The Winged Curse - Leah Crowe (best book club books for discussion .TXT) 📗

up. Maybe it wasn't such a good idea to come here again... "My name is Thomas." the boy said, stretching out his hand, ready to shake hands with me. "Sorry if I frightened you." He said. I gulped. "I'm Bethany. You can call me Beth though." I said, still backing up until I hit a tree. I gasped as my delicate wings took all the impact. Thomas looked concerned and his wings flapped behind him. I wondered how I hadn't noticed them before. "Are you alright?" he asked. All I could do was bite my lip and nod. There were many more nerves in my wings then in any other part of my body! It had hurt...badly. He took to the air and swooped behind me, snatching off my coat. I yelped, partially because I didn't want him to see and partially because my wings were plastered to my coat by some liquid. My wings didn't bleed but something was flowing out and that couldn't be good. Thomas didn't look surprised at all but he winced as he asessed the damage. I slapped his hand away as he moved in to touch my fragile wings. "Don't touch them!" I yelled. He looked sympathetic. Well, I didn't want his sympathy! "Those darn wings are a mistake so I don't care if they get beat up! The only problem I have with them breaking is I now have no way to get home fast!" I said, turning to face Thomas, who was still behind me. "They aren't a mistake." He said with a voice like silk that definitely didn't sound human, "You were born with them." "I was not! Some wacked out wizard did this to me and I have to find him and get my parents back and my life back as well!" I said, rather annoyed at all his assumptions! This boy did not know me; didn't know anything about me! Right? Thomas sighed. "So I guess you really don't remember anything. Well, you will when I take you Home with me. But not tonight. Your wings aren't in good shape and it would be too much for you to take in at once. Next full moon we shall go. Come here and we will go." He paused, then said, "Why don't you spend the night here and tomorrow I will take you to your house." I looked over at his house with caution. As if reading my mind, Thomas said, "Don't worry. No one is home right now and the guest room is empty and clean." Still worried about just waltzing into some guy's house to spend the night, I looked over my shoulder at my wings. They were battered and crumpled. I sighed, without a choice really, unless I wanted to spend the night outside. "Fine. Thank you for your hospitality." I said as he led the way to his home and I followed doggedly behind.

CHAPTER 3
The Long Night



I was really nervous when I entered his cottage. No one else was there and I hardely knew the guy! Every pore in my body was screaming RUN!!!

but it was either run into the dark forest in which I can hardely find my way around without my wings or stay here and return home the next morning. Thomas offered to bandage my wings and I accepted. Not once did he put too much pressure on them and his hands never stayed in one place for more than a second. It hardely hurt, for which I was grateful! I then took a shower, careful not to get my wings wet and Thomas led me to the guest room when I was done. It was simple. Perfect for me. The only things in the room were a bed and a wooden table beside it. He left me and I locked the door. Just in case...

I thought and collapsed on the bed.

The next morning, I woke up and tried to fix my probably raging hair before I walked out of the room. Thomas was in the kitchen, sitting at the round wooden table. He looked amused. I was puzzled by his face but forgot about it and hurried to the bathroom where there was a mirror. My hair was awful but with a hair tie, I managed to get it under control. Thomas tossed me an apple when I walked out and started to walk towards the front door. I followed. Outside, parked right in front of the house, was a battered red truck. He flung the keys through the open window and opened the door to the passenger side for me. My wings were gone now, so I could sit down. Curiously, I looked over and was shocked to find that Thomas's wings hadn't faded. I wondered how he would sit down. He began to fold up his wings in a way that looked quite uncomfortable but they wouldn't be crushed when he was sitting down. He slid in and started the car. "Are you ok? Sitting like that, I mean. It looks uncomfortable." I said, breaking the silence that permiated the car. "It's not so bad." he replied, not taking his eyes off the road. "Why are your wings still there? Mine always fade." I said, turning to face him. He said simply, "I've had these since I was born, like you, but mine were never taken away." I was puzzled and contemplated what he said in silence. They had now reached the city and at a stop light, Thomas turned to me and said, "It's ok. You don't need to understand this right now. Give it time." I gave him directions to my house. It was a rather long drive across town near the outskirts. Thomas didn't complain. In fact, he looked almost relieved. I was rather confused by how he had been acting. He was an odd one, that was for sure. We came down the driveway of my silent house and I hopped out. "Thank you," I said, "That was really nice of you and you hardly even know me." "The pleasure was all mine." he replied and did a little bow. It was very gentlemanly. In fact, he had been nothing but a gentleman the whole time I was with him. I smiled. "Well, I guess I'll be seeing you later hopefully." "Yes, come for the next full moon. I hope your wings have healed by then." Thomas said, backing towards his truck. He waved and was gone leaving me to face my dark, empty house alone.

