6

"Why did they have to die?"

The little boy was sad as he whispered those words. I blinked a few times and realized that I was now standing at the foot of a large bed. A beautiful sheer blue canopy was draped over it, and I could see inside through one of the openings. Lying on the soft velvet comforter were two figures. I couldn't believe it when I realized who they were.

It was Jade with Chris as a child.

Chris was lying there curled up against Jade, who had a protective arm around him. He looked so frightened. He was dressed in older looking clothes, like what a child would have worn centuries ago; a dark vest over a ruffled white shirt and blue pants. Jade was dressed in black, as he always seemed to be.

"It wasn't your fault. You only did what came naturally. Those who killed them will always be your enemies." Jade told him.

"But I don't want to be a monster. I don't want to hurt anyone." Chris insisted, his eyes filling with tears.

Jade hugged him, "You're not a monster. You're a very special child."

"I am?"

"Of course," Jade assured him, "because you are my child."

My eyes closed as he said that, and the next thing I knew, I was waking up for real. I wasn't even sure of what had happened to me at first. But as I slowly sat up in the bed, I realized that my back was aching.

That's right, I thought. Saffron forced my blood to awaken.

As I thought of this, I realized that there was a slight weight on my back. I looked over my shoulder and saw that I had wings now. The feathers were pitch black, reminding me of a moonless night sky. I sat all the way up, reaching around to touch them. They were soft, and I could see that there was still a bit of dried blood on them. I was kind of glad that I couldn't remember this happening. Maybe falling into that strange state had been a good thing, even if I didn't want to see all those things.

I looked around the room as I let go of my wing. My eyes were completely focused now, and I could see that I was in a very nice-looking room. The furniture reminded me of the movie North and South, and the walls were painted a beautiful light blue. Across from me was a large antique mirror over and ivory vanity. Even the comforter that was draped over my legs looked intricate. It was white with beautiful patterns woven into it, and the ends were long and frayed all the way to the floor.

Where in the world am I? I wondered.

The sound of a door opening caught my attention. I looked over to see a handsome man coming in. I couldn't believe it. He was the same one from my vision with Chris and Will. He hadn't changed at all. He looked to be around my age and was slightly taller than me with vibrant green eyes and ash colored hair that swept around his face. He was dressed very nicely too in dark pants and a white button-down shirt.

He smiled as he saw me sitting there, "Good, you're awake. How are you feeling?" he asked as he came over to me. His voice was a bit lighter than I would've imagined, and I could detect a southern accent in it.

"I guess I'm alright, but who are you and where am I?" I responded.

"It's okay. I'm not going to hurt you. My name is Zane Hedel, and you're at my home. I'm assuming that Chris told you at least a little bit about me." the guy explained.

This was the guy that Chris had wanted us to get to before I changed. Now that I thought about it, I did recognize his voice from that phone call Chris had made before we'd left to come there. But thinking about him, I looked around again.

"Is Chris here?"

"Don't worry. Chris is fine. He's just getting some much-needed rest in the other room. I don't think it's good for anyone to be awake for over twenty-four hours like that." Zane answered.

"Twenty-four hours? How long was I out?" I asked.

"I'd say a good day or so, but this change can take a lot out of you. It's quite taxing on the body to have such a violent thing happen such as getting our wings, but it's rather incredible how quickly we tend to heal afterwards. I'm sure the pain is much less for you now, considering that you seem to be back to your senses." Zane explained.

I was studying him as he spoke. Zane wasn't really like Chris. He wasn't as stand offish, although neither was Will when I thought about it. Not that Chris wasn't trying to be friendly to me, but he wasn't half as open as they'd seemed to be.

Zane looked at me thoughtfully, slowly nodding his head, "So you're the one. It's hard to believe that none of us realized that you'd come to exist before recently. I was beginning to think that Christoff was the only one who kept believing that you'd happen one day. Even I was starting to think I'd been wrong, and that rarely happens." he went on.

There it was again. Zane seemed to have a habit of referring to Chris by his full name.

"You don't like calling him Chris, do you?" I noted.

"Not really. It doesn't feel proper, and he hates when I do. He keeps telling me that there's no need to, but I confess that I'm a bit old fashioned with a lot of things, as many today would put it. I like calling people by their proper names. I do feel a bit rude though. I haven't asked your name yet." Zane realized.

