Wingless by Taylor Lavati Read Free Book Online Page B

be carted around by Angels and watched constantly to make sure I don't hurt myself. What job can I have? What purpose do I have to the Veil?
    "So, this is probably going to be hard to hear," Gabriel starts to say, but Micha cuts him off with a stern sideways look. Micha clears his throat loudly, and I watch him, skeptical of what he's about to say.
    "We've discussed the circumstances and have decided that you are going to be sent to Earth to live your life." Micha's the one to break the news to me, but it doesn't make it any less heartbreaking.
    "What?!" I yell out, jumping up from the lounger. "How could this—why?" I start pacing around when I can't contain my fury. My hands ball up in fists at my sides as I try to contain my frustrations.
    "It would be nearly impossible for you to get around the Veil. Plus, without having a full range of powers, we can't give you a job here. You'd have a better life in Earth, a more fulfilled life," Micha says, hoping to calm me down by reassuring me, but it's worthless. It doesn't work at all since I know Earth is a punishment. The sane parts of my brain shut down, and I'm confused, in complete shock.
    "I don't know anything about Earth!" I explode. "What about my family? And friends? Will I even be able to breathe down there?" I pace around the room between Gabriel and Uriel. Everyone's eyes are on me, but I don't even care how I look at this point. How is this happening to me? What did I do to make Rem punish me so badly?
    Sara snickers, which makes me stop in my tracks and face her head on. I glare, but then realize it's probably disrespectful so I wipe my face clean before she speaks.  
    "You can breathe there. We're down there fairly frequently, and we're perfectly fine." She even throws up her hands and spins around as if trying to rub her full, black, feminine wings in my face.
    "I'm not an Archer. How would I know?" I sneer, unable to hold back my anger.
    "As for your family," Gabriel says, getting my attention. "They must remain here. We will allow you back into the Veil once a year for a supervised visit."
    "Supervised visit?" I ask them. "Are you kidding me?"
    "Listen, we understand your anger and frustration, but this is the only option. We will help you adjust to your new life style. But it's non-negotiable," Uriel speaks for the first time since entering my room. His voice is higher than the others, but it's worse in a way. It scares me with the authority it holds.
    "Great," I mutter. I walk back to the lounger and sit on the edge. I try to think through this awful situation and how I can get myself out of it. But it's pretty clear that there's nothing I can do. "What happens now?" I look up and ask, scared of their answers.
    "Your family and friends will come and say their goodbyes to you, and then tomorrow you and Micha will travel to Earth, where he'll set you up and get you settled," Gabriel explains, stepping towards me. He places his hand on my shoulder and looks down at me, a reassuring smile on his face. I glance up, and my eyes travel between him and the other Archers. The pity in their eyes haunts me.
    "I just want to be alone." I drop my head in my hands and try to cover my disappointment. I don't want the Archers to see me grieve. I don't want them to know of my weakness. They already feel sorry for me, and I don't want them to see me deteriorate any further. I just want to be alone, so I can grasp what's going to happen to me.
    When the last Angel leaves the room, I cower into my bed and cry over everything I've lost and will continue to lose.

CHAPTER SEVEN
    Goodbyes

    I try to prepare myself for my final goodbyes. I convince myself that it'll be like moving to another community. I'd only be able to come to visit my Guardians once a year, maybe twice then. It's nearly the same thing.  
    But once my mother and father step into the room, all of the hard walls I've worked to build up in my moments alone prove pointless. My mother is already crying before I even