Wingless (3 page)

"Spectacular job, Annie. I look forward to seeing you gain your gray wings in a few days," Micha says, reaching a hand down towards me. I push my way out of Liam's arms and take Micha's large hand.

The instant our skin touches, I'm filled with his power. He regenerates me, and I'm left energized. I look at him, tilting my head to the side, but he ignores me. He walks us all back into the training center in a blissful silence.
 

"Give me one second," Micha says then he flies over to the back of the training center and comes back out with a large, white box. I have no idea what these guys have done for me, but I think it's the nicest thing ever, no matter what the box holds.

"It's really a present for us all," Liam whispers, smiling like a little child.

"It's a special day in an Angel's life when they graduate from children's school and move on to learn their trade. It has been an honor to help you discover your inner power and fight. I have no doubt in my mind that you will make a spectacular Fighter. It's just who you are. So, this is from all of us." Micha's words almost bring me to tears. I don't cry, so it speaks wonders.

Micha flips open the box and waiting inside is a small cake that could fit in the palm of my hand. It's beautiful. We don't eat in the Veil, unless it's during a birthday or special occasion. Then the Archers travel to Earth and bring cake back. I've never loved anything more than I do cake—except fighting. I love that, too.

Liam reaches for the cake with his dirty hands, but Micha shuts the box quickly on his fingers and pulls it away. "Let the birthday girl eat first," Micha scolds him. Liam's face goes bright red, but the other guys just laugh at him. I do, too.

I dip a finger into the white frosting and scoop a little of the cake into my mouth. I can't help but shut my eyes as I savor the sweet flavor. I moan as I let my tongue lap against the sugary frosting. It melts right on in my mouth.

"Okay, eat, boys," Micha says and gives the boys the box of cake.

"You don't want any?" I ask him, noticing that he didn't even get a finger full.

"No. I'm not a big cake person."

"Who isn't a cake person?" I joke.

"Apparently me," he laughs back. "Are you excited for your big birth hour?"

"I guess. I'm just nervous, more than excited. If I got any color other than gray, my heart would be broken," I admit.

"You'll be a Fighter. I can tell. Rem has our best interests in mind. You'll get exactly what you want."

"Yeah, you're right."

"Can I ask you a question?" Micha asks, averting his eyes down.

"Sure," I answer, nodding.

"Why didn't you request to be an Archer?" I look at him, a bit confused at his question and he continues. "I mean, you have the skill. Is the idea of Earth what scares you?"

"I'm not scared," I state vehemently, scoffing that he would imply that. "The seven of you were just chosen two years ago. I figured it would be a long shot. I know I can be a good Fighter, and at the end of the day, the job is similar enough that I know I'll like it."

"That's very smart of you," Micha muses, pursing his lips. Neither of us says anything for a few moments and an awkwardness in the air settles.

"So," we both say at the exact same time. I laugh with embarrassment; so does Micha, his blue eyes sparkling with his happiness.
 

"You go," he says, gesturing towards me.

"I was just going to say thank you. You know, for helping me and being a trainer—a good trainer. It was nice to meet you, and I hope you have a good life," I say, holding out my hand for him.

"Is this goodbye?" he asks, his eyes full of mischief as he takes my hand. I love the way our skin feels when it touches. I know it's just because he's so powerful, but it radiates off him. It's wonderful to experience.
 

"No!" I answer back, our contact making me frazzled. "I just meant, like, thank you. If we see each other, we do. But if not, we don't. I mean, we can see each other."

"Annie," Micha says, cutting me off. "You're welcome."

CHAPTER THREE

Final Training Day

Tab comes over the same evening during mandatory Guardian time. The Veil is very strict with its rules and rituals. We have to spend at least one hour of quality time with our Guardians before we meditate each day or so.

"So, Tab, how are your specialized classes going?" my mother asks him. We're all seated at our main table in a plain room. I'm not sure why it's set up this way, but there's not much to look at it, and I easily get bored. Especially since usually during quality time, my Guardians just drone on and on about what it means to be an Angel, and how I act against the rules. I can't help who I am.
 