Oh yeah, I thought. I guess he might not know my name if Chis hasn't told him yet. I was just Saffron's daughter to them.

"Oh, sorry. It's Ariana. Ariana Benson." I introduced myself.

"Ariana. What a beautiful name. It's been quite a while since I've heard it." Zane commented.

I smiled back at him. Now I was starting to feel comfortable there. Zane had this way about him that made me feel at ease.

"Thanks. I think Saffron was one that picked it."

"It wouldn't surprise me. It seems like all of our fathers pick our names when we're born, considering our mothers are never given the option." Zane admitted.

"Yeah. Apparently, they die when we're born."

I shivered as I thought about that. What a terrible thing for a woman. Having to know that you'll never get to see the child you're carrying. I thought about Faith Kent again. What a terrible fate she'd had. It didn't feel fair.

"Indeed." Zane agreed.

He checked my back and wings. For the first time, I noticed that I'd been changed into a sundress with an open back. I wondered when that had happened, more importantly, who had done it.

"It's an unfortunate thing with the ones like ourselves, and it seems to have always been that way, although I've heard that the clans can have the mothers actually survive. They can even possibly have more than one child. Doesn't seem very fair, but I guess there's nothing more to be said about it from us." Zane continued.

This was the second time that I would hear them mention the Nephilim clans. It made me even more curious about them.

"Hey Zane, how much do you know about those clans? Will told me a little about them, but it wasn't enough for me to really understand any of it." I spoke up.

Zane seemed surprised as he pulled back to face me again, "Oh yes. Well, I'd imagine that you probably wouldn't know much about them, considering what little time has passed for you." he noted. He seemed to think it over before continuing, "I suppose to start off, I'm sure that Chris mentioned to you that Shadow Wings were once simply called Nephilim, right?"

I nodded.

"Well," he continued, "they began calling us Shadow Wings about fifty years ago, and that came about because the Pure Ones went ahead with a master plan that they'd had in the works for quite a while. They sent three Seraphs into the mortal world and had them create three families under them. You can think of them as protectors between the seen and unseen world. Needless to say, there's been quite a bit of debate over them and us ever since. They are not black winged and will never be hunted. In fact, they're looked upon as holy beings created under the direction of the Higher Powers and possibly from the hands of the Creator Himself. It's rather unfair to us, but again, what more can we say to it when we're born from the Fallen?"

"I guess not. None of it's really fair." I commented.

"Not at all. Maybe that's why it was so easy for the Shadow Wing name to stick though. At least that's what our most powerful thought. He always has like differentiating us from those others." Zane admitted.

All of this explained some of what they'd been talking about before, and why they wouldn't like talking about those clans. I could feel some jealousy in me too. They were the ones that were born to be loved and protected. We were the ones born to be hunted and hated.

But his statement about being called Shadow Wings caught my attention. Our most powerful. Could he have been talking about Chris? I really didn't think so. Something sounded different with that. I decided to ask him about it.

"So, who's our most powerful? Is it Chris or someone else?"

Zane stood up, "Someone else, but there's no need to worry about all of that as of now. Why don't we see if we can get you to pull in your wings?" he suggested.

"I don't know how." I told him as I got up. I was a bit shaky but managed to be steady on my feet.

"It's not too hard. Just concentrate." Zane instructed.

I did as he said, flexing my new wings a little. I easily pulled them back in on the first try. It felt a little odd inside of my back, almost like a fullness, but not as bad as I'd first imagined.

"Great. At least I can let people see me now." I sighed in relief.

But just as quickly they slipped back out. It took me a few tries to make them finally stay in.

Zane laughed, patting my shoulder, "Don't worry, you'll get used to them. We all did fairly quickly after we changed." he promised. He glanced towards the door, "Now, why don't we head downstairs so that you can have some breakfast? I'm sure you must be hungry."

He didn't have to tell me twice. I was starving. I hadn't had anything to eat since several hours before all of this started. Even then, it hadn't been much. I'd never been a big eater, and this time it had caught up with me.

Zane had very big and elegant home. I was looking around as we descended the spiral staircase. I'd never seen such a beautiful place before. There was a lot of antique furniture, and many paintings hung on the walls.

