Chapter Two

“Now Luci, all you have to do is imagine the feathers disappearing,” my father told me.

I closed my eyes and did as he said.

When I heard him clap, I opened my eyes and glanced over my shoulder. The wings that were normally there were gone.

I gasped in shock and turned around to see my back in the mirror. There were two pale marks near my shoulder blades. They looked like scars.

“Daddy! Daddy! I want them back!” I said, starting to cry.

“Don’t cry dear, now do the same, picture them coming back,” he told me.

I took a deep breath and nodded, giggling when he wiped the tears off my cheeks.

Closing my eyes, I imagined the feathers of my wings slowly coming back. I could feel when they returned and opened my eyes with a squeal of delight.

My wings were big and very strong. The tips touched my heels and when I stretched them out they were almost 5 meters across.

I brought one of my wings around in front of me so I could stroke the plush feathers. The feathers were white but faded to black at the edges. They looked like they were burned.

“Can we go out yet?” I asked, running to the window.

The sun was just setting, giving me a perfect view of it over the lake.

He ruffled my hair making me growl. “Yes my little demon,” he chuckled, “let me get your mother.”

I cried out gleefully and jumped up and down in excitement.

He walked out of the living room to the kitchen where my mother was cooking. He returned with her by his side and I ran over to give her a hug.

“Come on mommy!” I giggled, grabbing her hand. She laughed and let me pull her out the door.

As soon as we walked outside, the wind from over the lake hit us. It was chilly at first but the sun quickly warmed my skin again. I dashed to the water and stuck my hands in it.

I pulled them out with a high-pitched squeal. “It’s cold!” I shrieked, making my parents laugh.

I dried my hands on my pants then skipped back over to them, letting my wings stretch out.

I watched my father roll his shoulders and black and silver marbled wings appeared behind him. They were massive, dragging on the ground behind him and spanning more than a dozen meters across. They were fluffy and very powerful and there was a sound like thunder when he unfurled them.

My mother let out her pure white wings as well. They were not as big as my fathers but she had to hold them quite awkwardly to keep the tips from resting on the ground. I desperately searched for a hint of color among the sleek feathers but I found nothing; they were so white it almost hurt to look directly at them.

I stood between my parents as they faced each other. Their wings spread out to their full size, and in a single sweep, they were lifted off the ground.

I gasped at the force of the wind that hit me; I stumbled and nearly fell over as the gust caught my wings.

I watched in awe as they circled around each other, soaring higher into the sky. I extended my wings and took a deep breath before letting them lift me off the ground.

I had flown before, but not very high. I used long, powerful strokes and somehow reached my parents.

Clouds swirled around us and I could feel the air getting colder and thinner.

They smiled at me and I closed my eyes in pure bliss. I sucked in a breath of the freezing air and flew a little higher above my parents before folding my wings.

I fell. The air rushed past me for less than a second before I landed in a pair of strong arms. My father’s grinning face hovered over me and I couldn’t help but smile back.

“I love you daddy,” I murmured, sitting up to place a kiss on my dad’s cheek.

He chuckled, pressing a long kiss onto my forehead. “I love you too Luci,” he said.

“I love you mommy.”

She smiled softly. “I love you too baby,” she whispered.

I put my fingers to my lips and blew her a kiss.

She pretended to catch it and put the hand over her heart. I caught her kiss before closing my eyes.

I let the rhythmic pounding of my parents’ wings lull me to sleep.

---

My eyes slowly peel open, squinting against the harsh light entering my room. I sit up with a groan, then smile when I remember my dream.

I miss you mom and dad, I call out in my mind, hoping that somehow they could hear me.

I glance at the clock on the wall. 5:45.

At 7:00, I will meet the person who has the power to completely destroy my life. “I hope she is nice at least,” I mutter as I jump down from the bunk and pull out my clothes.

I take a quick shower then dry myself off. I opt for a cooler outfit: a T-shirt and thin sweatpants with a light jacket on top.

I comb through my tangled hair until it falls in ringlets that I tuck into the hood of my jacket.

I desperately wish I could wear shorts or a tank top but the Council mandates I wear baggy clothes because my body is “too perfect”. I remember yelling at them when I heard their ridiculous explanation.

I understand I look a little different but who is going to automatically assume I’m a hybrid simply because my body is nice?

The Council disregards everything I say though. I offer up solutions to problems and they ignore me. It was so frustrating that I often lost my temper and my manners.

I have been before the Council so many times though that now I can disrespect them all I want and they don’t even try to punish me. It didn’t exactly deter me the first few times.

I leave my room at 6:15, grateful that most of the angels are still asleep.

I walked upstairs to the third floor, easily finding my way to the teachers’ lounge. Luckily I am the only student who has access to it, it’s the only place—aside from my room—where I can escape from the students without having to leave the school.

Swiping my wrist across the sensor, I hear a click and walk in. There are only a few teachers that barely throw me a glance before returning to their activities.

One is doing a puzzle, another is watching the television, and one teacher is even playing a game on the computer. I frown a little. They’re so pathetic . . .

I snatch an apple from the kitchen counter and bite into it, holding it in my mouth while I make coffee in a to-go cup.

“Are you supposed to be in here?”

I whip around, nearly spilling my drink, to see a stranger.

My eyes are instantly drawn to his dark brown wings, an uncommon color even for a dark angel. His hair and eyes are normal making me frown. I think a small part of me was actually hoping to see someone that was different.

“Hello?” He asks.

