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"Rise and shine!"

I groaned and buried my head on Jay's chest. "You said stage four was at midnight."

"Stage four IS at midnight. But stage three is now." 

I kept my eyes shut and sighed. "Give me five minutes." 

I felt the hook of the chain on my leg unclip. "Alright, five minutes. You better be outside or I'll drag you out of bed. And make sure Jay is up too." Eli steps filled the silence and I sighed. 

As my head lay on Jay's chest I noticed how horribly faint his heart beat was. I lightly shook him and he woke up with a grunt. I smiled and tapped his face. "Wake up."

"I'm tired."

I frowned and stroked his face. There was slight stubble coming from his chin which I found cute. It's scary how fast all of us have grown up. I remember when Jay had braces. I ran my hand through his hair and noticed his blonde roots coming through. 

"I know you are but you have to get up. It's another stage thing."

I helped him stand up on his shaky legs.

"What happened to stage two? I wasn't there to watch." He mumbled.

"Which I'm grateful for." I said. "I'm happy you weren't there."

"That bad huh?" He slung his arm over my shoulders for support as we started walking out of the cave. "Well, I'm here now."

I squeezed his waist and smiled. As we walked out of the cave and into the fresh air I could see the small flakes of snow falling to the ground. I sighed and sat Jay on a rock. "Wait here a moment."

I jogged back into the cave and brought out the blanket. He wrapped it around himself and smiled. "Thank you." 

I helped him up and followed Eli's energy with the amount of power I had. It wasn't hard to find him and Grigori in a small clearing. Grigori was lying in the fresh snow staring up at the sky, while Eli was sitting on a large rock juggling three apples.

We walked into the clearing and Eli shot two apples in my direction. I caught one before it hit Jayden's stomach and the other one that was heading for my face. I handed one to Jay and took a huge bite out of my own. "Thank you," I said sarcastically.

"My pleasure." He said.

I walked Jay to the rock furthest from Eli and helped him sit. I quickly wrapped my arms over the blanket around him and warmed it up for him. He grinned at me and said, "You spoil me."

"Right," Eli interrupted. "This is quick and easy so you can go back to bed when we're done and you can sleep until your almost evil heart is content."

"Whatever; just tell me what it is." I mumbled.

He stepped over to the middle of the clearing and held his arms out. "Hit me." 

I raised a brow. "That's it?"

He nodded with a smile and I could feel my power returning. "I want to see how you fight. Just remember there is nothing holding you back."

I scoffed. "Fine. This shouldn't be hard."

Grigori sat up from the snow. "On the contrary, Lon. Eli has been alive since birds grew wings. He's mastered all combat."

"Yes well, I've been alive since the Morning Star was banished from heaven. I was there when the SECOND Book of Enoch was written so I know enough combat to keep me alive."

"Morning Star?" Jay asked.

"Satan. He liked to be referred to as 'Lucifer', Morning Star." Grigori said.

"Learn something new everyday." Jay mumbled.

"The first was more important." Eli muttered.

"Look, this isn't a damn competition, Elijah. And, ah anyway, the Second Book of Enoch is about the Apocalyptic Literature. You know the Apocalypse." I said with a smirk. I loved how all of this information comes to me like it's nothing.

"Yeah," He scoffed. "I wonder why you were there."

I started walking toward him. "What are you insinuating?"

"That you're the one that's going to be the end of this world and maybe the universe. Which, of course I'll be ecstatic about but you know."

I was now standing in front of him laughing along with him.

I brought my hand up to his throat and dug my fingers into his skin. I lifted slowly and he started choking. His hands tried clawing my hands off him but I had a hard hold on him. "Oh you're so hilarious."

His face was turning red as he coughed and his legs dangled. I heard Grigori stand up and head for me but I used my other hand to back hand him away.

"I could totally kill you right now." I said. I could hardly notice the red haze covering my vision. It felt normal to me. I ignited the small flame in my other hand and put it close to his faces.

