A lot to Explain

Dear Imena,

After Andrew was gone, I turned to see all of the soldiers and Council members behind me.

"Start gathering anyone that's injured and get them back to the Vail to be treated." I said.

I found one of my soldiers and pulled them aside to talk to them. "Why didn't I get any notification that Andrew was on his way? There were soldiers watching for trouble, right?"

"Yes ma'am, there was. But you should have been informed, we told the General. He should have told you a couple days ago." they said.

"Wait. What do you mean a couple days? You all knew this was coming?"

The soldier looked frightened, "Y-yes ma'am. We told the General a few days ago that we picked up a negative force heading your way. We figured he would let you know. I'm sorry, miss. We should have contacted you. I thought it was strange that you didn't do anything to prevent the attack or harm to anyone."

"Well it's difficult to protect people from things I don't know about." I said, and put my head in my hands.

"Contact the General." I said, looking at the soldier again, "Tell him I want him and all his other ghost colleagues here. Now."

The soldier nodded, and ran off to get the General. Annoyed, I went up to a table that survived the fighting and sat down, covering my face with my hands again. I felt a hand on my arm, I looked up to see Rhea smiling at me sadly, as she healed the cut on my arm. I figured she heard my conversation with the soldier, so I didn't explain, and put my head down.

But Adam wasn't going to let me sit there quietly. He walked up to me, angry, and waited for me to acknowledge him.

"Don't be too hard on her, Adam. It's not her fault her employees didn't do their jobs." Rhea said, as she inspected the new scar on my arm and moved on to fixing my tangled hair.

"You went after him on your own didn't you? No. Don't answer that. I know you did. James! Did Spirit- actually, I know he's going to lie for you. What were you thinking? You can't take Andrew on, on your own!" Adam yelled.

His body was shaking and emitting so much heat because of his anger. I threw some water at him to cool him off.

"I don't know where you've been, but Andrew is my opposite. I am the only one who meets his strength and skill. I am the only one who can take him. He'll crush you on accident before he even scratches me." I snapped back.

"Oh, yeah you can take him. Spirit, last time I checked, getting beat up by someone shows you can't take him on yourself."

"Ok. I did not get beat up. He got one cut in, and I hit him in the head, he was bleeding when he left. We got each other pretty good, Adam."

"Um...excuse me." a voice said.

Adam and I turned to the voice, it was Milo.

"Milo? What are you doing here? Why aren't you with everyone else where it's safe?" I asked.

"Well I told your friend who took us away that I'm your boyfriend and he brought me right back." he said.

I looked around and spotted Jay. "Really, Jay?!" I yelled. Jay smiled at me and waved, then ran off to help take people back to the Vail.

"Look, I'm really sorry Milo. This never should have happened." I said.

"Well, I'm not exactly sure what happ- ,um. Di-did I hit my head too hard or...do you have wings?" he said, pointing at my set of long black wings.

"I have wings...do you like them?" I said, wincing as I said it.

"Uh..."

"Queen Spirit! The General is here!" a soldier said.

"I'm coming! I'm sorry, Milo. I have to take care of something." I said.

"Don't worry, Rose. I'll fill in your boy toy here. Hi, I'm Adam, her cousin." Adam said.

I rolled my eyes and laughed, then walked over to the General, with Rhea following behind me, trying to sew the tear in the sleeve of my shirt.

- 𝒮. 𝑅𝑜𝓈𝑒