I shake my head to clear my thoughts and offer up an innocent shrug. “Uh technically no, but no one is going to try to stop me.”

His eyebrow shoots up. “Is that so?” He says in an amused tone.

“Yes, now I don’t mean to be rude but, who are you?” I question, taking another bite of my apple.

“Lucas Night, I’m the new flying instructor as of yesterday,” he informs me and I shake his outstretched hand.

“Well that explains why I wouldn’t have seen you, I skipped your class yesterday,” I say.

He frowns. “Why would you skip Flight class?” He asks.

Of course he asks that, I think with a roll of my eyes. Flight is everyone’s favorite class so nobody skips it.

“Have you spoken to the headmaster or the Council yet?” I ask sipping my coffee.

He shakes his head with a confused look.

“Okay then, let’s go,” I say and start to walk away. I toss the core of my apple in the trash and wave him towards the door.

“Wait what?”

“Just follow me,” I sigh and lead him towards the stairs. There is no way I am going to try to explain this again. Last time the teacher thought I was full of shit and wanted to have me suspended for trying to cause trouble.

“Why are you using the stairs?” He asks, hesitantly following behind me.

“They’ll explain everything in a minute just calm down,” I snap. I knock on the door at the end of the hall three times and wait for an answer.

When I am met with silence, I flash my wrist across the sensor and walk in.

“What are you doing? How do you have clearance for the headmaster’s office?” He hisses.

I roll my eyes and see the headmaster suddenly walk in from his connected room.

He doesn’t look surprised to see me even though I am here 30 minutes earlier than he told me to be. He gives me a quick smile and sits down in his desk chair.

“Hood?” he asks with a pointed glare.

I clench my jaw and pull it down.

“Is there any particular reason Mr. Night is here?” He asks.

“He doesn’t know about me yet, so I thought I might bring him here, since I will actually be attending his class today,” I say with an obnoxious smile.

“Of course, Lucas this is Luciana Morgenstern. She is our special student,” he says, motioning for the man to sit.

“Special?” He asks with furrowed brows.

“She is a hybrid. Mother was a Light Angel, father a Dark,” the headmaster explains.

Mr. Night’s eyes widen and I sit down on the couch, watching with a bemused smirk. After all these years, they’re still terrified of hybrids. Even an adolescent one.

“Wait—so uh, what are your wings like?” He stutters.

“Haven’t you noticed?” I ask with a raised eyebrow.

He seems to snap out of his fearful state for a moment to stare dumbly at me.

I roll my eyes. “I don’t have any,” I state in a matter-of-factly tone.

“Why not?”

“They were taken,” I tell him.

“By whom?” He asks and I throw my hands up in exasperation.

“Oh my god, stop asking stupid questions! You just talk to him, I’m done!” I huff, wildly waving a hand at Mr. Woodrow and resort to finishing my coffee. I grimace at the bitter dregs remaining in my cup then toss it in the trash.

The headmaster tries to explain everything to Mr. Night while I go to the mini-fridge behind his desk.

I look inside but all I see are cans of coke and lemonade, Mr. Woodrow’s favorites.

“Hey, where did it go? You aren’t trying to cut me off again are you?” I ask the headmaster with narrowed eyes, interrupting his conversation.

“The decanter on the shelf,” he tells me before returning to his explanation. I move to the shelf and smirk when I find what I was looking for.

I grab the bottle and take off the top before swallowing a big gulp. The amber liquid sends a burning sensation down my throat making me smile in pleasure.

“Is she allowed to be drinking that?” I hear Mr. Night ask.

“Do you ever stop asking questions?” I retort taking another pull.

“Ms. Morgenstern has certain privileges due to her lack of wings and other necessities,” the headmaster explains.

“Like drinking fire-water?” He snorts.

“Yup,” I say popping the ‘p’. A smug grin makes its way onto my face and I take another swig from my bottle.

“You’re a spoiled brat,” Mr. Night says, making me stick my tongue out at him.

“Well, if you got your wings taken at eight years old, wouldn’t you try to make the most of the rest of your life?” I snap.

“Eight years old? What the hell did you do?” He asks in confusion.

“I was born,” I deadpan before tipping the decanter up again.

“If you need anything Lucas don’t hesitate to ask, but I’m afraid I’m going to have to ask you to leave. We are expecting someone and I believe you have a class in a half hour,” Mr. Woodrow says as he stands to shake his hand.

I throw a dirty look at Mr. Night as he leaves. A heavy sigh escapes my lips when the door finally closes behind him. “I don’t like him,” I mutter leaning against the wall.

“Don’t worry the feeling is mutual,” the headmaster chuckles.

I roll my eyes and take another drink of the fire-water.

A knock sounds at the door and I instinctively yank my hood up. Mr. Woodrow stands and opens the door to reveal Julie. She stands beside another member of the Council, Jakob. His dark grey wings are small, they make him look absolutely tiny next to Julie.

He glances briefly at me as he steps inside and I clench my jaw at the obvious disgust in his gaze. Julie offers me a sympathetic smile before following him in.

My eyes snap to the girl behind them. I feel my breath catch in my throat.

Her black eyes gleam like obsidian—the same color as her wings and her hair. Her face is literally flawless and I can honestly say she’s the prettiest girl I’ve ever seen.

She looks right at me and my eyebrows furrow. Something about her is different, and kinda familiar, I think.

Mr. Woodrow clears his throat. “Diana this is Luciana Morgenstern. Luciana, this is Diana Winters.”