《The Sorcerer's Apprentice》 Prologue Alone on the outskirts of Pria¡¯s ruined lands was a remote cottage as quaint as the lush meadows it stood in. And in this cottage lived a quiet Sorceress, unattainable to the world outside the meadow¡¯s forest barrier. Unpredictable, unapproachable. Far too silent for anyone¡¯s liking, for one¡¯s heard even a sigh from her in decades. Yet this was the same powerful Sorceress that had wiped thousands of people from existence, leaving nothing behind but destruction and misery in its wake. Because this tiny village had not always been a village. It was once a large and boisterous multicultural town, busy with trades, markets, various forms of entertainment, and all walks of life. Over a century prior, The Sorceress had violently cleared the space she resided in now with ash and ice. A town of twenty-thousand, now down to a mere one-thousand. There were plenty of rumors that still circled around that tragedy, rumors that spread across the nation and beyond its borders. The most popular being that The Sorceress was insane, naturally. The locals stated she¡¯s nothing but a cold heart. The epitome of pure evil. To this day, parents told their children all sorts of horror stories as a means to ensure they don¡¯t cross the forest threshold, or go too far off into the meadow. Mothers use The Sorceress as an example to their daughters when they misbehaved, because no little girl wants to be compared to such a terrible entity, even if she may be having a bad day. Still, The Sorceress makes small appearances in town. She comes wandering into the marketplace every month for fresh meat, produce, and grain¡ªlimited as they were, though no one stood in her way while she emptied each stall for herself. Even witches still needed to eat. She would fit everything into one bag¡ªits size large enough to normally accommodate maybe a few heads of lettuce. But this bag was special; it swallowed everything from multiple packages of meats, vegetables and fruit, and an entire ten pound package of rice. That bag never bulged either. She would carry it over her shoulders like it weighed nothing more than a sack of feathers. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. No one dared question it. It was always an interesting, yet tense sight, to see her out and about. How she performed her abilities was fascinating, but would forever remain eerily mysterious to the common folk. The Sorceress kept her head and the lower half of her face hidden with scarves. Her eyes stood out¡ªbig and bold, the irises matching the black of her pupils and thick brows¡ª intimidatingly cold. There was no hint of compassion in them, for any of the thousands that continued to suffer around her. She was much like her magic¡ªstrange and soulless. On the occasional day when warm light peeked out from behind gray clouds, The Sorceress wore dresses without sleeves, exposing the white Sun-Rays tattoo on her right shoulder, a common symbol of radiance and peace among the former Sanyaran Kingdom¡¯s royalty. It was both ironic and stunningly eye-catching against her golden skin, giving her an air of regal quality, even while her face was still masked with scarves. However this begged the question: Who exactly was she? What was she? And why would such a powerful sorceress remain in a lone cottage outside a poor village by herself for a century when there was the rest of the whole world out there for her to conquer? A world she could rule as a God, if she wanted? A mystery. It was all one big frightening mystery. Magic wielders of any kind were a forbidden existence. Their power, temper, and lack of control has proven, throughout history, to be catastrophic. And The Sorceress proved to be history¡¯s most current catastrophe. She remains a paradigm of terror and intrigue. No one knows who she is, or what she looks like, or what her purpose is, other than what they hear by word of mouth. Today marks the 103rd anniversary of Pria¡¯s tragedy. No one living today was alive to see it take place. We consider ourselves lucky. Though we will still suffer. As long as The Sorceress still lives. A. Ilsah 25 Mae 1555 Listliss Energy 28 Mae 1436 I have no motivation¡­for anything. With that, Zara closed her journal, set the feathered pen down on her table, and crawled back into bed. This way, she could read her favorite book as comfortably as possible. She had believed writing a journal entry would help her productivity but apparently, that was not going to be the case. Perhaps reading will do the trick. But as soon as Zara flipped open a page, she was overcome with fatigue. As usual. How annoying. She closed the book and left it next to her, wondering how exactly she fell into this rut in the first place, and what she could do to get out of it. Not even her favorite genre with the best romantic heroes were as enticing as they once were. She lay flat on her back feeling no worse, but no better either. For the past year, Zara had spent most of her time in bed. Whenever she thought of a task, she had very little energy to actually do it. She could never finish what she started, be it her studies, reading for fun, or taking a walk around the perimeter of the house. It caused too much exhaustion for her mind and body to handle together. Zara blindly reached for a piece of paper on her bedside table and glanced it over. It was her to-do list for tomorrow: To Do:
  1. Study History: 1 chapter
  2. Chores
  3. Walk¡ªif there is time
  4. Study Religion: 1 chapter
  5. Journal¡ªshould I not be feeling faint by this hour
She made a habit of keeping these lists, hoping it would get her life more organized. The limp, overused piece of scroll paper she¡¯d written the next day¡¯s tasks on were a mess of ink lines from too many other tasks crossed out from days before. Not that Zara had actually done most of those tasks, besides the house chores required of her. General laziness and that damn out-of-the-blue fatigue had induced her into crossing them out ahead of time. Doing the bare minimum of everyday duties had proven to be burdensome. Zara wasn¡¯t sure whether any studying, walking, or writing would be possible when she was burnt out by the time chores were done. Maybe she really was the laziest person ever, like her parents scolded her for all the time. Even people with little purpose to live had more energy than Zara did. A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation. She crumpled the list and dropped it, not caring that it drifted to the stone floor and would eventually find its way under her bed, forgotten until she would find time to sweep under there again. After an hour¡¯s rest, Zara sat on top the clothes chest under her open window so she could stare out at the late afternoon skies and enjoy the refreshing breeze. A butterfly landed on the sill, its wings a mosaic of blue and purple. Zara smiled, taking this opportunity to carefully reach out and touch one of its wings. The butterfly froze the instant Zara began focusing the little energy she had left for the day on her fingers and onto the wing. The eventual tingling sensation felt good. Exciting, even. Zara watched the little wing slowly grow a couple centimeters wider than the other. Magic. A terrifying, yet exhilarating phenomenon. Zara let the butterfly go, watching its unbalanced form limp to the outer edge of the sill and drop off to the grounds below. Zara remembered that the first time she had discovered this ability had been on complete accident, causing her and her family the biggest shocks of their lives. From there, the years passed in a downward spiral of forced confinement and threats of verbal and physical punishment if she dared think of experimenting with this newfound power again. But knowing she still had it in her, as weak as it was, gave her some internal motivation. Instead of walking the perimeter of her house tomorrow for daily exercise, Zara planned to convince her father to drop her off at the library on his way to a work meeting. There was, of course, the possibility that he would reject taking her, but she wouldn¡¯t allow herself to cower out from asking this time. She wanted to learn more about herself, and this strange ability she¡¯s had since early adolescence. Magic¡ªand any living being that wielded it¡ªwas forbidden by law. This made Zara¡¯s very existence a societal threat that could get her and her family killed if anyone were to find out about her¡ªwhich was why Zara¡¯s parents were extra cautious when presenting her to outsiders, the rare times they ever did. It was why her movements outside the home were so limited. And this law had eventually extended to the education and positive depictions of sorcery and its past. If Zara were to find herself at the library come the next day, she knew she would not be able to find any useful texts that would actually teach her the basics of magic, or any means of controlling it, on public shelves. All of those texts have surely been burnt to ashes. Or maybe confiscated and hidden elsewhere. Zara could only speculate. The only knowledge she could consume at this time was the tumultuous history of magic and its many powerful wielders. Historical texts tended to paint this subject in a very negative light, but at the very least Zara could, perhaps, still learn something useful. She found it hard to believe that she could be the only inexperienced mage left in this world, even though most days it sure felt like she was. So Zara often let her mind wander about how many were out there now, lurking deep in the shadows, searching for ways to break themselves out of this vicious cycle of perpetual concealment. Wishful thinking. It wasn¡¯t possible. Zara shut the window and drew the curtain. It was still afternoon, but she was going to call it a night. Coffee and Cake The Sorcerer had taken an interest in the girl who had yet to grasp the full nature of her abilities. There weren¡¯t any mages around this region besides the two of them, and he had only come to Pria three months ago. Before his arrival here, he hadn¡¯t sensed any magic at all. At least not from another human. This had gone on for decades as The Sorcerer traveled from place to place, keeping himself alert for others like him with no such luck¡­until very recently that is. The Sorcerer was able to spot other mages and magical beings through sense alone. The girl he was observing today had yet to learn this trick. She will probably never be as good as he was, since this sensing ability was one innate to him, an ability that his body had naturally picked up on as a boy. He wondered what her innate ability was. The Sorcerer picked up his warm mug of cocoa-flavored coffee and brought it to his lips. The flavorful liquid practically scorched his mouth. Wincing, he set it back down. It was still a bit too hot at the moment, but it was going to be delicious. He knew with the little taste he¡¯d gotten from it and couldn¡¯t wait to have another. But he also knew that patience was a virtue. Situated across the street of the local library, the outdoor seating of this busy cafe was both for great coffee and stealthy observation. Though he preferred to come here mostly for the coffee and the snacks. At least for now he could dig in to his chocolate lava cake while he waited for his mug to cool. The girl had exited the library, hoisting her book bag on her shoulder. She had a slim physique, looked to be about twenty, maybe younger. Her long hair was jet black and tied up in in a braided bun today. She wore soft camel pants and a black sequinned top paired with a gray shawl¡ªfitting for Pria''s LightSpring weather, with the little warmth it offered. She was walking away from the library now. The Sorcerer was surprised she was allowed to move about on her own today. After all, the girl rarely ever left her house. She had been dropped off by a small carriage down the block from the library, but that carriage wasn¡¯t in sight right now to pick her up. The Sorcerer knew the girl¡¯s parents kept a tight eye on her; it was evident by her short walks around her home¡¯s perimeter, as that is how far she was permitted to go outside the gates. This was the first time The Sorcerer had witnessed her receive her father¡¯s permission¡ªreluctant as he was¡ªto explore town on her own without either of her parents¡¯ accompaniment. He wondered vaguely of what she was up to. He¡¯d been watching her like an unabashed stalker for five months, pondering over when he could approach her. The timing needed to be right, because the last thing he wanted was to make himself look like a suspicious deviant. A man who preyed on young females for pleasure. No. He couldn¡¯t have that. The Sorcerer lifted his mug to his lips again as he watched the girl¡¯s departing figure grow smaller, her head tilting as she observed the street¡¯s activities, her body awkwardly dodging the oncoming and going hordes of people¡ªsimilar to a tourist¡¯s first day in Pria. He was sure she had discovered her magic by now, though he sensed that she hardly ever used it. Her magic was muted, unexpressed, and hardly desirable. She held very little power, though it was still power nonetheless. Power that can still be brought out in some means or another. Time would tell. Some mages were late bloomers. This young mage was practically a newborn. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. ¡°May I bring you anything else?¡± The Sorcerer flinched, dribbling some of the coffee he had just been about to drink down his shirt. He did not hear the waitress approach his table. ¡°Shit,¡± he cursed quietly. It burned through his clothes. ¡°Oh, I¡¯m so sorry about that!¡± the waitress said in a panic, making a grab for some table napkins. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to startle you, really!¡± ¡°No, no. Don¡¯t worry about it,¡± The Sorcerer said, absently reaching a hand for the napkins while staring down at the brown stains on his white shirt¡ª Their hands touched and he flinched again. More of the coffee he¡¯d been holding in his other hand dripped onto his pants. At least he was wearing black pants. Perhaps now would be a good time to set the mug on the table before it was wasted on anything else. ¡°Oh! Sorry, I¡¯m so so sorry,¡± the waitress said, dropping the napkins on the table. ¡°I can get you another mug¡ª¡± ¡°I¡¯d rather you not.¡± Because then he would have to wait for that one to cool as well, and The Sorcerer was running low on patience. After dabbing off some of the mess, he finally took a look at the waitress¡¯ face. She was a dark and hefty, hazel-eyed girl with a nice smile, as strained as it was right now. Her face was flushed, obviously worried about the mess she had made on a customer. She reminded him a bit of his fourth wife. She too had beautiful hazel eyes, and a shy, clumsy personality. The Sorcerer grunted uncomfortably, then let out a laugh as he forced out the memory of a woman long gone. ¡°Really, I¡¯m¡ªI¡¯m fine. It¡¯s okay. Accidents happen.¡± ¡°Are you sure? I¡¯d be happy to replace your coffee for you, free of charge. And maybe add on another cake if you wish?¡± That offer was a bit tempting¡­ ¡°Sure¡­wait¡ªactually no. Never mind. I¡¯ll just have the check please.¡± ¡°You¡¯re sure?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Polite grin. ¡°Thank you.¡± The waitress flashed him a brilliant, service-winning smile. ¡°No problem. My apologies again, I¡¯ll get your check for you.¡± She glanced at his table number and left to retrieve his check. The seventy years he¡¯d spent in near isolation certainly hadn¡¯t helped him better his people skills. But he had always been a recluse person, and a full century¡¯s worth of human interaction prior to his self-isolation had naturally tired him out. He drank what was left of his drink, unable to fully enjoy it as the wetness on his clothes was uncomfortably distracting. Especially since this climate was on the colder side. The waitress came back and stood directly in his view this time so as not to startle him again. He wanted to groan. ¡°Here you are,¡± she said sweetly, sliding him both the bill and a small pastry bag, ¡°and a little something extra.¡± ¡°Oh, you really didn¡¯t have to.¡± ¡°It¡¯s on the house.¡± She smiled again. It was warm and friendly, with a hint of a shy, flirtatious charm. The pastry bag was warm. He peeked into it and found a freshly made chocolate lava cake. The aroma was enticing already. ¡°I appreciate it,¡± he told her sincerely. ¡°Thank you very much.¡± ¡°Any time! Have a great day, and I hope to see you back here very soon.¡± He paid, buttoned up his coat¡ªwhich thankfully covered up the embarrassing spill on his shirt¡ªand headed in the direction of Pria''s main social center¡ªThe Diamond. It was strange to think that over half a century ago, this place had been a mere no-name village, slowly growing into to the populous town it was today. The amount of people and trades may have increased, but the beautiful mountain view had never changed. He was surrounded on all sides by the same gigantic snow-peaked mountains that had existed in the ages before mankind, picturesque against the blue sky and white clouds like a painting, but better. Mount Lilith was the peak that towered above them all, so high and mighty its head went far beyond the clouds. The Sorcerer passed a couple of street musicians sitting on a mat at the corner. One was playing the sitar, the other the tabla. A classical tune, the melody soft, romantic, and smooth, easy on a dreamer¡¯s soul. He dropped a few coins into their wood box, which was already almost full. Listeners beside him were doing the same. The musicians smiled their thanks as they played on. The Sorcerer¡¯s thoughts drifted from the music to the girl he¡¯d been watching. He had a plan in mind¡ªone that had taken decades in seclusion to formulate. A plan to revive a world that had been shattered before he was born¡ªa world where his kind had once ruled. And he needed this girl to help him achieve it. A "Wicked" Boy Zara exited the library earlier than the time she told her father she would be leaving. This was her chance to finally explore this town a little without supervision. It was exhilarating, almost like she was any other young woman going about her business without having to worry about a parent¡¯s shadow lurking over her back. For once, she could pretend she was normal. No one would be the wiser. Zara took in the sight of the mountains, surrounding her on all sides. She could see them from her home too, but from where she stood now, they seemed so much more majestic. The black, sky-scraping tower of rock that was Mount Lilith was both beautiful and terrifying at once. It was nothing like the view she got from her bedroom window, which was a good distance away from the center of town. She had always regarded it rather blankly¡ªas another piece of nature she¡¯d never get close to. Twenty-two years she had lived near it, yet she stood here gaping like she was seeing it for the first time in her life. It was a miracle her parents had agreed to this library visit at all, but it just so happened that her father¡¯s Civil Service meeting was at the town hall and the library was on the way there. With a bit of desperate pleading and an argument about trust and faith in their grown daughter¡ªZara was trusted to be alone for this one time. For forty minutes at the library only. And maybe never again. Zara shook the thought away, hoisted her book bag higher on her shoulder, and headed toward The Diamond. She had about thirty minutes now before her father returned to the spot he had dropped her off at. The walk was only ten minutes each way. If she didn¡¯t linger around too much, she should make it back to the pick-up spot without issue. The smells drafting out of Cafe Soma directly across the library were amazing as always. She had walked a good distance from there but the aromas of cakes, sweets, and their homely, rich coffee made her want to turn back. Her father usually picked up some of the cafe¡¯s expensive package of beans every now and then, and her mother would grind the beans and make the coffee in the same evening, and then fresh again the next morning. It was Zara¡¯s favorite. Zara was still lost in thought about coffee until she bumped into someone. ¡°Oh!¡± she yelped. ¡°Excuse me! Sorry!¡± a long bearded man in a gray suit called back as he hurried by. ¡°Sorry!¡± Zara squeaked as she almost ran into more people heading her way. It wouldn¡¯t do to daydream. The street was busy. Carriages and rickshaws rolled through the middle of the road while people scattered on either side. They wandered into shops, stood in lines for street food offered from tents and carts, grouped up around the corners talking to each other, or walked like they had somewhere important to be. Carriage drivers tended to their decorated horses, rickshaws stopped to do pick-ups and drop-offs. So many different faces, styles, and mannerisms¡ªall from different backgrounds across the continent. Besides Darhai, the capital city of the country, Pria was the only town that was so diverse in culture. Zara circled around a group of chattering school kids in her way. It had been a long time since was in such a bustling area. She wondered vaguely when the last time she had actually come into town. Eight, or ten years? Or even more than that? Of course, she¡¯d been with her family and not on her own back then. Two musicians were playing a ballad on the opposite corner of the street; they had just ended one song and were starting another. It was a classic tune, and one Zara liked. Slow and calm, the rich beat of the tabla serving as an accent to the melodious pitches of the sitar. Unfortunately, Zara didn¡¯t have the time to stop and listen. She wanted to make the most of her little walking adventure. She zigzagged through the herd of people and found herself in front of an accessory shop, just a few minutes away from her final destination. She halted at the window when her sight landed on a red jewel headpiece¡ªa current fashion among the women in Sanyara¡¯s Royal Court. Ma would like this one, Zara thought. Her mother was a well-dressed woman, typical for any woman whose husband works in government. But Zara would take this headpiece for herself if she could; it was so pretty. The ruby shone on its stand, a deep, vibrant red. It almost looked real. But it couldn¡¯t have been. It would have been displayed at a higher end store at three times the price otherwise. Either way it wasn¡¯t possible for Zara to purchase. Even a convincing fake was too much in cost. Besides¡­where would she wear such an expensive headpiece anyway? I could always model it for my own reflection¡­and pretend my life is better than it really is. A bit sullen, Zara gently pushed aside the shop entrance¡¯s beige curtain, hoping to find something cheaper she might like and actually get away with having. ¡°Welcome!¡± a cheery girl at the counter greeted. She was young¡ªlooked to be around Zara¡¯s age¡ªwith thick yellow hair, clear blue eyes, and a small beauty mark next to her small nose. In front of her was an open logbook she¡¯d been working on before Zara had walked in. ¡°Can I help you find anything?¡± ¡°N-no,¡± Zara said politely. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°Alright then! I¡¯m right here, just let me know when you need something.¡± Zara lingered around the shop, stopping every few seconds to examine the items she came across: hand-weaved baskets, little painted candle holders, hair clips, rustic bangles, earrings, face paints, bindis, bags, broaches¡­ Zara couldn¡¯t pick what she liked best. The wedding jewelry was arguably the most vibrant section of all accessories. Of course they were completely needless to her now, but she hoped maybe one day¡­ ¡°Hey! You, no. Get out!¡± Zara almost knocked over the silver and white wedding set on the display she¡¯d been looking at. ¡°What¡ª¡± she croaked out. What have I done? The girl at the counter was clearly angry and Zara had never seen a face so friendly turn so hostile. However, this hostility wasn¡¯t directed at Zara. ¡°I wasn¡¯t doing anything!¡± a boy who had just entered the shop whined. He was a thin child, looked to be about seven or eight years old. His hair was shaggy and unkempt, his fair skin dirtied and dulled from being outside for who knows how long. His blue shorts and orange t-shirt were faded, and his general appearance seemed a bit roughened, right down to his pink, scratched up knees. Zara wondered if maybe he was from a poor family¡ªhe sure looked the part. There were no slums in Pria, but there were cases of families that still struggled in run-down businesses and farms¡ªplaces that were nowhere near the center of town¡­ Where did he come from? ¡°You¡¯re loitering, you rat!¡± the counter girl said, practically stomping toward the entrance. ¡°What does that even mean?¡± the boy whined. ¡°It means you¡¯re dragging this business down! Leave before you scare off the customers. Ugh¡ªis that why no one¡¯s coming in?¡± She grabbed the boy by the scruff and shook him. ¡°Filthy idiot, what are you even doing here? Huh? Did you come here to steal? Is that it?¡± ¡°NO!¡± the boy protested. ¡°Everybody else keeps telling me to go away.¡± ¡°And they¡¯re damn right to do so too.¡± The boy started to cry. ¡°I just want to lie down somewhere that¡¯s not cold! Everybody keeps kicking me away when I just want to sleep! I¡¯m sorry ok?! I¡¯m tired¡ª!¡± The girl lowered her voice to an angry hush, though Zara could still hear her since the shop was empty. ¡°We all know about you. Your Ammi was right to kick you out. You¡¯re dangerous.¡± ¡°No I¡¯m not,¡± the boy whimpered. ¡°You are. She left you out to die for a reason.¡± The boy grew silent, his body shook, and he stared tearfully at the girl, confused and hurt to the core. Zara had never seen anything like this. Granted, she never left home to encounter such an interaction in the first place, but she highly doubted this sort of cruel behavior with a child was normal at all. She should say something, but¡­she couldn¡¯t say anything. She was stuck, holding the jewelry set, in a frozen stupor. The girl was beyond harsh. The boy didn¡¯t deserve it at all, and Zara knew that she should have spoken up, but¡­ What if the girl turned on her? Zara would have no clue how to deal with that. She was no brave soul. Not at all. Zara swallowed when the girl locked eyes with her. ¡°Look,¡± she said, turning back to the boy and tightening her grip on him. ¡°You¡¯re scaring the only customer I have right now. Get out.¡± ¡°No,¡± the boy wept as she dragged him out of the shop. Zara was left alone. The light clinking of the jewelry seemed loud in the silence as she carefully placed it back on the shelf. What happened? With some hesitation, Zara headed for the door. She didn¡¯t feel comfortable in the shop anymore and she didn¡¯t want to stick around for that girl to come back. Zara bumped her foot on another display shelf, knocking a bracelet on the floor. It jangled loudly on the cracked stone floor, practically echoing in the silence. ¡°Oh!¡± Zara held the shelf back so that nothing else on it would topple over. She let out a relieved breath, grateful that nothing had broken. She went to pick up the bracelet and wondered why it seemed bigger than normal. Perhaps made for a larger woman? But it wasn¡¯t a bracelet at all actually. It was a white gold anklet. The little ornaments on the chain were of The White Sun¡ªthe kingdom¡¯s national symbol. The bells jingled with every shake. Zara once read a beginner¡¯s dance instruction book where the women were recommended to dance with these sort of anklets, should they have possession of a pair. Zara had discovered her fondness for dance at the town¡¯s Holy Lights festival when she was a child, and she eagerly went through every lesson in that book until her father threw it out. Dance was a frivolous, mindless activity he had said, suited for poor street performers and cheap brothel women. Zara picked up the anklet and found the matching pair on the same shelf. This one had the price tag attached to it, and she expected it to be as expensive as it looked. But her heart soared when she saw the price¡ªthe gold had to be an imitation then! Zara should have known, the anklets weren¡¯t heavy at all. She could afford this, it was only three coins compared to anything else she¡¯d seen that required paper money. ¡°My, those are pretty aren¡¯t they?¡± The girl had returned and Zara hadn¡¯t even noticed she was standing behind her. She flinched, yet compulsively turned around with a bright polite smile as though she hadn¡¯t been startled at all. ¡°Oh, yes! Yes.¡± ¡°You want them?¡± ¡°Y-well¡­¡± The girl grinned, her expression as easygoing as it was when Zara first walked in. Her blue eyes were like clear lake water, Zara couldn¡¯t help but notice how gorgeous they were up close. ¡°Are you getting married?¡± ¡°Huh? Oh, no no.¡± Zara replied, chuckling sheepishly. ¡°I¡¯m not.¡± ¡°Oh. I only ask because I noticed you were spending a long time looking at the wedding set over there.¡± ¡°Yes, I was just looking.¡± If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. ¡°I understand. Can¡¯t help yourself from imagining huh?¡± The girl laughed. ¡°I¡¯ve been there. Plenty.¡± Zara laughed because it was polite to laugh. But in truth, she was uncomfortable. ¡°So will that be all then?¡± the girl asked, gesturing to the anklets in Zara¡¯s hands. ¡°Yes.¡± The girl led her to the register to pay. As she was wrapping up the anklets in paper, she spoke, ¡°I¡¯m sorry about earlier, you know with that wicked boy disrupting your experience here.¡± She sounded disgusted when mentioning the ¡°wicked boy¡±. Whatever that was supposed to mean. ¡°Oh¡­no. That¡¯s okay. He¡­didn¡¯t disrupt me.¡± The girl raised a brow at that. ¡°Really?¡± Zara thought now would be a good time to ask what that was all about. ¡°I mean¡­what did he do that was so bad?¡± The girl paused her movements. Her eyes slowly panned up to Zara, as though Zara had just asked her if the sun rose at night. ¡°You don¡¯t know?¡± ¡°¡­Am I supposed to?¡± Zara asked nervously. After an awkward silence, the girl burst out laughing. And Zara couldn¡¯t help but kind of laugh with her, even though she felt stupid. ¡°Which mountain have you been living under?¡± Annoyed as she felt, Zara continued to laugh along. She didn¡¯t like when people didn¡¯t simply tell her what she didn¡¯t understand. Her family did this to her a lot. Why was a stranger doing it to her too? ¡°Oh, sorry sorry,¡± Zara said. ¡°Never mind. I didn¡¯t know I was supposed to know.¡± ¡°Well the word¡¯s been spreading like smoke around these parts. Do you not come into town often?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°And no one¡¯s told you?¡± ¡°¡­No. What about?¡± The girl¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°Oh. I think it¡¯s best if you know. And keep your eye out for that boy you saw. Stay away.¡± She lowered her voice. ¡°Everyone suspects that he holds black magic in his soul.¡± ¡°¡­Oh.¡± Zara¡¯s stomach flipped. Magic? That boy? Then¡­he and I are¡­ Zara swallowed. She felt like she needed water, her throat was dry. The girl nodded, as though her concern and Zara¡¯s were one and the same. ¡°Yes. I know, it¡¯s terrible. His mother lives close by here. She lost her baby girl. They reckon its because of him.¡± She shuddered. ¡°Sickening kid. He didn¡¯t even want a brother or a sister, he kept telling his Ammi that. And he was near her when that poor baby got sick soon after she was born. His parents are sure he cursed her. The father blamed the mother for birthing a demon son and left the family. So mother did what made sense, and kicked that wicked thing out.¡± The girl sighed and finished packing Zara¡¯s anklets while murmuring, ¡°The family is ruined. All because of him. Hopefully the law will bring that evil thing to his end soon, the same way he did his poor sister.¡± Zara didn¡¯t know what to say except, ¡°Wow.¡± Likely because her head was pounding too hard for her to think properly. ¡°Yes, wow. I¡¯m one of their neighbors actually.¡± She handed the package over, smiling once again. ¡°Here you go. And don¡¯t worry too much about it. As long as he stays weak, he can¡¯t hurt anyone else. We have nothing to fear, right?¡± Zara nodded, dropping the wrapped anklets into her book bag. She didn¡¯t even know what she was agreeing with. She just hoped that her face didn¡¯t look as flushed as it felt. She turned away. ¡°Come back again,¡± the girl said. ¡°I¡¯m sure those anklets will look lovely on you. Hey¡ª¡± Zara stopped. She had lifted the curtain already and had hoped for a quicker exit than this. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± Zara spared a moment to glance back at her. ¡°Zara.¡± ¡°Mine¡¯s Cina.¡± She grinned. ¡°Next time you¡¯re in town, Zara, feel free to stop by. This is my mother¡¯s shop so I¡¯m always here.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± Zara replied softly. ¡°For your help today.¡± ¡°Anytime. You know, you seem so sweet. Make sure you get out more, okay?¡± Zara exited the shop. Cina. A pretty name for a pretty face.
To her surprise, Zara found the boy upon her arrival at The Diamond. He was standing next to a trash bin, eating what looked like crusty leftover bread¡ªprobably dug out of that very same bin. His left knee was bleeding from a fresh scrape, but he didn¡¯t seem to pay it any mind. The Diamond was the town¡¯s main social center. It began with an archway entrance that led to one¡¯s choice of multiple unique shops and restaurants. There was plenty of open space for seating, concerts, shows, and festivities. At the moment, nothing particular was going on, as it was simply an ordinary day. Fountain Reena¡ªthe big stone water fountain built in the shape of Angel Reena¡ªstood in the middle and was a good place for daily prayers, which people were doing now as they took the water into their palms and ran it over their heads for extra blessings. Mount Lilith was closer here than anywhere else, its expansive presence overwhelmingly breathtaking. A painter sat on a stool with his easel not too far from the fountain, moving the brush strokes on what was supposed to be the thick snow caps near the top of the mountain, before it was engulfed by fog. Zara now realized just how long it had been since she last visited The Diamond. Eight years exactly. She almost wanted to cry. She was a Prian native for crying out loud. There was no reason why she couldn¡¯t come sit here and enjoy the peace once in a while, should the weather allow it. Yes, she had magic and magic had been outlawed for centuries¡ªbut this was magic she couldn¡¯t even wield properly. And the fact that she was technically a Mage could be a problem to anyone here who cared about her life. But nobody did. She was a stranger. This wasn¡¯t a small town. No one would even notice her, no one had any idea who she was. Sure, it probably helped that her family kept her indoors all the time, and that they live on the more remote side of town because of her ¡°condition¡±, as Zara¡¯s mother liked to call it, but that was besides the point. Nobody kept watch over her every second of the damn day. Newcomers migrated to this region every year anyway, nothing ever never stayed the same. What was her family thinking trying to shut her away like this? It wasn¡¯t possible for everyone to know each other¡¯s business¡­and certainly not Zara¡¯s. But then she thought of the boy. And she remembered Cina and her cruelty. And then¡­she didn¡¯t know what to think. Zara checked her watch, aware that she was here on limited time. She had maybe ten more minutes of serenity¡ªand to quench her ever-growing curiosity about this boy¡ªuntil she needed to head back to the pick-up spot, where she would be whisked back home for who knows how many more years. She started in the direction of the boy. He had devoured his bread and was now sitting on an empty bench, staring into a shop called Zetsy¡¯s Toy Parlour. Zara had gotten a few birthday gifts from there when she was a little girl. She still had them¡ªall her dolls and games¡ªstored away in a locked chest at home. A reminder of simpler times. ¡°Hello,¡± Zara spoke gently. The boy blinked, as though Zara had snapped him out of a trance. He looked at her, but didn¡¯t say anything. He had to be wondering why she was even speaking to him at all. ¡°Hi,¡± he spoke quietly. Zara inched closer to the bench. The boy scooted away. She couldn¡¯t blame him for being afraid, but she wasn¡¯t going to hurt him and she wanted him to know that. Because if what she heard from Cina was true then¡­ Zara¡¯s heart leaped. If it was true then she wasn¡¯t alone. Finally, she wouldn¡¯t be alone anymore. ¡°I¡¯m Zara. What¡¯s your name?¡± After a long second, he replied, ¡°Y-Yohid.¡± ¡°Yohid. Were you born here, or elsewhere?¡± ¡°Here.¡± Zara smiled.¡°Me too.¡± She glanced at his wound. ¡°Your knee looks like it hurts.¡± ¡°Only a little.¡± ¡°Would you like me to put a bandage on it?¡± Thanks to her mother¡¯s pestering, Zara had grown the habit of keeping bandages, extra handkerchiefs, and ointment in her bag back when she used to go to public school. Now that was no longer the case, but it was one of those habits that was still good to keep. The boy seemed to relax a little. ¡°Okay¡­¡± Zara knelt down and began tending to the scratch. ¡°Do you like that shop?¡± she asked, referring to the toy shop behind her. ¡°Y-Yes.¡± ¡°My family used to bring me here and buy me lots of toys when I was little.¡± She kind of wished she could go inside just to relive it but there was no time. She finished the bandage, stood back up, and checked her pocket clock again. She¡¯ll give herself five more minutes, and then be on her way back to the library. ¡°My dad used to buy me toys before,¡± Yohid murmured. He touched the bandage, carefully examining it before shyly saying, ¡°Thank you.¡± He has good manners. ¡°How old are you?¡± Zara said. ¡°Eight¡­what about you?¡± ¡°Twenty-two.¡± ¡°Wow!¡± ¡°Yes¡­¡± To a child, it may be quite old? ¡°Did that girl from the accessory shop do this to you, Yohid?¡± She pointed at his bandaged scrape. He bobbed his head, staring at her in sudden recognition. ¡°You were at Cina¡¯s shop.¡± Zara nodded. So he knew Cina by name. Obviously, given they were neighbors. ¡°Yes, um. I actually wanted to talk to you about that.¡± First she needed to confirm if he was for real. She sat on the bench next to him so she could speak in a lower voice. There wasn¡¯t anybody close enough to hear, but one could never be too careful. Yohid flinched, but he didn¡¯t move away this time. A good sign. ¡°Yohid,¡± Zara said, ¡°You can trust me, I won¡¯t hurt you. I¡¯m just confused about you. Why was Cina so mean?¡± Yohid¡¯s face scrunched up. He looked angry, but also like he would cry again. ¡°You¡¯re friends with her?¡± ¡°No. Today was the first time I met her. She was so mean to you and I didn¡¯t know what to say. I¡¯m sorry that she treated you like that. You didn¡¯t deserve it. I think you¡¯re a good boy who needs some help, right?¡± Yohid blinked, thinking about it. He bobbed his head once. ¡°How long have you been out here by yourself?¡± she asked. Yohid thought about it for a moment. ¡°Mmm¡­a few days I guess.¡± Days? My gods¡­ ¡°And is what Cina said true? That you¡¯re¡­different?¡± Zara breathed in, nervous for his reply. Yohid¡¯s lip quivered, and he frowned. ¡°I don¡¯t know. I don¡¯t know what anyone is talking about. I didn¡¯t kill my sister¡ªor, I didn¡¯t mean to I guess. I can swear it. I don¡¯t know why people hate me and I don¡¯t know why Ammi and Abbi have to hate me too.¡± His stomach growled. The bread hadn¡¯t been enough. Zara¡¯s fingers shook as she reached into her bag and pulled out a pouch of coins. She spilled some out on her palm and handed it to him. ¡°Here. You can go eat something with this,¡± she said. It wasn¡¯t much at all, but it would do for a cheap, filling meal from a food cart. Yohid took the coins carefully. He looked at the money, then at Zara, then back at the money. And for the first time, he smiled. ¡°Thank you!¡± he said happily. ¡°Wow. You¡¯re so nice!¡± ¡°You¡¯re welcome.¡± Zara grinned. ¡°I¡¯m glad I met you. I think¡­we might be the same.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Did your family kick you out too?¡± He looked so hopeful, as though Zara would stay out here with him. ¡°Well, no. It¡¯s the opposite. They keep me inside the house all the time. Because they think a person like me is, well, a bad thing. And that I shouldn¡¯t be near anyone.¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡± She could tell he was confused. And she didn¡¯t blame him. After all, his mother had kicked him out of the house, so it couldn¡¯t have made sense for Yohid that Zara¡¯s parents kept her in for the same reason. ¡°If they think you¡¯re bad and can¡¯t talk to anyone, then how are you out here?¡± Yohid asked. ¡°I¡¯m only allowed out for today. And listen Yohid, I don¡¯t know much about your¡­¡± Zara scanned their area, then whispered to him, ¡°¡­magic¡ª¡± Yohid panicked. ¡°No, it¡¯s not on purpose, I didn¡¯t even know I had any! I swear I didn¡¯t kill¡ª¡± ¡°Shh! Someone will hear.¡± Yohid shut his mouth, worried. ¡°It¡¯s alright. I¡¯m the same, remember. I have it too.¡± Yohid¡¯s mouth dropped, nodding. ¡°I don¡¯t know much about it. Though, I don¡¯t think anyone really does. I just know that I don¡¯t know how to use it.¡± Zara¡¯s heart was pounding. She had never confided in anyone about this. A small part of her worried that this might be a mistake. ¡°Yeah¡­I don¡¯t know either.¡± Yohid¡¯s eyes were wide with wonder. ¡°So we¡¯re¡ª¡± He dropped to a whisper, ¡°¡ªwe got magic? Both of us?¡± Zara¡¯s worry vanished. ¡°It seems so.¡± ¡°C-Can you show me?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t right now. It¡¯s too dangerous. And anyway¡ª¡± Zara stood. ¡°¡ªI have to go. My father¡¯s going to pick me up and I¡¯ll be in trouble if I¡¯m late.¡± Yohid deflated, and Zara felt even more guilty of her short time. ¡°You¡¯re leaving?¡± he said. Zara knelt down next to him, removing a ring from her finger. It was clear stone. She had plenty more like it. ¡°Here, take this.¡± She placed it in his other hand, the one that wasn¡¯t holding the coins. ¡°You¡¯re not alone in this, okay? Remember that. We¡¯re not ¡®wicked¡¯ just because dumb, mean people say so.¡± ¡°Like Cina.¡± ¡°Yeah. Like Cina.¡± Yohid beamed. Zara got back up and began to walk away. ¡°Bye for now.¡± ¡°Zara!¡± Yohid leapt up from the bench. ¡°Can we see each other again?¡± Zara swallowed. His eyes were growing wet, and he was clearly scared to be left alone. Zara wished she could stay, or take him with her. He had no roof, no clothes, no warmth. It would get cold tonight. People never took kindly to the homeless, not even to homeless children. It was a given that there had to be something wrong with them, that they were socially useless, otherwise why should they be homeless? Zara had believed in this herself, until now. This was unfair. It was also unfair that she had just given Yohid hope of companionship and was now leaving him as quick as she¡¯d come. He¡¯s just a little boy, Zara thought. And now he looked smaller, and more vulnerable, than ever. We¡¯re the same. She could make no promises, but¡­ ¡°I¡¯ll try and find you¡ª¡± ¡°ZARA!¡± SHIT! Zara had never dreaded her father¡¯s booming voice more than she had now. Yohid gasped. The poor boy had practically jumped out of his pants. Zara whirled around to see her father speedily approaching her. He wasn¡¯t a very big man, but he was built strong. He was dressed in his white government-official suit that consisted of a light gray, knee-length jacket and fitted pants of the same color. The white silver buttons on his jacket shone as he marched. His tall gray turban covered his balding head. Black khol lined his eyes, matching his polished beard. Formal, bureaucratic¡ªintimidating. Zara knew she was in for it. She actually wished she could switch places with Yohid right now. It was better to sleep outside in the freezing night than to go home with a furious man of any kind. Yohid ran off without another sound. So that was that. Zara winced when her father grabbed her arm. It hurts. ¡°What were you doing? Who was that?!¡± he growled, tightening his grip. ¡°Just a boy. We were talking,¡± Zara explained frantically. ¡°You were supposed to be waiting near the library.¡± ¡°I thought you said you would be picking me up later!¡± He sneered. Zara cursed herself. What a mistake it was to say that. ¡°Oh, I see how it is. You didn¡¯t go to the library. You took your chance to wander around however you wanted.¡± Zara hated his eyes. They were almost all black, like hers. The more furious he got, the more intense those eyes became. And they weren¡¯t any better with kohl around them. ¡°You lied to me,¡± he growled. ¡°I trusted you, because you were behaving so well lately. But you have shown me that I shouldn¡¯t have, and now I never will.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t lie about anything.¡± Zara felt hot. People were beginning to turn their heads. He tugged her arm. ¡°We¡¯re going home. I¡¯m never bringing you out here again.¡± ¡°What?!¡± He practically yanked her towards the entrance arch. ¡°You¡¯re never coming here again. Not by yourself, not with anyone. Just not at all. Is it that surprising?¡± Zara fought back tears. The carriage was parked next to the entrance. Her father practically shoved her in, in front of everyone, and slammed the door. Zara could hear the voices around her, wondering what she had done wrong. Heartbroken and humiliated, Zara wondered how in the hell her father found her, and why he was already out. Had he left his meeting early? How did he know she was sitting at The Diamond of all places? Who could have told him? Or had he been planning to search the entire town for her, with The Diamond being his first or second stop? Zara glanced out the window, her tears blurring her vision. A man was staring at her. He was tall, his skin a golden tan, his dark beard neatly trimmed, and his black hair swept back. He wore a black buttoned-up coat and black pants, and everything about him was like a darkness that beckoned. He was leaning casually against the arch, his eyes sharp on her and unflinching even while Zara stared back. She couldn¡¯t help but notice he was a bit handsome, and that made her feel more embarrassed than she already was. She wiped her eyes. The little makeup she had on them smudged all over her hand. The man¡¯s mouth perked up sympathetically, and Zara quickly turned her messy face away, wishing the carriage would just move already. Her father finally climbed up on his seat, cracked the whip, and off the horse went. Zara couldn¡¯t help but peek back. The man¡¯s eyes were on her until the carriage took her out of sight. An Unwanted Meal 29 Mae 1436 Zara sank back into her covers. Her journal lay haphazardly by her feet. Her ¡°To-Do¡± list was in the wastebasket next to her bed, crumpled and neglected. Next to the wastebasket was her book bag; she had dropped it there after coming home. The tears on her cheeks have long dried. The bitterness remained. It was one of those situations Zara believed to be completely helpless. It was also one of those situations she wished magic would actually be of use to her. She didn¡¯t know how it worked, only that she could cause little tremors to small objects sometimes¡ªbe it her standing mirror or an oil lamp or a vase¡ªor help plants and insects grow a few centimeters through touch. She had no idea how she did it or what triggered such occurrences, but she really wished she could do something significant with it. Anything that would get her out of this house and these people that got in her way. Simply being in town today was a wake-up call to just how much she was missing. Her interactions with the few people she¡¯d come across were brief, and not all of it had been perfectly pleasant, but they had given her the energy she¡¯d needed to break out of her rut. Almost. Because her father had destroyed that excitement the minute she¡¯d found it. When Zara was younger, her aunt had told her the story of Queen Anvi, the first sorceress to have ever been in power well over fourteen hundred years ago. She had blasted an army of both humans and Mages to pieces with one swoop of her arm. She was detested as a bloodthirsty mass murderer. There were many stories that revolved around her violent acts against humanity as a result of her lust for power, but it was a story Zara had alway found fascinating and terrifying at the same time, especially when she first discovered her own power. Some days, Zara imagined herself as a nicer version of the Queen. At least nothing about her would be helpless. Zara clenched her sheets hard enough where she could feel her nails digging into her palms. She was still furious with herself for getting caught, furious with her father for treating her worse than a runaway child in public, and furious that she couldn¡¯t count on anyone else in this house to defend her. Father and Mother were a team, naturally. Rowan, her useless younger brother, just laughed the punishment off as her being overly dramatic. Suddenly, exhaustion took over, and Zara ceased to feel anything. Because what was the point? Anger wasn¡¯t going to change anything. Crying wouldn¡¯t either. This had been her life for almost a decade so¡­why bother? But no matter how many times Zara thought she was already used to living like an insane-asylum patient, something like today happened, and it proved her all the way wrong, again. Better to sleep it off for a few days. Sleep was a good force over the fence, a fresh start to a new meaningless days of nothing, ones where she is neither happy nor sad. She had almost dozed off a half hour later when Rowan barged in to her room. ¡°Ma wants you to wake up,¡± he said. He was eating onion crisps from a bowl and dropping crumbs on the floor. ¡°Why is it dark?¡± He shivered. ¡°Shit, it¡¯s cold.¡± ¡°Get out,¡± Zara grumbled. She didn¡¯t move from the toasty warmth of her bed, nor bother to sit up yet. It was near evening but Zara didn¡¯t particularly care to light her oil lamp or even a candle right now. She hadn¡¯t even lit the hearth. ¡°And stop eating in my room. How many fucking times do I have to tell you to knock first? What if I was changing my clothes?¡± ¡°But you¡¯re always in bed. So¡­¡± More crunches. More crumbs. ¡°STOP eating.¡± Rowan rolled his eyes. ¡°You nag more than Ma.¡± Zara lifted her head off the pillow upon noticing her brother¡¯s head. She snorted. ¡°Why do you look like that?¡± ¡°Like what?¡± ¡°A tangled mop.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Or like you ran your hair under a fire.¡± Rowan defiantly flipped his head around. His hair was thick and inky black, like Zara¡¯s. Unlike Zara¡¯s however, it was very curly and he rarely took care of it, often letting it get long, tangled, and damaged. Most days he just put on a hat or tied it up, which made him look like a homeless bum. Zara¡¯s heart skipped. She suddenly thought of Yohid, out there in the cold evening by himself. Homeless, but no bum by any means. Rowan grabbed some more onion crisps out of the bowl and crushed them in his hands, letting the crumbs fall to the floor. ¡°HEY!¡± Zara screamed. This time she sprang up, grabbed the journal off her bed, and threw it at him. If only she could make a trade: bring Yohid in here, leave Rowan out there. ¡°Ow!¡± The spine had hit his leg. He grabbed the journal with his free hand and ran down the hall while cradling the bowl in his other arm. His slippers clacked loudly on the stone floor. ¡°Bring that back! Idiot!¡± Zara shrieked, going after him. Her bare feet crunched over the million crisp crumbs, heightening both her temper and disgust. ¡°You threw it to me first!¡± he yelled back. She ran down the hall and caught Rowan by his wrangled hair before he could reach the stairwell. ¡°Ahh! Fuck fuck let go let go let go!¡± He dropped the journal. His bowl tumbled noisily down the steps and broke, making a mess of ceramic shards and crisps everywhere. They heard their mother¡¯s voice screech from downstairs, ¡°What was that?!¡± Her footsteps could be heard approaching the main entrance hall. Zara snatched her journal off the floor, ran back to her room, and slammed the door before her mother saw her. She could hear her shouting at Rowan for the mess he¡¯d made, and Rowan arguing back¡ªor at least trying to¡ªthat Zara was just as much responsible for it, only for her to interject comments about his unkempt hair and that she swears she will shave it off herself once she gets the chance. This, of course, commenced in more quarreling that Zara tuned out as she shoved the journal into her desk drawer and banged it shut. Rowan had been right though; it was cold in this room. Zara put on her slippers and wrapped a shawl around her shoulders before lighting the hearth. She lit the oil lamps¡ªone by her bedside, one on her desk, and one on top of her dresser. Now she could clearly see just how many crumbs were on the floor. Crumbs that she had to clean even though it wasn¡¯t her mess. But there was no time for any cleaning now. The sky was dark, and it was time for the evening meal. Zara could already hear from her mother¡¯s holler for her to come down to the dining room. Zara begrudgingly stepped away from the crumbs and exited her bedroom. She¡¯ll be lucky if the ants didn¡¯t get to them before she did, but she also didn¡¯t want to deal with her Ma¡¯s badgering. Zara and her brother learned early on that in this house, it was better to come forward as soon as you were summoned, and not a minute longer. The mess on the stairs had been sorted, but she could still see small pieces of broken bowl and onion crisp scattered here and there. It had been a rushed cleaning, no doubt her mother would make Rowan come back to finish the job properly, rather than simply have the maid do it better. Zara took her time going down. Even though she hadn¡¯t eaten since breakfast, she wasn¡¯t hungry at all. But refusing to eat a single bite in the evening was pointless unless she wanted her parents hounding her over it. But she also didn¡¯t want to be near her father tonight, and she didn¡¯t want to deal with his usual lectures about responsibility and safety and the awfulness of people and why Zara needed to keep her ¡°abominable¡± self contained at all times lest she wanted the family to perish and blah blah blah¡­ Zara reached the bottom of the curved stairwell. The dining room was right across it; a sheer red curtain covered the arch doorway. Paintings of geometric shapes surrounded the arch and two large potted greenery sat on each side. There were more of these pots scattered throughout the house¡ªin the parlor, by the washroom, near the front and back doors¡ªall to satisfy her mother¡¯s taste for extra plant decor. The more green, the more color, the better. Zara lifted the curtain and entered the dining room. The candles were lit on the small gold chandelier, the hearth¡¯s fire was going, and the long oval table was set with dinnerware, table candles, lemon duck curry, red lentil soup, buttered rice and bread, a jug of water, and a bottle of red wine. In the corner to the right of the doorway stood a smaller table with a washbowl, a bar of soap, and a pitcher of fresh water. Zara washed her hands. Dinner smelled nice but it did nothing for her lack of hunger. Her father sat at the head of the table, changed from his work suit into a casual button-down shirt. His face bore a muted displeasure. This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. Rowan was sitting in his usual next to his father, his hair neatly tied back to reveal his thick brows and pimply face. His brown eyes gleamed idiotically. ¡°Hey Zara, who¡¯s Cina?¡± Zara¡¯s heart skipped. ¡°What?¡± she said, like she had no clue as to what Rowan was asking about. ¡°What¡¯s so scary about her?¡± He grinned stupidly, irking Zara¡¯s already lousy mood further. ¡°What the hell are you talking about?¡± she grumbled. ¡°Zara,¡± her father warned, glaring as he¡¯d done when he slapped her. She could still sense the tingling sting on her right cheek. Frustration flooded her once again, threatening to make her cry. ¡°In your diary, you wrote that she¡¯s pretty, but scary,¡± Rowan explained. As though she needed this to be explained. The fool had read it, though how much before she¡¯d caught up to him, Zara wasn¡¯t sure. Maybe it¡¯s best she continue to play dumb. ¡°What journal?¡± Rowan snickered. ¡°You bought anklets from her,¡± he goaded. ¡°Can I see them?¡± ¡°What anklets?¡± her father demanded, and Zara flinched. ¡°He¡¯s lying,¡± she said. ¡°He¡¯s a liar.¡± ¡°You¡¯re the only liar here. What anklets?¡± ¡°Never mind Baba,¡± Rowan interjected, chuckling lightly. ¡°Never mind. I was joking around¡­¡± He awkwardly shifted in his chair. The man didn¡¯t look too convinced, but he didn¡¯t inquire any further. Zara didn¡¯t understand why her buying anklets would be a big deal. Was he worried she was going to use them to practice a hex or something? Yes, she thought. And it was likely he¡¯d destroy the anklets should he ever come into possession of them. Zara would keep her mouth shut about it. Her father was so paranoid. He would do anything to ensure Zara¡¯s magic remained unused, unknown, and unprovoked, because that was the best way for the family to live without the government¡¯s target on their backs. And it would also ensure Zara would not fall into a path of evil and black magic. As if Zara had any clue about conjuring up black magic. These were nothing but theories that had been pulled out of mythical legends, which was why Zara had stolen a textbook about Mage history from the library, disguised as home school study material. Granted, history never painted magic in a good light, but Zara was sure there was still something in that book she could note for analysis. Zara¡¯s mother finally arrived in, looking fresh and polished. Her caramel colored hair was oiled and pulled back into a tight bun; her makeup was done lightly, complementing her slim beige gown and maroon beaded shawl. She carried a bowl of fresh berries plucked from the courtyard¡¯s garden, and placed them on the table next to the lentils before taking her usual seat between her husband and daughter, adjusting her shawl around her slender shoulders as she did so. She glanced across the table to her son, and her pink lips perked up. ¡°See, what did I tell you?¡± she said. ¡°You look so much better with your hair out of the way.¡± She lifted the rice bowl and turned to serve her husband first. ¡°Doesn¡¯t he?¡± Rowan groaned and muttered, ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°She¡¯s right,¡± his father said. ¡°Your hair doesn¡¯t look good when it¡¯s let loose. You look like one of those junk people I see whenever I visit the capital. You know, the ones that are always lying out on the streets, dead or alive.¡± Rowan grimaced. ¡°And it¡¯s affecting your skin too.¡± ¡°How?¡± Rowan whined. ¡°Well your hair is dirty and over your face all the time. Look at you, all those bumps on your forehead.¡± He chuckled. ¡°Do you also not wash your face properly?¡± Rowan mumbled something under his breath, annoyed. ¡°What¡¯s the matter with you?¡± the man scolded. ¡°Why are you acting like this? All I did was suggest you take care of yourself and your health. Is it that much of a burden for you, to listen to me? Is it that you hate getting good advice? Is that the kind of man you want to be?¡± Rowan still didn¡¯t respond as his mother filled his plate, but his face remained stony. Zara was just glad she wasn¡¯t at the end of her father¡¯s incessant berating this time. She continued nibbling at her bread when her mother spoke up. ¡°Zahir,¡± she said, eyeing her husband as she worked on Zara¡¯s plate. ¡°We¡¯re here to eat and not make such a big fuss over nothing.¡± ¡°If it¡¯s nothing then why¡¯d you bring it up at all?¡± Rowan murmured, picking at the meat on his plate. She turned her eyes to him, and her soft manners from earlier dissolved into irritation. ¡°What did you say?¡± Rowan shut his mouth. Clearly it had been a mistake to open it. Zahir scoffed. ¡°And you said it wasn¡¯t nothing. Maybe he still needs to learn some respect.¡± The chair scraped back as Rowan stood. ¡°SIT down.¡± Rowan was forced to do as his father told, but he looked angrier than ever. Naturally. It was now that Zara realized her mother had given her too much food. But she didn¡¯t feel comfortable bringing that up. She had evaded their attention so far, and while she¡¯d be naive to believe her parents wouldn¡¯t bring up today¡¯s disobedience during the meal, she would rather it be later than sooner. And a small part of her still hoped that it wouldn¡¯t happen at all tonight. The only sounds in the dining room now were of eating, the crackling of firewood, and the clinks of silverware as her parents helped themselves to more food and wine. Rowan reached for the bottle, and his father slapped his hand away. ¡°Ow!¡± Zahir poured himself a bit more and set the bottle down without a word to his son. Rowan looked to his mother. ¡°Not even a little?¡± he said. He was thirteen and still young for a tall glass of strong alcohol, but he enjoyed having the occasional wine at dinner when the bottle was out, should his parents allow it. She frowned. ¡°No.¡± With an irritable huff, Rowan began stuffing down the curry and rice. Zara took one bite and felt nauseous. She just couldn¡¯t get herself to eat, even when the food was good. Wine would help soothe her nerves, but she was basically on worse footing than Rowan tonight and doubted that the bottle would be happily passed to her. ¡°Leyli, can you pass me some of those berries?¡± Zahir asked his wife. ¡°They look good.¡± ¡°They are. I picked them this afternoon,¡± she responded lightly, passing him the bowl. ¡°Had the maid wash them well before I brought them in. I tried one myself. They¡¯re very sweet, the way you like them.¡± She plucked one into her mouth the same time her husband did. ¡°Mm, you¡¯re right. Wow. Last time they were so sour, remember?¡± ¡°Yes, you¡¯re right. Must have been a bad batch that time.¡± ¡°Or you picked them too early.¡± As they sat there giggling over berries and wine, Zara forced down another mouthful of food. Everyone had practically finished their plates, except for her. She downed her glass of water and felt a cough coming. Holding it in was useless, because as soon as she tried keeping quiet, she choked and ended up coughing anyway. Leyli looked at her, annoyed. She noticed the practically full plate and asked, ¡°Why aren¡¯t you eating?¡± Ugh. It was the last thing Zara wanted to do. ¡°Um¡­I¡¯m not that hungry?¡± Zara mumbled. ¡°Are you asking that as a question?