Fledglng by Lucy Hope

Author:Lucy Hope [Hope, Lucy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Nosy Crow
Published: 2021-12-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty

Back at my house, we head straight for the library. As we pass through the owlery I notice that something has changed again. The owls are now all facing the eagle owl in the middle of the room.

“I think someone’s playing tricks on me,” I say, looking around.

Raphael looks at me blankly.

“The owls have moved again,” I say.

“Maybe you’re imagining it,” he says. “You’re probably feeling jumpy with everything going on.”

“Probably,” I say, but I know I’m not.

When we are safely inside the library I pull the door closed behind us and am immediately comforted by the familiar smell of pipe smoke and ancient leather. For a second I let myself believe my great-great-grandfather is with us, perhaps standing at the little window with a pipe balanced on his bottom lip, keeping an eye on us.

“Do you mind if I sit down? I’m not feeling too well,” Raphael says, sinking into the desk chair. He flops forward and rests his head on his arms.

“Are they still hurting?” I say, noticing how his shoulder blades are jutting out sharply, despite my tight bindings.

“It’s just a dull ache now,” he says. “I’m sure I’ll feel better after a rest.” The cherub lands on the desk and assumes a cross-legged position. She watches Raphael carefully, her head on one side.

“I’ll dig out the book,” I say. “There might be something in there about boys turning into angels. You try to sleep.”

I find the book easily and settle into the battered leather armchair under the window with it open on my lap. I turn the heavy pages impatiently, but find nothing useful.

I sense Raphael’s eyes burning into the top of my head. “You need to sleep!” I say. “I’ll wake you if I find anything.”

“I think I’d rather stay awake.”

“But you have to sleep at some point, Raphael!”

“I’ll close my eyes, to keep you happy,” he says. “But sleep doesn’t really help at the moment.”

“Because of your dreams?”

He nods. “It’s as if the moment I fall asleep, that other world fills my head – and it’s a world I’d rather not see.” He reaches for the cherub and pulls her into his arms. She looks at him a little crossly, but allows him to hold her.

“And what do you see?” I say hesitantly.

“Oh, I don’t know. It’s all such a muddle, Cassie. I hear whispered words and see strange figures, and music and movement too. I definitely see two angels each time I fall asleep, but they’re so ethereal and, oh, I don’t know—” He pulls the cherub in more tightly and weeps.

I want to run to him, to wrap my arms round him, to comfort him, to say something helpful, but instead I sit awkwardly in my chair, wringing my hands.

“But surely you must have a choice in all this?”

He wipes his tears away. “I don’t think I do. That’s the problem.” He nods towards my book. “Have you found anything useful in there? Any magic spells for stopping all this?” He waves a hand towards his back.

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