Chapter 9: What Happens When Angels Fly

AN: Okay everyone, here's the deal. On Saturday (6/24) I'm going out of town to visit my friend Spage (that's her username), my absolute best friend forever. I'll be gone a week, until the 31st, so I'm posting both chapters 9 and 10 (finally finished with it) for you guys to read while I'm gone.

That will use up all the chapters I had already typed, but since you guys have been so good about reviewing and such, I'll take a notebook on the plane and continue the story in gasp, longhand. But I have the immediate events planned out, so I should have one chapter at least done by the time I get back. In the mean time, enjoy these two!

Thwack. Thwack. Thwack. I was in my room, two days later, and currently involved in the continuation of hitting my forehead with the palm of my hand. What had possessed me? But I promised myself, holding my cross pendant, that it would never, ever happen again.

Ever.

I had taken to substituting the bedpost for my hand when the door opened. Looking up in surprise, I saw Verona in the doorway, surveying the scene with wry amusement.

"If you are quite finished attempting to bash your brains in…?"

I blushed slightly. "Oh. Yeah, I'm done." How stupid does that sound?

"Then change into something warmer. I will teach you how to fly." She left, closing the door behind her. I stared after her for a second before tripping over myself trying to change into a heavier green velvet dress with a higher neck, tighter sleeves and less flowing skirt, perfect for flying.

Barreling down the seemingly endless flights of stairs, I was severely out of breath by the time I got down to the entrance level. Verona, standing near the wall, was nearly knocked over by me in my hasty excitement.

"A little anxious?" she asked.

"Sorry," I gasped, slowly regaining my breath. "I just finally want to have a use for these things."

She led me to a snowy patch of ground just outside the front door.

"Since you are a beginner we will need to start from the highest point possible to avoid any unfortunate incidents." I nodded my comprehension. It made sense. Dropping from a height would be easier on my undeveloped wing muscles then trying to lift my whole weight off the ground.

Glancing back at Verona, I jumped slightly, since she'd shifted into her pale winged form.

"Do not worry Destiny," she said as she launched herself and hovered over my head. She closed her talons gently around my arms. "We're just going to the top of the castle." Obviously she meant the one carved into the mountain. I barely had time to protest before she spiraled up the length of the mountain to the very top, with a convenient flat ledge that must be part of the castle.

When she let me go, I plopped to the ground, not sure my nerves would ever really recover. She just had to fly in a tight spiral. I'm sure she did it on purpose to get me dizzy. Vampires have a weird sense of humor and, well, Verona was kind of laughing.

"Funny," I said, not at all amused. The stars, I noticed, were extremely beautiful at this altitude, twinkling in the velvety darkness, accompanied by a nearly full moon. Getting to my feet, I looked over at her for directions, my feathery white wings out and ready for flight. I hoped they'd know what they were doing, even if I had no clue.

"Go to the edge," Verona began calmly. Forcing down my nervousness, I did so. Usually heights didn't bother me, but it was just such a long way down.

"You will take a jump start off the cliff for the first time," she continued. "As you bend your knees, furl your wings. Then when you jump, spread them and angle downward. This will bring you to a glide." I nodded, trying to keep track of her instructions in my head.

"Any dip in one of your wings," Verona cautioned, "will turn you to that direction. So wait until you are far enough away from and obstacle before doing so. Vladislaus would be highly displeased with me if you were to concuss yourself on a cliff your very first time."

"To put it very lightly," I muttered, imagining the scene. Not pretty. And I had no desire for a concussion.

Okay. You can do this…anytime now…okay…need to stop giving self pep talk…

There was a disturbance in the air behind me and just before Verona's arms came into contact with my back, I plunged myself off the edge, mentally chanting the steps like a mantra as I did so.

Jump.

Spread wings. The air currents slowed my wings before my body caught up, so they were almost pulled out of their sockets, but not quite.

Angle downward.

And then, I was flying. Okay, gliding, but I was too inexperienced to care about technicalities. The feeling of the chilly air caressing my face and flowing gently around my body felt wonderful. To think I'd been missing out on this my whole life.

I tried lowering my right wing slightly and to my delight, I turned a little in that direction. An exuberant grin spread itself on my face and I crowed my delight to the stars.

Verona pulled into my line of vision.

"Isn't it wonderful?" she called. The wind carried her words away slightly, but I could still hear them enough to answer back with a resounding, "It's amazing!"

Now the only thing missing was a way to get back at her for trying to push me off the ledge. As usual, my delightfully impish mind formulated a perfect idea. As Verona turned to guide me back to the castle, I suddenly tucked my wings in close to my body and dived. I could hear her startled shriek as I sped towards the ground and as she tried to draw even with me, I spread my wings again and was yanked upwards to descend in a lazy spiral.

Landing with only a few difficulties (like figuring out how to backwing and go vertical again) I landed in the vicinity of Verona.

Who was fuming.

For once, I found an angry vampire funny, probably because she deserved it in my opinion.

"Destiny," she said in a tightly controlled voice.

"What?" I asked innocently, widening my blue eyes at her. "I was only having a bit of fun."

"Which could have resulted in my head!"

Grinning, I held up my cross necklace. "I solemnly swear that I will never try to scare Verona out of her wits again if she tries to prematurely push me off a cliff. Happy?"

"Give me three good reasons why I shouldn't bite you right now." Verona wasn't about to let me off that easy. But she'd have to:

In a slightly singsong voice (my adrenaline was going berserk after the stunt I'd pulled) I said, "I only need one: 'cause Dracula said so."

Heh. I couldn't resist that prank. Probably not the best idea to piss off Verona, but she'll get over it, don't worry. There'll be no sneaky revenge killings here. Review please so that when I get back, I'll have a nice full inbox. ; )