"Are you a collector?" I asked him.

"You could say that. I do love unique things. However, all of the paintings in my home were done by me." Zane answered.

"Really?" I said, looking around at them, "You painted all of these?"

They were some of the most beautiful pieces of artwork I'd ever seen. They ranged from abstract to scenery. Some of them looked so realistic that I felt like I could've been there.

"Indeed. It's a hobby of mine, and something I've always enjoyed. I've found throughout the years that I enjoy being able to make something beautiful. Whether it's music, painting, or even culinary, I enjoy it all." Zane told me.

"That's amazing. You're so talented."

"I suppose, but then, I do believe that everyone has something."

The two of us walked into a large open kitchen. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. This had to be most exquisite house I'd ever seen. The kitchen looked like it could've been bigger than the whole downstairs of my old house, and all the appliances were stainless steel. The color scheme was done in more of a beige tone, and the countertops were solid marble. I sat at the center island bar as Zane looked in the refrigerator near me.

"Is there anything in particular you'd like? You're in luck. I have a bit of everything right now." he offered.

"You don't have to do anything big." I insisted.

"It's no trouble. Cooking always helps me to take my mind off the things that tend to trouble me." Zane admitted. He pulled out some eggs and various other ingredients.

"What are we having?" I asked.

"How does Eggs Benedict sound?" Zane offered.

"Sounds great." I smiled at him. I watched as he began preparing the meal, taking in his neutral expression, "You said that cooking helps you take your mind off things. Are you worried that something might come after us here?"

Zane looked down as he prepared his skillet, "At times I do. They have been a bit more active recently, but it's not that unusual either. The ones who would hunt us tend to do so in spurts, and beings they've learned that there are some new along with those clans being completely formed, I'd imagine that they're stepping up their game again." he explained.

"I see." I breathed.

"Trust me, you have nothing to worry about here." Zane assured me. He glanced over his shoulder and smiled at me, "My home is very well protected, not to mention that I'm here along with Christoff. We wouldn't allow anything to happen to you."

"It still seems kind of weird that you only call Chris by his full name."

"It's a force of habit. Like I said, I tend to like addressing others properly. It's just the way I was raised."

"I'm going to take it that you're a lot older than you look." I noted as I rested my cheek against my hand.

I was willing to bet that he was probably over a hundred years old, just like Chris, but I wasn't asking because I knew how old Chris was. I was asking because of how he tended to speak. Zane had an odd way of talking here and there that I'd begun picking up on, not to mention that there seemed to be another accent lying just under his southern one.

Zane glanced back at me, "All of us are. I'm sure you must have been surprised if Christoff told you his true age."

"No kidding," I muttered, "I never would've guessed that he's over three hundred years old."

"So am I. Most of the Shadow Wings who are among the living have been around for at least a century. We're the survivors, or at least we've been strong enough to survive. Like I said, there are some new, but not many. We're a rather selective group anymore." Zane continued.

"And Chris is supposed to be like a prince or something to all of us. It seems kind of strange. Why is that?" I pressed.

Zane shrugged, "I suppose the best answer would be in the power he holds. Christoff is one of our most powerful members, and technically the second oldest now. Then, of course, there's his father. There are many creatures of darkness that would rather bow to Jade then fight with him out of fear alone; even many of the other Fallen. The only one other than some of the higher ones in Hell that would even think of back-sashing Jade would probably be your father."

Again, it seemed like a lot of this came down to the bloodlines. I had no doubt that that now. But with it, I was beginning to realize something too; why Chris had come looking for me. Obviously, the Shadow Wings would've seen Saffron as an almost, if not equal to Jade, and if they saw Chris as being so powerful because of Jade, then what were they seeing with me?

"So, off the record and all, is that why Chris came looking for me like he did? Is it because of who my father is?" I asked Zane.

"That not for me to say. I cannot speak for him." Zane responded, "However, I would imagine that could be a part of it. You and Christoff may share a connection that even we as mixed bloods cannot fully understand. That may also be why he succeeded in finding you when we couldn't even confirm your existence. It's at least food for thought."

I glanced at my pendant as he said that, but it looked like it always did. Saffron's words to me about Chris echoed in my head. There was a powerful connection between the two of us.

