Wings of Sorrow (A horror fantasy novel) by Iain Rob Wright Page A

he was standing right in front of the bench. “What is a ‘freakin’ rockstar’?”
    “Someone who likes to smash other people’s furniture,” she explained. “Don’t worry about it.”
    The expression on Sorrow’s face showed little understanding. Once again, she got the feeling that he meant her no harm and was confused about things as much as she was.
    “Are you hurt, Scarlet?”
    “No, I’m fine. I’m just angry that your blond-pal took my mother’s necklace. It’s all I had from her.”
    Sorrow frowned. “You keep calling The Saint my pal , yet I do not know him—other than him being a threat to you.”
    “Whatever. He’s resorted to petty thievery now, so maybe he’s done trying to kill me.”
    “This necklace, I will get it back for you.”
    She laughed. “Great, then I won’t have to go back inside and call the police on you; although, God knows I should. Is there anything you wouldn’t do for me, Sorrow?”
    “No. I am here because of you.”
    “You don’t know that.”
    He looked at her earnestly, his face an unflinching, marble slab. “Yes, I do. I am here to ensure that you grow into the great woman you are supposed to be.”
    “Who are you, Sorrow? Do you not remember anything at all?”
    He shook his head and seemed troubled. “I see flashes. Troubling images come to me, but I cannot make them out properly. They are upsetting.”
    “If you were sent here to protect me, why did you lose your memory?”
    “I do not know. Perhaps it is part of a plan.”
    “You don’t even know that there is a plan.”
    “Your angry pal, Mr Chester, seemed to believe that there was. Perhaps he can continue to explain things for us.”
    “You believe all that stuff he said?”
    “It sounded… plausible.”
    “Then that would make us both evil,” she said.
    Sorrow reached out to her. She went to move aside, but his hand settled on her shoulder before she had a chance. “That is the part with which I disagree. Nothing as beautiful as you could ever be evil.”
    Scarlet hated herself for blushing, but she did so in full force. Her mind conjured embarrassing images of her ruddy cheeks lighting up the dark.
    Unexpectedly, she yawned. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me,” she said. “I just woke up, and I feel sleepy again.”
    Sorrow sat down beside her on the swinging bench, close enough that they were touching. He seemed confused by the movement at first, but eventually managed to perch himself securely. “Things will find their proper balance.”
    “You need to learn to talk like a normal person, d’you know that? And get some shoes!”
    “Shoes matter to you?”
    “No,” she said, stifling a yawn. “Not really.”
    “Then what does matter to you? I have no possessions, but I will seek to gain whatever you think I need.”
    The thought of Sorrow having nothing made her sad. It wasn’t a surprise, considering he had come from some other dimension—or something—but it was still sad. He seemed so lost and confused all the time, yet always brave.
    She thought of something. Reaching to her neck, she grabbed at her pendant. “I have something for you to have.”
    “What is it? I would very much like to have it.”
    She chuckled. “You don’t even know what it is yet.” She took off the pendant and split the dove in two. Gently, she pulled Sorrow’s head forward and fastened one half around his neck. Then she put the other half back around her own neck. It felt nice to only have one half. “There, now you have something. It’s a pendant. I have one half, and you have the other. It means we are friends.”
    Sorrow smiled wide enough that his straight, white teeth almost lit up the darkness. “Thank you. Our talismans will bind us. It is a wonderful gift, of which I am not worthy.”
    “Yeah, yeah,” she said, chuckling again. “Calm down, it’s just a necklace. Look after it, though, because I’m still making payments.”
    “Payments?”
    “Nevermind. It just