Chapter 4 - Decisions

Marina

After Gustav has returned me to my parent’s tent, I search for my mother. My father tries to place his hand on my shoulder, but I push him away.

My father can punish me later. I’m boiling with rage, close to flipping tables. Finding my mother is the only thing on my mind. She might be the only one able to clear the fog inside my head.

“Marina!” My father roars, clearly upset with me. “Is it true that you removed the muzzle from the angel? He is a prisoner, for god’s sake!”

Ignoring him, I rush out of the tent and enter another. My mother is brushing her hair inside. I detect her eyes admiring her own reflection. She was always pretty, way prettier than me, with defined cheekbones and shining hair.

“Marina?” She turns around with an astonished expression. “Is something the matter?”

My father stops by the entrance to the tent. Like always, he will let my mother take care of things, but this time I won’t let her voice be louder than my own. John’s life is in danger, and my mother might be the only one who can save him.

“Is it true?” I snap at her and glance at my father, then back at my mother with seething rage. “Is Jenny only my half-sister? Did you sleep with an angel?”

When I say those words, I can hear a sigh coming from behind me. Turning around, I notice my father has already walked out of the tent.

“He already knew,” My mother mutters.

I look back at my mother. Her expression is darkening, and her eyes are still on the floor as if she is in deep thought.

“I suppose there is no use in hiding it anymore. I was the angel king’s destiny-chosen mate, and the mate-bond is hard to resist, Marina,”

I shake my head at her, not wanting to believe want I’m hearing. “So you cheated?” I shake my head, about to go up in flames. “Jenny is one year younger than me!”

Guilt flashes in her eyes, but I don’t feel bad for yelling at her. Cheating is the worst kind of betrayal. I have friends whose entire lives turned into hell because of an affair. And I always considered myself lucky that my parents were still together.

What a fool I was...

My mother is a cheater too!

“How does that even work, by the way?” I laugh out loud, entertained by the idea of a human having sex with an enormous angel. “Sleeping with an angel... How is that possible?”

Wrath floods my mother’s face. I’ve hit a nerve. Good. I want her to yell at me too, for once, fight with me and be an average human with emotions.

I’m tired of her picture-perfect smile. She always acts so perfect, and gosh... I can’t believe she wanted me to marry someone against my will when she couldn’t stay faithful to the man her parents forced her to marry! The irony is hilarious.

“There are special necklaces sold on the markets on the surface that can make its wearer turn into a human,” My mother mumbles.

There are markets on the surface? Fuck me. There are so many things I don’t know about my world.

Never in my entire life have I climbed up to the surface. I haven’t seen the sun or felt this thing called ‘grass’ beneath my feet. For years I thought humans were the only intelligent civilization left, yet my curiosity only grew the more I learned about the surface.

“There are markets on the surface?” I ask.

My mother nods. “Other humans too,”

I stare at her for a long second but quickly regain my composure. This isn’t the time to ask her about the surface!

I return to our old topic. “I can’t believe you cheated on dad...”

“It was a mistake. Your father has forgiven me already,” My mother says. “And he raised Jenny as his own daughter. I don’t know why she left, but I’m sure she had her reasons,”

I gasp. “Jenny knew the truth?”

“She did,”

“So I was the only one left in the dark?” I can’t believe this.

My mother grimaces before answering. “Yes,”

“Why?”

“Because you are a normal human, Marina. You deserve to have a normal human life and be happy!”

“But I’m not happy!” I exclaim with tears tingling at the back of my eyes. Frustration is rampaging within me, causing my heart to run wild. “I deserved to know that Jenny was still alive! How could you keep the truth away from me? Why didn’t you tell me she was half-angel?! I’ve mourned her for years!”

My mother opens her mouth to speak, but I hush her with my hand. I’m tired of listening to her. It’s my turn to raise my voice, and this time my mother better listen, or else I’m leaving this hellhole of a mountain behind!

“And that angel they are keeping for a prisoner? He is her future husband! He came to invite me to their fucking wedding, and that’s how I know the truth!”

“Marina...” My mother looks broken. Her eyes are watering, and her hands are trembling as she tries to reach for me. I evade her touch, convinced I don’t need her comfort.

“They are burning him tonight,” More tears run down my cheek. I can’t help them from falling. “But he has done nothing wrong! His eyes are blue, and his name is John,”

My mother looks shocked. “You talked to him?”

