Avyanna nervously wrung her hands as she looked at her bathroom counter. On it lay a beautiful yet simple sky blue dress. It was off the shoulder but still modest. The sleeves were made out of chiffon fabric. Avyanna was given the dress by Phoebe Hildigard who had decided to personally make sure that she was ready for the dinner tonight. 

 

  Caspar Willowsbi had invited Avyanna to join him and his dinner guests that night. He also had something he wanted to discuss with her and Phoebe afterward. Avyanna began to think of all the possible ways she could mess up. The possibilities were endless and Avyanna’s worry began to skyrocket. 

 

  Her panic was interrupted by a sharp knock on the bathroom door and an equally sharp voice. 

  “Are you alright in there? It’s been ten minutes?” 

  Avyanna quickly slipped off her baggy t-shirt and boyfriend style jeans and replaced them with the dress. She looked at herself in the mirror. The sky blue worked well with her soft beige skin and fading coral hair. 

  “That’s it I’m coming in.” Phoebe swung the door open and was speechless for a moment. 

  “I’m not sure…” Avyanna started. 

  “Hush. It’s perfect.”Phoebe paused and looked at Avyanna. “You need only do your hair up in a br-” 

  “I can’t put my hair up!” Avyanna blurted out in horror. 

  “Why not? You leave it up all day long and I think it would look lovely in a braid.” Phoebe snapped.

  “I can’t show my back.” Avyanna’s eyes were wide with fear.

  “You can just wear a jacket. Do you know how to do a dutch braid.” Phoebe was firm and Avyanna gave up. She shook her head no and obeyed Phoebe when she ordered Avyanna to get a stool. Just as Phoebe started by brushing Avyanna’s hair out her stomach gurgled. Avyanna’s giggle was cut off by a glare.

 

  “Do you want a quick snack?”

  “What do you have?” Phoebe questioned.

  “Mostly junk food but I have Oreos, Chips Ahoy, Coconut chocolate cookies, some chips, maybe some nuts or sunflower seeds, and I think I have some oranges.” Phoebe's eyes lit up with the options.

 

  “I will take all the cookies.” 

  “All of them?” Avyanna questioned.

  “Yes. I’m allowed to have one thing I enjoy.” 

  “Alright. Cookie tray is on its way.” Avyanna skipped out of the bathroom, through the bedroom, and into the kitchen/living room. Phoebe followed and snuck a few cookies before they even touched the plate. Avyanna shook her head and laughed at how serious Phoebe looked as she munched. 

 

  After Phoebe settled on the bed with Avyanna on the floor, she continued brushing Avyanna’s hair. It fell to the middle of her back and looked almost like a waterfall because her naturally brown hair was beginning to come out at the roots. The two started chatting uneasily. 

 

  Suddenly the empty plate of cookies dropped to the floor and Phoebe went dead serious,

  “What on earth happened to your back?” 

  “It’s... Well... Um..” Avyanna struggled to find a way to explain.

  “It looks like someone tore your shoulder blades with knives! Was it because you weren’t protected?” 

  “Yes and no…” Avyanna took a breath of air. “I am an Averis. This means I can sort of grow wings. I can grow any fictional or real wings. I only need to have a strong picture of the wing type and it helps to write down the type.”

  “I am guessing the wings cause the scars?” 

  “Yes. I can’t open my skin so my wings go through it. Averis have very strong pain tolerance so it’s not completely painful. It’s more uncomfortable for a moment.”

 

  “It makes sense why you would be invited to this meeting.”

  “Okay?” Avyanna felt Phoebe eyeing the dozen of scars on her shoulder blades. 

  “Well moving on. I think having half your hair put into a braided crown will leave enough of your hair to cover your shoulders. It may not be that good since I have only braided my hair.” Phoebe began getting to work and the girls began talking more easily. 

 

  Avyanna stared in disbelief at herself in the mirror. Her hair was braided into a crown and held with a blue bow in the back of her head. She had a simple necklace with a silver feather that was the same color as her ring on her left hand. 

 

  Phoebe questioned the ring as well but Avyanna explained it was a ring that was a promise to her adoptive parents that she would stay pure until it was replaced with a wedding ring. 

 

  The duo left Avyanna’s apartment and started their walk to the cafeteria. They crossed the street and went straight into the building. Phoebe dragged Avyanna by the hand as she tried saying a greeting or thanking someone for a compliment. Soon they reached the doors of the cafeteria. 

