ZION"Hey, let's head down to the lake for a little ice skating," Alina ecstatically chimed as we exited the school building. Her eyes had this twinkle in them that made my heart still and breath hitch. I wasn't even paying attention to what she was saying because her smile was simply ethereal, "Zi, did you hear me?" She quizzed, hooking her arm with mine.Shaking my thoughts away, I answered, "Uh, yeah...sure. Our skates are still in the trunk of my car right?"She nodded her head, "We never took them out after that day.I took in my surroundings, all the students still lingering outside the school, "Shouldn't we be getting home though? I mean, it's test week so don't you want to study. You know how you get. You stress over the simplest stuff for no reason.""I've been cramming this whole week. I think my brain deserves some rest and I'd like to spend time with you for yo

ALINA I heard him. His voice echoed in my head, the words he said rang in my ears and I wanted to scream. I wanted to tell him that I didn't need saving, that I was perfectly fine and that this was a trap but I couldn't because no matter how much I shouted or cried, he couldn't hear me. My physical body was as good as a lifeless shell, immobile and cold.I'm coming to get you Angel face, you hear me? Hang in there okay.Those words were continuously taunting me. Damn him for caring this much! With his mother also here, it made sense that his first thought was to come save us. His father would be in a haze himself, not thinking clearly due to his wife's state. I could see her from where I stood next to my father. He had his little serpent crushing her, draining her of the little power she had. Her screams each time that viper bit her made bile rise up my throat. Her soul would be long gone before Zion could even get here. If only I hadn't gone to Zion's room with Kendra or anywhere al

ZIONI reappeared in my bedroom finding Kendra's hands tied to my bedpost and her father's limb and very dead body still on my bedroom floor. Rolling my shoulders, the weight of my wings vanished so I took the opportunity to put a shirt on. Just then, Alina shot up from the bed with a loud gasp. Her subconscious finally returning to her physical body. The first thing she did was throw a hand behind her to feel her wings which weren't there. Disappointment colored her features when she realized this.Placing a hand on her shoulder, I gave it a gentle reassuring squeeze, "It will all be okay."She met my gaze, "Yeah, I know. I was just getting used to having them that's all," with those words, a perplexed sigh left her lips, "I should be telling you that though not the other way around."I clenched my molars, keeping my mouth shut from spitting something I would regret later. This wasn't a t

ZION I shrugged off my jacket and pulled off my shirt, tossing the both into the passenger seat before exiting the car. Before doing anything else, I sent a text to Max telling him to take Alina home because I knew she would walk if she couldn't find me. It was cold out and I really didn't want her walking but at the same time I wasn't in the mood for company.Locking my car, I walked over to the frozen lake. It looked like a calming winter wonderland and yet it still wasn't calming enough for the raging storm that was tearing me up from within. Making sure no one was around, I rolled my shoulders and let my wings out. It was cold but the cold didn't bother me as usual.Within five strong strokes I was almost above the clouds; the best place to be once you were in the sky if you had to ask me. Once I made it above the clouds, I just flew around for a bit. Letting the dense air clear my mind. As weird as i

ZION"Let me help you with that," I suggested, trying to pry Alina's fingers off the heavy box she attempted to carry. She was doing a good job at it, hiding how much pain she was in by wearing a smile on her face but I could easily spot the beads of sweat forming on her forehead.She bared her teeth at me, a growl like sound vibrating in her throat, "Don't you dare Collins. I can carry my stuff up. I don't need your help."I chuckled at her reaction. So much pride in one little adorable body. Finally, the ding of the elevator was heard and the doors parted. I ushered Alina in, carrying two boxes of my own in my grasp; my boxes, however, were far lighter than hers. If I didn't know better, I'd have thought she brought her entire bedroom of belongings with us to New York.There was another ding and the doors parted to our floor. I kept my footsteps in time with hers, making sure not to leave he