Feathers That Protect, Aurora Kryan [well read books .txt] 📗

face was buried in his chest didn’t help. I regretted saying that because I saw his face fall and I had thought the same things had I not. I clenched my fists I wasn’t being fair to him.

“You know you’re really hot.”

He didn’t answer me and I looked up he was red I couldn’t help but smile at him. He stammered out thanks and then turned a darker red. He cleared his throat and made a clear effort that he was concentrating on flying someplace. After a few minutes he cleared his throat again and seemed antsy.

“Say Jasmine you know I like you right.”

“Yeah.”

“Do you like me?”

This was kind of awkward I looked down and fidgeted in his arms. I thought about it for a moment did I like him? Then I remember the conversation we had in his house. I thought about my own feelings and answered him.

“Yeah Cory I do like you but you already knew that.”

He smiled and flied a little higher. “Yeah but it’s still nice to hear you say it you know.”

“Yeah.”

Did I ever.

I always felt so content around him and when he told me he liked me my heart did a flip. I never wanted to admit it to myself I guess.

I like my best friend who happens to be an angel. Oh and it’s the end of the world.

I looked out on the land below the fires had already started. I couldn’t tell what was from the day before or from the fires today. My face was still flush and I was still messing around with my hands when he asked me.

“Would you go out with me?”

My head shot up and I looked at him.

Was he serious?

He was. I couldn’t form the words I wanted to. I just looked into those hazel eyes to see if I could find the words I was looking for. The world was falling apart around us, but he didn’t care. He was supposed to destroy that world, but he didn’t care.

He had to tell God he wanted to quit the Holey army, but he didn’t care. He didn’t care because of a girl he loved and wanted to protect. I laid my head on his chest in hailing his sent.

“Yes.” I told him.

He smiled and flew like a maniac I had to laugh at him as if held on tighter to his neck. He landed not to long after that. He took my hand walking well almost skipping the rest of the way to somewhere. We made it halfway to the next town, I knew that because of a half intact road sign, when I had to rest I wasn’t use to walking so far.

Cory hoisted me onto his back and I rested on the way to town. I think I might have fallen asleep being there in the middle of those silken wings. I listen to Cory’s breathing and the next thing I knew I was out. Cory was calling my name telling me to wake up was he ran along and I heard screaming. Screaming that brought me back to reality and I saw fire lots of fire.

“Jasmine are you awake?”

“Cory where are we?”

“Harkin the second wave just started we should get to the sky soon.”

He slid me off his back I felt better. Whatever rest I got was enough for now it would keep me going. Cory grabbed my hand and we ran for some house’s there were still standing. Fire balls whizzed by our heads coming closer and closer. Somehow I didn’t think they would stay away like the white balls of light from yesterday did.

And I was right because one was headed right for me. I picked up speed hoping I could out run it. But I tripped over a piece of wood. Cory was there in front of me with a black feather in his hand.
Then he was up in the sky it parted above him and a fireball took out one of the angels that was shooting right at us, I covered a scream with my hands.

Why had he just killed another angel?

Didn’t he say his brothers wouldn’t hurt him? Now would he be punished?

He smiled weakly when he returned and turned away pulling a knife from his back pocket cutting his palm like Alex had. The feather sucked at his blood glowing white and then blue and exploding out from him the fire ball bounced off of the blue orb and landed thirty foot away on a house.

He gave me another weak smile and fell to one knee. I rushed to him worried he seemed worn out. He needed to rest too. He walked all this way with me on his back and then did that. Who knew what that took out of him. I took his face in my hands because he wouldn’t look at me until I did. He was pale and clammy panting from the effort.

He gave me that smile again and I smiled back worried. I saw another fireball coming for us and he did to somehow. He spun around holding the feather up and the blue barrier exploded out again from him bouncing the fire back away from us. He fell to both knees this time huffing but he kept the blue bubble up around us as he scanned around us.

“Cory, let it go. Cory, please. Drop it now Cory!” I yelled at the end.

He swayed back and forth like he was fighting to stay conscious. He had to let the barrier down now. When I yelled at him the last time I was standing over him fists clenched with a tear falling down my face. His eyes widened and he dropped the feather as he fell to his side.

I pulled his head to my lap brushing back his sweaty hair to see his face. His eyes were closed he had passed out finally. I checked the backpack to see what was in it. First aid, blankets, some water, pills, bullets, knifes. I pulled out a towel and dabbed his face. He moaned and turned the other way. I smiled and then felt hot.

I looked up to see a fire ball coming. It wasn’t coming right at us but it was close enough to hit us. I could out run it but Cory was unconscious and I can’t carry him. My heart raced. I shook Cory to wake up faster we have to move, fly, something other than the barrier.

That’s it.

I grabbed the knife and reached for the black feather but it shocked me.

Why did it reject me?

I didn’t have time for this I could feel the heat of the fire I cut my hand a bit deeper than necessary and grabbed the feather. It still shocked me bad. I almost dropped it and blacked out but I wasn’t going to lose my guardian angel to a fireball. He can stop them I can to.

“NO!” I screamed at to the top of my lungs.

My blood was seeping out of my hand I thought of that bubble Cory made and of protecting him even if it cost me my life. The shocking of the feather never stopped but I felt it suck my blood like it would except my blood and life to save Cory but didn’t like the idea of doing it nicely.

It felt like my soul was being sucked from me and that every shock I received was a direct line to my heart and was killing me, probably was for all I knew. There was a white light and then it turned blue as a bubble exploded around us. I don’t know why but a lot more fire balls came flying right at us.

I screamed louder and the bubble solidified instead of letting them bounce off they hit a wall of blue bubble and burned inches from my face. I never felt the heat and Cory was safe. He groaned again and jerked up right his wings limp behind him he heard me screaming and looked at me horrified.

“Jasmine what are you doing stop it you’ll kill yourself!”

“NO! It’s my turn to save you.”

My body convulsed I couldn’t take the electrical shock treatment anymore it was killing me. My head snapped back and I gasped for air as my lungs collapsed. Then I pulled in on myself wrapping tighter around the feather as it killed me. But I still had the need to keep the bubble up and for him which was silly because he was awake.

Cory grabbed my shaking arms and prided them open ripping the feather from me. The bubble never wavered but I did I fell into darkness as Cory caught me yelling my name in panic. I felt his wings wrap feathers that protect around me.

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Publication Date: 05-30-2011

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