Fallen (Undergoing editing)

Chapter twenty five

"Ah, here are the kids now. Raven, Lilith," Lucien said breaking away from the conversation and stood, holding out his welcoming arms to us. "You made it," he said beaming widely.

Raven bowed respectively and I followed.

"Girls, please, sit," Alice said reaching for his glass that was half full with ruby red wine that jiggled slightly as Raven and I both took a seat beside each other.

"As, I was saying Alice—ah, Demetrius, you've decided to join us, have you?" Lucien said swinging energetically around in his chair to Demetrius who waltzed in, changed out of his baggy jogging pants into dark jeans and a long black button up shirt.

"I made it didn't I?" he said sarcastically as he came and sat down beside Alice across the table from me, tossing me a wink. I glared.

A smile crossed Alice's face faster than a shooting star as he gazed at all three of us. "So, I heard training today was successful."

I looked over to Demetrius who opened his mouth first. "Depends on what you would call successful," he said dancing a cocky smile over to me.

"It's kind of hard when eighty thousand volts are running through your body!" I snapped back.

Demetrius licked his lips before tossing a sip of wine past his lips.

"Well, I hope you're well enough for basic fighting, Lilith, cause we're going out tomorrow," Alice said setting his glass down coolly against the table with a hollow thunk.

Raven gasped excitedly.

Demetrius's eyebrows shot up to his forehead.

Lucien just let out a loud whoop of laughter.

"Really?" Raven said like a surprised five year old.

Alice nodded. "A close friend wants to meet us, says he has an interesting proposition for us that'll help with the war."

It was now Lucien's turn to raise his eyebrows. "Proposition you say?"

Alice nodded.

"Mind sharing?"

"You'll just have to wait and see." Alice's gaze flashed to me with a curve of his lips. "It's a surprise."

That unsettled me slightly, remembering my promise to contributing to the war against Avon—my home and family, but it was all for my wings, for my birthright. It had to cost for something. I was an outcast anyway.

Just then several people wearing aprons with a bit of food smudged on them somewhere or other came through the kitchen doors with giant silver platters, laying each of one in front of us before unveiling the dish, letting the hot steam and aroma come barreling out like a cloud.

"Mm, amazing," Lucien said rubbing his hands together eagerly.

Demetrius grunted with satisfaction and grabbed his fork. I looked down to my fish that was sprinkled heavily with spices and decorated with slices of lemon. Its partner was a side dish of a rice salad; white rice sprinkled through spinach leaves and tomato halves.

"This is great, tell Higmy, he's done it again," Alice said nodding gratefully to one of the apron-wearers.

They all bowed to us before scampering off back into the kitchen and leaving us to our meals.

"Well that was just great," Lucien said after unsheathing a rude belch that rattled the table. Alice shot him a glare, but Lucien had already closed his eyes and looked as though he were about to dose off into a fit sleep.

"I hope you've enjoyed your meal, Lilith," Alice said looking over to me. "Just another fine qualities staying here can offer."

I nodded and leaned back in my chair, glancing past my untouched drink to Demetrius who sat in his chair, gazing absently into his wine, his wet hair falling into his eyes. It seemed to curve like a wave over his forehead; the sides combed back as if he'd tried to tame it, but gave up in the end and raked his fingers through the rest. I watched as he worked his jaw, sitting silently as we all scraped the rest of our dessert off the plates with our fingers.

"Well, tonight's affair has come to a close. You should all get to bed and have a good full rest. You'll need it for tomorrow," Alice said.

Raven, with a groan, got to her feet and bowed to Lucien who now lied back in his chair snoring and Alice. "Goodnight, Alice."

He nodded to her. "Goodnight."

The legs of Demetrius's chair thumped against the ground as he got to his feet lazily walking aside both Raven and me as we left the dining room.

"That was some damn good dinner, I'm so stuffed," Raven said marching forwards, hand placed against her lower back, balancing her full belly as she walked ahead of Demetrius and me.

I was silent as I walked alongside Demetrius who walked with his shoulders slouched down and his hands in his pockets.

"So, will you be able to handle what comes tomorrow?" Demetrius said as he sagged against my dorm door.

I looked up at him, my hand on the door handle. "Just like I can handle anything, Demi," I growled yanking on the door, but he budged in the way. I felt him move close, stabbing himself in my space tauntingly. I froze, feeling his hot breath steaming down against my forehead, waiting for the blow.

"Don't let the bedbugs bite, snowflake," he murmured as he nudged me again testily and strode off to his room, slamming the door shut behind him.

Frozen in the hallway for another second, I listened to Demetrius move about in his room for a few seconds before he fell silent and the hallway was left in silence. 

Lying in bed, I sat awake; my mind too busy to rest. 

 Lost in the swell of the darkness around me, I couldn't help but think of home. How quick it'd been taken from me. I began to wonder whether I did fit in here after all since it was the only place left for me to hide. I shifted against the pillows, missing the tender comfort of my wings. The pain was still there, a watered down reminder no longer of physical pain—I'd gotten over that, but it was the reality I struggled with. Trying to lie still and fall asleep felt like a small battle. Every time I tried to close my eyes, they'd roll back up like a rubber band stretched too far and then released. My body twitched and vibrated, my muscles still filled with electricity from earlier.

As I closed my eyes and fell into the darkness, I couldn't help but realize it felt familiar. lt felt like the  felt the icy cold gaze of a demon.

It reminded me of Demetrius.