Feathers (23 page)

             
“Are you sure you’re okay doing this on your own?” Sara asked. She looked pretty surprised at my sudden announcement.

             
“It may be better if you went ahead and did that.  Besides, I think you’ll be okay for now.” Sean said, giving me a slight smile.

             
I couldn’t help but smile back.  “Thanks Sean.  Hopefully we’ll be back in a little while.” I said.

             
I think I knew as I walked out of there and got into my car that Sean understood my feelings about all of this.  I felt a little torn myself.  I wanted to see my mother better, even if it was from bad means.  But at the same time, I didn’t want to see Michael hurt.  I found myself weighing it all in my head as I drove to his office.  I think I knew the truth in the end to the matter.  I wanted to remain with Michael.  He’d always been more of the parent to me, though we were only able to see each other for years for only three months a year.  And I could always call him in private before, even when he was working, if I needed advice or just someone to talk to.  I never got that with my mother.  I never blamed her for her condition, but I did not feel that closeness to her either, as sad as that was.

             
Pulling up to Michael’s office, I sat there for a moment and debated on what I was going to say.  What could I really say?  I was certain now that he knew all about what was going on.  Still, I steeled myself and got out.  I knew it would probably be better just to go on impulse.  It was more honest that way, and a lot more comfortable then planning words.

             
To my surprise, it seemed that Raphael had left for the day.  But Michael was still in his office, sitting at his desk and looking at something on his computer.  I stood by the door for a moment before knocking.  “Mind if I join you?” I said when he looked up.

             
Michael did seem surprised, but he still smiled.  “Not at all.  Though I wasn’t expecting to see you here.” He admitted as I walked over and took a seat by the desk.

             
“I know.  But I didn’t feel like sitting at home either.  I’d start thinking about things too much, and it would drive me crazy.” I admitted, resting my cheek on my hand.

             
“I could understand that one.” Michael lamented.  He looked at his computer for another moment or so before speaking again.  “So, was it really that different?”

             
I sighed.  “Yeah.  I’ve never seen her like that in my life.  It was like day and night.  But there was something weird about it too.  And Sean kept on saying that he thought he smelled something on her.  But it was too old for him to know what it was.” I explained.

             
“I see.” Michael said, sitting back and sighing himself.  He seemed to be thinking it all over again.

             
“Do you really think something could influence her to act normal like that?” I dared ask.

             
“I’m not sure.  From everything I came to know about Missy before, that seems unlikely.  But I could be wrong too.  Raphael knows more about those kinds of things then I do.” Michael admitted.

             
“Speaking of, where is he?  I didn’t think he left this early.” I noted, looking around again.

             
“He’s taking care of something for me.  Honestly, I had needed the time alone too.  But I’m glad you stopped by.  I admit that I’m concerned now.  Something’s coming.  It’s just gut instinct.” Michael explained.

             
“So, do you think that Sara’s right about this?  She thinks that Flint’s involved somehow.” I said.

             
“I don’t know.  I guess it’s possible.  But I couldn’t put the timelines together on that one either.  If he did do this, for his scent to be on her for so long that Sean couldn’t recognize it, it had to have been at least six or more months ago.  I know that I’ve been told that foxes can detect lingering scents for long periods of times and are able to tell what they are on a person.  But if that’s the case, why would he go to Missy so long before?” Michael said, obviously deep in thought again.

             
I couldn’t help but agree on that one.  Just why would Flint target my mother that long ago if he did?  It didn’t make any sense.  Six months before, Sean had just asked me to the Prom.  But there was no sign of Flint then either.  Could he have somehow been spying then?  But if so, how had he figured out about my mother?

             
I looked back over as Michael sighed and stood up.  “Well, I suppose dwelling on it isn’t going to solve anything.  Right now, I think the better thing for us to do would be to get back home and hope we can sort all of this out soon.” He said.

             
“You don’t think Mom could force me to go back to Miami, do you?” I dared ask.

             
“Of course not.  After all, you’re sixteen years old, and you can speak for yourself when it comes down to it.  So I wouldn’t worry too much about that part.” Michael reassured me.

             
“Yeah, you’re right.  And I don’t want to go either.  I’ve always wanted to be here, so this is where I want to stay.” I said, standing up myself.

             
“I’m glad.  And I want to keep you here now.  There’s no sense in ruining a good thing.” He said happily.

             
The evening passed by pretty quietly, and I think everyone relaxed at least a little bit.  There was still no sign of Flint either.  Anna admitted that she went back to our last class, but he hadn’t been there.  No one really seemed to notice other then her though.  It made me wonder just what he may have been up to.  If he was planning on disappearing just as quickly from the school, then why bother to attend at all?  I believed that foxes were tricky, like everyone said, but this behavior was just down right odd.  If he was planning on challenging Sean like he said, then why all the run around?

