Feathers (8 page)

             
“Hey Dad, do you really think Sean would attempt to hurt me again?” I couldn’t help but ask as I laid down.

             
“I couldn’t say right now.  But you don’t have to worry about it.  Everything will be fine now.” Michael promised.

             
I really wanted to take that promise to heart as I went to sleep that night.  But I think I knew deep inside that all of this was only the beginning.

Six

              The night actually passed pretty quietly for me.  At least, I was able to get a good night’s sleep for the first time since everything had started.  I woke up the next morning actually feeling rather good.  Michael decided to take the day off as well, beings he wanted to get some things straight after what had happened the day before.  I didn’t know it at that time, but word had gotten around that “something” had happened at the school by then.  It was later that afternoon that I would hear all about it from Raziel.

             
Apparently, after I’d raced away from the school, someone had come into the art room and found it wreaked.  I hadn’t realized that when I’d run from Sean, he busted a few things in getting out to me.  One of the glass windows that looked out into the small garden area sitting in the middle of our school grounds was completely busted as though something had been thrown through it.  The room itself was in shambles too.  Several of the easels had been broken, and my poor painting had been broken as well.

             
I really wasn’t too keen on learning about my painting, but I was puzzled too.  I couldn’t imagine how Sean had managed so much destruction like Raziel was talking about.  Apparently, he wasn’t bluffing, because Anna also called me that afternoon to tell me all about it.  She had no idea that I had been involved though.  Raziel refused to tell her such a thing.  But then again, he couldn’t really tell her the truth either.  Anna had no idea of any of this.  She didn’t know what Sean really was, or what Raziel and I were to become.  I halfway wondered if he’d have to explain that much to her one day if he intended on staying with her.  It actually seemed like a given after what my father had told me the night before.

             
After school had let out, Michael took me down there to see for himself.  Beings I had been the last person in the art room as well, the principal had wanted to speak to me too.  I wasn’t sure of what Michael had told him about me being out that day.  Maybe he just winged it, for lack of a better term.  Either way, Mr. Hurst was waiting for us when we got there.  Of course, he showed the utmost respect to my father.  Perhaps it was a good thing when your dad was the most powerful man moneywise in town.

             
“You realize we’re not blaming Mia for any of this, but it does have us concerned.  This school has always been such a safe place before.  If someone tried to attack her, we should at least identify them.” Mr. Hurst said as we walked into the art room.  I had to admit, I was a little surprised at all the damage still there.  It looked like a tornado had ripped thru the middle of it.  But I felt myself freeze as I looked at one of the tables that had been broken and tossed to the side.  On the side of it, I could see claw marks.  And they looked
very
familiar.

             
Michael gave it all a distasteful look.  “I understand, but Mia has already told us everything she could.  And honestly, I can’t see just one person doing this much damage.  They must have come after she left.” He said.

             
“And she’s sure she saw no one here?” Mr. Hurst said.

             
At that, I remembered something very important.  My book bag. I’d left it there when I ran from Sean, only grabbing my purse because it had my keys in it.  But I didn’t see it anywhere.

             
“No.  She came home like normal.  Though she did stop by my office to help me with some things.” Michael lied.

             
“I’m sorry Mr. Hurst, but I really don’t know.  I left here like I always do, and there wasn’t anyone else here.” I apologized.

             
Mr. Hurst sighed.  “The police haven’t really found much either.  It’s just very strange.  Why would they pick just the art room to vandalize?” he wondered out loud.

             
I noticed Michael walk over beside me.  At that time, one of the secretaries called in on the speaker system.  “Mr. Hurst, the police are on the line for you.” She said.

             
“I’ll be right there.” Mr.  Hurst said.  “If you’ll excuse me for a moment.”

             
“Of course.” Michael agreed.

             
I watched as Mr. Hurst hurried back out.  “You planned that one, huh?” I guessed.

             
“Just tying up loose ends while we can.  After all, this certainly can’t go any further right now.  Things have their own balance in it all.” Michael said.  He walked over to the table near us where I saw the claw marks.  “Honestly Sean, you’ve shown no tact in this one at all.” He commented, holding his hand up to it.  To my surprise, they immediately burned off.

             
I shook my head, walking over to look out of the busted window.  “How’d he do this anyways?” I asked softly.

             
“Fox form.  Even as a half breed, Sean can transform.  Think of it as with a werewolf, only this time, you have a full fox.” Michael replied.

             
“So he’s like a werewolf?” I said.

             
“Not exactly how you’re probably thinking.  Sean can transform into a full fox that is the size of the average man.  If you were to see it, you would think it’s a giant fox basically.” Michael explained.

             
“Glad I didn’t see that much.” I muttered.  Now that I didn’t think I could’ve handled.  The golden eyes had almost done me in as it was.  I was kind of glad I was still in a bit of shock when I’d first seen my father’s wings the night before.  It gave me time to mull over it and accept it completely.

             
Michael looked around the room one more time.  “Well, there’s not much more we can do in here.  There’s no evidence now of Sean’s true nature, so we’ll get going.” He said.

             
I quietly followed him back out.  I was so glad we were there after school.  But as we came out to the parking lot, I saw that Raziel was sitting out there waiting for us.  “Still stubborn as ever Raziel.” Michael commented as he hopped out to come over to us.

             
“I’m not just leaving this alone when he attacked her.” He informed him.

             
“You have nothing to worry about now.  Things are being handled, and Mia will return to school Monday.” Michael assured him.

             
“But I don’t have that much time, remember?  And that fox can still approach her here.” Raziel argued.

