"Sebastian!!" Maria called when we got back to the carriage.

I glanced back to see my father nod to us from his spot holding back hunters. He did something to the hunters to keep them back, then hurried over to us. I didn't see what he had done, but it seemed to have worked.

He quickly took the reins and started driving the carriage away. I heard a gun fire, and the bullet ripped right through the old wooden carriage. I screamed, and Maria put me in her lap, holding me tightly.

Dad kept driving as I proceeded to fight Maria. "No!" I screeched at her. "If another bullet gets through, it might hit you! You can't die for me, I'm not worth it. Let go! NOW!!" I screamed and kicked, my demon half taking over and trying to free me.

I looked at Maria with a furious expression. I could feel the blood pounding behind my crimson eyes, and I knew my demon side would be fully unleashed soon if I didn't calm down. But I couldn't. Not when Maria was risking her life for me.

Maria was tense and seemed to be afraid of me. Dad was too busy getting us to safety, but I needed him.

I finally took control of myself for a moment. "Dad..."

He didn't take his eyes off of the path in front of us, but I knew he was worried.

Maria tried to talk to me, to calm me down, but I lost control again and started fighting against her hold on me. I was just glad that my demon half wasn't trying to hurt her in the process.

Finally, Maria released me, and I was instantly myself again. What was that?

Dad finally stopped the carriage a few minutes later. I looked out the window and saw we were no longer being followed. He had managed to get us away.

I was sitting on the floor of the carriage, where I had landed when Maria released me. I held my pounding head in my hands. What happened to me?

Dad opened the door and I looked up at him. I knew he could see my fear painted on my face, and he seemed to be doing his best to hide his concern, but I could still see it. I jumped up and hugged him, crying.

"Dad, what... what happened to me? One minute I just didn't want Maria to get hit by a bullet instead of me, and then the next was... horrible..."

My father smoothed my hair, still hugging me. "I don't know. Maybe you went so long without your mother that you have an undeveloped angel half inside of you that doesn't know how to control the demon when presented with fear or a drastic change in emotion."

I released my father, looking at my feet. It was a random question, but I blurted it anyway. "Why couldn't Finny come and help us?"

"He needed to stay and help the others care for the young master."

"That's not all. I can tell you're keeping something from me."

He sighed. "I didn't want him to see you this way."

I was taken aback by his words. "So you knew this was going to happen?"

"Of course not," he said, clearly becoming agitated. "I meant I didn't want him to see you on the run, your clothes soaked with your blood, and you screaming and accusing everyone trying to help you." He stepped out of the doorway. "You are safe here for the time being."

I didn't move.

"It is getting rather late," Maria commented. "We can't keep traveling in the dark. Do you have anywhere in mind we could stay the night? Or should we set up camp here?"

Dad opened his mouth to respond, but I interrupted him.

"I don't know what you guys are going to do," I said as I got out of the carriage, "but I'm going to find somewhere to sleep, then spend the night with my mom."

**

"Mom, do you know what happened to me earlier?" I asked. I'd explained everything that had happened between Maria and I when we were in the carriage. She'd listened intently without interrupting until I was completely finished.

She was silent. She knew what was happening to me. I could feel it. She just didn't want to tell me. That or she didn't know how. She was probably silent because she was trying to think of a lie to tell me.

"Please, Mom. Don't lie to me," I pleaded.

She sighed. "Spread your wings, Angel."

"What?" I asked, confused.

"Spread your wings, Angel," she patiently repeated.

"What do my wings have to do with anything? Mom, what are you not telling me? Dad tried to figure it out, but I don't believe or really even understand what he said." I was on the verge of tears. Surely the demon in me just overpowered my angel because I wanted to protect Maria. Nothing was wrong with me, right?

"You want my honesty, correct?" she asked calmly.

I nodded my head.

"Your wings may hold the key. Please, Angel. Spread your wings and I will be honest with you. They may confirm my suspicions."

I nodded again, closed my eyes, and spread my wings.

I could feel her gaze on my wings, and I refused to look. I heard her sigh.

"I was correct."

I opened my eyes when she spoke, and saw her turn away from me.

"What?" I asked, confused.

"I was not there for you. I was not able to nurture the angel growing within you. You are hardly my daughter anymore."

"What are you...?" My sentence trailed off when I glanced over my shoulder at my demon wing.

I gasped in shock. It was smaller and stretched out farther, shaped more like a bird's wing than an angel's. I quickly glanced over to see my angel wing was no longer a bright and brilliant white, but now gray, and growing darker. It was shaped like the other one.

All of this must have happened during my vision. That was the only time it would have been possible.

I looked back at my mother.

"Mom. what's going on? Please, you promised to be honest. What's wrong with me?"

My mother walked closer to me, but not close enough to trap me in her world. She smiled sadly.

"Nothing is wrong with you, my precious child."

"Mom, you didn't call me Angel..."

"I know."

"Why?"

She took a deep, shaking breath. "Because the angel in you is dying, Selena. Soon, you will become a full blooded demon."