Zane's voice interrupted my thoughts, "By the way, I was meaning to ask you about your necklace. That pendant is a Heretic Stone, isn't it?"

"Heretic Stone?" I repeated. Was that what this pendant was supposed to be called?

Zane chuckled, "I'm sorry. I keep forgetting that you're new to all of this." he apologized. He brought over my food, then took the stone into his hand to study it, "I had the feeling I'd seen a stone like this before. It's called a Heretic Stone. They're pretty rare, considering that they're hand made by the Fallen. I admit that I don't know exactly how they make them or what magic they use, but considering what they're used for, I'd imagine this must have been Saffron's gift to you when you were born."

"Really? Why would he give it to me when I was born?" I asked.

"Because it would be the easiest way to keep tabs on you when he couldn't be around. He can locate you just about anywhere as long as you're wearing it." Zane explained.

"He's been able to talk to me through it a few times now. I've even seen it glow, but I don't know how to make it so that I can communicate back to him. He didn't even use it to talk to me until right after Chris found me." I admitted.

"It may be because of what's happened in recent years." Zane reasoned, "He's not exactly free to go as he pleases now. He did land himself in quite a bit of trouble from what I've been hearing. But I wouldn't worry too much. I have no doubt that he'll come back to you once he's freed. He probably was around a lot before this confinement as well, considering all that he's done throughout the years."

I looked at my food as he sat across the bar from me. That was right. I was sure I'd known Saffron very well before he was sealed away. Somehow, he'd erased my memories, or at least had sealed them. I wondered why he did that. Was it really that dangerous for me to remember him when he wasn't there?

My thoughts were interrupted by the feeling of someone touching my head from behind. Chris sat down beside me. Dressed in a black tee shirt and dark blue jeans, he looked more relaxed now then he had since we'd left Fallsburg.

"I see you're feeling better." he commented.

"I'm getting there, but my back still hurts a little." I confessed.

"Give it time. It'll get better soon enough." Chris assured me.

Zane looked over at him, "I see you've decided to join us as well, and here I thought you might sleep for another day or so." he teased.

"Very funny. I'd like to see you be awake for almost two days." Chris countered.

"It couldn't happen. My mind wouldn't allow it." Zane stated.

"Also, I was made to get myself up. He's decided that I sleep too much again." Chris added, resting his cheek against his hand and closing his eyes. He looked a disgusted now.

I was about to ask who when a strong, heavy presence entered the room. The air got colder, and I felt a biting fear welling up deep inside of me just like when I'd had that dream at the motel days before. I didn't have to look over my shoulder to know who was there with us.

Zane looked towards the doorway behind us. His expression changed to a more solemn one.

"So, you came here as well? Were you that concerned that we couldn't take care of her or was it just a morbid curiosity that you'll never admit to?" he asked.

"Strong words boy, but then, I didn't believe that you'd like the fact that I could just show up here at your home sweet home whenever I pleased." I heard Jade respond.

"I simply don't like the fact that you've made yourself at home because you're suddenly interested in what Christoff managed to find. I know that's all this is." Zane stated.

"Of course you wouldn't like it. However, I believe that I am just as entitled to be here and around her. I have no immediate intentions of harm." Jade went on. He walked over and stood across the bar from me.

I felt incredibly uneasy as he looked at me. Facing him in my dreams was one thing, but facing him in reality felt like a complete other. He seemed much more intimidating. Was it because I knew for certain that he was real now? I wasn't sure. All I really knew was that no matter what, I still feared him and what he may do to me.

"You do realize that you're not making it sound any better." Chris informed him. I didn't miss his glare from the corner of my eye. He definitely wasn't happy to see him.

"I just don't feel like playing anymore games." Jade retorted.

He reached over and grabbed my chin, forcing me to look at him. I felt frozen as his eyes stared into mine. I could see flames in his irises, just like with Saffron. If you could look deep enough, they were there. It had to be a mark of a Fallen Angel.

"However," he continued, "I must say that I am surprised by the resemblance. I would've thought that she'd be more like that girl in her features. But Saffron's always had to dominate everything he does, not to mention he also has those softer features. It's what helps give him the edge to make the unsuspecting so comfortable around him before he tears them apart."

