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AFTER the first trio of Windborn visitors had taken their leave, streams of anxious and fretting women gathering in the halls to see their advocate. Azrael was shocked at how little attention the Manor had paid to the Windborn once they had left the grounds. What had the Queen been thinking? The Manor was wealthy and powerful, why hadn’t she kept a hand in their affairs?
Each testimony of abuse and suffering that crossed Azrael’s ears made her burn with growing rage. Aside from Tartelia, she hadn’t come across another Windborn who’d clawed her way up to freedom, at least, not any who’d been willing to return to Manor Saffron. Most were here by order of their owners to divulge their failures. And they did so without hesitation. Azrael was anxiously told of the children they had failed to bear, an impossible song they had failed to sing, or an insufferable dance they had failed to execute.
It was the first time Azrael truly understood what it meant to be a female Windborn. They were entertainment, trophies, and breeders. They lived simply to make a wealthy human’s life better, even at the cost of their own.
The chamber had grown dim and it was deep into the evening as Azrael listened to one of the last women’s tales. Her name was Alexis. Unlike the others, she boasted an elaborate dress. It was the old style; gold and plumed out at the bottom like an upside down cup. Alexis swayed back and forth as she unleashed her story, barely taking a breath in-between the words.
“No one understands what it’s like. I’ve lost four sister wives to the disappearances, four, can you believe it? And when it tried to take me, I screamed and screamed and clawed at it like a wild animal. I wouldn’t let it take me, and you’d think my owner would have been proud. But he didn’t even believe me! The nerve. Then—”
Azrael held up a hand to stop her. “It...tried to take you?”
Alexis nodded, her orange-dyed curls bouncing up and down. “Yes, that thing. It smelled like a swan. Have you ever smelled a swan? They’re nasty creatures. Always honking and biting and running about crazed and—”
“Please,” Azrael snapped. “What thing? Describe it. Think...before you answer.”
Alexis’s eyes went wide as she closed her mouth, for once. Azrael breathed out a sigh of relief.
“It was...a man. But not a man. He...” Alexis put a pointed nail to her lip and bit down on it, considering her words, probably the first time in her life she’d ever thought before she spoke.
“He grabbed me when I was sleeping,” she whispered as if he might be listening. “He wore a strange coat. It was white and large...and when I screamed, my owner ran in. I don’t think the bad man expected it. He jumped out the window, and I thought I’d find him dead on the streets. My room is five flights of stairs high. No one could survive a fall like that.” She placed her palms on the boning of her dress and smoothed the fabric. “My owner said I was dreaming. But there were large white feathers left behind. We don’t have such birds. It was from his strange cloak, I’m sure of it.” Her soft green eyes looked up at Azrael. “I swear I’m not making it up. Someone tried to take me. And he’s the one who took my sisters.”
Azrael frowned. Since learning of Sarah’s disappearance, she had questioned every Windborn if they knew of other similar cases. And to her detriment, each one knew of at least one Windborn who had gone missing. Their owners claimed they had run away. But was that just a story? Had they truly been kidnapped? Were angels taking them? If so...why?
Azrael flicked her hand in dismissal. “Thank you, Alexis. Go in peace, and know that I believe you. Your owner will be told you have helped Manor Saffron and we will make a donation towards your freedom.”
Alexis beamed and curtsied low to the ground. “Oh yes, thank you, Princess! Thank you!”
Azrael wasn’t even sure if she was allowed to contribute to another Windborn’s freedom. But the relief and joy on Alexis’s face as she curtsied out of the room made Azrael happier than she’d been all day.
Azrael considered the possibilities. The cold metal of the throne had grown warm under her persistent weight, and now she felt dazed, unable to move. She rested her chin on her hand. So sleepy...
“I should have you beaten,” the Queen snapped.
Azrael nearly fell from the throne at the Queen’s unexpected presence. Azrael blinked when she saw Gabriel standing next to her, his muscular arms crossed over his chest.
Azrael couldn’t shake the fog of fatigue that hung over her like a dark cloud. She blinked as her eyelids grew heavy. “...Majesty?”
The Queen’s eyes were golden and filled with rage. The Light pulsing from them drew Azrael in and enticed her to forget... Forget...
Azrael tossed herself from the throne, peeling away from the sucking embrace of the cool silver and collapsing on the floor. Without the silver’s magnification of the Queen’s magic, Azrael’s own senses returned.
