Hesitantly, Imorean stood up and looked at last into the mirror. He barely recognized himself. His white hair was the same, as were his brown eyes. His face was just as thin as it had always been… but he no longer looked like a student. The fatigues made him look squarer and the boots made him look taller than he really was. Imorean shook his head. He looked like a soldier. He blinked once. According to Gabriel and Michael, he was a soldier. There was a shadowy expression beneath his eyes. Stress and worry had already drawn his face and darkened him.
A sharp rap on the door shattered Imorean's pensive thoughts.
“Yes?” asked Imorean, turning and opening the door for his visitor. He already had an idea of who it would be.
“Imorean,” said Gabriel, standing in the threshold. Imorean couldn't help but feel intruded upon as Gabriel looked him up and down as he smiled. “You found the uniform I see.”
“The shirt was the only thing that would go over these,” replied Imorean, scowling and shuffling his clumsy wings. Gabriel hummed by way of reply, his smile still in place.
Anger flared in Imorean. “Why are you here?”
“I came to make sure you were all right. You needed your own space last night, but I have to admit I was rather concerned about you. And Michael told me to tell you that your friends are stirring.”
“Are they awake?”
“Not yet, but they will be soon. Do you want to come back with me? I thought you might want to be there when they did wake.”
“Yes.”
“Come on then.”
Imorean thought for a moment about thanking Gabriel for fetching him, but decided against it. This was not a time to be polite. He was still furious with Gabriel. The depth of the betrayal filled him with bitterness. The Archangel turned away, leading the way down the hall of the dormitory.
“You're awfully quiet,” said Gabriel, descending the stairs to the first floor.
Imorean shrugged and kept his eyes riveted straight forward. He didn’t trust himself to answer.
“You bear me a grudge.”
“What gave you that idea?” snapped Imorean.
Gabriel held the main dormitory door open for Imorean. “Just a hunch.”
“It couldn't be anything to do with the fact that you and your brother knocked me out for over three days, sprouted wings from my back, revealed that you and he are angels and that I and my classmates are a part of a plot to fight against a demon who escaped from hell, and in the process, we are to save humanity.”
“Oh, well, as long as it's nothing to do with that.” Gabriel looked as though he was fighting a smile. The expression faltered a moment later. “Imorean, you do know that I wanted Michael to wait for a little while. The only reason that he and I had to enact Project Delta so early is because Michael is worried.”
Imorean stopped. “I thought it was because I got in the way.”
“Partially, but he was worried long before that. I would say that your … involvement was the spark that really kicked everything off this time.”
“Well, I don't give a damn if your big brother is worried or not. He can worry all he wants. All I want is to go home.”
“I know. And I'm sorry this was done at such a time. I promise you, most of the faculty did not want to do it this early.” Gabriel sounded genuinely apologetic.
Imorean snorted and shook his head.
“Why did I wake up a day earlier than all the others?” asked Imorean after a moment of silence. His curiosity had beaten his anger.
“We don't exactly know. Raphael's speculation is that you are a bit stronger in your spirit than the others, but there is no way to know for sure. Imorean, I know you must have a thousand questions more now than you did yesterday, but I urge you to wait for a little while. Everything will make more sense with time.”
“Do you have any idea how frustrating it is to hear that?” asked Imorean, as he and the Archangel walked through the gateway that separated the main campus from the western portion.
“I know, I know. But if I were to answer all of your questions now, we would be here for days, wouldn't we?”
“I guess … I do have a couple that you can probably answer quickly, though.”
“Shoot.”
Imorean narrowed his eyes. “I'd love to.”
“Your questions, Imorean.”
“Okay, so what you did, was it science – crossing genetics – or not?”
“Oh, jeez. Raphael would be better for this question, but I’ll answer as best I can. Yes, and, no. It was not crossing genetics in the traditional sense, as that would result in traits that may or may not be physically shown. Angels are not only immortal and extremely powerful, we are also beyond the human sense of natural. We have been able to combine the genes in this way because angels and humans are not of the same core nature. Through our own makeup we are able to manipulate yours. We don’t really obey the laws in any field of science.”
“So, basically, the wings and angel stuff lay unnoticed as dormant gene strands, because there’s a combination of normal and paranormal genes?”
“Technically, none of you are full angel. You’re hybrids. But yes, about the genes, that sums it up quite concisely.”
“You said yesterday that you were immortal. Since you have somehow turned me and all my classmates into angels as well, does that mean we are also immortal?”
“No. You are as indestructible as Michael and I are, but your bodies will age. Like I said: hybrids.”
“So eventually we're going to die?”
“We'll talk about that in the future.”
Imorean shook his head. More secrets. Shouldn't he be used to this by now?