             
Sitting in Raziel’s car the next afternoon, I couldn’t help but reflect on that one.  Beside me, Raziel squirmed a little in his seat and fidgeted with the small paper in his hands.  “I can’t believe he isn’t here yet.” He complained.

             
“Well, maybe he got caught up.  It’s not like Manake has to abide by the same rules we do.  And besides, I thought he’d rather talk to Michael or your dad instead of us here.” I reasoned.

             
The reason we were out there in the first place was because we were supposed to be waiting for Manake.  Raziel had found a folded note on his car that afternoon at lunch with a request from him for us to meet.  Of course, the request had involved Sean and our parents, but Raziel himself was tired of waiting around.  So he kept the letter and decided to come there himself to see what Manake wanted.

             
Of course, I was questioning whether Manake would even speak to us.  This entire thing had me a little on edge.  It just seemed strange to me that he wouldn’t show up at the house to talk.  Manake certainly wasn’t shy around my father or Raphael.  He’d proven that.  But as worried as I was for it, I was even more worried about Raziel trying to come out there alone.  I wouldn’t be able to forgive myself if something happened to him and I did nothing to prevent it.  So I convinced him to let me come. 

             
“Maybe.  But I’m getting tired of us not knowing anything.” Raziel replied.

             
“Don’t you think there might be something more to this?  I really don’t think Manake’s that shy as to not to show up at the house.  And you didn’t mention this to Sean either.” I said.

             
Raziel sighed, tapping the stirring wheel.  “Yeah, I know.  But that’s part of the reason I wanted to come here.  I want to see what’s really going on.” He admitted.

             
“Are you serious?  You know Flint could be setting up a trap for us!” I said.  I really couldn’t believe him on this one.  He couldn’t possibly have thought that we’d be enough to take on a full fox.

             
“Just calm down, will you?  I don’t think he’s setting a trap.  He wouldn’t try to lure out our dads like that.  He knows they’d kill him if he attacked them.” Raziel reasoned.

             
Well, he had a point.  But I still felt scared.  “Raziel please, let’s just go home.” I begged.

             
“You can’t be that scared of a fox.” Raziel said.

             
“Look, I’ve seen enough things to last me a lifetime already since I came here.  And I am not going to sit here like an idiot waiting for a fox that wants to kill my boyfriend just because of a family grudge!” I declared.

             
“Fine.” Raziel muttered, turning on the engine on again.

             
“Besides, you should be thinking about what’s happening with Anna more.  She’s been depressed.” I reminded him as he began backing out.

             
“I know.  But I don’t know what else I can do for her.  It’s not like we’ve ever had to deal with something like him.” Raziel admitted.

             
“Maybe the best thing you could do is just be there.  She always seems happier when she’s with you anyways.” I told him.

             
“I guess.  But I don’t know if I can give her what she really wants in the end either.  It’s not like I’m exactly normal.” Raziel said.

             
I was about to ask him what he meant by that when I suddenly heard the sound of a loud engine. Of course, that was also the last thing we both heard before the deafening crash.

Twenty

              I awoke with my head pounding and my entire body aching.  At first, I couldn’t even register anything around me.  But slowly, my eyes started coming into focus, and I was able to sit myself up.  To my surprise, I was on a make shift bed.  There was a chain wrapped around my wrist, which was connected to the nearby wall.  Rubbing my head, I tried to remember just what had happened.  But it was all pretty vague.  I could remember being in the car with Raziel.  We were waiting for someone and talking.  Then we’d gotten ready to leave.  And then… some kind of crash…

             
The sound of footsteps made me look over.  To my surprise, my mother was coming into the room.  “Mom?” I said softly.

             
“Oh good.  You woke up.  I was beginning to worry that he was wrong.” She said as she came over and sat beside me.

             
“Where’s Raziel?  Is he okay?” I asked.  By now, my bearings were getting a little straighter, and I was beginning to realize that something really bad had indeed happened.  I wouldn’t have been chained up there if it hadn’t, and my mother certainly wouldn’t have been there.

             
“Relax dear.  He’s fine.  Although you both didn’t look in that good of shape when he brought you here.  I was really beginning to question him about doing this.” Mom said, looking pretty displeased.

             
“Who?  What happened to us?” I demanded.

             
“Why, I did of course.”

             
I looked over quickly to see Flint standing in the doorway.  He had Raziel with him, though he was holding him from behind with his arms chained.  “Raziel.” I whispered.  Now I knew we were in trouble.  Flint was behind all of this, including my mother’s appearance.

