Chapter 3

The dizzy feeling of getting back to our world I had is already fading away. However, the Watchers don't seem to be doing so well and my mother's crazy driving does no good either.

My mom. She came for me. Why? My brain can't come up with a good enough reason of why she would be here, especially after the incident in the camp. I will sure try to ask when we're left alone but now, I have other things to be worried about.

I look at the back of the truck and my eyes lies on Raffe. He got his wings back. Layla kept her promise and now he will go back and take his well-deserved place. I might have been staring because he turns his head and sees me looking at him. I turn back to the front view. He is probably more than happy having his wings, having to see his friends again after such a long time. It warms my heart too even though it means the moment of saying goodbye is getting closer by each passing second. I though I would be bothered after these couple of days. I don't want him to step out of my life just like that but then I remember my father's last words to me. "Sometimes you just have to let go". My dad. Why does everyone I love…

'Stop the truck' I whisper more than ready to breath in some fresh air.

My mom just looks at me as if I said something that irritated her and keeps driving

'Please, stop the damn ca..', she presses the brakes so suddenly that I move a few inches forward and give her a glare when I lift my head. Poor guys in the back are possibly about to throw up.

Everyone, except my mother, gets out of the truck. A sudden gust of wind hits my face when I step out of it. The nights are getting colder.

I am trying to clear my thoughts and don't even notice when Raffe approaches me the minute later.

'Are you alright?' He asks with a smug smile on his beautiful face. Instead of answering I respond with a question of my own.

'How does it look like?'. He laughs and I wonder what was funny about that.

'You know, you look more shaken than me and everyone else together,' do I?

'No, really, I'm good.' I don't think he understood what I have just said. Words came out more rushed than I intended. That's when his smile faded away. It's time to get serious. We're in the middle of the war.

'You're going to win this trial by contest, right?' He looks over my face and hair and nods.

'Absolutely, you don't need to worry.' And I don't. I feel like I can trust Raffe more than I can trust anyone else, almost as much as myself.

I reluctantly lift the sword strap over my head. I hold the scabbard for a moment and feel the weight of it.

Of course, he should have it now that he has his wings back. I'm surprised he hasn't taken it already. They missed each other so much. Besides, he can't be part of a trial by contest without his sword.

'She missed you.' I say.

He hesitates at first as if worried the sword is not going to accept him but than closes his eyes and I hand it to him. We both wait for a couple of seconds and when Pooky Bear doesn't drop Raffe finally relaxes his shoulders and looks at the.

Before I can do anything, he leans towards me and brings our lips together. I've been craving for this moment to come for so long. His lips so gentle and soft it makes my knees go weak. Good thing Raffe is here to hold me because I'm not sure I would've been able to stand on my own.

The kiss was cut too soon, I don't know how to breath or how to stand, all I want is for him to continue. But instead he takes a step back, looks into my eyes for the last time and flies away with the Watchers tailing him.

Raffe left. I want to think that it is not the of the world, but it's literally the end of days and I am at the very epicenter of it.

'Where is Paige?' I ask when we start moving again.

'I left her in the camp,' she did what? I turn my whole body to look at my mom, why would she leave her there. 'don't ask, I had no choice. She is in good hands.'

'No, no she isn't. Don't you remember the last time she's been seen there?'

'Well, I wouldn't have to do that, if you Penryn hadn't acted so stupid.' She tries to put blame on me. Amazing. The day has almost ended but it can still get worse.

We were driving in silence for half an hour now and I couldn't enjoy our way back to the camp more. But there is a question I need to ask. I must. Otherwise, it won't leave me be.

'Why did you come for me?' I ask.

'Couldn't let anything happen to you.' She turns her head from me. The answer she gave formed a little smile around my lips but what came out her mouth did little for it to stay there. 'I promised to protect you no matter what.'

Promise who?

'Dad?' did he make mother promise she would never leave me and Paige after he had done so?

'Don't be ridiculous, Penryn.' She spits out the words the way it makes it clear he did not.

'Then who?' I ask but she doesn't say anything. What kind of secret is this?

I was about to leave the answer hanging in the air like this but the words my mother said to me few hours ago in the camp echoed in my ears once again. It would make sense, wouldn't it?

'What was it that you meant by saying that I am lucky that you are not my mother?' I ask silently scared of the respond she's about to give me.

'Don't ask silly questions, please.' She says after thinking what to say for a few seconds. 'You are giving me headache, Penryn.'

I don't know how to feel about this. It's getting more complicated to take a single breath.

'I want you to be honest, mom.' Somehow, I manage to speak the words out. 'Am I, am I your daughter?'

I can feel her tense at the question. Is she mad? Am I making the complex situation even worse?

'I wasn't thinking when I said that.' She rushes the sentence without looking at me, but her voice is giving everything away. She is lying.

'Mom, please.'

She looks at me and opens her mouth to say something but closes it soon. I can see pity in her eyes.

Then I see a shadow in the sky. It's Josiah.

I turn the engine of and get out of the truck.

'Raphael sent me to tell you not to go to the Resistance camp,' says Josiah as he lands. He sounds out of breath.

'Not to go, but why?' the chills run down my whole body. What's going on?

'You need to stay away from any concentration of people. The trial by contest is going to be a blood hunt.'

'What's a blood hunt?' Just saying those words makes me want to run and hide.

'Two teams hunt as much game as possible,' says Josiah. 'It starts at dusk and ends at dawn. At the end, whoever has the most kills wins.'

'What kind of game?' My lips are numb, and I'm vaguely surprised the words come out.

He has the decency to look uncomfortable. 'Uriel insists there's only one prey worth hunting. The only one that's attacked back.' He sees the horror in my eyes and adds.

'He has no choice. No one backs out of a blood hunt.'

I have to lean against the truck.

'No, Raffe wouldn't do it.' No, it can't be. I trusted him.

'Raffe wouldn't but Raphael would.' He says and I look at him. Wrath of God. Sure he would.

My stomach feels like an acid volcano, and I swallow hard to keep it down.

I get back into the truck.

Paige is in the camp and it leaves me no choice, so I head there with disappointment, rage and hate in my heart.

I was so stupid. He fooled me and he is going to pay for it. All of them. We can't let them kills us as if we were animals that can to be slaughtered whenever they feel like doing that.

Hello! It's been quite some time since I posted the last chapter but here I am. It's the third chapter, finally. Took me forever so I hope you will enjoy it. Please leave a comment so I know whether you're enjoying the story so far or not.

Hope you're all safe and healthy.

Love, A...