Eternally Yours (6 page)

Okay...nice change of subject. What the heck? “Yeah that's what I heard. I wish we could pick who we wanted spend the rest of our lives wit though...” I whisper.

I don't know why, but I feel like I can trust him. I don't think he would tell anyone I said that. Everyone knows betrayal of the society starts in the mind. If they knew I had rebellious thoughts, I would probably disappear and everyone would wonder where I went.  Although, it would be to a containment cell in the prison, and I would be condemned for traitorous thoughts like conspiracy.

I just hope I get paired to someone kind, thoughtful, tall, handsome, and caring... my eyes veer to Shadow as I describe my perfect mate to myself; one that sounds a lot like him.

At that moment he puts his hand on top of mine, and so quietly that I wasn't sure if I really heard him say it, he whispers, “So do I...”

I see him look at someone to the left right before he says it, so I look in that direction and Bimbo gives me the evil eye. I smile sweetly and give her my most innocent look. She really doesn't appreciate that. Her eyes turn red and she gives me the middle finger. My heart starts pounding with rage.

Shadow sees our exchange and interrupts our immature little one up game, “Hey, don't worry about her. She’s my ex and she’s not exactly happy about that right now. She's had a pretty messed up life though, and she tries to cover up her insecurities by acting tough and confident.” He lowers his voice back to a whisper for that last part. He’s smirking now and it looks gentle and caring. He gives my hand a pat before he returns his back to his lap. Although when it’s gone I still feel the warmth from it and my hand tingles.

I wonder how long they dated for, and why they aren't together anymore? Does he miss her? That thought makes me sit up straight and analyze why a little surge of jealousy and anger just shot through me.  Before I can finish thinking about it, he looks at me with a questionable expression and then his eyes widen in shock.

“
Demon
s can feel emotions,” Aeron had said. Oh crap. This day can't get any worse. Now I'm embarrassed of feeling jealous over a
Demon
! And now he’ll feel my embarrassment, and finally my frustration. Gr!

He clears his throat but I see that he’s trying not to smile. I try to find something to say to fill in this awkward silence, anything at all.

“I'm not scared of her. I was just curious why she keeps looking over here, but I guess that's obvious if she's still into you.” He didn't see me teasing her did he? It was just an innocent, huge, eat-shit-and-die-smile, no big deal.

“I guess she thinks she still likes me, but as far as I'm concerned we're water under the bridge.”

Not good for her. She's losing out big time. Shadow seems like a decent guy, especially for a bitch like her.

“So anyways, if you need any help with flying,” he switches to a whisper, “I'm your guy.” Then he winks at me!

Now he's acting more like Gabriel. I wonder where his sudden confidence came from, and then I remember he felt my emotions. Also, I have no idea how he could help me with flying, but already I want to ask him. I want to spend more time with him, get to know him. Don't fool yourself Alexia, you’re starting to like him, and you want to be with him for other reasons, reasons that are against the rules. I roll my eyes at my own conscience, because we don't get along. It's more like my mother than my moral mind.

“O-okay, yeah thanks. Actually I would like some help. I've already waited eighteen years; I don't think I can wait any longer. Although, I don’t see how you could help me if another
Angel
has to be release my wings.”

He smiles at me, a beautiful, straight, white, fang-less smile. He really should smile more often. It lights up his whole face; there isn't anything anyone could deny him when he smiles like that. Then I picture other girls seeing his smile, not being able to deny him. Suddenly, that mental picture turns into Bimbo, and I have to douse this thought like water snuffing a flame. Later, I will have to analyze my jealousy, for a
Demon
, again.

“I will explain that when we’re alone. After we leave here you can go get your flying outfit and then just meet me next to the wall behind the Aerie.” His voice is full of expectation, like he is just as excited as I am. This is crazy! I think. First day here and I am going to end up sneaking outside of the walls to fly solo, with a
Demon
somehow helping me.  Apparently, I am just full of bright ideas!

“I'll be there,” I whisper through my smile.

*~*~*~*

The instructor comes back a few minutes later and he talks a while, explaining how to make weapons perfect for your partner. He reaches into his shirt pocket and puts some huge glasses that magnify his yellow eyes. He's also pretty tall with white hair, so I think he's a Spirit.

I can't really pay attention because my mind is on Shadow, and our plan to meet. It turns out that I have a special skill for making weapons and my first two pass the instructors approval, so I get to leave after that. Shadow can leave as soon as he weighs the weapons I made him, and agrees or disagrees on them being the right weight. He ends up liking them all, whether it's just to be nice or to get out of here, I don't really know. I look around to find Kaia and she's still trying to make her first weapon pass inspection, so I figure it would take too long to wait on her. Decision made, Shadow and I leave The Battalion together.

“So go put your flying gear on underneath your clothes and meet me in thirty minutes,” he says once we’re outside.

“Alright,” I whisper shakily. My nerves are already getting the better of me.

*~*~*~*

I dig through my drawers and find one of the many flying outfits they have for me. I choose the light blue one that sparkles a little; maybe it will bring out my eyes. The flying gear is made like a t-tank. The t in the back goes between the shoulder blades and wings. It's all leather and straps though. You only wear it and nothing else, so you will glide perfectly, without clothes catching a strong wind and sending you plummeting down in the wrong direction. However, the bottoms cover nothing more than my own underwear so I decide to leave my shorts on for now.

After trying for at least ten minutes to buckle the straps on my back, I decide I'll just have to bring it along, maybe Shadow can help me. I get nervous thinking about it though. How will he help me without seeing anything personal? We're barely more than strangers. Can I call him a friend yet? I think so. I mean he
is
helping me fly for the first time...

