Wattys deadline is Monday! Phew, just in time.
Two updates in one day... Never thought I'd achieve that one day!
What do you think of the picture with the chapter? It's a cover I made (I do not own the drawing itself though) and I'm thinking of changing it so Secret Wings looks less fairy-ish.
(The little winged sun design-thing is Sol's emblem if you were wondering what that was.)
Tell me what you think of it: not eye-catching enough, don't like the font... Anything;)
Read this chapter slowly, it's the last one!
(Props to me for making the last chapter fall on a multiple of ten;) )
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Chapter 40
Everything after that happened like a blur. Chase was put into the 'sick-bay for extreme cases' -apparently hospitals weren't cool enough for magical places like this- where we were forbidden to visit him.
Autumn, Aiden, and I had to go back near Sol. Autumn because her family was worried, Aiden because he wasn't supposed to be here in the first place and shouldn't make things worse by staying longer, and me because the king had flown back to his burnt capital and wanted to talk to me.
It turned out that with the enemy army here, I was now in more danger in Aeolus than in the human world.
Grandpa had sighed, "I'm afraid this place never was that much safer, but as the selfish old man I shamefully admit I am, I didn't want to risk never seeing my granddaughter. I know I won't be around for too much longer. Once I had found you, I just couldn't let you get away. To be honest, I don't really regret my actions, just that I put you into danger."
"Grandpa, I was never in any danger. Not with Chase around. I do miss my dad; Allison, too, but I've never before felt like I belonged somewhere as much as I do here," I had answered.
It was agreed that my dad deserved the truth, although I would have to lie to Ali once again. Grandpa insisted that I at least spend a few days in the human world, to make sure I did want to leave it. Of course, I could come back anytime, but better safe than sorry.
***
I walked up to the front door of my house, feeling nostalgic. This was where I grew up, where I learned to ride a bike, where I made childhood friends.
I didn't have my keys, but that had happened before, whether I had forgotten them or had my hands too full -or was too lazy- to find them. I rang the door bell, three very fast rings, then, after a second, one longer one. My dad's and my secret ringing code, so that when we felt too lazy to answer to strangers, we could know when to open the door. This was also useful to know whether or not you could go answer the door in your pajamas.
There was a series of rapid footsteps, and the door unlocked from the inside.
"Hailey?" My dad stood in front of me, looking shocked.
A wave of homesickness washed over me.
"Daddy," I cried, throwing myself in his arms.
He held me tightly, as if I would disappear any minute, repeating my name like he couldn't believe it was really me.
Finally, we broke apart. Tears were running down my face, and my dad's eyes were bright with his own unshed ones.
"Where have you been? What happened? God, I was so worried! Come inside. Are you hurt? Are you okay?"
I managed a teary laugh, "Daddy, I can't answer all of that so fast. I promise you I'm okay, though. I'm great, even, except for the fact I missed you."
My dad drew me in a hug again.
"I missed you, too, Sweetheart." Then, he lifted is head and noticed Mason, my 'guard,' standing back awkwardly. "Who's this?"
The reminder of Mason's presence brought me back to reality, and I realized with surprise that my dad had not seemed to notice my wings at all.
Dad scowled. "Hailey, I love you, but I swear to God, if you left with that boy-"
"Dad!" I cut him off, embarrassed. "No! Plus, Mason's like twenty-three or something. A bit too old for me."
"I'm twenty-four, actually. And I have a girlfriend," Mason said. "I promise you, sir, I am only here to ensure you're daughter's safety."
"Well," My dad seemed unconvinced. "You two better come in, looks like I've got a lot to catch up on. Notably, how come my teenage daughter disappeared without a trace with some stupid excuse, only to show up weeks later with a random stranger. If I wasn't so glad to see you safe and home again, you don't know how much trouble you'd be in."
I swallowed. I wondered how well my dad would take the whole 'having wings' story.
My dad nodded for us to go inside, and I gestured to Mason, who seemed unsure of what to do, to follow me.
On the way to the living room, I caught a glimpse of the disorderly kitchen and winced. If there was one part of the house that was never messy, it was the kitchen. Guilt threatened to make me cry again.
"Daddy, did Mommy ever tell you... About her family?"
He took a second to answer. "Yes, but I told you before, Hailey, her dad was the only one still alive at the time of our wedding, and he wasn't able to come."
"That's where I was." I decided to be straightforward about it. "Grandpa, that is Mommy's dad, finally learned where I lived, and I decided to go see him."
Daddy narrowed his eyes, and I realized he probably wasn't going to think very highly of Grandpa for that.
"Daddy, there's something I don't think Mommy ever told you. A family secret, of a sort."
It was impossible to pinpoint what my dad was thinking, but I did catch him sending a quick look in Mason's direction.
"He's not related to us, but he does know, too. Wait, we're not related, right?"
