Page 180 of Psycho Gods

The pain intensified to another level, and my back arched as an invisible force dug my heart from my chest.

The only two people I lived for were suffering inches apart from me.

I was paralyzed.

Unable to help them.

Useless.

There was a snapping sensation as the agony in my chest crescendoed.

The bunk above my head went still.

Darkness blurred my vision, and I clawed desperately against unconsciousness, but it mercilessly pulled me under. There was nothing left of me as everything went black, just a peculiar sensation inside my chest.

A staggering barrenness.

I felt dead.

Chapter 33

Aran

FALLING TO PIECES

Apricity (noun): the warmth of sun in winter.

DAY 22, HOUR 8

I woke up to lilac morning light clutching the Necklace of Death.

My first thought—I’m going to learn how to fly today.

A strange dream about falling snow, vibrations, and glowing light teased the edges of my consciousness, but it drifted away into nothingness.

I shrugged it off.

Sadly, hallucinations were not uncommon with my lifestyle.

Once as a child, I’d had a string of dreams that I’d been abducted and probed by an alien creature from a faraway realm. Mother had slapped me when I’d told her.

There were two types of people in the world: those who were probed, and those who judged those who were probed. The latter were all secretly jealous that no one had abducted them.

My eyes struggled to adjust to the morning light.

I groaned and rolled out of bed.

Since I had no other plans for the days (other than annoy Malum), I might as well get some flying practice in.

There were wings in my shoulders and angel blood in my veins, and I was going to get airborne if it was the last thing I did. If not for myself, then I would do it to spite Mother.

It was time to succeed.

“I’m going to practice flying behind the barracks. I want to do this alone.” I announced to the room.

Malum paused his one-handed push-ups. “Don’t go too far. I don’t want to see you hurt.” His voice was extra gravelly in the morning, and I shivered at its deepness. Silver skulls twinkled in his ears, and he didn’t have socks on, so my name was on full display.

He’d 100 percent done it on purpose.