This morning I feel somehow strange. When I open my eyes, everything around me is spinning. I get the impression of being high. I feel so dizzy that all I can do is lie on my back. Cold sweat coats my body, chills appear, and my head starts to hurt so much that I want to cry.
Something is coming...
I linger in this state for several minutes until I have a flashback from the past. In this memory, the golden glow that Andy healed me retreats to the sky, and I die at the scene of the accident.
When the strange feeling passes, I pull myself up to a sitting position and put my hand to my forehead.
I realize that the time of my choice is fast approaching: I will die or become a demon, taking away Andy's white wings.
From Irene's words, it appears that this is what he wants. He saved me, knowing what awaits him in the future. He wants to become a demon so that he will have no remorse for the woman he once loved.
I have made a final decision and no one will stop me from it. I'm not going to take away Andy's wings. He will remain an angel, I will leave the world of the living forever.... I will become a soul residing in paradise for all eternity.
I will die with a peaceful heart.
I approach the door and grab the handle when I hear Thomas and Andy talking from the hallway. They speak in whispers, but my hearing is so sharp that I don't miss a word they say. It's a sign that I'm taking away the Angel's powers, making it weaker and weaker every minute.
- ... that's why you have to get her out of here. Today, and as soon as possible, because I feel myself getting weaker and weaker.
So this is Andy and Thomas' plan? They have been in collusion from the beginning and want me to become an angel at all costs?
- Jennie decided to die so as not to take away your wings.
- That's why you have to get her out of here. You are a damn demon, Thomas, and if she stays here, Irene will kill her today. She is capable of doing anything for me.
- Are you sure you want to give your powers to Jennie?
- I decided this the moment I gave it a second life. With this, I will begin to live without remorse. It pains me to see Irene, whose wings I took away. When we are the same.... I will finally feel relief.
I can't let that happen. I am of the same opinion as Irene, and I want her to kill me.
Just what am I supposed to do if they are going to protect me?
I feel a slight breeze, so I look over my shoulder and spot Irene behind me. The girl is standing with a finger pressed to her lips.
She would rather not betray her presence. With a movement of her hand, she orders me to approach.
There is a moment when fear grips me, but if I don't decide ultimate end now, I will let Andy become a demon. I'm his friend, I can't take away his wings.
I grab Irene's hand to move with her to a place where they won't find us and I can die, but someone anticipates us and aggressively snatches me from the girl's arms. I fall into Thomas' arms, and I know this because my heart starts beating faster through Cupid's spell.
- Don't even think about it," he turns to me in an angry voice. - She wants to protect Andy, I would like to protect you. I said that a war is getting ready.
Before we move to a distant place, I see the worried face of the demon girl.
We land on a rock, somewhere in the distance we can hear the ocean. I break out of Thomas' embrace, causing me to nearly fall down. He grabs my hand at the last moment, piercing me with his eyes.
- Idiot, finally understand that Andy himself wants it! Irene messed with your head because she wants to protect his wings, while he would like to get rid of them at all costs! If you let yourself be killed, then he will suffer because of you! He will never forgive himself for this!
A strong wind blows away my long brown hair, as I look at the demon with tears in my eyes.
- It scares me to think that all eternity I will live with his power! Even if he wants it, how will I be able to look him in the eye! He will be a demon, and I will take pride in his white wings.
He takes my face in his hands, and his gaze seems frantic.
- Another word, and I swear I'll tie you to this rock and wait for your transformation!
I look into his eyes, with total confusion in my head.
- What if I never forgive myself and suffer like Irene and Andy for all eternity?
- Your guardian has made this decision, so you have no reason to worry about it. Would you really want to die and disappear from this world forever to become an ordinary, heavenly soul living in paradise?
Because of his words, I fell apart broken. I cry like a baby, and he takes advantage of this and hugs me close. Cradled in his arms, I clench my eyelids and my tears soak into the material of his sweatshirt.
- I am cold. Very," I say, and he creates a red glow around us, which does not let the wind through. - Wouldn't you be happy if I disappeared from this world?
- I have confessed to you before that I would have no one to tease. - I lift my face and watch a slight smile appear on his face. - Nothing makes me happier...
It's true. He has been poisoning my life since Andy saved me. Even though I sometimes hate him for it, over the years I've become so accustomed to the fact that we're at each other's throats that I think I'd miss it in the hereafter.
- Before you left for hell, you confessed to me that you have been clinging to me since day one because demons are like big children and your behavior is a sign of affection.
He lowers his gaze and looks into my eyes.
- I warned you that when I return, my taunts will intensify....
Because of that damn Cupid's spell, my heart starts beating harder again as Thomas strokes my back with his hand.
- So you're doing this out of sympathy for me? - He doesn't answer, but the gaze with which he looks at me reveals everything. - Is that why you disliked Victor from the beginning? You pretend to be his friend, but you keep poisoning his life....
We stand on the edge of the rock, he puts his arm around my waist, and I watch his face, wanting to get the whole truth out of him.