 "You're so... defenceless it's almost too easy." I chuckled and he made a strangled noise. "Your worker is half unconscious and I'm free to take Jay and leave." I squeezed and his arms flailed about.

"But you know what...?" I loosened my hand, let the fire disappear from my other hand and watched him drop to the ground in a heap. "I'm not going to kill you."

"Alexis!!" Jay yelled. "What are you doing?! Kill him!"

I turned my head briefly and Jay gasped. "I don't want to kill him." I said with a smile.

I looked down at Eli and held my hand out to him. At first he stared at it. I knew exactly what he was thinking. "The word is trust. I'm not sure if you're there yet but... It's debatable."

Eli burst into a fit of laughter and grabbed my hand. I pulled him up and went to Grigori. He held up his hand but I scoffed and kicked his hand.

"Bitch," He muttered.

"Bite me." I turned back to Eli. "So all I need to do is hit you?"

He nodded.

"Okay." I smirked.




******




Elijah hit the ground with a thump and a chuckle. "Excellent."

I sighed and shut my eyes as the red haze disappeared. I ran my hands through my hair and groaned. Gosh, have I got a major headache.

"Well done. I'm very impressed. You may go back to the cave. It's weird how you almost trust me now... It won't be hard to get used to it."

I nodded my head once and started back to the cave without a second glance. But then I realized I'd left Jay. I turned around but it was in time to see him storming past me. I couldn't blame him... I knew what I did was... horrible. I let him go... I could have killed him but I let him go... I knew why as well which made it worse. I wanted to see what would happen during the other stages. That's why I didn't kill him. I was stupid. I should have worked something out so I could get Jay free and then come back. Why didn't I just do that!!

I watched him stumble away and sighed. I couldn't blame him if he wouldn't forgive me. I wouldn't forgive myself right now.

***

It was dark outside now. I never went back to the cave. Instead I went to the river and sat there with Bonnie. It's been dark for hours now and I hadn't moved from this spot. Bonnie whimpered at my side and sighed. It must be late now. It had stopped snowing almost hours ago now. I could feel them coming...

I looked up in time to see Grigori, Jay and Eli walking up to me. Jay's wide eyes were on the wolf by my side. Bonnie was staring at Jayden and I could see that she was tensing. Jayden looked worse. His face was completely pale. His body looked almost frail. I couldn't blame Bonnie for growling the hell out of her at Eli and Grigori.

I pushed her away and sent a stray thought toward her telling her to go. She faltered at first but ran into the forest. Jay's eyes followed her and I could see the shock and yet there was recognition there. Maybe he's seen her before. Maybe most humans have met their guardian angels before but just don't know it. It wouldn't surprise me to be honest.

"Step four shall begin now. Follow me."

I stood up from my place on the boulder and followed Elijah onto the cliff from the other day. The wasteland below sent a small shock of pain through my chest. Well, at least I still have some emotion left in my body.

"Was that...?" Jay whispered to me. I nodded and Eli cleared his throat. "Did Grigori cut holes in your shirts?"

"Yes."

Eli circled around me and stopped behind me. "Good." He trailed his finger down the hole in my shirt. His cool finger skimmed my skin and I flinched. His hands landed on my shoulders and he squeezed. "How's your back feeling?"

"I barely notice how much it pains me to walk and sleep."

"Really...?" His thumbs pressed into my shoulder blades and I grunted in pain.

His hands slipped over my waist and squeezed. I clenched my hands into fists but I didn't move. "Can you feel your wings, Lonny?"

It was like they heard him because my skin crawled and I rolled my shoulders so my bones cracked.

His cool hands moved up my arms and to my neck. He tilted my head to the side and moved my hair away from my neck. I stared ahead of me and tried not to think about his hands on me...

"You're wings are incomplete... but I can promise you they'll be beautiful." His fingers trailed up my neck and I shut my eyes. When I opened them, the red haze covered my vision briefly but I knew it was there. I was getting used to the amount of power I felt from the haze that it was becoming less noticeable than before.