¡± her father said. Zara braced herself for the worst. ¡°You need to eat,¡± her mother said. ¡°Finish that. The last time you went without eating you looked like a bag of sticks.¡± Zara picked at her food, saying nothing. ¡°Is something wrong? Are you sick?¡± Leyli reached for Zara¡¯s head, but Zara leaned away. ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± she said. ¡°Why so glum then?¡± Zara frowned. Is that a serious question? After what happened today? Rowan smiled. It was like the black cloud over his head had suddenly dissipated as he found the perfect opening to act like an ass again. ¡°Is it because Baba dragged you away from your secret boyfriend?¡± Zahir plunked his wine glass down. ¡°What?!¡± Zara had almost choked on rice. She scowled at Rowan, warning him with her eyes that he¡¯d better keep himself alert while he slept tonight. ¡°There IS no boyfriend,¡± she growled. ¡°Oh really?¡± Rowan countered. ¡°¡®I met Yohid. He¡¯s such a sweet boy, so sweet that I did bondage on him and everything¡ª¡¯¡± His pitch rose as he mocked horribly paraphrased lines from Zara¡¯s journal. ¡°Yohid is a little boy, moron. His knee was scraped up so I put a bandage on it.¡± ¡°Lower your voice,¡± Leyli said. Rowan laughed, and Zara began to panic. He had read the entire entry, which of course he had because it was so damn short in the first place. She peeked at her father and lowered her eyes back on the table, worried that Rowan would reveal her thoughts about him being a ¡°weak tempered fool¡±. It was still true. But he obviously didn¡¯t need to know that. ¡°Yohid?¡± Zahir said the name like he was testing it on his tongue. ¡°Yohid. And that bandage on his knee. Yes¡­that was the boy I saw you with today.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± she confirmed uneasily. ¡°That was him¡­he looked vaguely familiar, but I didn¡¯t get a good look at him from afar. Before he ran off, that is.¡± Intrigued, Zara straightened up in her chair. Her father sat still, frowning deeply, as though contemplating something troublesome. ¡°What is it dear?¡± Leyli asked. ¡°What did you mean by that? You know the boy?¡± ¡°Well, I don¡¯t know him on a personal level. But his name was the point of discussion at the meeting I had today. That boy was kicked out of his home under suspicion of wielding black magic.¡± The humorous look on Rowan¡¯s face disappeared. He looked at Zara, confused and¡­well likely concerned for his own well-being now. Black magic was never a sign of good things to come. And if his own sister was involved with it¡­ ¡°Black magic?¡± he whispered. Meanwhile, Zara¡¯s chest was tightening. ¡°It wasn¡¯t magic,¡± she lied. ¡°Oh?¡± Zahir tilted his head, and Zara knew he wasn¡¯t taking her seriously whatsoever. ¡°So what was it then?¡± ¡°I-It-It was¡­it was a¡ªhe was misunderstood.¡± ¡°Misunderstood,¡± he repeated. ¡°He didn¡¯t do anything. He¡¯s just blamed for his baby sister¡¯s death but there¡¯s no proof he actually did anything with magic at all.¡± ¡°And what makes you so sure about that?¡± ¡°Uh¡­¡± Zara had no idea how to answer such a question without sounding stupid. ¡°Did he tell you the baby¡¯s death wasn¡¯t his fault?¡± ¡°¡­.Yes.¡± ¡°And you believed him.¡± ¡°¡­.Yes.¡± ¡°Of course you did.¡± The air in the room was icy, but all Zara could feel was the heat of her lies displayed on her cheeks. Zahir sucked in a breath. ¡°As if a beating for running off wasn¡¯t enough, now I find you are associating yourself with imbecilic young wickeds.¡± His voice grew low. ¡°You are playing a very dangerous game, Zara.¡± ¡°What in Mother¡¯s name is your problem?!¡± Leyli shrieked, startling both her kids. ¡°Are you trying to get yourself killed?¡± ¡°Forget that, she¡¯ll get us all roped into a pyre. Or worse¡ªthrown off the mountain,¡± Zahir barked. With a harsh sob, Leyli replied through clenched teeth, ¡°Don¡¯t say that. You know how it makes me feel. Don¡¯t say it.¡± ¡°It¡¯s life. And it will be our lives if we let our daughter out of our sights again.¡± Zahir glowered. ¡°I imagine the punishment is dire enough for an Official like myself to be hiding my witch daughter from the world. But the consequence will be just as dreadful if she is found socializing with¡ª¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t think of that!¡± Zara protested. ¡°I just thought he needed help because he was alone and he hurt himself, that¡¯s it! Th-That¡¯s why I approached him at all. I d-didn¡¯t know any of this and I had no idea who he was!¡± Another necessary lie. ¡°A noble effort wrongfully placed,¡± Zahir responded. ¡°From one glance at him I knew he was a homeless boy. You shouldn¡¯t be helping the homeless in the first place. They are homeless for a reason and their fates rest in Mother Lilith¡¯s hands.¡± Zara shook her head. ¡°But¡ª¡± ¡°What?¡± he challenged. ¡°What ¡®but¡¯? Do you oppose Her?¡± Zara shut her mouth, shaking her head again. ¡°No,¡± she answered feebly. ¡°Because as fate would have it, the boy is tainted. He is without a home because our Holy Mother has already set in motion a rightful punishment for the cruelty he has put upon his own family. And if you have an issue with that, you can join him on the streets for all I care.¡± ¡°But I thought you didn¡¯t want to let her out of your sight?¡± Rowan said. Zahir paused. Then, as quick as a spark, he smacked Rowan across the face. The harsh slap echoed across the room. ¡°Get out,¡± he stated. Rowan held his cheek, stunned. His eyes watered and his face scrunched up, dejected. He shoved his chair out of the way and stomped out, making as much noise as possible as he headed upstairs. After a brief moment of silence, Zahir turned back to his daughter. ¡°Letters will be sent out starting tomorrow, detailing the boy¡¯s description. We will start with the business district. I will be reporting my sighting of him today to the courthouse early tomorrow morning.¡± No¡­ ¡°So he¡¯s a wanted criminal?¡± Zara whispered. ¡°I believe the next time you hear of the boy, it will be about his arrest and execution date. I shall take you to see it. It should serve as a reminder of where you stand with the people beyond these walls.¡± The tension stretched on. Zara took this chance to leave. Staying put was getting too difficult to bear. Neither of her parents objected to her standing from an unfinished meal. Her mother was busy staring off into nothing, her face tear streaked and miserable. Zahir reached for the bottle once more. Zara quietly headed upstairs, her fatigue inevitably creeping back. Reflecting The Mirror¡¯s visuals faded out, leaving The Sorcerer staring into his own reflection again. Time was up. For a minute, he contemplated on grabbing another vial of her hair and activating the Mirror again. He had multiple vials of the girl¡¯s stray hair and flakes of old skin, however he was careful not to waste them. He¡¯d collected them on a day when the household was sparse. The father and brother were away; the mother was at the opposite end of the house. The girl had snuck off to the woods with an old book. The Sorcerer picked the lock on the gates and quietly made his way into the house. It was quite old, and a traditional Prian style. The structure was a mix of wood and clay, and the floors were sealed wax stone. There were four bedrooms upstairs, and a parlor, dining room, kitchen, and a washroom downstairs. The spacious parlor¡¯s wooden sliding door led out to the courtyard and gardens. Paintings on the pillars, walls, and doorways were inspired by the country¡¯s natural environment and its religious symbols. The girl¡¯s bedroom was on the second floor, furthest down the hall. It had been easy to identify; the arrangements were what he expected of a young woman her age: off-white knit curtains at the window, an assortment of flowers on her desk¡ªpicked fresh from the courtyard¡ª floral patterned furniture, floral patterned bedspread, a full-length mirror in the corner by the hearth, and an engraved jewelry box on top of the dresser. Though what he hadn¡¯t expected were the crumpled slips of pages, books, clothes, accessories, and little plates of half-eaten snacks littered everywhere. As a young boy, if even a single slipper or handkerchief was out of its place, his foster mother would beat him into sweeping their whole house clean. At least it hadn¡¯t been a very large house. And thankfully, his foster mother had been dead for over a century now, too. The Sorcerer had taken a cloth and swept the surface areas of her furniture, the door handles, sheets and pillows. He collected stray hairs from the bed and the floor. There was so much hair on the floor. It made him almost impulsively want to grab a broom and sweep it up himself. Back at his rented home, he cut the hairs into pieces along with the cloths. The Mirror required two pinches of the person¡¯s body sample in order to see their image, so that is what The Sorcerer had divided into each vial, and he ended up with over thirty. Some of the cloths had been a failure, for they contained nothing more than collected dust. The hairs had been the most reliable. But careful as he was, some of the vials still went to waste, embarrassingly enough. The Sorcerer had activated The Mirror during times that were inappropriate to watch over a young woman. Such when she bathed. Or took her time to change out of her clothes. Or when she was in the outhouse. Even when she¡­.touched herself. For pleasure. And at those times, The Sorcerer had regretfully deactivated The Mirror, disgusted, and angry at his own negligence. He set the Mirror face down on his desk and stretched his back out on the chair. He had seen enough for tonight, maybe even in the last month. He felt he knew her life well by now. Uneventful, mostly pitiful. Not that this was going to be an issue for him. The more helpless a person was, the more likely they would resort to desperate measures. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. And Miss Zara Anvar was beyond desperate at this point. The poor girl, he thought. She cared about that little boy¡ªYohid, was it?¡ªand wanted to protect him. And she was right to worry. That boy was in serious danger. It went to show that the world had not changed since The Sorcerer was Yohid¡¯s age. In fact, it was even worse now than it was back then. Zara¡¯s father was nothing more than an overbearing government tool, and her mother a clueless nag. The younger brother was a foolish child going through the pains of adolescence. There was also an aunt that came by often to teach Zara her lessons, and also to be the biggest contribution to Zara¡¯s spiraling depression. A hateful wretch of a woman, really. The Sorcerer had yet to see the family¡¯s eldest son. The parents and the aunt always spoke about how proud he made them. But these were the conversations Zara and the youngest son participated in the least, so The Sorcerer didn¡¯t know much about him other than that he married a well-to-do woman and had a successful career as an architect. The Sorcerer left his desk, checked his moneybag, and grabbed his coat. Seeing that bottle in the Anvar¡¯s dining room had him craving for a drink or two himself. It was unfortunate how Zara hadn¡¯t poured herself a glass of that. She had needed it tonight. She was so¡­lacking. Lacking in every aspect of experience, bravery, and sociability. He assumed it to be natural, given her life situation. It wasn¡¯t as though he didn¡¯t sympathize with her, because he did. He had played a role similar to hers before awakening his full potential and breaking free. And that is simply what this girl needed. Power. The Sorcerer buttoned up his black coat, wrapped a scarf around his neck, and left the house. It was a modest two-story home, about three neighborhoods away from the Anvars. Securing the property had been all about luck in timing, as homes in Pria were typically hard to snag. The expenses were high, for good reason. The view was appealing, surrounded by a mountain, a forest, and the gorgeous river paths beyond it. Zara liked to sneak into the forest sometimes when the weather was right. It was convenient with her house being on the remote side and so close to it. Perhaps she would be there tonight¡­? The cold wind blew into his face and he shivered. The bar would be so much warmer, he knew, but it was going to be a pain in the ass to ride his horse there now. Nevertheless, he went to retrieve it from the stable, careful not to slip on the sheets of ice on the ground. It amazed him that people would be so used to this sort of climate during winters. Nights were usually cool¡ªor to him, downright cold¡ªbut right now, they were in what was considered to be the ¡°warming¡± LightSpring season. Horseshit. It still felt like a ¡°Light Winter¡± more than anything else. He had lived through the entirety of Pria¡¯s viscous snowstorms of DeepWinter and the practically impenetrable fogs of the MidWinter season, and both had been brutal. But he was from the south, and the weather was more reasonable there. Further north of Pria was even worse in terms of chill. At least late summers here were fine. In the highest north though, the cold was never ending. The Sorcerer rode the horse into town¡¯s red light district and straight to his favorite bar. It was rowdy tonight, and the whores were out scouring the men for their coin. Trash littered the street. Horses waited patiently for their owners, their necks tethered to nearby posts. A stray dog nibbled on some leftover food thrown outside the bar by drunk patrons. The area was mostly dark, lit by only a few rusty old lanterns¡ªone of which the fire was dying out. A woman eyed him from across the street. For once he didn¡¯t mind. It had been a while, and he could use some intimacy. After some thought, The Sorcerer was certain that Zara would not be dancing among the trees in her shiny new anklets tonight. It wasn¡¯t because of the cold, because that certainly wasn¡¯t the problem here. She had the demeanor of someone who wanted to give up her life. In the past two weeks, she had barely done a thing outside of her forced routines. She would be in bed now, wallowing as she usually did, instead of working to try and make the best of a bad situation. Such as honing her magical energy, for instance. Unfortunate. What a waste. The Sorcerer smiled at the barmaid, and kindly ordered a bottle of the wine he craved. The quality was smooth and flavorful. Pria¡¯s local wine was as good as its coffee. He was in a fantastic mood now, not only for the wine and the woman that had sauntered in with him, but because he knew enough of Zara to finally approach her. He had the bait, now he just needed to reel her in. A Precarious Chance She surprised herself sometimes. The day had been more than rough on her soul, yet here she was, in bed, and not sleeping it off like she normally would. If she allowed her head to hit the pillow now, she¡¯d dose off right away, drained and weary as she was. But Zara sat up in her bed with duvet covering her legs, studying the new items she¡¯d brought back from town. She would have forgotten about them completely had she not stumbled over her bag on the way to bed, which caused the anklets inside to jingle, which led her mind drive back to the more pleasant aspects of the day. She glided her fingers across the anklets, mesmerized by the shine of white-gold, the light clinking of the bells. She fantasized them wrapped around her ankles as she tapped and twirled to melodies of the flute and drums, barefoot across the snow¡ªwithout a care for frostbite¡ªdressed in a light gown that made circles wider than her arms could reach out. She would glide among the trees, deeper and deeper into the depths of the forest, where she could dance forever in peace. Zara held the anklet against her skin. It was a nice contrast, the white shine glowing against the duller brown. She would feel beautiful in these. Taking comfort in that one positive thought over the multiple negatives lingering at the back of her mind, Zara placed the anklets gently on the covers. It was a shame she hadn¡¯t thought to steal another book on dancing, or perhaps even try to find a copy of the one she owned previously. Zara sighed. If only books were more accessible to her, she¡¯d probably be happier. Maybe. She already owned a healthy stack of literature, history, and religious texts, neatly put away in her dresser¡¯s most bottom storage space, accumulated from years of home school and the ever-so-rare occasion when her father brought back some old books his colleagues were donating. But those books were usually stories that educated in the subject of Gods and holy worship¡ªsubjects he believed Zara should focus all her attention into instead of the ¡°frivolous nonsense¡± she preferred. Zara enjoyed fantastical tales of drama and romance, but she also loved a good laugh too. Her favorite heroes were both witty and passionate about justice. Tragedies were not for her. She still had a few stored in her drawer that were read for school, but would never be picked up again. If she was going to fall in love with a hero, he or she was going to have a happy ending, as they rightfully deserved. Zara flipped through the new book she had in her possession now, titled The Histories of Forbidden Arts and Deities. A pang assaulted her heart, just like it had at the library when she had bagged the text like a professional thief. The feeling hadn¡¯t lasted long after she left the building though. Stumbling upon Yohid had been the highlight of her day¡ªthe boy that shared her secret, but none of her protection. She prayed to Mother Lilith that he had found shelter for the night. And all at once, she was crying again. She let the book go and wiped her tears with her hands. Shelves upon shelves of books circled the building, the scent of old pages and scrolls within every aisle; strolling down those vibrant cobbled streets, savoring its delicious scents of coffee and baked sweets; being able to talk to someone about a thing that made her existence unspeakable¡ªand that someone actually listening to her without judgment and shame, even if for a short time¡­ It had all been over too soon. Zara had built an energy she hadn¡¯t had for a very long time: excitement. Maybe even a bit of happiness. But that was until her father had found her and dragged her back home in the most humiliating way. The looks she¡¯d received¡­particularly from that man who had seemed determined not to break eye contact, like he was reveling in her misery. Like she was some silly, disobedient little girl. As much as she would like to begin reading her new stolen book, Zara was no longer in the mood for it. Skimming through the pages brought out a misery that was both agonizing and dizzying all at once. She closed the book and shoved it back into her bag. She toyed with the anklets again, wondering if she should hide them in her desk¡¯s junk drawer, where her journal was. A fit of irritation bubbled beneath her skull. That damn journal caused me more harm than help. That damn journal and that damn Rowan, too. Tonight¡¯s meal wouldn¡¯t have been half as bad if her brother had just kept his mouth shut. Zara regretted writing the entry, and she regretted throwing it at that idiot even more, almost like she had asked for this to happen. Rowan had deserved that smack in the face¡­even though he¡¯d been making a valid point about their parents leaving Zara to the streets alone. But he had it coming anyway. A light tapping on the door startled Zara. She instinctively hid the anklets underneath a pillow, praying it wasn¡¯t one of her parents coming to ¡°check¡± on her. Though if it was one of her parents, Zara wondered why they hadn¡¯t forced themselves in already. They almost never knocked first, so this was quite¡­different. ¡°W-Who is it?¡± she asked nervously. ¡°Me,¡± Rowan¡¯s low mumble came from behind the door. Surprised that he would be approaching her this late¡ªand also that he had actually knocked this time around¡ªZara replied, ¡°Um. Come in?¡± The door creaked open and shut, and now Rowan was standing in her bedroom awkwardly, not saying anything. Zara wondered why she had allowed him in at all. ¡°What?¡± she grunted. From his uncharacteristic solemnity, it seemed he had something important to say. He shrugged. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°What do you mean you don¡¯t know? You¡¯re the one who¡¯s here.¡± ¡°I had something to say but¡­¡± His frown deepened. ¡°But now I don¡¯t know how to say it. Especially since it¡¯s¡­you.¡± Zara rolled her eyes, sighing heavily. ¡°Just leave. I was about to go to sleep.¡± ¡°I¡¯m actually surprised you¡¯re awake now. Because you¡¯re never awake.¡± ¡°Oh yeah? So you came to my door knowing that I might have been asleep?¡± ¡°Well, yeah. But then I heard you crying so¡­I knocked.¡± Zara stared him down. He was going to tell her what this visit was about or she was going to get up and kick him out herself. She had enough energy for that at least. Rowan cleared his throat before she could make her thoughts clear. ¡°I heard about that boy. And what Baba said about looking for him.¡± A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation. ¡°That boy¡¯s name is Yohid,¡± Zara growled. ¡°Mhm.¡± He scratched the back of his head, looking unsure of how best to react. ¡°How did you find out?¡± she inquired. He had stomped off by the time Yohid¡¯s name was brought up, consumed by his own tantrum. ¡°He was talking about it with Ma in the parlor. I was listening outside the door, when I went down later to use the washroom.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Rowan stepped closer to the bed, seeming lost. He clearly wasn¡¯t used to seeking out his sister to not rile her up. ¡°C-Can I see your new anklets?¡± he asked. Zara dismissed him. ¡°Why the hell do you care about them now? You wanted them taken away!¡± ¡°I was just joking around,¡± he replied defensively. ¡°In front of Baba? For what? So he could beat me again?¡± ¡°No!¡± ¡°You might as well have ripped the damn page out of the book and read it to him, word for word. You¡¯re such an ass.¡± ¡°Hey you threw it at me, ok?¡± Rowan scolded, pointing at his leg. ¡°That left a little bruise over here.¡± ¡°Oh, a little bruise. I¡¯m so sorry,¡± Zara mocked, her vision blurring with frustrated tears. ¡°That has to be many times worse than having to live a precarious waste of a life like mine. I should have known better.¡± ¡°¡­Precarious?¡± His forehead wrinkled, not understanding what the word meant. Zara wanted to scream, but she managed to keep her voice down. ¡°It means my life could end at any moment. Like it will with Yohid, and anyone else who dares live with an ounce of this curse. Fuck!¡± She tugged at her loose hair, taking shallow breaths as she tried not to sob. Rowan lowered his head, staying quiet. ¡°Don¡¯t pity me,¡± Zara grumbled, sniffling. Rowan shrugged. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t pity you,¡± he said, chuckling it off, but Zara still knew it was a lie. ¡°And I wouldn¡¯t have said anything more about it¡­¡± He brought his palm to his cheek, the one Zahir had struck. ¡°I agree with you. Baba really is a weak tempered fool, like you wrote.¡± Zara studied him, her vexation slowly decreasing. She didn¡¯t understand why Rowan was doing this. Him trying to make her feel better about anything was unlike him. It wasn¡¯t bad, but Zara couldn¡¯t help but wonder what his deal was, or if there was some catch to this. But after a minute, she whispered, ¡°Okay.¡± After wiping her face clean again, she reached under her pillow and pulled the anklets out. ¡°Whoa.¡± Rowan¡¯s thick brows flew up. ¡°Those are fancy.¡± ¡°I know.¡± ¡°How much did you spend on them?¡± ¡°Ten coins.¡± His mouth dropped. ¡°That¡¯s it?¡± ¡°Yes. They don¡¯t have any real gold in them.¡± She lifted one up and shook it, easily. ¡°See? They¡¯re light.¡± ¡°Wow. Well, good for you.¡± Yes. Good for me. She had finally been able to spend some of the money she¡¯d hoarded for years. Zara didn¡¯t receive any allowance for her chores anymore. According to Zahir, there was no point to it. ¡°Did you try them on yet?¡± Rowan asked. ¡°Not yet.¡± ¡°Are you planning to dance in them? They¡¯re going to be noisy. Ma and Baba are sure to find out.¡± ¡°Yes I will, but obviously when no one¡¯s around. I would like to practice dancing again¡­¡± It was strange. She hadn¡¯t had a normal conversation with her younger brother in ages. She could also say the same for her older brother, Naz. Naz was a stranger to her. A ghost of a man that got all of the family¡¯s praise, even though he never showed his face. Zara hadn¡¯t seen him in years, not since her magic was discovered. And even before that time, he was hardly around. She wasn¡¯t particularly close with either of her siblings, but Rowan had always been around. They, at the very least, had a relationship¡ªalbeit not a great one. Which was something Rowan was beginning to change now, for some reason. Unless this was a trap of some sort. Zara shook herself from her rambling thoughts. Another pause, then Rowan mumbled, ¡°I¡¯m¡­sorry.¡± She glanced at him. His face had grown a little pink¡ªan odd sight. Her lips broke into a small smile. At least his apology was genuine. ¡°¡­Thank you.¡± Rowan cleared his throat.¡°You know they probably won¡¯t even catch him.¡± His tone was hopeful, and Zara found her lips curling up further. She, too, hoped Yohid would be okay, that he wouldn¡¯t be caught. But only time would tell. And there wasn¡¯t a lot of it left. It was now that Zara noticed her brother¡¯s state of dress. His hair was still messy, but he had it tied away from his face; he wore a black laced cotton shirt with decorative stitching around the dipped neckline, and plain brown pants¡ªan outfit unfit for sleeping. ¡°Are you going somewhere?¡± she asked. Rowan glanced down at himself like he¡¯d forgotten all about it. ¡°Oh, yeah. I was about to head out until I heard you crying in here.¡± He grinned deviously, returning to normal spirits. ¡°What?!¡± ¡°Shh. Don¡¯t be so loud,¡± he hushed. ¡°Ma and Baba are sleeping by now, I¡¯m sure.¡± ¡°What are you thinking?¡± she spoke quietly. ¡°It¡¯s late, it¡¯s dark, and¡ªwhere would you even go?¡± ¡°To the bar?¡± He said this as though it were the simplest answer in the world. ¡°Like I usually do whenever I sneak out?¡± ¡°Wh-?! You¡¯ve done this before?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°F-For how long?¡± ¡°A few months, here and there.¡± ¡°A few¡­months? In a row?¡± That couldn¡¯t be possible. They were just getting out of winter, and the nightlife was scarce during Pria¡¯s coldest seasons. Unless one wanted to freeze themselves to death, they usually stayed indoors. ¡°Well, no I mean¡­I didn¡¯t go anywhere during DeepWinter obviously.¡± He laughed. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t make it out and back alive.¡± Flabbergasted still, Zara demanded, ¡°And you didn¡¯t tell me of this¡­why?¡± Rowan laughed. ¡°Um, why would I?¡± Good point. ¡°You would have snitched anyway,¡± Rowan said. ¡°You¡¯re always in such a shit mood these days.¡± There was no rebuttal for that one; he was right on the mark. ¡°So¡­you¡¯re going alone?¡± she said. ¡°No. We¡¯re meeting Shia down the block.¡± ¡°We¡¯re?¡± ¡°I¡¯d like to take you. To make up for tonight.¡± He flashed her a smile that was obnoxious and weirdly kind. ¡°You need to loosen up, yeah?¡± Immediately she recoiled, and her stomach flipped. ¡°No,¡± she stated with a firm head shake. ¡°I can¡¯t do that.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll take one horse,¡± Rowan insisted. ¡°And I always come back way before dawn anyway. It¡¯s just a few hours of fun¡ª¡± ¡°I¡¯m not going.¡± Zara was not one for that type of ¡°fun¡±. It was the type of fun her father would murder her for, should he find out. And since luck was hardly on her side, he would. It wasn¡¯t like she hadn¡¯t snuck out of the house herself before, but it was only to the forest, which was a fifteen minute¡¯s walk away. Ten if she rushed. Rowan was talking about going miles away into town right now. ¡°You can meet people,¡± he said. ¡°Maybe even make friends. You need that, right? Because you have none¡ª¡± ¡°Shut up.¡± ¡°Or, you know, you don¡¯t have to talk to anybody if you don¡¯t want to.¡± ¡°Rowan, I won¡¯t know anyone there.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be there.¡± Zara huffed. ¡°But I doubt you¡¯ll stick around me.¡± Rowan chuckled. ¡°You can busy yourself with drinking then. Come on. After today, I say we both need this.¡± ¡°I¡­I don¡¯t know.¡± It was tempting to take the opportunity to leave this prison of a house for one night. In fact, it was making her heart race with anticipation. He was right, she needed this. If Rowan had gone to town multiple times in the middle of the night without their parents being the wiser, then what could be the harm this time, if she tagged along? Even if luck was not on her side, it clearly was on Rowan¡¯s. But Zara¡¯s inexperience in night life¡ªor any kind of social life really¡ªwas making her throat tight and her head swim. She¡¯d sorely stick out for sure, in the most awkward way, and as generous as her brother was being now, she knew she was going to end up alone when he eventually ran off with his friends. In the middle of a bar. In the dead of night. And that was enough to make her want to stay where she was, in a prison that at least kept her safe and sound. ¡°Zara,¡± Rowan spoke. ¡°You don¡¯t know what you¡¯re missing. If you don¡¯t take chances like this, you¡¯re going to be miserable forever.¡± Zara¡¯s mouth parted, unable to speak against something that was so¡­true. She had a chance now, to leave the house on her own, without the tyrannical supervision she hated so much. It was risky, and very stupid, and they could very well get caught, and Zara didn¡¯t know what night-time bar goers were like and that made her queasy because what if they were dangerous? But if she kept thinking of the what-ifs, then she would never know, like Rowan had said, and when was the last time Rowan had uttered something that sounded smart? . After dwelling¡ªand rambling in her own mind yet again¡ªfor another minute, Zara couldn¡¯t handle Rowan¡¯s expectant, yet challenging, gaze on her any longer. She relented. ¡°O-Okay.¡± She lifted the covers out of her way and stood while Rowan clasped his hands together, excited for the win. ¡°Yes! Get ready quickly. I¡¯ll wait in my room for you so meet me there, okay?¡± He was already at the door as his voice softened significantly. Zara thought she replied with an, ¡°Okay,¡± but she couldn¡¯t be sure over the loud rushing in her ears. It made her want to crawl back into bed and pretend she had never agreed to do anything. ¡°And after this, you¡¯ll thank me for being the best brother ever,¡± he whispered, opening the door. She scoffed nonchalantly, even as her limbs shook. ¡°I doubt it.¡± ¡°Yeah. I couldn¡¯t keep up with that anyway.¡± He snickered and quietly exited the room, leaving Zara alone to stress about anything and everything that could possibly go more wrong tonight. The Sixth Sense The Sorcerer could not believe his luck. Of all the times and places he would chance meeting her, it was going to be here and now. He had stared longer than he meant to, because it was simply that unexpected and he had to do a double-take to make sure it was really her. But there she entered, her long ripply hair let loose behind her, blowing back as the doors opened and slammed shut. She wore a dark maroon fur-coat and wide-legged black pants. She seemed to be in a better state than he last saw her in his Mirror, when her kohl streaked face hadn¡¯t even been washed. Her makeup had been cleaned and redrawn, lips matching the color of her coat. All signs of depressed-induced fatigue were gone. A stunning development. Sneaking around and about, twice in a few hours time! So she had a few daring bones in that thin body of hers after all. ¡°What is it, darling?¡± the drunk whore leaning on his shoulder cooed. ¡°You were saying something?¡± Had he been speaking? It didn¡¯t really matter, because he didn¡¯t care. Zara was heading to the tall counter, tailing behind her little brother. Well, maybe not little. Younger was the more appropriate word here. Rowan was not little at all¡ªhe was a good head taller than his sister. And with them was another boy The Sorcerer recognized as Rowan¡¯s longtime friend, Shia. They were the same height, though Shia¡¯s skin was fair and blemish-free, with the hints of a light mustache starting to grow on his upper lip. His thick tawny hair lay smoothly down to his shoulders, and he glanced at the bar¡¯s older female occupants with a grin that reeked of boyish inexperience. Zara stood by them as they ordered their drinks, timid and wary, because it was so obvious that this was her first time here. The Sorcerer hid a smile. Have I seen you here before? Or is this your first time? What a great conversation starter that would be¡ªonce he got near enough to speak to her, of course. He took a final gulp out of his mug, set it down on the round floor table in front of him, and leaned back on the cushions to get a better look at Zara as she fidgeted from one insecure step closer to Rowan, and then another step away again. She took off her coat, revealing a slender black top. The sleeves were just above her elbows; the length reached her knees. The square neckline had a golden-stitched design around it, the rest of the top was plain. She self-consciously pulled at the hem, her coat bundled in her other arm, looking like she didn¡¯t know where she should sit. Compared to those tall wooden stools at the counter, floor seating was best. Each table came with an array of cushions¡ªa common setup for most drinking houses. The room was dimly lit by sconces. The wide hearth was at the farthest end, directly opposite the entrance, where The Sorcerer currently resided. The seats here were the warmest. ¡°Wey-vaaan,¡± the whore hiccuped. She giggled, tossing her hair over her bare shoulders. She eyed him with curved red lips, pressing her breasts against his arm. Her cheaply bejeweled blouse was slipping off at this point. The black kohl around her freakishly round eyes was already smudged and unappealing, and she reeked of tobacco and booze. ¡°Who?¡± he said impatiently. He glanced back to see Zara speaking to Rowan, her brows knitting together like he¡¯d offended her. Rowan and his friend laughed before presenting her with a mug the barkeeper brought them. She wasn¡¯t happy, but her face relaxed once she took a sip. He wondered what she had ordered. ¡°Hmm,¡± the whore groaned. He¡¯d almost forgotten that she was still next to him. More patrons walked in, sauntering around the counter, and now his view of Zara was annoyingly blocked. ¡°Weyva¡ª,¡± the whore slurred. Her eyes were bloodshot, and he vaguely wondered what else she had been taking tonight besides alcohol. ¡°That¡¯s not my name,¡± he said. ¡°Ya ya.¡± She smiled suggestively, and perhaps it was meant to look sweet and alluring but the gap in her yellowing teeth ruined it. ¡°You were talking about¡­heading out?¡± ¡°I was?¡± There was no way he¡¯d be leaving now. She nodded. And then she kept nodding. And nodding. And nodding. And it was clear she had no idea where she was anymore. ¡°Excuse me,¡± he said, sliding off his cushion, leaving the whore to fall at the abandoned space. A rough, portly man approached the table with two of his friends, laughing as The Sorcerer left the woman behind. This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. ¡°Mind if we take it from here, my friend?¡± the fat leader said, meeting him with a slimy grin. His fellows were already lifting her sluggish, half nude body off the seat. The blouse had slid down her breasts and dangled off her waist, barely held together by the laces behind her back. ¡°Ughh,¡± the whore moaned, her head lolling back and forth. She gagged, forcing back a retch.¡°I don fell good anymar, I don feel¡­¡± Whimpers led to tears, her playful nature from earlier stolen by substance-induced illness. ¡°By all means,¡± The Sorcerer replied flatly as he continued walking away. Whatever they chose to do with that sick nuisance, he didn¡¯t particularly care. He reached the counter just as those men carried the weeping, drooling whore outside, and ordered another glass of wine. He stayed at a distance, for now. All he had to do was wait for the brother and his friend to go away. Meanwhile¡­it wouldn¡¯t hurt to clue her in to him now, would it? Zara swiveled her head around the bar with darting eyes, hit with a sudden sense of awareness. Confusion settled into her face, as she realized she had no idea of what she¡¯d become aware of. The Sorcerer had hinted his proximity with a small release of pheromones. He, in turn, could sense her fear and uncertainty of this strange, foreboding sensation. Foreboding. The Sorcerer chuckled. That was quite the leap, but given Zara¡¯s restless nature tonight, he supposed those emotions made sense. ¡°What the hell is wrong with you? Zara, just relax!¡± Rowan said. Shia laughed when Zara took a large gulp from her mug and coughed. ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± she croaked. ¡°I thought I felt something. But it was nothing¡­I guess.¡± ¡°I think you need something stronger,¡± Shia suggested. ¡°No thanks. And Rowan, don¡¯t even think about overdoing it! We only brought one horse and we have to ride it back in one piece¡ª¡± ¡°Yeah yeah, I don¡¯t need a lecture. I¡¯ve done this¡­how many times now?¡± He and Shia looked at each other, chuckling. ¡°I think I know what I¡¯m doing.¡± ¡°And if anything, I¡¯m here if he does go overboard,¡± Shia added. ¡°So stop worrying already.¡± Zara flattened her lips. ¡°Right, sorry.¡± She drank again. ¡°It¡¯s good, right?¡± Shia said. ¡°Yes. It¡¯s sweet,¡± Zara replied, managing a smile at him. ¡°I didn¡¯t even know a taste like this existed in wine.¡± ¡°See?¡± Rowan said. ¡°What did I tell you? It¡¯s all about taking chances. This place is great, huh?¡± Zara glanced around, taking in the sights. Her gaze lingered on some of the more questionable looking men and skimpily-laced women. ¡°¡­It¡¯s nice. Cozy,¡± she said. ¡°Did you want to have a seat over there?¡± Shia asked, pointing to the same space The Sorcerer (and the whore) had just left. ¡°I bet it¡¯ll be warmer than standing here by the door.¡± As soon as she took a step toward that direction, she was interrupted by the entrance of a boisterous crowd of four. A crowd very familiar to Rowan, apparently. ¡°Eyyy!¡± Rowan yelled, slapping all of the open palms of his friends as they greeted him back in the same obnoxious manner that made The Sorcerer wish he could forcibly repel them out of earshot. Zara froze as everybody around her exchanged words without acknowledging her presence, even though she was smack in the middle of the group. She maneuvered out of the way once they broke into another pointless fit of laughter at a dumb joke to sit back at the counter. Alone. She was now in his full line of sight. Perfect. Having felt another pull from him, Zara turned her head, and finally met his eyes. The leap in her heart indicated a form of recognition¡ªand it was quickly followed with¡­shame? Oh, she remembers. They had seen each other only hours before after all, The Sorcerer having witnessed that humiliating display. He very slightly raised his drink to her, but she sat like a statue, clutching her mug. Just when he was about to shift over to a closer seat¡ª ¡°So it is you!¡± ¡ªsomeone got in his fucking way. The young blonde woman stood with her back to him as she faced Zara¡ªwho stared back at her in startled shock. ¡°I knew it. I knew it had to be you, and I was all the way over there, too!¡± The woman laughed, pointing out the window seats where her friends were. ¡°What a coincidence, right? Or maybe it¡¯s luck? Fate? A small world, having run into one another for the second time today!¡± ¡°Cina?¡± ¡°I¡¯m glad you remember me.¡± She laughed again. The Sorcerer tried not to visibly slump in his stool. As agitating as this wait was going to be, he didn¡¯t want to instill any more fear into Zara by overwhelming her with his Sense Magic. And using it on this Cina woman to get her out of the way would surely have them both running out the door, attracting all the wrong attention. He would just have to wait until they were done with their stupid talk. Maybe it wouldn¡¯t even last long, if he considered Zara¡¯s contempt for the girl and her cruel treatment of that Yohid boy. But then Cina sat down and called the barkeeper, asking for whatever Zara was having. And Zara actually smiled back at her. She was a mix of emotions, ranging from discomfort of The Sorcerer¡¯s close range, and relief at the familiar, friendly face engaging with her¡ª acting as the perfect distraction from the creepy man who wouldn¡¯t stop looking at her¡­ The Sorcerer turned away, scowling. Cina¡¯s ¡°friendly face¡± was the same face that made Zara wary. It was the same fucking face that hated people like them. Should this blonde know of Zara¡¯s identity, it was all over from here. No more ¡°friendly¡± chit-chats, no more giggles, no more useless ¡°bonding¡± over drinks¡­ But of course, this face was a great convenience to Zara now, so she was happy to play along. And even now as they chatted, a part of Zara was hoping that, perhaps, she had misunderstood and maybe Cina wasn¡¯t so bad after all¡­ The Sorcerer shut off his sensors and downed the rest of his glass. It was all so annoyingly human, serving as a bitter reminder of a past he wanted to erase. The Dark Man That frightening sensation¡ªlike a sharp tug inside her body, a thumping within her head. She was a swirl of emotions she could not place¡­emotions that didn¡¯t belong to her. Yet, there they were: a desire, an ugly force that failed description. A dangerous curiosity, the eyes of a beast. It had been him, that man. She¡¯d seen him today; he had watched her cry in her father¡¯s carriage. Zara was confused. Why¡­am I feeling this? Wasn¡¯t she just overreacting? Perhaps her nerves were still distraught from everything that happened today. None of this made sense. Even if he¡¯d witnessed her less-than-outstanding moment, he was just a man. A stranger in passing. Was it an intuition? Did he give off that bad of a vibe? Maybe. But there was still the question of why. Was it the cold look he was giving her, like the demeanor of a man who¡¯d forcibly take what he wanted from a girl? Or was it the atmosphere of this dingy bar causing her paranoia. She found herself wanting to say¡­something. Anything that acknowledged him and¡­whatever it was he was doing to her. This had to have been Zara¡¯s most unusual experience by far. Cina was still talking, but Zara could hardly listen. She glanced back at him. The man was no longer staring at her. His gaze was locked on the counter¡¯s old wooden surface, vacant and¡­? A twitch of the jaw indicated frustration. Maybe Zara wasn¡¯t just some irrationally anxious fool. But it was still unnerving¡­the same way seeing not just one, but two random people again within the same day was unnerving. ¡°So you took my advice seriously then?¡± Cina said. ¡°Advice?¡± Zara asked, blankly. Seeing Cina here¡­well, at least she had potentially saved Zara from trouble. The dark man had lost interest. Thank goodness. ¡°To try and get out more,¡± Cina replied. Her aura was different tonight; she had strayed from the sweet day-time cashier¡¯s persona to somewhat of a giggly flirt. ¡°Oh¡­yes. I guess I did.¡± Zara couldn¡¯t help laughing as her mind settled. Cina was a warm face in the midst of a dozen or so questionable others¡ªbesides Rowan and Shia, who had both left her behind for people Zara didn¡¯t know at all, just as she feared they would. Zara had never been in an atmosphere like this before, only having enjoyed drinks at home with a meal whenever permissible. But when she and Rowan snuck out tonight on the back of the horse with Rowan at the reins, riding into the dark, filth-ridden streets leading to Ruvini¡¯s Tavern, she couldn¡¯t calm the thudding of her heart. So much had gone through her head, particularly on what would happen to her if her parents took notice of her absence in their sleep somehow, or if they couldn¡¯t make it back before dawn, or if Rowan drank too much. What kind of people would she be meeting, or did she even want to meet them? What if they bumped in with a wrong crowd, then what? What if she ended up alone the whole night, sticking out like an awkwardly broken bone, getting preyed on by lustful drunks and awful creeps? Upon arriving, she was hit with a strong stench of booze, tobacco, and sweat. The room was large, dimly lit, and hazy as some of the patrons smoked pipes and hookah. Behind the long counter were barrels and bottles of liquor lined neatly in separated shelves. It was warm inside, thanks to the expansive hearth and the amount of bodies loitering around. Zara hadn¡¯t been sure if she wanted to sit anywhere. The array of colored cushions looked pretty at first glance, but they were faded and stained with¡­well, she didn¡¯t really want to know. Zara had not been blind to the drooling, half naked woman being carried out so shamelessly earlier. She¡¯d averted her gaze, having wished she hadn¡¯t seen it at all. And there were still plenty of those types of women around, gathered among the men. One had slunk herself into Rowan¡¯s little group, and Zara had to stop herself from wondering what other¡­business her brother conducted on these late night outings. She shivered. No. Pondering the details of her thirteen-year old brother¡¯s love life was for sure a bad idea. This was all a bit intense for her liking, but it could have been worse. At least now, she had Cina¡ªsomeone she sort of knew¡ªwho was willing to speak with her as though they were friends already. She wasn¡¯t alone anymore, and she was also no longer having to deal with the peculiar presence of that man, who was still sitting just a few stools away. ¡°Have you been here before?¡± Cina asked. She looked really pretty tonight in a short, teal blouse, leaving her arms and flat midriff exposed. Her long baggy pants were the same color and cinched at the ankles. It seemed the cold was no match for Cina¡¯s need to show her curves off. Her long yellow hair was smooth¡ªpuffed in the front, pinned half-up in the back. She had lined her eyes a dark black, but kept her lips and cheeks light and glossy. A little silver jewel stamped her forehead, one Zara recognized from Nima¡¯s accessory store. Zara mentally kicked herself for not thinking of an accessorizing jewel, or any jewels; she hadn¡¯t even put on earrings, and she didn¡¯t do much with her hair besides combing her fingers through it. She was rushed to get ready, and her nervous stomach hadn¡¯t helped matters. Looking at Cina¡¯s gorgeous smile and healthy complexion made Zara more aware of her own worn out appearance. ¡°No, this is my first time, actually. What about you?¡± Zara immediately regretted asking such a stupid question. Of course this wasn¡¯t Cina¡¯s first time here, not when she lived in the area and knew that gangly barkeeper by his first name. She¡¯d been here before, and who knows where else in her carefree life. It must be nice. Zara could only imagine such a life. ¡°Oh, no no,¡± was Cina¡¯s predictable reply. ¡°I come here every week with my friends. They¡¯re over there.¡± She pointed her chin to a group of five in the corner, two of them women and three men. The women were smoking pipes, and the men were watching them with amused expressions. ¡°Who did you come with?¡± ¡°My brother and his friend.¡± ¡°Where are they?¡± ¡°With their friends¡­somewhere.¡± Zara gulped down the remaining wine and poured herself more from the pitcher. Rowan and Shia had taken seats with their posse at the farthest end of the room, sharing a platter of deep-fried potatoes. Rowan was talking up one of the girls who seemed like her jaw would break if she kept smiling that wide. ¡°Wow, that¡¯s mean of them to ditch you like that!¡± ¡°Oh it¡¯s fine.¡± Zara chuckled bitterly. ¡°I don¡¯t mind being alone.¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s inexcusable to leave a girl alone in this dump.¡± The barkeeper scowled at Cina. Cina smiled sweetly for him, putting her palms together as an apology. ¡°But don¡¯t get me wrong, I love this place very much still. Sorry Taq!¡± Barkeeper Taq, a tall, intimidating man with thin limbs, simply turned away without saying anything back. He went over to tend to a barmaid who was asking him a question about snack tickets. ¡°But still,¡± Cina went on, ¡°it could be dangerous. I¡¯m glad I came to you when I did.¡± She leaned in close and whispered, ¡°The man sitting behind me wouldn¡¯t take his eyes off of you.¡± Zara¡¯s gut dipped. Again she found herself not knowing what to make of Cina. Here she was, providing Zara company and even going as far as to keep her safe from a potential predator. But instead of being nothing but grateful and accepting Cina¡¯s bright-as-light desire for friendship, Zara couldn¡¯t. She kept remembering Yohid. She¡¯d had her eyes peeled for him¡ªthe best she could with how dark it was¡ªon the way here, but there had been no sight of his small figure huddled up anywhere, not even in the backstreets. It would be unlikely, though, that the boy would have found some sort of shelter in these parts, where the only shops open for business were bars and inns. Zara let herself be engulfed in the tavern¡¯s warmth and its voices. She had a home to return to by the end of all this. Zara couldn¡¯t imagine what she would have done if her family had kicked her out the way Yohid¡¯s family had done to him. The thought of it scared her beyond belief and it made her want to cry, even thank her father for not having done so already. Mentally placing herself in the boy¡¯s position now¡­ If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. It was scary. And this was the problem Zara faced now. Here she was worrying over Yohid and Cina likely never gave him a second thought, hadn¡¯t even so much as mentioned him tonight. She¡¯d dragged and thrown him along the cobblestones, inflicted an injury, and then went on her merry way. Because to her, Yohid wasn¡¯t a child confused about a power he had no understanding of, and never even asked for. He was just a wicked freak and deserved to die. ¡°He¡¯s still behind me, isn¡¯t he?¡± Cina said. ¡°It might not be safe here. Did you want to come sit with us instead?¡± Zara wasn¡¯t sure she had the right stomach for encountering a brand new group of people right now. ¡°Oh¡­are you sure?¡± Zara said. Her eyes lingered on the mysterious man. His body was still, and his eyes faced downward at the counter in deep concentration. She didn¡¯t know if she should leave. Something was telling her not to. ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t I be sure? We¡¯re friends now, aren¡¯t we?¡± Cina flashed Zara a grin and grabbed her wrist, abandoning the counter and their half-finished drinks, leaving that dark man behind. Friends. Cina already considered Zara a friend, even though they had just met. Could Zara be that likable? This feels nice though, she thought, letting herself be yanked away until a man with wild brown hair slammed into them. ¡°Whoa,¡± he said, stumbling back and laughing. This man was young, looking to be around the same age as Zara, or a couple years older. His shoulder length hair was a mess, but it didn¡¯t take away from his appeal, not at all. Zara¡¯s stomach fluttered. He was tall; her head reached his chest, and his shoulders were broad in his long, sleeveless emerald shirt¡ªthe color did wonders for those golden eyes and light tan skin. He ran a hand along his bearded mouth, still laughing obnoxiously, but Zara didn¡¯t mind because he had a nice smile. ¡°What the fuck are you doing?¡± Cina growled, once again throwing Zara off with the uncharacteristic attitude that seemed to appear out of thin air. ¡°Sorry doll,¡± the man slurred out. ¡°Did I scare you?¡± ¡°Are you so drunk that you can¡¯t even see straight? You idiot,¡± Cina snapped back. Zara looked between them. Does she know this man? Why is she talking to him like that? Then the man¡¯s beautiful eyes fell on Zara, and everything was forgotten. ¡°Who¡¯s this? Friend of yours, Cina?¡± So they were familiar with each other. Zara cleared her throat, but said nothing. A simple ¡°Hello¡± would have sufficed, but even that seemed impossible. Cina rolled her eyes, facing Zara while extending an arm toward the man. ¡°Zara, this is Emran, my cousin.¡± ¡°Cousin?¡± was Zara¡¯s immediate response. These two were pretty people, but they did not look like they came from the same family. ¡°Oh. Pleasure meeting you.¡± ¡°Heh,¡± Emran said with a chuckle. ¡°She¡¯s funny. Doesn¡¯t she act funny?¡± At this, Zara¡¯s face grew hot. She was sure it was the wine making her act funny, and not just her poor social skills. Cina smacked his chest with an open palm. ¡°You are so rude. Zara, don¡¯t listen to him. His stomach¡¯s made of alcohol, and his head¡¯s full of that smoked shit. I¡¯m ashamed to call him family sometimes.¡± ¡°Ow,¡± Emran said, wincing. ¡°I didn¡¯t say anything bad, did I?¡± He smiled back at Zara and added in a mockingly formal voice, ¡°It¡¯s a pleasure meeting you too. I hope to make a good acquaintance of you someday¡ª¡± He dissolved into giggles. Before Cina could hit him again, a woman in a pink, skimpy blouse and skirt snagged his shoulders with a shimmery shawl. Her sensuous red lips revealed her desire to lead him to an inn¡ªand this was proven further when she asked, ¡°How much, darling?¡± Emran grinned, following as she began tugging him away with her shawl. ¡°No,¡± Cina stressed. ¡°Emran, you don¡¯t have the money for this bitch.¡± Zara gaped as Cina left to deal with her handsome wayward cousin. Alone and uncomfortable standing in the middle of the room, Zara quietly went back to the counter, ignoring the leery stares her way. It was then the dark man stood and walked right to where she sat. This sudden move sent Zara¡¯s heart plummeting out of her chest. ¡°Relax,¡± he said. Zara¡¯s breathing slowed, her anxiety lessened, and she was able to look at the man without sensing ill intent. Which was alarming in and of itself. That horrible feeling from earlier had hit again, but as soon as he¡¯d spoken that order, Zara found no reason to be afraid of him. He took the seat next to her and closed in, like they were intimate. ¡°Did you feel it?¡± he said. The gentle tone of his voice soothed her. He meant no harm. ¡°Zara, look.¡± She immediately looked down at his open palm. There wasn¡¯t anything there. ¡°Closer,¡± he said. Zara leaned in, and after a minute of squinting, she noticed was a single strand of long shiny yellow hair. ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°It¡¯s from her.¡± He turned his head to where Cina was still arguing with Emran, and the tipsy whore beside him grimaced, losing her patience as the clutch around her glass tightened. Zara didn¡¯t understand. Why was he showing her something so pointlessly weird? She wanted to scoot away¡ªno, perhaps just grab Rowan and Shia and leave the bar altogether. This man¡¯s head was clearly out of sorts and Zara didn¡¯t want to engage with him any further. But before she could make a move, he brought his palm to his mouth and mumbled in a language unfamiliar to her. Then he placed the strand into his glass. Upon doing this, a shocking screech emanated across the room. Zara¡¯s jaw hung open. The entirety of Cina¡¯s hair had suddenly splashed in red, the liquid staining down her skin, her clothes, and the floor beneath her. The room stilled in confused silence. The only sounds came from the crackling fireplace and the squeak of a stool as someone stood to get a closer look. Eventually, Emran¡¯s whore began to cackle. ¡°Did I do that?¡± she asked dumbly. She was still holding the glass in her hand, but seemed unaware that most of her drink was still in it, and that it was the color of piss, not the maroon-red dripping down Cina. ¡°Did I do that?¡± She laughed louder, and soon everyone erupted into chuckles, assuming in their hazy minds that this was nothing more than the usual tossing of wine over a petty bar fight. The only ones not amused were the barkeeper and his maids, as now this would be their mess to mop. And then there was Zara, too stupefied to move. ¡°Wha¡ª?!¡± Cina looked horribly confused, but anger was quickly overtaking that. Emran blinked. ¡°Um¡­wow. What did I really smoke?¡± he muttered. The whore was still giggling until Cina leaped at her, grasping her hands around her throat. The glass from the whore¡¯s hand shattered on the floor as the she fought to get Cina off of her. It took Emran and two other men to break up the fight as Cina spewed curses. The whore ¡ªpurple in the face and splotched with red fluid¡ªknelt on the ground, struggling to breathe while Emran checked on her. As one of Cina¡¯s girl friends led her out the back doors, trailing behind maroon droplets, the man next to Zara turned back to her and said, ¡°It was just the wine.¡± He lifted his mug where he had placed the strand of hair. Cina¡¯s hair. Bewildered, Zara leaped out of her chair. Her breath was shallow. What was that?! Is he¡­? His smile confirmed it for her. ¡°¡­Oh,¡± she whispered. This man¡ªor rather, this wizard¡ª stood calmly in front of her. ¡°I assume we¡¯ll cross paths again. Until next time, Zara.¡± He walked past her and out the doors, letting the chilly air blow in. Zara was frozen in disbelief for several minutes. Another one?¡­I met another one. He¡¯s like¡­me? Except he wasn¡¯t truly like her. Or Yohid for that matter. He was so much more. This man was experienced, well-versed in the arts of enchantment. Zara¡¯s heart beat at a rapid pace and she tried to steady her breathing again. She couldn¡¯t differentiate between fear and excitement. Because this powerful being had sought her out, it was damn well clear now. The look he¡¯d given her outside the carriage, confronting her here, going as far to show her proof without a worry of consequence¡­it made sense. And as strong as her curiosity about him was¡­the fact that he had looked for her, well, she didn¡¯t know how if she should be thrilled or concerned. This man was no Yohid. He knew exactly what he was doing. He had artfully performed a spell upon an unknowing woman in a crowded space without raising any alarms. His expressions were entirely purposeful, as though he had enticed the exact reaction he had wanted from Zara. This man was¡­more than a bit unsettling to say the least. But he had magic. He was another mage in a world where they barely existed, and if they did, everyone hated them. Once again, Zara wasn¡¯t alone. If that wizard was able to learn how to wield his power long enough to become good at it without being caught all this time then¡­maybe there was hope for her. Maybe there would be hope for Yohid too. If the wizard knew about her, surely he knew of the boy¡¯s plight? Zara scanned the room. Cina was not back yet¡ªor perhaps she wasn¡¯t coming back at all. The throbbing in her head increased. Something felt wrong, still. Why did such an interaction with this mage worry her? Did it have to do with their difference in skill? The fact that he knew how to use his magic? But why would that be a bad thing, if he didn¡¯t intend to harm her with it? Or¡­would he attempt to harm her? ¡°Zara,¡± Shia said, shaking her out of her daze. Zara startled. ¡°What?¡± ¡°Shit,¡± she heard a gruff voice behind her. Zara whirled around to see a much older man¡ªbald, muscled, and deeply brown¡ª stepping back from her, his wrinkled face further creased from irritation. His bloodshot eyes snapped up at Shia before he backed away and left them alone. Shia glared at the retreating man. ¡°Close call. Are you okay?¡± he asked Zara. No. ¡°Um¡ªyes?¡± Shia shook his head. ¡°You should come sit with us. Actually, I¡¯m not sure why you¡¯re sitting all the way over here, by yourself, in the first place.¡± Zara lifted a brow. ¡°Because you guys left me here, by myself.¡± Shia¡¯s lips curved, the sconce light making his pretty hazel eyes shine. ¡°How ungentlemanly of us. Especially me, screw your brother. He¡¯s hopeless.¡± Zara chuckled, at ease. As long as she pretended nothing out of the ordinary had happened, she would be fine for the rest of the night. ¡°Come on, I have a seat for you.¡± Taking her coat, Zara followed him. She was grateful to be around company, even with the ones she didn¡¯t know, as long as Rowan and Shia were there. They busied themselves over snacks and jokes about the wine-dumping incident, and there it was again¡ªthe uncomfortable tightening of her throat as Zara pretended to laugh. The image replayed in Zara¡¯s mind again and again. Her blood ran cold at the sudden realization that she knew nothing of the dark man, yet he had called her by her name. Aunt Noina His meeting with Zara had gone quite well. Maybe in another time, another place, it could have gone better. Especially if they¡¯d been completely alone. But The Sorcerer did not let the rushed moment go to waste. He was confident they would meet again in the near future. That young woman¡¯s curiosity was stronger than her fear, whether she herself believed it or not. And if he was honest with himself, last night was like taking a long sip of water at the break of dawn. It was so refreshing, showing off his skills for another mage after¡­how long had it been? Four decades? Or more? He couldn¡¯t be exact. His last underling¡ªa boy of fourteen years from a small village in southern Qroish¡ªwas brutally murdered. It¡¯d been purely his own fault for getting caught reciting spells in his own yard. He hadn¡¯t even thought to check around for anyone who could betray him¡ªwhich, unfortunately, had been his own brother. Execution by public stoning was a ghastly price to pay for such recklessness. The Sorcerer soon left the village after visiting the abandoned body, buried up to its chest in the dirt for days on end, rotting and working up an unbearable stench in the humid heat. A shame. He had been an eager student, but incredibly naive and foolish, going as far as to name The Sorcerer as his master during his arrest. The Sorcerer could have saved that damned wasted potential, but of course, he didn¡¯t. He wouldn¡¯t waste his precious magical energy on a traitor. After living decades upon decades¡ªeventually leading to a full century of strolling among landmasses alone¡ªhe¡¯d learned to shut most emotions out for his own peace of mind, and for the sake of his ultimate goal¡ªa desire to take back what was his. He would now wait for Zara to reach for him. He would not tell her of Yohid¡¯s fate¡ªit was better she figure things out herself. Just as he had done through his own lengthy life.
