Alter by Gracie Cochran (iphone ebook reader .txt) 📕

left her in fear. She had changed by the time I had come to save her. Her wings were no longer the vibrant white I once knew. They turned black. I couldn’t handle it. I left her and she killed herself. I caused her pain that I shouldn’t have. I did something unforgivable ”

 

I continue trying to pull away. “West I don’t want to hurt you.” I say my voice just above a whisper. I look away from him. He forces me to face him.

 

“You aren’t going to hurt me.” He says softly. I look into his eyes and see trust and unyielding love.

 

My tears fall faster and I choke on a sob. He wipes them away and places his lips on my forehead. I hug him tight. He wraps me in a hug and we sit like this for a while.

 

His grip tightens. “I’ve missed you so much Anne.” He whispers. I look at him and see tears in his eyes.

 

I nod wiping them away. “Me too. I felt so empty without you.” I put my face into the crook of his neck pulling away just enough for me to say. “Like there was a hole in my heart.”

 

He moves his head closer to mine. “Well I’m here I’m not going anywhere. I’ll always be here for you. I’m so sorry I hurt you. That fear you saw in me eyes was not of you it was for you. I knew that wasn’t you. I knew it could never have been you.”

 

“I was hurt  because I almost hurt you. Maybe not me spiritually but physically. It hurt to know that they needed to protect you from me. That even now they still do. I know she’s not gone. She’s hiding now.” I hear wing flaps and look to the window.

 

I don’t see anything but keep my eyes on the window just incase. “What?” West asks.

 

I get up and limp toward the wind. I clench my fists as I see the stupid figure. The Devil angel. I walk out of the room and head toward the front door. Derek is in front of me blocking my way. “Don’t.” He says his eyes pleading with me to see reason, but nothing can right now.

 

I flick my wrist feeling a strange sensation. He flies across the room and I walk out the door not thinking twice about it. “You don’t know when to quit do you?” I ask angrily.

 

He shrugs. “I told you it’s prophesied. We are meant to be together. I have no clue why you insist on fighting something that can’t be fought.”

 

I laugh. I feel Elizabeth try to push through and this time I let her. “You know that was written by me right? I wrote it and used you so I could be free. I knew that you would be gullible enough to do it, stupid enough. You only heard about that prophecy after my death yet you never thought twice about it apparently. It’s kind of sad really.” I push back and regain control this time feeling no resistance from her.

 

He looks at me shocked, confused, and angry. “What? That can’t be true. It can’t be.”

 

I shrug not feeling any sympathy towards him. “Apparently it is. You just met a very unfriendly spirit. You know the girl you took a hundred years ago. Elizabeth. She’s pissed at you about as much as I am. Thing is, she is absolutely right. You are gullible. You’ve also finally done the one thing I thought you wouldn't. You’ve gone soft. ”

 

He growls. “That’s not my fault. Your spelling me somehow. Your using some sort of sorcery. I would never have feelings toward you if otherwise. You have to be doing something to me.”

 

I smile. “I am not doing anything other than warning you to leave me alone. To leave this realm alone. Or I’ll have no choice. I will kill you and not swiftly either. I will make you suffer for everything you’ve done to this realm.” I say.

 

He laughs. “Your too soft. You wouldn’t hurt me no matter how desperately you want to. Because you weak heart won’t let you.”

 

I run toward him with a new speed. I’m behind him in a split second. “You sure about that. Bad experiences change a person. Changed me. Changed Elizabeth.” I whisper into his ear.

 

He turns toward me with a smile. “Sounds like you’ve finally decided to accept the dark part of you sweetheart.”

 

I laugh. “No I decided to embrace my destiny. The one that says that I will kill you. To get rid of the darkness once and for all.”

 

His smile never wavers. “I’d like to see you try.”

 

My body tingles. I feel a strange sensation and look down to see that I’m changing.  I feel my leg mend and fight the urge to itch it. A smile spreads across my face as I start to glow gold. I look at my wings as they appear and see that they are bigger and gold as well. I look at him seeing even clearer than before. I feel my ear move which is weird. I look at my hands and watch as they change looking like paws but still my hand as well as my fingers. “What?”

 

I watch Satan back away and glare. “I will beat you I will be back.” He flies away.

 

I see Jim, Mike, West, and Derek all staring at me. I feel like something is ripping from my body and I’m lifted off the ground. Fall back and groan. I look up to see a girl staring at me in awe. “How?”

 

It hits me. “Elizabeth?”