- Are you really so stupid that you are only forming everything into a entire after so many years? - He leans over my ear, then adds in a whisper. - Demons have it in them to be seducers. Once you are hunted, you are his until you get bored with him.
Chills gather in my neck area and run down along my spine.
These are the same words he confessed to me at our first meeting. So. he has been favoring me all this time and waiting for the right moment?
- Why are you opening up to me right now? Are you afraid of something?
- Today, you will become an angel. Until now, I have been too strong for you to favor you openly, and you can't even imagine how much I want you....
I move away from him, being disturbed by his words.
- What?
- You are still human, so I could accidentally hurt you.
I have no doubt that this moron is playing pranks again.
I snort under my breath, and am about to evade him, but he doesn't let me. He holds me to him, as if he's afraid, I'll do something stupid.
- Best put a collar on me! - I raise my voice at him. - By what right do you and Andy decide for me, anyway! If I decided to die, then that's the way it should be! - Again I refer to the situation with my Guardian Angel, at which the demon lifts his face to the sky and sighs loudly. - And stop treating me like a brainless wench! These sighs of yours are driving me crazy!
- And me, you're barking! - he exclaims, and to finally close my mouth, he leans over me and pulls me close, attaching his lips to mine. I intend to pull away from him, but his kiss becomes more aggressive. I don't know if it's the effect of Cupid's spell, but at this point I calm down and let him take control of my body. The pleasant warmth that arises in my belly spreads throughout my body, and the final stop is my lips, which are red-hot as the demon pulls away from me.
I look at him with wide-open eyes, not believing what he just did.
- Are you crazy!
- Not me, but her," he replies, glancing at Irene out of the corner of his eye. An angry girl appears next to us, breathing fire.
- Jennie, you promised to protect Andy's wings! - I see tears in her eyes. - You can't take back your words!
- How did you find us? - Thomas interjects.
- I'm light years older than you, so I'll follow any path you take to escape. You will not outsmart me, little demon.
He hides me behind his back, being concerned about fighting a being stronger than I.
- Even if Andy shows up, don't count on him to save you. He has less and less power in him. He can not fight me! - Irene snorts under her breath, turning directly to me. - I hate people who deceive me.
- Stop! - Thomas sticks his hand out in front of him. - This is Andy's decision, and if he no longer wants to be an angel, and is going to give his wings to Jennie, let go! Why are you trying to make him happy by force? By what right are you going to decide for him? Eventually, he will hate you, is that what you want?
- It's not why I sacrificed for him, and gave him my precious wings, that he should give them to this worthless girl! - I can see the madness in her eyes, and that scares me the most. Until now, I wanted to die for Andy, but am I really ready for that? Because of Thomas's words, I doubted whether it was a good decision....
- But he doesn't want those wings, so he won't see your sad face again!
Hiding behind the demon's back, I cling to his hand, not knowing what to do.
Irene drops to her knees and bursts into tears. She hides her face behind her hands, looking completely shattered.
- He will regret it. Now he repeats that he will feel better, but it will not be so at all. Quite soon he will miss paradise, the wonder of being an angel.... He just intends to sacrifice himself for Jennie, he doesn't want her to die. - When she lifts her face and looks into my eyes, I can see how much she suffers at the thought of Andy losing his heavenly wings. After all, these are the wings she gave him in the name of love.
Well, precisely, what right do I have to take them away from my Guardian Angel? They don't belong to me, they belong solely to him.
I let go of Thomas' hand, and a strong breeze blows my hair away again. I stand on the edge of the rock, overwhelmed by the whole situation.
If I am not killed and commit suicide, will I, like Thomas and Lisa, become a demon? Will I be able to return to them?
Andy will remain an angel, Irene will not hate me, no one will judge me for a bad decision taken....
Isn't that the best solution in this situation? I've had enough, really.
I take a step back, and see Irene blocking a demon younger than herself, only to have him help me. Taking one last glance at his back, I close my eyes then lean back.
It's about to be over, I think as I flail downward. It's just a temporary pain, and it will be over.
Unfortunately, nothing of the sort happens, as someone grabs me in their arms and protects me from a painful collision with the ground. Lying on top of him, I open my eyes and look at his cracking body.
- Andy? - I say in a panicked voice, touching his face, which is turning blue. - Andy, please... - Tears run down my cheeks. I am shocked. - Where did you come from here? Why did you do this!
This is the moment when Irene and Thomas appear by my side.
- What is happening to him! - I yell. - Why is he cracking?
- He was already practically without power when he decided to protect you," Thomas replied, helping me to my feet.
Irene falls to her knees, with horrified eyes watching the decaying body of her beloved. She touches his face with her hand, choking back tears, and I can't stand the sight and hide in Thomas' arms.
- Will he disappear from our world? - I ask in a trembling voice.
I don't get an answer, but Thomas' firmer grip confirms my fears.
My Guardian Angel protected me at the expense of myself. I thoughtlessly brought about his annihilation.
Did Cupid see just such a future when he warned me that I would be hated by everyone, and that Thomas would be the only one to stand by me?
I will never forgive myself for that.