¡°Punishment for those who stray from Mother are doomed for eternal purgatory, trapped in an endless nightmare of common fears. It is a Hell worse than submersion in the most frozen of tundras or the hottest of flames¡ª¡± Endless nothingness is worse than burning alive? Zara sure didn¡¯t think so. She had once accidentally singed herself while reaching her bare hand over a candle, and that had hurt. And as a little girl, she had witnessed a homeless burn victim approach her carriage during a family trip down to Darhai¡ªand the memory of the old woman¡¯s wrinkly, patchy pink skin, too-big forehead where hair could no longer grow, and the severely disfigured nose would be forever etched into her memory. Zara was pretty sure a Hell made of eternal fire would be worse than any purgatory. She guessed the same for freezing¡ªafter all, she¡¯s lived through the worst of Pria¡¯s DeepWinters and she couldn¡¯t imagine being plunged into this endless, everlasting region of bitter frost that rivaled this world¡¯s most northern lands. ¡°You would learn better if you stopped thinking of other things during your lessons young lady,¡± Noina said, pausing her reading. ¡°I¡¯m listening,¡± Zara muttered. But really, she¡¯d heard her aunt¡¯s spiels about purgatory and fire and death about a hundred times now. And every one of those hundreds of times more questions would arise than existing concerns being answered. Noina narrowed her eyes into black beads, then sighed, flipping through the pages to search for the next part of the text she had marked up. Her forehead creased easily when deep in concentration, and she adjusted her gray shawl around her thinning hair again before settling on the next part of the lesson. The beginning of each week was for studying religion and philosophy, taught to Zara by her aunt Noina. Rowan attended public school, because he was a normal boy and had nothing to hide. Zara yawned, then drank some water, hoping it would cool her throbbing head. She and Rowan may be studying in different places right now, but the feelings they shared this morning were the same: they shouldn¡¯t have been out so late right before a school week. At least, by the grace of Lilith, they had made it home safely, and their parents were none the wiser of their absence. She and Noina did their lessons in the dining room, but Zara wished she could do them on her own, in bed. She didn¡¯t like being lectured all day by her stern, gods-crazy aunt. Zara took solace in the fact that she had a few months left of these annoying lessons before she was done with them for good. Noina stopped her reading on the first evil deed of The Sorceress Queen to scrutinize Zara again. ¡°You seem ill,¡± she said. ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± Zara replied. ¡°My head just aches a little.¡± ¡°Well then you aren¡¯t fine at all.¡± Noina sighed. ¡°Have you seen yourself? Your eyes cast shadows and your complexion is duller than DeepWinter skies. You¡¯ve always been the unhealthy child around here, some way or another.¡± She finished her rant with a grumble. ¡°I wonder why,¡± Zara murmured. ¡°Did you say something?¡± ¡°No.¡± After a moment¡¯s silence, Noina said, ¡°Your appearance is frightening Zara. It¡¯s said that that the devilress appeared in Court looking the same way before she snapped and killed the King.¡± Zara rolled her eyes. There Noina goes, talking nonsense about Queen Anvi, a piece of history that was only interesting when Noina wasn¡¯t the one going on and on about it. The old crone was honestly as annoying as Zahir. Perhaps this crazy obsession with gods and evil ran in the paternal side of the family. ¡°You aren¡¯t heading in the same direction, are you?¡± Noina accused, her beady glare practically hateful. What a shame, she used to be so much more forgiving before she¡¯d found Zara doubling the size of a leaf when Zara was fourteen. Zara hadn¡¯t even meant to do it, but Noina was nagging her about something Zara didn¡¯t remember anymore, and Zara had been playing with a little leaf sticking out of the flower vase before it happened. Noina had grabbed her daughter Dolly¡ªwho had been spending the afternoon with Zara at the time¡ªand bolted out, spitting curses at Zara¡¯s parents all the way out the front gates. Zara had survived a brutal beating, and her father had to spend two whole days at his sister¡¯s house trying to convince her not to tell anyone about the incident. It took a full year getting Noina to step back in their house, and around that time, she had agreed, for the sake of the family, to teach Zara her lessons, with an emphasis on religion to keep ¡°her demon witch self¡± under control. Zara shook her head in response to Noina¡¯s question. Her poor health was not, unfortunately, a sign of greater power like the Queen. It was just a stupid old headache. Caused by excessive drinking. ¡°Good,¡± Noina whispered under her breath, though she still didn¡¯t seem very placated at all. Those forehead creases had gone deeper. The sound of the front door distracted Noina long enough for Zara to slump down in her chair. She really needed to rest. Most days, Noina¡¯s scrutiny would drive Zara to tears¡ªtears she would hold in until she excused herself to run to the washroom and let it out¡ªbut she was too tired to care today. ¡°Who is that?!¡± Noina shrieked. Zara winced. Besides the kitchen maid, Zara and Noina were alone in the house. Zahir was at work, and Leyli was running errands for her clothing business¡ªso maybe Noina was right to be alarmed, but still. Did she have to be so loud about it? Just as Noina stood with a rush that made the chair squeal behind her, Rowan appeared at the doorway, pale and sickly, his book bag hanging limply over his shoulder. ¡°Wh¡ªROWAN?!¡± Noina yelled. Zara really couldn¡¯t take this. The screeching was too much, and the bright daylight seeping through the windows made it worse. Rowan squinted, discomforted. ¡°Stop screaming,¡± he said. ¡°SCREAMING?! What are you DOING here?¡± ¡°Ugh, fuc¡ª¡± ¡°Don¡¯t even THINK about finishing that word. I will RIP your tongue out myself!¡± ¡°I threw up! Ok? I¡¯m sick,¡± he answered, exasperated. ¡°So they sent me home.¡± ¡°Who sent you?¡± ¡°¡­The school? The teachers? I mean, who else?!¡± ¡°What do you mean you threw up? What¡¯s the matter with you?¡± Rowan threw his head back, groaning. ¡°I¡¯m going to bed. I need to lie down.¡± Zara stood up and almost stumbled over, dizzy. ¡°I think I should go to bed, too. I don¡¯t feel well either.¡± Noina took a good look at them both. ¡°What is going on with you two? Is there a sickness going around?¡± Her anger dissipated into worry, as though she might catch this mysterious plague herself. Rowan wordlessly headed upstairs. Zara wanted to follow him. ¡°Zara,¡± Noina said, ¡°you still have your recitations tomorrow, sick or no. I must hear them and return the grades back to the Board. And you still have your quiz on Divvi¡¯s separation from the Kingdom later this week, so be sure you study well. You may go now.¡± ¡°Ok,¡± Zara muttered and left before Noina could get another word in. The Prian Education Board was what allowed Zara to be home schooled, along with others who needed it due to location and familial circumstances. But with the passing years, Zara was finding it pointless and repetitive. Thanks to Noina choosing all her classes, Zara was stuck with mainly religious studies and political history heavily influenced by religious studies. What was the point of any of this? How would this help Zara¡¯s future in any way; what was she supposed to do with all this useless information? Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. Did she even have a future? The wizard popped into her mind. A cool sigh left her mouth as soon as her head hit the soft pillow. Her book bag lay on the bed next to her, reminding her of the text inside, the history she would rather be studying if her head didn¡¯t hurt so much. She closed her eyes. If only¡­if only Zara could take her life in a direction she actually wanted it to go. Would it be a life of mastering magic, like that wizard? Or perhaps, she would be on the stage, wearing her anklets, letting her body follow the rhythm of the tabla, or the dhol? Everything seemed impossible. But she remembered the wizard¡¯s words: ¡°I assume we¡¯ll cross paths again. Until next time, Zara.¡± Was he serious? How could he possibly know something like that? Was he trying to tell her something, that maybe he¡¯s able to predict the future? All this thinking wasn¡¯t helping her head. She¡¯d ponder over that man after a good morning¡¯s rest. With that final thought, Zara let herself drift off.
It wasn¡¯t enough for Noina to nag during the day. She needed to stay for the evening meal, to nag even more. ¡°Tell me why you don¡¯t want a career as an architect?¡± Noina asked Rowan. She sat in the chair directly across from him, between Zahir at his usual spot at the head of the table and Leyli next to her. This left Zara sitting beside Rowan tonight. ¡°Your brother is doing so well in that job and he makes such great money, too. How could you not want to follow in his footsteps, since you refuse to follow your father¡¯s? Nothing is better than a son growing up to work in the same field as his father, however, the eldest brother is the next best thing, is it not?¡± Rowan picked at his food. He never liked topics surrounding their practically estranged older sibling, which Zara couldn¡¯t blame him for since the two were always compared with each other. Naz always came out the victor in this invisible competition of the better man and brother. ¡°Yeah,¡± he muttered curtly. ¡°Don¡¯t be rude,¡± Leyli warned. ¡°Noina¡¯s right,¡± Zahir said. ¡°What are you thinking of doing?¡± He ripped a piece of his flatbread and popped it into his mouth. Tonight¡¯s meal consisted of lentils, leftover chicken, and flatbread. The buttery flatbread was good enough to eat on its own, without dipping it into the lentils. Zara snagged another one, hungry for once since she hadn¡¯t eaten much during the day. ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Rowan stalled. ¡°I mean¡­I guess I could do something like that?¡± ¡°Something like what, dear?¡± Noina inquired. ¡°I don¡¯t know! What you just said.¡± Architecture? At this rate, Zara believed Rowan had a more promising career as a simple construction worker¡ªspecifically the ones that liked taking shortcuts in every project. ¡°Stop raising your voice every time I ask you a question,¡± Noina snapped, her dark eyes squinting yet again, making her already old appearance look even older. ¡°Zahir, he¡¯s missing his manners.¡± Zahir glared at his son. ¡°Don¡¯t look at me like that, sister. There¡¯s only so much a father can do when his son chooses to stick around bad company.¡± Rowan grimaced. ¡°Shia¡¯s not bad company. Neither is Talmar or Hossan for that matter.¡± Zara didn¡¯t completely disagree¡ªshe didn¡¯t know Talmar or Hossan very well, except for that time when they came to visit and broke two vases in the parlor while playing ball in the house. Since then, they have not been allowed any more visits. She did get to meet them again last night and they were nice, though rowdy and stupid, like Rowan. Shia was the more level-headed one in the group, and despite his own boyishness, he at least had the decency to visit their home with good manners. Leyli must have felt the same way. ¡°Yes, Shia is not bad company,¡± she remarked. Rowan rolled his eyes. ¡°Okay, whatever.¡± They ate in silence. Zara relished the peace. But then Noina decided to beeline on her. Clearly, Rowan hadn¡¯t been dramatic enough to cause a real stir. ¡°Zara, you¡¯re always so quiet. What about you? What were you thinking?¡± ¡°¡­What do you mean?¡± Zara asked. ¡°Well, you¡¯ll be living a life of normalcy,¡± Noina stated as matter of fact. ¡°I believe deep down, you are a fine young woman. Just keep those demons inside you where they belong and you¡¯ll turn out alright.¡± She was always bringing up these ¡°demons¡± inside Zara. She liked to equate magic with demons. Besides testing her faint abilities once every rare blood moon, Zara never summoned her ¡°demons,¡± ever. She might as well be considered a normal person already and wanted to be treated as such by her own family¡ªthey were the only ones who knew about her, after all. Her night at the bar was a small taste of that normalcy, because nobody fucking knew what she was in the first place and probably never would! Well¡ªbesides that strange wizard she met of course. The wizard who knew her name. And she knew not a syllable of his. Disturbed, Zara put her half eaten flatbread back on the plate. She wasn¡¯t in the mood for it anymore, her stomach felt too full. ¡°Noina,¡± Leyli scolded, ¡°you¡¯re too hard on her. You know she¡¯s not like that.¡± ¡°We keep her under a tight wrap. There¡¯s no chance of anything happening under my watch anyway, sister,¡± Zahir added, though his defense didn¡¯t help Zara feel any better. ¡°Well,¡± Noina said, unbothered by her own callousness. ¡°I was just wondering what she¡¯s going to be doing after she¡¯s done with her education. Are you to keep her here until you die? Then what?¡± Zahir and Leyli looked at each other. Rowan glanced at Zara, uncomfortably. Meanwhile Zara was trying to calm herself down, thinking of anything but what Noina was talking about. It was unfortunate this topic sucked her straight out of her fixation on meeting the wizard again. ¡°Is marriage even in the question?¡± Noina rambled on. ¡°Leyli, I know you were concerned about that the most, are you still thinking of suitors? How will that even work? You know, I agree that Zara is well maintained, however, what if she produces a child that is like herself? You know that¡¯s a great cause for trouble, especially since I doubt she will be able to control it as well as you have done with her¡ª¡± ¡°Can¡¯t we speak on this topic some other time?¡± Leyli cut in, strained. ¡°And not while we eat?¡± ¡°What else is a good time if not now, when we¡¯re all together like this?¡± Noina¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Oh, speaking of together, I had almost forgotten! Zahir, Dolly will be free next weekend. Invite the rest of the family, we can celebrate her engagement. I already had Leyli mail Nazeer an invitation.¡± The parents relaxed at the change of topic. Zara¡¯s throat, however, was blocked. She was glad the attention was finally off her, but she also couldn¡¯t stand the thought of attending a family gathering so soon. She felt like she knew no one. It would be a gathering of strangers. Zahir smiled at his wife. ¡°You sent it today?¡± ¡°Two days before actually,¡± she answered. ¡°We should be getting an answer in another week, I hope. I just want to see him, or at least hear from him again, engagement or no engagement party. I miss him.¡± Zahir shrugged, but his expression was understanding of his wife¡¯s plight. ¡°I know. But he¡¯s a busy man after all. Men like him hardly have the time for such things. Look at me, when was the last time I spoke to my own mother?¡± Noina frowned. ¡°You should speak with her more before she¡¯s gone you know.¡± Zahir ignored her. ¡°I¡¯m so proud of him,¡± he said to Leyli, contently. Rowan stood from the table. ¡°I¡¯m finished eating. So I¡¯m going now.¡± Noina clucked her tongue at his flat tone. ¡°How rude. You can¡¯t even excuse yourself properly.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± He walked over to the wash basin and began rinsing his hands clean. ¡°I¡¯m also finished,¡± Zara said. ¡°No you¡¯re not,¡± Noina replied, eyeing her half eaten flatbread. ¡°You haven¡¯t finished your bread.¡± ¡°Oh¡­I¡¯m full though.¡± ¡°You should have thought of that before you took more bread. What a waste you¡¯re causing.¡± She turned to Zahir. ¡°Can you believe that? Doesn¡¯t she do this all the time? I tell her she shouldn¡¯t be wasting any part of her meal, that it¡¯s in our very doctrine not to waste anything of value¡ªis food and water not the most valuable of all¡ª?¡± There was a garden bug on the table. It was small and black, had many little legs, and two pinching claws. One wouldn¡¯t have seen it if they weren¡¯t paying attention, but Zara¡¯s eyes were always on the table or the ground when she desperately wanted to block out her senses and pretend no one was there. The bug was crawling toward her. When it got close enough, she ripped a piece of the flatbread and placed it on the table. It stopped to nibble at it. ¡°Are you listening to me, girl?¡± Noina spat. ¡°I thought you weren¡¯t speaking to me,¡± Zara said. Noina¡¯s glare hardened. ¡°What?¡± ¡°Zara,¡± Zahir said, his eyes matching his sister¡¯s almost exactly. ¡°Watch what you say to your aunt.¡± Zara simmered. All day she had been keeping herself level, like she always has. All day, all week, all year, every year. ¡°Until next time, Zara.¡± She watched the little bug eat and suddenly had the urge to reach for it. ¡°Maybe she shouldn¡¯t speak about me as if I¡¯m not here,¡± Zara said lowly. ¡°It¡¯ll cause less confusion.¡± She placed her finger on the bug as if she meant to squish it. Rowan was in the midst of drying his hands when he stopped to give Zara a round-eyed look that screamed ¡°What in the fuck are you saying?¡± This wasn¡¯t like her. She usually kept her mouth shut, her negativity stamped down. But tonight, it was proving difficult to be silent and sorry. ¡°Zara,¡± Leyli said. ¡°What¡¯s going on with you? You¡¯re being shamelessly rude tonight.¡± ¡°You might as well just sew her mouth shut!¡± Noina yelled. ¡°Keep her tied up in black strings and red chillies! Don¡¯t let her out of sight! I can swear it, it¡¯s coming Leyli. It¡¯s coming. The evil thing¡¯s already formed friends, you said. That little wicked boy? I¡¯m telling you, the older they are, the harder it gets to contain.¡± Yohid. So she knows too. Of course she does. Her parents just had to tell the overzealous Noina about everything, didn¡¯t they? At this point Zara didn¡¯t care what Noina said about her, or whatever tangent she was on. She could feel the bug squirm underneath her pointer finger, and as nasty as it felt, she liked the warmth it sent through her hand, starting from the tip and up the veins in her palm¡ªas odd as that seemed. ¡°I have some news that might interest you, Zara,¡± Zahir spoke. His voice took on that deep, low timbre, which meant Zara was running on dangerous ground. Whatever he wanted to tell that might ¡°interest¡± her, wasn¡¯t going to be anything good. Zara silently met his gaze, waiting for him to speak. The bug had stopped squirming. ¡°Your little friend has been taken into custody. He will be executed at the end of the week.¡± Her expression remained still, her jaw tight. She pretended like it didn¡¯t matter even though it completely did, and she wanted to hurl the supper in her stomach out on the table. ¡°Really?¡± Noina squealed in delight. ¡°Zahir, that¡¯s wonderful news! That¡¯s just wonderful, is it not Leyli?¡± ¡°Um, yes,¡± Leyli agreed hesitantly. ¡°Though it¡¯s a shame¡ª¡± ¡°A shame?!¡± ¡°No, I meant¡ªhe¡¯s so young. Zahir told me he¡¯s only of eight years. It¡¯s just unfortunate, is all.¡± ¡°Unfortunate that he was born into the world like this and facing his crimes at so young an age, yes, I agree. But he is a descendant of Ahnsal, the Devil himself. He killed his own baby sister. He tore his family apart! Tell me, is age even really a factor here? It is our job as pure beings, as children of Lilith, to send monsters like him back to where they hailed from. Are you listening, Zara? If you cross any lines, you may face an even greater¡ª¡± Noina cut herself off with an ear piercing shriek as a huge black beetle¡ªlarger than the size of a supper plate¡ªleaped at her, its sharp claws scissoring back and forth, cutting at her face as she fell backward on the chair. Leyli and Zahir jumped back from the table. ¡°Holy Mother of HELL!¡± Rowan shouted out. Zara had almost forgotten he was still in the dining room. If the situation wasn¡¯t so dire, he would have had his mouth smacked twice, she presumed. What am I thinking? Zara blinked. She sat there, with her out-of-place thoughts, and simply watched her aunt swatting away at this huge garden bug that was once not even the full length of a pointer finger. Its claws that hardly induced a painful pinch was now purposely assaulting Noina with it. Every time Noina scurried back, it followed her, like it had a vengeance of its own. Leyli screamed the entire time as Zahir¡ªafter shaking himself from his initial bewilderment¡ªran over to his sister to pull her away from the angry beetle. She was still wailing, her face suffering a few shallow cuts as the beetle went for another clawing. Zahir swatted the beetle away and pulled Noina toward him. ¡°MAKE IT STOP MAKE IT STOP!¡± Noina cried. Zahir managed to stomp the bug down with his sandal clad foot, making an audible crunch. Its squashed guts sprayed out on the floor and on Zahir¡¯s shoe. He winced. ¡°Ugh! That¡¯s disgusting¡ª¡± Rowan gagged, unable to finish his thought. ¡°Take that sandal off,¡± Leyli ordered in a panic. ¡°Throw it out! Good gods, What WAS that?!¡± Noina was still on the floor behind her brother, a weeping mess. ¡°What was that?¡± Leyli repeated. ¡°Where did that even COME from?!¡± ¡°It just flew out of nowhere!¡± Rowan claimed with a shaky voice. ¡°Was it near the table all this time?¡± Leyli asked. ¡°I didn¡¯t see it. Oh¡ª¡± She was on the verge of vomiting. ¡°That looked like one of those tiny garden beetles did it not? I didn¡¯t know it could get in THAT big of a size!¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t,¡± Zahir said quietly. ¡°What?¡± ¡°A garden beetle doesn¡¯t exist in this large of a size.¡± Zahir¡¯s eyes shifted over to Zara. Leyli and Rowan speechlessly looked at each other, then followed Zahir¡¯s gaze. Noina was too busy sobbing over herself to understand what anything meant. Zara remained at the table, unmoved. Out of all the powers she could make work as randomly as fattening a beetle four times its size, she wished she had one to make herself vanish at will. The Ravens Call It was no great shock seeing power grow with the right motivations. Through the Mirror, The Sorcerer watched Zara shrink into herself upon grasping the situation, of what she¡¯d actually done to her aunt¡ªa wretch that woman was¡ªout of impulsive rage. She ran out of the dining room, forcing Rowan to practically fly out of her way in the process. They feared her, all of them. Even if the brother was more tolerant than the rest, he would come to fear her completely too. But The Sorcerer had to admit, it was an impressive trick she¡¯d pulled, and one he¡¯d seen before. She had the ability to expand the size of living things. Expanse Magic. Uses quite a bit of energy. The Sorcerer didn¡¯t think such a non-energetic girl would have it in her, nor that her innate abilities would stem from it. If she put her mind to it, she¡¯d be able to shrink things as well someday. She was partway up the stairs when Zahir managed to chase her down, grab her arm, and yank back so hard that she tumbled down the rest of the steps. Lucky for her, she hadn¡¯t gotten very far up in the first place. The Mirror faded, leaving The Sorcerer staring at his own reflection again. He walked over to a shelf in his study filled with jars and small cartons of various spell supplies. From one of the jars, he lifted a raven¡¯s feather¡ªhe¡¯d found it drifting to the ground during his morning walk through the forest. He had jars containing other animal samplings too¡ªhe collected whatever he could find¡ªbut using bird feathers were his favorite. He pulled on a heavy black cloak and cracked open the study window above his desk. With a few words, he enchanted the feather. And within seconds, he was flying out the window and into the chilly night.
¡°NO! NO! NO!¡± Zara wept. Her father was dragging her¡ªby the hair¡ªout into the courtyard. Leyli and Rowan watched somberly from the parlor¡¯s sliding door. Noina was lying in the guest room upstairs, still reeling from the bug attack like her life had almost ended for good. ¡°Ma! MA!¡± Zara screamed for her mother. But she just stood there, staring back at Zara with regretful, watery eyes. Do something then?! For the love of all holy, DO something! Zahir yanked on the hair again for good measure. Zara shrieked. ¡°Zahir!¡± Leyli yelped. Zahir tightened his clutch and pulled Zara further from the house, toward their tiny, dilapidated wood shed at the far far corner of the yard, where it was darkest and overgrown with disgusting weeds, and crawling with all sorts of creatures Zara wanted no where near herself. ¡°STOP!¡± she squealed, dropping to the ground like a rag doll. ¡°BABA! STOP!¡± Zahir hissed, finally letting go of her hair. He instead pulled at her hand and continued dragging her across the coarse, pebbled ground, taking no mind to Zara¡¯s painful gasps at the scrapes she was accumulating on her legs and hip. They had now reached the icy dirt and the gnarly weeds, and Zara forced herself up despite the raw aching of her legs. There was no way she wanted her body to be dragged over this. The area was always crawling with ants, worms, and black beetles¡ªthe same kind Zara regretfully assaulted Noina with. There were also the white centipedes, sickly long little things with a million legs, sharp fangs, and a thin body that glowed in the moonlight. Zara could see a few of them now and she shuddered violently, knowing there would be more among the untidy shed. As if they weren¡¯t nasty enough as is, their bites hurt, and their poison was deadly in numbers. Zahir unlocked the shed¡¯s narrow door and threw it open. Instantly the smell of mildew, old wet dirt, and traces of animal feces penetrated Zara¡¯s nose. Her panic worsened. ¡°Baba,¡± Zara whimpered pleadingly. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°If it¡¯s taken you this long to apologize, then I don¡¯t think you are very sorry at all,¡± he snarled. He shoved her inside, knocking her over the old, rusted gardening tools and other miscellaneous garbage Zara couldn¡¯t see properly in the dark. The stench was unbearable; this shed hadn¡¯t been maintained for over a year, and it was so small, Zara could spread out both arms and lay her palms flat on either wall. ¡°BABA!¡± she screamed when he shut the door and slid the lock. She was trapped in complete darkness. No amount of blinking was going to make her eyes adjust to this. Zara managed to get herself up, cutting her arm on something in the process. She shrieked and cried and banged on the locked door, begging to be let out. The wind blew threw the cracks of the shed and Zara shivered. It was cold, and it was only going to get colder as the hours went on. The icy, stinky air gliding along her sweaty skin was unbearable enough already. She couldn¡¯t breath. She didn¡¯t think she would survive the night. Zara screamed again, ¡°LET ME OUT!¡± She could hear muffled voices of her mother and brother, but no one came to her aid. The faint sound of a door slid shut in the distance. Zara screeched at the top of her lungs. She would not survive the night in here. She squatted down again and cried. She cried until she couldn¡¯t breathe properly. The air grew even icier, and she couldn¡¯t stop shivering. Her tears and snot were already frosting over. The only clothes Zara had on was a purple gown she wore casually around the house, and she usually paired it with a wool shawl. But the shawl had fallen off her as she attempted to escape the dining room, and the gown, despite having sleeves, wasn¡¯t thick enough to protect her from any severe weather. She curled up in a ball, ignoring the painful pokes of debris¡ªor whatever it was that was always thrown in here for storage¡ªon her back, but this was the best she could do to keep herself warm and shield her nose from the bad smells. She was likely squatting on top of old feces of some sort. She regretted even thinking of that. Minute after minute slunk by. Every once in a while, Zara would cry out a ¡°Hello?¡± and sob when no one answered back. Did they really intend to leave her here over the entire night? Zara had faced her fair shares of punishments, most of which included beatings that bruised her for days, and threats of abandonment. But this? This was a permanent seal of rejection. There was no way out, no coming back. ¡°Rowan?¡± she called again, pointlessly. ¡°Ma?¡± They would not come. Her mother would not save her. Rowan wouldn¡¯t either, he wouldn¡¯t bother risking himself trouble to let her out. In fact, he might be even be glad. No more worrying about some witch of a sister any longer. No more danger, no more risks. The family was free. Just like Naz, Rowan probably never loved her as a sibling. They were all afraid of her. And they all hated her for that fear. Something scurried across her foot, squeaking. Zara jumped, hitting the wall and falling again among the debris with a cough. ¡°Oww!¡± The cut was in her knee this time. No, it wasn¡¯t even a cut. Something had stabbed her. Broken glass? Zara could feel it trapped in her left knee, and it was agonizing. Her arm throbbed, trickling wet. She was still bleeding from that earlier cut. Her heart raced so hard, it would be a relief if it would just burst open already. The gentle squeaks of mice around her were not reassuring in the slightest. A buzz whizzed passed her ear twice, making her cringe. There were¡­things starting to crawl along her thighs and up her back. ¡°HELLLPPP! HELP!!¡± She banged on the wooden walls as hard as she could, but as old as this shed was, it seemed it would hold up against Zara¡¯s assault just fine, as though it was taking a gleeful part in her punishment. ¡°HEL¡ª¡± She shut her mouth and swiped violently across her lips and chin. She had felt something on her face. Was it a beetle? Or worse? How she wished she could have a random outburst of power now, something that would help get her out of here. Could it be possible to blast down the entire shed at this rate? She felt nothing. No power, no warmth of any sort. And the last thing Zara wanted to do was expand the size of a rat or a centipede or some other disgusting bug, but that was the only magic she had mistakenly demonstrated quite well tonight. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. At this rate, even Mother Lilith and her Angels were in on the laughs. They had to be. Zara was a witch after all¡­ A useless, pathetic witch who couldn¡¯t even use the magic she¡¯d been born with. Zara yelped, clutching and scratching her neck and chest as the painful pinches worsened into hot stinging. She screeched as the crawling sensation grew over her body. Her screams were muffled by the noise of buzzing. Stings covered her skin above and under her gown. She recognized this pain, but it was a thousand times more horrifying. The centipedes were eating her alive. Dizzy, Zara scrambled to get up, bumping and scratching herself on things she couldn¡¯t see. She fell back again, hyperventilating, as the sharp object in her knee reminded her that it was still in there, oozing and draining her of blood. The stinging only increased, and she grew weaker. She faintly felt a scurrying along her legs and in her thighs, but she was too disoriented to care anymore. It was cold, yet she was burning alive. And she couldn¡¯t see. She wept weakly. Her voice was a throaty rasp when she attempted, one more time, to call for help. Behind closed eyelids was an outline of a figure with a feathery, black cloak. A shadow? Was this death approaching? Her heart pounded in her ears. Her breath was shallow, and there was no sign that it would slow despite her feeling faint. She wished it would, there was no other way to numb the continuous stings. She yelled out incoherently¡ªthe shadow was approaching closer. It was in the shed with her and it was forming a face¡ªone that had beady eyes and a cracked beak for a mouth. Zara formed one final sigh before the shadow opened its beak and engulfed her in death. That tiny tremor wasn¡¯t significant enough to alarm anyone back at the house, but The Sorcerer had felt it. It came from the grounds of an old, decrepit shed at the far end of the courtyard. Turning himself back into human form, he unlocked the latch and opened the door. Zara¡¯s limp figure fell out, along with a broken collection of rusted garden tools and glass. Enhanced night vision¡ªborrowed from the raven¡ªallowed him to see Zara¡¯s red, swollen face and neck, still crawling with beetles, centipedes, and Dun flies¡ªfat red-bellied pests that swarmed around feasting on whatever blood and feces they could find. She reeked of wet soil and mold. Zara was, at least, not dying¡ªbut those long white centipedes and their poisonous bites have left her in this current, miserable state. Two rats hurried out of the shed, disappearing into the weeds as The Sorcerer dragged her body out of the shed and onto a clearer path. There was something sticking out of her knee, seemed like a blade of some sort. Her eyes were swollen shut. The Sorcerer stared back at the old shed. Just how long had that thing stood on this family¡¯s property, disregarded for? It was ridiculous that it should still be here, gathering all these pests. The Sorcerer scowled back at the house. It was a good distance away. The wind was harsh, lapping at his hair and cloak. Flakes of snow and ice pricked his face. He shivered violently. Pure laziness, these damn humans. Worse than cruel. The true monsters were the ones who liked locking their family members out to die in such hazardous conditions. ¡°Ma¡­Mm¡­¡± Zara mumbled something incoherent before falling silent again. It sounded like she was calling for her mother. The Sorcerer frowned. He hadn¡¯t been prepared to doctor her tonight. He hadn¡¯t predicted her being left out here at all. Some of the Dun flies had followed them from the shed to nibble at the crusting blood from her injuries. A few centipede bites wouldn¡¯t normally do much harm besides inflict pain and mild to moderate swelling, but when there was this much¡ªand The Sorcerer could see some still crawling on her¡ªthen it was going to pose a major problem. He couldn¡¯t let her die, the poor pitiful thing. He wouldn¡¯t find any one like her for a really long time, and traveling the lands near and far in search of hidden mages had gotten tiresome a few decades ago. Lucky for them both, The Sorcerer always carried a little healing pouch around with him¡ªa pouch that shrunk down to his palm size when the drawstrings were closed. He liked to carry it in his pocket coats or cloaks for emergencies. With all his years of training, even he wasn¡¯t immune to injury and disease. Unfortunately. He took out one small pouch and pulled the strings apart. Immediately the bag grew, along with its contents of medicine, ointments, potions, and bandages. The Sorcerer took out a vial of enchanted leem, a medicine that, at its normal state, counteracted various insect poisons including the white centipede¡¯s. Healing usually took a couple of days, as long as the person drank a vial twice every seven hours and made use of ointments for the skin damage. The Sorcerer¡¯s enchanted medicine, however, worked instantly, at least for stopping the poison in the blood. But The Sorcerer didn¡¯t have enough of it for this severe of a case. It will have to do for now, until he could retrieve more. He knelt down beside her and did his best to swat off the flies and and remaining centipedes before lifting her head off the ground, giving it a light shake. ¡°Can you hear me?¡± he said. ¡°Wake up. Zara.¡± She flinched at his voice, then let out a croaky whine. Her skin was hot, and no doubt she¡¯d fallen into delirium. She whined lowly again, but at least she was awake. ¡°Take this.¡± He held the vial to her lips and poured as quickly as possible. The last thing he wanted was to find the damned bugs all over himself, too. ¡°Your pain will go away. I promise you.¡± She almost choked, and The Sorcerer forced himself to slow down. No need to let the medicine go to waste. Her body quivered and he let her go, standing up and swiping at himself. Two tiny black beetles fell off his pants and disappeared in the wind, but that was the worst of it. The swelling had already gone down a little, but that was the best one vial would do without any skin ointment to aid the healing process. The poison should cease harming her for the rest of the night. He would have to leave her in the care of the very people who did this to her in the first place. How unfortunate. The Sorcerer wondered whether they would do anything at all. In this case, he would stay nearby and observe. He formed back into the raven and flew to the house. The nearest upstairs window facing the courtyard was lit behind pale beige curtains¡ªRowan¡¯s bedroom. He landed on the sill and began tapping the glass with his beak. The Sorcerer heard muffled noises and loud thumps, but nobody came to the window. The Sorcerer tapped again. ¡°Wh¡ªwhat?¡± Rowan¡¯s fearful voice finally spoke up as he continued rapping away at the glass. Perhaps, The Sorcerer should have gone about this differently, because any sane person would be more than alarmed if some thing was knocking at their window at night. But there was no time to think, he had to signal the boy that his sister was in need of help. ¡°Ma! Ma!¡± Rowan yelled. The thumps moved further away and then they disappeared. Shit. Well, there wasn¡¯t much to do now except wait for the mother to get involved as well. The Sorcerer should have known. The thumps returned. ¡°Was it just the wind maybe¡ª?¡± Leyli said. ¡°The wind wouldn¡¯t be knocking on my window!¡± Leyli sighed and pulled back the curtain. Her brows flew up when she saw the raven sitting on the sill. ¡°It¡¯s just a bird, Rowan. Look.¡± She moved aside so her son could see. Her fatigued and puffy-eyed appearance did not go unnoticed by The Sorcerer. ¡°A crow?¡± Rowan said, surprised. The Sorcerer cawed as loudly as he could, making them both jump. He continued cawing and flying in circles, landing back on the sill, even going as far as to use his wing to point in the direction where Zara lay, swollen and freezing, until Leyli opened the window to shoo him away. He flew back, and another strong gust of wind almost blew him off altogether. ¡°Oh my!¡± Leyli exclaimed. ¡°The cold¡¯s getting in now!¡± The Sorcerer flew back to the window. ¡°Go away! Agh!¡± She flinched back when the raven¡¯s wings beat against her arm and forced its way through. ¡°What is wrong with this bird?! Rowan get your broom now. I am in no mood for this!¡± The poor woman was so stressed she was practically crying again. Rowan took out a straw broom from under his bed and brought it to her. ¡°He¡¯s persistent,¡± Rowan remarked. The Sorcerer stubbornly remained on the floor near the window, only to be swiped at with the broom. Leyli shrieked when The Sorcerer smoothly maneuvered out of the way. He used this chance, now that they would hear him clearly, to mimic Zara¡¯s name. Rowan froze before his mother swiped again. ¡°Wait, wait! Ma, stop!¡± The raven cried out ¡°Zara¡± once again, and this time, Leyli paused. ¡°Wh¡­¡± ¡°It speaks! It¡¯s one of those talking birds! Did you hear it?¡± Rowan demanded, his eyes round and his breath heavy. ¡°What that bird just said, did you hear it?¡± Leyli¡¯s mother just stared back at him, speechless. ¡°Is there something wrong?¡± Zahir said, walking into the room. ¡°Why is there so much noise?¡± His eyes landed on the raven and his frown deepened. ¡°What is that thing doing in here?¡± The raven cried out Zara¡¯s name twice more, invoking a stretch of silence among the family. The Sorcerer then wondered when that Noina woman would come in and join them. That would make for a very interesting display, he bet. ¡°It¡¯s saying Zara!¡± Rowan shouted. ¡°It¡¯s saying Zara, isn¡¯t it?¡± The Sorcerer cawed his approval and fluttered back to the open window, pointing his wing in the direction where Zara was hopefully still alive. Leyli looked to her husband, her fearful eyes watering once again, lost for words. ¡°Shut your mouth,¡± Zahir growled at the bird, his face red. ¡°Shut it. You¡¯re all hearing things.¡± He forcefully grabbed the broom out of Leyli¡¯s hand, ignoring her gasped protest. ¡°Zahir wait!¡± she said. ¡°Wait! Maybe this is a sign¡ª¡± He whacked the broom at her and she yelped. ¡°Ma!¡± Rowan exclaimed, horrified. ¡°I said shut your mouth!¡± Zahir bellowed at his cowering wife before he turned around and whipped the broom at the raven. The Sorcerer flew out of the way, then at the man, aggressively trying to peck his balding head. He let out an angry shout, fighting the bird off. ¡°Zara! Help!¡± the raven cried. ¡°Zara! Help!¡± ¡°Oh Mother, help us all!¡± Leyli sobbed. ¡°What is this? It¡¯s black magic isn¡¯t it? Is she doing black magic on us?¡± ¡°Help! Help!¡± The Sorcerer was really hoping that one of them would get the fucking clue. Every minute counted, and flapping his wings pecking and fighting with the bald twat was wasting time. ¡°Whatever it is, she needs help!¡± Rowan said. Finally. ¡°No!¡± Zahir ground out. His head was sprinkled with little bleeding cuts inflicted by the beak attack. Picking up the broom he had dropped during the scuffle, he gave the raven one final swipe. But The Sorcerer was already dashing at Rowan. ¡°Gah!¡± Rowan leaped back. ¡°Yes!¡± The Sorcerer squawked. His throat was going to rip apart. It was difficult for him to convey clear speech when in the raven¡¯s body. He was out of practice. At least someone here was heeding his message. ¡°Follow! Follow!¡± The Sorcerer flew out the open door and down the hallway. He heard obeying footsteps pounding behind him. ¡°ROWAN!¡± From the guest room, Noina walked out. She looked a bigger mess than Leyli, naturally, given the beetle trauma. Her cuts were cleaned, and the scar across her nose had been bandaged. ¡°What is¡ªAHH!¡± She screamed, falling back as the raven whizzed by her like some mystical black phantom. ¡°Noina!¡± Zahir shouted when the giant thud of her body landed on the stone floor. ¡°ROWAN, STOP WHERE YOU ARE!¡± But Rowan kept running after the raven as it led him downstairs, past the kitchen, down the main hallway and to the parlor, where the sliding doors leading into the courtyard were shut. The raven landed on the floor in front of that door. Rowan hesitated, glancing down at his long night shirt and loose, ankle length pants. ¡°Shit, it¡¯s going to be cold.¡± ¡°ROWAANNN!¡± Zahir¡¯s roar was worse than a wild animal¡¯s. Rowan slid the door open. ¡°He¡¯s going to kill me,¡± he whimpered, running outside while The Sorcerer flew on, continuing to lead the boy to his sister. A Chilling Rescue What am I doing? For all Rowan knew, this could be a trap. Here he was, running across the courtyard through harsh mountain winds that was making every bone in his body rattle, chasing after a random fucking bird. A bird that had chanted his sister¡¯s name. A bird that was clearly under a spell that, for all he knew, could have been sinister. His father was warning him now, his deep voice echoing violently across the yard, to come back. To not fall for such an obvious trick. But Zara¡¯s magic was never done purposely, it had always been accidental. Like the time she¡¯d grown flower petals with a simple touch, or struck a twig on the ground with a spark of light. These tricks of hers were few and far between years, otherwise it was rare he ever saw magic at all. It was like it never happened¡­mainly because they were forced to pretend like nothing happened. Rowan expected Zara would finally be run out of the house one day. Willingly hiding a witch at home was a literal death sentence for everyone involved. But he hadn¡¯t expected her sendoff to be like this. How else could it have been though, he wasn¡¯t even sure. The bird led him toward the old shed, not too far from the rotted Vlume tree¡ªa tree that no longer bore its delicious, purple fruit because no one tended to this part of the yard anymore. When he was little, the family hired a few farmers to help with the garden¡¯s maintenance and feeding the poultry. Now his parents opted for less servants around so as not to arouse suspicion about Zara. They abandoned this side of the property and sold the chickens. Rowan huffed, stopping for a sweet minute to catch his breath. His throat hurt. The wind struck his ears. Ice settled into his hair and face. His eyes and nose were watery. He regretted not grabbing a fleece on the way out. This was going to make him sick, he knew it. Was he doing the right thing? It wasn¡¯t that sorcery didn¡¯t scare him, because it sure as fuck did. As much as Rowan hated to admit being scared of anything, he was a tiny bit afraid of Zara. Just a tiny bit. And it felt wrong, because his sister wasn¡¯t scary, really. It was so easy to get under her skin, to make her mad or cry. But she had scared him well tonight, attacking Noina with that beetle, watching it with a cold, blank stare; sending a talking bird into his room and having it almost peck their father¡¯s head off. Despite it all, he was running to her anyway, because she needed his help. Something had pierced his heart when he watched Zara be dragged away tonight. He¡¯d make it up to her. This was his apology, for being so helpless. But maybe he was the biggest idiot ever and this bird was sending him to his death. His heart thudded in his ears when the bird land next to her body. Zara lay on clear ground, away from shed¡ªthe shed with the now broken door. How had she broken out of there? With her magic? Did she send this bird to him in her unconscious state? How? And how did she get from there to where she was laying now? You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story. ¡°Zara!¡± Rowan yelled, running to her side. He gasped at the sight of her swollen face. There was a piece of glass wedged into her knee. He cringed. ¡°Zara¡­¡± ¡°Ra¡­wa,¡± she mumbled something Rowan couldn¡¯t understand. By the soft light of the moon, he could see her eyelids were almost swollen shut. Rowan didn¡¯t know what to do. He looked back at the house, hoping that his father had been chasing him, only if he could help him carry her back. An unreasonable hope. ¡°Zara?¡± he said, shivering as he touched her arm. She was burning up. ¡°Zara, can you move? Can you at least sit up? Let¡¯s go back home.¡± ¡°No¡­¡± she whimpered. Rowan shuddered as another gust of wind blew. He ran his cold hands along her hot face. At this rate, she would die out here. What in the hell was Baba thinking? Rowan¡¯s grip tightened in horror, staring back at the bird scrutinizing his every move. He was going to let her die tonight. ¡°I know you don¡¯t want to, but¡­you can¡¯t stay out here,¡± Rowan explained, teeth chattering. ¡°You sent the bird didn¡¯t you? Did you do that?¡± Not waiting for an answer, he attempted to lift her up¡ªwith some success. It was difficult. Zara wasn¡¯t that big of a girl, but even then¡­ ¡°Wow, you¡¯re heavy. I don¡¯t think I can carry you all the way. I hope you can stand¡­or hop, at least on your good leg¡­¡± ¡°I¡­don¡¯t know,¡± she replied, her voice croaky. ¡°It hurts.¡± So she was conscious, and thankfully not as delirious as Rowan first thought. The bird cawed once more, before taking off in front of them, acting as a guide. The path wasn¡¯t very clear and twice Rowan would have tripped over a branch or a rock if not for the bird¡¯s warning of ¡°Watch!¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± Rowan said, panting as he carried her. ¡°Zara, that¡¯s a smart bird. It¡¯s amazing that you were able to make something like that.¡± She didn¡¯t seem to hear him. ¡°¡­I¡­think I can move,¡± Zara whispered. ¡°Ugh, it¡¯s hard.¡± ¡°Sorry¡­¡± He¡¯d been wobbling her this whole time, gradually losing strength in his arms. He wished he were stronger. They had only gone a little more than a quarter of the way. The house was looming closer now. But if Zara could stand on her good leg all on her own then that was a relief in more ways than one. He set her on the ground, making sure to hold her up steady. ¡°Ow ow ow,¡± she whimpered. ¡°Are you okay? Are you okay? Maybe I should carry you¡­?¡± But my arms are gonna fall off. This was going to be harder than he thought. Her knee was still oozing, and he didn¡¯t have the strength in him to suggest taking the shard out. It probably wouldn¡¯t have been a good idea anyway. He panted, his breath puffy in the chill. At least having to carry Zara provided some heat and sweat during the walk. But not only was his sweat now starting to ice over his skin, the thought of facing their parents once they got back was making his stomach quiver and his throat tighten. After many, many minutes of trudging along, Rowan resorted to carrying her the rest of the way. She was in too much pain to continue on without sobbing and falling over. The bird landed on the gate and watched them step into the courtyard. Rowan looked back, but the bird had gone in a blink. ¡°Zara¡­?¡± He was about to ask if she had made the bird disappear, but Zara was whimpering, ¡°I don¡¯t feel good. I want to lie down.¡± The door had already slid open upon their arrival. Leyli was waiting for them, her face pale and ghastly. ¡°ZARA!¡± she cried as she ran outside, wrapping her thick shawl tighter around herself to retrieve her children. A Brothers Good Side Zara awoke to her stomach gurgling. The nasty, swirling sensation eventually sent her hovering over a bin on the floor at the edge of her bed. This was the third time today she had vomited. And it was still morning. ¡°Ohh,¡± she groaned, not bothering to wipe the long drool hanging out her mouth. Her throat burned and her breath was rotten. The skin on her face and body was in no better shape. The swelling had gone down, but left behind purplish scars everywhere she¡¯d been bit. The rampant fevers and chills she¡¯d suffered with for two days straight were on and off now. The puncture in her left knee wasn¡¯t as bad as she¡¯d originally thought; the doctor had cleaned and dressed it well, but she still needed a cane to walk. Not that Zara left her bed much anyway, other than to relieve herself in the chamber pot. Leyli looked in on her three times a day to bring meals, retrieve empty dishes, and switch out the trash bin and chamber pot as needed. Zara was given instructions on medicating herself, so Leyli did not bother with it. Zara was left to wonder if her mother was acting under Zahir¡¯s threats, or if her heart had just iced over on its own. It had only been two days. Two days, but it felt like two weeks. Zara needed water¡ªher mouth was drier than cotton¡ªbut she wouldn¡¯t bother Leyli by ringing the stupid hand bell left for her on her bedside. It was better to suffer in silence than to rely on either of her parents for anything. They had taken her to the clinic that horrid night, but there hadn¡¯t been any real rush about it. Leyli had to beg Zahir to take their daughter to Dr. Almur before she died. Zahir, with a sloppily bandaged head, had loaded the carriage with an overnight sack of Zara¡¯s belongings, grumbling about bothering the local doctor at such a late hour. He had the horses practically stroll all the way into town. Leyli had accompanied them, cooing and crying all over Zara. Zara had cried in her chest, because it was all she could really do, and while she regretted it now, she had enjoyed her mother¡¯s embrace. It was so rare for Zara to get a hug from her anymore. She had half wondered whether death was the better end of the deal after all, but she couldn¡¯t let Rowan¡¯s sacrifice be in vain. That pesky brother of hers had saved her life. The fact that he would struggle at all for her was nothing short of astonishing, and Zara would be eternally grateful for what he¡¯d done that night. The boy had a good heart after all¡ªone he hadn¡¯t inherited from their father, clearly. Zahir had punched Rowan¡¯s face before ordering him to clean the splattered beetle in the dining room once he¡¯d brought Zara back from the clinic. They arrived to the dim, hushed roads in the middle of town at half-past twelve. Dr. Almur lived on the clinic¡¯s second floor, and he allowed after-hour patients. ¡°There¡¯s never telling when someone should fall ill,¡± he would say. His night staff let the family into the well-kept, homey looking office and let Zara sit wrapped in a blanket in front of a crackling fireplace while the assistant called on the doctor. Dr. Afzar Almur was an old man in his mid fifties, bald and stout with a thick graying beard. His small, gray eyes were kind and jovial. He knew the family well; they¡¯ve been patients of his for years. When questioned by Dr. Almur about both Zahir and Zara¡¯s injuries, Zahir of course had no issues lying about how Zara ended up in the condition she was in. She had gone out without permission and locked herself in the shed when Zahir went looking for her. And once found, she had scratched his head up from delirium. The poisonous centipedes and mosquitoes have left her battered, a punishment he thought fit for a daughter¡¯s rebellious disobedience. Was that why he¡¯d made the carriage take so long? To ensure he had enough time to come up with that hack of a story? It was true those damn centipedes had almost done her in, but what in Mother¡¯s name was this talk about running away when he had dragged her, by her fucking hair, out of the house? No, it was stupid to question it at all¡ªZara knew full well the reason for his lies¡ªbut in her rugged mind, she couldn¡¯t help but silently question anyway. But when the doctor brought up the rough scrapes on Zara¡¯s legs, hips, and the poorly wrapped knee¡ªnobody had bothered taking the glass shard out, it had remained jammed in her knee all this fucking time¡ªZahir¡¯s adamant attitude worsened, loudly claiming that she had done this to herself, that she had grown mentally sick. Leyli just bobbed her head along, trying not to let too many guilty tears fall. The doctor let the matter drop. Zara was given plenty of natural leem medicine and ointment treatments for each injury. The shard was finally removed, and her knee was cleaned, stitched up, and professionally re-bandaged. It was all a very painful process, but worth it so as long as Zara could eventually walk on both legs again. She was advised, as they all had expected, to stay the night so her fevers could be monitored. Zahir pulled his wife back home with him, despite her meek protests. ¡°We¡¯ll be back in the morning, okay?¡± Leyli had assured Zara sadly. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. You¡¯re in better hands here.¡± Zara had spent the night crying, shivering, and vomiting. She swore her skin would melt off her, but the doctor assured her the medicines were taking effect. The nurse gave her some ice and extra blankets. ¡°This is the worst of it, dear,¡± Dr. Almur said in a gentle voice. ¡°Do make sure you don¡¯t run off into a viinstra¡¯s den again, and all will be well.¡± There it was, the official name for the white centipede that no one ever cared to remember. He laughed, but Zara had not laughed with him.