I walked around to the back of the house and climbed in through the window I had left open for my return. With a thud, I landed in my living room and shut and locked the window behind me. I turned to see a dark room. I shivered and flipped the switch near the door. A warm glow tinted the room as the light came on. I glanced at the watch on my wrist and knew I would have to get ready fast or I would be late for work. I rushed into my bedroom and stepped into my work outfit. I brushed out my hair and grabbed a granola bar before I left. I swept the key into the ignition and was off. At this rate, I'm going to be five minutes late!

I thought and pushed the speed limits for each road. I turned and drove into the parking lot for Flo's All You Can Eat Buffet. I had an extra shift tonight because Harriet called in sick. I parked and got out, not looking forward to the day ahead.

Work was the same; grouchy old men who didn't know how to tip, teens who were too busy texting or talking to their friends and forgot to tip, and dirty 4 year olds who didn't know how to use a napkin and their parents were too busy yakking away on their cellphones. I said 'hi' to one of the girls I vaguely knew and who had decided to eat at Flo's for lunch but I was too busy to engage in conversation. Finally, my shifts were over and I rubbed my back. I walked into the back, took off my waitress' apron, and signed myself out. Opening the back door, I bathed in the warm sun shining down and walked to my car. I hopped in and drove towards home. Once home with nothing better to do, I began to relay my time with Thomas. Nothing bad had happened but Thomas sure was odd! He acted as if he knew me! I mean, he even let me, a stranger, into his house when he was the only one there! Most people didn't do that... What if he does know me from something? Maybe he went to my highschool or college? I'll have to ask next time I see him.

I thought, not knowing that I'd be seeing him sooner than the next full moon.

CHAPTER 4
Urgent Meeting

<<<The Wizard<<<</font>

I woke up with a moan and tried to dream again, but it was too late. I was awake. I rolled over and saw on the clock by my bed that it was 4 in the morning. And yet, someone, at this early hour, was knocking frantically on my door. I rubbed my eyes, trying to focus them. I slid over to the edge of the bed and threw my legs over the side. I walked unsteadily to the door and looked out the window to see who on earth was trying to reach me at this horrible hour of the morning! It...was Thomas! I opened the door and he all but spilled into the house. "Uh Thomas? What are you doing here at 4 in the morning?" I asked him. He was bent over, trying to catch his breath. "Sorry if I woke you up-" he said panting but I cut him off. "Darn right you did wake me up..." I grumbled, still sore about it, "What is it?" I said, wanting to get to the heart of why he was here. Thomas was still trying to catch his breath. Whatever he'd been doing before he came here had really winded him. "The...the wizard from when...when you were younger. He's here. He's in town."

"He's WHAT?!" I exploded! How did Thomas know about him? Why was the wizard here? No matter know Thomas knew, this was perfect! I would find him and get my life back, parents included! I already began to walk into my room to change into something I could go outside in when Thomas grabbed my arm. "What are you doing?" he asked. "I'm going to go change into something more suitable for outdoors." I said, turning back to him and pulling my arm out of his grasp. He reached for me again but I was faster and I ran towards my room. He shot into the air and fluttered down the hall, blocking the way to my room. "Are you crazy?! You can't go out there with that maniac! He'll...he'll...I don't know but it won't be good!" he shouted in my face. "Move out of my way." I snarled in a way that was hardly human, "I need to see that wizard if I'm going to get my parents back." I was calm and deadly. If Thomas didn't move out of my way, it was going to get ugly. I didn't care if he was stronger. I would get past him. Period. My parents were worth some scrapes and bruises. "I can't let you go out there." Thomas said, also calm. We were both determined not to let the other suceed. I would win though. I had to. "You don't understand. He took my parents! I need to talk with him! It's the only