Return of the Legion

The Prophet's POV
I watch the scene before me, keeping a solid eye on everyone, knowing full well a binding like this drains a lot of energy. Not only physically, but mentally as well.

Ashley cries as he whispers to an unconscious Ivy. Ava watches them, a million questions running through her mind, but the most prominent being is Ivy okay. Ari tries to comfort the young girl, as CC sits behind her and wraps a careful arm around Ava's waist. Jake seems more tired than anything, but I know bringing someone back from a catatonic state is rough on him. Jinxx is tense, but not too bad right now.

Taking all this into consideration, I think of a way to give everyone what they need, while still being able to protect ourselves. Strategy is key in a situation like this, but I also know it was necessary for us to do the binding now. Especially knowing that William has returned. We'll need to convince Ava to do the same, but not tonight.

"Deviant, take Ivy back to your room. Stay with her for the night. She's going to need you. Destroyer take care of Ava and Mourner, I'm also giving you the night to recover. Use it wisely," I gently order, "Mystic, Ari and myself will show everyone to their rooms and we'll take care of watch. Juliet will join us for watch. We'll meet back here first thing tomorrow morning to figure out our next strategy."

"Thank you," Ashley whispers, giving me a grateful look, before turning his attention back to Ivy.

"Take care of her, that's all the thanks I need," I reply, as CC opens the doorway again and Ashley nods, carefully picking up the unconscious girl.

"Will she be okay?" Ava shakily inquires, looking up at me with pleading brown eyes.

"She'll be just fine," I reply, resting a hand on her shoulder, "If you don't believe me, as your aunt Ari. She's been through it herself."

"But...wasn't she born a-"

"No," Ari whispers, interrupting Ava's question, "Eve and I shared a mother, not a father. My father was human. Her dad was a fallen angel and one of the best men I've ever met. Took me in when my own father turned me away."

"So that means...My grandmother..." Ava trails off.

"Yeah. She was the younger of the two. When I met them, Ari was 22 and Eve had just turned 17," I answer her unspoken question, "If you'd like, you and The Destroyer can follow us and we'll answer any questions you have."

Ava nods, turning to CC and asking in a shy voice, "Can we?"

"Whatever you want," he whispers, walking up to her and brushing her hair out of her face, "I'll follow you."

She thinks about it for a moment, before looking up at him and smiles. Hugging him, she whispers, "Thank you, Destroyer."

At first, it's clear he wasn't expecting her reaction, but he quickly recovers and wraps his arms around her. He buries his face in the juncture between her neck and shoulder a soft smile on his face.

The Deviant's POV
I carefully carry Ivy through the familiar, darkened halls of the mountains that will be our home for the foreseeable future, heading for my room on the top level. She shifts slightly in my arms, but shows no signs of actually waking up for some time.

I knew what the binding would mean. I knew it meant I would have to kill her human side. I thought I had prepared myself for that, but I'm not so sure you can ever really prepare yourself to do something like that. Especially to the person you love.

Upon entering my small room, I lay her body on the old worn mattress, lighting a few small candles around the room to illuminate the area slightly. I then close the doorway, so we won't be disturbed and get in bed beside her.

Holding her close, I watch her sleep, as I gently brush my fingers through her long hair. Slowly I begin to drift off, as I wait for the next phase of her transition to start.

I wake with a start as Ivy shoots awake, sitting bolt straight and cries out in pain. She grips at her shoulder blades as black feathers begin to emerge.

Sitting up beside her, I wrap my arms around her and softly whisper, "It'll be over soon. I promise."

"Wh-What's happening to me?" She chokes out, through her sobs and painful cries.

"You're earning your wings," I explain, my throat feeling tighter than normal, "This is the hardest part. Once it's over, it's smooth sailing from here, baby."

"It hurts," She whispers as her bones crack and break into their new positions, "It burns."

Pulling her closer, I rest her head on my shoulder. Tears begin to fall from my eyes again, as I whisper, "I know. I'm so, so sorry."