"And it's what's always made him attract you as well." Chris reminded him. He reached over and grabbed Jade's arm, forcing him to let me go, "You keep forgetting that some of this is your fault. You let him get close enough to change the contract with that woman and cause that whole mess. She's the result."

Jade wasn't fazed. He just shrugged his shoulders, looking nonchalant, "Indeed, but I can't say that I'm disappointed either. After all, even if we did end up losing that soul in the end for his carelessness, I had my first look at one of those so-called Pure Clans. It at least gave me that much of an opportunity, so it wasn't a complete waste of time."

"You can blame Saffron all you want, but it was your fault too. I've seen pieces of it now, and I know what happened before with the two of you." I spoke up as I rubbed my face where he'd grabbed it. I'll be the first to admit that I was still scared stupid of him, but I wasn't ready to back down either. He wasn't pinning all of this on Saffron.

Jade smiled, "And you'd be right. I'm certain you've gotten to see a lot of things now through that ability of yours, and I'm sure he's using whatever means he has to his advantage. Rest assured that in the end our children are always the most loyal to us. We did create them."

"Didn't you have somewhere else you needed to be?" Chris interrupted. I could feel the tension in the air getting thicker.

"I do, but I'm not quite ready to leave yet. Just have some patience for once in your life. I know you're more than ready to have me gone, but I have a few things that I wanted to do here first." Jade responded, still seeming unconcerned about the hostile attitude his son was giving him.

Chris turned his head away. I had the distinct feeling that he was beyond disgusted now, but I also felt puzzled about this. Recalling the visions I'd had, Jade had taken care of him as a child. I'd dare say that he'd been almost loving towards him. What in the world could've driven this rift between them when they were once fairly close?

Zane looked over at Jade, "Are you staying for breakfast Jade?" he asked him.

"No. I do have somewhere to be now, but I figured I'd take my time." Jade answered. He turned his attention to me, "And I'm sure I'll be seeing you again soon enough little girl. But for now, make sure you learn more about yourself and what you come from. You're going to need all the power you can get once they make their move."

I didn't mistake those words. It was the same thing Saffron had been saying. Apparently, something big was gearing up to come at us. That was why Saffron had wanted me to awaken sooner, and somehow, I couldn't help thinking that Jade knew more about it then he was willing to tell us.

Jade stepped back and disappeared in a wisp of thick black smoke. The cold feeling in the room lifted immediately, along with the heaviness. He was completely gone. I was thankful for that.

"That didn't last long." Zane noted.

"He just came here to annoy me over her. He knew I'd be here, and no matter what he says, he wanted to see Ariana in person." Chris complained.

"Perhaps you should make it a point to speak to him a little bit more when he comes looking for you. You know he's been wanting to talk to you for several years now. Besides, you know how Jade is when it comes to the subject of Saffron. No matter what he says or does, he just can't leave anything to do with him alone." Zane reminded him.

"He could've seen me anytime he wanted. He only wanted to have me come to him. It's always about playing into his games." Chris retorted.

"Wow, you two really don't get alone, do you?" I noted.

"They haven't gotten along for quite some time now. You could say that strong personalities tend to clash." Zane told me.

"Leave it." Chris ordered.

"Now don't go taking this out on me. It is what it is. Besides, don't you think you should be a little nicer around our young lady here?" Zane suggested, bringing over some food for him.

"There's nothing wrong with how I'm acting. You and Will both know that."

"So you say."

I listened to them for a bit longer before changing the subject, "It sounds like it's going to be really bad this time, doesn't it?"

"It's hard to tell. They haven't come at us in so long that I think we've gotten a bit lax. That might not be a good thing." Zane admitted.

"We both know it is what it is. We can't avoid them coming after us, no matter how much time passes. The important thing right now is to be ready for it when it happens. The fact is that even they don't know what he's planning this time. It's that unknown that's got everyone on edge." Chris explained.

"Who are you talking about anyway? Was it one of those angels you told me about before?" I asked him.

"He's the leader of the group. There's only a certain faction of angels that hunt the Shadow Wings, but they have a pretty powerful leader. I've only seen him once, and when I did, I got lucky that Jade happened to be around to drive him off. If he hadn't been, I probably would've been killed with the others they'd found there. He's ruthless when it comes to getting rid of us. He even puts some of the Fallen to shame with how dangerous he can be and some of the methods he's used in the past. He doesn't hesitate with anything when it comes to the hunts, and that includes killing humans who try to shield us." Chris explained.