The soft knocking at the door almost startled the crap out of her. ¡°Yes?¡± Zara squeaked. She coughed, desperate for water still. The door opened ajar, and in popped Rowan¡¯s frizzy head. ¡°Hey,¡± he whispered. Zara was relieved to see him. ¡°Hey,¡± she said back, her voice low. ¡°What are you doing?¡± He rushed in and quietly closed the door behind him. In his hand was a bowl of ice shavings. ¡°I brought some ice,¡± he announced. ¡°In case your fever¡¯s still running hot or whatever.¡± ¡°I need water,¡± Zara replied with a small smile. ¡°That will do, though. Thank you.¡± Rowan took the chair from her desk and placed it next to her bed. He set the bowl down on the side table, allowing her to pop some into her mouth to quench her thirst. ¡°Thought you might¡¯ve wanted some company,¡± he said, sitting down. ¡°Also, Ma went out for a bit and Auntie¡¯s asleep. They¡¯ve been making such a fuss over that hag for nothing¡­¡± The bruise on the left side of his mouth had darkened. At least it didn¡¯t seem to be bothering him much for now. ¡°Baba¡¯s seriously acting like Auntie was the one who almost died¡ª¡± Rowan shut his mouth for a moment. ¡°Sorry,¡± he mumbled. Zara put more ice in her mouth. It was difficult not to cry, and that pissed her off. She should be so used to this by now. Used to feeling unwanted, used to feeling like a mistake. Yet she kept breaking down anyway, for nothing. Zara clenched the bed sheet. A warning cloud of death loomed over her, constantly. Zahir made it clear he wanted her gone. He hadn¡¯t spoken directly to her once after that night. He was probably plotting another way to get rid of her. Zara gave Rowan a quick glance. He used to be such an unbearable little kid. When he hadn¡¯t been outright ignoring her, he used to make fun of her and her subpar dancing skills, and the fact that she was a witch who¡¯d be alone forever. He¡¯d often gloat that he was the favorite child¡ªat least when Naz wasn¡¯t around. Now he was becoming a young man, a man who still had a lot of boy left in him. He was still the same Rowan that was rowdy with his friends and smart with his mouth, the same Rowan who would barge into his sister¡¯s room unannounced and sprinkle onion crisps all over the floor. The same Rowan who couldn¡¯t take care of his hair or hygiene for shit. ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± Zara lied. ¡°They always act like that around Auntie.¡± ¡°Well, sure,¡± he said. ¡°But¡­still.¡± He ran his hands through his hair. It was messily tied up, and he had just made it worse. Zara chuckled. ¡°Right. Thank you.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°I said¡ªnever mind. You heard what I said.¡± She shrugged, because this was Rowan, and it was awkward even though she really wished she could hug him. ¡°I¡¯d be dead if it wasn¡¯t for your help.¡± ¡°Oh!¡± Rowan flushed. ¡°Right. Whatever.¡± If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. ¡°What I can¡¯t believe is you actually carried me¡ª¡± ¡°You were really heavy by the way.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not heavy.¡± Rowan chuckled. ¡°If you say so. But it was so nasty. You know you got blood all over me?¡± ¡°I did not.¡± ¡°You did.¡± ¡°¡­Was it a lot?¡± ¡°Well¡­no. But you stained my shirt. And that shirt was white. What a pain to get off.¡± Zara smirked back at him. ¡°You¡¯ve become like a good brother so suddenly.¡± ¡°Suddenly? And what are you saying, anyway? Like a good brother?¡± They laughed. It felt nice to laugh. Zara felt the clog in her throat cease, along with the impulse to shove down more ice. ¡°Anyway,¡± Rowan said, ¡°it seems Baba hates us both now.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Zara pressed her lips together. ¡°Mmm¡­he¡¯s always hated me, but you? I don¡¯t know. That¡¯s quite the assumption to make.¡± ¡°Okay maybe hate¡¯s the wrong word,¡± Rowan admitted. ¡°For you¡­it¡¯s more like he tolerated you. But I don¡¯t think it was hate or anything. Only because¡­ one time I heard him and Ma talking and it sounded like they were hoping you would turn out normal or something. So we could be a family.¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡± That was interesting. Zara did not know about this. It did nothing to erase her contempt for him, however. ¡°They¡¯re always worried. Because if people found out, you know¡­like if you made a mistake¡­.¡± ¡°Like I did with Auntie?¡± ¡°¡­.She deserved that.¡± Zara regarded him for a moment before reluctantly nodding. ¡°That¡¯s why you did it, didn¡¯t you?¡± ¡°That¡¯s my problem though,¡± Zara explained. ¡°I didn¡¯t actually mean to do anything. I don¡¯t know what happened, or how I did it, or how any of this works. I was furious and I¡­felt something warm coming, in my hand. The bug was on the table and there was this urge to¡ª¡± She didn¡¯t know why she was suddenly detailing all of this to him. ¡°Urge to¡­?¡± Rowan pressed. His eyes were rounded as though Zara was telling him she¡¯d climbed the highest peak of Mount Lilith or something. ¡°I-I had an urge. But I can¡¯t say why I did. There was talk about Yohid and then Auntie wouldn¡¯t shut the fuck up so¡­it¡¯s like I saw something in front of me. Something that¡­I can control? I wanted to make them stop.¡± Rowan stared at her for so long it made her physically uncomfortable. He leaned back in the chair. ¡°Wow. I guess I should stay on your good side all the time from now on, huh?¡± he said quietly. ¡°I-I¡¯m sorry,¡± Zara stuttered, shifting back on her bed. She was scaring him again, making him think she was some dangerous thing that cursed anyone who looked at her wrong. She couldn¡¯t have that. Not when things between them were patching up¡ª ¡°I was joking!¡± Rowan said. He burst out laughing. ¡°You should have seen your face, ahaha!¡± Zara frowned. He was so stupid, really. " Though¡­seriously, I should probably stay on your good side,¡± he faltered. ¡°You aren¡¯t doing a very good job of it right now,¡± she remarked dryly, but relaxed her defensive posture. Rowan smiled, and it was genuine. ¡°I think your magic is¡­.pretty frightening. But in a good way. It¡¯s¡­frighteningly good.¡± He quickly added, ¡°As long as you never use it on me, of course.¡± Zara¡¯s brows flew up. It took a moment to process what he had just said. ¡°¡­.A-Are you being serious?¡± Rowan nodded. ¡°The more we learn about it at school, or when Auntie goes on one of her tirades about it, I can¡¯t help but wonder about you. I mean¡­the potential¡¯s there, is it not? You¡¯re just never allowed to use it. And we also learned that some mages used to be good. We all used to live peacefully together, too. It¡¯s just¡­most of them became our enemies, eventually. But, not every mage has to be bad, right?¡± He seemed hopeful and uncertain at once. Zara let it sink in. Yes, mages and humans have once roamed just fine without war breaking loose at every corner. It had been a normal part of life, a thousand years prior. But much has happened in those thousand years, and now here Zara was in a world where most of her kind have long since been executed, because humans have exploited their weaknesses and doomed them unholy. What a life. ¡°I thought you would hate me,¡± Zara said. ¡°I mean, I used to think you already did?¡± ¡°Hm¡­¡± Rowan thought about it. ¡°To be honest, I didn¡¯t like you for a long time, but that was before. I thought you were weird and, well.¡± He shrugged guiltily. ¡°Not a good person.¡± Ouch. Zara winced. ¡°But I started feeling bad for you. I can¡¯t remember exactly when it started though.¡± He cocked his head in contemplation. ¡°Maybe it was that time when we went on that family trip to Darhai some months ago, and you weren¡¯t allowed to come with us. We left you here with Auntie of all people to watch over you. The look on your face when Baba told you that you would be staying here was nothing short of depressing. You were so looking forward to getting out of the house. And then on the day we left, I looked back from the carriage and saw you crying at your window, and I think that was when¡ª¡± Rowan blushed at Zara¡¯s tearful gaze. ¡°What are you doing? Why are you crying now? Did you need more ice?¡± he asked aggressively. ¡°So that¡¯s what started it? The family trip I never got to be a part of?¡± Zara couldn¡¯t help but scoff through her tears. She wasn¡¯t upset knowing this, not at all. Simply surprised that a memory was all it took for him to open up. It was making her emotional. Rowan shrugged. ¡°You could say that. It made me realize how sad you are all the time.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sad all the time,¡± Zara said. ¡°Though, I don¡¯t remember the last time I was very happy. I have good¡ªwell, normal¡ªdays and then of course, there are the bad days. Lately, I¡¯ve had a string of bad days.¡± Rowan chuckled before his expression grew serious again. ¡°You know, Ma and Baba treat me like I¡¯m stupid. I mean, you do too¡ª¡± ¡°And I¡¯m sorry,¡± Zara said, ¡°but there are times I know you¡¯re doing it on purpose.¡± Rowan frowned. ¡°Um. That¡¯s true, I guess. But Baba especially thinks I¡¯m a failure compared to Naz.¡± Naz. That¡¯s right. Ma sent him a letter invitation for Dolly¡¯s engagement party. So that¡¯s what¡¯s eating him. Naz¡¯s potential return. Zara shook her head. ¡°You¡¯re thirteen. He¡¯s twenty-five. There¡¯s still time. He¡¯s done a lot and you¡¯re far behind him through no fault of your own. You¡¯re not even finished with school yet.¡± ¡°I know! But I don¡¯t understand why they act like it¡¯s the end of the world just because I¡¯m not as refined as he was when he was my age. What shit!¡± Rowan huffed. ¡°And now¡­neither of them are speaking to me. What am I supposed to feel about it? Is it better than them breathing down my neck all the time? I can¡¯t even ask a simple question like, ¡®May I have something to eat¡¯ without them looking at me like I¡¯m that squashed up monster-beetle on our dining room floor. Which, by the way, that was really disgusting to clean up.¡± Zara clucked her tongue. The reason they weren¡¯t speaking to him was obvious, but she would let him figure that out on his own. ¡°I don¡¯t think they ever liked me. Auntie thinks it¡¯s because I¡¯ve sided with the ¡®wicked¡¯ and I¡¯m just so confused because I never said I sided with anybody!¡± he rambled. ¡°You haven¡¯t picked a side, then?¡± Zara said. ¡°So, what do you think of Yohid? He dies in a few days.¡± And it broke Zara¡¯s heart to pieces. Fate wasn¡¯t on his side. And it wouldn¡¯t be on hers either. She felt like vomiting again. Rowan studied her. ¡°I can¡¯t answer you. I¡¯ve never met him,¡± he said carefully. ¡°Does it matter? He¡¯s eight. He¡¯s¡­just a kid. And they¡¯re gonna kill him.¡± She stopped a moment before whispering, ¡°It could be me one day.¡± ¡°Zara, you¡¯re shaking,¡± Rowan said, moving the chair forward so he could hold her wrist. ¡°You should stop thinking about him. There¡¯s nothing you can do.¡± Zara pressed her lips tight. She willed herself not to break down. ¡°There¡¯s nothing you can do,¡± Rowan emphasized, ¡°that won¡¯t have you falling in the same predicament as him. So stop. Give it a rest. You need to rest from all of this. Especially magic. As much as I want to know more about it, I¡¯m afraid that it does more harm than good. That¡¯s what our history shows, and it¡¯s showing it now. To me. With you.¡± ¡°With me?¡± Zara didn¡¯t understand. What she had done with that beetle could be considered horrible, but how could Rowan bring up something as extensive as the history of magic into this? Unleashing a bug couldn¡¯t possibly be comparable to all the atrocities past mages have done. Atrocities that had nothing to do with Zara. ¡°What are you talking about?¡± ¡°The bird,¡± Rowan said. ¡°You had it come for me, to help you. But then you also used it to attack Baba, so¡­¡± ¡°Wait¡­.what?¡± The bird. That black bird of death. Zara remembered the glaring, beady eyes, the cracked beak¡­the wings half-feathered, half bones. The thing was going to shriek at her before she fainted. She still had nightmares about it. Zara believed she had seen the true manifestation of death. But, how could Rowan know about it? ¡°You don¡¯t remember?¡± Rowan blinked, surprised. ¡°Wow, you must have been really out of your mind.¡± ¡°Rowan, what are you even saying? How do you know about¡ªare you talking about¡­what I saw¡­?¡± She trailed off. ¡°What you saw? What? I¡¯m talking about the scary black bird you summoned that night.¡± ¡°Summoned?! I didn¡¯t summon anything!¡± ¡°Yes you did! You just said you saw it¡ª¡± ¡°No, I meant I saw it in a dream! A really horrible dream of a huge black crow thing with a cracked beak and it was about to scream at me, or-or eat me, I don¡¯t even want to know. I¡¯m so confused. How could you know anything about that?¡± ¡°I-I don¡¯t? That¡¯s not what I¡¯m talking about. I¡¯m not talking about any dream, Zara. You sent that bird to me to help you. It came to me. And it spoke.¡± Zara stared at him, her mouth parted in disbelief. Rowan went on, ¡°It said your name, a bunch of times. And then ¡®Help¡¯. That thing led me right to you.¡± ¡°That¡¯s¡­not possible,¡± Zara whispered. Some birds can mimic human sounds, but¡­this bird Rowan spoke of¡­if what he said was true, then that bird¡ªit had to have been a raven, now that she considered it¡ªhad been oddly specific. Tracking down Rowan, speaking her name, calling for help¡­had it been enchanted? By who? ¡°Until next time, Zara.¡± Zara shivered. ¡°It led me to you,¡± Rowan firmly repeated. ¡°Explain that, then.¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡± Zara paused. She couldn¡¯t tell him about the wizard. Not now. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I guess I don¡¯t remember after all. Maybe¡­I did summon it somehow? Out of desperation? I mean, I was dying.¡± Rowan¡¯s gaze softened. ¡°Right. I can only imagine.¡± ¡°So, talking black bird. A raven, then?¡± ¡°Raven? Oh yeah, that¡¯s the name for it. Yes. A raven.¡± Zara wanted to be alone now. She wanted to contemplate this. The demon raven from her dream brought her a lot of dread. It had to be connected with the one that had aided in her rescue. The wizard, it had to have been him. She could feel it. But she wasn¡¯t comfortable relaying any of this to Rowan. The fact that she¡¯d met an expert mage, and said mage had showed an interest in her, was something she wanted to keep to herself for the time being. ¡°I wish I would have done it anyway,¡± Rowan mumbled. ¡°What?¡± ¡°I should have helped you anyway. With or without the raven coming to me,¡± Rowan admitted. His face was flushed. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I-I think I would have come to you, later on. Just because¡­.you¡¯d be out there all night¡ªand I wasn¡¯t sure what Baba was planning. Maybe I would have asked him if he¡¯d bring you home eventually, or run out on my own or¡ª¡± She cut him off. ¡°It¡¯s okay, Rowan. You did more than anyone here ever would¡¯ve.¡± So he¡¯d wanted to rescue her anyway. Zara rubbed her eye, pretending it was just the dust. ¡°Uh-huh,¡± Rowan grunted awkwardly. He stood up and stretched. ¡°Okay, um. Sure. I should go now, I think. Auntie might wake up any minute and I don¡¯t want her to catch me in here.¡± ¡°Of course. We¡¯ll talk again some other time.¡± Maybe. Hopefully. Rowan nodded as he backed toward the door. ¡°Okay. I¡¯ll see you, then.¡± They heard the front door opening downstairs, signaling Leyli¡¯s return. This was Rowan¡¯s cue to open Zara¡¯s and step out. ¡°Until next time,¡± Zara murmured, after he shut the door behind him. A Name and A Trade Two more nights had passed before the raven perched itself on Zara¡¯s window. She¡¯d been keeping it ajar every night despite the cold blowing in, assuming at some point, the raven would come to her. She just didn¡¯t know which night it would be. Despite having expected it, the fluttering at the window with the raven¡¯s soft caw had made her heart skip a beat out of fright. The raven cawed again. Zara, with bated breath, approached cautiously, hobbling painfully over to the window as quietly as she could with her cane. She pulled back the curtain. The raven sat at the sill, its sharp eyes regarding her. Zara stared back, her throat dry when she swallowed. The thing in front of her was nothing like the monster from her nightmares, yet¡­ ¡°Oh,¡± Zara gasped. She hadn¡¯t noticed the tiny glass bottle next to the raven¡¯s feet. ¡°What¡­?¡± It was a green liquid, reminiscent of leem extract the doctor had given her, but more concentrated given its paler hue. ¡°Drink,¡± it said. Zara shook her head in disbelief. The raven cocked its head, blinking rapidly. ¡°What is this?¡± she whispered, more to herself than to the raven. She had to be dreaming again. It was too surreal. ¡°Drink.¡± Hesitantly, Zara picked up the bottle with fingers, careful that her shaking fingers wouldn¡¯t drop the minuscule thing. She pulled off the cork and pulled it up to her nose before taking a deep breath, and downing it in one shot. It was definitely leem, as it had that ground-like taste and smell. This concoction however, was a lot more sour. Zara puckered her lips. What have I done? What am I doing? She had just taken an unknown offering from some random creature like it was nothing on her life. Like it didn¡¯t have the potential to make her sick, or worse, kill her. Any regret, or illness, she might have would be from her own doing. Zara¡¯s knee began to tingle, and the soreness from her scabbing flesh began to smooth out. Her fever chills ceased, her mind better alert. Huh? The raven turned back, spreading its wings to make flight again. ¡°W-Wait,¡± Zara whispered. ¡°Where are you going?¡± ¡°Follow,¡± it spoke. It flew off, disappearing into the blackness. A gust of cold wind blew through and Zara shut the window, her entire body tingled with warmth. She began limping to her dresser, then stopped. ¡°Oh¡­¡± she exhaled, dropping the cane and carefully stretching out her left leg. The pain in her knee had mostly disappeared, leaving only a slight prickle where the stitching was. A miracle. A real miracle. Zara threw on a thick black cloak and a wool scarf. She was going out, and doing so on her own terms. This time, she¡¯d bundle up.
He waited for her, as a human, at the clearing beyond the forest overlooking a wide river. The water swirled lazily down and around between stone and fallen branches, traveling miles away between a large mountain pass, eventually leading out into the grand lake on the other side. The place was misty, and the moon shone high, creating sparkling reflections in the river. The trees and shrubs shivered in the icy breeze. She appeared, crunching through twigs and frozen ice, panting as she made the shallow ascent up the hill where he awaited. His enhanced leem had healed her better, though she still walked with a slight limp. This clearing was where Zara came alone to practice her dancing, or when she wanted silence. She¡¯d come more often back when the weather was warmer. But sometimes, she couldn¡¯t resist coming here during the cool season either¡ªusually around sunset when the view was best. She¡¯d stand and watch the painted skies and falling snow, hugged in layers of her coziest attire. Zara stopped short, practically stumbling back upon noticing The Sorcerer¡¯s tall, cloaked silhouette, his clothes practically camouflaging in the dark. She stood still, her eyes never leaving him. He wondered if she could make out his face from over there. Of course, she already knew what his face looked like. But conversing at such a wide distance was going to be a hassle, and he wasn¡¯t about to be the one to inch closer to her. Should he beckon her, then? He didn¡¯t want to scare her. She was nervous enough. He probably shouldn¡¯t have lured her out so soon, while she was still recovering. But he needed to get the wheels rolling, and besides, Zara had chosen to follow him in her weary state, by no influence of his magic. It was by her own curiosity that she was here. She wanted this. The Sorcerer nodded and gestured a hand toward himself, smiling pleasantly even though he doubted she could see it. Zara moved closer, whispering a gasp when she accidentally put too much pressure on her left leg. Nevertheless, she moved forward, now more determined it seemed, to get even closer. By the moon¡¯s light he could see her face had recovered immensely (thanks to him), leaving mostly dry patches and healing scabs. Her under eyes were dark from lack of sleep. The medicine he¡¯d provided her was strong. It combined both leem extract and alcocine, a medicinal herb for wound healing from within the body. Alcocine alone was effective, thus one of the more expensive herbs in the medicine market. But fused with another effective extract, and with The Sorcerer¡¯s charms, its healing power was like no other. Doctors and healers from all over the globe would kill to get their hands on this remedy. The meager drops he¡¯d let Zara have had been enough, any more would have caused severe skin irritation and internal wounding. The Sorcerer was no medicine man, but a few simple healing potions were useful for any mage to know. ¡°Zara,¡± The Sorcerer greeted her once she was a couple feet away. ¡°We meet again.¡± Zara swallowed, still panting from her short hike. She regarded him a moment. ¡°How are you feeling?¡± he asked. ¡°How are your wounds? Are they healing well?¡± Her exhaustive breathing finally slowed. ¡°Um, y-yes. Thank¡­you,¡± she stammered. He nodded, offering her a courteous smile. ¡°Of course. In another day¡¯s time, all will be well. That bottle I¡¯ve given you is quite potent.¡± Zara didn¡¯t respond to that. Another minute went by as she shuffled uncomfortably, wrapping her thick cloak around herself like a shield. ¡°Is there anything you¡¯d like to ask me?¡± The Sorcerer asked when the silence had stretched too long. ¡°Anything you¡¯d like to know?¡± ¡°Uh¡­¡± Zara¡¯s voice shook. She opened her mouth, then closed it. A second later she was back at it again¡ªthe hesitancy. ¡°Go on,¡± The Sorcerer said lightly. ¡°I¡¯m listening. In fact, it¡¯s why I brought you here, as troublesome as it may have been for you. I apologize. But I can understand how you¡¯re feeling. I understand you. And I¡¯d like you to know that I may be the only one in your lifetime who ever will.¡± She stopped trembling and finally looked him square in the eye. Her mouth parted in wonder. ¡°Yes¡­¡± she answered carefully. ¡°I need¡­I need to ask you something.¡± The Sorcerer waited. ¡°What is your name?¡± That response gave him pause. He had to admit he was a bit taken back, at first. However, he quirked his lips and delivered a smooth reply: ¡°My name is Revan. I am happy we have a chance to speak again, Zara. Now¡­where shall we begin?¡±
She¡¯s really fucking done it now! Rowan threw on his cloak, despite feeling woozy from the fever he had just broken out of. It was the middle of the fucking night and his bedridden sister had snuck out of the house. He was able to tell by her soft footsteps passing his door. Well clearly, she wasn¡¯t as bedridden as she¡¯d let on. But she definitely wasn¡¯t well enough to pull such a stupid stunt right now! What in the world was she doing? Was she trying to get herself sicker by traipsing out into the damn frost again? For what possible reason? She had none! No friends¡­no lover¡­nothing. Where would she go? Following her would be just as idiotic. Rowan had frozen his ass saving her that dreadful night, only to have his throat start itching later in the week. He¡¯d done well to ignore it during his heart-to-heart with Zara. But that night, his nose dripped. Then came the headaches and the chills. Before he knew it, he was forced into bed with hot soups and a cool towel for his throbbing head. Rowan tried hushing his sneeze as he tiptoed down the stairs, taking care to avoid the creaks in the stairs. The only reason he¡¯d heard her at all was because he couldn¡¯t get to sleep. His head hurt thinking about that kid¡¯s execution tomorrow evening. News had spread through this town like an avalanche within a few days time. Everybody would attend, and Rowan couldn¡¯t help feeling disturbed by the general excitement around the neighboring areas. He couldn¡¯t stop thinking about Zara¡¯s face and how she¡¯d cried about it happening to her someday. He didn¡¯t even know Yohid. So why was he so afraid? Why did thinking about watching that boy die make Rowan sick to his stomach? He¡¯d never been to a public execution, and when he was younger, the thought of one had sent thrills throug his body. Now he can only berate himself for having been so young, dumb, and cruel. Wait¡­was that it? Was Zara going to try and save this kid somehow? How?! Did she even know where he was?! Rowan slowly and gently closed the front door behind him, even though he really just wanted to slam it and run as fast as he could. He could see her limping toward the forest, getting smaller and distant. This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience. What? The forest? There was something else, too. Rowan thought he saw something zipping around in front of her. Some black thing. He couldn¡¯t tell what it was before it suddenly disappeared as Zara plunged into the fog. Maybe he had imagined it, but his gut was telling him otherwise. She was following something. And Rowan would follow her. Life around Zara was becoming more and more complicated. Dangerous, even. Years of her almost dull presence now suddenly felt like the ground would cave in if she simply willed it too. Rowan jogged on, determined to find out why this was.
¡°You saved my life.¡± ¡°No,¡± Revan replied. ¡°Your brother did.¡± Zara bit her chapped lip, unable to think straight. There were so many things she wanted to ask, but standing before him in a dark forest like this was making her head spin and her blood rush with anxiety. Perhaps it was the effects of the enchanted medicine. She really should be in bed sleeping and not standing here with a strange man who had lured her out of her home¡­ Could she trust him? How did she know she wasn¡¯t under his constant influence? ¡°Why am I here?¡± she croaked out. ¡°Why did I follow you? Is this your doing? Is this similar to what you did to me last time?¡± ¡°Let me ask you this,¡± he said. ¡°Was the experience similar to the previous time? Did you feel your mind, your emotions, being manipulated as it had been at Ruvini¡¯s?¡± ¡°¡­.I don¡¯t know,¡± she answered, still suspicious. He chuckled. ¡°If you do not know, then it did not happen. You are here because you wanted to be here. Isn¡¯t that right?¡± She¡¯d noticed it slightly before, but it was much more apparent now that he was speaking freely¡ªhis accent was different. She¡¯d heard Divvish people speak, it was similar to their accents. But his tongue was smoother, elegant. Maybe he hailed from an older sect, or perhaps another culture entirely. Zara honestly wouldn¡¯t know for sure. Revan smiled warmly at her, as though convincing her he wasn¡¯t a threat. It was working. ¡°So you¡­you can turn yourself into birds, too,¡± Zara pointed out. ¡°Among other creatures as well, if I obtain the correct materials to do so. Though I have to admit, speaking as a raven is still difficult on my throat sometimes. I am out of practice.¡± ¡°Practice¡­¡± Zara whispered. Unbelievable¡­.but no. This is real. He is real. ¡°You¡¯re¡­an actual wizard. You¡¯re what I¡¯ve read about from every book and tale a-and¡­I can¡¯t even tell you how overwhelmed I am. I¡¯m sorry.¡± She tittered stupidly. ¡°I understand.¡± ¡°Why are you here? O-or¡­why did you want to meet me?¡± Revan chuckled. ¡°I¡¯m no mere wizard, Zara. I¡¯m a Sorcerer. There are different classes to this, a hierarchy if you so wish to call it that. I¡¯ve moved beyond wizardry.¡± Zara blinked. Of course there were different classes of sorcery. But she didn¡¯t expect herself to be in the presence of not a wizard, but an actual Sorcerer. A mage that belonged to the highest class in the order. Holy Mother of¡ª ¡°But I¡¯m sure you know of such things already,¡± he added. ¡°And to answer your other concern, you simply caught my attention as a fellow mage. That¡¯s all.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Zara spoke reluctantly. ¡°But, you give off the impression that you know a lot about me alreay. You knew my name. You knew where to find me, where my home was¡­¡± Revan looked at her expectantly, with a confident air that made Zara feel like he knew more than he let on. She could only come to one conclusion. ¡°You¡¯ve been watching me,¡± she mumbled. The bitter air was seeping through her cloak, into her skin, rattling her bones. Revan said nothing. ¡°For how long?¡± she needed to ask. ¡°Long enough to see your potential.¡± ¡°My¡­what?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to disturb you any more than you already are. However, you can¡¯t blame me for my interest in you. I have not met another mage in decades. I was starting to fear I was the only one left on this world. But I happen to come across this town after a long time again, and I sensed you. ¡°I couldn¡¯t believe it, not right away. Your magic was so weak I thought I had imagined it. Nevertheless¡­I kept watch. And then there were the flares of power, confirming what you are. So I continued watching since.¡± He smiled. ¡°It seems¡­you¡¯re starting to let your magic speak for your emotions. That has made you stronger, albeit unreliable and wild, but magic naturally takes some time getting used to.¡± Unreliable and wild. Zara felt queasy. She took a step back from him. ¡°Um, how do you watch me?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll show you how if the time ever comes for it.¡± She didn¡¯t understand what that meant. It left her with more questions than answers. She might as well diverge from this troubling subject by asking her next question. ¡°Where are you from then, if not here? You didn¡¯t come here looking for me, that much you¡¯ve just made clear. What did you seek in Pria?¡± Revan shrugged. ¡°I was passing through on my way to Bazant City, further south. I thought I¡¯d make a stop here, stay for a while back when the weather was alright. Pria is one of the more peaceful places I know of¡­until now that is.¡± He sighed. ¡°That poor boy.¡± Zara¡¯s head rushed at the prospect of tomorrow¡¯s sundown. She crossed her shivering arms together. She must stay composed. She wished she could have found a way to help Yohid. He was a child locked in a cell, tortured, alone, with a doomed fate ahead of him. And it was through no fault of his own that this was happening to him. How could people be so cruel to someone so¡­small? Innocent? Powerless? Powerless¡­power¡­ Zara looked to Revan desperately. ¡°Poor boy? But¡­you can save him. You can save him, can¡¯t you? You¡¯ve been watching, you know what¡¯s going to happen. You could have saved him from the start!¡± Revan raised a brow of indifference. Unbelievable. ¡°You could have¡­done something¡­¡± Zara¡¯s voice faded out, tired. ¡°Why not? He¡¯s a mage, like us. It doesn¡¯t make sense for you not to intervene. Do you really not care?¡± ¡°It is not that¡ª¡± ¡°You sought me out but what about him?¡± Zara whimpered in a low breath. ¡°As unfortunate as it is,¡± Revan said, ¡°I cannot save him.¡± ¡°Why not?¡± ¡°I am not one to go around acting as a savior. Besides, me helping him out of his binds would only cause more suspicion upon you.¡± ¡°What?¡± Can¡¯t be a savior? Suspicion upon her? Why would that be? That¡¯s not what she was asking of him. It was just this one boy who needed help. What kind of a man was she really dealing with here? Zara was getting angrier by the second. Revan sighed. ¡°You¡¯re not going to like hearing this, Zara. But your time left in Pria is shortening by the second.¡± Zara waited for his explanation, on edge. Her teeth chattered and she folded her arms together under her cloak. ¡°Your father¡¯s futile attempt to take your life wasn¡¯t only about what you did with that mere insect. The real issue here are his work associates. They have started inquiring him about you.¡± ¡°Inquiring¡­why would they do that?¡± Why would her father¡¯s friends care about her at all? Zahir purposefully tried to keep Zara out of his personal conversations with colleagues, to avoid too many prying questions about her. Most people actually forgot she existed, until they were reminded that Zahir had three children and not two. ¡°They now wonder why he avoids discussing you, why his responses about you are so vague compared to how he speaks of his sons¡­¡± Zara¡¯s throat constricted. ¡°This is due to Yohid¡¯s torture confession, when he mentioned meeting you.¡± Her surroundings had gone completely black. She stumbled, and Revan grabbed her before she could fall, gently lowering her down. ¡°Oh¡­¡± Zara opened her eyes after a minute. Her entire body felt pounded through. ¡°Why¡­.? Why would he do that?¡± ¡°He¡¯s just a boy,¡± Revan said, and his tone implied regret for Yohid¡¯s dilemma. Zara, in her distress, did not think to ask Revan how he knew the details of her father¡¯s interactions with his colleagues or of Yohid¡¯s confession. There were more important matters at hand. This town was closing in on her, and they¡¯d make her suffer. ¡°Why? Why would he do that? Why would he¡­are they c-coming after me?¡± Revan shook his head. ¡°Zahir managed to appease them. He insisted that the boy was delirious and needed someone to blame, and he mentioned that the two of you had met once before and you showed him some kindness. Everyone thinks the boy is using you as a scapegoat. But that does not mean their suspicions are fully gone. This matter goes beyond any ordinary crime. There is sorcery involved. You need to understand what is at stake here, Zara. If I were to help Yohid, the shift of blame may immediately fall on you, and the officials of this town will add you to their witch hunt.¡± Zara quietly stewed over her predicament. She was in deep shit, and it was her own fault. Helping him, bandaging him, giving him coin. It had been¡­a mistake. ¡°I know how it feels,¡± Revan said, standing up again, ¡°to meet someone of your kind for the first time. But your mistake lies in your honest enthusiasm. Do not trust anyone with your identity, even if it be a child. Especially a child.¡± Zara raised her head to meet his eye. ¡°Should I trust you?¡± Revan smiled thinly. ¡°That is for you to decide. But I mean you no harm.¡± ¡°Then what do you want?¡± Revan ceased a reply. His focus suddenly landed on something in the forest beyond her. Zara turned her head, and saw nothing. A minute went by as Zara sat still, confused by his intensity. She turned to where he looked again, but there still lacked any other presence. ¡°What is it?¡± she whispered. She was met with his silence, his severe gaze stopped on the forest. He sensed something she couldn¡¯t. It was scaring her. ¡°R-Revan?¡± Revan blinked, casting his eyes back down on her. ¡°Do not be alarmed,¡± he assured. ¡°Someone was attempting to pass through. I urged them back so they would not come upon us.¡± ¡°Wh¡ªthere was someone coming?!¡± Zara exclaimed. ¡°Who would do that?¡± This late into the night? Was someone following her? That had to have been it, there was no other explanation. She didn¡¯t have a good feeling about this. Her house was the only property within manageable walking distance from this clearing. Revan shook his head. ¡°I am not sure. Perhaps a hunter.¡± Zara frowned, trying to ignore the stab of horror in her gut. ¡°I doubt that. How did you know someone was there, anyway?¡± Revan chuckled. ¡°I¡¯m sure you have many questions for me of that nature. I would be happy to answer them and even show you how my magic works if you would like.¡± ¡°Show¡­me?¡± She wanted to know, but her stomach flipped at meeting this man again like this. But curiosity won over apprehension, and she wanted to learn what she could do with magic herself. ¡°As I said, you have great potential Zara. The power I¡¯ve felt from you in that shed was incredible for someone who had never utilized it in their life.¡± ¡°My power?¡± Zara asked. ¡°You felt it? But, I was unconscious.¡± ¡°Yet, you managed to create a small tremor. I felt it in the air, and in the ground near you.¡± Her mouth opened. A tremor? In the ground? No. That¡¯s not possible. I can¡¯t do that! I¡¯ve never done that! ¡°Are you sure it wasn¡¯t just¡­a normal quake?¡± Quakes were rare in Pria, but not unheard of. Zara had never experienced one, though her mother had, years before Naz was even born. The quake was small, and nonthreatening. In other parts of the world, particularly near the shore sides and lands further south, the ground would shake so hard it would cause establishments to fall and floors to crack open. Many people would die in brutal quakes, however they didn¡¯t occur often at all. The previous one Zara heard of was ten years ago near the port city of Andras, the continent across Sanyara. The Shipping Point had to be rebuilt, halting trade between the two major port cities for a month. ¡°No my dear,¡± Revan answered. ¡°It was from you.¡± He could have been lying, for all she knew, just to entice her. But for what, exactly? What did he want from her? ¡°How do I know that what you¡¯re telling me isn¡¯t all pretend?¡± Zara said. ¡°Your power needs training,¡± Revan replied. ¡°And once you train, you will know that I only speak what is true.¡± Zara looked at him, contemplatively. She slowly¡ªand somewhat painfully¡ªlifted herself off the ground, cautiously so as not to injure her knee any further. ¡°Training¡­is that what this is about?¡± she demanded. ¡°Perhaps,¡± Revan answered coyly. ¡°Perhaps I only wanted to meet you, to get to know you away from prying eyes and ears. But, training your magic¡­is that what you wish to do?¡± ¡°Well, would it be with¡­with you?¡± ¡°Who else has offered, my dear?¡± ¡°No! I mean, yes. Yes, I want to train,¡± Zara said. ¡°I wish to learn to control my magic, the way you do with yours.¡± Revan smiled. ¡°Very well.¡± ¡°So¡­y-you would show me?¡± ¡°I can train you to control your magic.¡± Zara took a deep breath in, her excitement¡ªand fear¡ªbuilding. ¡°I will teach you the ways of sorcery, ancient and otherwise,¡± Revan said. ¡°And in turn, you will study under me, as my apprentice.¡±
Rowan had lost sight of Zara through the annoying fog. He took a random direction, thinking he¡¯d heard her footsteps, but it just turned out to be a moose. Rowan pushed passed thick branches, unaware of his surroundings and how far he was going. This was a bad idea¡­ But he had come all this way here, and he wasn¡¯t about to meander around like a lost idiot¡­even though he felt that way. He wandered on through the trees until the fog thinned, to his relief. And with that relief came confusion. Gusts of wind from the mountains blew down. His face and hands felt frozen. He blew hot air into his palms and rubbed them together, regretting that he¡¯d left off his mitts. What am I doing out here? It was too cold to be running around like this. He had almost risked getting lost and if he hadn¡¯t found his way out of that thick fog¡­ Rowan trembled. He felt like a stone was sinking down his body, anchoring him in place. He couldn¡¯t handle being stuck out here all night. And for what? Her? She chose to be out here. Just because she wants to freeze to death after what happened last time doesn¡¯t mean I need to suffer the same fate! I¡¯m done saving her. Rowan sniffed and turned back the way he came, eventually sighting his house again, tiny in the distance. He really, for the life of him, couldn¡¯t understand why he was out here, risking another punishment for nothing, when safety and warmth of a fire going in his bedroom was a half a mile away. With that, he trudged out of the wet forest, irritated at dirtying his boots in the mud, and began the march back home. Blazing Demise Yohid¡¯s time was running out. Zara helplessly watched as the police dragged the boy¡¯s beaten body out of the prison wagon. His face was heavily marked with black bruises and his left eye was swollen shut. He was like a walking corpse, wearing nothing but dirty black shorts. So small, so thin that his ribs were visible. Red slashes covered his legs, back, and chest; some were open infected wounds, oozing blood and pus. Zara looked away, wrapping her shawl tightly around herself. It was difficult to keep her tears in. She couldn¡¯t let this happen. She didn¡¯t know how she could stop it, but what would she be if she just stood there letting this go on? No. It can¡¯t. She didn¡¯t care what any damn Sorcerer had to say about it, either. The crowd began their hissing and shouting of slurs¡ªwicked, demon, Ahnsal¡¯s bastard, the hog¡¯s shit. Yohid was shivering fiercely. The spot chosen for today¡¯s ceremony was high up Mount Lilith. Five more miles on the trail would lead to the Holy Temple, Mother Lilith¡¯s sacred burial site. It was a trail meant for faithful worshipers, popular during pilgrimage season in the late spring. Now it would also be a trail for executing children, apparently. The evening sky was a mix of deep purple and orange, the air was colder than a frozen lake, and the fogs below the cliff were deceivingly thick enough to seem like one could walk across it. This was no place to be bare skinned. A gust of wind blew through Zara¡¯s ear. She immediately adjusted her thick headscarf to shield it again. Yohid had no strength in him to struggle against the hefty policeman, but he did kneel down out of desperation, crying and begging for the pulling to stop. ¡°It hurts,¡± he rasped. ¡°My legs hurt.¡± This spurred the crowd on even worse. More than half of the town that could handle the ridiculous cold was gathered here, circled around a vast ledge on the east side of the mountain. Around fifty guards surrounded them, half of them holding lit torches. The ledge overlooked a steep cliff, where Yohid¡¯s destiny lay. Not everyone was going to get a good view of this. The shortest people resorted to shoving their way to the front, only to be reprimanded by the nearest guard there. If the situation didn¡¯t settle soon, there was going to be a riot, which would result in a fate similar to Yohid¡¯s¡ª a harsh tumble beneath the fog. The sun¡ªa vivid, blazing red-orange¡ªwas sinking in the horizon of silhouetted peaks. Zara blinked, seeing black spots. Her ears were clogged. A view like this normally served enjoyment, but tonight, it filled her with terror. Yohid¡¯s beaten, malnourished figure sat at the center of the ledge. ¡°You should kill that ugly thing as slow as you can,¡± a man shouted. ¡°Throwing him off isn¡¯t enough for what he¡¯s done. We should skin him!¡± Zara prayed for a riot. She¡¯d be the first to ensure that man would plummet. Upon glancing over the cliff, Yohid shrieked. He was instantly slapped down by the officer. Zara winced when the others clapped. ¡°Watch closely,¡± Zahir said lowly. He stood directly behind her, and Zara swore she could feel his hateful glare. ¡°And remember it, Zara. Some day it may be you, should you lose control of yourself again.¡± As if she needed a reminder. ¡°Stop! Stop!¡± Yohid screamed. This time he fought back, scratching at the man with his nails. ¡°Stop!¡± ¡°Shut up!¡± the officer bellowed, his fat palm smacking him down again. Next to Zara, Rowan shifted uncomfortably. He¡¯d been acting strange all day, as though he was making a conscious effort to not only physically avoid her¡ªeasy enough when their parents and Noina were around¡ªbut he hadn¡¯t spoken a single word to her since their talk in her bedroom. Not even eye contact; he was trying to act like she didn¡¯t exist, but her presence made him nervous. Zara¡¯s anxiety spiked for what felt like the hundredth time today. Something wasn¡¯t right. Why was he doing this? What had she done for such an unusual reaction from him? She couldn¡¯t bear the thought of being abandoned by what felt like the only family who gave a damn. To Zara¡¯s right stood Noina with Leyli next to her. Noina¡¯s eyes gleamed like this was the best theater show she¡¯d ever been to. Leyli, however, was solemn, save for the few twitches of her brow whenever Yohid screamed or was hit. ¡°Get on with it!¡± Noina yelled. ¡°You¡¯ll have to wait,¡± the officer shouted back. Two more had joined him now: one was a younger man of good height and weight with neat brown hair; the other was older and stockier, his dark black hair combed back with too much oil, his poorly shaved face extenuating the roughness of his skin. His expression was as perpetually serious as the abusive fat ass clutching onto Yohid. ¡°Hey,¡± a silver-haired man from the crowd piped up, ¡°shouldn¡¯t he be in Rune Chains? What if he tries using magic?¡± ¡°No!¡± Yohid said. Rune Chains¡ªcreated from special elemental metals rumored to instantly quell magic once shackled on the targeted mage. Zara doubted anyone here had ever seen the power of Rune Chains working before their living eyes. ¡°He¡¯s weak enough already,¡± the officer retorted, giving the boy a shake. ¡°We can break his arm and he won¡¯t do a thing. Plenty of beatings is a good way to weaken the spirit and ensure the boy cannot conjure up any spell.¡± ¡°Are you sure?¡± an middle-aged lady asked as the rest of townspeople quieted enough to listen. ¡°This information came to us directly from His Holiness¡ªDr. Uqzar himself,¡± the young officer replied. Zara¡¯s mouth dropped. The fucking witch doctor is here?! Dr. Uqzar was infamous, as his orders have had over a hundred mages knocking on death¡¯s door. Now he was here. Fuck! The woman¡¯s eyes rounded in astonished surprise. The town¡¯s uproar rapidly increased again. Zara whimpered, sinking into herself. It didn¡¯t matter what she did now, if she kept her mouth shut, if she hung her head low, blending among the rabid shits of these people. Uqzar would sniff her out, as any witch doctor blessed with the Holy Touch would. It was a godly power one meticulously trained in since childhood in various temples across the country through meditations, chants, prayers, and acts of sacrifice. A nervous chuckle escaped her throat. It didn¡¯t matter if Zara hid herself under the fucking fogs below, even. Uqzar would find her. She was done for. Yohid was done for. Zahir grabbed her shoulder. When she looked back at him, he was scowling.¡°Do not slouch, do not faint,¡± he growled under his breath. ¡°Just stay quiet and watch.¡± She was about to hurl at any moment. ¡°Baba¡­I don¡¯t feel well.¡± He didn¡¯t reply, his gaze was trained on Governor Izmil and the ten security men following him through the parted crowd. The man was old, but dignified. He wore a long gray, religious suit with slim trousers and a high turban. ¡°He¡¯s here,¡± Zahir muttered. Yohid¡¯s piercing cries struck Zara¡¯s ears. ¡°Ammi! Ammi! Ammi!¡± Following the final guard was a young woman: plain, petite, and feeble. She had Yohid¡¯s dirty brown hair and his large, trusting eyes. They were bloodshot and soulless. The woman looked a tired mess. She ignored her son when he attempted to go to her, only to be violently yanked back. The fat and stocky officers restrained both of his arms tight so he couldn¡¯t make any sudden movements again. She walked on, pulling her off-white cloak closer to herself, her jaw tight. She did not even blink in his direction. Next to her was the real star of this whole nightmare: a distinguished old gentleman with a cane, though it didn¡¯t seem like he really needed it to walk. He was half the height of the governor and bald, though the brilliant white beard running down to the middle of his chest made up for the lack of head hair. His pale skin was like a prune. His silver, knee-length top shirt was made of expensive silk, complete with matching pants. The material was thin, but the chill in the air was no bother to him. He was ornamented with geometric jewels: bracelets, earrings, and necklaces¡ªall in black. His steely eyes were underlined with black kohl, and the White Sun was painted on his forehead, the cracked rays scattering across his wrinkled forehead. His trailing black cape also had the White Sun stitched on the back of it. The sunset made it sparkle a yellowish hue. Uqzar raised one open palm, and the town fell silent. They bowed their heads, a customary sign of respect. Zahir had to force Rowan and Zara to do the same, shoving their heads down for them. ¡°You foolish kids have failed to understand the significance of such a man,¡± he growled under his breath. ¡°Do try to be more mindful of where you are.¡± Uqzar looked satisfied by the sight. Zara glanced up, noticing his eyes lingering over her direction. Her heart pounded. The nausea grew worse. He knows¡­doesn¡¯t he? His eyes glided over her and scanned the rest of townspeople. Confused and frightened, Zara kept her head down. ¡°You all may rise,¡± Uqzar¡¯s voice boomed. With the town now watching, Uqzar zeroed in on Yohid. The boy was reduced to a sobbing shell of himself. Zara didn¡¯t know what to think, as she was on the verge of another panic attack. He had to have noticed me. He had to. It¡¯s only a matter of time when¡­ It would be her turn on the precipice. But¡­why didn¡¯t he say anything? She felt her father tense up behind her, his hand on her shoulder squeezing hard enough for it to hurt. Leyli and Noina observed with rapt attention. ¡°Don¡¯t make any sudden movements, Zara,¡± Zahir whispered. ¡°I do not believe he has seen you.¡± Shaking, Zara affirmed with a quick nod. The wind blew something on her cloak. She blinked back tears, and picked the thing off. A single black feather. Zara scanned the crowd. It didn¡¯t take her long to find Revan¡¯s looming figure among the group farther out on the trail directly across her. He was in the same black cloak from the previous night, polished and calm, not a hint of worry or fatigue lacing his expression at all. Was he there all along? He couldn¡¯t have just popped out of thin air even if he could do so. Such a move would never escape Uqzar¡¯s eye. Zara had to have been too consumed with turmoil to have noticed Revan there. But his presence was making her nerves worse. Shit shit shit! If Zara had known the execution would be performed by Uqzar and not the governor like she¡ªand likely everyone else here, presumably¡ªhad assumed, she would have feigned such an illness that her father would have had no choice but to leave her home. ¡°What a fascinating surprise,¡± Noina whispered loud enough for Zara to hear. ¡°To be in the presence of such a holy man¡­I¡¯m lost for words.¡± There were now two other mages in the vicinity, yet Uqzar hadn¡¯t seemed to notice anyone else out of the ordinary besides Yohid. This did not match with the legends Zara had heard of this man. Unless he is waiting¡­so we don¡¯t run from him. He is trying to throw us off. Uqzar held out a hand, and one of the Izmil¡¯s guards handed him a big, black and gold medallion. A symbol of fiery wings was carved to the front of it, to fend off evil spirits left in the soul. This was Zara¡¯s first time seeing such a medallion; it was commonly used in death rituals for especially rotten prisoners. She¡¯d once read that these medallions were believed to mute dark enchantments as well. Uqzar placed it around the shivering boy¡¯s head. Yohid scrunched his nose. He whimpered for his mother once more before breaking into sobs again. ¡°Ch!¡± Noina made her disapproval clear enough for everyone around her and beyond to hear. ¡°You should be sickened at yourself. Crying for your Ammi after the pain you¡¯ve caused her. You disgusting, treacherous thing.¡± Yohid snapped. ¡°I DIDN¡¯T DO ANYTHING! I DIDN¡¯T DO ANYTHING! I DIDN¡¯T¡ª¡± ¡°Oh shut up, filth,¡± a man snarled. The rest of town joined in, throwing taunts of impending death. This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it Zara sought Revan again. This had to have been enough to change his mind. He had to do something¡ª But he just stood there like a statue, unbothered by it all. In fact, the commotion seemed to intrigue him, like this was all some stupid, fake stage performance. ¡°Silence.¡± Uqzar never had to yell over the thousand voices on the cliff for his own echo to be heard, dominating enough to quiet the agitated people. The commanding deepness of his voice reverberated in Zara¡¯s bones. Revan met Zara¡¯s eyes and smiled thinly. Am I missing something? He seems fine, like there¡¯s nothing wrong. Is there any reason to panic then? ¡°Young boy,¡± Uqzar began. Yohid trembled, but didn¡¯t respond. ¡°It is a shame. A young life like yours, wasted from devilish impulses.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not a devil,¡± Yohid choked out. ¡°It¡¯s what all the devils say before I send them back to Hell.