Fledgling: Book 1 (Afterlife) (18 page)

“So that means that you won’t follow me when I do this.” I turn my head downwards and fold in my wings tight to my body and allow myself to fall. The wind is whistling past my ears, becoming louder and louder as I fall. I can feel the pressure on my face and skin, pushing it back toward where I had come. The faster I went the tighter I pulled in my wings. I watched the ground approach at a rapid rate. This motion was an adrenaline junkies dream, and I knew that Ben and Cindy loved to do it too.
 

Tucking my chin into my chest, I tilted my head to see if they had taken the bait. In the distance, I could see two little figures piercing the sky, looking like two small meteorites. Turning to look in the direction I was heading, I tried to smile, but ended up with my lips pushing out like a parachute. Laughing inside, I pictured how ridiculous I must look.
 

I still have a fair distance to go, so I wrap my wings around me and begin to spin, around and around like a whirlwind, heading faster toward the ground. I then tuck my chin in, with my head forward I follow with my shoulders. My body flips, and I tuck my legs into my chest and do a triple summersault then straighten out again.
 

When the ground is becoming a little too close for comfort, I change my position by bringing my head back a little. This movement causes my whole body to be flat against the pressure of the wind. I am only meters away from the ocean. To stabilise, I begin to flap my wings and turn my body upright while waiting for Ben and Cindy. I didn’t need to wait long. With a massive gush of wind, they were by my side.
 

“That was so fun,” Cindy exclaims. A smile is spread across her face from ear to ear. “Wasn’t it Ben?”

Ben didn’t need to answer. His face beams from excitement.
 

“Did you want to do that again?” he asks both of us.

“I would love to, but we have to get back,” Cindy responds.
 

“Always the responsible one, hey Cindy,” I tease.
 

“Someone has to be, and it isn’t you,” she laughs.

I turn and look over the ocean and see the island in the distance surrounded by crystal clear blue water. “We are almost there. We have all done good today, so let's get it over with.”

As we approach the island, I wonder if Archangel Michael will be addressing us this time. It is hard to imagine him getting hurt; however, I know war is war. It is about death. The demons must be able to kill angels.
 

The thought is discomforting. I hope dying three times is enough. I am hoping there won’t be a forth in this spiritual world.
 

The small grassy plane below is empty. It is not surprising. Even though it is getting close to the end of the day, it is probably not time yet. We land, unintentionally scaring away a small group of seagulls. They give off squawks of disapproval as they leave. To fill in time, I make my way toward the ocean. It is such a pretty area. On perfect weather days like this, the water is a beautiful pale colour of blue and transparent. It is like looking into a blue tinted fish tank except one hundred times better. The sea life are all different breeds and sizes, and they live in the stunning colourful coral.
 

Behind me, I hear Cindy and Ben’s footsteps. The ocean here is wild and untamed by humans, always an attraction. It was a privilege to train here. When we make it to the water's edge, the sun is beginning to set. The sky is picture perfect. It is an array of different yellows, oranges, reds and blues. It is a breathtaking view even though we cannot see it set over the water because the mainland of Australia lies in between.
 

Selecting a large rock not far from the water's edge, I sit to take in the scenery. Ben and Cindy choose a rock on either side, and we sit in silence admiring the view. The ocean breeze pushes my hair gently from my face. I can feel the slight saltiness as it touches my skin. I revel in the beauty and the sounds of the birds and the waves pushing up against the rocks.
 

After several minutes of listening to nature, Cindy says, “It’s so peaceful here.” She is always one to talk first, but I can hear edginess in her voice.

“It was,” I say with a big grin. “Until miss chatterbox couldn’t handle it any longer.”

She squints her golden brown eyes at me trying to feign annoyance. “Well, I’m getting nervous, and you know what I’m like when I nervous,” She splutters. “It is getting late and none of the archangels are here yet.” Her wings flap involuntarily lifting her off her rock. “It’s nearly dark, for goodness sake.”

“I’m sure it will be fine, Cindy,” Ben reassures her. “The archangels have been around since the beginning of time. I’m sure they can handle themselves.”

