Page 16 of Scars Like Wings

“There has to be something else.”

“It’s the only way for her to live.”

“NO! Clipping a bird’s wings is no way to save her from dying, Tallis. Byrd has wanted to be a dragon herwhole life. Youknowthat! I can’t take her dream away like that!”

“But you are willing to take her life instead?!”

Silence weighed heavily around the room. It was suffocating.

Yet, I was powerlessagainto do anything but remain quiet.

Suddenly, I felt my shoulders snap up and back. The sound was deafening. And the pain? This was truly the worst pain yet. My scream made my throat raw. I could feel my body convulse.

“Max! Everett! Hold her down!Now!” My aunt and uncle kept me still. I knew they were taking all the care they could not to hurt me, but thepainof their touch… I hollered.

“Forrest! We don’t have time for this! Doe would want her to live.”

“Don’t you dare?—!“

“Doe would want her to live, and you know it. We all know it. She would especially want her to live as a human.Especiallyif it meant she’d be safe. Why’d you think she ever called me in the first place when Byrd was born? She wanted Byrd safe and happy, no matter the cost. No matter what it meant for Byrd’s dragon. Doe put Byrd first.Always.Don’t let her sacrifices mean absolutely nothing, Forrest. I need your okay on thisnow!”

I felt a cool hand on my forehead. I knew it had to be Pops. I could feel so much of his love and worry through such a simple touch. I wish I could see him, see his smile that he always had when he was looking at me. I wish I could say something. But all I could do was scream and stare into the dark. I felt a soft kiss on my head.

Then: “Okay, but… If we are doing this, you have to make her forget. Dragons, hunters, all of it. Make her forget.”

“Forrest Theodore Pierce, are youfuckinginsane?” Aunt Max cursed. This was almost as bad as losing my dragon. He couldn’t be serious.

“She can remember supernatural creatures exist, but I don’t want her to remember this part of the world. Not this loss. This, along with her mom’s murder, would destroy her. We would never be able to get her back.”

“You don’tknowthat! She’s so much stronger and more resilient than you think. Don’t do this, Forrest?—”

“There’s no time for this, Max! This is the best plan that we have to keep her alive. Her dragon is trying to break its way out of her as we waste time talking about this.”

“I can do a Forget-Me-Maybe spell,” Talli explained quickly. “This is a super powerful spell, but it will be strong enough to contain Byrd’s dragon. The spell requires a guarantee, like an insurance policy, to ensure it isn’t broken easily. Magic always requires a trade in return. Everyone will have to forget for this to work. Even you, Forrest. You won’t be able to shift or even remember what you are unless the hunters return and Byrd is in danger.”

“This is crazy! She wouldn’t want this!” Auntie Max argued.

“No, but Doe would. It’s better this way,” Pops said.

“I need everyone’s consent.”

“Do it,” Pops said.

“Okay,” Uncle Everett agreed.

“I will only agree to it to keep her alive. There’s going to be consequences to this, Forrest,” I heard Auntie Max relent.

“I won’t remember, either,” Talli continued. “Only Byrd will be able to break this spell, and that’s only when she’s ready and wants to do so.”

“I truly just want her to have that chance,” Pops sighed.

“Then we are ready.” I heard Talli approach. “Okay. Byrdie-Bee, this is going to hurt, so I’m going to put you to sleep, okay? It’s all going to be okay. When you wake up, this will all be over.”

That voice roared in my ears, telling me to fight this, to do something. I wished for so much. To avoid all of this. To have Mom burst through the door, stop this, and tell everyone how wrong they were. To have this end differently. It was all so impossible. Still, I felt a hand on my forehead. Still, I wasn’t able to say a word. Still, the voice snarled and tried to fight where I couldn’t. But I was still. Talli spoke words under her breath. I began to fall asleep.

Before I drowned in sleep’s depths, I heard Pops whisper, “You’ll be fine, baby Byrd. You are strong. You will show us. One day.”

PART TWO