             
“No use in struggling now.  I told you I kept her safe as well.  After all, I can’t have anything happening to the two I need.” Flint told him.

             
“What do you want with us?  You know my father’s going to kill you for this.” Raziel said, looking back at him.

             
“I have no fear of half breeds, angels or not.  All I’m interested in is getting rid of that bastard.  For now though, I can make due with the two I have to lure him in.” Flint told him.  I watched as he walked him over and set him by me, attaching the chain to the wall as well.  He then looked at my mother.  “Make sure they don’t try anything.  I’ll be back.”

             
Mom nodded as he walked back out.  I watched Raziel struggle a bit against the chains, but they weren’t budging.  “You may as well stop all that rattling.  You’ll only give us a headache.” Mom told him as she stood up and moved over to the side of the room.  To my surprise, there was a makeshift dresser there.  Pulling out some knitting, she took a seat beside it and began working.

             
Raziel sighed.  “So you really did come here with that fox.  All that stuff about you wanting to take Mia back to Florida was his lie.” He said.

             
“No.  Mia will come back home with me.  But Flint says that first we need to finish up here.” Mom said in a matter of fact tone.  She didn’t seem the least bit worried about anything.

             
“You know he’s not letting her or you go.  Foxes never let their prey go.” Raziel said.

             
But Mom just ignored him.  Pulling on my chain a little, I moved myself over near him.  “Raziel, what happened?  How’d we get here?” I asked quietly.

             
“I was wondering that myself at first.  But it looks like he set a trap.  This is Flint’s den for now. He helped Anna’s father escape, and he rammed into our car hard enough to damn near kill us.  Guess it’s a good thing we’re mixed like we are now.  We wouldn’t have been talking like this.” Raziel admitted.

             
“Is he dead?”I had to ask.

             
“Sounds like it.  Great.  I’m really proving something now.” Raziel muttered, pulling on the chain one more time before sitting back and sighing.

             
I looked back at my mother.  I really didn’t know what to do now.  Both of us were chained up, and I almost feared trying to bring out my wings.  No telling if that would set something else off.  Of course, my mind was also on my father and on Sean.  What would they do once they learned of this?  Did they know already?  It would be obvious to them that Flint had caused it.  I sat back myself and closed my eyes.  I didn’t know what to do but pray now.  If we were supposed to be descendants of a powerful angel, then something should’ve been able to help us now.

             
Right?

             
The sound of my mother’s voice interrupted my thoughts.  “Mia, do you really not want to come home with me now?”

             
I opened my eyes to see her looking at me.  She’d stopped knitting now, and had a very strange look in her eyes.  For the briefest moment, it almost felt like the old Mom was staring at me again.  “No.  I like it up here with Dad.” I answered.

             
“Well, I know I didn’t exactly do the best job of raising you, but I did try.  So did your grandmother.  I do miss her at times though.  But she really shouldn’t have gotten in the way like she did.” Mom said quietly, looking back at her knitting.

             
“Grand mom didn’t die from an illness, did she?” I guessed.

             
Mom didn’t answer though.  By me, Raziel looked up again.  “Come on.  You’ve got your senses back.  I know he gave you that much before he made his moves.  So, how’d he kill her?  Did he make you do it?” he asked.

             
I felt my heart beat a little harder.  “Did you kill Grand mom?” I dared ask.

             
“Of course not!  Mama was just in the way, and it was an accident.” Mom said, shaking her head and not looking at us.

             
“I’ll bet.” Raziel scoffed.  “And I’ll bet that you’re thinking he’ll give you everything you ever wanted.  You know, you’re a stupid woman for trusting a fox over trusting angels.  Why’d you really leave Michael in the first place?  Were you really that scared of what he was?  I don’t believe it.”

             
“Shut up.  That’s none of your concern.” Mom said, standing herself up.

             
“You think I’m scared of you?  You’re a human.  And I know what’s gonna happen to you once Flint’s done with you.  And I think you know too.” Raziel went on.

             
“I said be quiet.” Mom said, walking over to us again.  Now I saw the familiar, irrational anger.  Apparently, Raziel was striking a nerve to bring it out in her.

             
“Trust me, I’m telling the truth.  Once that fox kills Sean, he’ll kill you.  I’m surprised he hasn’t already done it.  He must think he needs you for something else right now.  Or maybe he’s just not bored yet.” Raziel said.

             
“Raziel….” I started.  But I stopped at a sudden, commanding voice in my head. 

             
“Break her.”

             
This wasn’t Raziel using telepathy.  In fact, he was busy arguing with my mother.  The voice was soft, yet commanding.  “Who are you?” I asked it in my mind.

