Wicked Wings

18

“Do you live here also?” I ask.

“Of course not. I live in the dorms now, like all other students.”

“But you did before?”

His tone grows sharper with every question. “Yes, I grew up here.”

I’m so curious about what it was like to grow up as Headmaster Uriel’s son, living here on campus as a child. And what about his mother? Is she in the picture? But Bastien’s glare makes me keep my mouth shut.

He stops outside a dark wooden door. “This is the Headmaster’s office. Please wait inside, my father will be with you shortly.”

“Will do.” I hesitate at the door. Okay, just one more question. “Are you his assistant or something?”

He scowls at me. “I am, yes.”

He turns on his heel and leaves me there. I’m so tempted to sneak around the house and poke through Uriel’s things, or even better, find Bastien’s childhood room, but I’ve heard rumors about Uriel, and I worry he’d know what I was doing, even with my necklace on. Probably a bad idea—I don’t want to get kicked out on my first day of school. Or killed.

I step into the office and sit in one of the black leather wingback chairs in front of his thick mahogany desk. He has a bookcase with ancient-looking books on it bound in leather, some of the titles so faded I can barely read them. Old relics are scattered around the room—an antique globe on the corner of his desk, a silver sword with a sapphire in the hilt hanging on the wall, and a glass case with a single feather inside that seems to be made of darkness itself.

The door opens and Uriel steps inside. I stand up quickly, my heart skipping a beat. He’s even more unnerving up close. He has the same subtle radiance as Father, except he’s like the sun on a cold, winter day—it may be bright, but it’s not exactly warm.

“Thank you for meeting with me.” He moves behind his desk and takes a seat. “You may be seated.”

I sit down again. “Bastien said you wanted to speak with me?”

“Indeed. I’ve been informed that you didn’t know you were half-angel, and that you don’t know who your father was. You also haven’t had any indication as to what Choir you belong to. Is that correct?”

“Yes. This is all new to me, and I’m still not entirely sure I belong here.” Keeping my face neutral under his scrutiny isn’t easy.

His cold smile makes me shiver a little. “You do. Of that, I have no doubt. However, it might take some time for your powers to emerge like your wings did, especially if you have unconsciously been suppressing them. I’d like you to spend some time with Bastien privately so he can better assess you.”

I nearly groan, but manage to keep it silent. “Assess me? How?”

“He’ll use his powers as an Ofanim to detect truth, plus he’ll run some tests and ask you some questions.” Uriel holds up a hand in a gesture of placation. “Nothing too extreme or invasive, I promise.”

I try not to squirm in my seat, but the thought of being alone with Bastien while he studies me like a lab rat makes my skin crawl. On the other hand, this might be the perfect chance for me to do a little assessing of my own to find out what he knows about Jonah’s disappearance. “If you think it will help, I’m okay with it.”

“Excellent.” Uriel hands me a piece of paper with my new schedule on it. Where it read to be determined before, it now has instructions for meeting with Bastien at the library at the end of each school day. “With Bastien’s help, I believe we’ll be able to learn more about you, starting with your Choir.”

“Great,” I manage to squeak out. Except I already know which Choir I belong to, I don’t need any help awakening my powers, and I definitely don’t want anyone knowing more about me. Especially Uriel.

Except every time he stares at me I feel he like already knows every one of my secrets. A chill runs down my spine as his gaze falls to my chest. “That’s an interesting necklace.”

I drop my hand quickly as I realize I’ve been playing with the necklace for the last few minutes. It’s a nervous habit of mine, and one I need to quickly squash if I’m going to stay here at Seraphim Academy. “Thank you.”

“Such a unique design. Gold with an alexandrite gem, is it not? It reminds me of something I saw long ago. A fae relic.” He arches an eyebrow. “I don’t suppose you know anything about that, now do you?”

“I don’t even know what a fae is, really.” I shrug, and it takes all of my acting skills to remain calm. “I think it’s just costume jewelry, but it was my Mom’s so it has sentimental value.”

“Of course,” he says, although I’m not sure he’s convinced. He closes the file he had open—my file?—and rests his hands on the table. “I hope you enjoy your time here at Seraphim Academy and find everything you’re searching for. Should you ever need any assistance or have any questions, please visit my office any time.”

Everything I’m searching for… Does he know why I’m really here? I can’t tell if he’s just being polite or if there’s a hidden meaning behind his words, but the way he’s looking at me is creeping me out, and I quickly jump up. “Thanks,” I croak out, before I rush through the door.

I nearly crash into Bastien on my way out of the house, and he gives me a withering look. “Running away, are we?”

I turn around, gather my inner strength, and straighten up. I won’t let these jerks intimidate or bully me. I’m not leaving the school, not until I figure out what happened to my brother, and they’ll just have to deal with it. “Hardly. In fact, I’ll see you tomorrow at the library.”

A flicker of confusion crosses his face, and then he scowls and rushes back into the house. Uriel didn’t tell him. A slow smile spreads across my face.

Day. Made.