"It's been such a long time though. I thought he might have finally given it up with the clans coming about. I've even heard rumors that he was highly opposed to them as well." Zane added.

Chris didn't seem surprised, "There was nothing he could do about them. It was an approved plan, but I'm sure that it gave him enough to go back after us. They won't care if he comes after the rest of us again."

"It still isn't right. If there are clans, then what's the real difference between them and us? It's still a combination of human and angel." I reasoned.

"Unfortunately for us it's not that simple. Their leaders are not corrupted and fallen. Ours are." Zane reminded me.

"But it doesn't make that much of a difference for who we are at heart. None of us asked to be born like this." I persisted.

I was again thinking of Faith Kent. I kind of blamed her now for my existence. She knew what Saffron was, and she knew that having me would kill her. What did she think she was leaving me with?

Zane bowed his head, "That is true. None of us asked for this existence, but we've always made the best out of it. We don't really spend much time worrying about being hunted down or even the ones we came from. If they choose to be part of our lives it's fine, and it they don't, that's fine too. Either way, our kind manages to survive in the shadows, just as many other things do."

"Speaking of, it may be better if we started preparing her more for all of this. As much as any of us hate admitting it, Jade does have a point about us not always being around. It would be in her best interest if we taught her how to take care of herself." Chris said as he stood up.

"It may still be a little too early for that Christoff. She did just wake up, and she's still getting used to her wings." Zane reasoned.

Chris walked over to the doorway, "Doesn't matter. Things are what they are. You always have to remember that. So make sure that she rests today, and we'll get started first thing tomorrow morning."

I stared at him as he walked out. He seriously was not thinking of leaving me like this. After the last few days, that was the last thing I needed from him. I quickly pushed my chair back and got up to follow him. Zane didn't say anything about this. I guess he may have been expecting it.

"You are not just leaving me like this!" I declared as I caught up with him.

Chris turned, looking surprised, "I didn't say I was going anywhere. All I'm saying is that you'd better start preparing for anything that might show up and we need to start teaching you how to fight back." he clarified.

"Okay, fine, I get it. But seriously, I just got these wings. I've been through hell in the last week. What do you expect me to do now? Just take whatever I can get from you?!" I argued.

"It's only been two days." Chris corrected me.

"I don't care how long it's been! It's been long enough to make me feel lost, and now you're saying that I need to learn how to fight back and walk away from me?! Do you really think that's fair?!"

I jumped as my wings suddenly burst back out. It didn't hurt, but it sure as hell scared me. I huffed in defeat. How was I supposed to do anything when this kept happening?

Chris shook his head, "Don't let yourself get too worked up, or that's going to keep happening. You don't want to rip your back up with it. Take it from someone who knows." he warned me.

"And you really think that I'm going to be able to fight off angels?" I whimpered. The tears were stinging the back of my eyes now. How was I supposed to know how to fight back against angels or anything else when I couldn't even control my wings?

Chris pulled me into a hug. I tensed up, then instantly relaxed. This felt so familiar, just like our time at the motel. He'd comforted me like this then too. It made me wonder if maybe he did feel a bit more for me after all.

"Stop worrying so much," he whispered, "I promised you that I wouldn't let anything happen to you, and I'm always true to my word. So, calm down and trust me. I have no intentions of ever leaving you behind."

I managed nod. "Okay, but I don't know what to do. I don't know how to fight back like this." I admitted, finally pulling back to look at him.

"You don't need to worry about it. That's why we're doing this. We're going to start teaching you so that you can defend yourself, and eventually learn how to fight back. Besides, didn't you tell me that you were tired of being helpless?" Chris reminded me.

"Yeah, I did." I sighed.

Chris ran his hand through my hair, "Get some more rest for now, and we'll start first thing tomorrow morning; and don't worry, you'll figure it out pretty quick. Just give yourself a chance."

Maybe I was missing the big picture as to what really drove Chris to find me, but standing there in that moment and staring up at him, I don't think I cared anymore. As long as he was there, I felt safe, and I wanted this feeling to last, especially with what I was certain was coming. The ominous feeling from the shadows remained deep within me.

I just hoped it didn't come too soon.