Chapter 4
Imorean's jaw dropped when he saw Roxy, Mandy, Toddy, Bethany and Colton. They were all still unconscious. There was something about seeing wings attached to his friends' backs that struck a chord in Imorean and tears of shock and horror welled up in his eyes. Imorean looked around the room. On the opposite wall, he spotted two of his other friends. Dustin, brown-haired and well built, sporting now the addition of soft, wide, cream colored wings. Baxter, dark eyed and with hair so dark it was almost black, now seemed blanketed by wings too large for his body. The massive feathers stood out like sharp, dark brown knives against the white sheets, the vanes paling to nearly white at the edges. Ryan, Imorean’s old rival, lay as though dead in the bed next to Baxter. There was something about Ryan that seemed very shrunken, dwarfed as he was by nearly black wings that flared out from his shoulders and arced off the bed, nearly touching the floor.
“What have you done to us?” Imorean asked, turning to Gabriel. He felt helpless.
“It was necessary, Imorean,” said Gabriel with an apologetic frown.
“You and I must have very different definitions of necessary.”
“Clearly so,” said a different voice, entering from the opposite end of the hospital wing.
Imorean turned quickly, narrowing his eyes further when he saw Michael. Fury rose up in his chest and his blood burned hotter as Michael walked toward him.
“None of your friends’ wings are quite as impressive as yours, Imorean,” said Michael when he came close. His tone was calm and reserved. “I have only ever seen pure white wings once before.”
“You're sick.”
“Good to see that you are feeling better. Gabriel, do we have an assessment on what kind of wings these five have?”
“Yes,” nodded Gabriel.
Imorean was grateful when Gabriel came to stand between himself and Michael.
Gabriel half-turned to Imorean. “Your friends Toddy and Bethany will be in the same class as you from now on.”
“What do you mean?”
“When students get their wings, we sort them into different classes according to the type of bird their wings are based on. Most of the time there are two to three classes, sometimes more, depending on how many different types of wings we have,” explained Gabriel.
“The raptors are
my class,” said Michael.
“And songbirds are mine,” said Gabriel. “If we end up with more categories, Raphael will take charge of them.”
“Raptors?” asked Imorean, inclining his head.
“Birds of Prey. Eagles, vultures, falcons, hawks, all things like that,” explained Gabriel.
“And what's my wing type?” asked Imorean, shuffling the feathered structures. He darted a nervous glance to Gabriel, hoping that he would be in the younger Archangel's class.
“Your wings,” said Gabriel. “Take the base of a falcon's wings. Gyrfalcon to be precise. You will be in Michael's raptor class. Your wings are actually very unusual in that they haven't taken on the coloration of the bird they are based on.”
Imorean shook his head. He wasn't exactly relishing the idea of working more with Michael. “Wonderful.”
“Your friend Toddy will be with you if that’s any consolation. His wings are based on a great gray owl's. You're going to have fun keeping track of him, Michael.”
“Why's that?” asked Imorean.
“Owls fly silently,” said Gabriel. “Miss Bethany has the wings of a red-tailed hawk. Very nice. Quite a common base for wings. She'll be in the raptor class as well. Your friend Roxy, however, will not be in the same class as you. She has macaw wings. We're still figuring out where to put her. As of right now, she falls into neither the raptor class nor the songbird class. She may find herself with Raphael. Your friend Mandy may also find herself in with Raphael. She has the wings of a common seagull.”
“What about Colton?” asked Imorean, looking at the smallest boy. If Ryan, tall and well-built, had seemed motionless, then Colton, small and fragile as he was, could have been dead. Only the slow rise and fall of his chest betrayed the fact that he was alive.
“Colton will be with me. Colton's wings are based on a red cardinal's. Songbird bases are a bit more unusual. While he won't be powerful in the air, he will be maneuverable.”
Michael made an odd noise and turned away as he spoke. “Oh, that will be useful. The songbirds tend to make good cannon fodder when the going gets rough.”
“Don't knock him down before he's even gotten up,” growled Imorean, glaring after the Archangel as he walked away.
“Do calm yourself, Imorean. Your anger is unbecoming.”
Imorean snarled and raised a finger at Michael’s back.
“Stop fuming,” said Gabriel.
“I can't help it,” replied Imorean. “He does this to us then acts like he doesn't care about what happens to us. And to say something like that about Colton. He's a –”
“Don't say it. My brother has that effect on a lot of people. I know he can be a bit aloof sometimes, but believe me, he does care. He just has a ... funny way of showing it.”
“Yeah, hilarious.”
“I need to go and check on the rest of the students. Will you be all right here on your own?”
“Yeah, I think so.”
“Don't go picking any more fights with Archangels?”
“Sure.”
“Good,” said Gabriel, turning away.
Imorean shook his head as he surveyed his friends again. What he saw, he knew he would never forget. The images would be seared into his mind forever. The mottled gray, white and brown wings splayed out behind Toddy were wide and powerful, the thick feathers spread out like fans. He supposed they were handsome in their own way. They seemed to bring out the color of Toddy’s auburn hair.