 

  The doors they had come to were to the normal seating area and so they were normal metal doors with a window. The cafeteria was vast. There were numerous metal tables with blue table cloths that nearly matched Avyanna’s dress. Its lavender walls were bright with the light from the sunset that came through all the windows at the top of the walls. 

 

  Avyanna was content in this light and open space. Unfortunately, Phoebe continued straight through it to a pair of oak doors. She turned to Avyanna. 

  “Please do your best to behave. Caspar Willowsbi is not only the richest man in the world but is the founder of Willowsbi Enterprise. If you make him upset you might as well start your flight. Even I don’t know his limits.” Phoebe brushed a hair out of Avyanna’s face. 

  “I will try to do my best.” Avyanna tried to sound confident. Phoebe simply nodded stiffly and opened the door. Avyanna was in awe at the room before her. It was smaller than the main room of the cafeteria but it was twice as grand. Instead of metal benches, this room had elegant leather chairs and white table cloths. There seemed to be a million forks and knives and spoons next to the elaborately designed plates.

  Avyanna began to get nervous as each table had lit candles. To worsen her anxiousness, the ceiling had many chandeliers that would make a flight in this room impossible if anything went wrong. To top it all off, the windows, if there was any, were covered by curtains. 

  Phoebe noticed Avyanna’s accelerated breathing and tenseness. She took the lead to the table and quickly had Avyanna sit next to her. The only other there was Mavric who had worn a black suit. He smiled warmly at Avyanna but she was too absorbed in staring at her shaking hands to notice. 

  “Avyanna. Are you alright?” Mavric asked.

  “I’m fine.” Avyanna smiled at Mavric. He took this as a good sign and left her to herself. Phoebe leaned over and whispered.

  “The bathroom is through the door over there. Caspar is about to arrive and if you feel sick you may excuse yourself.” She straightened and nearly immediately the doors opened. 

 

  Avyanna couldn’t say exactly what she was expecting but it definitely was over fulfilled. 

Caspar Willowsbi strode into the room. He was tall and strong-looking with broad shoulders. He was a man that even without knowing who he was you would willingly respect. 

 

  To more of a shock, was who walked and talked next to him. It was Avyanna’s adoptive parents and another couple dressed in military uniforms which she guessed to be her aunt Illianna, and uncle Maddoc. She began furiously thinking of why on earth her parents would have driven the two-hour drive from their farm to the city and why Mavric’s parents would leave their base. Her thoughts were interrupted as Phoebe stood next to Avyanna. Copying Phoebe, Avyanna stood as well. The group happily greeted the others. Avyanna greeted her parents with a hug and Mavric began talking of something to his parents. Phoebe walked over and told something quietly to Casper.

 

  The conversation around Caspar halted as he held up his hand. The room seemed to freeze as Caspar looked at Avyanna. He smiled. 

  “Hello, Avyanna. It is a pleasure to finally meet you.” He stepped in front of Avyanna and held out his hand. Avyanna did her best to shake it calmly and to hide the fear that was screaming inside of her. He leaned in and whispered,

  “There is no need to be nervous. It is just a family dinner that is long overdue.” Caspar straightened and took his seat at the head of the long table. The other guests found their seats. Before the meal could be started Caspar had one more thing to say. 

  “You all sit in the middle of the table! I swear I do not bite! Come on.” The group moved as Caspar told each of them their place, “ See how much that works better? Now I don’t have to shout.” 

 

Callum, Avyanna’s adoptive father, and his wife Merle sat to the left of Caspar along with the couple in military uniforms, who were Mavric’s parents. Meanwhile, Avyanna, Phoebe, and Mavric sat on the other side. After all the seating was arranged, the dinner began. The first course was salad and Phoebe nudged Avyanna towards the right fork. 

  “We haven’t eaten with this many forks in years.” Callum laughed and Caspar smiled

  “It is nice to finally have a place at which we can meet without fear.” Merle smiled at Avyanna.

  “I don’t think I have eaten in a restaurant setting anywhere but here,” Avyanna said.

  “I agree. I know we talked of this on the phone but I want to know how you have been doing, my little raven.”   Merle’s comment made Avyanna flush red.

  “Mom. Please don’t use that nickname here...It’s been going well. I know a few people here. I met almost all of the people that live in the apartments next to mine. I even started babysitting one of the employee’s little sister.”  

