Angel Academy

Chapter Sixteen

My agonized screams echo through the forest. The burning between my shoulders is searing down my spine now and my skull feels like it might split open. I can feel my pulse in my temples―so strong I can barely see.

"Ana I know you're in pain but if we don't get out of here right now we'll all be dead," Daniel says. His voice is quiet but firm.

I nod quickly, squeezing my eyes shut tightly. My grip on him has to be excruciating but I can't seem to let go. 

"I'm going to shift and all you have to do is hold on, just don't let go of me, okay?" He tells me.

I hear cracking and peel my eyes open enough to see his wolf standing in front of me. I grab onto him, letting out a cry of pain as Diana forces me onto his back.

My fingers clench tightly into his fur, so hard I don't know how he isn't in pain. He takes off running and I bury my face into his neck to stifle my screams.

Each step, no matter how graceful or smooth, sends a jolt through my body straight to my spine. I hear shouting behind us and turn to look.

I see flashes of black and white feathers in the trees and curse under my breath. A sudden flash of fire between my shoulders pulls a scream from my lips and my grip fails. 

I slip from Daniel's back and land hard on the ground. I gasp, tears rolling down my cheeks. Rocks and sticks dig into my side and my dress and hair are sticky with blood. I grit my teeth as I hear the Council guards moving closer.

"Ana what are you doing?" Diana yells as I start pushing myself to my feet.

I see her slow from the corner of my eye. "I'm going to take care of this," I tell her, fighting through the pain.

She glances at the guards for a moment before taking off at a sprint. Realizing it was fear in her eyes, I don't try to stop her.

I manage to get to my feet, using a tree to keep myself steady. I hear an awful ripping and nearly collapse from the sudden weight on my back. My dress is hanging off my shoulders in tatters, but I don't care anymore. All I can feel are my wings and the tears streaming down my cheeks. Each breath I suck in aches horribly, but it does nothing to keep me from pushing off the tree and standing on my own.

I see the Council guards coming closer and put my arms out wide. "I'm right here, assholes," I spit out.

It's another minute before they reach me; if it weren't for their wings and the closely growing trees they would have caught us. I recognize most of the faces but one in particular stands out―the balding man at the front was at every single one of my trials before the Council. 

His eyes widen in panic as he catches sight of me and it turns to full blown terror as his gaze travels behind me. "Go! Go! Retreat damn it!" He yells at the guards, but they refuse.

"Our orders were to bring her back by any means necessary."

My lip curls. "Oh, come on Mason, don't tell me you're scared of a little girl," I sneer.

His face goes red as he glances back. "We both know what you can do, that's why we took away your wings."

"And what a mistake that was," I laugh, lifting my hands.

His eyes are as wide as saucers when he turns to sprint around the guards. I flick my wrist and his body collapses onto the ground, writhing in pain and screaming hysterically. I look at the guards, clench my fists and then quickly open them.

All of the guards fall in unison, lying completely motionless on the ground. I notice Mason's body is also still and shake my head with a sneer.

"Either you had a wicked mind or you were extremely weak," I mutter under my breath. I feel a sharp sting in the back of my neck. I try to turn but my limbs go completely numb and I collapse. The trees go blurry and my ears start ringing. I don't even have time to call out for help before my mind goes blank.