Broken (Broken Wings) by Sandra Love Page B

from the burning city, but I have no shoes on and I am stepping on rocks and sticks. My feet were killing me and I can tell they are bleeding as well. I hear a high pitch laughing, and I know it’s Amelia. I am terrified; I knew she wanted to kill me, and I knew what she was capable of. My own mother wanted to end my life. Suddenly, I trip on a tree stump and roll down a hill. Rolling through leaves and falling tree branches, I knew I was going to be injured. When I stop, the pain in my left ankle is so intense that I want to scream, but I hold it in so she won’t find me. I notice a small cave to my right and crawl for it. When I am safely inside, I hear voices.
                  “She went this way, Enoch. We need to find her. Her Highness will kill us if we don’t.”
                  “Well, Murtin, I’m not a werewolf; I can’t just smell for her.”
                  “Let’s keep looking; she couldn’t have gone far.”
    I place my hand over my mouth so no one c an hear me breathing. Then I hear footsteps coming toward me. My heart speeds up, and I feel like I’m about to die.
                  “Cordelia? Darling, is that you? I promise I won’t hurt you.” A tall muscular man walks toward me. He is dressed in a pair of jeans and a T-shirt. He has dark brown hair, and I feel a strange sense of familiarity. As the moon shines down on him, I scrounge up my face, trying to remember why he seems so familiar.
                  “Who……?”
                  “Cordelia Rose Cassen.” I gasp at the use of my full name. He obviously knows me, but how? “Don’t be scared; I’m Dean, your father.” I start to cry. This is my father, right here in front of me. He sits down and takes me into his arms. “Shh, sweet girl, I’m here. You can trust me. But listen, we don’t have time. I could only enter your dreams for a moment. Your mother will find out and come after me.”
                  “Daddy,” I exclaim, feeling a sudden connection to this man; like I am a little girl asking my father to kiss a boo-boo, “please don’t go. I’m so scared, lost, and broken. I have no idea what is going on with me.”
                  “Baby girl, listen, you need to tap into your angel powers. I thought you would have by now, but looks like you can only tap into your witch powers. You are the only hope to end The Old Ones and Amelia. You, my dear, are the one The Prophet speaks of. Talk to Cameron and Kaleigh; they will tell you all.” The he is cut off and blasted ten feet back by some magical force.
                  I look around to see Amelia standing behind me. “I see you are trying to get to Cordelia.” She looks at me. “Sweetheart, you are not the one. I am, and I will run this country as I see fit. You will die, right here and right now.” She walks over to me and puts her hands around my neck and starts to squeeze. The last thing I remember is screaming out for my father.
                  I wake up with Cameron standing over, me holding me down. I am screaming out in pain.
                  “Delia, Babe, calm down. I’m here; I won’t let anyone hurt you.”
                  “Dad! Where is my father?  What’s going on?” I try to sit up, but I can’t.
                  He sidesteps my question. “Stay right here; your face is bleeding. I need to get the first aid kit.” He walks out and I lay there thinking of my father and how I hate that that was a dream. Cameron comes back in with the kit, and looks at me with a puzzled expression.
                  “What, Cam? What is it?”
                  “Well, I don’t need this anymore. Looks like you can heal yourself.” The pain starts to go away and I am able to sit up.
                  “Please tell me what that was all about, Delia. We are here to help