¡± Yohid let out a shaky breath when Uqzar demanded for a torch. No¡­they¡¯re going to¡­ Zara¡¯s foot inched forward. Then, something in the boy suddenly shifted. He ceased trembling. His anguish resolved. His good eye locked onto Uqzar, watching as the guard handed him his torch. ¡°You are,¡± Yohid said. Uqzar stopped moving. Low murmurs surrounded the cliff. This was the first time since he¡¯d arrived that Zara had seen the witch doctor be taken by surprise. But it didn¡¯t last long. ¡°Did you have something more to say to me, boy?¡± Uqzar spoke in a dangerous calm. Alarmed, Zara looked back at Revan to check if this was his doing, but he seemed just as interested by the development as she was. He¡¯s not doing this. He¡¯s not manipulating anything. Yohid¡­what are you doing? Yohid did not look away. It was like the eight-year-old had aged twenty years in two seconds when he realized that no one here was going to help him. His mother, the young spineless hag she was, wouldn¡¯t even look at him. She was crying quietly, surrounded by women holding her, because she was the biggest victim in all of this. ¡°I¡¯m not a devil,¡± Yohid said again, louder this time. ¡°You are.¡± Uqzar¡¯s face morphed into something that was almost as monstrous as the cold front he¡¯d been putting out. He hissed and thrust the torch back into the guard¡¯s hand. Yohid giggled. He giggled and giggled, until he doubled over in manic laughter. ¡°Oh Mother help us all!¡± Noina shrieked. ¡°That little freak¡¯s gone mad! He¡¯ll curse us like he cursed his baby sister to death! DO something before he kills us all!¡± Yohid shrieked with laughter and grief. ¡°Curse?! You¡¯re all gonna die WORSE than that!¡± The officers holding Yohid quickly moved toward the end of the ledge, prepared to throw him off. ¡°Stop this!¡± the governor yelled. ¡°What are you doing?! You¡¯re not authorized to kill him yet! Guards, stop them!¡± Three of the guards who were not holding torches hurried over to bring Yohid back to the center. The officers were refusing. Their heated argument went unheard among the town¡¯s rioting shouts. Uqzar stared at the chaotic display before him like his mind had gone numb. Zara couldn¡¯t handle this anymore. She couldn¡¯t handle listening to the pitiful cries of Yohid¡¯s mother, screeching profanities, Yohid¡¯s vengeful insanity, or being in this fucking mountain any longer. She ripped away from her father¡¯s grasp and screamed from the top of her lungs, ¡°STOP!¡± At last, the noises hushed. The wind howled. Bits of snow flaked from the sky as the sun dipped below the horizon. It was dark now. The fogs had grown thicker. The temperature dropped. The little light they had left came from the torches. The aura was nothing short of menacing. She had, regrettably, captured the attention of the witch doctor. The intensity of his gaze marked the depth of her mistake. Yohid had broken out of lunacy. The terror was back on his face. ¡°Zara,¡± she heard him whisper. What am I doing? ¡°What is this?¡± Uqzar¡¯s grumbled. ¡°Zara,¡± Zahir hissed. He sounded more fearful than furious. Zara did not turn his way. He made no physical attempt to retrieve her, either. She looked to the ground, avoiding the eyes of everybody, including Yohid. She could feel Revan¡¯s interrogating gaze on her, somehow. What should I do? She sought his guidance, but felt nothing. Uqzar¡¯s steps quietly approached. She flinched. ¡°Zara,¡± he said. ¡°Is that what your name is?¡± Zara couldn¡¯t speak. She was petrified. ¡°Answer me.¡± He received no response still, and then¡ª SMACK! ¡°Answer me!¡± he roared. Zara¡¯s cheek stung. Her soul crumbled. The group behind her stirred. ¡°Don¡¯t, Leyli,¡± she heard Noina whispering. ¡°You!¡± Uqzar bellowed out to Zahir. ¡°Is she yours?¡± Unlike Zara, Zahir was privy to answer the man straight away, ashamed but firm. ¡°Unfortunately, yes. She is my daughter. I apologize for her insolence, Your Holiness.¡± ¡°And what is your name, sir?¡± Uqzar asked. ¡°Zahir Anvar, Your Holiness.¡± ¡°This is unacceptable. She is grown. Have you failed to teach her not to step out of line in a presence such as mine?¡± Zahir winced. ¡°I have taught her, Your Holiness. I am sorry she has still crossed it.¡± ¡°It seems you have been too lenient. I hope, for the sake of your household, you will remedy this before somebody else does so in your place.¡± Zahir¡¯s face reddened at the threat. He gave the man a quick nod before motioning to Zara to step back. The vein on his head was visible. Zara didn¡¯t want to be anywhere near her father, but she also didn¡¯t want to remain where she was. She managed to meet Rowan¡¯s eyes, but they way he was staring¡ªshe might as well be the one with the black medallion of death around her neck. ¡°Zara!¡± Yohid yelled out. Zara froze. She turned to him, and he burst into tears. ¡°Zara! Y-You¡¯re here,¡± he sobbed. He looked relieved to see her. Which only brought Zara a newfound terror. Oh no¡ª ¡°You¡¯re here!¡± Yohid continued to shout. ¡°You came to save me!¡± His laughter was grating. She internally screamed that he stop talking. She couldn¡¯t save him. She couldn¡¯t do it. She didn¡¯t know what the fuck she¡¯d been thinking. She couldn¡¯t even save herself. ¡°She¡¯s gonna save me!¡± Yohid shrieked with confidence. ¡°Right Zara?¡± Zara could taste the sweat of her entire family at the tip of her tongue. Her knees were buckling, but she forced herself to remain upright. ¡°Zara, COME BACK here! Now!¡± Zahir cried. ¡°Hey!¡± the stocky officer grunted, shaking Yohid. ¡°What is this bastard going on about?¡± Zara shook her head. Don¡¯t say it¡­Don¡¯t say it¡­ Revan hadn¡¯t inched a bit. He watched, his challenging gaze urging her to make a move. Yohid continued to struggle against his restrainers until Zara found her voice. ¡°Yohid,¡± she said, ¡°no more, okay? Don¡¯t say any more¡ª¡± It was too late. ¡°She¡¯s gonna save me! She¡¯s a witch. She has magic. And she¡¯s here to rescue me!¡± His giggling mania returned. It was as though the mountain itself had threatened to fall apart. The town¡¯s raging horror was endlessly unstoppable. Uqzar loomed over her like a god of the dead. Her legs finally gave way and she sank to the ground, begging for her life, pointless as it was now. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯m not,¡± she denied. ¡°I¡¯m not a witch.¡± She was drowned by waves of hateful protests; no one was listening. No one cared what she had to say¡ªnot that they ever did in the first place. She was a nobody. And now, she was worse than that. The guards were struggling to hold people back. Governor Izmil¡¯s shouts of keeping order went unheard¡­ She had no idea what her family was doing. She couldn¡¯t even hear Noina. Perhaps that retched hag had fainted. After all, she¡¯d be next in line after Zara was flung off, and then¡­ Zara gasped for air. She couldn¡¯t breathe. Rowan! Her family was going to suffer the blow, and Rowan was going down with them. Get off the mountain, Zara wanted to scream. Run away! Fuck! Yohid was still giggling away. He really had no idea how weak she of a mage she was. She couldn¡¯t even conjure up power when needed most. Now, there was nothing left for either of them but a torturous demise. She shut her eyes, trying to drown out every sound. But she was failing. These people were shocked that another ¡°wicked¡± had been among them all along. They wondered what curse was upon their town, a town that was supposed to be blessed with purity. They asked themselves what the witch was planning to do, whether she was after the boy, or if he had simply gone mad. It didn¡¯t matter. She could already feel pebbles and small rocks being thrown at her, and she ignored the pain of them hitting. The greater pain was knowing her life ended here. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± she was murmuring over and over, to Yohid, to Rowan, to herself. ¡°I¡¯m sorry I can¡¯t do anything. I¡¯m sorry.¡± She yelped when Uqzar yanked her headscarf down, forcing her to face him. He was pure fury. ¡°You horrid wretch,¡± he snarled, revelation written all over his face. ¡°There has been rumor of a second one, and now I see that it is true. Is that not right, Izmil?¡± The governor swallowed nervously. ¡°Y-Yes,¡± he whispered. ¡°But¡­the Anvar family is¡ª¡± ¡°Shut up.¡± The governor obeyed without further resistance. ¡°Yes,¡± Uqzar said, leaning closer to examine Zara¡¯s frightened face. ¡°This is the one the boy¡¯s been blabbing about in the cell. I excused it as deluded speech, however¡­¡± His eyes gleamed. ¡°I always keep my eye out for other wicked ones, regardless of rumors. You hid yourself well, witch. Until now.¡± ¡°No¡­¡± Zara squeaked one futile last try. ¡°I¡¯m not. I¡¯m not a witch.¡± Uqzar only yanked her harder, inducing harsher sobs. ¡°How did you cross me?¡± he asked through gritted teeth. ¡°How did you conceal yourself from me, witch?!¡± He released her head and ordered more guards to restrain Zara as they did Yohid. Zahir had his hand clamped around Rowan¡¯s mouth. They were both surrounded by policemen now. Rowan was crying. Zara could not see her mother and Noina anymore. Yohid¡¯s mother had gone a sickly pale. She was sitting on the ground, murmuring to herself. A few other women sat around her, supporting her up, fanning her and offering futile words of comfort. Yohid¡¯s hopeful grin was fading fast. The one man who could undo this¡­the one man who could help them¡­ Help. Reading her face, Revan shook his head. You¡¯re such a monster. You¡¯re the biggest bastard of all. ¡°I¡¯m not a witch,¡± Zara repeated. ¡°You¡¯re misunderstanding¡ª¡± Uqzar¡¯s face hardened with a cruel mockery of a smile. ¡°Oh? I misunderstand?¡± He raised his fist. Zara shut her eyes, prepared for a painful blow, before a voice called out¡ª ¡°WAIT! No!¡± A young woman with light hair had shoved her way out of the crowd and was running down to the ledge. Zara¡¯s mouth hung open. Cina. She was in a layered knit dress and a fancy, silver-trimmed cloak. Zara didn¡¯t have to assume that she had dressed fashionably on purpose. To watch the boy you hate be executed like he deserved¡ªwhat an occasion. Zara almost laughed. She swore she was going to crack, like Yohid already had. ¡°Uncle, NO!¡± Cina screamed. Zara frowned. She must have misheard. Uncle¡­? Uqzar seemed more shocked at Cina¡¯s sudden appearance than Zara was. ¡°Don¡¯t hurt her,¡± Cina insisted. ¡°What are you saying you damn girl?¡± Uqzar growled, trying to gain back his composure. ¡°You dare interrupt? You don¡¯t think I¡¯ll call for a guard to come lock you in the wagon until this is over?¡± ¡°Uncle, she¡¯s harmless! You truly misunderstand.¡± Cina pointed at Yohid and began to whisper, ¡°That thing over there is trying to deceive you. And you¡¯re letting it! It¡¯s a part of his trick, I¡¯m sure of it. I know this woman, she¡¯s my friend. Zara is no witch!¡± She clasped her palms together. ¡°Please, listen to me. You know you can trust me, Uncle. I¡¯m telling you, she¡¯s innocent.¡± The puzzled townspeople were slowly settling down. Some were still frustrated, demanding an explanation for the holdup. Uqzar warily regarded his niece. ¡°You are a friend of hers?¡± Cina nodded. ¡°Yes. Yes I am, so I know she¡¯s¡ª¡± ¡°Why was she trying to halt the proceedings then?¡± ¡°I-I don¡¯t know why¡ª¡± ¡°How do I know you are not under her spell as well?¡± Uqzar¡¯s defensive aura strengthened once again. ¡°I-I¡¯m¡­not?¡± Cina seemed to be at a loss for a second, until she looked at Zara once more and regained her confidence. ¡°I¡¯m not.¡± ¡°How would you know something like that?¡± Uqzar sneered. ¡°Trust,¡± Cina said, her strong blue gaze unwavering. ¡°That¡¯s all I ask of you.¡± ¡°And if you are wrong, my dear?¡± ¡°If I am wrong, I will gladly jump from this ledge myself.¡± Uqzar contemplated quietly for minutes on end. Zara prayed, prayed to the heavens, to all gods and angels, that she would be spared. She was about to faint. A drop of sweat slid from her nose, landing on her cloak. ¡°Very well,¡± Uqzar said. Every limb in her body went slack. Zara wanted to lie down and cry. I¡¯m safe. I¡¯m safe! Thank Mother, thank all gods, I¡¯m safe! ¡°Get up,¡± Uqzar ordered harshly. ¡°And get out of my sight. The next time you interject, I WILL throw you off this mountain myself.¡± Zara stood on shaky feet. Cina rushed to her side and linked their arms together to help Zara steady. ¡°You¡¯re okay,¡± she consoled. ¡°You¡¯re okay. Walk with me.¡± Zara nodded, letting Cina steer her away from the ledge. ¡°Breathe, Zara. Just breathe. You¡¯re safe.¡± The minuscule hope Yohid had for his own life was shattered. ¡°Zara?¡± he whimpered. ¡°Ignore him,¡± Cina muttered. ¡°Just ignore him.¡± ¡°Zara! You liar. You LIAR! YOU¡¯RE A LIAR!¡± Zara whirled around before Cina could protest. ¡°I didn¡¯t lie¡ª¡± ¡°What are you doing?!¡± Cina scolded. Yohid wailed on and on until Uqzar punched him hard enough to make his nose bleed. ¡°Quiet. Torch! Now!¡± He seized a torch off one of the guards. ¡°With this, we shall proceed. Release him and stay back.¡± Yohid screamed. The officers holding him moved away, making room for Uqzar to bring the torch to Yohid¡¯s final piece of clothing. ¡°DON¡¯T KILL HIM!¡± Yohid¡¯s mother shrieked. She had managed to break free of the other women and was charging down to the ledge, until a guard blocked her path. Zara shook Cina¡¯s arm off and collapsed back on the ground, palms face down in the dirt trail, letting grief wash over. The town¡¯s abominable cheers drowned out much of Yohid¡¯s tortured screams. ¡°OW! OW! IT¡¯S HURTING! AMMI! IT¡¯S HURTING!¡± He backed off further to the edge of the mountain, pounding at himself to extinguish the flames, but that only made it worse for his hands. The fire continued to travel across his pants and over his bleeding, bruised flesh. It eventually reached the medallion. At this point, Yohid could no longer form words. ¡°WATER!¡± Yohid¡¯s mother wailed, trying to reach for him as the guard shoved her further behind. ¡°PLEASE, GET HIM WATER!¡± Blazing, Yohid tripped off the ledge and dropped headfirst into the fogs. His howling cries soon faded away. It was over. His mother¡¯s jaw hung in silence. Her eyes rolled up. The guard holding her had to lay her unconscious body down. He patted her cheek a few times, a fruitless attempt to revive her. Governor Izmil, frazzled, broke away from his personal security and confronted the witch doctor. ¡°This ceremony was a disaster!¡± he yelled. ¡°I mean no disrespect Your Holiness, but this has gone out of control. The boy should have been put to death at sundown. The sun has already set. Even so, You hadn¡¯t performed any of the rites on him. You just set him ablaze and let him go off and¡ª¡± ¡°Do not question me, Izmil,¡± Uqzar threatened. ¡°I am well aware of the situation. My job was to end it quickly, before the boy did something we would all regret!¡± The governor shook his head in disbelief. ¡°He was wearing the medallion, Your Holiness. What could he possibly have done?¡± Uqzar sneered. ¡°If you are not happy with my service, governor, we may speak back in your office.¡± The trail began to shake. Pebbles and dust sprinkled the air. ¡°It¡¯s a quake!¡± the young officer shouted out. ¡°Quake!¡± Everyone was scrambling to get off the mountain as rocks rained down on the trail, on the prison wagon, and the governor¡¯s carriage. Uqzar leaped before he was pummeled. He tripped over a fresh crack on the ledge and fell. ¡°Uncle!¡± Cina yelped when Uqzar had almost rolled off the cliff. He scrambled back to the safety as end pieces of the ledge broke away. The guard with Yohid¡¯s mother had no choice but to abandon her as stray rocks came crashing over them as well. A large stone struck her comatose head. She would never wake again. The guard attempted to rush down the shaking trail with the others. He shoved as many people out of the way as possible, disregarding the fact that he was pushing them off Mount Lilith completely. He eventually stepped on a loose edge and screamed as he plunged into the fog, shattering his limbs on protruding black rocks on the way down. Thirty seconds. It had all but lasted thirty seconds. ¡°Zara! Zara! We have to go! Zara!¡± Zara removed her palms off the trail and turned to Cina sitting next to her. ¡°It¡¯s over,¡± Zara mumbled, standing on steady feet. Cina stood with her, panting heavily. ¡°We should go,¡± she whimpered. Her eyes watered. ¡°I don¡¯t know how, but¡­I want to get out of here.¡± She then rushed to her uncle, who was currently being aided by the governor and a few of his officials. Zara glanced around. Most torches lay, forsaken, most of them extinguished, leaving the atmosphere almost as black as the mountain itself. Many people had been struck by falling rocks and stone. They sat on the trail, injured if not unconscious. The rest were still in hysterics, rushing to get down the mountain and blocking the downward trail in the process. Some, horrifically enough, were still losing their way in dark and falling into the fogs. The governor was in tears. ¡°Mother, please, " he prayed. ¡°Please, these people¡­make this stop.¡± ¡°Where¡¯s Mama?¡± Cina was crying. Her eyes desperately searched for her people. ¡°I don¡¯t see Baba, either. Where is everyone? I can¡¯t see¡­¡± Uqzar stood with Cina, quiet and somber. Zara had no idea where her family was either¡ªif they made it off the mountain, or shared the fate of those who were struck down, or have fallen. She soon felt Cina¡¯s arm rest on hers. ¡°Come,¡± she said, shakily. ¡°We¡¯ll find them. We have to.¡± A few of the governor¡¯s guards that still had lit torches aided their group back to the trail. The officials who were left unharmed were doing their best to get everyone back in order. The Sorcerer approached Zara¡¯s field of vision. He was holding a lit torch, and she could see his smug face. Zara watched him as she let herself be pulled away, expressionless, until he disappeared from her sight. Hazy Realities 2 Jyo 1558 It was blacker than the night itself. A colossal gape threatening to suck her in. She tripped over broken wood sticking out of the ash, and her hair fell in front of her thin face. Ash covered her clothed knees. Shit. It was getting too long¡ªher hair; she¡¯d have to take a knife to it soon. She liked to keep it shoulder length, easier to maintain. But she¡¯d let it grow past her shoulders this time. She moved the hairs away from her face. It looks so black. Her hair was normally tan, but out here, everything was black. Even her pale fingers, long and spindly, looked black out here. She was so distracted. The mountain was going to swallow her whole. Its craggy jaws loomed closer. ¡°Hey.¡± She paid no mind to the soft voice behind her. She sat on her knees out here in the dead of night, surrounded by fragmented slabs of wood and stone, staring into the vast mouth of Lilith. Remnants of a hundred-year-old ruins. A town buried in ash. ¡°What are you doing?¡± the voice spoke again. It was male. When the girl blinked, the mountain moved. A living, breathing monster. She moaned. ¡°Are you okay?¡± The voice echoed in her head. She shivered, panting and digging her fingers into the snow. No, this wasn¡¯t snow¡­.it was a cemetery. ¡°Yeah. I think you¡¯ve had enough.¡± That annoying voice. It was kind, but so annoying. Now it was touching her shoulder. ¡°Get up.¡± ¡°Wait,¡± she whispered, too dizzy to move. ¡°I told you it was going to be too much.¡± A different voice chimed in, also male. ¡°She inhaled so much of the mist, brother.¡± ¡°Yep,¡± another one grunted. This voice was so deep. ¡°And she had vida afterward. Saw her swallow two of the petals. I doubt she¡¯ll be walking straight all night.¡± He laughed, and it was a mean, deep laugh. She wanted to forget everything. Forget her shitty life. She opened her arms for Lilith to eat her whole and bury her in the ash, too. The men behind her laughed crudely. She paid them no mind. What would they do to her? She giggled. Who cared what they did. ¡°Stay back,¡± the first voice¡ªthe kind one¡ªwas saying. ¡°Don¡¯t be stupid now. Stay away from her. Step back I said.¡± He grabbed her shoulders and stood her up on wobbly feet. ¡°Come on. I¡¯ll take you home.¡± ¡°Hey, girl!¡± one of them shouted. ¡°Don¡¯t come around these parts again if you can¡¯t handle it. Next time, you won¡¯t be so lucky.¡± She could smell the leers coming out of their rancid breaths. Thugs, the shitheads. She sighed out a laugh, lolling her head back. ¡°Stop,¡± the kind voice next to her ordered, holding her up as they went on. Maybe she was in over her head, but tonight, she¡¯d forgotten everything she wanted to forget: hunger, fear, foolishness. She¡¯d remember it all again tomorrow. But she was happy to forget now. She could always come back when she wanted to forget again. ¡°Wait,¡± she said hoarsely, to a companion she didn¡¯t know and could barely see. ¡°Wait. Here. It¡¯s here.¡± ¡°What is?¡± She got back down on her knees. ¡°What are you doing?¡± he asked, irritated. Some time ago, diggers came into the ruins, ones who liked to study the place and write about it in books. They managed to find pieces of an ancient grand fountain statue deep in the ash. The base and most of its body was still intact. The diggers left it on the surface with the remaining parts gathered around like a shrine. Smashed as it was, it was easy to tell the statue was of Reena. Its fractured face smiled down on her. She clasped her palms together and closed her eyes. ¡°Pray with me,¡± she whispered. ¡°What?¡± ¡°Pray with me.¡± ¡°No.¡± She sat still. ¡°Why?¡± she asked, breathless. ¡°I don¡¯t believe in that shit.¡± She smiled anyway. ¡°Okay.¡± She prayed to the angel, for herself, for her people, and for a family she never had. She prayed to someday meet the witch beyond the woods.
Rowan, for the life of him, could not remember why he¡¯d walked away from the forest that one night. Two weeks had gone by already and he was still obsessing over it. What had happened? And what made him so angry to just turn around and come back home? He recalled coming inside and having his frustration replaced with sudden exhaustion. He¡¯d gone up to his room and was greeted by a head cold the next morning. He would have believed his random trip into the woods had been a dream, but his muddy shoes claimed otherwise, something his mother had shouted at him for while he¡¯d been trying to rest. Then he saw Zara pass him in the hall. She had smiled and whispered ¡°hello¡± before stepping back into her own room, looking many times healthier. She didn¡¯t have her cane with her. With good reason, he supposed. She hadn¡¯t limped once. It didn¡¯t make sense. She acted like nothing happened, like she wasn¡¯t frolicking around the forest just the other night. Rowan wanted to know why she¡¯d gone and who she met there. That was the entire reason for following her outside¡­but then he had to turn back because of¡­.what? Was he that stressed over some fog and some trees and some noisy moose? Normally, he want to confront her about it. But every time he looked at her, that¡­feeling would return. It wasn¡¯t as strong or the same as he¡¯d felt it in the forest, but his gut was telling him to stay away; she wasn¡¯t safe. The thing she was with in the forest was even worse. Whatever it was. That backed him off. Since then, he¡¯d been confused and scared. He was finding it difficult to believe that he was obsessing over this more than that fucking death ritual. He bore the scars of that day across his back, assaulted from sharp stone pebbles. He and his father had barely made it out alive. Zahir was scraped badly by the time the quake ended. But they were grateful to not have had anything more heavy fall on their heads. Some of the townsfolk hadn¡¯t been so lucky. It was smart letting the others ahead of them, as long as they could stay on the inner trail. The echoing screams of those people falling over the edge will likely haunt Rowan for the rest of his life. The quake had been so short, but it had somehow caused much of the loose rocks above to rain down like sand. This was no doubt the work of magic. It was probably Yohid. He had threatened them all, warned them what would happen if they hurt him. And then that witch doctor killed him anyway. Rowan wished he could erase that hellish image from his mind. It made him think of what could have been his own death. Zara had almost fucked them all. She was lucky, extremely lucky, that blonde wine girl from Ruvini¡¯s had come to her rescue. He hadn¡¯t even known they were that close, but there she stood in front of Uqzar¡ªa man who probably had his own throne set for him in the heavens¡­.and he happened to be her fucking uncle. Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more. You were so lucky. We got so fucking lucky, Rowan thought, his anger rising. We would have been dead if not for that connection right there. Zara¡­what were you thinking?! ¡°You okay?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Rowan startled, looking up at Shia. He was sitting on one of the parlor¡¯s cushioned benches at his friend¡¯s house. Shia had just come in from the kitchen with a tray of fried snacks. ¡°You¡¯re kind of¡­crying,¡± Shia told him, setting the tray down on a small table in front of them. Rowan rapidly wiped his eyes dry with his hands. ¡°Yeah, yeah I¡¯m fine,¡± he replied dismissively. Shia took a seat next to him. ¡°Is everything okay at home? I mean, I didn¡¯t ask earlier since we were talking about your dad and the memorial tomorrow, but I wanna know how¡¯s¡­¡± He hesitated. ¡°Um, how¡¯s your mom?¡± Rowan shrugged. ¡°She¡¯s fine? She¡¯s alive, that¡¯s all that matters to me.¡± His mother had been smarter, thanks to Noina¡¯s influence, of all things. They had fled the mountain the second Zara had been restrained. He and his father had met them on ground level, hours later. They¡¯d been a safe distance away from the damage, though there had been no way to avoid witnessing the people plummeting past them. One man had severed his wrist trying to grab onto a jutting rock on the side of the cliff. Oddly enough, his mother and aunt hadn¡¯t felt any quake from where they were. No one in town did either. Rowan didn¡¯t know it was possible for a quake to happen only on one side of a mountain, but he didn¡¯t know too much about quakes in the first place. Other than the fact that they usually started in the ground¡­ Shia had been quiet, but finally interrupted his pondering with another question. ¡°And your sister, then?¡± he asked, his tone quick and gentle. ¡°How¡¯s Zara doing?¡± Shia hadn¡¯t attended the ceremony, but he¡¯d heard plenty about it. Neither of his parents approved of the ceremony in the first place, not that they would publicly claim it. Shia said they didn¡¯t trust witch doctors either. They, like everyone else now, believed the ceremony had been cursed¡ªand rightfully so. Rowan bristled at the mention of Zara. ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± he said flatly. Shia frowned. ¡°What does that mean?¡± ¡°My parents locked her away. I never got a chance to see her.¡± Shia¡¯s brows flew up. ¡°Why would they do that?¡± he exclaimed. ¡°She¡­spoke out of line over there. Almost got us all killed.¡± Like every outsider, Shia knew nothing of Zara¡¯s true identity. Rowan had to pick his words wisely, be partial with the truth. The only problem was, the partial truth hindered the witch doctor¡¯s credibility. Rowan could feel it and it angered him. It was blasphemy. ¡°Sure but¡­it wasn¡¯t her fault that stupid quack accused her of witchcraft. She almost died for no reason. That old fool could have killed her and I fucking bet that boy¡¯s also¡ª¡± ¡°Don¡¯t say that!¡± Rowan cut him off. ¡°What?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t call Dr. Uqzar a quack. Or a fool.¡± Shia¡¯s frown deepened. ¡°And why not?¡± ¡°Just don¡¯t.¡± ¡°Rowan, he couldn¡¯t even see that Zara wasn¡¯t a witch. I¡¯m telling you, these ¡®doctors¡¯ don¡¯t make any sense¡ª¡± ¡°Is that you talking or your parents?¡± Rowan snapped back. ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Shia was losing his patience but Rowan didn¡¯t care. ¡°My family¡¯s been through enough, okay? I¡¯ve been through enough. I don¡¯t want Mother Lilith punishing us for insulting someone She blessed herself. It¡¯s just wrong.¡± ¡°Maybe for you, but I don¡¯t believe that. I¡¯ll say what I feel. You know I always do. And you never minded before.¡± ¡°That was before I knew something like this could happen to us.¡± That doctor was no quack. He couldn¡¯t be. He almost had Zara¡ªno, he had her by the hair, quite literally. But¡­in the end, his trust for his niece had won him over? Rowan ran a hand over his tangled mane. He didn¡¯t understand. Uqzar had let Zara go in the end¡­but was it out of mercy? Confusion? Maybe Zara had managed to conceal her magic at the last minute and Uqzar was unable to sense it? Doubt was creeping into his mind and he wanted it to stop. Stupid Shia and his stupid anti-religious bullshit. He knew nothing, and it was going to bite him one day. Rowan grabbed a fried meat pastry off the tray and stood. ¡°I¡¯m going,¡± he said. ¡°What?!¡± Shia protested. ¡°Already? Why?¡± Rowan didn¡¯t answer right away. He took a bite of the pastry. It was oily and delicious. ¡°Because I don¡¯t feel like staying,¡± he said with a full mouth. Shia looked angry. ¡°Is it because I asked about Zara or because I think ¡®His Holiness¡¯ is full of shit?¡± ¡°Shut up,¡± Rowan grumbled. He took his cloak and turned his back on Shia, gobbling the pastry down as he walked out the door. He should have taken two more of those. They were good. Shia¡¯s mother was a great cook. Rowan sighed. He felt like an ass. His parents finally showed him enough sympathy to let him out of the house this week but he couldn¡¯t even be grateful. Couldn¡¯t even be a proper friend. He just didn¡¯t want to talk about Zara, mainly. Thinking about her turned his stomach, because he didn¡¯t know what to think anymore. If he¡¯d been fascinated about magic before, he no longer was. It was dangerous, that was for certain. Zara suffered for it all the time, and while a part of him believed she deserved it, the rest of him still pitied her.
19 Rodh 1436 I missed the memorial today. It was for all the people I hadn¡¯t meant to kill. I hadn¡¯t realized what I¡¯d done. I was partways down the mountain when I fell apart. I thought I was having a nightmare. This couldn¡¯t have been real. I wanted to jump off, just to see if I¡¯d wake up. Cina thought I was trying to kill myself. She wouldn¡¯t let me. She cried with me. She said we would find our families together. Dr. Uqzar did not speak to me. He hadn¡¯t looked at me once on the way down. Our families were okay, just separated and lost. Cina¡¯s father suffered a head injury and wanted to be checked at the clinic. His words were slurring. I do not know what became of him to this day. My mother and aunt are fine. They had abandoned us the moment I was found out. Baba and Rowan are injured, but it¡¯s not critical. They are healing fine. At first I was thankful, but since that night I¡¯ve been kept away in my bedroom, then eventually locked in. Baba installed the deadbolt outside my door. I only see my mother when she brings me food and water and switches out my chamber pot and washing supplies. She seems sad, but she does not speak to me. I have not seen anyone else, and not even Rowan has tried sneaking in, though he¡¯s been cold to me for a while now anyway. I don¡¯t know the reason for this and likely never will. I thought we were heading in a good direction, but I was wrong. I¡¯m still a freak in his eyes. Not even my father has come to beat me like I expected him to. He only threatened to hit me on the day he installed the deadbolt. Never have I doubted one of his threats. He¡¯s always serious, but this time, it¡¯s a different kind of seriousness. I don¡¯t know how to explain it accurately. It was almost melancholic. I think he wishes I didn¡¯t exist. If I slip up, he will surely throw me out. I can¡¯t afford to cross him yet. I still need this roof over my head, just for a little longer. The memorial was held at The Diamond. I assume everyone¡¯s had a prayer, which I could only offer from here. I did not mean to harm anyone, I swear of it. I prayed so hard to take it all back. To turn back time. I wish I had a power like that. A useful power. A helpful power. But instead I am stuck with destructive ones. I am sure everybody is talking about me. I¡¯m such a failure. I wanted to save a life, only to end up taking away and hurting many. Revan tells me this is normal, that my magic is very unstable right now because I¡¯m coming to terms with what I am and what I could do. He tells me I need to control my emotions. That¡¯s where the issue arises. After what he¡¯s witnessed, he believes my magic can control the elements¡ªand that ¡®my show¡¯ on the mountain was proof of how great my potential is. I had created an illusion of a quake, to make way for the rocks to fall. Nobody on the ground had felt any quake. Not in town, and not near the base of mountain either, for the farmers who were there. Ma and Auntie hadn¡¯t felt anything too, even while they were still running down. Revan tells me the cracks on the cliff, the ones that had threatened the witch doctor¡¯s life, had disappeared after we left. I don¡¯t know how any of that¡¯s possible or how I did it. I don¡¯t know what happened to me. I felt like I was in a fog. Revan tells me to think about my motivation, about what I wanted up there to cause such damage, to the point of putting my own family at risk. The reasoning is beginning to make sense. All my turmoil left me the minute I placed my hands on the trail. It was similar to what I felt with the beetle, but more. It ran from the base of my palms through my entire body. My head was warm, and that¡¯s where the fog started. My vision blurred. And then it was over. I began training under Revan two days later. The pain has slowly gone bit by bit as the weeks passed. I dream about it, and when I wake up, it doesn¡¯t feel real. So that¡¯s how I will see it as¡ªa dream. To keep myself sane. So, that¡¯s that. It didn¡¯t happen. I¡¯ve recounted it here, because tonight, I was not allowed at the memorial on Baba¡¯s orders and it brought the pain right back. But after I finish this entry, it will go back to being a dream. I need to focus on the only thing I have right now¡ªmy power. Her door might have been barred, but the window remained free. Revan would come tonight to escort her out of it. She had lessons with him twice a week. Tonight would be lesson number four. She was always home before sunrise. She stood in front of her full length mirror, tying on a light cloak. The weather was warmer now, even during the night. She dabbed some moisturizing oil on her face. Her scars from the ceremony had healed well. She hadn¡¯t been immune to the sharp stones lashing down on her weeks ago¡ªher own doing¡ªand Revan saw to it that she received proper medication again. He¡¯d been unharmed, courtesy of a protection spell, and he promised to teach Zara the same spell for herself. She knelt down and undid the silver anklets on her feet. She had plenty of time and solitude to dance these days, so as long as she did so quietly. She buried the anklets in her desk drawer underneath the textbook of mage history she¡¯d stolen from the library last month, her journal, and multiple scroll pages of unfinished chores lists. ¡°Ready now?¡± Zara jumped, slamming the drawer shut. ¡°Shit!¡± Revan put a finger to his lip. ¡°Shh. You¡¯ll wake the house.¡± Zara frowned at The Sorcerer standing by her open window. He gestured to it. ¡°The ladder is all set.¡± ¡°How do you just appear like that?¡± she said, annoyed. ¡°And please, don¡¯t do it again.¡± Revan chuckled. ¡°By the way,¡± Zara went on, knowing she wasn¡¯t going to get an answer from him. ¡°When will you teach me how to become a bird and fly like you?¡± ¡°When will you stop asking me that question?¡± She slipped on her shoes. ¡°Um¡­the night you show me how?¡± ¡°How about this,¡± Revan said with a smile, ¡°when you stop pestering me about doing this and that, I¡¯ll show you what you want to know.¡± Zara was not satisfied, but she¡¯d rather not argue. The more time she spent with the man, the more comfortable she became. His easygoing nature made this so. But she was still cautious not to overstep any boundaries. During her first lesson, he was clear that there were lines that shouldn¡¯t be crossed. She strode to the window. Revan held her back. ¡°One moment,¡± he said. He opened one of his palms for her. Zara gasped at the object in his hand. ¡°This¡ª! Where? Where did you get it?¡± ¡°I stole it back. It was with the boy¡¯s other belongings.¡± He put the ring Zara had given Yohid as a gift in her hand. ¡°It was yours. You should have it back.¡± Her lip trembled. The stone, once smooth and clear, was now heavily scratched. She clutched the ring tight. ¡°After you,¡± Revan offered, stepping aside. Zara climbed out of the window and down the transparent ladder. Revan followed, shutting the window before making his descent. The ladder vanished as soon as they both landed on the courtyard grass. Revan led the way out the gates and toward the forest. The soft breeze was comforting. Zara regarded the ring once more before slipping it on her finger. Eldest, Estranged, Execrable ¡°Tonight, we continue with meditations and spiritual tranquility. Then, we¡¯ll recite chants before moving forward with the Saiyyin alphabet. Of course, I¡¯m going to test how much you remembered from the previous lesson. Good luck.¡± Zara¡¯s itchy head made it difficult to study her scroll notes. White flakes dirtied the gray shawl around her shoulders. Her family wanted nothing to do with her¡ªit honestly wasn¡¯t anything new. But how long was she supposed to stay like this? She¡¯d been provided a bar of ivory soap, a water bucket, a few washcloths and towels¡ªmost of which were now used up and in need of a change. This did not¡ªcould not¡ªreplace a proper bath, never mind a hair wash. These provisions were not meant for cleaning hair in the bedroom in the first place. For that, she would need the washroom¡¯s tub and plenty more water and soap than a flimsy bar could ever offer. She had Historical Archives: Mages, Magic, and Dark Arts¡ªher stolen library text¡ªopen next to her. Revan went over some history as well during their recitations. He wanted her to learn the meaning behind the words, their origins, and their significance. It was all so much to take in. ¡°That¡¯s okay,¡± he had assured her when she fretted that he was moving too fast. ¡°If all goes well, you¡¯ll have hundreds of years time to memorize everything in these sessions.¡± When he put it like that, her worries were trivial. She had time, plenty more than the average human¡ªif she could even call herself human anymore¡ªbut it was still a difficult concept to grasp. She felt like she wasn¡¯t soaking in the lessons well enough. I could use a good soak. Her mind turned to the dry red spot above her elbow, another itch that would not heal. She stood from her desk to retrieve the body oil on her dresser, but the slick residue on her skin only disgusted her and did nothing to solve the root of the problem. The base of her neck tingled. She put the bottle away and tried not to think about how gross she felt. She gathered her long, knotted tresses into a bun. It was frizzy and oily, probably worse off than Rowan¡¯s head at this point. Back at her desk, Zara ran through her notes once more without taking much in. Restless, she resorted to pacing around her room. What did she used to do, back when she willingly wanted to be left in here, alone for hours at a time? She;d never had much freedom to go anywhere, but now that her options were limited to her solely living in her room, she was beginning to fidget. She could always read something else, a story she hadn¡¯t touched for a long time. She surveyed her pathetic collection of novels and found nothing to appease her. Laughter drifted from her open window. She heard happy chatters quickly cease as the courtyard doors slid shut again with a thump. Did her parents have guests? It sounded so. Those voices were unrecognizable. She had gone to the window too late, missing the chance to catch a glimpse before they¡¯d all but shut themselves back inside the house. A sharp rattling of the door lock startled her. She spun around in a panic. The scroll. The book. SHIT! Zara ran to her desk, almost tripping over nothing in her hurry. She stuffed the texts in the junk drawer, disregarding the little tears and crinkles she¡¯d find on the pages later. Her mother was here, likely coming in with leftover food or to switch out the chamber pot or something. She usually never came this early though; it probably wasn¡¯t even mid-day yet. All that noise with the door lock didn¡¯t make sense either. No matter though. Perhaps Zara can request a replacement of washcloths, and pray Leyli grant the request without too sour of a face. But the person who steppped in wasn¡¯t her mother. Zahir shut the door behind him and faced Zara with a stony expression. Zara shifted on her feet and tried to even her breathing, like she hadn¡¯t been scrambling to hide her shit just seconds before. ¡°You are to come down and join us for the evening meal,¡± he stated coldly. ¡°¡­.Huh?¡± His brow twitched. ¡°I see this confinement has made you slower than you usually are. I am not repeating myself.¡± Zahir looked her over once and scowled, scrunching his nose. ¡°You are to bathe beforehand. You look¡ªand smell¡ªlike a miserable wretch.¡± Zara nodded, speechless. He regarded her once more before speaking again, ¡°I¡¯ll have the maid fetch you when it¡¯s time. You are to remain in here as you were before then.¡± He sniffed unpleasantly and stalked out without waiting to a hear a word from her. The door shut, the bolt locking her in once again. Zara slumped into her bed with a great exhale. So she wasn¡¯t ¡®free¡¯ yet, only granted entrance into the dining room for tonight. It was better than nothing, she supposed. She didn¡¯t know what brought this sudden change on¡ªher father clearly didn¡¯t like this arrangement. Maybe her mother was sick of bringing food up to the room and collecting dirty dishes. Maybe it was something else entirely. Zara had heard guests. Who were they? Maybe they were all planning something. Planning to do something¡­.awful? Wary as she was, Zara still looked forward to being out of this room for a bit. She was most looking forward to a well-needed bath.
In the early afternoon, a young maid arrived to accompany Zara to the washroom. The maid looked to be in her late twenties. Her auburn hair was tightly braided back, and she wore the typical maid¡¯s uniform of plain, off-white trousers and matching blouse, paired with a faded dust-colored wrap scarf across her body. ¡°Miss, your bath awaits,¡± she announced politely. Zara did not know this maid at all. The usual kitchen maid was a much older, more experienced woman. This woman here must be a new addition to the house. Odd, considering how Zahir disliked keeping more than one servant around, regardless of how much more work that meant for his wife. Extra chores around the house were usually done by Zara, but since she¡¯d been forced to hole up in her room, maybe additional help was required. ¡°I¡¯m sorry but¡­who are you?¡± Zara asked. The maid gasped. ¡°O-oh! Yes, I apologize, Miss, for not introducing myself first.¡± She placed a hand over her chest. ¡°My name is Rauna. I am the new maid of the house.¡± She bowed with her palms together, flustered. ¡°I¡¯ve started my work here two weeks ago and was not formally introduced to you so I¡¯m sorry that I¡¯ve forgotten¡ª¡± ¡°That¡¯s okay. I¡¯m Zara. Though¡­I¡¯m sure you¡¯re already aware of that.¡± Rauna bobbed her head. ¡°Um, what happened to¡­?¡± Zara wanted to know if the old maid was still around or not. Rauna seemed to understand before Zara even finished her question. She shook her head. ¡°I replaced her, Miss. She¡ª¡± Rauna¡¯s face turned pink. ¡°¡ªShe quit.¡± Zara raised her brows in surprise. ¡°Quit? Why?¡± That woman had been with the family for years. The only time she hadn¡¯t worked for the Anvars was when Zahir had given her four months time off, paid, so that the family could figure out what to do about Zara¡ªthis was shortly after her magic had come to light. The old maid had been kept in the dark about Zara¡¯s condition, and although she had raised some questions here and there, she remained loyal to this family. To hear her suddenly quit now was a bit¡­bizarre to say the least. ¡°S-She has her own¡­.¡± Rauna had trouble speaking. ¡°She was very¡ªhow do I say this? Everybody has their opinion on the matter of what happened on the mountain¡ª¡± She stared at Zara for a moment, her cheeks red. ¡°I¡¯m¡­actually not permitted to tell you any more. I apologize, Miss. I¡¯ve misspoken.¡± She swallowed. ¡°She quit. That is all.¡± Zara didn¡¯t need to hear much more. The old maid was a religious woman. Not fanatic like Noina, but still traditional. Zara could discern that the old maid¡¯s suspicions about this family¡¯s secret have gone to the point where she could no longer comfortably stay. ¡°However, it¡¯s a pleasure to meet you, Miss Zara. Shall we?¡± Rauna asked, gesturing out the door. ¡°Master Zahir mentions you haven¡¯t wished to come down since that dreadful day. He insists that you bathe. I¡¯m¡ªand I don¡¯t say this to be rude¡ªbut I¡¯m inclined to agree with him¡­¡± She lowered her head sheepishly. Without another word, Zara followed the new maid downstairs.
The sounds of lively chatter in the parlor made Zara shiver. There were strangers in the house, that was for certain. Zara had never been much of a socialite, for obvious reasons. The only guest she was ever used to coming for meals was Noina. How she was supposed to act around other people was going to be a challenge. She wasn¡¯t too versed in proper dining etiquette or conversation. Why her parents chose to invite outsiders now was questionable, and it made Zara¡¯s heart shake. She sank into the tub as Rauna poured more hot water in. Then, Rauna gathered liquid soap into her hands and began to lather Zara¡¯s hair. ¡°This might take a while, Miss,¡± Rauna said apologetically. ¡°Your hair has gathered a lot of oil and dirt. It¡¯s going to take more than one wash to get it all clean.¡± The new maid was closer to Zara in age, and she seemed like a nice person. Formal, polite, cute, shy. Most of all, Rauna seemed like she cared about Zara as a person, even though they¡¯ve just met. Maybe she was only doing her job, but she made Zara feel more at ease than the previous maid ever had. ¡°That¡¯s alright,¡± Zara said gently. ¡°I know it¡¯s bad.¡± She let Rauna work on her hair, wincing through the untangling of knots. Each time, Rauna would apologize. Her polite speech and accent was vaguely familiar. Very unlike the old maid, who was a Prian native and didn¡¯t bother with formalities like Miss or Master. ¡°Rauna,¡± Zara asked, ¡°where are you from?¡± Rauna hesitated, but answered, ¡°East Dhariya, Miss.¡± A poor sub-city neighboring the capital. Millions of slaves and cheap laborers from all sectors of Dhariya were often forced into Darhai to train and work for wealthy merchants and those of noble lineage. Zara remembered now, hearing Rauna¡¯s people speak many years prior, on that one family trip down into the city. ¡°You can call me Zara.¡± ¡°No can do, Miss.¡± Rauna shook her head rapidly and continued kneading Zara¡¯s scalp. ¡°No can do.¡± Zara sighed, turning her face toward the other woman. ¡°Not even when we¡¯re alone?¡± Tight-lipped, Rauna faced Zara¡¯s head forward again. She poured water down the untangled locks and prepared to lather in more soap. Zara normally bathed herself, but sometimes, she was grateful for the help when it came to her hair. It was long, and her bouts of depression took a toll on it when she delayed washing. The old maid would gripe at Zara for her sloppiness, and was in no way gentle about tugging the knots out like Rauna was. ¡°How did my parents find you?¡± Zara asked. ¡°Are you new to Pria?¡± ¡°Yes, Miss. I arrived in a caravan from Bazant City over a month ago. Master Zahir bought me in the morning market.¡± She smiled. ¡°He is a good man. He freed me from the cruelties of servitude. He pays me fair. I can live a good life here, I believe, under your family¡¯s care.¡± The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. Ironic how this family¡¯s lower class servant could be living in better conditions than their own daughter. Zara smiled wanly when Rauna fumbled with the washcloth. She had to have been the cheapest bid at that slave market. ¡°I¡¯m glad you have found a home here,¡± Zara told her as nicely as her sullen mood would let her. Rauna gave her a courteous, happy nod. ¡°Yes, Miss. I am glad as well.¡± Zara closed her eyes, allowing Rauna to wash off the soap from her hair. ¡°Rauna¡­¡± ¡°Yes, Miss?¡± ¡°Um, my parents have guests tonight, don¡¯t they?¡± ¡°Yes. They arrived late last night. Has Mistress Leyli not mentioned it to you this morning?¡± She poured water over Zara¡¯s face, rinsing away leftover suds. ¡°You may open your eyes now, Miss.¡± ¡°Last night?¡± Zara murmured, vision bleary. She wiped the excess water away with her hands.¡°No. My mother hardly speaks to me.¡± ¡°Well, it was quite the surprise for us all. I was in such a rush to make the right accommodations for them. Master was very pleased to see his eldest son again.¡± Zara jolted, causing the tub¡¯s water to splash. ¡°Wait¡­Naz is here?!¡± Rauna startled at Zara¡¯s loud tone. ¡°Is something the matter, Miss?¡± Zara¡¯s mouth hung open, her wide eyes staring at Rauna like she had grown an extra set of teeth. ¡°Naz is here?¡± she repeated. ¡°His wife as well.¡± And Ma hadn¡¯t said anything. She just tossed my breakfast and left the room in a hurry this morning. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Miss?¡± Rauna asked, worried. ¡°Have I done something?¡± ¡°N-No. You just surprised me is all.¡± Zara smiled, though it was strained. ¡°I¡¯m surprised to hear that¡­.my brother has come to visit.¡± Rauna grinned. ¡°I hear Mister Nazeer¡¯s been away from home for quite some time. He¡¯s quite accomplished, isn¡¯t he?¡± ¡°Sure,¡± Zara replied, weakly. Why is here? ¡°He came in time to attend the memorial. Word about it has spread across regions by now I¡¯m sure.¡± Zara swallowed. She suddenly felt very cold in the lukewarm bath. ¡°And then there¡¯s the engagement party later this week for¡­I believe it was for your cousin?¡± Rauna huffed. ¡°I sure have a lot to prepare until¡ª¡± ¡°Wait wait wait,¡± Zara interrupted. ¡°Engagement party? That¡¯s still happening?¡± She¡¯d assumed the gathering had been canceled due to everything that¡¯s happened recently. Or, at the very least, it was no longer going to be held in this house. ¡°It was delayed, but your parents and aunt are determined to bring some joy back into this home.¡± ¡°Which day is the party?¡± ¡°Day 6. Mistress is sewing you a dress.¡± Rauna gave her a smile. Her teeth were a bit crooked, Zara noticed. ¡°I believe that is the other reason for Mister Nazeer¡¯s homecoming. He was invited to attend.¡± ¡°Right¡­¡± ¡°Oh! Miss, please stand up.¡± Confused at Rauna¡¯s alarming tone, Zara quickly stood. Warmth trickled down her thigh, and she understood Rauna¡¯s dismay as soon as she looked down at the water. Rauna stood from the stool and held Zara¡¯s hand steady. ¡°You¡¯ve started menstruation. I¡¯ll finish washing you off here.¡± She nudged at the stool, indicating Zara step out of the tub and sit on it. She moved the fresh water bucket closer to the stool as well. ¡°That¡¯s okay. You¡¯ve done enough. I can wash myself from here¡ª¡± ¡°Miss, I was instructed to clean and dress you tonight. There¡¯s no need for you to do anything yourself.¡± Zara awkwardly stepped out, mindful of where she was dripping. ¡°I can clean that up later,¡± Rauna assured. ¡°Come.¡± Zara sat on the stool. Rauna moved the wet hair aside and began washing Zara¡¯s back. ¡°You smell so much better already, Miss,¡±she murmured. ¡°I was worried about you earlier, to be quite honest. What caused you to shut yourself away like that?¡± Zara did not answer. Rauna shifted over so she could study Zara¡¯s face. She ran her fingers over Zara¡¯s brow, upper lip, and chin. ¡°You could do with a threading as well,¡± she said. ¡°I¡¯ll see to it after we¡¯re done here.¡± Zara nodded, though her heart sank. She didn¡¯t feel like attending the evening meal. She didn¡¯t want to see anyone. She wasn¡¯t ready to see Naz. She realized, as the first of many cramps hit her stomach, that she may be better off in confinement after all.