Cindy doesn’t say anything as she hovers above the ground. Her forehead remains in a frown as she places one arm across her stomach and chews on the other hand's nails. She begins to pace while flying slowly, back and forth, back and forth above the rocks and water.
 

As much as I understand her concern, it is starting to get on my nerves. My peace is now completely gone.
 

Rising to my feet, I say, “Come on. Let’s go and have a look on land to see if they are waiting for us there instead of calling for us.” I reach out a hand to her, and she takes it. She lifts one side of her mouth in a half smile looking relieved to be doing something.
 

We trek through the native trees of the rainforest approaching our training grass plain. Violet and Pink, a couple of our training fledglings, are waiting in the plain. I feel bad I didn’t get to know them that well when we were training. I had clicked instantly with Ben and Cindy as they had with others. Even in such a small group we had our clusters.
 

“Hey, ladies,” Ben calls giving them a charming smile.
 

Both Violet and Pink turned and gave Ben an adoring look. For a place that is not supposed to have any sexual attraction, these two looked like hormonal teenagers.
 

“Hi,” Pink says, waving while batting her eyelids. “So lovely to see you again." She approaches him and places an arm through his; stroking the lines in between his muscles on his arm with her other hand. I gawk at him in amazement. He looks to be lapping it up. Violet wanders over and takes his other hand. Her attention seems a little more distracted. She is still too friendly for my liking. Suddenly I am no longer feeling guilty I didn’t befriend them earlier.

“Ah, what are you doing?” I hiss at him inadvertently, although, I couldn’t believe it; my best friend has turned instantly into a low-level male escort. Much to my dismay, I feel a surge of jealousy. He is Cindy’s and my friend.
 

He turns and winks at me. “Why don’t you join us?”

I shake my head and screw up my nose. Cindy is still standing next to me. “Am I sensing jealousy?” Her eyes study me. I don’t respond. “We are not supposed to be involved with others in that way. You know that, don’t you?”

I scoff. “Oh, I’m not, believe me. I just don’t understand why they are all over him.”

She giggles. “Haven’t you seen how hot he is? Not to mention a real sweetheart.”

I am still not looking at her, and I shake my head. “Nope. I haven’t noticed at all.”

“Uh huh. I believe you, others wouldn’t.” I can hear the laughter in her voice. “As for them, it would be very hard for an angel of humanly love and even an angel of spiritual love to resist his charm, even if it is just a smile.” She paused, watching them for a little while. “Besides, he is not attracted to them; he is just enjoying the attention. After all, he was human.”

 
Despite Cindy’s reassurances, I cannot bear to watch any longer. I walk over and pin a smile on my face, which I know did not reach my eyes, and I barge in. “Excuse me ladies. We have work to do.” I grab Ben’s arm and walk away with him, leaving Pink and Violet behind. “What are you doing?” I hiss.

“What do you mean?” He looks at me; his face portraying innocence. “I was just being friendly.” I can feel his eyes search my face as we walk away from the group. A smile spreads across his face. “Are you jealous?”

“As if!” The words burst out of my mouth while I continue looking straight ahead.

He nudges me lightly in the ribs. “It’s okay, you can admit it. I won’t mind, I promise.”

I look him straight in the eye. “Okay, I admit it.”

His smile grows larger.
 

“I am jealous of your friendship.”
 

His smile fades. “Aren’t you a little jealous in any other way?” His eyes are giving me the puppy dog look, and I have never been good at resisting puppies.
 

I nudge him lightly with my shoulder. “You know we aren’t allowed to like each other in any other way than friendship. They will have our skins for sure.”

“What and going completely against their rules set for thousands of years for dealing with perpetrators is okay?”

He has me there, but it hurts me to tell him the truth. “Listen to you trying to encourage me to break the rules.”

“I am only following my instincts, just like you.” In the rapidly fading light, his face holds gloominess.
 

We reach the edge of the plain and enter the rainforest. Darkness fills the sky, and our angel vision takes over.

“Where has all this come from?” I ask.

“You seriously don’t know?”

I shake my head and feel horrible for the lie.
 

