I drop into my seat, holding back my groan so I don’t offend him and make things worse.
“You mentioned students and staff have treated you differently since your, uh, miraculous change. Do you think that has to do with the rumors flying around about your triumph on the battlefield?”
My heart beats louder, pounding so hard that I’m sure he can see the pulse hammering beneath my skin.He’s just searching. He can’t know anything when he wasn’t even there.
“Rumors have spread about me since the very first day, if you’ll recall, Professor Uriel. And we both know how those affected me then, so if you’re asking if I think rumors have an impact on the way angels treat others, then my answer is yes. What I can’t answer is the motives behind someone’s behavior or actions.”
He doesn’t take a beat or even a breath before speaking. “So are the rumors true, then? Did you really slay every demon just by touching their foreheads or turn their bodies to ash with a glance?”
There’s a knock on the door, but he doesn’t rise. He only stares at me, waiting for an answer.
I laugh, realizing he truly believes the rumors.Of fucking course he does.“You can’t be serious! Don’t you hear how ridiculous that all sounds?”
The knock sounds again. This time, the knob shifts as someone tries to open the door. “Excuse me.”
When he leaves, it feels like I can finally breathe again, but I know it’s not over. He’s going to want a straight answer out of me before I leave. The way he’s worded the question, it’ll be easy enough for me to tell the truth. The rumors, at least the ones he asked about, are false. Exaggerated accounts from angels who want a fairy tale to go with their happy ending. Nothing more.
“I’m not available at the moment. You’ll have to come back another time.”
“I only need a minute or two,” a familiar voice says.
“As I said, right now doesn’t work for me,” the professor replies, intending to shut the door, but I’m already striding over.
“Theo?” I ask, “What are you doing here?”
“I wanted to ask Professor Uriel a few questions. What are you doing here?”
“He’s my new school counselor. But,” I say, a genuine smile spreading across my face, “we’re pretty much finished, so I’ll let you two get to it.” While I’m curious about what Theo wants to ask the professor, I’ve spent way too much time in his company already and just need some air that isn’t tainted with his particular brand of cringe.
As I head back to grab my things, Professor Uriel turns to me with utter annoyance on his face. He’s not oblivious to the out I just took.
“Miss Hayliel, we were not done. I need to know what else has changed, aside from your wings, so that I may adjust the curriculum if needed.”
“Nothing has changed, as I stated. Besides, we’ll be meeting regularly, Professor. Whatever questions remain, you can ask them next time.” To Theo I say, “I’ll wait for you in the hall.” Then, with a reassuring squeeze to his arm, I’m free of my interrogation.
I find an empty bench a short walk down the hall and sit to wait for Theo. In the silence of my thoughts, I struggle to decipher Professor Uriel’s motives. It’s possible he’s reconsidered and wants to make amends for the awful treatment he’s given me, but I don’t really buy that. He mentioned wanting to make sure my classes were still appropriate, so maybe he’s telling the truth? Shit. When did I become so cynical?
After the stress of the break, the hot and cold treatment from students at school, and now my utter confusion around the men in my life and their labels, it’s no wonder I’m so fucked up.Get it together, girl.
I don’t know how long I’ve waited for Theo, but when he comes out, I immediately jump to my feet. We need to get going.To where, I don’t particularly care, as long as it’s far from the professor and his probing questions.
We walk in silence for a beat until Theo pulls me into an empty classroom. He shuts the door behind us, not bothering to turn on any lights. His sweet coffee scent surrounds me, drawing me closer to him and reminding me of what transpired in the offering tent. We haven’t done anything since, but I want to. I’m just so confused. Raphael was more than okay with it, but was it only because he was there? I mean, shit. It’s not like Raph and I labeled anything to begin with.What am I even doing?
As hard as it is, I draw back and ask him a question to keep my mind off this carnal pull. “Did he actually answer your questions this time, or was it just more of his usual avoid and run away?”
“As if he’d ever answer something outright.”
“What were you asking him, anyway?”
“I just couldn’t wrap my head around how the Wingology professor at such a prestigious school could be so useless. I had hoped maybe we’d caught him too soon after the attack and maybe his mind just wasn’t in it, you know? So when I was here over the break, I found an old textbook in the library with study notes in the margins, and after a quick search on my slate, I learned the book was used a decade ago to teach his class — when Professor Uriel was still teaching. You’d think that whatever was in that book, he’d know, right? But there’s an entire chapter on silver-winged angels, yet he never mentioned a single thing to us about it. I thought I’d give him another chance to share his knowledge, just in case it really was chaos from the attack, but nope.”
I roll my eyes. “So he just, what, denied knowing anything?”
“He told me he didn’t bring it up because it wasn’t related. Then he went on about how wing color matters, using Pure and Fallen as a prime example, and told me to stop questioning the faculty. The asshole even looked offended. It doesn’t seemto matter how many chances I give him, he always disappoints me.”
Leaning my head against the wall, I close my eyes. “Tell me about it.”
Theo moves to my side, his arm pressing against mine, but I keep my eyes shut. The news about silver-winged angels should have me excited, but I’m just tired. Tired of the unanswered questions and unending mazes we seem to go through. Why can’t things be simple?
