Rebirth - The Beautiful Fallen (42 page)

             
“Are you sure you’re going to be okay?” I asked, kneeling in front of him.  I was starting to get worried now.  I thought he should’ve been healing more.  Had he done more harm than good by getting me out of the way of that fight?

             
Will took a deep breath, looking back at me.  “It’s okay.  I’ll be fine.  I just shouldn’t have done so much so quick.  But I didn’t have a choice either.  I won’t let him hurt you just because he’s lost his temper.  That’s the biggest problem they have anymore.  They lose their tempers, then themselves.” He said, touching my cheek.

             
I leaned into the touch.  “I just don’t want you to die on me Will.  I’ve already lost so much.  I can’t handle anymore right now.” I admitted softly.

             
“It’s all right.  I’m not going to die.  I just need to take it easy for a little bit longer, then I’ll be fine.  I promise, I won’t leave you.” Will replied, leaning his head against mine.

             
I just sat there with my eyes closed, enjoying this closeness.  I’d always felt close to Will, although not quite this much.  There was a small piece of me that wondered if perhaps I was allowing myself to feel this more because Chris was gone.  If I’d never met Chris, or hadn’t met him first, would I have felt that same instant attraction to Will or Zane?  I’ve considered that a lot as I look back on this moment.  But having Chris in my life was still stopping me from allowing myself to think such things.  Even with this sweet closeness, I just couldn’t make myself feel like he was anything more than a good friend.

             
Another crash upstairs brought me back to reality.  Will looked back up towards the ceiling.  “I’m surprised she’s still that strong.” He admitted.

             
“It’s only the madness making her strong now.  It’s time to do what must be done.” Zane said.  We looked over to see him standing in the doorway with his arms crossed.  He actually looked a little disapproving as he watched us.  A piece of me wondered just how long he’d been there.

             
Will let out a shaky breath, forcing himself to stand back up with me.  “Yeah.  Good enough.  But I don’t think I’m in any shape to do it right now.” He admitted.

             
“I know.  You tore some of that wound back open when you flew back with her.  I could sense it.  But don’t worry about this.  She’s giving me a headache now, so I’ll do it.” Zane said.

             
“Don’t make her suffer anymore Zane.  Just do something quick and where she won’t be in pain.” I requested.

             
Zane just looked at me for a moment, then nodded.  “Fine.  I can do that.  But you should stay down here.  I don’t think you need to see this.” He suggested quietly.  It couldn't help but think though that his voice seemed a little more cold.  It made me wonder if Astaroth had done something else to him out there that we didn’t know about.  I couldn’t help but feel uneasy about that.

             
“Will?” I whispered as Zane turned swiftly and walked back out.

             
“It’s okay.” Will reassured me.  He gently put an arm around my shoulders to hug me close.  “He’ll be fine.  This is just the side of Zane that you don’t usually see.  He’s a little moody at times, especially when he father keeps showing up.  But he’ll get better later.”

             
I closed my eyes, turning into the embrace and holding him tightly.  I just wanted this night to be over now.  It had been way too much that day.  The strange meeting with Kinsley Martell, my mother’s madness, the fight with Astaroth.  I wasn’t sure that I could handle all of this now.  I was just a new Shadow Wing.  We couldn’t have gone through this much in such a short period of time when we were first born…

             
After another moment, the house became completely silent.  I think I knew then that Zane had finished it all.  I wanted to cry, but somehow, the tears wouldn’t come.  Instead, I found myself thinking that it was a relief.  Mama wasn’t suffering anymore.  We’d set her free from that.  I just wondered what would happen with her soul now that she’d died.  Would she get punished for helping a Fallen?  For practicing black magic?

             
Zane came back downstairs as I thought about this.  “All right.  I made it quick, so she didn’t feel a thing.  But I think it may be better if we just went ahead and buried her as well.  It would only be fitting now, considering all she’s done for our kind in the past.” He told us.  Thankfully, he seemed to be coming back to himself again.  His eyes were looking a little more gentle.

             
Will nodded back at him.  “Yeah.  But I don’t think I could be of much help with that tonight.  Why don’t we just leave the body locked up in that room and we’ll do it in the morning?” he suggested.

             
“Good enough.  It won’t hurt anything.” Zane agreed.  He then walked back over to me.  “I’m sorry about before.  I’ve been scaring you, haven’t I?” he continued.

             
I nodded slightly.  “A little bit.  I just want the old Zane back.” I replied.

             
“Okay.  I’m back now.  I’m sorry, I haven't been myself.  But sometimes I lose myself as well when things happen with Astaroth.  And it’s been a little stressful now with what happened to Christoff.  Just give me time.  I promise I’ll come back around.” Zane promised.

             
Well, that sounded more like the Zane I’d come to know.  It was a relief.  At least he was coming back to being himself.  I just hoped that he wouldn’t do anymore of this losing himself for a long time.  That was kind of scary.  I didn’t like thinking that he might turn on us with it.

             
“So, what’s the plan now?  You must know that Saffron’s decided that he’s leaving us for now.” Will said.

             
“I figured as much.  After all, he’s not that different from the rest of them when it comes down to it.  And more than likely, he’s looking into what’s going on about this Seraph as well.  They all may eventually be looking once they hear of it.  If what that Seraph said was true, then it will affect them as well.” Zane told him.

             
“How?” I asked.  I hadn’t really thought about that part of it.  Although I had the feeling that it might affect them more then I imagined at first.