“Really? I could have sworn I have caught you checking me out a few times.”
 

The pressure is getting to me. I am not ready for this conversation. “Ben, it’s complicated and you know it.” The words come out harsher than I intend.
 

He straightens and drops my arm. “Yeah, I know. You’re in love with your soul mate, true love, whatever — who isn’t even your species anymore.” His words flood with disappointment and anger.

“But he might be one day.” I can see his hurt, but I can’t help myself. “He is an innocent, killed in two lives and living his third. If killed while he is still an innocent, he will join us.” I am ashamed of what I say, but it is the way I think.

He looks at me stunned. “I have thought you to be many things, usually positive, but never sick or desperate.” He glares at me. “Listen to yourself. You sound like you wish for his murder.”

I am speechless. Shaking my head, I reach for his arm, and he yanks it away. He turns his back toward me. Seeing his hurt causes tears to well in my eyes. I let them roll freely down my cheeks.
 

“You need to wake up to yourself and what your role is now,” he rebukes. "It is time for you to work out who will be there for you when you need it, even when you think you don’t need anyone from this life."

My head rocks back and forth in agreement even though I know he can’t see it. “I’m sorry, Ben.” The large lump in my throat is making it hard to get the words out. “Please don’t be angry. I need you, especially in this life.”

His back is still facing me, as he remains silent. I give out an involuntary sniffle while studying the contoured lines in his back. He is right. I have caught myself unconsciously admiring him. I am so caught up on my past lives and hoping to reunite with Ethan, I have denied it even to myself.
 

The ocean breeze blows cold against my wet cheeks. I reach out again to grab his arm and repeat, “I’m sorry, Ben. I do need you. You know I need you even if I am too stubborn to admit it myself.” The lines of his back and around his neck soften. Slowly, he turns to face me. He steps closer. I can see a hunger in his eyes that I have never seen before. My tears are no longer falling after being stunned into hiding.

Startled, I take a step away and find my back between my wings pressed up against a tree trunk. He steps forward again within my personal space. He has me locked against the tree. If I really tried, I know I could escape. The look in his eyes is shaking me. I long to be in his arms yet the mood he is in is terrifying me. I don’t want our friendship to end, and I’m not sure I am ready for this.
 

He steps closer again. This time we are almost touching. His deep blue eyes weld onto mine. His hand reaches up, and he wipes away the tears from my cheek with the back of his hand. That one stroke sent waves of emotions swimming through me. It was so gentle and filled with passion, enough to weaken my body. My lips part as I let out a gasp of pleasurable surprise and my eyes close for only a moment.
 

During that spilt second, he has pressed his body up against mine pinning me solidly against the tree. My eyes fly open. His face is centimetres away from my face. His ocean blue eyes are inviting me in for a swim, a swim within his love and passion.
 

His face slowly presses in closer. Anxious for our friendship I breathe in quickly from panic. I am comforted by a soft, warm sensation pressing against my lips. It is so soft that I think that I have imagined it, except my body has lost all strength, being overcome with pleasurable sensations. My knees crumble as he holds me up. My lips move in unison with his becoming more relaxed with each movement. His moist warmth grows hungrier and presses harder with each stroke of the lips. He tastes so good — like fresh, warm crusty bread smeared with honey and the added smoothness of butter.

I reach my hands up and touch his chest softly. His muscles dance underneath my palms as he pulls me closer by the hips.
 

His hand slides up my side and then curves around to the small of my back. My back arches as it runs up my spine under my top and along my bare skin. When it reaches the base of my head, his fingers grab my hair gently. By this moment, I am completely given to him. Our mouths part as he gasps for air. His eyes never leave mine, and I know there is more to come. The hunger is still strong.
 

The hand that holds my hair pulls gently backward with enough force to tilt my chin slightly in the air. My eyes gaze briefly at the beauty of the trees above as I feel soft, warm bites and kisses start from my chin all along my jaw line, until they reach my neck. The heat overwhelms my face with each touch, pulsating through my body to my fingertips and toes. The pleasure has completely caught me unaware, engulfing me and taking over my entire body. I don’t know how I am going to be able to stop.