers as I could. I nodded as answer and listened as he continued.
“First thing I want you to do is to close your eyes and concentrate on the place where you felt your wings grow from last time. Can you do that for me?”
I took a deep breath and closed my eyes. I concentrated every single thought to the place between my shoulder-blades where I felt them before. “Now try to direct your energy all to that one spot.” Valerian continued.
Tapping in that low buzz of energy I constantly felt, I imagined it flow, move. I imagined slopes of blue energy travel from my fingers, arms, from my legs, my stomach…it all went to my back, gathering in one single ball of energy. “Okay.” I whispered.
Gathering I did what he asked, Valerian spoke, “Now that your energy is there, make it transform into bones, imagine your wings growing outwards, through your skin and out in the open.”
As I was doing what he told me, a sharp pain started to grow as my wings did. I bit my lip hard not letting myself scream like the last time. My knees buckled but Valerian was there to steady me. My fingers tightened around his forearms with all the strength I had. God, it fucking hurt.
My vision started to blur with pain. “Shh, it’s fine.” Valerian’s gentle voice said. His thumbs were stroking my arms slowly, making me focus on him rather than pain. “You’ll be just fine. Just a little longer.”
A cord from before touched my chest and I began to breathe easier. After a minute, the pain stopped and I could finally let go of him. “Fucking liar.”
A smile rose on his face and his eyes softened just a tiny bit. “What did I lie about?”
“You said it would be less painful than the first time.” I felt my lip sting and I touched it to see blood on my finger. “Great.”
“Did I? I don’t remember saying that.” The fucker was laughing at me. Well, inwardly. He continued watching me try to stop my bleeding lip but finally smacked my hand away to heal it.
To say I could concentrate on anything else but his fingers on my lip would be a lie. Big one. I stopped breathing for a second, my heart beating so hard I thought it would jump out of my chest. Our eyes met and there was a satisfied smirk on his face which meant he was well aware of his effect on me.
Stepping back, I broke our staring contest. I’ll admit that it was becoming too much for me, especially knowing I looked like a schoolgirl with a crush. I looked at my wings which were beyond beautiful. “Mine are so much more beautiful than yours. Change my mind.”
“No need for that, I do share your opinion. But now, let’s see what you can do with them.”
Not much. “I can fall on my face. Does that count?”
“No.” He rolled his eyes, “ Now, first, I want you to feel your wings, see them as an extension of you and try to move them.”
It was really hard. Whenever I thought I concentrated only on the wings, I managed to move one of my arms. Not only that, but my back were quickly beginning to hurt.
Uh, this was going to be far bigger torture than I thought.
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