“Majesty... Have I displeased you?” Azrael gasped on the ground.
“Well, let’s see. You’ve riled up all the owners. I’ve already been told of one Windborn who’s been punished for spouting tales of her missing friend. And then another was beaten the second she arrived back to her estate. She was nearly killed. And now you’ve promised to make a donation to one’s freedom? Do you want to be responsible for Windborn deaths over this absurdity? You were supposed to learn of their experience, and accept it. If it had just been the donation...perhaps I could work around it. But you also had to run an interrogation into the runaways. Are you trying to humiliate our buyers? If they can’t keep hold of a slave girl, then what kind of respect can they hold of their court? None, that’s what kind. And you’ve just reminded all of Leocivat who’s inept and who’s not. Unbelievable!”
Azrael’s head panged as the Queen cried out in outrage. Azrael threw her hands up and grabbed onto her aching skull.
“Your Majesty. That’s enough,” Gabriel’s deep voice boomed.
His anger laced through the emotions of fear and rage that the Queen had intertwined in Azrael’s heart. Azrael couldn’t differentiate what emotion was her’s, what was the Queen’s, and what was Gabriel’s.
“She’s right,” he persisted. “And you know she’s right. You should be proud of her. She’s doing what you should have done centuries ago.”
Azrael lowered her hands and peered up at him. He towered over the Queen with his wings fanned out. Azrael realized he was threatening her, like a peacock intimidating its adversary.
In spite of the spectacle, Queen Ceres held her ground. She raised her chin and pinched her lips in defiance. But through their connection, Azrael could feel the Queen’s heart falter.
The Queen turned away from him with a scoff. “You deal with her, then. I’ve some ruffled feathers of my own to smooth! I’ll be lucky if I can sell another Windborn this season.” Her words pierced the cool nighttime air as she stomped out of the room.
When she was gone, Azrael rolled onto her back and stared up at the darkened half-orb that glittered in the ceiling. The moon was high overhead and not even a single cloud barred its path, allowing its chill silver light to bounce across the glass etchings.
“Are you all right?” Gabriel asked.
Azrael kept her eyes on the moon. It was a tangible, stable thing. She locked onto it and centered herself, pushing out the foreign magic the Queen had drilled into her.
“I will be,” Azrael echoed Meretta’s long ago words. She realized how much she missed Meretta then. I’m stronger with Meretta at my side.
Azrael set her jaw and promised she’d find Meretta and tell her everything she’d found out. She’ll know what to do. She always does.
Gabriel crouched next to Azrael and peered at the ceiling. “My brothers are probably wondering how you’re doing.”
Azrael rolled her head on the hard floor to look at him. She was accustomed to attractiveness, but Gabriel was something entirely different. The way the muscle in his neck made a perfect arch to the bottom of his chin fascinated her. And when he turned and met her gaze, she was frozen in that moment. Azrael realized for the first time what it was that was so powerfully attractive about him. Besides his perfect features and his snow-white hair, he was kind. His smile crinkled his eyes with joy no male had ever directed toward her. Every genuine smile, every encouraging nod, it was the first time she had ever experienced kindness from one of them. Were all winged men like this?
“What is it?” he asked.
She sat up and stared at her hands. Her neck went hot as she blushed. “I’m not used to kindness.”
He crossed his legs and his wings relaxed, drifting around them. Azrael shivered.
“I’m sorry it’s this way for your kind. However, if anyone can change the way things are, you can.”
“What makes you say that?”
He shrugged. “You have courage, even as young as you are. You’re not afraid to get to the bottom of the real problems. I’ve turned a blind eye to the disappearances for years. But in one day you’ve shown me how far I’ve let the rope slacken.”
Azrael blinked at him. “What? You knew about it?”
He hummed in response. “I did.”
Azrael caught her breath and leaned closer to him. “Then, why have you done nothing about it?”
“It’s not my place.”
“Is it mine?”
He smiled and her heart jumped. “I suppose it is.”
Azrael pulled her knees to her chest, not able to advert her eyes from his gaze. “What am I to do?”
“You’ll know what to do when the time is right.” He looked up at the dark glass, pointing a finger as he spoke. “But for now, you must appeal to them. There are angels coming right this very moment, and they’ll be here by midday tomorrow. You’ll need allies, and there can be no greater ally than an angel, no matter his faults.”
Azrael fell silent and stared into the brilliance of the moon. Other angels...