Her body was fresh. Her face was plucked. Her hair shone, the smooth tresses brushed and tied back in a simple braided bun at the crown of her head. She wore a black gown with gold geometric stitching around the neckline and flowing sleeves. Rauna had made her pretty, but none of this had given her any confidence. She was the last to enter the dining room. Everybody was already seated and talking. The room turned quiet upon her arrival. Zara¡¯s stomach flipped at the sight of the man sitting beside her father. He¡¯s here. It¡¯s really him. She had not seen Naz in so long that she had practically forgotten his face. He was a striking young man in a suit; his neat, caramel hair had grown passed his ears and his face resembled their mother¡¯s so much¡ªsmart and defined. Zara somewhat remembered his cheeks to be more puffed out, but that had clearly gone with age, or exercise, or both. His facial hair was professionally cut and groomed¡ªwell, everything about his appearance was professional and well-to-do. Anybody who didn¡¯t know this family wouldn¡¯t be able to tell that this man was Zara¡¯s sibling. Seated next to Naz was a woman one could name ¡°a radiant light.¡± She was slim and beautiful, her skin a deep golden glow under the chandelier. The cool draft in the room seemed of no bother to her; she wore a silk, sleeveless gold blouse and skirt adorned with red jewels. Her ripply brunette hair was styled up at the base of her slender neck. Her doll-like eyes were shadowed and lined with makeup, and her lips were plump and red to match her jewels and the small bindi on her forehead. This woman was Naz¡¯s wife, and she looked like an aristocrat. Her ruby earrings and necklace must have cost a fortune. Zara wondered whether it was handed down from her family, or if Naz had actually bought them for her. The pretty wife regarded Zara with a cool gaze. Naz chuckled deeply. ¡°Is this really Zara?¡± he asked Zahir. Zahir cleared his throat. ¡°Yes. Zara, sit down.¡± He nodded to the empty chair on his left, beside Rowan. Leyli was situated at the opposite head of the table tonight, directly across her husband who remained at his usual spot. Zara, without speaking a word or acknowledging Naz at all, moved into her seat. Her chair scraped, and she cringed. Rowan shifted his chair a centimeter away from Zara; there wasn¡¯t much space to move anywhere but if there were, Rowan would probably be happy to be at an even greater distance from her. He looked uncomfortable and miserable. Part of Zara wished she could ask him what the hell the matter was¡ªand what had happened to their relationship. It was getting better, but now it was worse than what it used to be. Zara studied him from the corner of her eye. He wore a printed maroon vest with a white shirt underneath. The sleeves were slightly wrinkled. His unruly hair was oiled and tied back in a knot, but the frizz was rebelling against it all. His face was a mix of pigmented pimple scars and raised spots, and while his brows have been plucked a bit, the skin around them were pink and sore. Zara shouldn¡¯t compare them¡ªshe knew she shouldn¡¯t because this was exactly the reason Rowan was always so irritable about that man¡ªbut he and Naz were worlds apart and always would be. Naz was accomplished and handsome. There was no telling what Rowan would be, but even if he grew out of his awkward face and body, he would still probably not be as good as Naz. It did not seem possible. They did not seem related if they stood together on their own. It was only due to Leyli¡¯s presence that one could tell that these young men were her kin¡ªZara could see hints of their mother in both brothers, but Naz especially. Naz stared at her, amused. It was that condescending glare that reminded Zara why she disliked him, even though he was practically a stranger to her. ¡°You¡¯re so quiet, sister,¡± Naz commented. His voice was much deeper than Zara remembered. ¡°No utter of a ¡®hello¡¯ to me or my wife. Have you lost your tongue?¡± Leyli frowned. ¡°Zara, you haven¡¯t seen Naz since you two were so young. And he¡¯s brought your sister-in-law. How could you be so rude?¡± Zahir cleared his throat. Zara avoided her father¡¯s smoldering eyes. ¡°Very rude,¡± Naz agreed. He was right, though, annoying as this was. It was rude to ignore him when they haven¡¯t seen each other in so long. He was still her brother, and three years her elder too. This was also Zara¡¯s first time seeing the wife he married five years ago; she hadn¡¯t been allowed to attend the wedding ceremony¡ªNaz¡¯s personal request at the time. But Zara was already under the impression that this woman didn¡¯t like her. She raised a perfect brow at Zara like she was beneath her. Naz waited, expectantly, smirking mouth purposely apparent. Zara couldn¡¯t speak. She just couldn¡¯t; it was like she really had lost her tongue. She winced as her stomach cramped for the twentieth time today, and panicked when her fingers warmed¡ªa sign she was losing control of herself, therefore risking her power going awry. She silently inhaled, taking care not to make her agitation too obvious, and exhaled through her nose, telling herself that all she had to do was say one word. ¡°Hello,¡± she choked out. Naz laughed. ¡°She speaks! Wow. You sound different.¡± ¡°So do you,¡± she muttered. Leyli chuckled. ¡°That¡¯s only natural with age. Can you believe this? All of us together again. Oh, I wish it could always be like this.¡± ¡°Ma, you know that¡¯s unreal,¡± Naz said, while Leyli tried not to look too deflated by his reply. ¡°By the way, Zara, you¡¯re the only one here who hasn¡¯t met my wife at all, have you?¡± I wasn¡¯t allowed at your wedding. What the fuck do you think? At least the warmth in her hand had abated and she was able to smile calmly at the wife. ¡°No, I have not,¡± Zara said. Naz placed his hand around the wife¡¯s waist. ¡°This is Sonya. Isn¡¯t she a beauty?¡± ¡°Sure,¡± Zara answered flatly. Sonya narrowed her eyes at Zara, ever-so-slightly. ¡°Yes,¡± Zara changed her answer immediately. ¡°She¡¯s very pretty.¡± ¡°Like she belongs on the stage!¡± Naz exclaimed proudly. ¡°Or better yet, her own throne!¡± He brought her hand up to his lips and gave it a peck. Sonya smiled at him and spoke for the first time since Zara arrived. ¡°You are over exaggerating.¡± Even her voice was pretty¡ªthe perfect pitch between too high and too deep for a woman. Zahir laughed. ¡°Oh, let him. It¡¯s a husband¡¯s duty to shower his wife with affection, is it not?¡± He winked at Leyli, who giggled in return. Zara wanted to tune the conversation out now. She examined the table setting instead. Her mother had chosen the fancy set for tonight¡ªshiny silver plates, elegant napkins, and impeccably clean wine glasses with not a single spot of a dried on water stain. Floral decor lined the middle of the table along with candles, though enough space was left for the food to be spread out. The smell of roast wafted from the kitchen. Zara wished she were more hungry, but her appetite hadn¡¯t been very strong as of late. Rowan pinched the edge of his napkin in silence, seemingly waiting for the night to be over with. Zara tuned back in just in time to catch Naz talking about his client¡¯s young son showing interest in the architectural design field, and that he was Rowan¡¯s age. Rowan tensed, his fingers dropping the napkin as Naz zeroed in on him. ¡°What do you think of that, little brother?¡± Naz said, leering. ¡°He¡¯s young, like you, but already so much more ambitious. You should learn something from this. You know, Baba was telling me earlier how you¡¯re just lazing by, causing trouble, spending time with good-for-nothing boys from less-than-distinguished families. I was already looking for apprenticeships at your age. I spent nights studying so I can excel in all subjects, because I knew exactly what I wanted. When I hear about you and how you lack the talent to do as I did, I get concerned. I mean, what are you possibly thinking of doing. You¡¯re going to be a man someday, are you not?¡± Rowan did not answer him. Did not even look his way. ¡°Hey.¡± Naz¡¯s smile disappeared. His tone dropped, low and irate. ¡°Have you lost your damn voice as well? What¡¯s the matter here? It¡¯s seems neither of my siblings have any social skills at all. Zara¡ª¡± Zara flinched when he suddenly called her name. ¡°¡ªyou haven¡¯t asked me anything about myself¡ªabout where I¡¯ve been or about what I¡¯ve been doing all this time. You haven¡¯t said a word to Sonya. She¡¯s your sister now, and you won¡¯t so much as look at her face. I¡¯m not sure what your deal is, if it¡¯s jealousy, or if you¡¯ve simply become more recluse¡ªmaybe it¡¯s both, though I¡¯m certainly not surprised. Just disappointed that you let your poor attitude get this far. You haven¡¯t shown interest in anything. ¡°And you¡ª¡± He leaned over and snapped his fingers at Rowan, startling the boy to finally look up at him. ¡°¡ªwipe that nasty scowl off your face. Which reminds me to ask: do you even wash it properly? Do you need to be taught how to use a comb as well?¡± Rowan grit his teeth, looking like he¡¯d glare a hole into Naz¡¯s head if he could. ¡°Shut up,¡± he growled. ¡°Rowan!¡± Leyli shouted. ¡°That¡¯s okay, Ma,¡± Naz said. ¡°At least I heard his voice, for what, the second time since I surprised him at the memorial last night?¡± He burst into cold laughter. ¡°That was quite the scream, my little brother. I don¡¯t mean to pick on you, but as Baba¡¯s son, I was expecting more of an aspiring young man when I came home. I didn¡¯t expect for you to turn out this way. So lanky and unremarkable. You¡¯ve taken on the appearance of a common Darhai bum, almost.¡± He pouted mockingly. Zahir, cheeks pink, was rubbing his temple muttering, ¡°I believe I¡¯ve mentioned the same.¡± Rowan clenched his fists. His face and neck were very red. ¡°You haven¡¯t been taking those dreaded vida petals have you?¡± Naz added, as a tactless joke. ¡°I hear they can make one¡¯s appearance, well, like yours? You seem so moody and out of sorts, little brother.¡± He and the wife chuckled rudely. With a harsh scraping of his chair, Rowan jumped out of his seat just as Zahir banged his side of the table Rowan glared at Naz with fiery eyes. Naz stared back, with a challenging sneer. A long, awkward pause later, Rowan sat back down. His napkin slipped off the table and fell to the floor. Zara held her hand over her heart in disbelief. If their father hadn¡¯t intervened just now, Rowan would have regretted the rest of his days living under this roof. ¡°What do you think you¡¯re doing!?¡± he yelled, glancing from younger son to daughter. ¡°BOTH of you!¡± ¡°Baba, with all due respect¡ª¡± Naz kept talking. Zara wished he¡¯d stop already. ¡°¡ªI expected more from them. I mean, we were all raised in the same household, by you. I was always on top of everything. I honored guests with you, humored them¡ªremember those days? I was younger than Rowan. Yet, these two don¡¯t seem to know how to socialize properly, with members of their own family. They have nothing going for them.¡± His eyes gleamed. ¡°I understand that Zara¡¯s¡­.hopeless. But Rowan? What¡¯s his excuse?¡± Zahir continued to glare at his other children. ¡°Zara. Rowan. Your brother is speaking to you. You haven¡¯t seen each other in years. What is the matter with you? He¡¯s family, yet you¡¯re acting like he¡¯s worse than a complete stranger. TALK, damn it!¡± Rowan and Zara flinched at his booming voice. Sonya eyed them with amusement, and Zara couldn¡¯t help but wonder, with Naz¡¯s open commentary, how much the wife knew about this family. About Zara¡¯s condition. What exactly had Naz told her? Just then, Rauna appeared, carting in trays of food. ¡°Master Zahir, Mistress Leyli,¡± Rauna announced, a bit breathlessly. ¡°I apologize for the wait. The meal is now ready.¡± Zara sighed as Rauna began to serve out dishes of hen roast, boiled vegetables, round flatbread, and drinks. Naz smirked at Rowan when he begrudgingly bent down to pick up his dropped napkin from the floor. Sonya delicately adjusted hers on her lap, glancing away from Zara like she was as insignificant as the maid. They had just been served their meal. The night was far from over yet. A Sisters Wrath Dessert was served to the men in the parlor after the meal, and Zara was forced to join them. She¡¯d been deciding on whether to remain in the dining room instead, but if she had stayed, she would have been stuck with her mother and Sonya. For Zara to spend time with the women would have appeared more natural, but Sonya¡ªwith her perfect womanly dining and speaking etiquette¡ªmade Zara feel more uncomfortable than Naz did. Sparing herself any more humiliation, she despondently sat in a corner of the parlor, away from her father and brothers, spooning pudding into her mouth. If she truly had a choice, she¡¯d just go back up to her bedroom, but Zahir and Leyli obviously wanted to put on a decent family display in front of their prized son¡¯s even pricier wife. Zara unwittingly clanked the spoon loudly against the bowl, like an unpolished cretin. She was willing to bet that Sonya could make eating even a simple pudding into a quiet, elegant activity. The way she sat with her posture straight, portioning her food into small bites to avoid her mouth becoming too full and her hands getting too soiled, and using the napkin instead of licking her fingers¡ªwhich Zara had regretted doing tonight. She burned just thinking about how Sonya had scoffed at her for doing what she normally always did when eating at home. Leyli had then reprimanded Zara for her poor manners in front of everyone. Even the way Sonya picked up her fucking drink glass, like the most delicate object ever, annoyed Zara to no end. All throughout the uncomfortable meal Zara wanted to just toss back her wine, but with Sonya there, she couldn¡¯t get herself to do something so brazen. Her feelings worsened after her mother¡¯s scolding, and she quit eating altogether. ¡°Tonight¡¯s not so bad,¡± Naz was saying. He plated himself another slice of pudding. ¡°I¡¯m glad. I was worried that it¡¯d be too chilly for Sonya.¡± ¡°It¡¯s Spring, after all. The weather should be more tolerable even during the nights. This is her first time out here, no?¡± Zahir asked. ¡°Yes. Our first vacation in Pria.¡± ¡°I still can¡¯t believe that. You¡¯ve been married for quite some time now¡­¡± ¡°I know.¡± ¡°You should have¡ª¡± Zahir cleared his throat, and changed course. ¡°I wish you¡¯d have thought of a visit out here sooner. I know things are busy down in the city¡ª¡± ¡°Believe me. They are,¡± Naz cut him off. His tone was firm, indicating he¡¯d rather not have his father prying into why he chooses to remain as far from the family as possible for years on end. Zara had always assumed it was because of her¡ªit¡¯s the excuse her parents liked to make, and she knew well how Naz felt about her. But to distance himself the way he had without a care for the rest of the family and with hardly any letters of correspondence unless their parents wrote to him first, Zara couldn¡¯t help but think there may be more to his absence than he let on. ¡°Of course,¡± Zahir said. ¡°I was just about to point out that¡­that you¡¯ve forgotten the weather pattern here, since you¡¯ve been away for so long.¡± ¡°The skies are reasonable in Darhai,¡± Naz remarked lightly. ¡°It made me realize how sickening the cold out here is. Not as uninhabitable as the lands further up north, of course.¡± He chuckled. ¡°Those damn Mogheiri savages. How they do it, I don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°Thick skin, I suppose,¡± Zahir replied. ¡°They disgust me.¡± Mogheir was an icy land above Pria, in the upmost northern region of the globe where it was cold all year round. It was known to be the coldest place in the world, where none can survive save for the natives¡ªborn with enough hair, muscle, fat, and tenacity to remain in such conditions. They were drawn and described in texts looking like a species between human and beast. Zara could understand a bit of disgust, she supposed¡ªthey weren¡¯t a very natural looking race. But Naz sounded like the Mogheiri had done something to personally offend him. The subject quickly moved on as Naz brought up his wife again. ¡°Sonya just happened to be curious now, is all. What with all of the ruckus Zara¡¯s caused¡ª¡± ¡°Nazeer!¡± Zahir scolded, frowning at his son for the first time all evening. ¡°Keep your voice down.¡± Naz hardly looked apologetic. ¡°Worried about the maid?¡± Zara¡¯s head rushed. She clutched her pudding spoon, catching Rowan¡¯s quick glance over her. He was sitting on a stool at the opposite end of the parlor near the courtyard door, silently listening. ¡°Yes, but what about your wife? Have you told her anything? How much does she know?¡± Naz clucked his tongue. ¡°She knows nothing,¡± he answered dismissively. ¡°I told her Zara¡¯s inept. She proved that well enough tonight, thank goodness. Some things just don¡¯t change, and I was counting on that. Thank you, Zara.¡± Naz called to her, pointing his spoon at the pudding plate on the center table. ¡°Come, have some more. You barely ate any of your supper. Do you even eat at all? Baba, she¡¯s so much thinner now.¡± Zara set her empty bowl on a dusty shelf next to her. She made no indication of replying to him or accepting his bullshit offer for more pudding, even as he was cutting up a fresh slice. Sure enough, he took that slice for himself with a smug expression. Zara wanted the night to end already. Her headache was weighing her down, and half the time, she felt as though she couldn¡¯t breathe properly¡ªlike it was coming out in irregular puffs. ¡°Good,¡± Zahir said relieved, ignoring the comment on Zara¡¯s weight. ¡°An excuse like that will do fine. But, what does she make of this¡­mess.¡± He regarded Zara with a nasty glare. ¡°Because it has caused a great deal of hassle for the town, and myself, for only Mother knows how long.¡± ¡°Being a civil servant in these times is going to be rough.¡± ¡°I¡¯m a thorough man. I just want the people to feel safe and not be so¡­divided.¡± ¡°You were saying it earlier, how people are now challenging each other¡¯s faiths over that ceremony. Some are calling it a curse, or a warning. Many find it hard to believe any of this actually happened, that it was only the commotion and darkness that caused all those people to fall. And, I didn¡¯t tell you this earlier, but I heard someone at the memorial boldly claiming that Lilith was the devil¡¯s child all along¡ª¡± ¡°Watch it!¡± Zahir growled so suddenly it made all three of his children flinch. ¡°Don¡¯t repeat those things! She¡¯s our God. So watch your mouth.¡± Naz put a hand to his chest, laughing off the fact that he was startled. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m sorry. I-I don¡¯t believe it myself, Baba. You should know that. I just never expected such talk in this town. Where everyone accepts everyone else.¡± ¡°That¡¯s all well, but there isn¡¯t a need to repeat what¡¯s already been said, especially ones so unpleasant.¡± ¡°It¡¯s the truth. I just wanted her to hear it, since she doesn¡¯t know.¡± His tone dropped, as he spoke more to himself now than anyone else. ¡°Such a happy, merry town¡­almost like a dumb fairy tale.¡± He peeked at Zara¡¯s face. ¡°Thanks to you, my sister, it¡¯s changed.¡± His mouth curled. Zara swallowed. She didn¡¯t like the way he was looking at her. It wasn¡¯t hate or disgust. It reminded her of that night at the bar, so long ago. The men would look at the whores this way. Some had looked at her this way, with a twisted hunger she didn¡¯t dare indulge them with. Zahir huffed irritably, fingers rubbing his temple. ¡°Sometimes, I don¡¯t know what I should do¡­¡± Naz finally stopped staring and passed his attention back to his father. ¡°Another drink perhaps, Baba? Rowan?¡± He chortled when Rowan didn¡¯t respond. ¡°Damn mute. Rowan.¡± Rowan, who had been absorbed into his own thoughts, snapped his head up and scowled. ¡°What?¡± he muttered rudely. ¡°Be useful for once, and call for the maid. Tell her to bring us some good liquor. And hey,¡± Naz called out as Rowan hurried out of the parlor, ¡°I¡¯m not gonna let you have any unless you sit your butt down and actually speak to me.¡± Rowan rolled his eyes and sighed heavily. Then he left. ¡°What an attitude,¡± Naz said. ¡°But, Baba, I¡¯m sure you need to give it time. Do what you do best. Eventually, things will blow over¡­I mean, it may take a while, but it will come to an end¡­years down the road. I¡¯m telling you, this will make history.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not helping.¡± Naz laughed. ¡°Lighten up. People are finding this town more interesting than ever. Just ask Sonya. While she¡¯s horrified by the stories, she¡¯s fascinated by how beautiful Pria is. She wants to see more this week. Perhaps these rumors will attract new residents?¡± ¡°A very hopeful outlook, son. That doesn¡¯t erase the damage that¡¯s been made.¡± Naz lowered his voice, but kept it sound enough for Zara to hear. ¡°The damage we both know Zara¡¯s caused. All for what, though?¡± He looked at her, shaking his head in ridicule. ¡°You and your kind¡­are hopeless.¡± Zara didn¡¯t have the heart to be upset. She was too numb. Her stomach still cramped, and she couldn¡¯t help but wonder how long she¡¯d be forced to stay in here before she bled through the seat of her gown. Rowan came back accompanied by Rauna, who brought a slim bottle and four wine glasses. ¡°Four?¡± Naz inquired. ¡°You brought four?¡± Rauna paused her pouring, eyeing Zara at the corner of the room in confusion. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mister Nazeer, am I mistaken? I was under the impression Miss Zara would be¡­¡± She nervously trailed off, and she looked to Rowan for help. Zahir only sighed gruffly, but made no comment. Zara couldn¡¯t tell what he was thinking. Rowan seemed just as confused. ¡°Well, yeah?¡± he told Naz. ¡°You said we could have some if we sat with you, right?¡± Naz¡¯s smile was coy. ¡°No. I was only talking about you.¡± ¡°¡­Oh.¡± Rauna stood there, mid-pour, at a loss. Zara wished she could tell the woman to just take the extra glass and leave, and forget about her entirely. But she¡¯s been clogged up all night, unwilling to break her own silence. Naz peered at the bottle with a scrunched nose. ¡°And you brought the red. You know I like white.¡± ¡°Um¡­I actually didn¡¯t know that. You never¡­said it,¡± Rowan mumbled. ¡°Ah. I guess you weren¡¯t listening back in the dining room when I quite literally mentioned how much I was enjoying the white wine.¡± Rowan stared at the table, helplessly. Zara also had a habit of tuning out shit she didn¡¯t care to hear either, but even she, over all the other nonsense spewed tonight, had heard Naz talk about his drink preference. The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there. ¡°And anyway, why did you bring wine? Is that all there is?¡± He grimaced. ¡°It¡¯s not even a good one. Blackberry, blegh. Cherry would have been the better choice, you know.¡± How Rowan was supposed to know any of those details, even Zara wasn¡¯t sure. They hardly knew the cheeky bastard at all. Blackberry was actually a flavor Zara had expressed liking back when she tried it with Rowan and his friends at Ruvini¡¯s. ¡°I hate cherry,¡± Rowan muttered, in a way that expressed his hatred for anything Naz liked. ¡°You have poor taste.¡± ¡°Stop arguing,¡± their father butted in. ¡°Nazeer, I¡¯ll have Rauna pick up something you like tomorrow.¡± Rauna nodded and proceeded pouring on her master¡¯s instruction. She quickly took her leave once she was done, taking the leftover pudding plate with her. ¡°Well, no matter,¡± Naz said brightly. ¡°Rowan, your idiocy has actually proven quite convenient.¡± He waved Zara over. ¡°Come, Zara. Sit with us, so your glass doesn¡¯t go to waste. Besides, I¡¯d like to speak with you too.¡± Zara hesitated. ¡°Come!¡± At Naz¡¯s insistence, Zara slowly stepped out of her corner. ¡°Are you sure about this?¡± Zahir asked him. ¡°It¡¯ll be fine,¡± Naz replied as she tentatively sat in the open seat next to Naz on the sofa. ¡°I¡¯m not a kid anymore; I think I can handle a conversation with my sister now.¡± Across from them, Rowan sat in the chair next to Zahir and offered Zara a glass first. ¡°Here,¡± he mumbled. He still refused to look at her directly. ¡°Thank you,¡± she said quietly, taking the offer and sipping right away. It was sweet, smooth, and tasty. She couldn¡¯t help but wonder if Rowan had purposely chosen this wine for her, but quickly dismissed the ridiculous notion. He¡¯d been cold to her for weeks. There was no reason for him to do such a nice thing so suddenly. It was probably a coincidence, and besides, he said he liked this flavor as well. He¡¯d clearly chosen it for himself. ¡°You¡¯re so kind, Rowan,¡± Naz teased. ¡°I remember back in the old days you wouldn¡¯t shut up about how strange she was, just to make her angry. You loved making her angry.¡± ¡°Now he¡¯s shut her out,¡± Zahir told Naz, as if Zara and Rowan weren¡¯t in the room with them. ¡°Is that so?¡± ¡°Mm. I thought it a quite sudden change of heart, considering how he¡¯d raced off against my word to take her out of that shed.¡± ¡°Even for you, Baba, that was harsh.¡± ¡°It was necessary.¡± It seemed many matters concerning Zara had already been discussed between them beforehand. Zara took another calm sip, and pretended she wasn¡¯t uncomfortable. ¡°Maybe¡­¡± He suddenly wrapped his fingers around Zara¡¯s wrist, making her flinch violently. The liquid in her glass almost swished right out. ¡°Did that incident cause this? You¡¯re really so thin. But it may be that you peck at your food like a bird.¡± ¡°She¡¯s always been thin,¡± Zahir answered for her. ¡°Huh,¡± Naz uttered. He thought about it for a moment before dropping her wrist. ¡°I remember differently¡­though we were never close or anything. I was hardly ever around you.¡± This time, he spoke to Zara directly. ¡°Isn¡¯t that right?¡± Zara found herself staring at his face, a face she hadn¡¯t looked closely upon in years. He¡¯d always had a strong appearance, but the one she remembered vaguely was of a young boy desperately trying to climb the ranks of manhood as soon as possible. She remembered bits of his lighter voice and laughter, not as deep as it was now, talking animatedly about things she didn¡¯t know about: complicated subjects of various arts, religion, history, and politics. A young socialite, constantly out and about, spending hours and days with people no one but he was allowed to meet. But what she remembered most of this handsome face that gazed at her now with kind intrigue, was pure contempt. ¡°We shouldn¡¯t be harboring that thing in this house! Why do you insist on hiding her, Ma? Why do you insist on protecting a freak that¡¯ll kill us all?¡± He had to have been sixteen¡­or maybe seventeen years old when he had expressed this to their mother, close to the main entrance of their house, while she peered at them from behind the washroom door. She hadn¡¯t seen him for some months at that time¡ªhe¡¯d been studying abroad¡ªand she¡¯d thought, Maybe I should greet him. Maybe he¡¯ll pay me some attention, like he used to with Rowan. She was a girl, so it made sense he wouldn¡¯t feel as connected to her as he would a brother. He¡¯d kept his distance from her even before she¡¯d become the family¡¯s curse to bear. But she could only stare at his sharp, bitter profile while he spoke in a hushed, urgent voice: ¡°I knew there was something wrong from the start. I¡¯ve always had this intuition in me, you know, some sense. She¡¯s so odd, Ma. I hate the way she¡¯s quiet, the way she stares with that blank stupid face, like she¡¯s in a fantasy land all the time. Her little obsessions with the world¡¯s abnormalities is¡­disturbing to say the least. It proves everything, doesn¡¯t it? I only came home because of your letter. I needed to tell you in person and I¡¯ll tell Baba again: get rid of her before things get worse. Get rid of her, because I¡¯ve seen it¡­in the city¡­what happens to families who are merely suspected of hiding these types of monsters in their homes¡­.¡± ¡°You¡¯re pretty.¡± Zara blinked at Naz¡¯s soft confession. Rowan choked on his drink. ¡°Do you need water?¡± Zahir asked, patting his back. Rowan winced, coughing and clearing his throat. ¡°No.¡± Naz paid no mind to the ruckus across them. His dark eyes remained on hers¡ªthe one part of their appearance that was similar to each other. He smiled casually and shrugged. ¡°Well¡­pretty enough for a thin thing like you I guess,¡± he said, breaking his gaze away to take a long sip of the wine he claimed to hate. He set his glass back on the table. Stunned, Zara replied with a lame, ¡°Thanks.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you think so, Rowan?¡± ¡°You¡¯re just pulling our legs,¡± Rowan grumbled. ¡°Am I? Or are you jealous? Maybe she can teach you a thing or two about proper facial care. I hear she bathes less than you do, yet her face doesn¡¯t bear a spot.¡± Naz laughed at Zara¡¯s shocked, red expression. ¡°By the way, thanks for cleaning yourself up for me today. Ma told me how much she hated the stench of you.¡± I didn¡¯t clean up for YOU. I didn¡¯t even want to SEE you. Rowan chugged down the rest of his glass and clanked it down on the table. ¡°Can I leave now?¡± he asked Zahir. ¡°I think I¡¯ve had enough.¡± Just as Zahir was about to relent, Naz spoke up again. ¡°But I want you to stay.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°You make me feel good about myself. You always have.¡± He smirked. ¡°What a kind thing to say,¡± Zahir said, smiling at Naz, though he looked at Rowan with distaste. ¡°Why are you like this?¡± Rowan got out of the chair, glowering. ¡°Stay,¡± Zara spoke up, inciting the others¡¯ attentions. ¡°Please.¡± She didn¡¯t know why she wanted Rowan to stay when he wasn¡¯t even on her side or anything. But his presence brought her some level of comfort in that she wasn¡¯t alone. She didn¡¯t want to be stuck with her father and Naz by herself. Naz wasn¡¯t going to let her off anytime soon, seeing as how he had discreetly curled his fingers around the loose fabric of her gown. Rowan stared at her, incredulously. ¡°See?¡± Naz said. ¡°You even got Zara talking. She wants you to stay, too. Incredible. Never thought I¡¯d hear it. Pour us some more drink, would you?¡± After some moment of confusion, Rowan complied and begrudgingly sat back down, eyeing Zara curiously. Zara, at least, was able to breathe evenly again¡­or as evenly as she could with Naz leering at her. They heard Leyli¡¯s voice from down the hall, calling for Zahir. Zahir apologized to Naz and excused himself to see what his wife needed from him, leaving the siblings alone together. Zara couldn¡¯t remember the last time it had ever been just the three of them. Rowan sighed, topping off his glass. He seemed less frustrated now and more worried as Naz leaned in closer to Zara. ¡°Hey, tell me,¡± Naz said, ¡°I want to hear it directly from you. What was it like?¡± Zara swallowed. ¡°What was what like?¡± ¡°The boy mage. I never got a chance to see it before it died.¡± Zara¡¯s entire body tensed at his malicious use of the pronoun. Naz chuckled. ¡°It must have been terrible for you. You must have tried so hard to save him, only for him¡ªand practically everyone else¡ªto die anyway.¡± ¡°It wasn¡¯t my fault,¡± Zara whispered hollowly. It was something she told herself over and over, but it was clear how absurd it sounded when spoken aloud. ¡°No?¡± Naz nodded once, leaning back. ¡°Of course, it couldn¡¯t be. Everybody else is just crazy.¡± He turned to Rowan for affirmation. ¡°Right? You imagined it all, didn¡¯t you? Your fear, your injuries. Your near-death experience is a joke, according to her.¡± He laughed. ¡°Like one, big drug-induced nightmare.¡± Zara lowered her eyes, willing herself not to care. He could think whatever he wanted. After all, part of it had been an illusion. But her chest still shook, because in the end, she was still to blame. She busied herself studying magic these days so as to not think about the ceremony¡ªabout her useless attempt to save a boy fit for death¡ªbut it was fruitless when the facts were smacked across her face again. She didn¡¯t want to talk about this, and she suddenly thought¡ªwhy should she? What, exactly, was stopping her from leaving now? Her father wasn¡¯t around. She¡¯d brace herself for the consequences of her rude behavior later. And some day, as her skills progressed, she wouldn¡¯t have to put up with anything like this, ever again. That was Revan¡¯s promise to her. ¡°But I have to admit, from the things I¡¯ve heard¡­you¡¯re quite impressive.¡± Zara snapped her eyes back on Naz, as did Rowan. ¡°What are you saying?¡± Rowan hissed, his low voice trembling. ¡°She is,¡± Naz insisted. ¡°I¡¯ve never actually seen magic at work, so I don¡¯t know what it¡¯s like. To have someone like you in my family with abilities like that is¡­well, it¡¯s mostly concerning. And scary. Repulsive, even. But also¡­exciting.¡± The gleam in his eyes wasn¡¯t anything Zara was pleased about. Something in her gut was telling her he wasn¡¯t being genuine. ¡°Naz,¡± she spoke. ¡°This isn¡¯t like you at all.¡± ¡°What do you even know about me?¡± Zara couldn¡¯t respond. She only knew that he had never approved of her existing, for the most part. ¡°You don¡¯t think I could have changed my mind about you? Just a little? I mean¡­I¡¯m curious. Magic is¡­it¡¯s practically like a myth. A treasure to many people. It has value. You, despite being what you are, have value.¡± Zara didn¡¯t understand what he was getting at. He leaned toward her again. ¡°So¡­how do you do it?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Show me your magic,¡± he whispered. ¡°I want to see.¡± ¡°No,¡± Rowan said sharply. ¡°Was I asking you?¡± Naz said, regarding him like a bug. ¡°Actually, it was a mistake having you here. Can you please go away now?¡± ¡°And let Zara tear this house apart for your amusement? No way!¡± Fool. ¡°Do you really think I would do something like that?¡± she snapped. ¡°Well I didn¡¯t think you¡¯d do anything like what you did in the mountain,¡± he snarled. ¡°So excuse me for being a little cautious of you.¡± It was like Naz had disappeared; the issue was now between her and Rowan. ¡°So is that why you¡¯ve been ignoring me? Are you that afraid of me?¡± Rowan didn¡¯t answer, but he didn¡¯t look away from her either. His brows twitched. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t hurt you,¡± Zara told him. But it did nothing to reassure him. He just barked out a laugh. ¡°I could have fallen off the cliff too, and you wouldn¡¯t have even noticed. What you did¡­it was like you weren¡¯t thinking about anyone but yourself. So fuck you.¡± ¡°No fuck you!¡± Zara¡¯s voice rose, her bottled temper¡ªand silence¡ªunable to contain itself any longer. ¡°You¡¯ve been acting like a piece of shit way before that fucking chaos on the mountain. I don¡¯t know why, though. Can you tell me why?¡± ¡°Yeah! It¡¯s because of¡ª¡± Rowan stopped. His mouth hung open mid-sentence, and his brows furrowed deeper. ¡°It¡¯s because¡­.¡± He trailed off, unable to come up with an answer. Zara shook her head. ¡°You got my hopes up. I thought you would start treating me like family. But you¡¯re worse than everyone here.¡± She stood with her wine in hand. She¡¯d finish drinking elsewhere, in peace. ¡°Where are you going?¡± Naz said, and suddenly Zara remembered that he was still here, clutching at the skirt of her gown like a little boy. She wanted to laugh. Of course. She was so used to him not being here. He was only another waste of a brother she wanted nothing to do with. Excitement beamed in Naz¡¯s face; he¡¯d been thoroughly entertained by her squabble with Rowan. ¡°Come now, we¡¯re still family,¡± Naz assured her with a smile Zara wanted to punch in. ¡°No,¡± Zara said firmly. ¡°You never thought of me as family. So shut up.¡± He let go of the gown and grabbed her wrist instead before she could forcefully move away. ¡°I do think of you as family. Let me prove it to you, Zara,¡± Naz said quickly. ¡°I can take you away from here.¡± ¡°What?¡± Zara and Rowan both shouted this in unison. Rowan seemed to have broken out of whatever weird daze he¡¯d been in before. ¡°Take her¡­where?¡± he asked. ¡°I have a house,¡± Naz explained, ¡°in the city. It¡¯s spacious.¡± ¡°What in the holy fucking Mother are you saying?!¡± Zara cried, trying to wring herself away. Wine trickled out of the glass, staining the floor as she struggled. Why was he saying this? Why would he want to take her away to live with him, when he¡¯d never wanted anything to do with her or her freakish nature? There must be something wrong with his head. He was an architect. Maybe a brick fell on him at one of his construction sites or something. ¡°Why not? I think you put our family in danger if you stay. You can start fresh in the city, with me.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not making sense.¡± His behavior now did not align with what she had seen in the dining room. But then again, she had no idea what went through his mind. Naz was right. She didn¡¯t know him, or what he desired now. Once their father had left this room, his attitude about her had changed. ¡°I don¡¯t trust you,¡± was all Zara could say with a shaky voice. ¡°I would never live with you and that pretentious glamour-bat you call a wife.¡± The smile vanished. Naz jumped out of his seat. ¡°What did you just say?¡± he yelled. His face was now of pure fury. The fingers wrapped around her wrist hurt. He smacked her with his other hand. ¡°You freak show!¡± Another slap. ¡°You hideous witch!¡± Zara shrieked. She hit him with her glass, splattering a red mess all over his face, the front of his shirt, and the beige sofa. Naz wrenched the glass from her and threw it aside. He tugged at her hair until it came undone. Rowan lunged forward. ¡°Stop, please! Naz!¡± he shouted, trying to pull him off Zara. ¡°What¡¯s happening in there?¡± they heard Leyli¡¯s voice from down the hall. None of them cared to acknowledge it. Rowan was finally able to wrest Naz away. Naz shoved Rowan off him. ¡°You¡¯ll die,¡± he panted at her, teeth gritting viciously. ¡°You¡¯ll die worse than that scum boy. I¡¯ll make sure of it.¡± All thought fled as Zara, in a rage, picked up an empty glass from the table and brought it in front of Naz. ¡°You want to see magic?¡± she rasped. The blood in her fingertips heated rapidly until steam lifted from the glass. Naz¡¯s eyes grew wide. ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°Take a look.¡± With a pinch, she shattered the fire-hot glass in his face. Souls of Despair Revan watched the candle flame dance on Zara¡¯s silent command. Rise and fall, up and down, side to side. She continued the motions with her finger touching the flame, but not letting it burn her skin. ¡°You¡¯re getting better at this,¡± he said just as the flame flickered. It was their fifth lesson tonight, and she¡¯d been at this mindless candle-dance for half an hour already. This talent she had with the natural-world elements was impressive¡ªa second nature to her. It took him weeks to get the flame to move his way when he first started. His previous apprentice had taken even longer, spanning into a month. He watched her some more. The candle exercise was an old one; it did well on improving one¡¯s soul concentration mainly, next to the ability to control a flame. She said nothing, but eventually yanked her finger away in a hiss, finally having lost focus. Zara resorted to watching the flame with a blank stare, both her palms flat on the table. ¡°Are you alright?¡± he asked, though he knew she still hadn¡¯t gotten over what had happened two nights prior, when she¡¯d scarred her brother¡¯s face with hot shards of glass. He¡¯d even gotten some pieces in his eyes and had to be taken to Dr. Almur¡¯s clinic immediately. His wife had naturally gone with him, and they¡¯ve been away from the house ever since. Quite the character, that older brother of hers. Revan had, of course, been watching everything through The Mirror. It was so easy to get samples of Zara nowadays. All he had to do was swipe a cloth over the places she¡¯d sit for her lessons, or pick up stray hairs¡ªand there were always stray hairs, the girl liked to shed quite a bit¡ªand he¡¯d have hours of Mirror time on hand. He hadn¡¯t told her about The Mirror yet. It would cause her too much anxiety, too much consciousness about everything. He simply pretended not to know what her sullen attitude was about. ¡°I know when something bad has happened,¡± he said when she remained quiet. Zara let out a breath, almost like she¡¯d expected this. ¡°Do you?¡± she whispered. ¡°You can tell me.¡± ¡°I assumed you would know.¡± ¡°And why would you assume that?¡± ¡°Because you seem to know everything.¡± ¡°¡­Is that so?¡± She finally turned her gaze¡ªserious and unmoving¡ªto his face. ¡°When I look at you, I know.¡± Revan couldn¡¯t stop his mouth from curving up. ¡°You¡¯re observant. Or my acting skills are not how they used to be. I suppose that¡¯s how it is when you¡¯ve lived alone for a very long time.¡± Zara gave him a single nod. ¡°It¡¯s like the mask no longer fits.¡± Revan pulled up a chair and sat next to her. They were in his study. Zara was sitting at the wide wooden desk Revan had set up specifically for her lessons. Books and ink-stained scrolls littered one end, along with a few random props taken from the many shelves that lined this room. A plate of chocolate cake crumbs rested on top of an open book about fire rituals. The small stone hearth lit the study into a dim glow, offering it a cozy warmth at the same time. ¡°How would you know about that?¡± he asked. ¡°You¡¯re so young.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been alone practically all my life.¡± ¡°Still, what could you possibly know about masks?¡± ¡°¡­My brother, the older one. Naz. He keeps up such a good face in front of my parents, and everyone else for that matter. Part of me couldn¡¯t believe it, but then I thought, what would I know about him? But that night, I realized¡­he¡¯s not all the good that he claims to be. Behind his money, his awards, his houses, his wife, he¡¯s cruel. He¡¯s cruel to me. He¡¯s cruel to Rowan. He chose to show us this nasty side of him, and not my parents, not anybody else. He did it because he wanted to do it, and not because he couldn¡¯t hide it. He could¡¯ve hid it, if he wanted to. He¡ªand I¡¯m sure his wife too¡ªthose types of people¡­are good at keeping their faces clean when it needs to be. That¡¯s what makes them such great socialites. They have the practice for it, the skill. They are something¡­I can never be.¡± She¡¯d been rambling quietly to herself, her eyes trained on the candle¡¯s light as though it possessed her. ¡°Is he here, Zara?¡± A pointless question. But he asked it anyway. Zara looked at him. He smirked. ¡°His face isn¡¯t so clean now, is it?¡± A pause. ¡°You already know,¡± she murmured. ¡°I do.¡± ¡°Are you ever going to show me how?¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t decided.¡± ¡°You said you would.¡± ¡°If the time ever came.¡± Zara huffed, turning back to the candle. She blew it out in a harsh puff of breath. ¡°I am sorry you had to endure that,¡± he offered truthfully. ¡°I almost blinded him. And now his face looks like¡­¡± ¡°But it¡¯s not permanent, right?¡± ¡°No¡­and he¡¯ll still be able to see,¡± Zara said this like she was now trying to convince herself it all wasn¡¯t so terrible. Her voice still trembled, however. ¡°Nazeer is his name, correct?¡± Zara nodded. ¡°An interesting young man. I can¡¯t help wondering, what his desire is with you.¡± Zara shivered. ¡°Don¡¯t say it like that.¡± ¡°He saved you from your father¡¯s wrath, despite what you did to him. He pushed all the blame onto your younger brother, claiming he had smashed the glass in his face out of hate.¡± Revan chuckled heartily. ¡°Oh, that poor boy. He really couldn¡¯t build a decent case for himself against that man. It was quite a convincing act to watch¡ª¡± Zara jolted. ¡°Watch? So you were¡­nearby? Oh¡ª¡± She exhaled. ¡°¡ªlet me guess, you turned yourself into some kind of bird again and flew to my house.¡± Then she frowned in thought, muttering to herself, ¡°But then, how could you have seen¡­?¡± ¡°No. I was sitting here. Well¡ªnot here but¡­¡± He pointed to the red curtain covering the doorway, indicating that he¡¯d been in the parlor across the hall. ¡°Over there, perhaps.¡± Now she was very confused. ¡°What?¡± Revan smiled, but offered nothing more on the subject. ¡°How is Rowan, by the way?¡± Zara grew despondent again. ¡°He¡¯s shut up in his room. My father punished him with a beating.¡± ¡°Naturally.¡± This was all so very typical to him. For Zara and Rowan, who had each received their fair share of corporal punishment¡ªespecially Zara¡ªthe pain of it was still so fresh to them. Revan, through his lifetime, had received three times the amount of beatings as these children will ever experience in their entire lives, he was sure of it. It was simply something most households did to their dependents throughout the majority of the world¡ªwhether they were children or grown adults, it didn¡¯t matter. And this hadn¡¯t changed for the one hundred plus years he¡¯s lived so far. It will never change. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. ¡°He¡¯s not allowed to leave until my cousin¡¯s engagement party at the end of the week,¡± Zara explained. ¡°Two more days then. You can take solace in the fact that you¡¯re not the only one locked up in that house now. I do wonder if your parents have taken this chance to enjoy their time alone together¡­especially in the evening, with neither of you there for any of the meals.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t understand what his deal is,¡± Zara said, ignoring him. She stared into the desk¡¯s wood surface in a dazed astonishment, obviously going on about her brother again. ¡°Why would do that? Why would he tell them that Rowan had done it?¡± ¡°To protect you?¡± ¡°Wha¡ªBut why?¡± ¡°It serves his interests, for now. He¡¯s planning something,¡± Revan said, matter-of-factly. It was easy for anyone with enough personal experience to tell that Nazeer was scheming. Even while enduring the agony of glass puncturing his eye sockets, he was still scheming. A dedicated man, he was. Perhaps that¡¯s what led to his big-city success in the first place. Revan could respect that. Zara looked at him, startled. ¡°Planning? Planning what?¡± ¡°That, I do not know. Unfortunately, I cannot read minds.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t?¡± ¡°Well¡­no.¡± There is a spell for it, but the ability does not come natural to me. However, he didn¡¯t feel like revealing those thoughts out loud. ¡°But you can alter them to your liking?¡± ¡°Would you like some coffee? You¡¯re tired.¡± ¡°No. Wait¡ª¡± She shook her head. ¡°¡ªmaybe later.¡± Zara seemed to be growing more distressed. Frazzled. She ran her hands down her face, then closed her palms together in front of her lips as if in prayer. ¡°Naz had said he wanted to take me away, to the city. Was he even being serious? I couldn¡¯t tell. From him, it¡¯s the oddest request I¡¯ll ever hear. What would he even want me with him there for?¡± She looked him square in the eye, now pointing her closed palm at him. ¡°Revan, since you were spying, what did it look like from your end? Did he seem genuine to you?¡± All Revan could recall now was the sheer bafflement on the young man¡¯s face before Zara had blown the glass into pieces. His and Zara¡¯s expressions during this specific act were the only ones worth remembering to him. Letting the comment about spying go, he replied, ¡°I believe he did want you to go with him. Though, his intention to take you to Darhai is likely not as pure as he claimed it to be. I do not think he is trying to truly help you escape your situation at home.¡± ¡°It¡¯s what I thought,¡± Zara grumbled. He considered for a minute her tone, her sunken posture, and her lost-looking appearance. ¡°Did you want him to be genuine?¡± ¡°Hm?¡± ¡°Did you want him to mean it? To take you away from there?¡± Her large, dark eyes glimmered in the study¡¯s firelight. She did not break her gaze away from him. Her lower lip quivered as she whispered: ¡°Have I become that desperate?¡± Revan remembered a time, as a boy, when he¡¯d do anything to leave his country. Many villages in Divvi, the southern-most country of the continent where Revan had been unfortunate enough to be born into, were stricter with girls than they were with boys. So for him to scrap his way around until he found a suitable means of escape had been easier for him, unlike his sisters. But in the end, even with his weak magic, he had to resort to selling himself for slave labor, then eventually for sex. He hadn¡¯t given a damn at the time, because he¡¯d made it out of the country like he wanted and that was all that mattered. At the time. He reached for Zara¡¯s shoulder, to comfort her, but she flinched at the contact. He withdrew his hand. ¡°This won¡¯t last forever,¡± was all he could say. Zara held back tears. She sniffed, turning herself to the hearth. ¡°I was thinking about it. I was so angry back then, I thought, ¡®I would never go anywhere with this man, even if he is supposed to be family. How could I stay with someone who¡¯s only ever shown me contempt?¡¯ But the more I thought about it later, when I was alone again, it¡¯s like¡­it¡¯s like I don¡¯t even care who I go with anymore. I¡¯ll go with anyone, if they¡¯re willing to take me with them.¡± ¡°I know,¡± he said. ¡°I know this feeling well. But Zara, you must know, it may feel like freedom in the beginning, but in truth, it won¡¯t be. It¡¯ll just be something worse. Like moving from one cage to another.¡± ¡°What could be worse than this?¡± she spoke quietly. ¡°You don¡¯t want to know.¡± She glanced at him, but said no more. This was the first time they were having a conversation that didn¡¯t directly coincide with him teaching her something. She was opening up to him more, the timid thing. At this stage of her life, he was the person she was most comfortable with¡ªat least, as comfortable as someone like her can get¡ªand it filled him with a tiny bit of warmth. Just a tiny bit, for his cold, lonely heart. But only time would tell if this apprenticeship will work in the long run. Time was something they had plenty of. Suddenly, Zara¡¯s meek voice asked, ¡°Will you take me away?¡± Revan studied her profile: her gaunt cheek, somber black pupil, and grim chapped lips that she licked moisture into every now and then. ¡°I made you my apprentice, and I do not plan to stay in Pria forever. Does that answer your question?¡± She looked to him again, her breath shaky. ¡°And¡­it won¡¯t be worse with you? Like another cage?¡± She let out a breathy chuckle, like her nerves couldn¡¯t help but find it a tad funny. Revan shrugged, lips curling like he was playing along with her joke. ¡°Not to worry. I would never lock you in a bedroom for hours at a time. What use would you be of to me then?¡± Zara cracked a faint, tired smile. ¡°Right.¡± He watched her put aside the candle and pull forward her notes, an ink bottle, and one of his older quills, her mood a little lighter from earlier, but not by much. This hardship was only the beginning, he thought. She felt guilt over her younger brother taking the fall for a reason she wasn¡¯t sure she wanted to know. She still blamed herself for the little boy she couldn¡¯t save, though she hardly ever spoke of him. Perhaps she didn¡¯t want to think about it, perhaps it was another reason entirely. Revan never asked. He thought about whether he should tell her the truth about the boy¡ªthe ever-so ordinary boy he was¡ªbut, he needed to consider the consequences of telling her such a thing. He couldn¡¯t have her be angry at him, or going into a mentally depressed state, or worse, distancing herself from him. Maybe he would tell her¡ªlike he would about The Mirror¡ªsomeday. But today was not that day. The rustling of papers ceased as Zara stilled her movements. At the same time, Revan had gotten up to gather his own materials. ¡°Shall we try experimenting with bigger sources of heat now? Or maybe you¡¯d like to move on to another element? I want you to practice perfecting that innate power of yours, before we move on to practical spells¡ª¡± ¡°Um¡­¡± ¡°Is something the matter?¡± She seemed disturbed. ¡°Where is your washroom?¡± she asked, barely audible. ¡°I mean¡ªmay I use your washroom?¡± Revan blinked. She had never asked to use it before, and he¡¯d never thought twice about why. The girl hardly ate or drank at his place in the first place. ¡°Is it an emergency?¡± he asked, rather tactlessly. ¡°Uh¡­yes.¡± She rubbed her forehead, refusing to look at him. And then he remembered. His eyes lit up as a better idea for a lesson struck his mind. ¡°The washroom is down the hall,¡± he said. ¡°It will be the first door to your left.¡± She stood, checked her seat, and hurried past him, adjusting the sheer shawl around her chest. She wore a long cotton top and loose pants, both of which were dark purple. Even if she had stained herself, he likely wouldn¡¯t have noticed it anyway. ¡°Zara, wait,¡± he said before she slipped past the curtain. ¡°When you return, I¡¯d rather we go over the effect menstruation has on witches¡ªand how you can use it to your advantage.¡± Zara gaped at him for a good thirty seconds until blurting out a dumbfounded, ¡°Huh?¡± Revan knew he was being insensitive, but he was past the point of caring about it. He¡¯d had sisters and multiple wives. He had served his own apprenticeship under a witch, who hadn¡¯t been shy about these matters at all. This shit didn¡¯t faze him. He grabbed a small jar and took out some gauze from his personal desk, ripping her a piece. ¡°Now¡¯s the perfect time to start teaching you. Hurry along, and bring back a sample of blood for us to use.¡± Her face¡ªas red as the curtain behind her¡ªscrunched up at the request, and at the gauze he¡¯d placed in her hand. She did not move to take the jar. ¡°No! What in the hell is wrong with you?! How do you even KNOW about this?! Were you watching when I was¡ª?¡± ¡°I caught you at a bad time.¡± He¡¯d only glimpsed her changing her cloths when checking on her the other night. Of course, he¡¯d instantly put The Mirror down then. She grit her teeth. ¡°You¡¯re disgusting.¡± Revan sighed. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you¡¯d be willing to learn anything from me?¡± ¡°But this is¡ª!!¡± ¡°You are under my command. ¡®No¡¯ is not option.¡± ¡°What?!¡± She looked panicked. Revan softened his tone. ¡°I promise you, this is for your benefit. Trust me.¡± ¡°T-Trust you?¡± she stammered. ¡°You¡¯re a pervert.¡± ¡°I assure you, I¡¯m not,¡± he growled defensively. ¡°If you choose not to trust me, I can always just make you do it.¡± ¡°NO! You said you wouldn¡¯t play that stupid mind trick on me again!¡± Zara yelled angrily. Tears gathered in her eyes, and she threw the gauze back at him. It fluttered to the ground. Revan took a deep breath. He really was out of touch with women, wasn¡¯t he? Sometimes, his one-track mind¡ªand temper¡ªgot the best of him. ¡°Alright, alright.¡± He held up his hands in surrender¡ªone was still occupied with the jar. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Though he wasn¡¯t, really. ¡°How about this: we get through tonight, and in return, I will show you how I fly at our next lesson.¡± That caught her attention, albeit hesitant. Revan went on, ¡°The intensity of your power is correlated with your cycle. This is magic only you can do. Wouldn¡¯t you like to learn more about it?¡± The awkward silence went on for what felt like minutes. Silently, she took the jar out of his hand. Her eyes reluctantly scanned the floor for the gauze. ¡°Don¡¯t take that one.¡± He gave her a fresh piece. ¡°First door down to the left, you said?¡± she mumbled. ¡°Yes. I¡¯ll have some coffee ready for you when you return.¡± A brief nod later, she left his sight. Nameless Acquaintance Blood magic¡ªpracticed thousands of years ago in the west, even though its origins hailed from the far east from a continent now unknown to the rest of the world, abandoned out of fear and hate. It was a land once rampant with mages, extraordinary creatures, and wonderful landscapes. Now it was left tainted with the remnants of death, war, and residual magic¡ªthe kind of magic everybody believed would kill, the kind no one wanted. Female mages were responsible for the creation of menstrual blood magic¡ªa magic that required no sacrifice and was no more dangerous than spilled ink. Revan had told her¡ªtried to convince her, really¡ªthat while menstruation in current society is a taboo, generally viewed with shame and disgust, there really wasn¡¯t anything to be ashamed about. Some parts of the world, particularly the west where this magic was once prevalent, naturally weren¡¯t shy about such topics, ones Zara herself considered sensitive, especially around men. Revan sure didn¡¯t shy away from it, and acted like it was completely fine that he stand there with Zara¡¯s jar of bloody gauze in his hands, speaking about things that would get any other man smacked across the face. It hadn¡¯t been easy. Zara couldn¡¯t even face him properly for the first hour of his teaching, even though she was genuinely interested in everything he had to say. The more he taught her, the more curious she became. Which also humiliated her, because this magic was related to sex. Revan mentioned love spells and domination and too, but Zara was mostly fixated on the sex part. She wasn¡¯t so ignorant as one would think, despite being shut in her home for years. Her fondness for knowledge guided her to some books (romance or otherwise) that hinted at the basics, but typically glossed over the details. She¡¯d leave the rest to her imagination. ¡°Which sex do you prefer? Men or women?¡± Revan asked her bluntly. ¡°Though, I can take a guess.¡± ¡°Which¡­do I prefer?¡± Zara stuttered out. ¡°What?¡± Her expression must have frustrated him because Revan clucked his tongue and let out a sigh. ¡°You never let me forget how inexperienced you are at everything.¡± Zara didn¡¯t care. At that point she wanted to go home and not see his face for the rest of the month. Images of him and his ¡°experience¡± started flashing through her mind for no reason. He had asked her about preference. She didn¡¯t want to outright state it, since he seemed to already know. But it left her wondering what his were. She couldn¡¯t imagine him with another man¡ªor rather she wouldn¡¯t let herself imagine it. But also imagining him with another woman made her uneasy. She¡¯d become used to being in his presence now, without feeling too conscious over the fact that she was spending some nights alone with another man. To her, he had become a teacher, somewhat of a role model, and a means of escape. Not once did he make her feel discomforted in his presence before. Now that he had gone and brought up the inappropriate subjects of menstruation and sex, she was suddenly hyper aware of herself as a woman, and him as a man. He was a man over a century in age, but his youthful appearance made him look maybe a decade older than she. With every glance, the glimmer of his brown eyes, the silky waves of his black hair, the clean trim of his beard over a dark, sleek jawline was catching her attention a little too much. She cast her gaze down only to be met with thoughts of his slim, masculine build under his clothes. He went on about how she must be especially careful when practicing blood magic, as her ¡°emotions¡± could cause her intent to go wayward, and that even in normal circumstances her overemotional responses could cause dangerous outbursts, such as the one she¡¯d brought upon Naz. ¡°We¡¯re lucky it hadn¡¯t been any worse than a broken glass to the face,¡± he said. Zara wanted to bang her head on the table. Yes, her stupid fury of emotions had gotten in the way, as usual. She wondered what kind of humiliating chaos she¡¯d ensue with the uncontrollable sexual emotions that always occurred during this time of month. Disgusted with herself, she prayed Revan wouldn¡¯t notice her distress. Despite it all, the lesson hadn¡¯t been a waste. The blood had been put to use, even if doing so made her queasy. He kindly reminded her that it was from her own body to shut up any further protests from her. She pinched and rubbed the gauze between her forefinger and thumb, letting the slimy substance coat her fingers. Revan provided her with a potted flower that had seen better days. ¡°I dug it up from the yard while you were in the washroom. I¡¯ve never been that good of a gardener,¡± he explained, pouring himself more coffee from the jug. He really likes it, Zara randomly thought, as she herself could never ingest more than a cup without bloating. She watched his movements and tried not to think about the brownish-red gunk all over her fingertips. ¡°Let¡¯s run a test. Put your fingers into the soil, recite the spell as I¡¯ve written in your scroll for you. To be honest, I¡¯m not sure how effective it will be, considering the blood isn¡¯t as fresh as it would be on your first day.¡± Zara chose not to respond to that, just like she hadn¡¯t responded to half the things he¡¯d vocalized tonight. She pressed her fingers into the pot with the dead, crunchy flower and slowly went over the written spell, doing her best not to stutter through it. Stuttering never produced efficient results. Better to be slow than ineffective. The wilted flower, dirty and brown, slowly but surely transformed. It¡¯s wrinkled, dried up petals bloomed a vivid pink with orange speckles, the stem changed to a lively green and even grew some fresh leaves on it. Zara gasped. ¡°See, you¡¯ve given it back its life,¡± Revan said proudly. Blood that was both sacred and dangerous, one that could produce life, but could also bring about death. It had one effect on plants and animals, another on humans. For Zara, as Revan had emphasized with the question of her sex preference, it would be men. She needed to be careful. ¡°The men you choose to bring to life with your magic, should you ever fall into that position, will not be the same as they were originally,¡± Revan advised. ¡°You can also choose to heal their worst wounds or cause them to fall fatally ill, per your desire. Should you choose to control their will¡ª¡± ¡°Could I possibly control you?¡± Revan paused, and narrowed his eyes. ¡°No.¡± ¡°Not even as a test?¡± ¡°No. And don¡¯t bother trying so on your own. I would sense it coming before you¡¯d even start. And then there will be consequences, since I¡¯ll know the thought¡¯s crossed your mind.¡± ¡°¡­Right.¡± He snickered. ¡°And you thought me a pervert.¡± Zara scowled, defensive. ¡°I wasn¡¯t thinking of it like that. I was just curious.¡± If it would work on you. But of course, she couldn¡¯t admit that now, even as a joke. ¡°Sure. I understand. Whatever your reason would be, sexual or otherwise, don¡¯t think I will take it lightly.¡± Zara¡¯s cheeks burned. ¡°It wouldn¡¯t have been for sex. And I won¡¯t do anything in the first place.¡± As she continued to wipe her fingers clean, Revan smiled amicably. ¡°We¡¯re done for the night, Zara. We can go over more again next month, but I will keep my end of the bargain for our next lesson.¡± Drained, Zara managed a faint smile back.
