Landed Wings - By Skylhur Tranqille Page 0,45
because you are weak and can’t do anything. I’m not weak, Ivory can save her sympathy. This will be the last time I hear those words of sympathy escape from anyone’s lips.
“I’m fine.”
My words are clipped and angry. A shadow passes over Ivory’s face. She didn’t deserve that. She’s been here for me.
“Sorry, Ive. I’m just…just a little on edge here.”
“It’s fine, I understand. I’m going to fly ahead while…I’m
going to fly ahead. And Obsidian? It’s not weak to cry for someone you love. It’s noble.”
She walks out the door, snaps open her wings and flies away. I’ve never noticed how beautiful her wings are, small like her, but a blinding white. I know she’s giving me time to myself and I take it. I need to have a plan of action. How will I get Ashlynn to come with me? If I were her, I would be suspicious of me just showing up at a party specifically for VWP members. I hate it, but I can tell her that Raven is in serious trouble and needs her help. I don’t want to have to do that though. I don’t want to be like them. I hear the door open, and turn around expecting to see Ivory. Why would she come back? But when I turn, it’s a pair of iceberg eyes staring at me, instead of Ivory’s warm brown ones. Pepper. I make my face blank. She’s the one who brought me the fake message.
“What are you doing here?”
“I came to help Obsidian.”
“I got through to Ash’s…Cocoa. She told me what I needed to do.”
“That’s good, Obsidian.”
“Pepper are you a member of the VWP?”
“Yes, I am a Junior Executive for the VWP. I really believe in their work and values.”
That’s all I need to know. My face becomes a hard mask of anger.
“Get out.”
She looks surprised. Good.
“What did you say?”
“You heard me.”
“You work for them. The people who snatched my sister. I
really believe in their work and values. You liar. You knew, and you just lied to my face. You’re sick. You sit down with us everyday, eat with us, laugh with us and pretend you are one of our friends. The whole time, you were just watching us, waiting for your chance.”
She’s slowly backs up and walks out the open door. I follow while my face stretches in a grotesque grin. She’s on my porch now, and the only thing behind her is the empty sky. I shove her off and she falls backwards. I know she won’t really fall of course, she has wings. But the satisfaction I get from shoving her outweighs the disappointment of her nonexistent death. I call out to her.
“Congratulations Pepper! You’ve made me into a new man. One who really believes in work and values!”
She snaps open her wings, and they stop her fall. I wave
joyfully and she just stares at me, then spins flying away. I feel a shift in my consciousness, my sense of what’s right and what’s wrong. There’s nothing right about them taking Raven and there’s nothing wrong with my doing whatever it takes to get Raven back. I feel like I’ve won an important battle. I fly off in the direction of the park, and I stop smiling. There’s nothing funny about what I’m going to do.
Chapter 30: PREPARATION
ASHLYNN
Mocha’s still not back. I’ve been reading some of the books that were in my room, and watched a movie I couldn’t focus on. I’m worried, but I don’t want to go out and try to find him, only to find out nothing happened. But he left hours ago, and I don’t know what to do. I pace around the room and sing “Losing My Mind” softly to myself. Finally, all that’s left to do is just lay down. Some hours later, Mocha comes in and puts some stuff on the table. He goes into his room without looking at me at all. I pretend to be asleep and close my eyes down to slits. He closes the door. I am finally able to close my eyes and drift to sleep. The next morning I wake up, and Mocha isn’t here. There is a note on the table on the front of table.
“Ash. I’ve gone out to handle some stuff. Be back before
tomorrow.”
And that’s it. The hair dye and tons of makeup are still on the coffee table. I pick them up and go into the bathroom. The hair dye is fire-engine red, which is good. I’m not sure