Wicked Wings

5

He lounged on my bed beside me while he threw a baseball in the air and caught it. He had our father’s light brown hair, and at that moment it was a little long and curling up around his ears. He was handsome in that guy-next-door way, with the kind of face that made random strangers spill their entire life story. “It’s like a normal college but everyone has wings.”

“Smart ass.” I rolled my eyes. “I wish I could go.”

“It wouldn’t be safe for you.”

I sighed. “I know. It’s just frustrating that everyone else can attend, while I have to pretend I’m human and hide what I am. I want to learn to use my powers too. I’d even settle for going to Hellspawn Academy.”

He snorted. “You’d be in even more danger there with the demons.”

“Maybe. At least I could feed openly there.”

Jonah gave me a warm grin. “Yes, but at Seraphim Academy you’d have a big brother to look after you.”

“Ugh, I don’t need looking after.”

“Sure you don’t.” He chuckled softly. “But it really is a shame you can’t go to the academy too. I could introduce you to all my friends. I think you’d like them. Especially my roommate.”

I sat up a little and arched an eyebrow. “Why’s that?”

“He’s something of a lady’s man. A new girl every week. You two have a lot in common.”

“Sure, except he does it for fun, and I do it for survival. And if he knew what I was, he would probably try to kill me.”

Jonah wrapped an arm around my shoulders. “I’d never let anyone hurt you, sis. Never.”

I punched him in the arm. “Don’t get all corny on me.”

He laughed and sat back. “Sorry, I know you hate that shit.”

I didn’t though, not really. I wish I’d let him know how much it meant to me that he was the one person I could be completely myself with—who knew what I was and loved me anyway. Especially since I only saw him two more times before he disappeared, and then it was too late.

I

t’s four days later, and I’m on my way. I’ve given up my job, my apartment, and most of my meager possessions, but it feels good to start fresh, without the weight of my past holding me down. Just about everything I need should be provided by the school anyway, or so I’ve been told.

It’s a long drive from Los Angeles to the northern-most part of California, but I follow the directions that were emailed to me and head into the mountains, then take an unmarked road that leads higher and higher. The trees grow taller and older as I climb toward the sun, and the road becomes narrower and more treacherous. I nearly turn back—I’ll admit I’m not the best driver—but the thought of my brother keeps me going, and I finally make it to my destination.

Seraphim Academy sits at the top of a tall mountain, isolated from the rest of the world by its location and a large stone wall covered in ivy. I stop in front of a black wrought iron gate with a winged logo and the letters S and A. The gate opens, and I take a deep breath. All my planning has led me to this moment. After months of waiting for Jonah to appear or be found, I’m taking matters into my own hands.

I park next to a pretentious-as-hell red convertible and nearly ding it—oops—then look for the print-out of the map I was sent…and can’t find it. Of course. I try to load it on my phone and get no signal. Seriously? No cell service up here in the mountains? How do people survive? I’ll have to ask someone for directions to the dorms so I can find my room and get settled in. I don’t have much, just a few boxes in the trunk and backseat of my car with my clothes and a few other things I couldn’t leave behind, like my mug from Jonah.

I climb out of my car and take in the school grounds. Seraphim Academy is beautiful, with a lush green lawn, tall redwood trees, and white stone buildings beside a lake that sparkles under an endless blue sky. We’re surrounded by thick forest on every side and so high up that the sun feels a little closer and the air is crisp and warm. Angels get their powers from light, and the introductory email explained that this area in Northern California is one of the sunniest places in the world.

A few other students walk toward the stone buildings or the lake, and it all looks so perfectly normal you’d forget this is a school for angels—until someone flies overhead, blocking the sun for a second with their large, outspread wings.

After taking a deep breath, I head toward an imposing building that looks like a gothic church made of pure white stone. It’s got the arches, the buttresses, the towers, the works. All it’s missing are the crosses or other religious symbolism, although a huge stained-glass window depicts an angel with shining wings and light emitting from his palms. Above it, the roof forms a point over a steepled bell tower—where three large, muscular men stand on the edge and stare down at me, as if unaware of the dangers of falling such a great distance.

Angels love to be up high, looking down at everyone else like the arrogant creatures they are. And I’m pretty sure those three men up there are the worst of them all, because they’re the sons of the Archangels.

They’re also my brother’s best friends.

And my main targets.

Chapter Four

Callan

I

cross my arms and gaze across the campus grounds like a king overlooking his domain. I can see everything clearly from up here in the bell tower, from the lake to the headmaster’s house to the parking lot. A few angels dart across the sky, but most of the students hurry across the lawn while carrying books, boxes, and other assorted things to the dorms. You can always tell the newbies because they’re scared to pull out their wings.