Chapter 23 - Dreams

Once I hit the bed, it wasn't long before I was asleep. I would've been asleep sooner had it not been for these obnoxiously huge appendages that had grown from my back. Instead of the ribbons greeting me I was met with darkness. I was running from something but I stayed in place. I heard slow methodical footsteps behind me and turning my head to look, I caught glowing red eyes and an outstretched hand motiong to come to them. My heartbeat and pace quickened, adrenaline guiding me. The faster I tried to run, the faster I was drawn to them. Just as his hand touched me, he was bounced back by a blinding light. I brought my arms up covering my face but when I lowered my arms I saw the robed man standing in his place. "My child" he said raspily and held out his hand, a white dove sitting in it. He threw the bird into the air, but it's wings beat erratically landing it down on the ground within minutes. I tried to speak and ask questions but no words would leave me. It was as if my voice was gone. Looking back at the robed man, a midnight black hand appeared on his shoulder and he stepped aside revealing Lamia's demon form. She came forward and picked up the flightless dove her golden swirls cascading across her body, only hidden by the black flowing gown she wore. The room was filled with deafening screams and clashing of metal until she picked the bird up and cupped it tenderly whispering to it "Carry me out" before she launched it again into the air. Instead of the dove cascading back to the floor, it corrected itself flying higher beginning to emit another blinding white light that got so bright it burned our surroundings away landing me in a field of green and wildflowers. Looking around quickly I saw a woman in a bulky dress with a head covering leaning down scooping water from a stream. As if she expected me she called my name not even looking to see where I was. Making my way over to her she stood and turned cupping my cheek she soothingly said "You are of me.". Tears welled her eyes and she bore a strikingly odd resemblance to my grandmother. Her round face set with brunette hair and the same nose that I wore. I covered her hand with mine and a peace I had never known curled around inside my body. "Grandma?" I asked finding my voice had began to work again. She drew her hand back sweetly replying, "Add a few greats to it and you'll know me by name.". I replied "Geneology wasn't always my strong suit." and shrugged my shoulders. She looked lost a moment before saying, "I have gifted you a prophecy. Your road will be full of trials but your father was never expecting you to be found." "My father? But you're my great however many greats grandmother?" I questioned. "The father of your lineage Mia. He believes there's a balance that has to be maintained. When that balance was tipped, well if it ever was tipped, the youngest in our lineage would activate and, well, here you are." she said extending her hands out as if I was a prize. I looked at her for a minute unsure of what to say before it struck me, "What do I have to do?". Her shoulders slumped as she replied, "You are of light and darkness. Bring the balance back." and her figure began to become transparent. "What does the mean?" I asked but she ignored me until she was gone a subtle smile on her face. I shot up out of the bed to find Mika'il staring at me from across the room. Grabbing the blanket up, I looked at him cross saying "You perv" sticking my nose into the air. He pointed at me replying, "You're fully clothed and you were lighting up.". "Still doesn't mean you stare at me while I sleep." I torted back at him awaiting his reaction. He bolted to the door and left leaving only me and Lamia in the room. I began replaying the prophecy for her but no reply. "Lamia?" I called internally but no reply. Figuring she was visiting Lilith again, I got up dragging the wings behind me to take a shower. I couldn't fit them in with me, so I dangled them over the side of the tub letting the warm water cascade over me. I wondered exactly what the prophecy meant and how Lamia and Drag played into it. After my shower, getting dressed was another chore. I'm not even sure how my last shirt stayed on, it was in shreds. Not being able to fit anything over them, I stole the curtains making a makeshift shirt and tying it up as a halter top leaving my shoulders open. "I'm good." I called out and B and Mika'il entered the room. B stiffling a chuckle asked "What kind of shirt is that?". I replied sarcastically, "You grow wings and see if any of your clothes fit jerk.". He laughed harder when Mika'il interrupted saying, "Ready for more training?". I nodded and out the door we went back to the 'fields'. A week had passed. On the third day without Lamia's taunting, I was finally able to get the wings back in. It hurt bad but Mika'il said the more they come and go, the pain would lessen. Mika'il had me keep my wings hidden, the Inn becoming more and more crowded as demons showed up in droves. The markings they carried each significant and eloquent to each of them. The week wasn't without fighting though. A few times, some of those demons would pick on me because of my markings. Snide remarks flew at me almost on a daily basis because I should have more of them they said. I took Lamia's words to heart and only let our first four marks show throw. B intervened more times than I'd like to admit. Lamia was always the one who coaxed me into being aggressive and with her being gone, I kept to myself as much as possible. I missed her but knew that what she doing was really important and needed for what was going to happen. Training was paying off to. Without Lamia distracting me, I was able to focus intently on what was happening but poor B. Mika'il used him as a taunting almost daily to get my full power out. Mika'il wasn't outmatched by B, but B did prove to be a force on the battlefield during training. There was one day, I thought B had him and then Mika'il stretched his wings out pointing the tips of his feathers at B. If B hadn't stopped, I could only imagine the mess that would have made of him. I was alot faster, stronger, and I knew pretty well how to defend myself. I was shaming Mika'il at this point. Some new abilities had been brought out mostly encompassing my senses but I could do this cool thing where I made the air around me buzz. Mika'il couldn't make sense of it though. He'd never seen it before. B was leaving for the day to report to Lilith and check on Lamia at my beckoning. My day was to be training with Mika'il again. I rolled my eyes even thinking about it. Mika'il was shifting my training to air now and I was still so awkward with moving my wings. It didn't matter what I did, I couldn't get them to beat together and I looked like a feathery jumping bean trying to take off. Heading out to the fields Mika'il began his 'training speech', "Mia, your wings are emotional, you have to be calm and collected.". I nodded as I closed my eyes and tried to calm myself until I felt pretty relaxed. Mika'il shoved me and I fell back, my wings popping out in the process and instead of landing on my butt, I fell all the way back into them. "Thanks." I replied dusting off my knees and staring daggers at Mika'il. "Now calm again and try to get them to cooperate." Mika'il said unimpressed. I did as he said and tried to flap them. They beat unevenly and I got more frustrated as time went on. After half a day, I was fed up with it. "I've got two left wings. This will never work!" I belted out anxiously finding a medium boulder to prop myself on. "It'll work Mia you just have to be calm." Mika'il said reassuring me. Looking past Mika'il I saw B running towards us, panic all over his face. I got up and started running meeting him halfway. B grabbed my shoulders turning me to look at him when he said, "Mia they've got Lamia. She's trapped in Hell.".