color can vary a bit depending on an angel’s status and power, but since I was just a mid-level angel working in admin, mine are white just like you’d expect.
Or at least, that’s what it looks like at first glance. But if you stare at them long enough, you start to see colors in them, like rainbows in slick oil, all kinds of shades—ones human eyes can see and ones they can’t.
They’re beautiful. I’ve missed my wings so much. And now…
I have them back.
Over my shoulder in the mirror, I catch sight of Anderson smiling at me. “I thought you might be pleased to have those again.”
Oh, more than I can possibly say. I want to scream into a pillow at the top of my lungs, but I’m trying to stay dignified, at least until he leaves. I turn away from the mirror to face him, although it’s hard—not to sound vain, but I want to just stare at my wings forever.
“Thank you. So much.”
He nods. “They’ll have the usual abilities, so be careful that humans don’t see them. We’ll have to take them away and set your case aside if you draw too much attention to yourself and make humans aware of the supernatural.”
“I’ll be careful,” I promise.
“I’m sure you will be. I know we can count on you.” Anderson gives me a final nod, then there’s a flash of light, and he’s gone.
The flash of light is unnecessary. Angels of a certain rank can just appear Upstairs or on Earth simply by stepping from one plane of existence to another. He’s only doing that to be fancy. Showing off.
But I’m too distracted to be overly awed or impressed by his display.
I’ve got wings again!
My feathers ruffle, and I grin, turning the large wings this way and that, getting used to having them again. It feels a bit like wiggling my fingers after I sleep on my arm too long and it goes numb. I stroke the feathers, relishing how soft they are. It’s like they never left. It’s like I’m whole again.
Deciding to take the risk, I open the window of my apartment and remove the screens. I make—well, made—enough money that I can afford a fairly nice apartment, so I’m a good ten floors up, high enough that nobody should notice me if I’m careful. I slip out of the window onto the fire escape, then take the stairs up to the roof of the building. It’s just a few more flights anyway.
My wings can appear or disappear into my back without bursting through my clothing—that’s what Anderson meant by “the usual powers.” All angel wings can do that. It’s a universal thing.
Hopefully that means that my other power is back too. I lost it when I lost my wings, but if I have my wings now…
My other power is the ability to turn invisible. I really hope Anderson gave me that back too, since it would definitely come in handy when I do recon on the sins.
I get up to the roof where the wind is stronger. I shiver in the cold breeze as it whips around me, but then my wings wrap around me instinctively, protecting me from the cold and keeping me warm.
Gah, I’ve missed them so much.
Stepping back to the middle of the roof, I take a few steadying breaths. Okay. I haven’t done this in three decades, but it’s just like riding a bike, right? And everything else about having my wings back has returned pretty quickly.
Flexing them behind my back, I let them spread wide, then I run for the edge of the roof.
Once, I would have pushed myself off without a second thought, or even dived off the roof like an Olympic athlete. But I’m not quite so confident now.
What if…?
I reach the edge, and it’s too late for any doubts. My footsteps stutter only a little before I leap off, my wings arching up, catching the breeze.
They spread wide, and I soar.
Yes! It’s all I can do not to scream in joy and triumph. I laugh wildly instead, feeling the wind whip at my face, twisting and flipping around until I’m breathless and dizzy.
I stay out far too late, swooping and soaring above the glowing lights of Seattle. But that’s okay. I don’t have a human job to go back to tomorrow anyway.
Instead, I’ve got a new mission: to find and redeem the seven deadly sins.
Chapter Four
Trinity
Right. So. The seven deadly sins.
Just find them and redeem them, Trin. No