The door slams open, jolting me awake. I'm disoriented for several seconds before I can figure out what's going on. "Cayce! Are you okay? You didn't answer and I-What?! Why is there a werewolf in your bed?!" "What's going on?" says Bennet as he stirs under me. I open my eyes and see that I'm sprawled across Bennet's bare chest. I think it's evening, which means I slept about most of the day. And in the doorway is none other than Henry. He looks scandalized seeing Bennet. Then what he said just dawns on me. "It's okay Henry! Bennet isn't going to hurt us! He's-" But Henry screams and flies across the room, his red-brown wings erupting from his back. He shoves me off the bed and lands on top of Bennet, who is finally waking up to his senses."What's going on? Who's this Cayce?" he asks bewildered at the brown-haired boy on top of him. "I'm Henry and I'm gonna kill you!" screams Henry, extending his wings outward into his trademark snake-fang shape. "No!" I scream.

I don't think there was any other point in time that was this strange. At least in life my life. Bennet and I have been spending the whole of the last two weeks cooped up in my house or his house, being together and safe. Grid and Neil, along with Teddy went to school, but Bennet thought it wasn't safe, hence me being absent. The time we spent together was strange. It was harmony and heaven. A kind of limbo. Because I was just so happy to spend time with him I think I got a little stupid. I was careless, and just a bit of center. The same could be said for Bennet. He accidentally poured bleach into the bathtub instead of a bubble-bath solution. His leg hairs were bleached white. Today, winter break started. Grid, Neil and Teddy didn't have any school, and Harold and Meg are both a bit annoyed that they have to take care of all the kids. I'm just enjoying the company of the Fitzroy family. They're very rowdy, and loud, but they have this strange harmony of theirs. It's nice to

Fredric's hand is just about a foot away from Teddy's head. Now three quarters. I seem to feel something die and another something comes alive in my chest. Hope and dread? Undoubtedly. But then a miracle happens. Teddy bends down and pulls the shell out of the sand. Fredric's sinister grin turns into shock as his hand passes through the air. He loses his balance and steps slightly away from Teddy. That's all I need. I beat my wings back, reach Teddy and hug him to my chest. The shell he was holding falls to the sand. At least I think it did. I've already beat my wings forward so as to propel myself and Teddy backward. Fredric now stands twenty yards away. He has black pants that cling to his legs, and his chest is bare. His wet black hair waves in the light breeze and the clouds cover the sun, blotting out all brightness. Teddy squirms in my arms. "Cayce?" I hear Meg shout. Crap! She's human, she needs to get out of here! I glance back and see Meg running over with the

The weights are the main problem. Not the height. Thank whatever force there is for the wings I have. But the weights are still here, and they ain't going away anytime soon. The weights I could hold in my hands while I manage to fly up there. But then how would I be able to break through the ceiling? It looks like it's made of wood, and I could easily break through that with my wings. But with my bare hands? Forget it. And even if I managed to get up there, to hold myself there I would need to anchor myself into the wall or the ceiling with my wings, and then I would just be hanging there. Not to mention that Frederic might be up there. If he's up there, I might as well be surrendering myself to him. But if he is up there, and I manage to tear the floor out from under his feet, then I could easily drop him to his death. But then what? I would still have these 30-pound weights hanging around each of my legs, and still with broken ankles. Frederic would be taken care of, but th

"You sure you're alright?" asks Meg as she helps me through the backdoor. "I think I'll be fine," I say, using just as much of her help as my wings to carry myself, "I'm not going to be walking around too much. Just hanging out in the backyard." "It probably is a good idea anyways that you get out and have some fresh air, anyways," says Meg while nodding, "cabin fever is not fun." "Well, I'd call your house a little more than just a cabin," I say with a laugh, and she joins in. "Aww, you're too kind," says Meg. She helps me maneuver to a little patio set, a table and eight chairs which I sit at one, and she also sets down a few books from school for me. "You going to be alright out here?" asks Meg, "I'm sure you'll be alright, but I just want to be sure." "I will, I promise," I say with a nod, "if I need anything, I'll make sure to shout." "I should be able to hear you," says Meg, nodding at the house, where many of the windows are open to air out the house, "I'll