by Piper Hannah
Los Angeles, California
It was late afternoon, and I found myself flying over the Harper's backyard, hiding within the clouds. To be honest, I didn’t know how I got here. I knew that I shouldn’t be here, and yet, I couldn’t stay away. It was instinct, I think. There was something about Paige that made me seek her out.
What was it? Let me think.
Ah, yes…
It was my hatred. It was still there.
Hatred was a very powerful emotion, more powerful than love. I felt it brewing inside of me, becoming a physical part of me. I felt its heat all the way to my soul, eating it up, changing me, and blocking out all of the new-found light within my heart. My hate… it always made me want to do bad, terrible things.
And I was looking directly at its source.
Paige Harper.
She was swimming in the pool in her backyard, and my eyes trained on her like a hawk following its prey. I giggled, thinking of all the bad things that could happen to prey.
Paige was wearing a bright, yellow, one-piece bathing suit as she swam. You couldn’t miss her in the water - not that I ever would - but it wasn’t her bathing suit that caught my attention. It was her aura - this bright white light that seemed to follow her around everywhere. Her aura was bouncing all over the place, making the water around her glow, making everything around her brighter.
That was the reason why, although I couldn’t see her face, I was certain that it was her.
I didn’t spot any angels in the vicinity, which was fortunate, because I already knew that my intentions were not good. Today will end with regrets.
I smiled.
Oh, well...
She was the one who took the love away from me, and now, it was my turn to take her away from those who loved her. Luke. Kyrie.
Because this is justice.
I watched her swimming as I circled above her unseen. It was almost cathartic, watching her body going back and forth across the pool; her strokes were beautiful, and I could have watched her all day. Even though I hated her, there was also something about her that soothed my spirit.
I wondered where Luke was at this very moment. It was so unlike him to leave her unprotected like this. Maybe he got sick of her. That made me smile again. That would be justice, wouldn’t it? If he broke her heart, just as he had broken mine?
Kyrie wasn’t around, either. It was almost too good to be true, and I may not have much time left until one of them discovers me here. I tucked my wings behind my back and quickly dropped from the sky. When I was close to her, my wings expanded as I timed myself perfectly.
I hovered right above the swimming Radiant. Then, I let myself drop right on top of her. My knees pressed against the middle of her back, and my weight pushed her down into the water.
We both sank, and she struggled. She tried to twist around, but I hung on to her, wrapping my arms around her tight. We twisted and turned in the water. Her eyes were wide with fear and panic.
“This is for Luke… and for Kyrie,” I said as I glared at her.
Bubbles escaped her mouth as she screamed. Paige struggled some more, and her face twisted in pain. Then, water entered her lungs. Her body twitched, and I watched as her face turned to death… to nothing. Her expression became blank just as her body became lifeless in the water.
And I let her go.
I jumped out of the water, flying above the pool in small circles. I felt my wings tingling. My second chance, and I failed again. I didn’t have to look at them to know that my wings just turned black. Because killing a human turned me into a demon once again, and the darkness crept right back into my soul.
Chapter 9
