Descent (A Hidden Wings Novella: Prequel) Read Online Free Page A

eyes widened with fear, and focused on the exit. A strong foul odor, which they encountered in the house, began to permeate the area, burning their eyes and nostrils. Suddenly, a pale white face appeared at the exit. It was sniffing the air, and they heard a loud rumbling in its throat.
    Darkling.
    Jane gasped at the horror. Eyes as black as the night searched the darkness and a horrifying growl resounded as its face locked onto them. 
    What Jane didn’t know, was that the Darkling had exceptional night vision. She wanted to scream, but she was frozen with fear. In one swift movement, the midwife pushed her out of the way, and lunged toward the creature, knocking it backwards away from the exit.
    “Run , Jane!” she screamed, as they tumbled into the woods.
    Jane was frozen with fear, but quickly pulled the pieces of herself together and dashed through the exit. As soon as she abandoned the dark confines beneath the cottage, something flew at her. She dove out of the way as a body collided into the side of the house, landing with a thud a few feet from her.
    Her heart hammered against her chest, her pulse raced, and her eyes snapped open, wide with fright.
    Something moved in the distance, and she watched as the midwife rose to her feet wearing a large smile and a look of satisfaction on her face.
    Jane glanced back at the body lying next to her, unconscious. It was the Darkling.
    A tall, dark haired man came out of the woods and stood behind the midwife. He was handsome, and tall, with dark features and dark brown hair.
    He started walking toward Jane, offering his hand . “I’m here to take you to safety, Jane.” His voice was low and kind. Jane started to move toward him, and just as she took a few steps, the midwife screamed and started running toward them.
    Suddenly, there was a swishing sound, and just as Jane blinked, an arrow plunged through the middle of the man’s chest.
    T he midwife wailed, running over to him. She must have known him because she threw her body over his and wept.
    “JANE, RUN!” The midwife turned to Jane, as tears flowed down her face. Another arrow whizzed past her head and stuck into the side of a tree.
    Jane ran aimlessly into the dark woods, terrified, not having a clue of where she was headed. The woods were ominous and she was panic-stricken, thinking of what she might encounter behind any one of the trees in the dark forest. She swore she could hear something behind her, but she kept on, never turning back, running as fast as her feet could carry her.
    T he ground was still wet, and it was too late before she noticed a sharp moss covered rock jetting out from the ground. She tripped over it and flew forward, hitting the ground.
    Jane struggled to get back to her feet when she was snatched and whisked upward into the air. She screamed and struggled, but her captor held her tightly in his arms, and took off, soaring high into the dark vast sky.
    After a few moments, Jane gave in. She was much too high in the air to keep struggling. 
    “Are you finished?” a low voice questioned. “I’m not going to hurt you. I’m here to help you.” The voice sounded vaguely familiar, and warmth suddenly wrapped around her. A warmth she’d felt only once before in her life.
    Her captor gently turned her, cradling her in his arms. Jane froze as she came face to face with the man who haunted her dreams. The face she saw every time she closed her eyes. The mysterious stranger who was the father of her child.
    He flew higher and higher into the air making Jane’s stomach twist.
    “ Who are you?” Jane asked, staring at his beautiful face. His eyes kept focused into the darkness.
    “Yesterday, I was your lover. Today, I am your savior,” he said with a sad sort of grin. “I’m sorry I’ve put you in so much danger. I didn’t mean for this to happen to you, but I have vowed, as long as I have breath, to make certain of your safety and the safety of our child.”
    “ I know what you