She thought she¡¯d be more exhausted by now, yet as soon as she stepped out the door, with her hooded cape wrapped around her shoulders to protect her from the cool breeze and mists of dawn, she found herself perked awake. She¡¯d normally be out of Revan¡¯s house while it was still dark out, but at this time, the sun was just beginning its ascent behind the peaks. From here, the view of Mount Lilith was majestic as it always was, its snowy cap cast in a pinkish glow. It was a bit haunting, the way this vast obsidian rock loomed above the morning skies, casting its dark shadow over everything. ¡°I¡¯ll be out in a few minutes,¡± Revan called out from the door, keeping his voice low. Though Zara thought it a bit pointless to be quiet, considering the sun was beginning to rise and the day workers were likely up and about already. She could see an older gentleman in a distant house closing the front gates behind him before making his way to the stable where his horses were. Revan left the door ajar, leaving Zara alone in the front behind the gates. He walked her home after every lesson, to ensure she reached her destination safely. Zara could appreciate that. She stretched her back, surveying the expansive property. His home must have been expensive. It was in a well-to-do neighborhood not too far from her own. The style of the house was traditional like her own home¡ªa house built from clay, stones, and wood¡ªbut better pigmented, and less weather-worn. Exhibited on the outer walls were a few decorative engravings of angels and suns, and the auburn roof tiles remained in good condition. He had to have paid more for steady repairs. No one in Pria got by without yearly visits¡ªsometimes twice a year¡ªfrom maintenance workers, unless they¡¯d like to live in a pile of crumbled rot. Revan¡¯s house, though, looked to be in slight better condition than the other houses in the area. The cost of extra repairs¡ªor extra anything, really¡ªmust be nothing to him. She couldn¡¯t help but wonder where all his money had come from. How much did he have, where had he earned it? She couldn¡¯t picture Revan working a standard day to day job, ever. It just didn¡¯t suit him. He had more power than he was showing her; Zara was slowly starting to sense his flares here and there, thanks to his recent training on magical auras. He was a Sorcerer, she couldn¡¯t forget that. So what led him to where he was now? What was his story? These were questions Zara was too shy to ask at her lessons, too afraid that he would shut her down for going off-topic. Tonight was the first time she¡¯d actually spoken to him about problems outside of their usual lessons, and she spoke mostly of herself. She didn¡¯t know how she could naturally bring her curiosity about him to light. Every scenario she could think of felt too random. It would seem as though she were fixated on him, like she¡¯d spent long amounts of time pondering over him, which would only make him jump to conclusions about her, similar to how he had tonight. Footsteps approached from the frost-covered road beyond the gates. Zara turned to see a young man in a black coat walking toward the house from the left. She awkwardly stood there, undecided on whether she should hurry back into the house or not. He was close enough to know that she was standing there. Running away would make it obvious that she was running away from him. But she was afraid that if she stuck rooted to her spot, the man would say something to her. What did it matter if he did, though? The chances of him minding his own business were a lot higher anyway, right? Maybe Zara was being a bit too paranoid. Irrational. Still, she didn¡¯t really want to face anyone right now, this early in the morning. The man stopped at the gates. The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. Shit. She¡¯d been staring him down as he approached, like a fucking idiot. Of course he would stop at such suspicious behavior. Anyone would. Zara had been so lost on her own paranoia that she¡¯d lost all awareness of herself. Revan was taking too long. She should have just gone back inside to wait for him. The soothing breeze had grown chilly. She stared at the man. The man stared back. So now they were both standing there on opposite sides of the gate staring at one another, at a loss. That broad figure, the structured face, the scruffy beard, those golden eyes she could now see clearly in the early morning glow¡ªshe began to recognize who this man was. He shook his head and burped. ¡°I think I¡¯m still drunk,¡± he said, with a slight slur. ¡°I could have sworn I¡¯d seen you somewhere before.¡± Zara couldn¡¯t move. She gazed at him in awe, because she couldn¡¯t actually believe it. She¡¯d basically forgotten about him since her spontaneous night out, but now that he was here, the fleeting attraction came rushing back and her heart pounded in her chest. ¡°Yes. You have,¡± she mumbled. ¡°What was that?¡± he asked. ¡°I couldn¡¯t hear you. Do I look weird to you or something?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°You¡¯ve been looking at me the whole way here, girl.¡± Zara swallowed. ¡°Are you¡ª? No, you¡¯re Cina¡¯s cousin, right?¡± What was his name again? Amir? Omar? Shit, I¡¯m confused. He slowly blinked twice before registering what she¡¯d just said. ¡°How do you know¡ª?¡± His eyes lit up with clarity. ¡°Oh! It¡¯s you! You¡¯re Zara!¡± What. ¡°You¡­you know my name,¡± Zara stammered out. And I¡¯ve completely forgotten yours. How could she be like this? How could she forget the name of a handsome face, but then continue gaping at him like a fool? ¡°Yeah, uh.¡± He laughed, running his hand over the top of his head as he stepped closer to the iron bars. Last she saw him, those dirty brown locks were a loose chaos, but this morning it was tied back in a neat sleek knot. ¡°You¡¯re, um. I mean, I know you by word of mouth only. I¡¯m sorry, but I¡¯ve pretty much forgotten what you looked like, and that we met before. Well¡­almost forgotten. I¡¯m remembering a bit now. Cina introduced you, but I was pretty out of it I think. I mean, I never saw you again after that night, so¡­¡± He smiled sheepishly. She found it endearing, though the first half of what he said was like a prick in the head. ¡°You¡¯ve heard of me, though?¡± She didn¡¯t know what the town was still saying about her. She didn¡¯t care to know. Most people, like Cina¡¯s cousin, didn¡¯t even know what she looked like, besides the few that had survived that night. But right now, the town¡¯s gossip was bothersome. What soiled image does this man have of her, because of such talk? Maybe it was still best not to know. ¡°Besides the times Cina¡¯s mentioned you, it¡¯s ¡®cause of what happened at that boy¡¯s death ceremony. My uncle can¡¯t seem to get over it.¡± Uncle¡­ ¡°¡ªOh he was the one who performed the ritual, but it was like a disaster, obviously.¡± He chuckled like the whole thing was nothing, but Zara couldn¡¯t bring herself to smile. It made sense. He and Cina were related, so they had the same unhinged witch doctor for an uncle. ¡°Were you there?¡± she said, her breath practically halted. She hadn¡¯t seen him there. He couldn¡¯t have been. If he had, she would have noticed. He would have been with Cina, at least. She definitely would have seen him. ¡°Nah.¡± His smile was casual and he shrugged. ¡°I don¡¯t get involved with those things. That¡¯s my uncle¡¯s forte, but¡­¡± His relaxed expression wavered, and he looked away, to the road in front of him. ¡°I shouldn¡¯t get into it,¡± he finished lightly. ¡°I went to that memorial after, but that was it. I¡¯m just not the religious type, or to watch people dying over it.¡± He looked Zara straight in the eye and said in the most serious tone she¡¯s ever heard him, ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± She couldn¡¯t reply, couldn¡¯t utter any form of thanks; it made her want to cry about it all over again¡ªand she¡¯d been doing well forcing herself to get over it. ¡°Hey, um,¡± he said, breaking the uncomfortable silence. ¡°I almost forgot to mention. Tonight, Cina and I ran into¡­your brother? Our families met at the memorial. He was at Ruvini¡¯s alone tonight. I mean, I recognized him because I¡¯ve seen him around the red light side of town a lot lately.¡± Wait¡­wait¡ª ¡°You mean Rowan?¡± she said, incredulous to this information. ¡°Yeah. We all got to talking and he mentioned you guys were having a party or something in a couple of days, something about an engagement in the family was it¡ª?¡± Zara didn¡¯t mean to tune him out. It was just the sudden rush in her head that prevented her from hearing anything else. What in Mother¡¯s hell? Rowan had been at that tavern. Tonight. And he¡¯d been out plenty of other nights too, apparently. She didn¡¯t know why it irked her that he had snuck out. This was normal for him, especially come warmer nights, and normal for her too at this point. But unlike him, she was only limited to solo excursions in the forest or weekly lessons at Revan¡¯s house, which were both a safe distance from home. But here Rowan was, running off to and around town as usual, because he had people to see, and people who wanted to see him. He frequented these places so much that he was able to sit by himself at a sleazy bar and be comfortable about it. Whereas she couldn¡¯t fathom climbing on a horse in the middle of the night without Rowan by her side, and that had only happened once when they¡¯d become like friends somehow. She would be lying to herself if she said she didn¡¯t feel a little jealous. And now here was Cina¡¯s cousin telling her that he and Rowan¡ªand even Cina herself!¡ªwere acquainted with each other, and were out and about having fun while she¡¯d been sitting here with her own menstrual blood covering her fingers, humiliated half the night. ¡°¡ªbut anyway, I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m rambling aren¡¯t I? I do that. Habit. So apparently, Cina¡¯s family¡¯s accepted the invite, and I¡¯ve kinda gotten to like Rowan, knowing he¡¯s feeling low right now. I wouldn¡¯t want him alone. And since I didn¡¯t get an invite from him, I was wondering whether you thought it a good idea for me to¡ª¡± Regret poured onto her now that she¡¯d tuned back. She was struggling to understand where he was getting at, since she missed the first half of what he said. Invite? Cina¡¯s family? He was referring to the engagement party. But what was this talk about liking Rowan and getting an invitation? She couldn¡¯t even ask him to go back and repeat himself without looking like an insensitive dunce. But he never was able to finish that thought before Revan finally stepped out, wearing a long gray cloak. ¡°Were you standing out here all this time?¡± Revan asked her, surprised. ¡°Why? It¡¯s cold. You should have just waited for me in the house.¡± He hadn¡¯t noticed the other man yet. ¡°I think I had a bit too much coffee.¡± He rubbed his abdomen. ¡°You¡¯d think I¡¯d learn to rid myself of these pains by now, after all these years, but¡­¡± Following Zara¡¯s panicked back and forth gaze, he finally made eye contact with the young man behind the gates. It was good that he¡¯d stopped talking when he did. Zara had a feeling he was about to reveal something unexplainable in front of a stranger. Cina¡¯s cousin stood there, eyeing them both. Zara¡¯s breath caught in her throat as she realized what this looked like. ¡°Can I help you?¡± Revan inquired. The other man cleared his throat, lowering his head. ¡°Oh, no. I¡¯m sorry. I was just talking to Zara, here. We¡¯re acquainted.¡± Revan narrowed his gaze. ¡°Acquainted?¡± He stepped closer to the gate. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± The cousin looked from him to Zara, then back again, uncomfortably. ¡°Um, no. I didn¡¯t mean anything by talking to her, I was just¡ª¡± ¡°I mean no harm. I¡¯m asking you for your name, sir.¡± ¡°¡­Emran.¡± Emran. I remember. I knew I had it at the tip of my tongue. Even though Revan was intimidating the man, Zara was just grateful to have found out his name like this. She would rather not be the one to have asked, especially since he already knew her name. Revan gave him a quick nod. ¡°Emran. Do you have a last name?¡± ¡°Um, yes. Mukrov.¡± ¡°Huh. I think I¡¯ve seen you around town in the late hours before.¡± Emran scratched his temple. ¡°Right, yeah. I¡¯m there.¡± ¡°I¡¯m Revan, by the way.¡± ¡°Nice to meet you, sir.¡± ¡°May I ask what you two were discussing?¡± ¡°He¡¯s Cina¡¯s cousin,¡± Zara quickly butted in. ¡°Do you remember? The girl with the yellow hair?¡± ¡°Ah, yes, that¡­friend of yours,¡± Revan said, clasping his hands together. ¡°She¡¯s good to you, from what I¡¯ve seen of her. Though, my more vivid recollection of her is that yellow hair dripping red with wine.¡± Emran laughed. ¡°You were there for that?¡± Revan smiled. ¡°Fond memories.¡± Emran laughed again. ¡°Right, right. It was pretty funny.¡± He paused, seeming to assess that he was getting in the other man¡¯s way, and backed off. ¡°But¡­anyway, I should get going now.¡± He looked back at Zara and raised a hand. ¡°It was good meeting you. Again, I should say. So, uh, so long.¡± ¡°Wait, Emran!¡± Zara spoke up as he began walking back up the road. She hurried over to the gate and clasped a hand on one of the bars. ¡°You were asking me something. What were you going to¡­?¡± Emran was already shaking his head. She could sense his quick glance back at Revan standing behind her. ¡°No. Don¡¯t worry about it. Thank you, though.¡± He smiled kindly. ¡°Talking to you this morning seemed to clear my head.¡± Zara watched him leave, gripping the bars with both hands now because her legs felt like they¡¯d fall apart.
He couldn¡¯t fathom being exposed as ¡°wrong¡± for anything in his life. Especially not this. No matter how many of those damn blasphemous, disbelieving, lecherous fools in this depraved town doubted his words, he would never cave into their demands to compromise himself. He would never dare change his ways of life, nor his views of people. This was what he¡¯d trained for, for years on end, to become as important as he was now: a witch doctor bringing the downfalls of this world to divine justice. For the common folk to bow at his feet for the saintly services bestowed over their weakened souls. The boy had served retribution; he was now gone from this world. Not exactly in the way he had planned¡ªhe would rather not think of such shameful details¡ªbut he¡¯d gone to where he belonged, leaving his blackened body parts to rot in the rocks below the cliff. But then there was that woman. Zara. She hailed from a common councilman¡¯s household¡ªthe Anvars. A good respectable family with an equally respectable man of the house, was what Governor Izmil had told him. He scoffed. It was nothing but folly to him. Anyone with a mind as sapient as his would figure that something was amiss. That quake in the mountain had been no coincidence. It was the act of a sinister intent. That pitiful boy¡¯s accusation, the girl¡¯s frightful disposition, her unconvincing act of innocence¡­.he was called many things throughout his life, but a dumb man was not one of them. He was sure he wasn¡¯t mistaken about her. But there wasn¡¯t much he could do at the moment. He¡¯d regretfully displayed an act of weakness, in front of everyone, for the sake of his stupid niece, who had somehow gone off and befriended the fiendish thing. It angered him. His niece angered him. The Anvars angered him. But most of all, he was angry at himself. Among all the chaos, among all that horrible confusion, he had let his niece¡¯s distress sway him. Because he had not sniffed out the witch lurking in the herd first, which was something he was supposed to have done as the reputable witch doctor he was known to be. Nobody would trust his belated judgment about that woman now. His own family members wouldn¡¯t allow him to go after her either. They and the Anvars had become acquainted with each other. He couldn¡¯t touch them without his reputation falling through the cracks. How could such a thing have happened? How could evil have gotten so close to him, yet remain untouchable? It couldn¡¯t have been a coincidence. It had to be something dark at play. He truly believed so! He sat in his most comfortable lounge chair in the study, gazing resentfully out the window at the summit¡¯s snowy peak in the distance. The black mass contrasted considerably with its white icy top. Mount Lilith was dark compared to its surrounding companions, however, it was starting to look blacker than usual. ¡°Uncle,¡± a soft voice spoke behind him. His niece was standing by the door. ¡°What is it?¡± he replied without turning around. ¡°We¡¯ll be heading out soon. Ammi¡¯s going to leave you some supper on the stove.¡± This made him turn his head. She was wearing a cropped jeweled blouse and a slim skirt. A shawl was draped across her chest, no doubt hiding from him the low cut of her blouse. Her golden locks were curled and fastened high above her head, with a few wavy strands let loose. A green, rhinestone bindi stamped her forehead, her colorful bangles¡ªno doubt from his sister¡¯s shop¡ªclinked together whenever she moved her arms. She was beautiful, but he wished she¡¯d give up such senseless appearances. She was still young and didn¡¯t realize the bigger picture of life. It seemed her main goal now was to come off as a seductress whenever possible. His grip on the chair¡¯s armrest tightened. Idiot girl. Foolish bawd. She was becoming one of the damned before she knew it. They all would. His family was attending a party at a witch¡¯s house. And they didn¡¯t even know it. He almost let out a bitter laugh. ¡°What did she make?¡± was what came out of his mouth in a low mumble instead. ¡°Beef lentils. There¡¯s rice in the other pot.¡± ¡°¡­Very well. You have yourself¡­a pleasant evening.¡± She smiled. ¡°I¡¯m just glad Abbi¡¯s joining us for this.¡± ¡°His head is doing better?¡± She nodded. ¡°He¡¯s still a bit slow, but moving around again.¡± ¡°¡­Good.¡± Now you will be gathering around the thing that was responsible for your father¡¯s head injury. ¡°Well, I¡¯ll be on my way. Eat well,¡± she said, then took her leave. He sat there silently, in his brother-in-law¡¯s study room. He¡¯d arrived to this house only ten minutes prior, and opted to stay the night and watch the house while they were off engaging with the enemy. He leaned his head back on the chair, wondering how he was supposed to let this unfavorable attachment of his niece¡¯s go on. She may feel an affinity toward the Anvar girl, for whatever reason it may be, but he couldn¡¯t simply leave her to rest in the hands of danger. More so, he couldn¡¯t let himself be caught up in it. He needed to show them, show everyone, that woman¡¯s true nature. He needed them to know his credibility as a doctor ran true. He needed to restore the faith of this fallen town. An hour dragged into two. The lentil and rice pots grew cold. He stood from the chair, grabbed his cloak and turban, and left his sister¡¯s house. A Mothers Misery The sun was high in the sky, and Zara was out of breath. The winds and forest foliage kept her cool, but it wasn¡¯t like the spring time was scorching hot anyway. Her anklets clinked as she spread her feet apart and stretched her arms out, movements flowing up and down as she refined her moves. Out here dancing in the clearing alone, with deep blue skies and thick white clouds sailing above her, and the enchanting view of the river and the flowery grounds along the mountain trails below, she was happy. The ecstatic feeling would last only as long as she remained out here, so she was savoring it. She was like a whole different being. Not a lonesome young woman. Not a witch. She pretended she was someone worthy of an audience. The last few days have been hectic as Leyli and her new temporary house staff were in full preparation for the upcoming engagement party. A party that was finally happening today. Rauna, at least, was relieved from the heavy duty work she normally had to do and resigned herself into organizing Leyli¡¯s personally designed scarves and brooches into the guests¡¯ gift bags. There were over a hundred to sort out and Leyli had been working on them for weeks. It seemed she was excited at the chance to grow her business within the family and friends of the family. Zara was free to leave her room for the day. Even though she was supposed to be helping around the house right now, she would rather stay in the forest. Earlier this morning, Zahir had tasked her with cleaning vegetables and dusting off tables in the courtyard¡¯s makeshift kitchen. But since the place was too chaotic for any of the cooks to notice her, she stole away into the woods, but not before retrieving her anklets first, of course. Rowan was on sweeping duty, and he didn¡¯t look Zara¡¯s way at all when they passed each other in the foyer. He was too busy diligently wiping the angel shrine to care about where she went. House staff zoomed past left and right, heeding Leyli¡¯s shrill commands. Zara hurried out before anyone else saw her. It had been hours since then, and she could only stay out of sight for so long. She hadn¡¯t properly danced in broad daylight in forever. The warm sun felt nice on her body. The golden color of her skin seemed to shimmer under the spring light. Some debris flecked her arms, and the soles of her bare feet were soiled. At least most of the ice had melted. Soft grass brushed her toes, spreading across the areas where she¡¯d practiced. She pulled a wet leaf from her braided hair. She would have to change out of her plain white salwar, bathe, and get into the new dress her mother had ready for her upstairs. Zara wasn¡¯t used to parties. She wasn¡¯t used to being in social crowds, period. The fact that most of her own family members would be attending didn¡¯t really ease her nerves. They were all strangers to her. Even the bride Dolly¡ªa cousin she was once so close to at a younger age. Zara wondered, after years apart, how different the young woman only a year her senior would be today. It was still unclear whether Naz would show his face, but Zara thought it likely. His presence was what made her most nervous, more so than a dozen hundred strangers staring her in the face trying to remember who the fuck she was to this family. Zara took one last look around her precious clearing, inhaled a shaky breath, and walked down the slope to retrieve her sandals. Short patches of grass grew beneath each clinking step.
On her way back, Zara saw that the stage crew had arrived and was taking props out of their wagon in front of the house. There was to be a small performance tonight for Dolly and her beau, and it seemed from the looks of things that it may be a play of some sort. She didn¡¯t know the details, since no one told her anything. The stage props the crew brought were furnishings one would see in a home, so she assumed the performance would be a sketch. Leyli once talked about the cute little comedic show about the life of newlyweds at Naz and Sonya¡¯s engagement function. This was a tradition popular at engagement ceremonies, in honor of the betrothed couple. The crew had set up the actual stage in the front fields of the house yesterday, and today they were making the finishing touches. Half of the ten man crew were already in the field, setting up the little stage with a sofa and some oil lamps. This house, with its expansive semi-isolated lands, was truly perfect for holding big gatherings like this. If it wasn¡¯t for Zara, her mother probably would have taken better advantage to host more. She loved the social scene. But then again, if Zara had been normal, they likely wouldn¡¯t be living away from people like this at all, in this fairly old house of theirs. Leyli had always wanted a home closer to other people, similar to the neighborhood Revan¡ªand apparently, Emran¡ªlived in. Another carriage pulled in from the road. Zara stopped short. Were these the first guests? The party wouldn¡¯t officially start for another two hours. She caught the scent of the outdoor cooking wafting all the way from where she stood. She could hear the loud commotions of people still getting everything ready. No way was any of the staff in there finished yet. No way would a guest show up so rudely early. So, who were these people? The driver opened the door of the large, rather fancy looking carriage. Five tall women dressed in plain colors stepped out, their uniform black hair fashioned into a braid similar to Zara¡¯s. They carried clothing bags and accessory boxes. The ornamented bells on their ankles jingled as they walked. Zara¡¯s heart rate quickened. These were dancers. Real-life dancers. They were here for the performance tonight. They had to be! Zara hadn¡¯t thought the stage was for dancers, she¡¯d assumed it was going to be for a play only. But a dance was to be a part of the show as well? Zara felt she hadn¡¯t seen a real dance performance since she¡¯d burst out of her mother¡¯s womb. It had been so long that the memory was hazy. She was sure it was at one of Pria¡¯s cultural spring or summer festivals, and she hadn¡¯t been to any of those since being outcasted as the family freak. The dancers entered through the open gates. Zahir was there to greet them, and lead them into the house. Zara would have to wait a bit before she could sneak her way in. She was getting more and more worried that someone had noticed her absence. She was supposed to be helping out, after all. Maybe Rowan had snitched? She wouldn¡¯t be surprised, given how bitter he still was about the shattered glass incident. The shattered glass that had also shattered any hope of their sibling relationship forever. While walking home from her lesson the other morning¡ªthe same morning she¡¯d come across Emran¡ªshe couldn¡¯t help asking Revan if he¡¯d noticed anything unusual happen to have caused Rowan¡¯s initial coldness towards her. She¡¯d been thinking about what Emran had said, about Rowan sitting at that bar alone feeling sorry for himself, and it made her wonder: if things hadn¡¯t suddenly gone awry with him, would she would have been invited out with him again? Then he wouldn¡¯t have had to be alone. They could faced Naz together, and had each other¡¯s backs. It was a pity that they were driven further apart instead. ¡°Oh¡­I wouldn¡¯t know anything about it,¡± Revan had answered her lightly. ¡°Really?¡± she asked, skeptical. ¡°Well, should I?¡± ¡°I was under the impression you had many eyes lurking around town. I wanted to know if you maybe saw something, or noticed someone say something to him to make him act this way?¡± ¡°¡­I only care to watch you, Zara. Not your brother.¡± As if that made her feel any better. She¡¯d widened the distance from him, mood soured. Zara managed to make it through the gates without anyone seeing her. A glint at the side of the pebbly walkway caught her attention. She walked over to investigate and saw a golden tiara tikli laying on a patch of dirt. She was about to bend down to pick it up when the sound of anklet bells approached her. ¡°Oh!¡± a voice exclaimed. ¡°You¡¯ve found it.¡± Zara almost jumped out of her skin as one of the dancers from earlier hurried over and picked up her lost jewelry. ¡°I was so worried,¡± she said. ¡°I¡¯d felt something fall out of my bag, but thought it was my imagination. It wasn¡¯t, obviously. I did a stupid thing this morning and shoved my entire jewelry box in with my clothes bag¡ªdon¡¯t ask, I was lazy and in a hurry. But anyway, when I open the bag, what do you know?¡± She laughed. ¡°My box came open and all my jewels for tonight were everywhere. It¡¯s a mess. I¡¯m trying to sort it all out now.¡± Her laugh was high in pitch and in clear annoyance at herself. She was also very talkative to someone she didn¡¯t even know at all. If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Zara supposed some people were like that. This woman, though, was beautiful. She was tall and thin, similar to the other dancers that had come with her¡ªthough a couple of them were curvier around the hips. She had high cheekbones, full lips, and arching brows. Her skin on her face and body was a smooth tan and hairless, making Zara feel a little self-conscious about herself. The woman looked at Zara, throwing her long black braid over her shoulder. ¡°Is there something on my face?¡± the woman asked, touching her cheek. Zara immediately shook her head, startled. ¡°Huh? No.¡± ¡°You¡¯re looking at me like I¡¯ve grown a lump. My goodness, wouldn¡¯t that be a nightmare?¡± She laughed sweetly. ¡°Who are you, by the way?¡± She eyed Zara¡¯s clothes. ¡°Hm, you¡¯re not dressed in those dreadful grays like the rest of the working staff here.¡± ¡°I live here.¡± ¡°Oh! But¡­you¡¯re not the bride-to-be I¡¯m guessing?¡± she teased. Zara cracked a smile. ¡°No. My cousin is.¡± ¡°Well, we¡¯ll make sure to give you both a good show.¡± She touched her tilted head in a quick, casual greeting. ¡°I¡¯m Shyla. Nice to meet you.¡± Zara returned the gesture. ¡°I¡¯m Zara.¡± Shyla smiled at Zara¡¯s feet. ¡°I like your anklets.¡± ¡°Thank you. I like yours better.¡± They¡¯re real. ¡°Do you dance as well?¡± Zara¡¯s cheeks warmed. ¡°Oh, no.¡± She shook her head ¡°Well¡­yes actually. Just not professionally, like you.¡± She smiled again, feeling a bit of excitement from having an actual dancer conversing with her. ¡°It must be nice though, to dance for a living.¡± Shyla shrugged. ¡°The world of dance can be tough sometimes, but yes. Are you interested in becoming a dancer?¡± At first Zara didn¡¯t know how she should respond. But after a quick thought, she doubted this conversation would reach the ears of her father or anybody important. She nodded. Shyla brightened at that. ¡°Will you be performing something for the party then?¡± Zara gasped. ¡°Oh, no no! I couldn¡¯t do that. Again, I¡¯m not refined or anything. I can¡¯t perform and no one really knows that I dance.¡± She blurted too much, for Shyla¡¯s brows furrowed in confusion. ¡°No one¡­knows? But if you wish to become a dancer, then why would no in your home be aware of your¡ª¡± ¡°Zara!?¡± Leyli¡¯s loud screech could be heard from the open front door, from all the way down the main hall. ¡°Zara!? Where is that girl?¡± Zara needed to leave before Leyli actually stepped into the hall and saw her standing outside where she didn¡¯t belong. In a way, she was relieved for the abrupt interruption. As much as she wanted to keep talking to the dancer, Zara felt she would reveal things better left unexplained. ¡°Sorry, I have to go. My mother¡¯s calling. Please don¡¯t tell her I was here,¡± she said over her shoulder as she ran inside. She didn¡¯t even wait to hear Shyla¡¯s reply; there was no time. She just hoped the dancer would comply with her plea. She raced upstairs just as Leyli¡¯s footsteps exited the parlor and entered the hall. The clanking bells of her anklets had never annoyed Zara before, but it was annoying her now with how obvious it was with every step she took. Luckily, she made into her room on time to hide them away and check the mirror for stray leaves and dirt on her person. Leyli slammed open the bedroom door. ¡°How many times do I have to call your name before you respond?!¡± she yelled. ¡°Sorry¡ª¡± ¡°I was looking everywhere for you until one of the cooks told me you¡¯d run off. I need you to try on the dress I made you. Do you not feel the need to be proper? Do you think we have all the time in the world to lounge around before this party starts?¡± ¡°I wasn¡¯t¡ª¡± ¡°I¡¯m sick and tired of this, I¡¯ve been running around screaming all day so get DOWNSTAIRS and wash yourself up, now!¡± Biting her lip, Zara passed the flustered woman and went back downstairs. She walked by a confused Shyla in the hall, but did not make eye contact.
¡°I can¡¯t stand the thought of what people might say if she shows her face. Dolly is just unreasonable. I told her last night, yet again, that Zara is no longer the girl she thinks she used to be. But no. That damn daughter of mine is so stubborn. This is her day. I will not have anything ruin it.¡± Zara played with the ends of her shawl, pretending Noina wasn¡¯t talking about her even though they were both in the same dining room. The table was packed with finished platters, and the party was about to start. Noina had arrived not too long before, and she was already making a fuss before the first real guests had even arrived. ¡°Noina,¡± Leyli warned. ¡°Keep your voice down, please. We still have staff walking about.¡± ¡°And what of the boy?¡± Noina growled. ¡°He¡¯s practically rabid after what he¡¯s done to Nazeer. What if he lashes out on the guests?¡± Leyli frowned. ¡°I¡¯ve already talked to Rowan about it.¡± She stole a glance at Zara, but didn¡¯t expand further on the subject. ¡°He¡¯ll keep his temper under control today. We¡¯ll make sure of it.¡± What had they talked about? Surely, Rowan had to have blamed Zara for what happened to Naz, but it seemed like he was just written off as temperamental instead. Although Zara was supposedly the ¡°evil witch¡± here, it seemed everyone was willing to believe Rowan was the vicious attacker only if Naz said so. ¡°And if that doesn¡¯t work? It¡¯s not him I¡¯m particularly worried about. A stupid boy with a violent anger issue, I can handle. It¡¯s her and the¡ª¡± Noina was considerate enough to whisper her next words, ¡°¡ªdemons she carries with her.¡± The distraught hag was practically in tears. ¡°Noina,¡± Leyli spoke sympathetically. ¡°Rowan needs to be here. Zara needs to be here too, at your daughter¡¯s request. She wants the whole family with her. This isn¡¯t about what you want. It¡¯s important that every one of us be present, otherwise there will be gossip. Especially if the bride-to-be is wandering around her own engagement, upset.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t think I¡¯m unaware! Though I still believe making an excuse for Zara¡¯s absence would¡¯ve done some good in the end. Like, she¡¯d caught an illness or¡­or¡­¡± Noina sighed, defeated. She stomped towards Zara sitting at the head of the dining table. Zara coldly stared up at her aunt. ¡°Whatever it is you¡¯re thinking of conjuring up, don¡¯t bother yourself. I¡¯ve burnt black oil cloths outside of my home for the past week, as a protection measure for my family. And look here.¡± Noina lifted her embroidered skirt to reveal a thick black thread tied around her ankle. No doubt she¡¯d soaked it in red chili water, as a way to combat any effect black magic could have on her. Zara almost visibly snickered. As if that superstitious nonsense would do anything. Not that Zara was even planning to sabotage this party in the first place. ¡°My poor daughter¡¯s pure, hopeful face at the thought of seeing you again. You¡¯re lucky Dolly is stuck on her childhood memories of you,¡± Noina sneered. ¡°I can¡¯t go against that precious woman¡¯s wish. Otherwise, I would have insisted you stay locked away. A murderous witch has no need for family.¡± ¡°Noina!¡± Leyli shouted. Without much hesitance, Zara replied, ¡°Are you sure that is the right way to speak to a ¡®murderous witch¡¯?¡± She had expected it, but the slap to her cheek still managed to make her flinch. Zara fought the urge to caress her stinging face. ¡°Noina, stop!¡± Leyli dragged the other woman away. ¡°What are you thinking? You could have left a mark on her!¡± Noina scowled, tearing herself away from the grasp. ¡°What about it? Did you hear what just came out of that mouth?¡± She pulled out a black string from the breast of her blouse. ¡°Put this on her. Wrist, ankle, neck, I don¡¯t care. I purified it in the oil I used to burn the cloth last night, along with clean water and many prayers. Restrain her with this. I¡¯ll be in the parlor, praying. Dolly and her betrothed will be here soon.¡± She left the flimsy-looking string in Leyli¡¯s open palm and hurried out. Zara scoffed when her mother held the string up to her. ¡°Give me your wrist,¡± she ordered. Zara held out her wrist. Leyli pushed the purple and gold bangles further up Zara¡¯s forearm before tying the stupid thread on her. The string was covered once the bangles settled back over her wrist. Zara shook the jewelry, as if interested in its ability to conceal something so worthless. Her gaze locked onto her mother. ¡°Ma,¡± she said, ¡°why am I still here?¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Why did you keep me, when you had so many chances to get rid of me? Besides that night Baba tried throwing me out, and even then, it didn¡¯t seem like you wanted to be rid of me but¡­you do. Don¡¯t you?¡± Zara kept her voice low, but for once, she didn¡¯t quiver over the repercussions of asking such a question. She¡¯d been wanting to know this for a long time, from the perspectives of both her parents who never gave her straightforward replies. Right now, she wanted to know what her mother would say about it. She¡¯d finally worked up the courage to just ask. The more time passed here, and the more Zara learned about herself, the less there was to fear. It was a very slow progress still, but progress nonetheless. Leyli raised her brows, and her gaze went soft. There was a sadness in her eyes, and given how the woman had treated her so far, Zara was having trouble figuring out why. ¡°I don¡¯t want you to die,¡± Leyli said. ¡°You are my child, despite what you are, despite how upset it makes me. You still are my child.¡± ¡°Does Baba feel that way?¡± Zara didn¡¯t think so. She also didn¡¯t comprehend her mother¡¯s thoughts. It didn¡¯t make sense to her. ¡°I don¡¯t know. I never asked him. I¡¯m too afraid to.¡± Leyli knelt down in front of Zara, gently touching the right wrist where she had tied on the thread. ¡°It¡¯s difficult for me, Zara. And that makes me angry. When I get angry, I take it out on you. I know you it makes you sad, but, it¡¯s all because of you. All of this is¡­unfair, I feel. For both me as a mother, and you as my daughter. I feel like I¡¯ve been robbed. I was robbed of the girl I¡¯ve always wanted. A girl I¡¯ve wanted to raise into a fine young woman, and eventually, a bride and a mother herself. We can¡¯t spend any time together. We can¡¯t have any of that. It¡¯s unfair. ¡°I don¡¯t want you to be taken away to death, like that boy. I don¡¯t want to see it happen, truthfully. But I also don¡¯t want myself or my family in danger. Of both the law, and of you. You have always been the biggest danger to us, especially now, with your erratic use of magic? Why would you do that? I don¡¯t know what¡¯s the matter with you. Why you refuse to restrain yourself and just be normal, but here we are. And I still want you here. I don¡¯t know. Sometimes¡­I wish you¡¯d been born a different person.¡± Leyli¡¯s quiet rant came to an end. She slowly stood, straightening out her beige and blue skirt. She walked out of the dining room without a regard to her daughter¡¯s tears. Imperfections and Misconceptions The petal lay flat on his open palm invitingly, seducing him for a lick. Should he really? Was now a good time? Any time these days was a good time, so Rowan believed. This was, what? His third or fourth try? The anticipation still made him shake. ¡°Master Rowan?¡± Rauna was calling him from downstairs. Rowan found the new maid so annoying with her ¡°Master¡± and ¡°Mister¡± and whatever the fuck else in her annoying formal accent. ¡°What is it?¡± he called back. ¡°The main party has arrived. Your mother wants you to come down. Have you finished dressing yet?¡± Shut the fuck up. Rowan snapped a tiny piece of the gritty yellow petal and stuck it onto his tongue. The petal instantly dissolved. In a few minutes, he¡¯d feel the welcome tingling in his mouth spread down to his toes, then would come the blissful, floaty feeling that would last him the rest of the day. He stashed the rest of the drug back into the vial with the second petal¡ªhe had only been able to afford two of the least potent vida. The shaggy guy that frequented the red-light bar¡ªEmran¡ªand his pretty cousin had taken pity on his dark mood on the night he¡¯d been there alone and discounted him for a quarter of the price, charging him at a ¡°first timer¡¯s fee.¡± The girl, Cina, was also a friend of Zara¡¯s. Maybe that had been a factor too. He didn¡¯t care. He wanted to use, and he wanted to be numb. Emran had shown him that the key to feeling good wasn¡¯t by consuming the entire petal at once, unless he wanted to black out from a heart spike. Take a bit at a time, increase the dose gradually, and it would also save him money in the long run. Even with that discounted low price, Rowan came home that night with very little coin in his money pouch. He minded to do his house chores properly, and had made a deal with his father, promising to behave and do better in his studies and not pick fights with Naz (even though he never fucking did so in the first place, but while on vida he barely cared about it), so as long as he¡¯d start receiving a fair allowance again. He¡¯d also steer clear from Zara. He ignored her when she escaped the house this morning, and he didn¡¯t bother snitching either. He¡¯d steer clear of all her shit. Her witchcraft had caused nothing but trouble for him. And to think he had started feeling bad for her, almost wanted her on his side after Naz came home¡­ The dark thoughts lifted, and he smiled a stupid smile. There it was, the tingle¡ªthe oncoming bliss. No matter. They can both go fuck themselves. ¡°Master Rowan?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be down,¡± he called back lightly. He didn¡¯t know if he¡¯d said it loud enough for her to hear. He didn¡¯t care. ¡°Imbecile,¡± he grouched under his breath. He ran his hands down his face, then stood in front of the mirror to fix the collar of his golden floral button-down. His thick hair was freshly oiled and combed back in a high bun. Many of his skin spots and bruises from his father¡¯s beating had sort of healed here and there, but he still looked shitty enough to where people were definitely going to point it out (as if he didn¡¯t already fucking know) and ask him ¡°What happened?!¡± in that stupid, pitchy shrill that Rowan always knew was fake. His teachers always did it to him, and the all the stupid shits walking the streets of this town did it too. Today he¡¯d smile. He¡¯d smile politely, and maybe tell everyone who asked it was none of their fucking business. To maybe worry about their own ugly faces before talking to him about his. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect for you to turn out this way. So lanky and unremarkable¡­.¡± ¡°You haven¡¯t been taking those dreaded vida petals have you?¡­I hear they can make one¡¯s appearance, well, like yours?¡± He chuckled as the mirror¡¯s distorted image. At the memory of his older brother¡¯s marked, bloody face. It was so funny how much he didn¡¯t care.
Dolly had grown not much taller, but definitely wider. Her pale green, sparkling dress hugged her curves, the matching accented dupatta draped and pinned over her head dragged along the pathway as she bobbed towards Zara, gown bunched in her hands. ¡°My goodness, look at you,¡± Dolly squealed radiantly. Zara grinned back and let herself be encased in Dolly¡¯s tight embrace. ¡°Look at you! You¡¯re¡­you¡¯re getting married.¡± ¡°I know! Last time we saw each other we were practically like babies and now, look at me! Grown up and engaged. Crazy, right?¡± ¡°It is¡­¡± ¡°I feel the same way. I mean, we played in this field. It feels so recent, but it isn¡¯t!¡± The more Zara looked at Dolly, the more she pondered the time gone. Dolly had always been a cute girl, but the baby fat on her face was replaced with a slimmer, mature, and elegant expression. Her face was made up beautifully, and the classy silver tikka on her forehead made her look like a real woman. She would be, once she was officially wed. A stocky man with wide-set shoulders and square-like facial features was a few paces behind her, along with the rest of his party¡ªan older gentleman and woman, two young adult men, and one little girl in a cute pink dress. The groom and his family, Zara presumed. They all wore lighter colors as well, a mix of pinks and yellows. The groom was wearing white with a tight fancy gold vest and matching thick bracelets on each sturdy wrist. After a quick hug with her aunt and a polite greeting bow to her uncle, Dolly aligned herself with her fiance. Noina started the customary family introductions. The groom¡¯s name was Varun, and while he wasn¡¯t the most handsome man ever with his stout, wide build and average-looking face, he did exhibit a humor similar to Dolly¡¯s, and with the way Dolly looked at him, it was as though he was the most precious thing in the world to her. When Noina finished introducing Varun¡¯s child sister¡ªand trying to swallow her distaste when introducing Zara by name to Varun¡¯s family¡ªZahir turned to his wife and, disguising his annoyance, asked her of Rowan¡¯s whereabouts. Leyli¡¯s brow twitched, but her expression remained pleasant enough in front of the other family. ¡°I sent Rauna to fetch him,¡± she replied simply. Zahir sighed, looking back at the house. Noina was not impressed, but she quickly laughed Rowan¡¯s pitiful absence off. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. It seems we¡¯re missing a member, sister,¡± she assured Varun¡¯s mother. ¡°He will be out soon, I¡¯m sure.¡± ¡°Well I¡¯d hope so,¡± the other woman spoke. Her voice was kind of crackly, liked she¡¯d had too much pipe tobacco in her lifetime. ¡°It would be a shame otherwise.¡± It was important for a wedding or engagement party¡¯s family to meet all members of the household they were holding their function at, and it was extremely rude if all parties were not present to greet each other. Otherwise, it could lead to a bad start of the relationship. An ill-omen of sorts. Presumably. The kingdom¡¯s first royal family thousands of years ago, back when it consisted of mostly mages, had slighted the then-human Goddess Lilith and her royal family in a similar manner, because apparently mages were ¡°too important¡± for common human decencies. This was shortly before the first war between humans and mages broke out, and while there was quite a bit more that eventually led up to that, some people¡ªpeople like Noina, who taught Zara of this custom¡¯s history during one of her school lessons¡ªbelieved that this event was a significant part of it. The customs and its rules have naturally changed over time, and Zara honestly couldn¡¯t remember every piece of biased religious history Noina shrieked into her ear. But she did know that in some places more superstitious, whatever the shit Rowan was pulling now would be considered like a blasphemy. Thankfully, Pria was not the place for that. But she heard Varun¡¯s family was from south east, and from the look of his parents¡¯ faces, this exchange might just be a tad offensive. It was a good thing Rowan decided to come bustling out the front door right then now, wasn¡¯t it? He almost tripped over nothing on the way over, but at least he was smiling, and looked somewhat decent. ¡°There he is,¡± Noina exclaimed, pulling Rowan further forward, holding him in front of Dolly¡¯s new family by the shoulders. ¡°This is the son I¡¯ve told you about.¡± ¡°Hi,¡± he blurted in a casual tone. ¡°I¡¯m Rowan.¡± ¡°Stay quiet,¡± Noina demanded lowly before more properly introducing Rowan to the parents, the siblings, and then Varun himself. ¡°Did something happen to him? Why is his face like that?¡± Varun¡¯s mother asked Noina, after pulling her aside. She probably meant to sound hushed and discreet, but from the uncomfortable looks from everyone else, she had all but failed. Rowan¡¯s teeth looked like daggers in that strained smile. ¡°Could you talk louder, please?¡± he said with a laugh. ¡°I couldn¡¯t hear, with you not speaking directly to me.¡± The old woman¡¯s forehead wrinkled, puzzled by Rowan¡¯s manners. Or lack of them, really. Noina¡¯s beady eyes grew wide and scary. ¡°Rowan, perhaps get back in the house and find a tray of refreshments for us all.¡± ¡°Have Rauna do it. Or, hell, any one of these other slaves you hired. They¡¯re supposed to, right?¡± He dissolved into giggles. ¡°Now!¡± Zahir hissed, practically shoving him away. Rowan left without another fight back, his clunky footsteps retreating back into the house. ¡°What in Mother¡¯s name is wrong with him?¡± Leyli whispered. Even Zara couldn¡¯t figure that one out. ¡°¡­Okay. Now we¡¯ve met everyone,¡± Varun announced lightheartedly. ¡°Happy, Ma?¡± Among the wave of nervous chuckles, Varun¡¯s mother rolled her eyes, displeased, but didn¡¯t argue back. Dolly took his hand and held it. A strange twinge was what Zara could describe happening in her heart. Dolly was like a new person. A new, interesting woman that Zara knew nothing about. It¡¯s okay. She knows nothing of me either. But what was there to tell? The twinge turned into heavy lead. Zara had nothing. Nothing good, nothing pure. She had nothing, unlike Dolly¡­who had everything. ¡°Let¡¯s head to the tables,¡± Leyli said, gesturing to the open field where a pretty display of dining seats for the future bride and groom¡¯s party stood among a vast arrangement of outdoor quilts and seat cushions for other guests. The staff was carrying the appetizers out now. Zara could smell them from where she stood. She could even hear the oil frying from the courtyard. More carriages were starting to pile in front of the house. The musicians lingered around the gates smoking their pipes. Zara hadn¡¯t even noticed when they arrived, and it excited her. She wondered what music they would play, what their part will be in the show later on. This was a party, after all, and Zara was present for it. For once, she was a part of something exciting. No need to feel so pathetic right now. Feeling a bit more optimistic, Zara started following Dolly to the table, but Zahir held her back firmly. ¡°I have some friends coming, and then I¡¯ll find you after we settle in,¡± Dolly assured. ¡°We should catch up.¡± ¡°Sure,¡± Zara said plainly. She guessed the table had no room for the likes of her. Gloom trickled over once again, as quickly as it had left. When Dolly and the rest of their families were out of earshot, Zahir let her shoulder go. ¡°Stay in my line of sight,¡± he ordered. ¡°You are not to sit at that table.¡± He grimaced. ¡°And neither is Rowan for that matter.¡± They heard Rowan snickering from the open doorway; he had come back with no refreshments in hand. When Zahir regarded him with disdain, Rowan shrugged and said, ¡°I¡¯m not sorry at all.¡±
Zara was hopelessly out of place. It wasn¡¯t just that Dolly¡¯s friends were here, chatting about places and people Zara knew nothing about. It was also clear that these ten girl friends surrounding Dolly on the embroidered quilt¡ªeither applying henna on her palms or just sitting around gossiping¡ªcame from well-off and distinguished city families of jewelers, designers, barristers, educators, and so on. Dolly fit right in. She and Varun were in the ¡°educator¡± category. She was studying to teach, and he was a researcher. They had met in a damn library. What a dream that must have been. It¡¯s not as though Zara didn¡¯t come from an upper class family herself because she obviously did. What was eating at her was the fact that she had nothing going for herself, unlike these other girls who had lives outside their bedrooms. Zara sat quietly on the grass at the outer edge of the group, tuning out the idle talk. She nibbled at a beef patty from the plate of appetizers. No one paid her any mind. She was fine with that. The less inquiries they had about her, the better. She hadn¡¯t gotten any alone time with Dolly for the past hour. When they were little, they meshed together like lentils in a boiling pot. Now they were like oil and curry, separated and unable to recombine. Even if Zara had her alone for a minute, she would be anxious about the conversation turning onto herself, and Zara didn¡¯t want to talk about herself. She didn¡¯t have anything noteworthy to say¡ªor at least anything that wouldn¡¯t get her in trouble. She couldn¡¯t tell Dolly that the most interesting thing about her was that she was a mage in training¡ªwith a Sorcerer teaching her nonetheless. It sounded ridiculous, and even if Dolly miraculously managed not to believe it, the tale would eventually drift over ears Zara did not want hearing of this. Like Noina¡¯s ears. Or her parents¡¯. Perhaps Zara could talk about her new, albeit shaky dance routine she made up in the forest that morning. But the more she thought of it, the lamer it seemed, and she didn¡¯t want to risk Dolly or any of these women asking for an improvised performance. Dolly was unaware about Zara¡¯s nature; Noina had purposefully kept it that way. But she had also wrung their companionship dry by sending Dolly far away to school, and now this annoying stiffness was the result. Though it was obviously just Zara feeling this way. Dolly seemed better than fine. Like she didn¡¯t even care that Zara was sitting alone, excluded. ¡°You should visit me more,¡± one of the women said to Dolly. Although Dolly had introduced her, Zara didn¡¯t remember this woman¡¯s name. She had very curly reddish hair that was prettily decorated with little flowers. Dolly¡¯s long black hair was braided back and also florally ornamented. She had unpinned the dupatta to show it off. ¡°I rarely even see you anymore. Remember how much time we spent together¡ª¡± ¡°And how stressed out we were all the time?¡± another woman with sharp cheekbones chimed in. They all giggled. ¡°School is the worst,¡± the redhead said. ¡°I¡¯m glad we are almost finished with that nonsense.¡± ¡°Without that ¡®nonsense¡¯ we wouldn¡¯t be heading where we are now, right?¡± Dolly said. The redhead smirked. ¡°I agree. But I¡¯ll still complain.¡± ¡°You complain about everything,¡± Dolly replied, laughing. ¡°But that¡¯s what you love about me!¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± ¡°Seriously, I know you have a man now, but you need to come and see me more. You need to help me pick out a husband. It¡¯s my turn next, to get married.¡± ¡°So desperate,¡± someone else within the group joked, but Zara was unable to place a face to the voice. ¡°Shut up,¡± the redhead snapped before turning back to Dolly. ¡°You¡¯re like a sister to me, you know. The sister I never had.¡± She pursed her lips cutely. Zara wondered what it must be like to be so carefree, so liberated and secure, that getting a proper education was equated to a hassle. Noina, with a chunk of widow¡¯s money, had sent her daughter off to a closed off, religious boarding school in a town in between the main city and Pria, where there was good education without the tension of unsafe roads and people. When Dolly left Pria, Zara had cried because she hadn¡¯t been able to go with her. Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. Dolly hadn¡¯t come back after she had graduated that school; her entire life was better over there, with her new friends who had now become an extended family. Noina went on frequent visits and Dolly introduced her to the man she wanted to be with. Smart, successful, respectful, and a match for Noina¡¯s belief system¡ªwhat could be better than that, honestly? He also had money, which leveled with faith in terms of importance. With his family¡¯s help, Dolly was able to attend a prestigious college within the better parts of the city. Zara couldn¡¯t help comparing her own future. It was bleak, in some ways. She envied the normalcy¡ªno, better than normalcy¡ªof Dolly¡¯s life. Right now, Zara couldn¡¯t see how her power would get her anything more than a long life hiding from execution. Revan said that thought will change with time. The least she could keep praying for was freedom, and the more she exercised her magic, the freedom would eventually come. It just couldn¡¯t come soon enough. ¡°Zara,¡± Dolly said. Zara jolted. ¡°Huh?¡± Dolly laughed. ¡°You¡¯re so quiet, girl. Why are you all the way over there? Come sit with me.¡± At the center of the group¡ªthe center of attention. ¡°Um¡­no that¡¯s ok,¡± Zara tried to say but Dolly was already trying to make room on the quilt, ushering her friends to move aside. ¡°No, really. You don¡¯t have to go through the trouble¡ª¡± ¡°Hey,¡± the redhead piped up, looking at the direction of the house. ¡°Are they going to apply henna over there?¡± Dolly turned back to look as well. Near the table where Varun was sitting with a few other men, including Zara¡¯s father, three middle-aged ladies were walking from the house towards the stage. Two of them carried seat cushions and a folded quilt, the other a bowl with mixing supplies and a jug of water. It seemed like they were about to set up their station there, and a few curious female guests were standing by, watching as the ladies set their things down. ¡°Yes, they¡¯re professionals,¡± Dolly answered. ¡°My mom hired them.¡± She looked back at the redhead, then at the other women. ¡°You should go. My hands are done, let them dry. They look gorgeous by the way. Love you all.¡± The girl friends tittered lines of ¡°see you later¡± or ¡°we¡¯ll be back¡± before leaving Dolly and Zara to themselves. Dolly joyfully gestured to the open seat next to her, and Zara finally felt comfortable enough to comply. ¡°You know, you¡¯re looking really good,¡± Dolly said once Zara had settled. Zara chuckled. ¡°Not as good as you.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t disregard yourself, girl. That color suits you.¡± ¡°Purple suits me?¡± Dolly shrugged. ¡°Purple suits most people, I think. Gold is nice on you, too. And your hair. It¡¯s so long and beautiful. Way thicker than mine too.¡± Zara patted her half-up wavy hairdo self-consciously. ¡°Thanks, but, well¡­you look better than I do. This is the first time I¡¯ve seen you all dressed up.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, huh? I¡¯ve gotten kind of used to it. In the city, you¡¯re always trying to look your best.¡± ¡°Every day?¡± ¡°Most days, yes. Though for the big events, like weddings and festivals, I like to look even more lavish. Everybody does.¡± ¡°Have you been to the palace?¡± ¡°Yes! But not inside, obviously. Just on the grounds, and around the public garden. It¡¯s amazing. Better than how I imagined it.¡± Zara smiled, reminiscing. ¡°Remember when we used to dream of living there together?¡± Dolly laughed. ¡°Any castle would have been amazing.¡± ¡°But that castle¡­¡± ¡°That was supposed to be our castle.¡± They giggled at the silliness of their childhood fantasy. Playing together, pretending to be queens, saving all the good people from the bad people¡­. It was all so silly. Obviously the ¡°playing¡± around within the luxuries of the palace walls was completely unheard of as an adult, but living together? Ruling together? Even if a stupid fantasy like that could have fathomable before, they hardly knew each other to do anything like that now. But this was progress. Dolly was talkative and a naturally friendly person. That hadn¡¯t changed. ¡°We were so close, weren¡¯t we?¡± Dolly said, staring off at the distant mountain peaks. Zara chose not to answer. To distract herself, she let her eyes roam at the activity around them, something she thought she¡¯d never see after years with hardly anyone but Noina stopping by. Now there were dozens of people mixing around outdoors and within. Food, tea, and coffee were constantly being brought out and served. The table for the bride and groom¡¯s party was filled with platters and people. Others surrounded them on quilts and cushions. Children were dancing around the stage. The dancers and musicians were enjoying each other¡¯s company; two out of the four musicians were playing soft tunes on the drum and sitar. Shyla caught her gaze and gave her a little wave before turning back to the flute man she¡¯d been talking to. Women and young girls in fancy garb were hustling back and forth, from stepping inside the house to chasing after their children outside, or just lingering about the grounds, waiting for their turn to get henna. Some of the young men and boys played games of running and throwing around small rice sacks out in the field, and now a few young girls wanted to join in, despite having to play in dresses. Many of these people were relatives from her father¡¯s side, Dolly¡¯s friends, and others were friends of friends of Noina¡¯s and Leyli¡¯s, and then who knows who else. Zara was not used to this many people at her house. Though, she could say she wasn¡¯t used to much of anything. ¡°Want some?¡± Dolly asked, pointing her head at a plate of fried snacks that had been left abandoned. ¡°But what about you?¡± Dolly held up her hennaed hands. ¡°These still need some more drying time. I already had some anyway.¡± Zara took a fried lentil ball, even though she wasn¡¯t so hungry. But it gave her something to do with herself while Dolly¡¯s previous question dawdled in her mind. ¡°¡­So,¡± Dolly started, ¡°Rowan¡¯s grown tall, I see.¡± Zara huffed out her nose. ¡°And he made quite the scene today. Sorry about that.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think he even noticed I was standing there. Maybe he forgot about me.¡± Zara laughed out loud. ¡°I don¡¯t know what¡¯s wrong with him. He¡¯s always been an odd one, and lately he¡¯s been moody too¡ª¡± ¡°I think it¡¯s because he¡¯s reached that age.¡± ¡°Maybe¡­but he knows better.¡± ¡°Are you two close?¡± ¡°¡­.No.¡± ¡°Ah. Sibling relationships must be fun.¡± ¡°It isn¡¯t.¡± ¡°You were the closest I had to a sister before.¡± The redhead with the whiny attitude popped into Zara¡¯s mind. And now I¡¯ve been replaced. ¡°Also, where is your other brother?¡± Dolly asked. ¡°What?¡± As natural of a question this was, it still caught Zara by surprise. Even she wondered about where that man was. ¡°Nazeer, right? Or¡­have I truly dreamt him up?¡± ¡°Wait¡­I don¡¯t understand?¡± But Zara did actually understand, and it made her burst into giggles. Dolly giggled too. ¡°Is he even a real brother of yours? I think I¡¯ve only ever seen him once in my entire life.¡± ¡°You¡¯re joking!¡± ¡°I¡¯m not! He¡¯s like a ghost. I don¡¯t remember what he looks like.¡± They laughed about it a little longer before Zara gave Dolly an overview of the person Naz was now, and that he would probably arrive later. She left out the part about his injury, though. She was hoping that history would repeat itself tonight¡ªthat Naz wouldn¡¯t show up at all and that Dolly would never see him. ¡°I can¡¯t believe he¡¯s married,¡± Dolly said. ¡°And living in Darhai, too. I¡¯d really like to meet him and his wife formally.¡± ¡°Sure. Maybe.¡± ¡°Have you always been this thin by the way?¡± Dolly looked Zara up and down. ¡°You¡¯re a lot thinner than what I remember. I could be remembering wrong.¡± ¡°Hm¡­no I don¡¯t think you are. I think I did get thinner. I don¡¯t eat much.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Mhm. Not the hungry type.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve always been fat, I think.¡± Zara giggled. ¡°No, not really.¡± ¡°Okay, but I am now for sure. Come on. Look at my mom. But even she has a better figure than me, I would say. I think my father might have been bigger. I¡¯m sure that¡¯s where I got my weight from.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t remember much of your father. Well, besides that he was pretty big, now that I think back on it.¡± ¡°Right?¡± Dolly sighed, but she was smiling. ¡°I wonder what he would think of me now, if he were here.¡± ¡°Do you miss him?¡± Dolly shrugged. ¡°We were, what, seven when he got sick?¡± She shuddered. ¡°Ugh just thinking about those black rashes all over him before he passed¡­yeah, I do miss him. Even though I was so young and didn¡¯t remember much about him.¡± ¡°Our fathers were busy men.¡± ¡°Yup. Especially back then. Trying to move up the political ranks is not an easy task. And unfortunately, it takes time away from family.¡± ¡°Well, I think he would be happy to see you happy.¡± Dolly blushed. ¡°I would hope so. I¡¯m really trying to make something of my life.¡± ¡°He¡¯d be so proud.¡± Zara¡¯s heart sank as she said this though. Dolly grinned, looking up at the clear sky. ¡°Beyond teaching, I really want to help people. You know, fight poverty. Get it off the streets. The city has grown rampant with it. Drug-induced psychos are always running around, causing trouble for everyone. I want to help get rid of them.¡± ¡°You¡¯d be like a¡­humanitarian?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid?¡± Dolly looked at her, questioning. ¡°Of what?¡± ¡°Crime?¡± ¡°¡­There will always be crime. There¡¯s a lot of terrible crime. It¡¯s up to us to not let it get too out of hand. Besides, I¡¯m doing all of this with Varun. We share the same goals. He¡¯s such a great man, Zara, you wouldn¡¯t even know. A perfect match for me. I couldn¡¯t have prayed for better.¡± After some silence, Zara spoke again. ¡°So city life is working out well for you, then.¡± Dolly nodded. ¡°I love it there. Not a dull day goes by for me. With my husband, it¡¯s become a true home. You should come visit sometime. I¡¯d love to have you.¡± Zara smiled wanly. ¡°Yeah. Do you ever miss it here?¡± Dolly regarded her for a moment. ¡°When I think of the past, sure I miss it.¡± She looked back out at the mountains again, out at the vast greenery and the trees that lay far beyond. ¡°Being here again has brought back many memories. Especially ones of you.¡± ¡°¡­Right,¡± Zara whispered to herself. ¡°This town really is beautiful,¡± Dolly said. ¡°And there¡¯s so many wonderful people. I really took it for granted when I lived here.¡± ¡°It tends to happen.¡± ¡°Mount Lilith is truly something to be worshiped still, isn¡¯t it? I prayed at its temple the other day. My mother took me there so much when I was little.¡± ¡°I remember it.¡± Zara hadn¡¯t stepped into any temple since she was a little girl and she meant to keep it that way now. The local temple was at the eastern grounds of the mountain, and it was beautifully structured from the inside out. The Goddess Temple, however, was said to be magnificent, but it was situated high up the mountain and required hours of hiking up a rocky trail. It was popular during pilgrimage season in the summer months, but it was also the site of many fatigue-driven deaths. Dolly rubbed the dried henna off her hands and wrist. The simplistic design left on her brown skin was a sharp, dark red. A small glass bottle of oil lay next to the bowl of henna paste. Dolly picked it up and made good use of it on her dyed skin. ¡°Lucky it wasn¡¯t destroyed by the quake.¡± Zara frowned, startled by Dolly¡¯s words. ¡°Not that there was a real quake, apparently.¡± Dolly¡¯s face turned serious. ¡°I keep hearing different stories. Pria is a hot spot for news right now, though I¡¯m sure you know.¡± Zara¡¯s mouth ran dry. She dropped her half eaten lentil ball on the quilt. ¡°Zara, what really happened up there? Ma is acting dodgy and unsettled, and I don¡¯t blame her, but¡­did you really try to step in and¡­and actually help that thing?¡± Her head swam, and her body heated up because this was something she did not want to discuss. ¡°Did you know what she did the other night?¡± Dolly was still talking. ¡°She hung black cloths in front of our house and then set them on fire.¡± She scoffed. ¡°I don¡¯t know what she was raving about under her breath¡­why she went and bought a bunch of red peppers and whatnot¡ª¡± Zara scoffed, but it was to cover up how nervous she was. ¡°Seriously!¡± Dolly persisted. ¡°Look, Ma¡¯s superstitions can get the best of her sometimes, but she seemed really scared about today. At one point this week, I even asked her whether we should have the party elsewhere, but then I learned you wouldn¡¯t be able to attend. She wouldn¡¯t tell me why. Is there a reason why?¡± ¡°Um¡­no.¡± Dolly shifted her weight, alarmed. ¡°Are you sick? Do you have an illness that prevents you from leaving or¡ª¡± ¡°N-No!¡± Zara replied impulsively. Although describing her nature as an ¡°illness¡± that kept her from leaving home and doing anything made sense, it¡¯s not like Zara could explain it away should Dolly ask for bothersome details. ¡°Then what? Why would you do that? For a mage¡ª¡± She whispered that word. ¡°¡ªof all things. How could you?¡± ¡°H-He¡­I don¡¯t know. He was so little and friendly with me. I don¡¯t know¡ª¡± She didn¡¯t know. When it came to mind, she still didn¡¯t know if what she tried doing was right. She jumped back and forth from being ¡°right¡± to outright ¡°idiotic.¡± ¡°Friendly?!¡± Dolly was aghast. ¡°I met him once before, in town. My father took me to get books and I was waiting on the street for him to pick me up¡ª¡± Kind of the truth. ¡°¡ªwhen we met. The boy was by himself, his mother had kicked him out of the house¡ª¡± ¡°For good reason.¡± ¡°Okay¡­but he was a child.¡± ¡°A homeless no-good child. A wicked thing.¡± Zara frowned deeply. ¡°Dolly, you sound like your mother.¡± Now it was Dolly¡¯s turn to frown. ¡°What is that supposed to mean?¡± ¡°Nothing,¡± Zara said quietly. She regretted even saying it. ¡°Do you have something against my mother? She¡¯s your tutor, is she not?¡± ¡°What do you have against homeless children?¡± Zara accused, veering off the more dangerous subject of her weary relationship with Noina. Dolly scoffed. ¡°It¡¯s not just children, Zara. It¡¯s all of them. Adults, adolescents¡ªall the same. Why shouldn¡¯t we be offended by them? They are the reason why any humanitarian efforts are needed at all. They bring crime into our homes, to our streets. They go against everything we believe in¡ª¡± ¡°What? Believe in?¡± Dolly blinked like she couldn¡¯t fathom what Zara couldn¡¯t understand. ¡°The Holy Mother always respected those who kept our towns and cities free of dirt, corruption, and scum¡ª¡± ¡°Maybe she meant literal dirt?¡± ¡°No¡­do you not pay attention to what my mother teaches you?¡± ¡°Trust me, I pay attention.¡± ¡°So what? You ignore it then?¡± Zara bit her lip, annoyed and afraid of where this was going. Dolly shook her head. ¡°Unbelievable. If you hadn¡¯t done so, if you had been a better student, maybe you wouldn¡¯t have put yourself in direct danger like that. Zara, what were you thinking defying the witch doctor? He¡¯s a priest, too, for crying out loud! And then that little shit accused you of the same sin he was being put to death for in the end anyway! This is exactly why they are corrupted. They don¡¯t care about anybody but themselves. And then that awful quake.¡± Dolly¡¯s bottom lip quivered. ¡°When I heard about it, I almost cried my eyes out. It could have been so much worse.¡± She gripped Zara¡¯s shoulders. ¡°Zara, you need to be careful. You¡¯re lucky no one believed that stupid boy, but that was too risky. You¡¯ve always had a soft heart, but in this case, it¡¯s misplaced.¡± By this time, Zara¡¯s blood had risen to a simmer. She chuckled sarcastically, caressing Dolly¡¯s hands that were still on her heated shoulder. ¡°It¡¯s so funny to me. That witch doctor.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Dolly was confused. ¡°He couldn¡¯t even tell whether I was a witch or not. Who knows then, if he truly knew about the boy.¡± Dolly let Zara go like she¡¯d been set aflame. ¡°What are you saying?¡± Zara shrugged, leaning back on her hands. Dolly squinted. A sudden gush of air blew strands of hair into her face, and blew some of the adorning petals off it as well. ¡°Zara, what exactly are you saying? Can you explain the quake then? The one that no one on ground claimed to feel? Huh?¡± Zara refused to answer, watching one far corner of the quilt fold over against the sudden change in wind. The lowered temperature bit at her hot skin. ¡°Not talking again? That¡¯s how you are, I see. Just an untalkative, unsocial girl with a withering belief system.¡± ¡°What in the hell would you know anything about me?¡± Zara said through clenched teeth. ¡°You left. You don¡¯t know anything anymore.¡± ¡°How is it my fault? I don¡¯t want to fall into assumptions, but you don¡¯t make it easy. You don¡¯t say anything. You haven¡¯t and it¡¯s been almost two hours since I¡¯ve been here and this is the most we¡¯re talking and now look, we¡¯re practically fighting because of what you started¡ª¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t fucking start anything¡ª!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t talk to me like that!¡± Zara looked back to see some of Dolly¡¯s friends and other distant guests peering at them curiously. Zara tried to get herself under control, before she did something she regretted. ¡°What good is talking when there¡¯s nothing to say?¡± she muttered. ¡°I¡¯m sorry I don¡¯t have a life as great as yours that I can brag on and on about.¡± ¡°Life is what you make it to be.¡± Zara snickered. ¡°Says the woman who¡¯s been granted every opportunity from the start. Even now, you¡¯re reaping off your future husband¡¯s money. How nice for you.¡± Dolly gaped, disgusted. ¡°You have become such a bitter and resentful person. I don¡¯t like this at all. Don¡¯t blame your jealousy on me. Your life being hollow, your lack of friends¡ªwhich don¡¯t think I haven¡¯t noticed or heard from Ma that you don¡¯t have any, being the way you are¡ªthat¡¯s all your own doing, Zara.¡± Her palms felt like they were burning. She should probably just leave Dolly altogether, but she wanted to know one thing. ¡°Just how is it my doing? Tell me, since you¡¯re so fucking smart.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not faithful enough! That¡¯s why you weren¡¯t blessed with opportunities. That¡¯s why Ma took me away from you the way she did!¡± The heat in her body began to cease immediately, almost like Dolly had poured a bucket of ice over her head. Zara swallowed, biting back her frustration. ¡°That¡¯s what she told you?¡± she said. Dolly¡¯s kohl lined eyes were red and watery. ¡°I didn¡¯t want to leave you like that. Not so suddenly. I didn¡¯t even get to say goodbye.¡± ¡°Dolly?¡± It was the redhead standing behind them, glaring accusingly at Zara. Sharp cheekbones was with her too. The other eight girls were a couple yards behind them, slowly approaching like they didn¡¯t really want to interfere in whatever was going on. This glaring redhead was obviously Dolly¡¯s closest friend. Sister, practically. She¡¯d taken the mantle Zara had been forced to ditch. Zara turned away, trying not to visibly roll her eyes and make her grudge obvious. She took her palms off the quilt and rubbed them together. Her plain, hot, itchy palms among the sea of beautified ones. The smell of henna and oil was making her sick now. ¡°What happened? Why are you crying?¡± the cheekbones asked Dolly, shivering. ¡°And why is it so cold here all of a sudden? Is the weather going bad?¡± She looked up at the clear sunny sky, confused. ¡°What did you say to her?¡± the red hair snapped at Zara while trying to rub some heat into her bare arms. Dolly wiped her eyes delicately with her hands. ¡°Stop it, Melega. We were just¡­talking about old times. That¡¯s all.¡± She chuckled lightly. ¡°It was getting me emotional.¡± Melega¡ªapparently was the redhead¡¯s name¡ªlooked taken aback. ¡°Um, are you sure? You were getting kind of loud. And the way she was talking¡ª¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine, she¡¯s fine. Everything is fine,¡± Dolly claimed with a smile, caressing Zara¡¯s tense arm like harsh words hadn¡¯t been thrown around. ¡°But¡ª¡± ¡°Let it go,¡± cheekbones said coolly, sitting back down on Dolly¡¯s other side. The rest of the women finally reached the quilt. ¡°It¡¯s kind of chilly here, isn¡¯t it?¡± one of the other women commented. ¡°But how? It was just fine when we were getting our henna,¡± another woman pointed out. Dolly shrugged. ¡°That¡¯s Pria¡¯s odd weather pattern for you¡­.I guess?¡± ¡°Excuse me,¡± Zara said in a dull manner, gathering her skirt to get up. Dolly did not look at her. ¡°Leaving so soon?¡± cheekbones asked. Though it wasn¡¯t because she actually gave a damn where Zara went, that much was obvious. ¡°Tina, what does it matter?¡± Melega piped in rudely. ¡°She was barely even present from the start.¡± The other women laughed. A strange, blackish brown patch was visible under the dent where Zara¡¯s palm was flat on, at the edge of the quilt. She lifted that edge. The grass underneath was dead, the soil charred black. The other side where her other palm had lain had been affected the same. The quilt itself, however, was unharmed, strangely enough. Zara stood up and walked away from the group with a conflicted heart. ¡°Oh it¡¯s getting warm again!¡± ¡°Must have just been her then, huh? Such a cold thing, she is.¡± ¡°Hush, Melega. That¡¯s my cousin you¡¯re speaking ill of.¡± More cackles ensued. The chill had not left Zara¡¯s shoulders as she distanced herself from Dolly.
