Broken Angel

Chapter 18: Desperation

ARZAEL

As if by some miracle, I was able to grip Rory and turn before we hit the water.

The force of the impact pushed us down under the waves, the pressure keeping us down for too long. We somehow managed to float to the surface, but we were swallowed up once more. The waves were relentless.

I knew that I had to get us out of the cold water. And yet I couldn’t move. My neck or spine broke on impact. My wings felt mangled. There wasn’t a single unbroken bone in my body.

I wouldn’t heal in time.

Rory’s little trembling body was holding onto mine. I could hear her little cries.

I couldn’t do anything

My daughter was going to drown and there was nothing I could do. I wasn’t sure how her immortality would work. Wasn’t sure if she would come back to me. Most immortals were vulnerable up until they aged to their prime. Archangels were the exception, we simply were.

That didn’t mean I wanted to test that theory.

Aurora’s cries grew louder, followed by her hacking out water. She was using my body to stay afloat.

Smart girl.

“Daddy please,” my baby cried out.

She was so afraid. Rory was gripping onto my shirt, her little hand on my face.

I was finally sinking under. The waves were too rough, and I was too heavy.

Let go baby.

The utter desperation I was feeling was consuming. The inability to save my daughter made me feel like a complete failure. This can’t be how it ended.

Let go and try to stay afloat, I silently begged.

Aurora was now clinging to my neck, her little arms wrapped around me. She took one last heaving cry before we were once again swallowed up by darkness.