“Yes!” I glare at her. “Why is that such a surprise?”

Her eyes cloud with silent emotion, and her lips tremble under her nose. “Angels don’t speak the same language as us, dear,”

I snort. “What are you talking about? John spoke perfect English!”

Smiling, my mother looks up at me with furrowed eyebrows. Her lips might be curled, but her expression looks sad. “Marina, there is only one explanation that you can understand him; it means your mate is an angel. You are the destiny-chosen mate for one of them,”

Dumbfounded, I stare at her with wide eyes. “I don’t understand...”

“Angels have their own language, dear,” My mother explains and inhales deeply before she continues speaking. “But if their mate is of another species, their mate can speak their language,”

“Oh...” Hope awakens within me then. All of this recent information has confused me, but there is one good thing I can make of this. “Does that mean I don’t have to marry Rain?”

“No,” My mother glares at me with a stern face. “The angel world is harsh, and most angels are heartless, Marina. You are better off living among your own kind. A normal human girl wouldn’t last a day out there,”

“Maybe,” I tell her. “But I still want to see my sister again. I want to see Jenny, hold her hand, and laugh again. John promised he could take me to see her, and he is different! He isn’t heartless, or cold, or mean. He is funny and-...”

I stop talking when my mother observes me with knowing eyes. She isn’t smiling, but her stern expression tells me she knows something I don’t, and suddenly the tent feels larger, colder somehow.

“What did you feel the first time when you looked at John?”

My mother looks menacing, the friendliness swept away from her eyes. I don’t understand why, but her question makes me draw a defensive stance. My heart is pounding, eyes arrested by my mother’s fierce green.

“What do you mean?” I ask.

Concern floods her face. “If you visit your sister and it turns out this angel named John is your mate, then your sister might get rid of you to break your mate-bond,”

“What?” I exclaim. “That’s ridiculous...”

There are no signs of dishonesty on my mother’s face. I stare into her eyes, but no matter how hard I search, I can’t find a trace of the lie I’m trying to find. She spoke the truth, and yet I don’t want to believe her. My sister isn’t an evil person!

“You haven’t seen her in years,” My mother speaks in a calm voice.

I shake my head, refusing to hear her. “My sister wouldn’t hurt me!”

My mother looks broken, murkier than her usual happy self. “It would surprise you, honey. The angel world can be ruthless. In their eyes, power is the most important, love comes second. It’s rare for an angel to even care about finding its mate. Most angels marry each other for power, neglecting their mate,”

“That’s terrible!” I exclaim. “Jenny wouldn’t murder me to marry John. He isn’t even that special! And he is not my mate!”

“Are you sure about that?” My mother studies me with mysterious eyes. “Also, angels inherit some of their partner’s abilities when they marry each other. That’s why most of them have given up on finding their mate and instead seek a powerful partner,”

Uncertainty fills me when I suddenly remember John telling me something about my sister only wanting to marry him for his abilities. Maybe my mother is right. John called my sister a tyrannical leader...

“I want to see her,” I glance at my mother, then let my eyes fall to the floor. My heart is aching, begging me to find my sister. Back in the day, we were inseparable. “If I see her again, then I can decide for myself if she is dangerous-...”

“No!” My mother shakes her head abruptly. “You might not survive the first few moments around her. It’s not safe seeing her, Marina!”

I swallow thickly. This is a lot to take in. It’s as if my life has turned into a real-life drama.

“Fine,” My voice is shaky and sad. “I won’t find my sister, but I can’t let them burn John!”

“You already care about the angel?”

“Yes...” I smile when his face enters my mind. “He quickly became a friend. We talked, and we instantly clicked. I teased him, he teased me back... It was easy talking to him,”

Looking up, I notice my mother is smiling bitterly at me. Her lips are curled, yet her eyes have a sad glow to them.

“If you want to save him...” She seems to hesitate at first, but then she forces herself to speak the words waiting to be said without meeting my gaze. “Then offer him some of your blood. Angels turn more powerful after having had human blood, and you don’t have to cut that deep. A few drops will do,”

“But the guards...”

My mother laughs. “You are a clever girl, Marina. Come up with something to draw their attention. I can’t help you with this since I don’t see the point in saving an angel, but I will handle your father if he wishes to punish you later,”

Smiling, I collect my bravery to leave the tent. I don’t know how to save John, but arguing with my mother will save no one.

“I will give it a shot,”