THE TRAGIC + DIVINE Read online

  Later that evening, I sat at the foot of the stairway that led to my room listening in on my parents’ conversation. My dad had been asking questions about Priscilla’s death unsatisfied with the answer my mother gave everyone. My mother and Paul saran wrapped all of the leftover food, and cleaned up the house while Isaac went back to his normal routine and glued himself to the TV.

  “What kind of animal?” my dad asked.

  “A bear,” my mother sighed as she made another pot of coffee.

  “Just tell him the truth,” I said leaning into the kitchen doorway.

  My mother scowled at me but gave in. “She was murdered, Daniel.”

  “Murdered?” my dad raised his voice.

  “Wha—by who? Did the police confirm it? Why did you lie to me?”

  “The police knows,” I cut in. “The angels covered it up.”

  My dad shot me a look of disbelief, pulled his cell phone out and began to dial 911. “I’m calling the police right now to get this sorted”—my mother gently placed a hand over my dad’s phone.

  “The police knows,” she said again, this time more serious.

  After we escaped Stone Mountain, the police—made up of only angels—released the caged girls, but none of it made it on the news. I was sure the girls were silenced with death threats or bribed. No one spoke about the sinister trafficking ring led by the fallen angels. It was covered up, swept up under the rug like it never happened. It only made me furious, more bitter, angrier—not just at the angels, but at the world. The torture the girls suffered under Scarlet’s watch would never come to light.

  I left my parents arguing over Priscilla’s death and curled up in my bed. I stared into space, my expression blank. I wished everything that happened was all part of a movie set; an act. My body suddenly ached when I realized Priscilla was never coming home, the phone would never ring again with her voice on the other end. There was a void in my chest that couldn’t be filled by anything. I felt empty and alone.

  After the funeral, Julian stopped by to tell me about the latest gossip: Dawn ran away with Dylan. The thought made my mood plummet even further. I thought back to Jane’s threat, she promised Dawn would pay for bullying her. I was pretty sure Dawn was inside Stone Mountain being pimped.

  I heard the sound of rocks hitting against the glass door. I slipped out of bed and went out to the balcony. Milo was standing below. He wore black, his hair was neatly tied into a ponytail. My heart swelled when I saw him, but I quickly shoved any emotion deep in my subconscious. I went downstairs, out the back door and to the backyard to meet him.

  “What are you doing here?” I asked warily.

  “I wanted to see how you were doing,” he said, his expression heavy with grief. He tried to reach for my hands, but I pulled away.

  “I’m fine,” I lied. Then something dark suddenly bubbled inside me. “I was fine before you showed up. My life was not perfect, but it was better than it is now.”

  Milo weighed my words before he said, “What are you trying to say, Alexis?”

  “What I’m”—I tried to catch my breath—“what I’m trying to say is that my life is better off without you.” My voice sounded uncertain, I wasn’t even sure if this is what I truly wanted. Milo saved my life, I will forever be grateful, but I couldn’t bring myself to be with him after all his dark secrets were revealed.

  “If you let me explain—”

  “Explain how you pursued me so you could traffic me?” I said through gritted teeth. “You knew where my sister was all along, didn’t you?”

  “I didn’t know she was your sister until I saw her picture the night I stayed with you after the lake,” he explained.

  “Lies. Was Angela in on this? Do you take all of your conquests to her so they can see what a great guy you are? Is that how the ‘grooming’ process works?” My voice raised a couple of decibels. “And once they’re hooked, you convince them to become prostitutes in exchange to have you?”

  “No,” he stated firmly.

  “How many Milo?”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “How many girls were there before me? How many girls did you lure? Twenty? Fifty? One hundred?” I screamed.

  “None.” Milo gulped hard then looked down at the ground. “You were supposed to be my first.”

  “Liar!” I screamed at him.

  “I swear to you”—he took a step forward, but I took one back—“I’m not lying. The day Zane offered you the bottle—”

  “It was Angel’s Ash,” I realized. “That’s why I blacked out.”

  “That night, I was supposed to take you but…I couldn’t,” he said filled with remorse.

  “Just leave.” I pressed my lips, tears pooling around my eyes, but I refused to cry. “I never want to see you again!”

  “Alexis—”

  “Leave!” I yelled cutting him off.

  My jaw tightened as I chocked back a sob. I didn’t want to hear any more lies coming out of Milo’s mouth. Milo stepped away from me. My eyes locked with his, his expression was hurt, defeated, but he swallowed his pride, unfurled his wings then took flight.

  I dropped to my knees, finally allowing myself to cry again. I hugged my legs as tears streamed down my cheeks. How could I have been so stupid? My chest ached as my heart broke. The only person I’d ever loved turned out to be a monster! I gasped. Was I in love with Milo? No, this couldn’t be love. How could I love someone I barely knew?

  I turned my attention to the large oak tree next to my house. Its gnarled limbs touched the ground. If the tree could talk, I could only imagine the stories it would tell. It looked as ancient as the Victorian house, but I’m sure it had been there longer. A trickle of memories flooded my mind. I remembered any time I needed an escape from my life, I came here. I spent countless hours on warm summer days reading on the limbs of the oak tree when I was younger. My chest hollowed, I missed those days.

  Then something caught my attention; a birdbath broken in pieces under the tree. I looked around wondering where it came from. Before Paul neglected the back yard, there was a small garden with a white picket fence and a stone path shaped like a cross that led to the bird bath which was located right in the middle. As I replayed the memories of playing in the garden as a child, a black feather floated down into the palm of my hand.

  I inhaled sharply when I realized—I was the girl underneath the oak tree.

  Thanks for reading THE TRAGIC + DIVINE! If you loved the book and have a few minutes to spare, support the author by leaving a short review wherever you purchased the book or on Goodreads so new readers can find it.

  Check out THE TRAGIC + DIVINE playlist full of songs that inspired the book. Listen to it here:

  https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5GDzRl1laXzmruerQ9elxP

  Visit www.melodyfelixprieto.com and sign up for the MELODY FELIX-PRIETO newsletter to get the latest news on books, giveaways, contests and more.

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  A huge thanks to my amazing, multi-talented and long-time friend/mentor George Craig for editing this beast. I truly appreciated your brutally honest critique of the book; if it weren’t for you, the book would not be where it is now, and there would be no wings.

  To my husband who encouraged me every single day to continue writing. The Tragic + Divine would be stashed away in my hard drive right now if you hadn’t convinced me to publish it.

  I’m thankful for my family who supported me throughout this journey.

  And finally, to the Wattpad readers who voted, commented and added my story to their reading list. Thank you for your kind words; you loved The Tragic + Divine before it was edited.

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  MELODY FELIX-PRIETO lives in Georgia with her husband and two children. When she isn’t writing, you can find her taking photographs, editing video projects, or watching movies. THE TRAGIC + DIVINE is her debut novel. Visit her online at www.melodyfelixprieto.com.

    MELODY FELIX-PRIETO, THE TRAGIC + DIVINE