I swallowed hard, took a deep breath, and flew back into the tunnel. I closed the opening behind me, de-summoned my wings, and sank down beside Steve.
Rubbing my forehead, I muttered, "Guess I just dodged certain death."
I made up my mind to be extremely careful with this new skill—using it only in emergencies, at least for now.
My eyes moved toward Ana's wings and I decided to deal with her situation first.
Ana lay in Steve's lap, unmoving, her pale face turned slightly to the side as if asleep.
Her wing, now fully unwrapped, rested like dead weight beside her body. It looked worse in the light—shriveled and twisted, the feathers limp, veins darkened with something foreign. Something corrupt.
I knelt beside her and reached out, my fingers brushing the brittle edges of her wing. Just like Steve's arm. Black smoke had drained the life from it—not just Essence, but everything that made it hers.
