It was near 3 am when Addanc slipped through the window and dragged me from Avarice's manor. I only allowed myself to be taken once he'd hauled me out the window. Being so high off the ground, I was rather content with being carried than dropped, my wings were useless to me anyways, he'd bound them. Nonetheless, I scratched at his arms and thrashed.

Back at his mansion, I was pulled through a labyrinth of underground corridors to a large-steel door. There was no way he could have opened it on his own, there was a pair of servants there to do it for him. inside he dumped me on the ground.

"How about a game?" He purred, taking up the Trire hanging next to the door. "I'd love a new addition to my collection, Angel~"

My anger had no room in this place though, no matter how much I wanted to gouge out his eyes for that disgusting nickname. I untangled the ropes my wings, if I can get past his defenses, I could at least strangle him into unconsciousness. The last thing I wanted was blood on my hands. 

He probably knows that judging by the countless strung up severed wings we passed on the way here. I shuttered.

Addanc whistled, sharp and curt. The scrape of claws answered from somewhere behind, followed by a low rumbling growl. I had no need to look, Ugales are known to be fat and clumsy creatures, especially when charging.

I threw myself just out of it's reach and let slam face first into the far wall. Addanc was no where to be seen until he had me pinned down, shears poised to cut. Sawdust found itself embedded in his eyes before he could snap them closed and I was pulling his legs out from under him. He came down, almost crushing me.

I tried to wretch them away but he had a death grip on the Trire and the Ugale was rearing up to charge again. I leapt, latching onto a support beam. The room wasn't very large fortunately but the drop still seemed rather far, it seems like getting up is much easier than getting down these days, I swallowed the urge to vomit.

On the far side of the room was a mountain of bones, the sight of it was nauseating but an idea wriggled it's way into my mind. Just as I did, the Ugale clamped down on the support beam, bending it with his weight. I swung myself onto the next beam, swinging until I reached the end where my fingers slipped. Groping thin air, my torso connected with brittle-rotting bone. Some snapped, perfect for what I had in mind, I grabbed the sturdiest looking one and braced.

The Ugale came in heavy, throwing the whole weight of his shoulder onto the sharp end of my bone. His scream was deafening, the shrill noise echoing off the walls dissonantly. Scooping up another bone I skittered away, making it as far as the door. Wedging the new bone between the frame did no more than crumble to dust when I tried to drive it further in.

A familiar thumping sound whirled me around. Coming face to face with the glinting white teeth of the Ugale's jacked open jaws, I did the first thing that came to mind.

My arms came up on their own, shielding my neck from the inevitable attack. Once his maw locked down on what poor thing found itself between his teeth, there was no certain way to pry him off.

~~~

I wrestled with the lock, grunting disdainfully when it didn't budge. Addanc wasn't kidding when he said the thing was impenetrable. 

Zeldris has other ideas. He casually pushed me aside and broke the lock with a single punch. I was glad to have brought him then, he was always better at breaking things.

"Thank you." I said, patting his bulky shoulder as pushed through to size up the creature just beyond the threshold. "Rev!" I bellowed.

Revel's head jerked up, Zaccchaeus' lay pinned by the shoulder under the weight of his massive paws.

"Begone!" I ordered.

Terrified, he sprang up and scuttled into the corner.

I pointed to Zaki. "Try not to pass out."

I wheeled on a red-eyed Addanc and dug my claws into his bare shoulder, forcing the Trire from his hands. "Theif," I hissed. "It's one thing to rob me and another to leave me utterly alone like that; you scared off my Dragonlings."

"I can't help myself! He looks just like her and those wings..." His eyes fell on Zaki, practically drooling.

I agree that he does but I will not openly admit that it's the reason I've sheltered him.

I took up a half built rib cage and hurtled it in rev's general direction; it shattered against the wall. "Don't think you're off the hook Trash Can, you're next!"

Revel hissed, bristling like a cat, blood dripping from his mouth. I almost laughed, he thinks he's intimidating. I left Addanc to sulk and approached Zeldris who stood guard over a bloody heap.

Zaki's breathing was shallow. "I'm fine."

"Then stand."

"I..." He trailed off, blinking, obviously fighting to stay conscious.

I motioned to Zaki. "Carry him."

Zaki made a pained, almost fearful whimpering sound the moment Zeldris laid hands on him. Still he did not fight my brother's aid and allowed himself to be held.

The Goddess would fix this.

~~~

Icy palms pressed my cheeks.

“He lives.” An effeminate silvery voice cooed, clear as a bell in my diluted state.

She stroked my head, much like a mother would, a small smile splayed across her pale lips.

My eyes instinctively snapped to her wings, three pairs of them, all blacker than a moonless night sky, colorful hues unveiling themselves in the shifting light.

“Do not be afraid, Zacchaeus. I am no enemy to you.”

The goddess, The Fallen, appeared as youthful as any immortal would be expected to be. Richly dark brunette curls, glossier than a mirror in the flickering candlelight.

I startled again remembering the orange beast tearing into the delicate flesh of my wrist and the Red man who’d consumed my last memories before I slipped into unconsciousness.

“My arm!” It was still mangled and dripping but to a lesser degree of lethality.

“I had to wake you first, your pulse was so weak even I could barely sense it.” She helped sit me upright. “Lucky Avarice got to you so soon, you may not have survived.”

He stood off to the side, muttering something sheepishly and bowing so low his green streaked raven hair pooled over his feet, before scuttling away without another word. A part of me wanted to call him back.

The Fallen took my arm, dabbing at my wound as gently as possible with a wet cloth she manifested from seemingly nowhere. Still, I flinched at the biting pain. Once she was satisfied with her work, she passed her fingers over the ruptured tendons and broken skin, weaving my arm back together effortlessly with her power.

I stiffened, I did not know much about the goddesses but I knew for certain that Lady Ivory couldn’t heal and assumed her elder sister, The Fallen, couldn’t either. “How?”

She raised an eyebrow. “I am a goddess,” As if it were obvious. “I thought, despite how horribly they censor me in Cloud Spire, that you’d have at least been told of my powers.”

I shook my head.

A wry smile grew upon her face the longer she scrutinized me. “You don’t know.”

“I’m terribly confused.”

“I’ll show you another time. While you’re still here, how about I fix that wing of yours?”

I nodded and moments later my wing was good as new excluding the glistening peach scar.

“The feathers will never grow back, old wounds always scar, especially if you don’t allow them to heal.” She scolded.

“Thank you.”

She smiled again. “I appreciate the company. And before you go,” She traced a phantom crescent on my forehead with her fingertip. “There, no need to hide anymore, you’re now under my personal protection.”

With that she shooed me away. I met Avarice a bit down the hall outside.

“I never meant for any of this to happen.” He quickly reasoned.

“It’s fine.”

I went to leave and he whirled me back around. “No, it’s not. Let me make it up to you. The Festival of Lanterns begins tomorrow and I would like you to join me.”

“If I didn’t know better, I’d assume the name was as tame as the party it incites.”

“Only the dancing seems to get a little out of hand every year, the food and décor is domestic.”

“Ah, well, that actually sounds pretty nice.”

Avarice’s cheeks turned a deep mahogany.