  “You never told us how your finals went, darling,” Callum interjected

  “They were… unusual but I did pass with flying colors,” Avyanna replied. 

  The next course was soup. The table had many active conversations but they ended as Casper questioned,

​

  “What was your major in, Avyanna?”

  “I did my general education this year with a few classes in art and aviation.”

  “Does any occupation interest you?” 

  “I am still undecided but I enjoy working here and I think I would possibly study to be a teacher, astronomer, or an interior designer.” 

  “Why do you want to pursue those occupations.” 

  “Well… I.. uh... I don’t know just yet.. I want to give children a positive input into their lives… I love astronomy  because of the limitlessness of the sky… I also love organizing things to look well which is why I like interior design.”

  “Why do you think children need more positive input in their lives?” Caspar’s interrogations were beginning to make Avyanna nervous. 

  “Well… I had... Unpleasant experiences… when I was a child and I think that other children should have something to look forward to instead of dreading home and school.” 

  “It sounds like you dreaded your home. Why? What happened?” Caspar’s words made millions of traumatic memories fill Avyanna’s mind. She stood stiffly and excused herself from the table without giving an answer.

  She went to the bathroom and saw it had a window that was tinted black.  The window was just like the social worker’s car window. The small room began to contract and grow smaller and smaller only making Avyanna’s panic grow larger and larger. It reminded her of that one small bedroom. She grew a pair of strong raven wings and ran straight into the window. 

​

  Shards of tinted glass went flying under the force of the heavy wings and Avyanna took off. She flew higher and higher. The only place she could escape was into the sky. Tears flew off of her eyes and down to the ground far below. She could hardly breathe and eventually, her height grew too high for her wings to catch the wind.

​

  Everything froze. Avyanna felt herself grow distanced. She saw her wings spread out and herself lying limply in them. Her eyes were glazed over and rivers of tears floated into the air. The memories kept flashing. The black van that had brought so many soldiers to destroy her beloved mountain village of Averis. The dark-skinned police officer that had found her. Her brother's dark eyes filled with tears as she was forced away. 

​

  Everything was dark. The darkness swirled and her tears began to mix with raindrops. Avyanna closed her eyes and went numb. She couldn’t feel the wind rush past her, the rain soaked her dress, or her hair fall out of its braid. But she did hear one thing. A shout. 

“Avyanna! Control yourself. Come here!” Caspar’s voice rang loud and clear through all the darkness. 

Instantly Avyanna returned to herself. She contracted her wings but they were too wet to work properly. The roof of Willowsbi enterprise was nearly a mile away. Thinking quickly, Avyanna transformed. The wind’s howling turned to a whisper and her tears finally stopped. Gracefully, Avyanna’s feet landed on the helicopter pad of Willowsbi Enterprise.

​

  Caspar stood solemnly, leaning on his cane for support. His suit was soaked and his graying black hair stuck to his skull. His deep blue eyes locked on Avyanna. 

  “Come with me.” Avyanna followed him inside the building. He brought her to his office. She hesitated in front of the open large oak doors. The room brought many unpleasant memories. Casper extended his wrinkled hand. Avyanna took it and he led her to a set of glass doors with intricate gold handles. They led to a balcony. Casper opened an umbrella for  Avyanna and himself. They looked down in silence as the rain watered the city below. 

​

  “I apologize for my questions tonight. I let my curiosity get out of hand. I simply wanted to get to know my granddaughter since I never met you. Will you forgive me?” Casper looked at Avyanna but she kept her eyes on the ever-moving city. 

  “I-I forgive you.” Avyanna was surprised at how hoarse her voice sounded but she realized it was from her time crying. Casper breathed a sigh of relief. 

  “I hope that you feel safe here. Your mother told me about the things you told her about your past. I can promise that no one may harm a hair on your head without getting all of Willowsbi against them. “ Casper wiped the tear that fell from Avyanna’s eye. 

  “Th-thank you.” Avyanna smiled up at Casper who returned it warmly. 

  “I have a proposition. May we at least eat together once a month so that I may get to know my beloved granddaughter and her to get to know her grandfather?” 

  “I believe I would like that. Would it be alright if we did it somewhere other than the formal dining area?” 

  “That could be arranged but know that anytime you dine with me every curtain will be open and you may dress however you like.”

  “I will look forward to getting to know you.”

  “So will I” Casper returned his gaze to the city and the rain. Avyanna rested her head on his shoulder and watched as well. The two watched the city peacefully.