             
“Use your ability and break her.  She will break now, and try to free you both.” The voice explained.

             
I felt my eyes widen as it spoke.  I’d heard this voice before.  Back when I broke Sean, for the briefest moment, I’d heard it command me to awake.  And one other place I’d also heard it….

             
The airport. 

             
The man who had sat with me at the airport on Christmas Eve until my dad had come.  This was his voice.  Was it possible that he wasn’t what he seemed to be after all?

             
Suddenly, I felt like something wrapped itself around my soul.  It was very warm, and felt very powerful.  And I had confidence all at once that I could bring Mom back.  She would keep sanity, but she would be out of Flint’s power too.  Feeling my wings come out, I looked back over at her.  And within an instant, it looked like she’d been pushed back and was holding her head.

             
It seemed that Raziel sensed this change in power too.  But just as quickly, it was gone.  “What was that?” he asked me.

             
“I don’t know.  All at once, I heard this voice in my head telling me to break her.  But it left.” I admitted.  I was a little in shock myself.  That man had been an angel.  I was sure of it.  And he’d been trying to help me ever since all of this started.  Was it possible that he may have been the one who started our family?  Could that have been why he kept on intervening?

             
By then, Mom was beginning to come back again.  Looking around, her eyes seemed to widen.  “Oh my God.  We’re really in here.” She said softly.

             
“Sounds like you’re coming back now.  A little help here?” Raziel said, jiggling the chains again.

             
Mom nodded, hurrying back over there.  “Are you two all right?” she asked as she worked on loosening the chains.

             
“I think so.  Can you get us out?” I asked hopefully.

             
“I think I can.  But we’ll need to hurry.  Let me find the key.” She said, standing back up.  We watched as she went over and ruffled through the old dresser.  Apparently, Flint must have been keeping things close.

             
But just as she seemed to find it, we heard footsteps once again.  Mom quickly shut the drawer and turned to face the doorway.  Both of us pretended to still be struggling.  Within moments, Flint was walking back in.  “Well, I see things are going smoothly now.  I was beginning to wonder if you’d get along with our friends here.” He said, smiling at Mom as he walked over near her.

             
“Of course.  They’ve been quiet enough, even though I’m getting tired of hearing those chains.  Couldn’t we hold them another way?” she suggested.  I’ll admit that now she was being a very good actress.  It was hard to tell any difference in her.

             
Flint just smiled.  “Well, you know we have to be careful.  After all, they aren’t exactly normal, are they?” he said.

             
“No.  I guess not.” Mom relented.

             
Flint just moved a little closer.  It was strange, but I had the distinct feeling that he was sniffing her.  But he didn’t act aggressive at all.  “Why don’t you come with me for now then, my dear?  I believe being away for a while may help your headache.” He suggested.

             
Mom hesitated for a moment, but really had no argument for it.  So she agreed.  Watching them walk out, I couldn’t help but have a very bad feeling.  Flint knew.  Somehow, I was sure that he knew what I’d just done.

             
Beside me, Raziel listened for a moment, then tried to stand himself up.  “Hey, we need to take our chance while we can.” He said quietly.

             
“How?  If the key’s in that thing, we can’t reach it.” I whispered back.

             
“I’ve got an idea.  You think you could get yourself down here?” he asked.

             
“I could try.” I said.  Pulling a little more at the looser chains, I was able to get myself to the floor as well.

             
“Good.  Turn around and hold still.” Raziel ordered.

             
“What are you doing?” I asked him.

             
“I’m going to melt some of this chain.  I can’t do it with my own, but I bet I can with yours.  So sit very still.” Raziel explained.

             
I could feel the heat from the chain, but I did as he said.  Within seconds, it felt like it loosened a lot.  “Good.  Now this is more like it.” Raziel said, pulling it off.

             
I quickly got up and went back to where Mom had been looking for the key.  It didn’t take me long to find it.  “So, how do we get out of here?” I asked as I helped Raziel out of his. 

             
“I’ve got a pretty good idea.  But we’d better hurry.  I’m not too sure we could handle Flint if he catches us.” Raziel said, pulling out his wings as he stood up with me.

             
“What about Mom?” I asked him.

             
Raziel looked at the doorway for a moment.  “I don’t know.  Maybe we can get some help for her once we get out of here.” He said.  He seemed conflicted about leaving her, but he also had a point.  Neither of us really were able to handle Flint ourselves.

             
The hallway was dark as we peeked out.  Seeing no sign of either, we quietly slipped out.  I followed Raziel until we reached a large room.  “This must be near the entrance.  I remember it from before.” Raziel whispered.