She cries out again as her body quakes with the sickening sound of another bone breaking. More wet, blood covered, black feathers sprout from her shoulder blades as someone slowly opens my door.

Looking up, I see Andy standing before us. He rests a hand on her shoulder, causing her to look up. Her eyes full of fear and pain, he softly says, "It's alright. It'll all be over soon."

She swallows hard, before shakily nodding and screams out in pure, unadulterated agony again. I struggle to keep my hold on her as three more breaks occur and her long wings shoot out her back. She sighs deeply, slumping forward further into me, as the pain begins to subside, her body quivering and her breath labored.

Tentatively she unfurls her blood covered wings and looks back at them, her jaw hanging slack as her breathing begins to calm and her body relax.

"Get her cleaned up," Andy whispers to me, patting my shoulder and walking out.

"Prophet," Ivy shakily calls out, and he stops, turning his head towards her. She looks at him with questioning eyes but doesn't continue. At least not out loud.

"She's alright, just a little shaken," he replies in a soft tone to her unspoken question, "Get some rest, Ivy. Everything will be just fine."

He then walks out and leaves us alone.

She looks up at me, still in awe from what just happened to her. I take a deep breath, then stand and help her to her feet.

Leading her from the room, I take her to the natural hot springs, hidden within the mountains and help her undress. When she's only in her black skinny jeans, she turns to look at me again.

"I'll go grab you something to wear," I whisper, but as I turn to do just that, her hand on my shoulder stops me.

"Please, Ashley," She quietly begs, "Don't leave me. At least not yet."

I sigh as a chill runs down my spine, then turn back to face her and nod. She smiles reassuringly at me, before removing my vest with careful hands and drops it next to her tattered shirt and bra. She takes my hand, leading me closer to the spring, as she waves her other hand over my waistline, undoing my belt and the buttons on my jeans. In the same gentle movement she does the same to her belt and jeans, then pushes them both down with another gentle movement of her free hand.

I swallow back my nerves as I breathlessly murmur, "That'll take some getting used to."

She softly giggles at my comment, as we step out of our pooled jeans, then she steps back into the warm water, pulling me with her. Once the water reaches our hips, she sinks herself further, kneeling before me and gently tugs my hand. I follow her deeper into the water and rest my brow against hers.

"I'm sorry," She whispers, looking down at the water around us.

"For what?" I demand, taken aback by her apology.

"I scared you," She answers, her eyes filling with tears.

"No. You didn't scare me. You have nothing to be sorry for, Ivy," I reply firmly, pulling her closer to me, "If anyone's sorry, it's me. I'm the cause of the pain you just went through."

"Not really," She argues, "You warned me it would be painful. I didn't care, until I saw the look in your eyes."

"It's never easy watching someone you love suffer, but it's the human condition, so to speak," I say, gently reaching around her to carefully wash away the drying blood on her wings.

She gasps, biting her lower lip as my hands work through her wings, her breathing picking up slightly. Humming lightly, she rests her head on my chest, wrapping her arms around my waist.

"Now I understand," She whispers in a thick, hoarse voice, her long, thick lashes tickling my collarbone as her eyes drift shut, "It's pleasurable, but not in a sexual way. It's calming and relaxing."

I chuckle, looking down at her as I reply, "Yeah, but not like that with just anyone..."

"You said it hurt when people touch your wings," She slowly says, "What does it feel like when they're touched by someone else?"

"It burns," I answer, "It feels like liquid hellfire being poured on the area they're touching."

She nods, but remains silent, as she tightens her hold around my waist.

As I finish cleaning her wings, she asks, "Will...Will you teach me how to fly like you did in the city?"

"Let's get you rested up and off the ground first, then I'll teach you anything you want to know," I reply, smirking and placing a string of soft kisses along her forehead.

She smiles against my chest, following it with a nod and kissing my collarbone in return.

"What did I do to be blessed with you?" I inquire, wrapping my arms around her shoulders, mindful of her hypersensitive wings.

Notes