Fang

37

I SNAPPED OUT my wings before I hit the ground, and soared up into the rapidly cooling night air. My head was spi

I needed answers. I needed someone to say, “This is how it is, without a doubt.” Only problem was, who would I trust to tell me that?

You can trust me, Max.

I groaned and rolled my eyes. Perfect. The Voice chiming in now was the perfect thing to push me right over the edge.

Max, if you get pushed over the edge… you’ll just fly, right?

I hated it when the Voice said things like that, turned my own words around on me.

Yeah, sure. If one can snarl a thought, and I believe one can, I snarled that one. But listen, Voice, now that I have your attention – got a question for you: Why is Jeb really here? Why did he bring Dylan?

The Voice was silent. My mind filled the silence with:

Could Jeb possibly be here to carry out Angel’s prediction? To kill Fang?

He’d brought us into this world. I knew he was capable of taking us out of it.

And – had he brought Dylan to replace Fang?

If Dylan was here so Fang could be eliminated, then World War III was about to break out.

I clutched the snake necklace Angel had made for me. Fang wore the matching one around his neck. He was my perfect other half.

I know you love Fang, the Voice said now, not answering my questions. Fang’s an amazing guy. But you two have too much history together. Dylan has… potential. Great potential.

No way! I almost shouted out loud. I swear I’m go

Jeb has his own reasons for being here, said the Voice. But I want you to think about Dylan, the possibilities there. He could help you.

Yeah? Like how? I yelled inside my head.

He has incredible Sight. He doesn’t realize it yet. But he can see things happening far away, can see people across oceans – maybe even across time.

I was so shocked I stopped flapping; only the wind yanking my wing muscles up tight made me snap out of it. That was exactly what my dream had been about – Dylan saying that to me.

Max – if you and Fang are together, there’s only one flock. But if you and Dylan are together, and Fang is leading a different flock… you’re all twice as likely to survive in the event of an apocalypse.

My fevered brain tried to process this. And who would Fang be with? What other flock? Are there more like Dylan?

Again the Voice didn’t answer me directly. Big surprise. You and Fang are both too independent. You both tend to solve problems with force, violence. Dylan has different instincts. Which broadens your possibility for survival?

The Voice was hitting me below the belt, in that it was using reason and patience on me. Totally unfair tactics. I lashed back. This is too weird and stupid, even for you, I thought scathingly.

Max – confront your fears said the Voice. Then it went silent.

38

I WAS STILL about a half mile from home when I smelled smoke. I sped up, and my heart seized as I saw the toofamiliar bright flickering of flames coming from inside the house. I swooped inside and skidded to a halt in the foyer.

Our couch was in flames.

Jeb hurried in from the kitchen, Angel right behind him. He had a big mixing bowl of water, and Angel had a juice pitcher. They threw the water onto the couch, where it barely made a dent in the blaze.

“What’s going on here?” I shouted as loud as I could to be heard over the din of bird kids yelping at one another. I lunged into the kitchen and grabbed a red cylinder out of the corner. “Any of you ever hear of a fire extinguisher?” I screeched as I put out the blaze.

Everyone turned and started yelling at me, God only knows why. I covered my ears. “Where’s Fang?”

Nudge put her hands on her hips, tears in her eyes. “Isn’t he with you?” she asked. “He’s always with you.”

Just then, to complete my perfect evening, the automatic sprinkler system finally detected the blaze and went off, spraying us all, soaking everything with cold water. I stood there, my hair getting plastered down. The couch sputtered and fizzled and filled the air with the scent of Eau de Wet ‘n’ Charred upholstery.

I gave Gazzy my best “You’re in so much trouble” glare and went out onto the back deck to look for Fang.

On the deck, I jumped to the railing and balanced there, pla

I jumped over the railing and landed on the ground almost silently. I saw Dylan first, and then, with a flood of relief, Fang. They were standing tensely by a concrete piling. I could tell this wasn’t, like, guys’ night out.

“This is bigger than you and what you want.” Dylan sounded ice cold. It was actually the first time I’d heard his voice like that, and it was u

Fang’s voice was just as cold as Dylan’s. “Why should I believe you? We don’t know anything about you.”

“I get that, Fang. What matters is that I know a lot about her,” Dylan said. “Probably even more than you do.”

Fang’s face showed dark fury. I might have witnessed the first bird kid boy fight in history if I hadn’t bolted forward, my feet crunching on the gravel. “Fang!”

They swiveled and saw me. Dylan looked taken aback, and Fang’s expression was angry and shut.

“The house was on fire,” I greeted them tersely. “In case you’re interested.”

They both glanced up overhead as if to make sure the house was still standing. Fang sniffed, smelling the smoke, and I saw comprehension cross his face.

“It’s out, right?” he said. I just looked at him.

“Is everyone okay?” Dylan asked stiffly.

“I’m sure you had some super important and crucial reason for being out here,” I said, my words like icy spikes, “when the living room was going up in flames over your heads.”

“Everything seems under control, Max.” Fang shoved his hands into his pockets as he redirected his eyes toward me.

“We were talking about you,” Dylan – who hadn’t yet learned that honesty isn’t always the best policy – blurted out.

Fang’s gaze sent daggers at him.

I was now ready to crack these two numbskulls’ heads together. “Dylan, Flock Rule Number One: The safety of the kids is always most important. Period.”

“I understand,” Dylan insisted. “But Max, I have to tell you that -”

“And Flock Rule Number Two is, Don’t argue with Max or you’ll live to regret it.” I spun and stomped out to the clearing, turning back for one last jab at Dylan. “And by the way, you clearly don’t know me better than Fang does. Do you see Fang arguing with me? No, you do not.”

Fang rolled his eyes. I jumped up and landed back on the deck.

Advanced life-forms, my sweet patootie. Jerks. Both of them.