Wicked Wings

11

Perching beside her on the sofa, I decide to take any friend I can get at this point. “I didn’t. This has all been a total shock. What’s an Emergence?”

“That’s what we call it when angels get their wings. For most of us, it’s a joyous occasion.”

I snort. “Mine was anything but.”

“So I’ve heard.”

My eyebrows dart up. “You know about it?”

She lets out a short laugh. “The angel community is small and tight-knit. Everyone knows about it. We’ve all seen the video of you falling into that pool. Even an outcast like me.”

I swallow. “Great. No wonder everyone has been staring at me.”

“Don’t worry. We’ll stick together and give the middle finger to anyone who gives us s**t. Hey, what classes do you have?”

I like this girl already. I pull my schedule from my back pocket, and she looks it over quickly. “Awesome, we have Combat Training and Flight together.” She frowns as she stares at something on the page. “So you don’t know what your Choir is?”

“Nope. I’m clueless about everything. What about you?”

“I’m a Malakim, or a healer, like my mother.”

“Have you done much healing yet?”

“Not really. I tried practicing on some plants and a sick dog, but I don’t really know what I’m doing yet. Before this I went to nursing school, so I have some idea how to help sick or injured people, but using magic is totally different from practicing medicine.” She gives me a thoughtful look. “I don’t get a Malakim vibe from you. You feel more like an Ofanim or something.”

Crossing my legs, I settle in. Araceli is easy to talk to. “Maybe. I really have no idea. About anything. I’ve been pretty lost ever since I got the invitation to this school.” I feel bad for lying to Araceli since she seems so genuine and open, and as a First Year student she isn’t on my list of people to investigate, but I have to keep my ruse up as long as I’m here.

She gives me a wide grin. “Well, it’s a good thing you got stuck with me as your roommate. I can help you figure this all out, and I know a bit what it’s like to be an outcast in the angel community.”

“That would be great, thanks.”

She helps me bring up the rest of my things, and then we each head into our own bedrooms to finish unpacking and get settled in before orientation tomorrow morning. Except when I close my bedroom door, I notice something on the bed that wasn’t there before. A square box wrapped in brown paper and gold ribbon.

I open it up carefully, in case this is some kind of trick, but I’m even more confused when I pull out a white, hooded robe and a plain white mask that completely covers the entire face except for the eyes. Underneath it is a card printed on thick paper with letters embossed in gold script. There’s an image of a golden throne taking up most of the page, and below it is a date, a time, and coordinates. Along the bottom are the words: “Attend at your own risk. Secrecy is mandatory. Loyalty is paramount.”

I nearly run out and ask Araceli if she got one also, but then I run my finger along those bottom words again. What if she didn’t get an invitation? I could already be breaking the rules by even telling her about the invite. But what exactly have I been invited to attend?

Chapter Seven

Olivia

O

nce we’re settled in, Araceli and I head over to the cafeteria for dinner. Like the dorms, the cafeteria has floor-to-ceiling windows that let in a lot of light during the day. White tables and chairs are set up across the wide space, and along the sides are buffet stations with all sorts of different foods, ranging from tacos to lasagna to roast beef.

At first, all I can do is gaze around the room and take it all in. It’s hard to believe all of this food is free. My birth parents made sure none of my foster homes were too terrible, so I was never worried about food—but money was another story. Neither of my parents could have any ties to me, because according to them it was too dangerous to have anything connecting the three of us. That meant no support from them either. Everything I had—my car, my apartment, my education—I had to work for myself. Meanwhile, Jonah got everything he could ever want, grew up in a damn mansion, and was adored by everyone around him for being the son of two Archangels. Not that I’m jealous or anything. I love Jonah. But still.

The angels here take it all for granted as they walk around the buffet and get whatever they want, just like they do everything else at this school. None of them know what it’s like to grow up with practically nothing.

I grab some fish tacos plus a salad, and then make my way to the table where Araceli is already sitting. Someone bumps into me hard and my tray hits the ground, spilling my food everywhere and making a loud enough noise that everyone in the cafeteria turns to look. “Oops,” Tanwen says with a smile that is anything but sorry. “Might want to watch where you’re going next time, clumsy human.”

“You bumped into me!” I reply, but she’s already moved on, and her Valkyrie friends just snicker as they follow behind her. As I stare at their backs I wonder if they dyed their hair to match, or if they’re all basically clones of each other.

I let out a huff and begin cleaning up the mess. One of the cafeteria workers comes to take over, and I apologize profusely for making their job harder before going to get another tray of food. I know what it’s like to have to clean up after someone else.