             
“I don’t think he’ll do anything here Raziel.” I told him.  “And he did seem like he regretted it.”

             
“I’ll bet he did.” Raziel muttered, crossing his arms and looking away.  He was apparently in a mood again.  But I was beginning to understand now too.  Apparently, his back was hurting pretty badly.  I’d noticed he was wearing looser shirts now too.

             
“Why don’t you take Raziel home and I’ll meet you there Mia?  He probably shouldn’t be driving much anyways.” Michael suggested.

             
I didn’t really like the thought of driving that Lexus, but I couldn’t see myself saying no.  “All right.” I said.  I reached over and took Raziel’s arm.  “Come on.  Let’s go.”

             
Raziel shrugged slightly, but didn’t seem to protest.  Climbing into the Lexus, I frowned as I had to pull the seat up.  Raziel laughed as he turned to lean against his side.  “You’re so short, even for sixteen.” He teased.

             
“I can’t help it that I didn’t get the tall gene you all did.” I muttered.  I started the engine and sat there for a moment, telling myself I could do this.  It didn’t help that I knew I was driving a pretty expensive car.  I knew that my Mustang didn’t have the price tag this thing did.

             
“So, I guess the principal was thinking you knew more about it, huh?” Raziel said as we got back out onto the main road.

             
“A little.  But Michael told him that I didn’t.  He said that I was with him most of the afternoon, and I hadn’t seen anyone before I left the school.” I said.

             
“They’ll listen to him.  They always listen when Michael or Raphael speak.  It’s a perk of money around here.” Raziel said.

             
“So what about you?” I asked.  “Are you not going to be in school much longer?”

             
“Not gonna have a choice.  My back’s swollen as it is.  My dad said that this is the final part of it before my wings come.  Anyways, what about you?  You haven’t felt anything of yours yet?” Raziel asked.

             
I shook my head.  “No.  My back feels completely normal.” I admitted.

             
“Maybe it’s because your Michael’s daughter.  My dad said that Michael didn’t get his wings until late.  Maybe you’ll be the same way.” Raziel suggested.

             
“Hey Raziel.  I wanted to ask you about something.” I said softly.

             
“Fire away.” Raziel replied.

             
“The other day, when you said that you’d been having a bad day, was it because of that?” I asked.

             
Raziel seemed to think about it for a moment.  “Oh yeah.  You mean when my battery died.” He finally said.

             
“Yeah.” I said.

             
“Yep, it was.  That was the day the pain started.  I didn’t sleep all night before that because of it.  So I felt a little more then grumpy.  And now that stupid fox had to act up.  I’m telling you, this is all really bad timing.” Raziel complained.

             
“Did you know what Sean was before?” I couldn’t help but ask.  I had the feeling that I already knew the truth to that question, but I wanted to hear it from him.

             
“Of course I did.” Raziel replied.  “I knew about him from the day he came here.  My dad told me because he doesn’t trust him.  It was just Michael who allowed them to stay here.  I don’t know how he can trust something like that, especially now.”

             
“So that’s why you got so upset when he helped me before.” I mused.

             
Raziel sighed.  “I knew he had to be up to something.  Sean’s never shown an interest in anyone before.  I knew there had to be something more to that.  But I seriously didn’t think he would go that far as to attack you like that.  I’m sorry.  I should’ve stayed after all.”

             
I glanced over at him.  He did look pretty upset over the whole thing.  “It wasn’t your fault you know.  It’s not like you knew what he’d do.  Besides, I was the one who told you to go.” I said.

             
“Still doesn’t change it.” Raziel muttered, closing his eyes.

             
It didn’t take us long to get to his house.  Like Michael, Raphael lived in a very nice home set back in the woods.  Raziel’s room was on the second floor, like mine, and was just as big.  I ended up hanging out there for the rest of the day.  Raziel himself was a little out of it, but I didn’t mind too much.  I was more just enjoying the company and the peace and quiet.  Still, as he was sleeping, I found myself sitting by one of the windows and occasionally glancing out of the window.  I had been thinking a lot of what Michael had told me earlier.  Sean could turn into a giant fox.  I was wondering if maybe that was what I’d seen that one night outside of my window.  I had thought it had been a giant animal.  And now that I really thought about it, I had seen something the evening I came there as well.  It had been out by the woods, and I’d only seen it in the headlights for a fleeting second.  I had just assumed then that it was a deer.  But now, I really wasn’t sure.  Could Sean have been around then?  And were all my night terrors before because was he stalking me the whole time?

             
Sighing, I got up and walked back over to where Raziel was sleeping.  Lifting his shirt gently, I took a look at his back.  I almost cringed at his swollen shoulder blades.  Was this really going to happen to me too?  It was almost scary to me.  But picturing the wings my father had, it was fascinating too.  Raziel would be one of them soon.  And sometime soon, I would too.

             
The sound of the door opening made me sit back up.  “Mia, I think it’s time for you to head back now.  It’s getting late.” Raphael said as he stepped inside.

             
“Yes sir.” I agreed.  I had enough trust that he would make sure Raziel was all right now.  Obviously, Raphael would know full well what to expect with all of this.

             
But as I went to walk past him, Raphael stopped me for a moment.  “Mia, I know it probably goes without saying, but I think you should take heed of what you saw yesterday.  It would be better for you not to be around Sean Morrison where you can help it.  I won’t call him a terrible creature, but he certainly has no place around us.” He told me.

             
“I understand.  And really, I’m not sure I’d want to be around something like him anyways.” I assured him.