Destiny

25.

Chapter 25

Aryan closed the door to his bedroom behind me. "Make yourself comfortable."

"You don't have to stay in here with me." I said, sitting down on his bed.

He grabbed a book off the bedside table and sat down by the bed. "I'm keeping an eye on you."

"Why?"

"I made a promise to your mother."

I kicked my shoes off and laid down on my side, facing him. "A promise? To do what exactly?"

"To keep you safe."

"I'm pretty sure I'm safe in here. You and Lucy both told me I was safe here."

"You are but it's always nice to have extra protection."

"As long as I can remember, someone has been watching my every move. I haven't had much time to myself."

"Do you want me to leave you alone?"

"Just for a little while. So I can sleep."

"I'll be downstairs if you need anything."

"Okay."

I dozed off not long after he left and slept for a while. Sleeping helped keep the pain away.

Until it woke me up.

I opened my eyes and my back arched sharply. The pain in my back was worse than it had been before. There was no pain like it.

I pulled the jacket off then my shirt and reached around to my back. Something wet was covering my skin.

Blood.

My mouth fell open and I couldn't move. My hand started to shake and my vision blurred.

The pain started once more and I screamed, unable to hold it in.

The door was shoved open and Aryan ran in. He came to my side and put a hand on my shoulder.

"Breathe, Julia."

I looked up at him, my head throbbing. I could barely make out his features from the amount of tears flowing from my eyes.

He brushed my hair back from my face. "It'll be over soon."

I groaned and tried pushing myself up. As I did, pressure was put on my back and I collapsed, falling into Aryan.

"Take it easy, Julia."

I took a few deep breaths, trying to keep as still as possible.

The pain in my back intensified and was worse than any of the other times. I grabbed a handful of Aryan's shirt. Then I let out a scream.

"What the hell are you two doing up here?" Lucy asked, her voice coming from the doorway.

"Luce, don't." Aryan warned.

"She's my daughter." She growled. She knelt down behind me and put a hand on my shoulder.

I gasped and moved away from her touch.

"We need to get you cleaned up." Aryan said softly.

"Let me." Lucy slid an arm under my knees and lifted me into her arms. I didn't think she was strong enough but there was still a lot I didn't know about her. She stood up and carried me into the bathroom. She sat me down in the tub then grabbed the shower head. "This will only take a few minutes."

She was cautious when touching my back. Her fingers were gentle and held my wings as she cleaned them so there was less pull on them.

I didn't realize how bad it was until all the blood started running toward the drain. It made me want to throw up.

"Can you walk?"

I nodded but took her hand when she offered it to me. She led me to my room, a towel wrapped around me, and found me a shirt and shorts to change into. She was gentle with my wings, even going as far as drying them off with the towel.

I crawled into bed and pulled the blankets up as far as I could get them.

"I'm gonna go downstairs. If you need me-" Lucy said, heading for the door.

"You can stay." I said softly.

"I don't want to hover."

"You don't hover."

She smiled and pulled a chair up beside the bed. "How are you holding up?"

"I'm scared."

"What are you scared of?" She asked, brushing a strand of wet hair off my face.

"I've never had wings before."

"I wish you would have been born with them."

"Why wasn't I?"

"Sometimes babies are and sometimes they aren't. Some babies get them after a few months. I assumed that when you didn't get them, you weren't ever going to get them."

"Were you mad at me?"

"I could never be mad at you. It was bittersweet for me. Especially when you were younger. I wanted so badly for you to be like me. To be an angel and grow up strong and powerful. But when I realized that I couldn't keep you with me, I was hoping you'd stay human."

"Why?"

"You deserve a normal life. And being an angel certainly isn't normal."

"It's the most normal I've felt in a long time."

"Julia-"

I sat up, wincing as a wing brushed my arm. "I'm where I belong. With you and Aryan."

She pulled me in close, her arms strong around me. "I love you so much, Julia."

"I love you, too."