"I know you're getting used to it, Lonny. You know what the power feels like. You like it." He tilted my head back to its original place and rested his head next to mine. "Let your growing wings free, sweetie."

I nodded obediently. He took a few steps back and I shut my eyes. I did exactly what Cameron taught me to do the other day. I concentrated on the pain but I lived in it. I heard the loud rip I usually hear whenever Gabe lets his wings out but it came from me. My body wracked with uncontrollable shudders. I could feel the bones scrape and scratch against the hard flesh on my back. The wind blew around me. It was an odd feeling. I could feel my feathers ruffle with my wings which made me shiver. It was a new feeling that I accepted quickly.

I kept my eyes shut as I stretched my growing wings to its extent. I didn't want to look at them until they were fully grown but as the bones on the wings moved and cracked into the right places, I knew that they were big. I heard gasps all around and the laugh from Eli.

It was like a load off having them out instead of having them inside me. The uncomfortable feeling that had been growing for the past few days had disappeared. Moving my wings was like moving my arms. It was so effortless... so normal.

I grunted and clenched my teeth as I cracked and crunched them into my back. At least now I understood the pain Gabriel was in whenever he used his wings. It was like trying to push a wardrobe full of clothes into a small suitcase.

I let out a sharp breath as my wings settled and the cracks of my bones seized. I wasn't sure whether the red haze of power had disappeared... I could still feel it there... but it wouldn't go. It wouldn't disappear.

Eli clapped as he walked forward. "Step four is complete. And I'm proud."

"I'm sure," I said with a smile. "How did they look?"

"Almost fully grown." He bent over and picked up a few pitch black feathers. "I love new wings. Especially yours. The texture is lovely." He ran his fingers up the feather and put them back on the floor. "Step five is not tomorrow but on the 31st. Be grateful you have a day off."

"I am." I found myself saying. "What is step five?"

He tutted. "Secret."

I picked one feather up as Eli and Grigori walked away. Jayden was watching me as I walked toward him. I held out one of my feathers and pushed aside that wave of overwhelming power to say, "What ever happens, remember I am still inside this demon. I know you might not be talking to me after earlier and I'm sorry. But you have to understand I can't help this. This feeling, this power is wonderful. And I'm vulnerable. I'd do anything right now."

He slowly reached his hand out and took the feather from my hand and I sighed with relief. I couldn't hold it back any longer and soon enough my vision blurred momentarily. I held out my hand to him and he took it after hesitating first. I helped him back into the cave and heated him up before settling him onto the bed. Just because I'm like this, it doesn't mean I don't care about Jayden. I still remember him which is good...

I heard the chains before I saw them.

Grigori walked in with a few chains and a huge smile on his face. I chuckled without humour. "Am I that powerful?"

"You're cocky now but you won't be when you're tied down for a day."

He hooked the chain to my leg and then a few to my hands. I pulled on the chains but flinched when the platinum dug into my skin. "I'm guessing this is your idea?"

"How'd you guess?"

"I can read your mind dumbass. Now please go, I've had enough of listening to your annoying voice.

He scowled. "Now that you're used to that power its beginning to piss me off."

"Then get out." I said simply.

He started muttering in Enochian as he stomped out of the cave.

I sat on the edge of the bed and leant my head on the back of the wall. Sleep was unavoidable. I was tired. This was the first time I've felt comfortable in days; minus the chains on my hands and my foot. My mind was on Jayden for a while but soon wandered off to my past. Random memories of angels I'd met in the past filled my vision. As more bombarded my brain, the more memories from my present life disappeared. I couldn't stop them this time.

I couldn't hold on to them.

Some were meaningless but some were horrible for me to lose.

I wiped an escaped tear away from my cheek and tried relaxing again.

My dreams were filled with memories that night... I felt like I was remembering my life...

But then again I was losing one too.

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(edited 2023)