Winged Warrior

Chapter 7: Undone

His large, rough hands gently brushed away the wispy stray hair from her face. He gently caressed her soft, flushed cheeks causing warmth to flood her senses. His touch--intoxicating. Their eyes never left one another, captivating the two with the ability to read and feel the other's emotions and desires.

He reached for her collar and gently untied her cape, allowing it to fall to the floor, exposing magnificent, white, feathered wings. She broke eye contact, shamefully looking to the floor. However, he gently lifted her chin to meet her gaze once again. He spoke, but she couldn't hear him.

His hands trailed down her blouse, unbuttoning it slowly. He stopped at her belly button and gracefully traced his index finger upwards, revealing her grey bra and small, round breasts. He gently pushed her shirt off her shoulders and graced her collarbone with dozens of kisses.

Her flesh burned where he littered her with sweet kisses, moving higher to her jaw, and pausing before her delicate pouted lips. She exhaled a soft moan, wanting more.

He froze and whispered something, but she only heard the ringing of silence.

She wanted to beg him to continue, but he suddenly began to pull away, "Riftan?"

Skye awoke. Feeling...Disappointed? No, definitely disturbed. Right?

Today she had put more effort into her appearance than she normally would. Jesse had gifted her a hair curler. So Skye enriched her strands with ringlets. Though, she felt they wouldn't last the morning with the damp weather.

First period: The history of Anasidora, yet again, proved to be fascinating. The lecture surrounded how the Great War had begun.

Mr. Garcia explained how the vampire race began a dispute with the fairies after the fairies could no longer supply the vampires with sufficient magic supplies. Supplies such as a serum that suppressed their constant hunger. As hunger made the vampire race act more rashly, they acted upon their frustrations by attacking fairies site unseen. With the retaliation of the fairies--rightly so, they began to not only defend themselves but seek revenge.

Many other nations of beasts and beings sided with the fae; however, beings such as the sirens, and even some humans sided with the vampires. Plus with the vampires' ability to create more vampires through a series of biting and blood exchange, they managed to create an army equal to that of their foes. Thus the beginning of the fourteen-year great war of Anasidora.

Mr. Garcia spoke of many events that had taken place during the war, such as the capture and annihilation of a southern werewolf pack, and the tragedy that took place in a mall full of morphic. He explained how distrust became more prominent amongst beings and the disassociation that took place, many preferring to mostly "keep with their kind".

A specific event made Skye's blood run cold. The destruction of the Feniks. A race consisting of angel-like beings who possessed powerful abilities of creation and life. A secretive race who remained very private about their lifestyles, due to being exploited in the past.

History was unsure of what exactly happened to the Fenik race, it is suspected that the attack of the Feniks took place in the middle of the night, 13 years ago.

The entire community had been destroyed and was discovered days after it had happened with no trace of who or what could do such a thing. Mr. Garcia spared the horrific details of the scene that was left behind. But, Skye knew.

He continued with common theories regarding the Fenik. Such as, they were killed to prevent them from siding and participating in the fae's battles, by healing and reviving the fallen. Others theorized that the Fenik would even go as far as to fake their destruction to hide their existence--Skye wished that was the truth. The most popularized theory was that many of the Fenik who were not killed had been captured and enslaved, forced to heal the injured enemy troops. The vampires' healing ability contradicts this theory, however.

Skye only knew what had happened to her. Her Uncle had informed her long ago that everyone she loved and knew was dead. She had been taken, tortured, and held against her will. Her captors not only abused her abilities for every scratch and bruise, but they hung her from the ceiling in a cage like a bird--like a prize. She rarely saw her captors, having been blindfolded or blinded by bright lights while she sat in her cage.

Barely old enough to tie her own shoes, Skye's captors dressed her in exotic shreds of clothing and paraded her around to their friends.

Her father's oldest and most trusted friend, Conrad, rescued her after nine months of torture. He raised her and kept her safe, constantly moving, and always showing up to rescue her if they were ever discovered.

She missed Uncle Rad.

As curiosities rose, students spewed questions about the Fenik race. "Were they descendants of angels?" No, they were more relatable to the morphic beings but possessed great healing powers.

"Were there any Fenik sitings since their demise, or known survivors?" There were no verified sitings or knowledge of any survivors.

It felt as though a ton of bricks laid on her chest. Her shallow breaths quickened but her lungs couldn't catch a single breath. Skye's vision blurred as her head spun. She dropped her face into her hands, propping herself up with her elbows. Her thoughts spiraled and she began to sweat uncontrollably. She felt a thousand eyes on her, but couldn't lift her own to confirm her prying peers.

Jesse nudged her, breaking her from her delirium. Her gaze read concern, as she dipped her head questioning if Skye was okay.

She breathed, finally filling her deprived lungs, and gave a quick nod in return, just so happening to catch Riftan turning back towards the front of the room.

She was relieved that the subject had switched to the vampire race, but still struggled to focus on Mr. Garcia's words. One thing she did learn, however, was that the vampire race was forbidden to attend the academy, and had been shunned from practically every land in Anasidora since the Great War--that explained their numbers in the human realm.

Once classes ended for the day, and Skye finally managed to shake off Emery, she ventured to the committee room to join in the next "bringing together" event. The bake sale was a blast, so she was excited about what was next.

She entered the room, clearly a little late since they had begun without her. She silently swished her cape aside and took the empty seat closest to the rear right corner, mouthing "sorry" when her chair squeaked.

