I turned to Lincoln and pulled him close so I could speak quietly into his ear. He listened, absorbing my words. And when I pulled back he was smiling with pride and a tinge of excitement that solidified my decision. I smiled back and turned to the hall.
‘You deserve a great leader. And I believe that, with Lincoln beside me, I can be that leader for you.’ I walked over to where Griffin and Nyla stood. ‘Some day,’ I added. ‘But you need strength today, and someone who will lead with not only courage but also experience and integrity. And I … I need some time to become the leader you all deserve. I promise you that I will return, but today I abdicate my chair and pass my seat of power to a person I would follow without a second thought: Griffin Moore.’
Griffin’s face filled with restrained emotion as Nyla discreetly took his hand, giving him her support.
I approached Griffin and grabbed his hands in mine. ‘I thought we might do a trade,’ I explained. ‘You can have my job until I’m ready, and in return, if you would trust us, Lincoln and I would very much like to go home.’
Griffin pulled me into a tight embrace. ‘I’d be honoured. And I look forward to the day that I will stand aside so you can take your rightful place.’
‘I know that,’ I assured him.
Griffin, still holding Nyla’s hand, walked up to the middle two chairs and turned to face the hall. As they took their seats, the entire hall behind me erupted into applause and cheers.
CHaPteR tHIRty-NINe
‘To see a world in a grain of sand and heaven in a wild flower, hold infinity in the palm of your hand, and eternity in an hour.’
William Blake
I’d been waiting for him.
It had been a few days since Griffin became the head of the Assembly, and things were gradually settling down. Steph’s wedding plans were going full-steam ahead. The term ‘duck and cover’ was being used with particular regularity within Academy walls and, well, let’s just say no one was warrior enough to escape the wrath of bridal-Steph.
Tonight, everyone was at Ascension enjoying a night off and a joint bucks-and-hens night for Steph and Salvatore, who had decided that after recent events it would be more fun to be all together. They had been right.
After watching Dapper and Onyx bring out a huge pre-wedding cake, I had taken the opportunity to slip away for some fresh air. Watching all of my friends smiling and dancing helped put things in perspective. And perspective, I have discovered, proves this: life goes on.
But it is a different life now.
As I sat on the Brooklyn Bridge, Phoenix finally showed up.
He sat beside me, his legs dangling over the edge like mine.
‘It’s strange not sensing you,’ I said. My powers had been returning gradually, gaining in strength and accuracy every day. It wouldn’t be long before I was ‘all systems, go!’. But even then … my days of sensing Phoenix were over.
He half laughed. ‘Everything is strange.’ A gust of wind blew my hair back. ‘Especially that,’ he said, marvelling.
‘Wind?’
‘Wind,’ he confirmed.
I nodded. I could imagine that feeling the wind without being able to mingle with it would take some getting used to.
He hesitated for a moment before giving me a familiar smirk. ‘It suits you.’ When I looked at him blankly, he added, ‘Your hair. It’s bad-ass and beautiful at the same time.’
I blushed and looked down.
He laughed, fully this time. ‘And that’s weird too. Not feeling your emotions even though I can see them.’
‘Do you miss it?’
He shrugged. ‘Are you well?’ he asked instead.
‘Getting there,’ I responded, accepting the subject change.
We were silent for a time, watching the cars stream by below, their brake lights leaving trails of red in their wake. Yes, life goes on.
‘I could try to do something,’ I blurted out suddenly. ‘Speak with the angels.’ I hadn’t seen them since I’d woken up the second time and I wasn’t sure if I would ever see Michael again, but surely someone would answer me if I called to them.
‘Thank you, but I don’t want you to do that.’
I looked at him for the first time. His dark eyes sparkled, and his hair, still stunning with shades of black and purple, seemed … quietened. It struck me that he was different in more ways than one. He was human, yes. But he was …
‘You look young,’ I said, smiling.
He laughed darkly. ‘Not for long.’
I sobered. He was right. Phoenix would live a normal human life now, he would grow old and die. Because of me.
‘I’m so sorry,’ I whispered.
His hand went to my face, his touch filled with unsaid words, and he gently tilted my chin until our eyes met. ‘I’m not.’
I saw the truth in his eyes. Felt it. ‘But you’ll die.’
‘One day, yes. But I think this might well be the first time I have looked forward to living. I’ve always been different. Not quite angel enough, not quite human enough. I’ve been searching for my place, and now I’ve found it.’