Mason shook his head. "No, I'm not related to you. Which is why, if you don't mind, I'd like to take a look around the neighborhood for a few minutes."
"Uh, sure?"
"I'll be right outside."
We heard the front door shut, and my dad asked, "So, who is that anyway?"
"Grandpa wanted someone to make sure I got home without problems. He's pretty serious around me, so I haven't been able to find out much about him."
There was a moment of silence.
"So," I started again. "About that family secret..."
"Go on."
"I don't know how to say it other than be completely upfront about it, but I'm afraid if I do you'll think I'm lying, trying to make up some stupid story to cover up my running away, or something."
My dad wrapped his hands around my own and looked at me in the eyes. "Hailey, we're a family. We trust each other. Just spit it out."
"Ikindahavewings," I mumbled.
"Hailey, articulate."
"I kind of have wings?"
There was a long awkward moment where my dad just looked at me without saying anything.
"I promise it's true, Daddy! I can show you; I can fly and everything."
My dad dropped his head in his hands.
"It's true," I begged. "I'm not making it up. You can't see them right now, but you just have to believe!" Blah, I sounded like a character from a kid's movie. "Human can only see them if they know what to look for and believe that they will see them. It's what grandpa told me. Mason has wings too, he can show you!" I fell quiet, sinking into the couch in despair.
My dad didn't look up. Finally, he spoke, his voice chocked. "You think your mother wouldn't have told me something like that? She did, and I believed her, because she wasn't a liar. And I saw them, her wings. She was even more beautiful with wings. But, you know, these are the kind of irrational memories time erases, that logic makes you believe you simply dreamed."
He raised his head slowly -and almost fell over backwards. "Holy-!" His eyes bulged out of their sockets. "My daughter really has wings!" Then he sighed and whispered, "Delilah, how I wish you were still here."
He gathered me in his arms, and we stayed like that for a long time.
***
"This is a letter from the king to explain about your daughter and other things," Mason handed an envelope to my father.
"The what?" My dad had just recovered from realizing that Mason had a pair of huge blue wings, and now he was getting another surprise.
"Er, yeah. He means Grandpa. He's the king of the people with wings."
Daddy looked completely overwhelmed, not that I could blame him.
"And here," Mason unrolled a parchment, "Is a document for you to sign, stating you will not reveal our existence to anyone."
I yawned, curling up on the couch.
"Hailey," my dad said gently, "Why don't you go upstairs and get some sleep?" He kissed my forehead. "I'll be up in a moment."
I stood up, narrowly avoiding tripping over Mason's bow leaning against the wall, and my dad called out, "And don't you ever dare leave out of your window again!"
I smiled sheepishly. "Promise."
Once I was upstairs, I sat on my bed and looked around nostalgically. I fished my stuffed giraffe with the missing left eye from under my pillow and looked at it fondly. Then, leaning precariously of my bed, I reached under it for an old shoe box.
Opening it, I laid out its contents on my blanket. The comb with two broken teeth, the lone silver earring found forgotten under a counter, and a locked notebook. All belonging to my mother. I put my new swiss army knife next to them. Technically my grandmother's, but still.
I played with the knife, realizing I hadn't yet uncovered all the blades. Nail file, longer knife, scissors again, key again. I looked at the key, then at the notebook, interest growing inside me.
I laid the book on my knees carefully, caressing the old leather cover, and twisted the key into the lock. Try as I might, I had never succeeded in opening it, even with lock-picking instructions from the internet, but this time the mechanism clicked and unlocked softly.
'The diary of Delilah.
'My dear Delilah, here is a special gift for your sixteen birthday. I know you lost your last diary on a trip, but this one won't need to leave your room. Just keep make sure to attach the quill joined here to your keyring (and not lose your keys). Whatever you write with this quill will be transferred directly on these pages. Wherever you are, you can write. This is also a reminder for you to always come home.
Much love to my blossoming flower,
Your loving mom.'
I turned the page and laughed. The first line, in a slanted cursive, read, 'Test. Does this really work? Wow, yes it does. Cool.'
Someone knocked at my door. I looked up. Dad didn't usually knock before entering.
"Is that you, Mason? You can come in."
The knocking resumed. I sighed, looking around for the source of the noise. What I saw next scared me so much I literally fell off my bed.
"Ow," I winced, rubbing my arm, on which I'd landed.
On the other side of the window, a worried Chase mouthed 'Sorry!'
I ran over to the window and opened it for him.
"I really have to tell you about this great invention called doors." I teased, unable to hide the smile threatening to split my face in two.
"Sorry," he apologized again. "Are you hurt? I didn't mean-"
I cut him off with a kiss. I had been wanting to do that for a long time now, especially given as I hadn't been able to tell him goodbye before leaving Aeolus.
When we finally broke away, slightly out of breath, Chase grinned. "Definitely worth breaking out of the hospital."
The End.
...For now.
That's right, there's a sequel! Keep reading to find out more!