With my mind made up, I stuff the harness into a small satchel and head to meet Shadow.

“You made it,” he says with that charming smile again.

I'm such a sucker for that languid smile.

“Of course,” I say faking excitement, because now I'm nervous.

We're standing right under a tree next to the giant city wall.

“We have to go somewhere outside the City...” He looks to me and pauses, maybe to object, and when I don't he continues, “for obvious reasons of people seeing us, and because there’s only one place inside tall enough for it to work, and there’s always authorities using it. What I show you outside the walls may change your opinion about everything...”

It’s just what I've always figured. I nod, seemingly indecisive but he doesn’t question me anymore.

He seems to think about something and his he frowns, then seems to make a decision and holds out a hand to me. “I know we just met, but I need your trust with this. If anyone found out, I'd be killed.”

With wide eyes I nod my head. “I swear, I won't say a word.”

He leads me toward the thick shrubbery beneath the wall. His hand is trembling a little; at least I think it’s his. His grip is not tight but it feels a little unsure so I give it a gentle squeeze and he stops abruptly and straightens. What’s going on with him? He looks wearily at me and this slowly and unsurely, he tightens his grip and continues leading me.

The thick bushes and small trees surround the City right next to the wall. I'm not sure why, but I think it's so that no one can dig a hole under the wall because with all the roots from the bushes and trees it would be impossible. He ducks down and pushes aside the limbs and disappears inside the shrubbery; I follow with my hand still in his. Once we're inside, it's just tall enough for him to stand, with his head bowed a little. He pauses and turns to me, “Alright, I'm a pretty good judge of character, and I think you're a pretty trustworthy girl. You’re an
Angel
after all.” He smirks, while attempting to make a joke. I just stare at him with a straight face.

He continues. “So I'm going to show you something that I've never shown anyone, except my parents. This is where I really need your trust.”

I want to be the girl to keep his secrets, anyways. “You can trust me. I promise.” I already told him I wouldn’t say anything about the world outside the wall. Geez.

He releases my hand after a pause for thought, and I immediately miss it and want it back, but then he grabs the bottom of his black shirt and slowly pulls it off. I don’t know if I drool or not because I can't really control my actions right now, I feel frozen in time. This seems to happen in slow motion, like I'm in a dream. My eyes latch on to one fine little ab muscle square at a time and count them on my way up in pairs of two. Is it possible to have twelve? I thought eight was where they ended but I thought wrong. Either that or my anatomy book was missing two muscles.

Finally, the shirt is over his head and he balls it up in one of his fists. He has some really nice pecs, firm and perfectly shaped to fill my hands. A barbell gleams from each nipple and I immediately look elsewhere before I start thinking about my tongue and barbells. He turns sideways and watches me, hinting that he has something to show me. Then I see something I never thought possible. 

His back ripples and flexes and I find it hotter in here than it was before. His head falls back slightly and his eyes close with what looks like pleasure as beautiful black wings unfurl. He has wings?
Black
wings? I have never seen black wings. He looks at me sheepishly with fiery pupils, waiting on me to say something. I close my mouth and try not to act so flabbergasted. They are so beautiful. I want to say something to make him feel more at ease, but nothing comes to mind. So instead of speaking, I will just show, after all, actions speak louder than words.

I reach out hesitantly to touch them. My eyes meet his, asking permission before I make contact. He nods his head, in an unsure manner and I finally lay my fingers lightly upon them. He flinches at first but then all is good and I'm amazed at how smooth and silky they are; so completely different from mom and dad's fluffy, soft feathers.

But what's a
Demon
doing with wings? What does this mean? What
is
he?

“Wow,” is all I can manage to choke out.

“Yeah, I know.” He sounds so forlorn, like he is apologizing for having these wings.

All that's going through my mind is that I'm the only one who has ever seen them, other than his own parents. So that means Bimbo hasn't seen them. I smile in satisfaction and whisper, “I won't say anything to anyone.”

“I didn't think you would. Thank you,” he replies and his eyes slide shut. He sighs.

He seems so burdened by them, but I don't understand why. They are so amazing, the only ones of their kind. I can't believe it's even possible.

He turns his back to me fully so I can get a good look at them. I start rubbing them with both hands now and inspecting each individual black feather. I can’t help myself, they’re just so smooth.

“You don't mind me rubbing them?”

“No, it's fine,” He clears his throat. “It feels good, actually.”

“Okay. Just making sure,” I whisper. “You flinched at first and just seemed unsure about it…”

“I really don’t like to be touched. I’ve had a problem with it since I was young. But with you, it’s…not bad,” he decides at the same time he says it.

“You’re actually the only person I have let touch me since my parents died.”

I’m taken aback with this. Why me? Just knowing that softens my heart and chips away yet another barrier I had in place. “I feel...” I struggle for a fitting word. Words can’t describe, really. No, Alexia that will scare him away. “I feel very lucky. Special. Thank you.”

He nods and bites his lower lip to play with one of the snake bites and I bite back a moan at how much I want to play with it. I keep massaging these wings instead.

They are the softest, slickest, shiniest feathers I have ever felt. It would be like feeling an icicle except not wet or cold. They’re slick yet soft. I go from running the pads of my fingers down them, to my whole hand, then both hands. I notice a shiver run through him, and I can see from the side of his face that his eyes are closed again. He's trembling and it's not cold out here and I notice he has his fists balled at his sides. Is he okay? What’s wrong with him?  Maybe I'm making him uncomfortable or something. I mean geez, I’m practically a stranger and I’m molesting his secret wings.