Rise From Darkness by Ciara Knight

soul.
    Sounds erupted from the woods. Dust and dirt filled the air. Trees cracked all around her. It sounded like a freight train barreling at her.
    “W-what’s going on? P-please tell me.” Her skin continued to bubble with pain burning from the inside out. “ Ahhh , make it stop. P-please.” There was silence. Not a sound. She looked up. Exquisite fluffy wings ruffled down around her. The ones from her painting except with a navy hue. They were attached to Alexander. . She now saw the face absent from her picture.
    The wings surrounded her and the fire dwindled. Each soft feather caressed her bare skin. She closed her eyes as the browns and grays merged with the sun-fire yellow muting the darkness.
    Light overpowered the dark and warm tingling meandered through her body. It was bliss. Happiness. Welcoming the salty taste of tears, she surrendered to it and wept from pure peace.
    His wings let go as he took flight. She rested in his arms, head against his bare shoulder as he held her against him. Wind twirled her hair about and she let go long enough to push it from her eyes, and she looked down. Everything spun around in a blur. A wave of panic ensued at the sight of how high off the ground they flew.
    ****
    Alexander held tight as he took off. Her screams were lost as they reached the clouds. Soon, they turned to whimpers and pleas as he bolted across the sky, taking her far away from Forras . The clouds surrounded them. Her body quivered though he wasn’t sure if it was from terror or the cold. He didn’t know where else to go so he landed on the beach in front of his home.
    Grace might be the only person that could protect them now. How could he have exposed himself and then brought her home to his family? Stupid! He cursed himself as he gently put her down.
    The look of terror in her eyes said it all. She sank into the sand, tears streaming down her face. He took one last look at her before he climbed the steps to his home, knowing she’d never want to see him again.
    “Grace, I need help.” He called out in a choked voice. He stood on the front porch staring back at Gaby sobbing in the sand.
    Grace came out. “I’ll take care of her. Go inside.”
    He bolted upstairs to his room to hide himself away in shame, leaving Grace to calm Gaby.
    What had he done? He yanked a dresser drawer open, grabbed a pale green t-shirt out, and shoved it over his head. The one he’d been wearing was left in long strips of blue material in the woods. If he would have stopped to think before he exploded into full angelic battle, maybe he could have rescued Gaby without announcing to all the hunters in the world where they were.
    All the angelic and demonic evidence left spread across that clearing, it was all so sloppy. Maybe he could return and do some damage control. No, it would be too late. A hunter had probably already been dispatched to investigate. If he returned, it would only help them narrow it down to his family. Not that in Kemp, Florida it would take too long.
    He paced his room until he picked up the old worn Edgar Allen Poe book from his nightstand and skimmed the illustrated pictures and read a few passages. The rhythm of the words always soothed him but not this time. All he saw in the illustrations were winged monsters. He tossed the book on the nightstand and went to the window.
    Two taps at his bedroom door drew his attention but he refused to turn from the tranquil scene outside his bedroom. He tried to lull the memory of the day from his mind with the sounds of seagulls and ocean waves. The look of disgust when Gaby saw his true form, her body convulsing from fear in his arms, it was too much.
    “Alexander.” Grace’s soft voice announced her presence in the room and the door clicked shut.
    How could he look at her or anyone else? Each time he tried to save someone he ruined their lives.
    Bile rose in his throat as he remembered Forras touching Gaby. “I’ll get him for this.” The evil edge to his