"They're fine. Today I was able to channel my determination and use it to convince someone my way is better than his. It's a bit intimidating being with such a high Angel as Jariel."

"He's harmless. He has a really good heart. He went to child school with Val and I."

"I should bring that up so that maybe he'll like me more."

"Of course. Please, do. We want you to succeed almost as much as we want Annie to."

"What?" I ask out, not realizing that the conversation had switched to me. I frown at my mother, because she knows that I don't like to talk about this during Guardian time. I don't like talking about it at all, but especially in front of Tab.

"Excuse me," my father says as he enters our home. His hair is disheveled, and he looks as if he flew here as fast as he could. I've never seen him like this before so when he storms into the room, I sit up straight in my seat.

"What is it, Val?" my mother asks, her voice shaky.

"We're going to have a ceremony!" my father yells. "It's the choosing day, and they've requested that Tab and Annie, along with their families, attend at the square."

"What?" my mother shrieks, jumping up from her seat and clapping her hands.
 

"It might be nothing," I say, praying to Rem that it is nothing.
 

"Go upstairs right now and put on one of your fancy dresses. Tab, dear, run home and tell your parents. We will meet you in the square at once. How much time do we have?" she asks my father.

"Not long. Just be swift," he answers, dropping his bag and running to the back room where they mediate.
 

I stand, rooted in my spot, not sure what to do. How can this be happening to me? I cannot be chosen. There is no way. I'm not ready to become a Guardian and supply the community with a child.

The choosing ceremony is so archaic. I don't even fully understand it. Of course, I was born from my Guardians being chosen so I shouldn't be complaining. I was one of the five children born in my year, along with Perry. I simply wouldn't exist without the choosing ceremony.

The teachers in the children's school say that the choosing of mates is supposed to help with the population in the Veil. Rem, our ruler, doesn't like to clue us into much, so that's just what Angels say.
 

I don't understand why Rem would choose me for mating. I didn't plan on ever being chosen. Only five couples in each community get chosen a year, and with the amount of people, I just assumed it would never happen to me. It's not something I even had on my radar.

"Annie!" my mother yells as she re-enters the room. I haven't moved an inch, and I can tell by the look on her face that I'm pushing the limits with her. She glares at me, and I finally move up to my room to change.

My brain must be in shock, because I don't register my surroundings. I just grab an article of clothing and throw it on, then grab another and throw it on. By the time I'm dressed and ready to go, my Guardians are already waiting outside my door eagerly.

"I can't believe this is happening," my mother mumbles under her breath as she takes my hand and walks with me down the front steps. My father trails behind us.

"Me either," I mutter, shaking my head side to side in utter disappointment.

The walk to the square is swift. I pass by the square every single day as I walk to school with Tab. It's just a meeting place that Angels can hold conferences or talk about the community. Usually the adults meet once a month and just speak about problems or happenings.
 

There are two long tables on top of a raised platform that our leaders sit on. The desks are empty right now, but that's only because the Princers like to make a statement and have the attention all on them. They oversee everything that Angels do, and make sure we follow protocol.

Tab and his Guardians are already standing together, in a small little huddle, at the square. I recognize one other group of Angels from my class: a girl named Mariel with her Guardians, along with some guy and his.
 

I'm about to raise my voice and question why this is happening when the four Princers from this community fly to the tables before us. Their dark blue wings glow in the white air and tuck neatly behind the Angels' backs as they take their seat at the tables.
 

"Welcome!" a Princer booms out.

"We've asked you all here for our annual choosing ceremony. As you know Rem chooses five Angels from each community for mating for the year. You've all been chosen," a different Princer explains. His words make the entire congregation ring out with applause and cheering. I just stand here, dumbfounded at what is happening to me.

"First, I will announce the pairings. Then to each of the children, we'll explain the process. Let us begin!"
 

