Watch You Fly

$Irena's P.O.V.$

When I woke up this morning there were unfamiliar voices coming from the kitchen.
I scrambled up, straightening my robes and going down the hall to where Xeya was waking up Isaiah. I motioned for them to follow me, and we crept to the kitchen door. I peaked in, and when I saw the young angel with red hair that was clearly not Mum, I stayed in the door. But Xeya saw Uriah and pushed past me before I could stop her. She ran up to our cousin and tugged on his hand.
"Hey Xeya," Uriah said as he picked her up.
"Hi 'riah!" She slurred excitedly. "Who's she?"
He looked to where Xeya pointed and said, "That's Mariana. Mariana, this is Xeya."
Mariana smiled, giving a little wave.
"And those two over there are Isaiah and Irena." As he spoke I ran to hide behind Mum, and Isaiah followed quickly. Mum ruffled our hair affectionately and smiled.
"Who's behind 'riah?" I questioned softly. The girl stepped out from behind Uriah. Her jet black hair fell down past her shoulders, seeping into the black robes she wore.
"This is Jenni," Mum told me. "She and Mariana are Reuben and Lark's daughters."
I scoffed. "Ha."
"Irena," Dad said sternly as Mum cuffed me over the head.
Mariana smiled. "It's okay. She's young."
"No it's not." Mum wasn't smiling anymore. "They need to learn to use manners."
Jenni was staring at me. I squirmed. "Don't look at me like that," I whined, running behind Dad.
His broad wings provided more cover than Mum's leg against the staring of others.
Dad reached behind him and picked me up with one hand, bringing me out into the open. I buried my face in his shoulder and wrapped my wings around my head. He smiled over the top of my head.
"Shy," he commented. I blushed. "Anyway, how're your parents?"
Mariana laughed. "They suck. Dad didn't even think anything when either of us died."
Jenni didn't say anything.
Mum frowned. "He what?"
"When Jenni died he didn't care, and when I drowned Mum was the only one who screamed or showed any emotion." Mariana's smile had faded.
"I made him cry at that funeral, though," Mum said. "I smacked him upside the head and he cried, until he gave me that sickly smile that made me want to puke."
I kept my wings over my head, refusing to move. Eventually Tory and Uriah left with Mariana and Jenni, and I revealed my face. Isaiah had vanished, probably to his room, and Xeya was on her way out. Mum took me from Dad and looked me in the eyes.
"Irena," she said seriously. "Don't ever laugh at someone because of what they come from again."
I nodded, wanting to be let down.
"It's rude," she continued. "And I don't want you to grow up like that."
I nodded again. "Mum, you're pinching me."
She loosened her grip a tiny bit. "You have to make sure to never say something like that again, okay?"
"Okay, Mum." I nodded. "Can you please let me go now?"
She nodded, her eyes blank as she handed me back to Dad. I clung to his shoulder, pulled my wings tight against my back. He brought me into the hall and set me down, told me he was going to make sure Mum was alright. I nodded absently, and the second he disappeared back into the kitchen I ran down the hall to my room. Immediately I ran to my bed, climbed into it, threw my wings over my head and shook as I cried. Mum swept into the room several minutes later, worried. She sat down and held me and whispered that she was sorry. I didn't stop crying, I tried to get away, until Dad came in and I wrapped my arms around his neck. A tear slipped down Mum's cheek as I clung to my father like a leech. He looked at her apologetically as I sniffled, the last few tears sliding down my chin. I hugged Mum while she cried, and Dad wrapped his arms around the both of us.
And we all cried.
Just cried.
Until Xeya flew into the room, squealing, "I did it!"
Then Mum laughed through the tears, pulling her close.
"Good job, Xeya."