Not only is Jesse one of my professors, but he's teaching my first class. It's called: Angels of the Fallen. Turns out it's all about angel history. According to Jesse's instruction, the angels here on Earth were cast out of Heaven for disobeying orders by choosing to have relationships with humans. Not new information. I always guessed that was probably the cause.
What is new?
There's a way for the angels to receive redemption and return to the celestial home. If angels can retrieve all seven of the CeleStones stolen by the original angelic leader, a dude no longer with us (whatever that means). Then all will be forgiven, and those angels will be welcomed back into Heaven.
One of the stones looks remarkably like the one Jesse had in his possession—the one I was supposed to steal. The same stone Jesse believed would kill me when I touched it. But it didn't. What the hell does that say about me?
As a person who's spent most of my life working for a lying sack of shit, I have doubts about the validity of the heavenly promise. Because whether the angels here on Earth find the stones or not, they will still be the radicals who chose humanity over their kind. Hell, they are still doing it, even though they aren't supposed to be. We, I guess it's we now, but I'm struggling to change the pronoun. It's always been they, them, or the evil fucking angel bastards.
I don't belong here!
Jesse is still talking, and I shake away my feelings. Because despite what I believe, I do have wings. At least now it makes sense why Jesse had the stone in his possession in the hotel room.
But it also makes me wonder who else knows about the stones and why they are interested. I mean, Fileze wanted me to steal Jesse's stone. Did he understand its significance, or was he just doing the bidding of someone else?
I'm guessing he doesn't know, but I've been wrong about many things lately.
When class finishes, Jesse asks another female student to show me to my next lecture. Her name is Odette. At Jesse's request, she bats her eyelashes and gushes her agreement at Jesse.
"Of course, Professor," she coos.
Immediately, I don't like her. On my way out, I give Jesse a look that says, don't make me do this.
Jesse only nods and then focuses his attention on paperwork.
"Your name is Mira? Is that right?" Odette asks, flinging her dark hair over her shoulders.
"That's me," I reply, trying to smile.
"Where are you from?" she asks.
Her tone isn't exactly friendly but more like she's taking mental notes to gossip about me with her friends later.
"The Halo," I reply, studying our surroundings as we make our way to the next class.
"Seriously." A look of horror crosses her exquisite features, including her pine green eyes. Her creamy skin is too perfect, as is how her chocolate brown hair is styled—every curl in precisely the right place to frame her heart-shaped face.
"Yep. Why? Where are you from?"
She shrugs. "Fallen City, of course."
"Cool," I respond and feel like a fool. "You look familiar? Are you related to that actress, Arielle Knightly?" I hope by asking her, she'll forget I said 'cool' and appreciate the compliment.
"Maybe," she responds and giggles.
I blink, curious about why she wouldn't just say and wait for her to clarify.
The whole time we're talking, we are walking. Or I should say climbing up a vast and endless number of stairs until we reach a landing with a set of double doors.
They are open, and other students head inside.
Three guys and a couple of girls are waiting to the left of the entrance, watching Odette and me with odd curiosity.
It's unnerving.
"Nice talking to you, Mira. I'll see you inside," Odette says, her voice thick like too-sweet syrup. She breaks away, heading to her friends.
"Thanks," I reply, clutching my backpack straps and swallowing nervously.
I freaking hate school. Even my earlier desire to seduce Jesse is gone, and I feel gross. Desperate to escape. Inside, the first thing that catches my attention is the dome more than a hundred feet overhead. Constructed of glass and gold panels, it's easy to see the stark blue sky beyond.
Someone bumps into the back of me, sending me flying forward. "Oof," I say and fall to my knees.
"Sorry. Let me help you up."
Her voice is familiar, but that's impossible. I ignore the students laughing and face the person responsible.
"Ellie?" I breathe, unable to believe it.
Sure enough, it's her. Somehow, my roommate is at the Nephilim Academy.
Shock sparks across her face. "What the hell are you doing here?" she asks, rushing forward, taking me by the arms.
That's what I was going to ask. Had she snuck in to rescue me? But that couldn't be, because she hadn't known I was here.
We give each other a quick hug, and then I push her away and look her up and down.
She's wearing a uniform like mine. "I called you this morning and left a message," I say.
"Same." Ellie's shoulders sag. "I'm so glad you're okay. I've been worried sick." She leans in. "Did you get the gem?" she whispers.
I shake my head. "No. How did your job go?"
She glances back, and I notice for the first time there's a tall, dark-haired guy waiting for her.
He doesn't look happy to be here. More like a bodyguard by the way he's standing. Legs apart and his arms crossed with bulging biceps, causing the white shirt to strain.
And I realize Ellie is nervous and jumpy.
"I'm fine. Good," she says, awkward. "This is, um, Levi. He's a new student too."
I'm in shock. "But why are you here?" She asked me that question just a moment ago, but it's the same one I have for her. "You aren't," I pause and lower my voice. "You aren't an angel. Are you?"
"I'm—"
Before she can finish, the professor whistles loudly. "Eyes this way, please."
Ellie and I turn toward the woman with ebony hair pulled into a high ponytail.
At Ellie's presence, an immediate sense of relief trickles along my skin. But also, anxiety, too.
Ellie is not an angel. Of that, I'm sure. I glance over at my friend. For some reason, she's pretending to be, but that isn't enough for entrance into the Nephilim Academy.
A prospective student must prove they belong. At least that's what I've heard. Which leads me to believe I must be wrong.
From the corner of my eye, I watch Odette and her friends saunter in. She catches my gaze. I force myself to smile. She doesn't return it but says something to her friends, who start laughing.
Okay, I'm done playing nice with that bitch.
"Mira," Ellie whispers, leaning over. "Please don't tell anyone how we know each other—at least not until after we talk."
"Why?" I ask, searching her lovely face. Something about her is different. My first thought is it has to do with Fileze.
"I can't tell you the reasons right now, but it's important." She pauses. "Please. I promise not to interrogate you either unless you want to tell me." Her eyes plead.
"Okay. Later," I say.
She smiles, relieved. "Thank you."
The professor instructs us on the lesson. Each student must call forth their wings, spread them, and then hover in the air ten seconds before dropping and sending them away—all things I did earlier, except the hovering.
"Any volunteers?" the teacher asks.
Ellie takes a step behind me.
"Mira told me she wants to go first," Odette says, glancing over and giving me a horrible smirk.
It's obvious the teacher doesn't believe her but meets my gaze. "You're Mira?" she asks.
"Yes," I say, trying not to seem nervous, but my palms sweat.
"Good. Come on up to the front," she says, waving me forward.
After a glance at Ellie, I nod and move through the students until I stand beside the teacher.
The woman has deeply tanned skin, and her eyes are a light purple, like freshly bloomed pansies. She introduces herself as Professor Penelope.
Once she's done, she smiles. "Don't be embarrassed. Just do your best."
"Okay," I say, my throat feeling scratchy with nerves.
I hear snickers from the direction of Odette but don't look that way. Instead, I find Ellie's face. No matter what she's doing here, she's family, and I can do anything with her by my side.
Ellie gives me two thumbs up, but she looks like she's going to puke. I mean, how else would she look. Before yesterday, I didn't have wings.
Did Jesse give them to me? Or did the stone? That's the better question.
I'm worried that I always had them within, and somehow the stone brought them out of me.
"Alright, Mira, let's see your wings," Professor Penelope says.
I set my backpack on the ground in front of me and think about how my wings looked in the mirror.
Immediately, there's a pop, followed by a definitive weight against my back. My wings are enormous. They should topple me over, but they flow against my back like they belong there.
"Holy shit," someone shouts.