When we reached the bottom of the stairs, Maria was already waiting there with a glass of water. I took it from her and drank it slowly. Then saw everyone watching me and gulped it down. I handed the glass back to Maria, smiling.

"Want more?" she asked.

I shook my head, then walked over to the table and sat in one of the chairs. No one took their eyes off of me.

"Will you please stop staring at me like that?" I finally pleaded. It was really awkward.

My dad and Maria laughed, while Finny and Alex just smiled.

Third Person POV:

Alex could tell by the look on Selena's face that she wanted to ask something. He walked over and sat in the chair next to her's.

"What is it? What's on your mind?" He asked her gently.

"I just..." she trailed off.

Maria sat at the table across from Selena. "What's the matter, sweetie?"

"..."

Finny put his hand on her shoulder.

"Am I going to get better?" Selena asked softly, looking down at her hands.

Maria was quiet for a moment, then answered. "I'm going to be honest with you. You're still very sick, Selena. You had a high fever about an hour before you woke up. You still look pale and flushed. You really should be in bed resting."

Selena looked up from her hands, but didn't meet anyone's gaze. She stared at the wall, the old white paint starting to chip.

Maria continued. "You had a very severe infection throughout your wings that was starting to spread. I couldn't do anything but give you medication for it. I cleaned out a lot as I fixed your wings, but I couldn't get all of it, of course. Hopefully you're on your way to becoming who you were."

Selena finally met Maria's eyes. "But I'm still changing. When will I be well enough to work with Alex?"

Maria's eyes looked tired and sorrowful. "I'm sorry dear, but I don't know. I'm trying. That's all I can do for now."

Selena nodded, then stood shakily from her seat. "I'm going back to my room." Then she walked to the stairs and up them, clinging to the rail for dear life.

Selena's POV:

I made my way up the stairs and down the hall, but when I let go of the wall to reach for the doorknob, I lost my balance and fell on my side. I heard bandages rip, and felt the sharp pain from my wing as it moved. I bit my lip to keep from crying out in pain. I didn't want them to continue to worry about me.

I rolled onto my stomach and tried to push myself up, but my arms were weak and I couldn't do it. I thought about just staying on the floor, and waiting for someone to find me, when I felt something strange. I lifted my head and turned to face down the hall.

"Alex? Is that you?"

Sure enough, Alex rounded the corner, walked down the hall, and stood next to me, arms crossed. Eventually, he joined me on the floor.

"What happened?" he asked with a sigh.

I didn't answer him. Instead, I tried to push myself up again. I failed, and hit my head on the floor. Hard.

The thump must have been heard from downstairs, because soon enough, I could hear footsteps on the stairs somehow over the pounding of my head.

Alex helped me stand, and a second later Maria appeared, running down the hall, Finny right behind her.

Then a door opened, and Peter stepped out. I hadn't seen him in ages. Technically, it had been only a week, but that week felt like forever.

"Peter, everything's fine. Why don't you go set the table for dinner." Maria moved to him and led him to the stairs. When he was out of sight, Maria ran back to me. "What happened?"

"I fell, but I'm okay." I said. "Alex helped me up."

Maria nodded. "Finny, come help me and Sebastian finish dinner. Maybe tomorrow I'll let you play in our garden."

Finny only nodded, gave me one last look, then followed Maria down the stairs.

Alex opened the door to my room and led me inside. Closing the door behind him, he turned to face me as I sat on the bed.

"How did you know it was me? Can you sense angels again?"

I sadly shook my head. "No, I can't. I just sensed something demon, and I knew it wasn't my father. He feels different than others, somehow."

"I know what you mean," he said, sitting next to me. "I keep getting this feeling that I've seen him before, but I don't recognize him from anywhere I've ever been. I've never been to London, I've never even been to the demon world before."

"I used to live there, with Mom and Dad." The thought of my mother brought tears to my eyes, but I fought them and the wavering in my voice. "I don't know how I was allowed inside, being part angel, but Mom was there too. How would that work?" I looked at Alex, confused. I had never really questioned how I lived there, I just knew that I did. "Maybe because she was fallen?"

Alex shrugged. "I don't know. But I do know that soon you're going to be back to normal." He stood to leave after gently hugging me.

I stopped him, not wanting to be alone yet. "Alex?"

"Yeah?" he answered, turning back to me.

"Back in the woods, at the campsite, did you mean what you said? That I could save people one day?"

Alex smiled at me, then nodded, walking back over to me. He knelt down on the ground, then looked at me, our eyes level. "With the powers you have, and the goodness in your heart, you'll save many lives, lead people in deciding what's best for them, and change people's hearts. You'll be the best hero the world has ever known."

I smiled at Alex, who was smiling right back at me. I hugged him tight, and he hugged me back.

"Don't leave yet. I was alone in here for a week, I don't want to be alone again."

Alex pulled away, smiling. "I'll stay until you start throwing bricks at my head."

I laughed, then lay on my stomach on the bed, pulling the covers up to my waist. Alex sat next to me on the bed, his hand on my cheek. I could almost hear him frown.

"What's wrong?" I asked him.

"Nothing, you go to sleep. There's nothing you need to worry about."

"Okay. And Alex?"

"Hmm?"

"I thought we weren't able to get sick, so why am I?"

"You're weaker because you're changing. You can't fight off disease."

I couldn't answer him. It was like he had called for it. My wings started changing. I bit my lower lip to keep from crying out. I could taste my blood.

Alex must have been expecting an answer, because I could feel his eyes staring a hole in my back.

"Selena?"

I groaned in pain, quietly.

"Selena? What's wrong?"

"Alex, I-" I spoke through pain, but was cut off by another stab in my wings. I cried out softly.

"Hold on, I'll get someone-"

I grabbed his arm as he tried to leave. I held onto him desperately.

He didn't fight me. He held my hand and stroked my head, while I fought pain. Eventually, it subsided, and I was left breathing heavily.

I sat up slowly and leaned against Alex.

"I really hope you have some way of helping me. I don't have much longer before it's impossible to reverse."

"Maybe there are some things we can do that will help you and we can do them from here."

"And how are you going to find out what we can do? I highly doubt that there are any books in this world about how to save and half angel from going full blooded demon."

"I'll think of something. I promise."

"You've been promising a lot of things lately, and you haven't come through with anything yet."

"Lay back down and go to sleep. I won't leave until you do. I promise."

"Maybe you will come through with one after all." I sighed. I knew I was being a jerk, but I couldn't control what was coming out of my mouth. Once I was lying on the bed, I whispered to him, "I'm sorry."

"Don't apologize when you're right. Besides, I know you can't control it. Sometimes the demon gets the better of you. It's happened to me a couple times before. Now go to sleep. I'll stay right here."

I nodded, and fell asleep to Alex stroking my hair.