I tune out as names get called. Until of course, I hear my own name: Anniel, of the parents Valoel and Abdriel. I stand in shock just hearing myself as a
chosen one
. The Princer announces Tab by his full name, Tabbris, which I know must upset him.

But if it does, he doesn't show it. Tab reaches backwards and grabs my hand and leads us both towards the two tables in the middle of the square. My feet stumble beneath me, but Tab doesn't wait or help me. He just drags me along like deadweight.
 

"And here are your five chosen ones!" the Princer yells. We all turn and face the crowd in front of us. I look to my left and see Mariel smiling wide, like this is the happiest day of her life. All of the Guardians clap and hoot and holler with glee. I stare out at them, wondering why they condone this.

"Now, we ask that the Guardians please retreat to your homes and your children will soon follow. We'll make sure they get home safely," another Princer says. He's blond and reminds me a bit of Micha.
 

The Guardians all go away, talking quietly to one another, and it's just the ten of us children and the four Princers left awkwardly standing around the large, narrow tables. Tab's fingers are still entwined with mine, and I like the security he brings.
 

"Do we all know what this means?" a Princer condescendingly asks. It's the first Princer that spoke. He has mean eyes, the kind that are always judging and squinting. His dark hair is cut short, above his ears.

"That we have to bear children," a girl beside me says.

"Exactly. Specifically, you all must have children within one year of your sixteenth birthdays. Do you all understand that?" he asks again, looking from person to person.

"And if we don't?" I speak up.

"That depends."

"On what?" I prod deeper. I know that it's un-ladylike to ask questions like this, but I don't care. They're putting me in this awkward situation, and I have absolutely no say. The least they can grant me is answers to my questions.
 

"Whether you choose not to or are unable."

"Let's say that I choose not to." Tab squeezes my hand hard, trying to shut me up, but I ignore him. I unclasp our hands and cross my arms over my chest, not even looking to my side where I can feel Tab's eyes on me.
 

"Then you'll be extracted from your community."

"What does that mean?" I ask again. The Princer rolls his eyes at me, smirking at the other Princers like they're sharing an inside joke.
 

"We do things here in the Veil because it is what has to be done. Being a Guardian is one of the most sacred gifts from our ruler, Rem. To deny Rem, or question his choosing, would be a slap in the face."

"We digress," the lone female Princer states, placing her hand on the other Princer's bicep. "This is a happy day. You should be celebrating with one another. I understand how you feel. It's scary, but I promise it will be equally rewarding."

"Are you a Guardian?" I ask the female.

"No."

"Then you don't know what we're feeling," I state, with venom on my tongue. I don't want to listen to any more of this meeting. I turn on my heels and walk away. I don't care how disappointed Rem is with me—he made a mistake.
 

I don't want to be a Guardian. I don't ever want to be a Guardian. I'll never be able to rise up in the Fighter world. I can't go on difficult missions, because I'll have a child to look over. Because I'll be a Guardian, they'll give me some joke of a job like patrolling a school.
 

I slam my fist against a large tree in front of my house. Pain ricochets through my body with the blow. But I continue un-relentlessly, welcoming the pain of the tree over the loss of my possible future.
 

Everything is changing.

"Annie!" Tab calls out from somewhere behind me.
 

"I'm really not in the mood," I tell him, trying to fix my constricting dress. I can't sit down on the floor like I want because of the stupid thing.

"You can't just walk out on Princers like that," he says. He grabs onto my shoulder and spins me around so I'm facing him. He's got fire in his eyes.

"I just did."

"Annie, I'm being serious."
 

"So am I! You and I both know that I can't be a Guardian. I don't want to have an Angel. Rem made a huge mistake here, and I'm not just lying down and taking it."
 

"Annie, relax," Tab says as he pulls me in for a hug. His warm body helps a little to settle me down, but not nearly enough for me to just take this sentencing. I will do everything that I can to change this.