Comfortable, Skye listened intently, "Now, Halloween is approaching and we have been given permission for the first time in...literally forever, to celebrate it," A young man with tusks spoke, "So we should do something big! Like a dance or a costume party."

"We should totally have a dance!" A girl near the front of the room chimed. Many students nodded and murmured in agreement.

"How about a formal ball? This is a big deal, y'know?"

A girl gasped, startling Skye, "A masquerade ball! People dress up, and wear masks, but still look gooooood!" She held her "o" before cutting it off with a heavy "duh".

It was then agreed upon, and to be announced the following day: The academy will be hosting a masquerade ball on the 31st. The dress code entailed that a mask is to be worn.

Skye had never gone to a dance, or a ball, or whatever it was. But, if food is there, she will be too.

The committee assigned roles, leaving Skye with cleanup once the dance was over. She was a little disappointed, having wanted to secretly help with the planning portion of the event. She accepted her fate.

Skye made another trip to the library, having quickly become a regular. She had even struck up a somewhat friendly relationship with the "grumpy" fairy librarian.

Later, when she sat down for supper with Jesse in the cafeteria to tell her the upcoming news, Skye nearly jumped from her seat when Jesse squealed like nails on a chalkboard. "Shushshsh," Skye wrung her hands, "nobody outside of the committee knows yet. They're announcing it tomorrow."

"Please.." Jesse scoffed, rolling her eyes, "I'd be shocked if half the school didn't know already." They giggled.

"True."

"Well," Jesse wiggled her brows, "You know what this means, right?"

Skye gave her a puzzled look.

"Shopping!" She sang. "Gotta look good for our dates." She happily wriggled in her seat.

"Oh-ho, I can only imagine who you may have in mind," Skye teased.

Jesse wrinkled her nose in excitement, " I betcha Emery will ask you. He hasn't exactly been subtle." She winked.

Skye laughed, holding up a spoon of mashed potatoes, threatening to catapult it at her friend.

"Okay! Okay! I'm sorry!" Jesse used her hands to block her face, laughing.

Skye happened to glance in time to see Becca sneer and laugh obnoxiously in their direction before continuing her conversation with some unfamiliar faces. Possibly fellow pack members? Eh, who cares.

As the girls made shopping plans, Skye couldn't help but notice a napkin drift from the edge of her table and onto the floor, she leaned over to pick it up, and felt a slight swish past her along with a whiff of body odor, like sweat. When she looked at who it could be, there was no one. No one she could see at least. Her immediate thoughts drifted to the invisible boy, Levi, but she also wondered if there were other invisible people at the academy. She blocked out her disgust at him walking around watching people while clothesless. Even more so, the possibility that he was the one who invaded her privacy and snooped through her belongings. She shuddered. Gross.

He would remain on the top of her suspect list.

As the girls prepared to part ways, Emery snuck up on Skye. "Hi, Emery," Sensing his presence, she smiled, looking to the ceiling before turning around.

He greeted her with a smile; however, something was off. His interaction seemed more forced than usual.

Jesse waved and walked off.

"What's up?" Skye peeked at him curiously.

"Nothin', just a little stressed. My pops took a tumble earlier."

"Oh man, is he okay?"

"Yeah, yeah. He sprained his wrist trying to catch himself, but he's good." He sighed, running his fingers through his messy blonde locks, "I keep telling the old man he needs to retire, but he's stubborn."

"Does he do hard labor?" Skye asked.

"Yeah," he chuckled, " I'd say so. He tends to the academy's gardens practically by himself."

Skye's jaw fell open, "You're Sam's grandson?! The one he's mentoring?"

Emery raised his brows in surprise, "You've met him?"

"Yeah! I met him the day I bumped into you."

Skye paused, her eyes widening, "You're a wielder?"

He snickered, "In training," He scratched his head bashfully.

"You'll have to show me sometime!" She smiled, giving him a nudge, "I'm glad Sam is okay."

Emery winked, "We could make it a date."

Skye chuckled, shrugging off her nerves.

She suddenly felt an aggressive shove from behind, pushing her straight into unsuspecting Emery. He braced himself for their fall, landing on his back with a heavy thud. "Umph!"

Skye sat up, "Are you okay?!" She swiveled her head, looking for the culprit, but her eyes only met those who had gathered to laugh. Her first thought drifted to Becca as the offender; however, she stood just far enough away that she couldn't have possibly moved that fast. They made eye contact, "Wow," Becca hissed, "You don't miss a beat, little shrew!" More laughs.

Still atop Emery, she looks down at his red face. His brown eyes searched hers, "You okay?" His calm voice cooed.

Skye's heart thudded and she sprang to her feet, offering him a hand. Keeping her chin high, and ignoring her onlookers. Her cheeks and ears burned.

Once Emery was on his feet, Skye had to ask, "Did you happen to see who pushed me?"

"You mean you didn't suddenly find me irresistible?" He smoldered, grabbing his chin.

"Pfft! You wish!" Skye laughed, giving him a light shove.

"No though, I didn't see anyone."

She watched as the crowd dispersed, catching a glimpse of Riftan as he walked out a set of double doors.

Skye didn't mean to notice, but somehow she was drawn to him. Though, she would never admit that. She had no plans on joining the "Riftan fan club".

But, her gut told her that the feeling may be mutual.