             
“Well, if they manage to say that we don’t need to be destroyed, then we’ll fall under the same rules as everything else that exists.  And with that, it means that they cannot try to harm us without probable cause or they’ll face retribution.  As you’d imagine, that would put a real damper on the ones like my father.  It even affects the ones like Jade and Saffron, considering that they can turn on us if they lose their tempers.  If we are under the same rules, it could end up driving them away.” Zane explained.

             
“No kidding.  They’ll probably fight it if the issue’s pushed.  I know my dad will.  He’s always said that he won’t let anything stand in the way of him seeing his offspring if he desires it.” Will agreed.

             
“You’re dad?” I said, looking up at him.  I felt the instant chill go through me, despite the warm embrace I was still in.

             
“Trust me, you don’t need to know any more about him right now.  Besides, he’s the least of our worries.  He never comes around any of the other Shadow Wings except for me.  And to be honest with you, I think at this point, he can’t even stand me anymore.  But I count that as a good thing.” Will admitted.  It seemed like he was trying to downplay what I knew now.  Not that I blamed him.  He was still worrying about scaring me too much.

             
“Back to the present though.” Zane interrupted.  “We still need to figure out our next move, beings Saffron has left once again.  I don’t believe that it would be in our best interest to stay in Baton Rouge.  It’s not plausible, considering all that’s happened.”

             
Will and I both nodded in agreement.  “But where should we go?  Is there any place that can really be safe?” I asked him.

             
“We could always go north again.  You and I have some pretty nice pent houses up in New York City.  And it’s crowded enough there that it would be difficult for them to stage any real attacks on us without causing a major issue.” Will suggested.

             
Zane gave him a knowing smile.  “You just want to get back up there to your private studio with her, don’t you?” he guessed.

             
“It wouldn’t hurt anything.  After all, I think Ariana would make a lovely subject for a shoot.” Will replied, smiling back at him.

             
“Huh?” I said, not quite following them.

             
Zane actually laughed a little.  “I guess you didn’t realize it.  Will’s biggest hobby in recent years has been photography.  He’s always loved doing independent fashion shoots.   So he had another private studio in New York for that for a while.” He told me.

             
“Really?  You never told me about that one before.” I said, looking back at Will and crossing my arms.  In a way, I felt a little upset.  I would’ve loved to know that.  But then again, I found that I really didn’t know that much about Will in the end.  How strange, when he seemed like the closest to me now.

             
“Guess I just forgot about it.  It’s been a long time since I’ve been back to that one.  I shut it down back when I decided to come down here with Zane.  I just thought it would be a better change of pace.  New York City does tend to be hectic.” Will admitted.

             
“Still, it would be the better option now if we really consider everything.  It’s a large city that’s close in quarters.  They wouldn’t be so apt to go after the ones like us there.  So we can use our time there to regroup and figure out what it is that we want to do next.” Zane said.

             
“Well, I’m game.  I don’t think I want to stay down here after all of this.  No offense, but all I’ve seen in Baton Rouge is a lot of horror.” I told them.

             
“None taken.  Trust me, I know exactly what you mean by it.” Zane agreed.

             
Will let out a long breath, rubbing his chest again.  “All right.  Then we’ll go to New York City in a few days.  But right now, I think I’d better get some rest.  This still hurts like hell.” He said, a little strain coming into his voice.

             
“Come on.  I’ll help you.” I said, taking his arm.

             
Zane watched for a moment, then walked over to help as well.  Will walked pretty well with us up the stairs though.  Helping him lay down in his bed, I took a seat beside him as Zane made sure all of the curtains were closed.  “You should make sure you get a good night’s sleep tonight Wilhelm.  We’ll have a lot to do in the coming days.” He said.

             
“I’ll try.  Just don’t do anything stupid tonight.” Will replied, looking back over at him.

             
“Not at all.  I plan on getting my rest as well.” Zane said.  He walked over and gently rubbed my shoulder.  “Try to rest yourself tonight Ariana.  And if you need anything, don’t hesitate to find me.”

             
I nodded.  “Okay.  Thanks Zane.” I said.

             
Zane nodded, then walked out, closing the door behind him.  I looked back at Will, feeling bad for him now.  It was obvious that he was in terrible pain again.  He tried hard to hide it, but I could see it in his eyes.  “You know, you don’t have to hide how bad this is.  I can still help you some.” I said, laying my hand on his chest again.

             
“I know.  I guess it’s just the man in me though.  I’ve never liked admitting that something hurt me that bad.” Will sighed in relief. 

             
“You’re all stubborn, aren’t you?  But I guess that comes with living as long as you have.  I never would’ve thought that you all were that old just by looking at you.” I noted.

             
Will smiled back at me.  “I’ve always counted that as a good thing.  And I bet that Chris and Zane do as well.  I don’t think anybody ever wants to get old.  We’re just lucky that way.” He said.

             
“Well maybe.  But I think there’s a dignity too in getting old.  It shows how much life you’ve had.  I’m sure that a lot of people look at us and think the wrong things because we look so young.  Well, with you and Zane that is, and I guess with Chris before.” I said, adding in the last part.

             
“You might be right.  At least, I know what you mean.  But there’s always advantages to everything.” Will said.

             
I couldn’t help but let out an exhausted sigh then.  For some reason, I felt it all catching up with me.  “Hey Will, do you think this was all my fault?” I asked him quietly.

             
“What do you mean?” Will asked, looking a little surprised.

             
“If Chris hadn’t come after me, if he hadn’t brought me back here, maybe they wouldn’t have come after everyone again.  Maybe that angel wouldn’t have tried to trick you.” I clarified.