I left my mother and woke up screaming. I sat up quickly, taking deep breaths, trying to calm my racing heart.

A moment later, my father and Maria were by my side, watching me worriedly. I didn't want to tell them what was going on, but Dad was a full blooded demon. Maybe he could think of a way to slow down the process of my angel's death.

"Dad," I whispered. "Can I talk to you? Alone?"

As soon as he started to nod, Maria had vanished. I looked around and found her cleaning something metal and pointed. I glanced down at my slightly torn dress. She must have removed the bullets and bandaged me while I was asleep.

"What is it, Selena?" my father asked me once my gaze had fallen to my hands, which were clasped in my lap. "Why the scream? Did your mother do something to you?" He seemed sincerely concerned.

"Sort of," I answered, just as sincere. I could see from the corner of my eye that he was not happy with my answer. He folded his arms and sat back, waiting for my explanation.

"Mom told me what was wrong with me."

He sat there expectantly, waiting for me to continue. I took a deep breath.

"When we were at the pond, I had a flashback to the day Mom died, but it was weird, because I wasn't a part of the scene. I was watching the hunters as they drove off with her body. It was as if history was trying to explain to me why the lake was there. I was surrounded by smoke and flames, and the hunters carriages crashed. The one that held Mom didn't get caught up in it."

Dad said nothing, but I thought I saw some relief in his eyes.

"Anyway," I continued, "the lake is there in remembrance of the hunters who died in the crash, because they protected their precious city for the monsters they all feared." I felt myself beginning to choke up. Monster...

Dad remained silent, but wrapped an arm around me comfortingly.

"Mom said half of me is dying, Dad," I cried quietly. "She said that my angel half will soon die completely, and I'll become a full demon."

Dad still said nothing, probably because he didn't know what to do. Even Maria couldn't help me now.

"I'm scared," I whispered. "What if I just die with my angel half? Then this would all be for nothing."

"I'm not certain, but," my father began, "saving you mother may save you."

I wiped the tears off my cheeks, then looked up at him. "Then let's get to the U.S."

Dad smiled. "It would be faster if you could carry Maria there, but I doubt you could lift her."

"I don't know if I could last a whole boat ride..."

"Then I guess you either have to hang on or try to carry her. I would take you both, but my true form is beyond humans. I'd have her simply close her eyes, but you know how curious her species can be."

"There's a small part of me that believes Maria isn't exactly as human as she claims to be," I admitted.

My dad's gaze traveled from me to Maria, then back again. He gave a confused glance, then turned back to Maria. She was now digging through bags, like she was searching for something.

"Think about it," I told him. "She agreed not to tell anyone what I am when we first met, and has kept that promise, as far as I know, anyway. She allied with me instantly when I told her the hunters would not stop searching for me, she helped with my wings, and now she's helping us find Mom. Either she's not human, or she's working with the hunters and luring me into a false sense of security only to betray me in the end."

"Whatever she is," Dad said, turing back to me, "she isn't a demon."

I'd figured that much out on my own.

I stood. My father backed away from me a little so I had room to stand and stay balanced.

"There's one more thing you should know if you want me to carry Maria over the ocean."

Maria glanced over when she heard her name, and looked to me, as if asking for permission to hear the rest of what I had to say. I nodded, since it did involve her, and she walked over and stood beside my dad.

Taking a deep breath and a small step back, I spread my wings. Once the were fully extended, I heard Maria gasp, and saw my father's serious expression as he studied the changes. I looked back at my once angelic wing, which was now a dark gray, and shaped more like a bird's than an angel's. My demon wing looked it's part. It was an even deeper black than before, if it was at all possible. It was also shaped like the other.

I suddenly felt a sharp pain in my angel wing, and I cried out. Maria approached me, but I held out my hand to stop her. She stopped abruptly, watching me carefully.

I fell to my knees as the pain grew and the sensation became too much. I looked back at my wings and slowly saw them changing. They were both growing darker, and stretching slightly as they changed shape. I wanted to scream in fear of what was happening, but saw it pointless to do so. There was nothing we could do.

The pain slowly subsided, and I was able to push myself off the ground and get to my feet. Dad approached me and put his gloved hands on my shoulders. "Maybe we should all take the boat. If you were carrying Maria over the ocean and that happened, you'd both fall."

"Dad..." I said, then lowered my voice to a whisper. "I'm becoming a demon. I don't know if I could control a true form if I develop one.

"I'll stay right by you the whole time. I won't let you hurt anyone." He moved some stray hair that was hanging in my face to behind my ear soothingly, and I smiled at him.

"Thanks," I said, suddenly exhausted. The changing of my wings must have worn me out.

Dad nodded, hugging me. I hugged him back until I fell asleep in his arms.