Bethany's wings were broad and strong. They were a pretty mixture of pale cream and brown on the underside. Imorean had a feeling that they were dark brown on the other. They seemed as though they would be good for gliding. That was what hawks did, wasn't it? There was something though, which was uncharacteristically harsh about Bethany’s wings. A disjoin between the wings and their possessor. Imorean gritted his teeth and repressed a whine. Bethany’s short, blonde hair spread out on the pillow like a fan and her eyes roved back and forth under closed lids, as though searching for some unseen enemy. Imorean’s heart constricted. It physically hurt to see Bethany in such a state. He looked away.
Mandy, fair haired and thin, seemed content in sleep. Imorean’s eyes drifted to her wings. He had seen seagulls many times before, but they were never a bird he had paid much mind to. Mandy’s wings were a soft, dark gray, slim and tapered down to black points. The gentle colors of her feathers seemed to make her even paler. Her blonde hair looked as though it had lost whatever color it had. Imorean’s mind churned and he looked down. Why? What had possessed angels to come and meddle in the lives of humans?
Imorean turned his eyes to Colton. Imorean was familiar with red cardinals, the bird Colton's wings had been based on according to Gabriel. Red cardinals were common in North Carolina and were the state bird. He couldn't stop himself from smiling slightly as he studied the color. It was like a little taste of home when he was many, many miles away. Colton's wings were vivid, brilliant red, standing out brightly against the bed's white sheets and clashing harshly with his pale hair. Imorean couldn't help but notice that Colton's wings were smaller and far less powerful than Toddy's. He supposed that that was because the wings were based on a songbird's as opposed to an owl's.
After musing quietly over Colton's wings for a few moments, Imorean looked at Roxy's wings. He knew they were the exact kind of wings she would have picked had she been able to do so. They were vibrant and brilliant in color. Most of the feathers were scarlet, accompanied by a beautiful pattern of yellows, greens and blues. Parrot wings. They brought out the last traces of dyed red in her hair. Had the circumstance of the transformation been different, Imorean wondered if he would be better disposed toward their situation. He had a feeling that he would. Perhaps if they had been told what was going to happen. Perhaps if they had had a choice or a say in their fate. Choice. Consent. Their voices being heard. It would have made all the difference.
Imorean sighed and sat down on Bethany's bed, glad to feel close to his friends even if they weren't awake. His own wings shuffled on his back and drew closer to his body.
“You're going to have a head start on three of your friends,” said Gabriel, returning. Imorean couldn't help but notice the two cups the man was holding.
“Why do you say that?” asked Imorean, glaring up at the Archangel.
“Quite soon we're going to have start putting all of you in my brother's precious indoor flight simulator and teaching you how to properly fly. Toddy, Bethany and you have already spent time in the simulator, but Roxy, Mandy and Colton have not. They may find it more difficult.”
“Wait. These things actually work? Like, you can fly with them?”
“Well, yes. Did you think they were simply for show?”
“I don't know. I don't really know what to think at this point,” replied Imorean in a quieter voice. He flinched away slightly as Gabriel stepped closer.
“Your confusion is understandable. Hey, stop being so nervous,” said Gabriel, smiling kindly and offering Imorean one of the cups. “I am not going to hurt you.”
Hesitantly, Imorean took the cup Gabriel was offering. “The last time any of you angels touched me I nearly got strangled. I woke up four days later with wings and in the most pain I have ever been in. Don’t blame me for being nervous. What’s this? Nice cup of poison?”
Gabriel pulled up a nearby chair and sat down in it backwards, his chest against the backrest. In spite of himself, Imorean could barely repress his smile. Every now and again, he used to do the same thing during school to irritate his teachers.
The Archangel smiled. “I believe it goes by the colloquial term of coffee. I had a feeling you needed a pick-me-up.”
“Thanks, I guess,” replied Imorean, taking a sip of the coffee. A moment later, he coughed slightly. It was hot and very bitter, as though it was old and badly made. “Jeez, you guys drink it like this?”
“Well, yes … what's wrong with it?”
“Might not be poison, but it sure as sin tastes like it. Y
ou should try my mom's,” replied Imorean with a smile. “She can make incredible coffee. Then again, she can make incredible anything.”
Imorean's smile faltered and vanished a moment later. He missed his mother so much. He felt as though he had been punched in the chest.
“You passed my big brother's little test last night. I'm proud of you.”
“What?”
“The online call from your mother.”
“That wasn't my mom, was it?”
“No, indeed not. Michael wanted to know what you would do and you did the right thing. I only hope I can say the same of your classmates.”
“He's going to test all of us?”
“One by one. It's a test of character more than anything, not one any student can really pass or fail.”
Imorean sighed. “This plan of yours is why you never took away any of our scholarships, isn't it?”
“Yes. Once you were here, Michael wasn't going to let any of you leave.”
“What about now?”
Gabriel inclined his head, confusion in his hazel eyes. “What do you mean?”
“We'll have to go home on breaks at some point or are those banned from us completely now?”
Angels Soaring (Angels Rising Book 2) Page 3