 

She nods. She’s on the ground. Looking at herself. “I’m back to normal?” She looks at me and walks toward me. I see all of them tense but I shake my head. She holds out her hand and slowly touches me. I see shock in her eyes. “This is impossible.”

 

I shrug. “I’ve learned that the impossible is always possible.”

 

‘But I’m solid.” She says.

 

I nod. “And it appears human. You may have just given a chance at redemption. I suggest using it wisely.”

 

I look at West and smile. “I’m back.”

 

He shakes his head. “Your even more beautiful.”

 

I cock my head. “I feel whole. Like this is how I was supposed to be.”

 

I hear footsteps and turn to see Arny. “It’s time to go home. There’s a lot to discuss.” He says looking at me, West, and Mike.

 

I groan. “Come on can’t we just end it here. I feel amazing right now. I would like to end with a happy note.”

 

He laughs. “We have even begun to scratch the surface. Come on.” He helps me up.

 

West walks up to me. “You need to see what you look like right now.” I feel his fingers brush my ear that’s now on the top of my head. I close my eyes enjoying the feeling. I let out a purr and he chuckles.

 

He wraps an arm around my shoulders. “Let’s go.” He starts leading me into the woods.

Chapter 15

“Who is she?” I hear whispers of awe and shock.

 

West hands me back my dagger and I imagine as a bracelet. I hear gasps of shock. “Alter?”

 

I continue to follow Arny feeling strange with all eyes on me. West’s grip tightens slightly. “It’s ok.” he says. I smile.

 

“I know. It’s just strange.” I say leaning against him.

 

“Is your leg better?” He asks.

 

I nod. “Yeah. I just feel weird now.  I mean my hands, my ears, the glowing, and the gold.”

 

He smiles. “And the tail.” I look and notice my tail.

 

‘And tail.” I say. We continue walking until we reach a door. It opens and we walk inside. The first person I see is my dad when we walk in. He’s looking at West then scans me and keeps looking.

 

“Where’s Anne?” He asks as he continues looking around.

 

I smile. “I’m right here.” His eyes go back to me and he shakes his head.  

 

“You can’t be. Your taller, glowing gold , have golden wings, a tail, feline ears, and feline paw like hands. My daughter looks like me with white wings and she’s smaller.” he says with disbelief.

 

I walk up to him. “You can’t recognize me? So it’s because I don’t look like a scared little girl anymore? Is that it? I’ve finally grown up. Become who I’m supposed to be. I’ve embraced the destiny I was given. I’m still me. Just not the me who let myself get pushed around. Not the me who was defenseless to protect her family. ”

 

Tears form in his eyes. “My baby girl. All grown up.”

 

I smile and hug him. “Not quite I still have a little ways to go.”

 

I hear footsteps and look up to see Jesus walking toward us. He smiles. “You have finally embraced what you are destined to do. This means that you no longer need training. You are very powerful, for father knew you could handle the power without corruption. He has complete trust in you. Now this is not to say that you don’t have a choice. You can decide to not be the alter. Father has always given a choice. “

 

I nod. “I want to be. I have personally been with him. I know how he is. How he thinks. It has to be me. It can’t be anyone else.”

 

He nods. “You know a side not many have seen. You’ve seen his weakness. You are his weakness. He may not show it for a while now but he does have a heart.”

 

West moves next to me. “Her? How is she his weakness?”

 

Jesus look at him with sympathy. “He has fallen for her. His heart has softened for her. It still is. He is hurt. He doesn’t know how to react.”

 

West wraps an arm protectively around me. I lightly push him. “West I can take care of myself.”

 

He looks at me with anger. “You mean how you took care of yourself the last couple times?”

 

I glare. “Shut up. You have no clue what it’s like. To not be able to even look at the one you love without turning into a monster. I got myself caught trying to get out the anger I had towards him. You know what happened when he picked me up and took me into the cave?” I ask.

 

He doesn’t answer. “I. Gave. Up. Because I had almost hurt you and any torture beyond that would be nothing. My leg was nothing that pain in my leg kept me alert. Kept me from giving up on you. I was going to do whatever it took to make it up to you. To stop the fear I had saw in your eyes. It was burned in me. I thought. I deserve this.” I turn and walk out.

 

I clench my fist my head pounds and I fall to the ground. I feel my bones shift and crack familiarly. A feeling of comfort goes through me as I finish my shift. My cougar is mad as well. She’s been with me she knows the pain we both felt. I leap into the air and fly to the forest. I land on the ground and fold my wings. I sit down and listen to the rustling of the leaves.

 

I hear wing flaps but ignore them.