4 hours later He had been watching the Mirror for only an hour, just to check on how his apprentice was faring. Before that, he had been mapping his next destination, the next person he and Zara would meet on their way out of Pria. The next phase of his plan. That was when he realized things were about to go to the shits and he needed to get to Zara¡¯s house before she could do any more damage. Now, after polishing up his beard, Revan combed his hair as neatly as he could in the hurry he was in. He needed to be a convincing wedding party guest¡ªor in this case, it was an engagement party. Revan shook his head. He saw no point to an extra party before the wedding; that was so much work. Where he came from, couples were married quickly, though it made sense since most of those marriages were arranged, so there was no true love in need of celebration. Love marriages usually had a happy party with intimate friends and family, but even then it was all held in one day; there was no ¡°pre-wedding¡± or engagement gatherings that the northern folks here tended to do. These were just an excuse to be frivolous¡ªto show off the wealth that meant nothing at the end of the day. Revan buttoned up his formal dress shirt¡ªblack and gold design running down the middle, his favorite combination of colors. It was also the only really nice shirt he could find in his clothes chest at the moment. He really should have thought to flatten out a few of the wrinkles before putting it on, but now it was too late, as it was already worn and buttoned and he didn¡¯t want to bother taking it off again for something so inconsequential right now. There were more pressing matters. The conversation he¡¯d just witnessed between Zara and her brother had raised some alarm already. Not long after, Zara was forced into a position that she wasn¡¯t prepared for, and in turn, it was making her magic unsteady. He could sense it even from where he stood, astoundingly. And to top it all off, the damn witch doctor had come, because the scene at Mount Lilith just hadn¡¯t been enough for him. Revan had no real clue as to what that joke of a man was doing there, but he had some ideas. Of course, no witch doctor was going to leave business unfinished. At least no ¡°doctor¡± with prestige held behind his name. The sun dipped behind the cliffs as Revan approached Zara¡¯s neighborhood. He could sense the waves of untamed magic in the cooling air and in the ground¡ªeven in the pebbles hiding in the dirt. What is she doing? He hesitated. Zara¡¯s magic was growing. She was being purposeful this time, for whatever ill-thought-out reason. Still lacking control, she would not be able to pull back if the situation got out of hand. She was going to be caught. This reminds me of¡­ The gruesome image of a stoned boy, half-buried in the sand, crossed his mind. He contemplated, then moved onward. Revan needed to get her out. He refused to lose another apprentice. Backbiting Customs Annoying eyes followed her wherever she went. After her spat with Dolly, Zara just wanted to be left by herself. The ever-so familiar fatigue was plaguing her again, begging that she go find her bed this instant and never get up from it again. ¡°Is that her?¡± ¡°Obviously. She¡¯s, like, a cousin of mine apparently? A distant one from Auntie¡¯s side of the family.¡± ¡°Seriously? I¡¯m surprised she¡¯s showing her face.¡± ¡°She feels famous.¡± ¡°Famous in the worst way though. Why are you saying it like it¡¯s good?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t believe you are related to her. What do you really think of her?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°I think I might be related to her, too¡­a little.¡± ¡°It¡¯s strange how we never met this family before today.¡± ¡°Yes. Why is Dolly having her party here? With a bunch of nobodies in the middle of nowhere.¡± ¡°And with her here. Some still believe she¡¯s the curse. I think I do.¡± ¡°Shhh! She¡¯ll hear you.¡± Did these people think that she didn¡¯t have ears? Curse them then. They think I¡¯m the curse? I can one day show them exactly what that is! She didn¡¯t have the training for it yet. She made a mental note to ask Revan about it. The more she sifted through this party, the more she felt that, perhaps, learning some dark magic wouldn¡¯t be so horrible. She simply wouldn¡¯t go overboard with it. Zara walked past the inane gossip and made it back inside the house. She trudged upstairs, down the hall, pushed opened her bedroom door and¡ª ¡°Sh!¡± A random slim girl with slanted eyes and sleek brown hair¡ªlooked to be a few years younger than Zara¡ªwas sitting on the bed. She wore heavy gold jewelry and floral designed skirt and blouse. An infant lay on a pillow next to her. ¡°What are you doing? Can¡¯t you see my baby is trying to sleep?¡± the girl scolded in a hushed voice. What the fuck. ¡°This is my bedroom,¡± Zara informed her, nervously. ¡°And I¡¯m using it. As a guest of your home? ¡­Don¡¯t you know anything, why do you look so confused?¡± ¡°I-I¡¯m sorry. I don¡¯t know what you mean.¡± The girl rudely rolled her eyes. It seemed that much of Dolly¡¯s guests were rude and unpleasant. Zara wanted this one out, but she couldn¡¯t say anything. She was too tired to. Also, she was clearly missing a guest custom she was supposed to know about. Maybe she was the rude one here. But then again, this young mother had unapologetically taken over Zara¡¯s room. ¡°Wow. You really don¡¯t know much of anything then. Do me a favor and keep your voice down. My baby¡¯s starting to fuss.¡± Even though the baby wasn¡¯t even moving. ¡°You¡¯ll have your room back soon, don¡¯t worry.¡± She said this in such a condescending tone that Zara was tempted to loudly slam the door shut behind her. Instead, she wordlessly stepped out of what she had always considered her private sanctuary and lingered down the hall, out of place in her own crowded house. Each bedroom was occupied, though her parents¡¯ bedroom remained shut. Zara assumed her father had locked it. But the other three, including Zara¡¯s own, were swarmed with guests. Playing children, chatty women, and a single bitchy girl with a baby. Zara didn¡¯t know of any stupid custom that simply allowed guests to take over private rooms. Her parents had locked up theirs to prevent entry, after all! But maybe, besides the master suite, other areas of a house were free to roam? She¡¯d never heard of this, not even Noina taught her anything about it. Maybe the culture varied by region? These people weren¡¯t all from Pria. Whatever. Zara was off the circle on many customs, she figured that much. Naturally, she would be. But her lack of knowledge was starting to bite her. It made her want to never see another group of people ever again. Weary and suffocated by children and adults dashing everywhere, Zara went back outside. Dolly¡¯s entourage had moved on elsewhere, abandoning their quilt and whatever left lying on it. Zara¡¯s eyes felt heavy. She¡¯d been up way too early, way too eager, all for nothing. She meandered through people, ignoring the stares, sighing at the whispers. The outdoor stables had to be vacant, for it was further away from the house, and therefore the rest of the party. It was a sound thought. But the stables were not, in fact, as empty as Zara thought it would be. She heard voices, and one of the two horses snorted. ¡°Ew!¡± A high pitched giggle ensued right after. Zara turned the corner and saw two unexpected¡ªbut not unfamiliar¡ªfaces. ¡°Oh, Zara!¡± Cina cried out, skipping over to her as carefully as she could in her long skirt and low heels. ¡°I¡¯ve been meaning to come talk to you earlier but you were always surrounded. I didn¡¯t want to bother you. So I went and bothered your little brother instead.¡± ¡°Can you stop calling me little?¡± Rowan said. He awkwardly stood near the wood fence. One of the horses nudged him with its muzzle. The other had gone to snack on some hay. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, it slipped out,¡± Cina replied back with a cheeky grin. ¡°Wh-What are you doing here?¡± Zara stammered, not sure whether she meant what Cina specifically was doing out here, or why Rowan was out here too, or both. She remembered Emran talking about the personal invitation Cina¡¯s family had received but Zara hadn¡¯t even seen them arrive. She¡¯d likely been too absorbed with Dolly and her posse at the time, just as Cina had suggested. ¡°I mean, when did you arrive?¡± Zara quickly restated. ¡°Hmm, it¡¯s been a while now.¡± Cina giggled. ¡°I¡¯m not entirely sure. Maybe when the sun was a bit-tiny-bit higher?¡± She seemed especially giddy today. More giddy than her customer-driven cashier persona. Though perhaps she was always like this? Zara wouldn¡¯t really know. ¡°Oh, that makes sense. I¡¯m sorry I didn¡¯t see you¡ª¡± ¡°No no don¡¯t be, you were with the bride-to-be. She¡¯s your cousin, right?¡± Cina shrugged. ¡°My family¡¯s just here because your parents invited us. We¡¯re no big deal. Just willing to enjoy a good time, if you allow us.¡± Zara paled at the mention of her family. It reminded her of a man she¡¯d rather never see again. ¡°Oh¡­is it just you and your parents? Or is your¡­uncle here too?¡± Cina grazed her hand down Zara¡¯s arm, as a gesture of sympathetic reassurance. ¡°He isn¡¯t coming; he usually doesn¡¯t join such parties like this anyway. And he wasn¡¯t with us when your parents invited us, so he hadn¡¯t gotten a direct invite. It would be brash of him to come.¡± ¡°Oh¡­okay,¡± Zara said, suddenly relieved to have run into Cina and hearing that Uqzar was keeping his distance. ¡°I¡¯m glad you¡¯re here. You look so nice by the way.¡± She was so pretty in teal green and a curly updo. Her shawl hung loosely to her side, and the blouse revealed enough skin to have surely pique her younger brother¡¯s interest, seeing as how he¡¯d been smiling at her a lot before Zara interrupted them. Cina grinned. ¡°So do you! Love the jewelry. Simple and timeless. I think you look sweet whenever I see you, really.¡± Zara¡¯s mood was truly lightened for the first time since meeting the new and engaged Dolly. ¡°Oh, how is your father?¡± she asked, concealing her guilt. ¡°Is his head condition any better?¡± ¡°Much better. He¡¯s here, you know. We should find him, and my mother. Then we can formally introduce. Last time we met was a bit¡­¡± ¡°Chaotic,¡± Zara finished in a quiet voice. Rowan let out an agitated huff. Cina narrowed her eyes at him. ¡°Crabby today, aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°I¡¯m perfectly fine,¡± he stated sarcastically. She smiled teasingly. ¡°Are you wearing off?¡± Rowan straightened off the wood fence with a deep frown that wrinkled his forehead. ¡°Keep quiet, will you?¡± Zara looked between them, puzzled by their obscure talk. ¡°So, are you two friends now?¡± she asked. Cina snorted. ¡°You could say that. Rowan and I met at¡ª¡± ¡°Ruvini¡¯s,¡± Zara finished the sentence without meaning to. Cina turned to her, perplexed. Rowan looked the same. ¡°How did you know that?¡± Cina said, then shook her head as though she realized something vastly important. ¡°Ohhhh, wait a minute, did Emran tell you then?¡± ¡°Emran?¡± Rowan cut in. ¡°How? And tell her what? And again¡­how?¡± Oh¡­shit. Cina turned back to Rowan to explain. ¡°Oh it¡¯s just that Emran told me he ran into Zara the other morn-ophh¡ª¡± Shaking her head rapidly, Zara had to reach out from behind Cina and clasp her hand against Cina¡¯s mouth to keep her from saying more. She had already said more than enough, judging by Rowan¡¯s wide-eyed surprise. She could feel Cina¡¯s breath hitting her palm. Zara also couldn¡¯t remember the last time she had hugged someone from behind like this¡ªprobably never. The contact was an odd sensation, something only reserved for people who were¡­close, maybe. ¡°Wait, huh?¡± Rowan said. Cina threw Zara¡¯s arm off, and Zara carelessly let her, unable to shake off the alien feeling she was having. ¡°Whoooaaa, I was saying too much, wasn¡¯t I?¡± Cina said, laughing very loudly. ¡°Yes yes. I was revealing too much, much too much in front of the little brother over here¡ª¡± ¡°I told you not to¡ª¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing Rowan,¡± Zara cut in. ¡°I wasn¡¯t talking to you!¡± Rowan growled. ¡°Where the fuck were you able to meet that guy? When you never leave the fucking house?¡± Zara swallowed dryly. ¡°Wh-What about you?¡± she managed to counter back. ¡°You were in town when you weren¡¯t supposed to be?¡± ¡°So the fuck what? I do it all the time and you know it. Unlike you, I have people to see out there.¡± ¡°That¡¯s harsh,¡± Cina snapped at him angrily. ¡°She has me you know.¡± Zara felt her heart swell a little over Cina defending her. No one ever truly did. Rowan rolled his eyes. ¡°So, what, Zara? What are you gonna do? Rat on me for sneaking out? Because I can just do it right back in this case¡ª¡± ¡°No!¡± Zara shouted. ¡°I just want to drop this subject, you weren¡¯t supposed to fucking hear it!¡± Cina sneered devilishly at Rowan. ¡°Mhm, your older sister has quite the scandalous life outside those walls, you know.¡± Rowan looked horrified. ¡°What?!¡± Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings. ¡°Cina¡­¡± ¡°Zara, I¡¯m glad you took my advice to get out more,¡± Cina went on, ignoring Rowan¡¯s dismay and Zara¡¯s whine. ¡°You¡¯re branching out. And it shows.¡± ¡°What is that supposed to mean?¡± Rowan said with a scrunched face. ¡°It means what it means.¡± Cina took Zara¡¯s hand and began leading her away from the stables. Zara followed, the odd sensation of skin to skin touching jumping back in her gut again as she let Cina pull her. ¡°Cina,¡± Rowan called out. ¡°What?¡± Cina called back. ¡°Where are you going?¡± Irritation laced his voice. Cina looked back at him with a sly smile. ¡°Taking my friend away. I suggest you find yours. Shia should be here by now.¡± ¡°Shia?¡± Zara questioned stupidly. ¡°Yeah,¡± Rowan bit back. ¡°What, did you think Ma wouldn¡¯t invite him? She loves him, remember?¡± ¡°Almost more than her own little son, it seems,¡± Cina joked. ¡°That¡¯s not true!¡± ¡°Oh, calm down, sniff another flower or something. Oh, thanks for the earlier one by the way.¡± She winked at his reddening face. Zara felt a tug on her hand again. Cina was still holding it, and still pulling her away. ¡°I want to borrow Zara for a bit. We can all meet again later. I promise.¡± ¡°¡­Okay. Great. See you.¡± He sounded hopeful that Cina would keep her word. As Zara skipped a step to keep up, she asked, ¡°When did he become attached to you?¡± Cina smiled secretively. ¡°The night we met, I guess.¡± Zara didn¡¯t know what the smile meant, nor any other details of that night besides what Emran had relayed to her. She probably didn¡¯t even want to know. Shoving back nasty thoughts, Zara¡¯s gaze traced down the smooth, pale skin of Cina¡¯s arm, to the teal and green bangles on her wrist, and the hand that gripped hers tight. Warmth filled Zara¡¯s stomach, both pleasant and snide. Dolly was wrong. She was wrong because Zara¡¯s life wasn¡¯t so hollow that she didn¡¯t have any friends at all. She, at least, had one.
¡°I did not know you had it in you, Zara. Sneaking around with a man all into the night? Bad, bad girl.¡± ¡°I wasn¡¯t doing that¡ª¡± ¡°Oh? So was my cousin just seeing things?¡± Cina cocked her head in feign thought. ¡°Hm. That wouldn¡¯t surprise me, actually. But I know he talked to you. You made that much clear yourself. He saw you that morning, outside that tall man¡¯s house. Not a bad looking man, is what he said. I could swear he was pouting about it, too.¡± ¡°Pouting?¡± Cina nodded, linking her arm with Zara¡¯s. They trudged across the grass back toward the house. ¡°Yeah. He seemed a bit down, but that could also have been his high wearing off at the time. But it only happened when he mentioned that man. Strange coincidence, is it not?¡± She snickered. ¡°Were you at his house that morning, then?¡± ¡°Hm? No?¡± ¡°But you mentioned his high wearing off? I assumed he told you when you saw him¡­¡± ¡°He¡¯s always high.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± A mixture of discomfort and eagerness arose in Zara¡¯s belly. ¡°Well, did he mention anything else?¡± ¡°Not much. He seemed gloomy that he wasn¡¯t able to get an invite to this party.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Yes. He had wanted to ask you about it but when your man came out of the house, he knew it wouldn¡¯t have been appropriate.¡± Zara had had an inkling about it whenever she thought back to that morning but she¡¯d been so overwhelmed with everything else that it had flown over her head. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid. It was regretful. It was very very regretful that she hadn¡¯t thought to invite him herself. ¡°That man is not my man,¡± Zara defended herself. Cina let out a humorous breath. ¡°Sure. Is he here by the way? I want to see¡ª¡± She twirled her head left and right and back dramatically. Zara tugged her arm. ¡°Stop. He¡¯s not here.¡± Cina¡¯s lecherous grin was anxiety-inducing. ¡°You really can¡¯t deny his existence can you? What were you doing at a handsome man¡¯s home so early in the morning? Please do tell me.¡± Zara turned away. They were at the house now, walking down the path that would lead to the courtyard where the smell of food was the strongest, and the chatter and music the loudest. The musicians, along with a couple of the dancers, had moved a big chunk of the party over here. ¡°Can you tell me what else Emran told you?¡± ¡°Denied. You must go first.¡± Zara¡¯s cheeks felt hot and it probably showed. How pathetic. The wind blew suddenly cold, so she could not even blame it on the heat. Cina giggled with excitement. ¡°Zara, were you¡ªoh!¡± She stumbled. Luckily, Zara instinctively pulled Cina back before she tripped and completely fell over a sole crack in the pebbled ground, right in front of her feet. ¡°I¡­did not see that,¡± Cina breathed out, relieved she hadn¡¯t hurt herself. ¡°Where did that come from?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. Strange.¡± But Zara¡¯s mind was too preoccupied to be worried about a random crevice on the ground. The truth couldn¡¯t be told. But there was no lie she could come up with that would sound plausible and keep Cina¡¯s mind off dirty implications. There was only one thing normal untied young women were assumed to do when they chose to spend an entire night at a man¡¯s house. And it had nothing to do with learning the details of blood enchantments. ¡°Just¡­don¡¯t mention anything to anyone else,¡± was all Zara could softly beg of her. ¡°Please?¡± Cina sighed, unlinking their arms and brushing her skirt off. ¡°Fine. Of course.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°But you¡¯re going to have to tell me more about it later, got it? I¡¯m not letting this go.¡± ¡°¡­Okay.¡± She would just have to make up a story of her supposed steamy excursion. Somehow. Some way. ¡°As for Emran, he did not say much else. I wouldn¡¯t even be surprised if he forgot most of that morning. That¡¯s why it¡¯s so interesting to me how you stood out to him the way you did.¡± Her eyes gleamed. ¡°Poor Emran, is all I have to say about that.¡± Anxiety began to fall away, leaving behind a blooming hope. Her first impression on that man had been lame whenever Zara remembered it. She¡¯d been awkward, her conversation style forced. It¡¯s what she naturally fell into when nervous or meeting people that intimidated her. But Emran seemed to think differently, at least now he did. Cina was making it sound like he¡­ Desires my company? Zara didn¡¯t want to get ahead of herself. They barely knew each other. He was an outgoing social nightlife type. There were other women, plenty of whores out there too. He couldn¡¯t have been in his right mind that morning. Cina misunderstood. He was just sad about not being invited to a party. That was all. And then there was the problem of him seeing her with Revan at fucking dawn, and whatever he¡¯d been thinking about that, he had made it loud and clear to Cina. The hope began to whither. The air grew cold again. Cina shivered, holding her arms. ¡°There¡¯s a wind here. Let¡¯s get to the courtyard, quick. The cooking fires should warm us up.¡± Zara paid no mind to the chill, but led Cina to their destination without protest.
After some contemplation, Rowan took a smaller piece of his petal this time before giving the horses one last petting and leaving the stables behind. Cina had teased him out of some of his because she had stupidly forgot to bring her own. She promised she¡¯d make it up to him with another ¡°discount¡±¡ªamong other things. Maybe. She was a tease. A sensual tease. So he didn¡¯t deny her. Rowan liked the idea of older women, especially ones like Cina. They didn¡¯t shy away from anything, and they looked good. That was more important than anything else, in his opinion. Oh, and kindness would also be important, he guessed. A lot of girls his age were alright; he could describe them as cute. But Cina wasn¡¯t a girl, she was a woman, and she was mature in many ways already. Cina was desirable, and actually seemed to be interested in someone like him, for whatever reason. She saw past his physical flaws, at the very least, which made her worth wanting. For that, he would stomach her friendship with Zara. Zara who, apparently, had her own weird affairs going on within the shadows of the night. That was definitely what Cina had implied, and he wished she hadn¡¯t. Rowan could just about vomit. If only the men or whoever she¡¯s with knew exactly what she was. Shrugging off the guilty thought, he strolled over to the front of the house, his mood already lighter. Shia was leaning by the gate, gazing over a girl he was talking to. A girl that looked to be his own age. Wait until he hears about me. Smirking, he gave his best friend a wave.
Cina was a friend. Zara convinced herself of it. The question was whether she could be considered a good one. Zara wanted to believe she was. Right now, she most definitely was. That was what tore at her. Because the truth would change it all in an instant. ¡°Do you have something to say?¡± Cina snapped at a young group of guests who had been whispering and laughing behind Zara¡¯s back. The group consisted of four girls, two boys, and one small baby huddled over a mat at a cozy spot in the corner of the courtyard, against the house¡¯s outer walls. The parlor doors were a few feet behind where Cina and Zara stood, confronting the gossips in front of them. Or, at least, Cina chose to do the confronting. ¡°No,¡± one of the boys said with a blatantly nasty attitude. He had an orange stripe across his thin black hair. ¡°You are being rude. Tell us what you were hissing on about directly, or tell it to my wrist when it snaps back into your face.¡± The other boy¡ªa well-dressed but scrawny thing with big front teeth¡ªstood up and sauntered over to her, scanning her body condescendingly. ¡°What should I care about your thoughts on the matter?¡± he said. ¡°That woman standing beside you acted foolishly, almost heinously¡ªeveryone¡¯s discussed it by now. A tasteless thing like you shouldn¡¯t be thinking of laying her hands on me unless it¡¯s for other things¡ª¡± The slap Cina landed on him echoed. ¡°Cina,¡± Zara yelped. For a moment everyone froze, including some of the dancers who had stalled their mini-performance for the children, confused at the commotion. But then the other boy of the group let out a chuckle he¡¯d been holding. The girls soon followed, smirking smiles breaking out on there faces. The party resumed as normal. One of those girls had slanted eyes that narrowed even further at Zara. She was the one holding the baby. Zara had recognized her as the bitch who had taken over her bedroom earlier. Her mood darkened considerably. The scrawny boy stood back, stunned. ¡°Don¡¯t act so mighty, little boy,¡± Cina advised. ¡°You¡¯ve heard enough gossip, have you? Did you know the witch doctor is a close relative of mine?¡± Now it was the boy¡¯s turn to gawk. He held his hurt cheek. ¡°You are a liar.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no way,¡± the girl with the fussing baby said. ¡°The likes of you related to such a holy man? Please, spare me the jokes.¡± Cina smiled thinly at her. ¡°The likes of me? You seem like the kind of girl who marries after the child has already been conceived. Am I right? How old are you by the way?¡± ¡°Bitch,¡± the girl growled with bared teeth while also rocking the baby in her arms. A terrifying sight. ¡°You think you¡¯re such a nobility. But your youth is already wasted.¡± ¡°Back the fuck away, liar. Slut!¡± a chubbier girl sitting next to the young mother screeched. Cina turned to that one, sneering. ¡°Your kohl is practically melting off your eye. I suggest you fix it.¡± Zara tugged her arm. ¡°Cina, let¡¯s leave them.¡± The mother girl snarled, ¡°Hey. You at least have your stupid bedroom back. It reeked by the way.¡± ¡°Yeah go hole up in there, freak!¡± scrawny boy shouted as they trudged away toward the parlor¡¯s door. ¡°What are they talking about?¡± Cina asked, resisting Zara¡¯s pull. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°Zara, what are they talking about¡ª?¡± ¡°She treated me and my baby like shit,¡± they heard the young mother talking in an obnoxious manner. ¡°Practically kicked me out of the room while baby was napping because she doesn¡¯t know crap about guest customs and doesn¡¯t care. Doesn¡¯t know crap about religious customs too, ruining everything in that ceremony the way she did. I refuse to believe my mother truly became friends with hers. She¡¯s practically a freak show of the town.¡± Cina whirled around. ¡°Oh you overdramatic tart, she is not!¡± Zara, as calmly as she could, held out an arm to prevent Cina from stomping back to the group and beating them all in one swoop. Her head began to pound, her neck and hands were hot. She wasn¡¯t sure if it was just rage or if her magic was surfacing or both. She took a deep breath, remained somewhat calm, and stalked up to the young mother whose name she didn¡¯t care to know. Her bundled infant had finally quieted and was staring up at Zara with wide, almost fearful-looking eyes. The mother, however, was unperturbed. ¡°Do you have something to say to me?¡± she mocked. ¡°Or will you cower like you did upstairs?¡± The group giggled as Zara stood before them. ¡°Get out.¡± ¡°What was that? I don¡¯t listen to mumbling.¡± ¡°I just told you to leave,¡± Zara repeated plainly. ¡°Excuse me?¡± She laughed. ¡°If you don¡¯t like it here, and if you don¡¯t respect the people who invited you and your family here, then maybe you should just go.¡± She laughed cruelly again. ¡°You really have no tact.¡± She regarded her friends. ¡°What did I tell you? She¡¯s been trying to kick me and my child out to the curb. Disgusting. Just wait until my husband hears about this one.¡± She turned back to Zara. ¡°I won¡¯t take any orders from you, and you know it. You are not the Master of this house and you can¡¯t tell me what to do, in case this is another custom you failed to learn.¡± ¡°No one cares about your stupid fucking customs,¡± Cina said, now standing by Zara¡¯s side again. ¡°What are you even talking about anyway? What did Zara do to make you so fucking mad?¡± ¡°Can you watch your filthy mouth in front of the baby?¡± the boy with the stupid orange hair stripe said. ¡°Can I smack yours off your face first?¡± ¡°She tried kicking me out of her bedroom when I was just borrowing it for my baby to nap,¡± the mean mother explained. ¡°That is not what happened,¡± Zara protested, letting her shaky voice rise. ¡°You kept telling me to leave you alone. You kicked me out of the room, stop trying to make it sound like anything else.¡± ¡°You were using Zara¡¯s bedroom without her permission?¡± Cina spat. ¡°Why would I need her permission?¡± she yelled back. ¡°I¡¯m a guest here, I should be able to use whatever I want! Seems you don¡¯t know any manners either. Where I come from, you would be outcasted for that.¡± Cina blinked, then began to cackle. ¡°What the fuck? Where the fuck did you even come from?¡± ¡°Bitch,¡± another girl chimed in. This one had a square jaw and a very high top hair bun. ¡°Can you tone down your crude language please?¡± ¡°They have no class where they come from,¡± the young mother said, eyeing Cina¡¯s dress. ¡°You can tell. The southeast has much better people. Decent women with decent manners. That¡¯s where I¡¯m from.¡± ¡°So why don¡¯t you move back there?¡± Zara said. ¡°Yeah,¡± Cina agreed. ¡°Your dumb southeastern customs don¡¯t matter to us. Where we¡¯re from, using other people¡¯s belongings or spaces without permission is rude.¡± ¡°And kicking people out of their own spaces is rude,¡± Zara added on. The girl handed the baby to her square-jawed friend and stood from the mat. She walked straight up to Zara¡¯s face. Zara was a couple of inches taller than her. From this angle, she could see the finer details of textured skin, thick kohl liner, and chapped painted lips. ¡°But I kicked you out anyway right?¡± The girl spoke softly, her smile vicious. It made Zara¡¯s ire reach her core. ¡°Do you know what some people are still saying about you? Do you know what they insinuate?¡± She chuckled. ¡°Never mind, I¡¯m guessing you already do. So tell me, what will you do about it?¡± After some thought, Zara leaned in closer and calmly explained, ¡°I can make sure that that innocent child over there won¡¯t be raised by the likes of you.¡± The girl¡¯s eyes went wide with fury, and she hissed through clenched teeth, ¡°Try it. Witch.¡± Immediately, Zara shoved the girl back, to her surprise. Ignoring the shouts from the girl¡¯s friends, ignoring the wails of the scared infant, ignoring the bewildered commotion of the surrounding guests that had nothing to do with what was unfolding, Zara¡¯s fiery hot hands were ready to make a lasting impact. She was just about to wrap one of them around that girl¡¯s throat when someone strongly clapped a hand down on her shoulder and quite literally startled the hell out of her. ¡°I found her Baba!¡± Zara whirled around at Naz¡¯s voice. He stood there, composed, his face marked with scabbed cuts. His forehead and cleanly shaved chin were bandaged. The rest of him, from his smoothly braided hair and golden yellow dress-suit, was impeccable. ¡°Zara,¡± Zahir was calling from the open parlor door, frowning. ¡°What did I tell you about staying in my line of sight?¡± Naz was smiling. It was a crummy, deceitful smile. He put his hand back on her shoulder, gently this time, and did not break eye contact with his sister. ¡°You look lovely today. Better than I. You made sure of that.¡± ¡°Zara, who is this?¡± Cina asked. She had a hand over her chest and seemed to be trying to calm down from the earlier racket. The other guests had gone back to what they were previously doing, bemused by the situation. The girl Zara had almost violently attacked took her chance to start hollering at Zahir about his daughter, since he was of course the ¡°Master¡± of the house. Her friends backed her up while one of them tried consoling the baby. Zara, however, was lost in Naz¡¯s world. ¡°You almost lost it there again, didn¡¯t you?¡± he said in a low voice. The hand on her shoulder gave a squeeze, and his eyes crinkled. Zara kept her face expressionless despite her magic still warring with both her body and mind. ¡°There¡¯s something I¡¯d like to discuss with you.¡± Moving aside, Naz pointed his other hand toward the parlor. ¡°Shall we?¡± No Faith in Freedom Her brother¡¯s eyes were suspiciously large and dark under the shadowy lights of the blocked off parlor. Upon Naz¡¯s request, Zahir had emptied it of guests¡ªmainly couples discussing politics¡ªand politely showed them into the dining room, promising the arrangement was only temporary. No one argued against the Master of the house, but they did feel it necessary to side-eye Zara on their way out. ¡°Don¡¯t mind them, they were probably looking at me,¡± Naz said. Zara looked at him. He was full of shit. ¡°I did say probably. A half-truth. You have to consider how grotesque I look, you know.¡± Zara wouldn¡¯t call him that. He was mostly healed and handsome, even with the residual scarring. But he already knew this. His complaint lacked sincerity. ¡°Everywhere I go, people wonder, ¡®What has happened to that man? What did he do to deserve that?¡¯ Everywhere I go, they look at me like a freakish thing. They look at me like they do you¡ª¡± ¡°They don¡¯t know what I am,¡± Zara muttered out, regretfully. She lowered her eyes to the floor. The strange blackness in his eyes were making her queasy. ¡°Hm. You are right. They don¡¯t know. Only suspect. But suspect won¡¯t get them anywhere. It won¡¯t cause you much harm, either. So do not worry. There are more pressing matters. Exciting matters.¡± He grinned. ¡°Exciting?¡± ¡°Sit.¡± Naz led her by the hand to the beige sofa and sat on the gray one across it. The low center table in between them was littered with leftover food and drink. The old beige fabric of Zara¡¯s sofa had been replaced, ruined by splashes of red wine. Naz pointed it out. ¡°I see that seat has been cleared of your outburst. I would call one of the servants fluttering around here for a drink but, well. I prefer to protect my face from more cuts.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to do that you. I¡¯m sorry.¡± She was. A little. ¡°I¡¯m not sure if I fully believe that. But¡ªyou¡¯re not a monster.¡± ¡°I¡¯m¡­not?¡± A kind smile. ¡°No. I will accept your apology. How is Rowan doing by the way?¡± Zara frowned at the sudden topic shift. ¡°Uh. He¡­seems all right enough.¡± ¡°Does he?¡± ¡°Well¡­he looked happy enough today, the last I saw of him.¡± Acting stranger than usual, but who knew what that was about. Perhaps Cina had lightened his mood from that mess of a family introduction, but he¡¯d been acting quite off for a while now. ¡°Huh. I thought he¡¯d still be upset with me,¡± Naz said, intrigued. ¡°I wanted to clear things up with him first, but I couldn¡¯t find him.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure he is still upset about what you did. I think his mind is just occupied with the party right now but if he sees you again, it might bring all his aggravation back.¡± ¡°Well of course it will. Don¡¯t think me dumb not to realize. I just thought he¡¯d be sulking more, that¡¯s all. Good on him. Holding back one¡¯s true mood is the first step into manhood.¡± He sat back, smug with himself. ¡°¡­Why did you blame him?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure that question has been bothering the both of you for days.¡± ¡°It has. Why thrust the blade at him? It almost felt like you were¡­protecting me?¡± To her surprise, Naz agreed. ¡°That¡¯s right. I was. I needed to. I wanted to ensure that Baba agrees with me taking you away. To the city.¡± His dilated pupils gleamed as he said this, making him look even more peculiar than the words that just came out of his mouth. Zara shook her head, unsettled. ¡°Wait, wait, wait. You¡­what?! You are going to take me away? With you?¡± Naz clapped. ¡°¡®Finally!¡¯ right? That has to be what you¡¯re thinking, in the back of your mind, is it not? Isn¡¯t it a relief to hear, Zara? You¡¯ll finally be out of this house.¡± ¡°But¡­¡± This wasn¡¯t what Zara wanted. She didn¡¯t have a good feeling about this. As much as she wanted to leave this place, she wanted to do it on her own terms. It meant she would have to run away, more than likely, with Revan. It wouldn¡¯t be pleasant, and wherever she ended up wouldn¡¯t be home. But it would still be better than being stuck with Naz and his mean wife for who knew how long. ¡°No. I mean, why would you do that? Why would you want this. Naz, I thought you didn¡¯t¡­¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t what?¡± ¡°I thought you didn¡¯t like me? Why would you want me to live with you?¡± ¡°Oh Zara, my dear sister. You are my family. I care about you, despite your grievous nature. I know you wish to be more normal.¡± ¡°¡­You do?¡± she asked cautiously. ¡°How do you know that?¡± ¡°Well who wouldn¡¯t wish for it? It¡¯s common knowledge. Those cursed with wicked blood wish they never were. I want to help you.¡± Zara wished she could believe him fully. He could be telling the truth. Why should she suspect otherwise? Besides running his mouth, he hadn¡¯t really done much to prove himself untrustworthy, so why was Zara so hesitant to believe in him? Was it wishful thinking? She wanted a better life. She wanted a life worth talking openly about, worth bragging for. She yearned for meaning and joy. Real joy. But she couldn¡¯t just leave right now, even if Naz was trying to make up for years of neglect. She still had Revan here, her apprenticeship¡­and he would take her away too. Right now, Zara was more inclined to trust in The Sorcerer than her own brother. ¡°Don¡¯t lie to me, brother. I know you¡¯ve purposely avoided me before. I know the things you used to tell Ma, how scared you felt for our family, and what you¡¯ve seen happen to those even suspected of hiding people like me.¡± Naz raised a brow at her response. After a minute of blinking registration, he replied, ¡°Ohhh¡­you little eavesdropper. I remember little of such conversations with either of our parents. You weren¡¯t supposed to have been present for them though.¡± If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. Zara hummed in agreement. ¡°There was nothing else for me to do but lurk. What is your change of heart, then?¡± ¡°I was young. I was overly cautious of you. Repulsed by you. I admit it. But by this time, I¡¯m sure you are used to people feeling this way about you.¡± Her being used to it did not make it right, but Zara let Naz go on without interruption. ¡°Now, after years spent with many, many different kinds of personalities, I realized how hasty I¡¯d been judging you. You are no worse than the thugs, the murderers, the rapists, and the drug addicted scums littering the poor provinces of our cities. You, at least, act decent enough¡­well¡­mostly decent anyway.¡± He caressed his chin bandage as if making his point clear. ¡°Maybe it was my fault for rising your temper. You can¡¯t be able to help such things, with what you are.¡± ¡°With what I am,¡± Zara muttered back. She was so tired of hearing that. ¡°Exactly. What you are, it¡¯s what the gods have chosen for you to be. I¡¯ve come across many different faiths since birth. Illegal faiths, too. Certain people actually believe that the gods have a specific plan laid out for each of us. We believe that the unfortunate¡ªmuch like yourself¡ªwere created by demons, and the rest were blessed by angels. Those people, however, are under the assumption that we are all made with a specific purpose and that the gods did not make any of us in error. We were all meant to be, to all live in harmony¡­mages or otherwise.¡± He let out a harsh chuckle. ¡°It¡¯s blasphemous and meant to lead humanity astray. I used to report such faiths to the authorities. ¡± Zara scratched her brow, uncomfortable. ¡°However¡­I¡¯ve come to open my mind.¡± ¡°You mean you¡­¡± Her heart sped up. ¡°¡­You¡¯ve changed your faith?¡± ¡°No. But let¡¯s say I understand those perspectives better now than before.¡± It was unheard of that Naz would feel such a way. He¡¯d always been resolved in his belief systems, just like their father. Zara complicated such matters, but the family¡¯s faith in their religion remained solid. Zara hated the Faith of Lilith because it made her hate herself. But Naz¡¯s worldly experiences seemed to change him. Though that did not mean Zara still wanted to move away with him. ¡°I know it must be difficult for you to believe me,¡± he said. ¡°But my intentions for you are pure. You have a purpose in this world, and it isn¡¯t to be cooped up here in misery and hate.¡± ¡°Does Baba know your true intention?¡± Zara spoke in a low, unsure voice. A smile crept into his face. ¡°Half of it. I told him I would take you out of his life, so that he may wash himself clean of sin. Both he and Ma deserve it, is what I emphasized. I also mentioned how poorly you¡¯ve affected Rowan. That seemed to settle it for him.¡± ¡°Affected?¡± Zara was not blind to the negative effect she had on Rowan, but it still made her feel like shit hearing it out loud. ¡°It¡¯s a truth I¡¯m using to both our advantages. I heard from Ma that you and Rowan had started getting along but then¡­¡± ¡°But then, what? What did she say?¡± Would she finally get her answer as to what had caused such a shift in attitude? She wouldn¡¯t. What could their Ma possibly know? ¡°It seems you did something to anger him. Scare him, even. That¡¯s what she thinks. I had the chance to speak with Rowan alone that same evening, before we all gathered in the dining room for supper. Even he is clueless as to what¡¯s wrong. It was hard listening to him try explain. The boy is not very good with words. Troubled fool.¡± Naz sighed dramatically. ¡°He does feel the need to be away from you. So you actually being away from him might help soothe matters for everyone. Especially for our parents. They¡¯ve suffered enough.¡± Zara did not care about the suffering of her parents. Once upon a time she did. Those days were over. Her mother had pulled the final thread off the spool. There was nothing left. Squashing down remnants of remorse and loss of longing under her heel, Zara pressed her lips together, determined to remain neutral and unaffected. ¡°You told them you would be taking me away,¡± she said flatly. ¡°Only Baba. I haven¡¯t broken the news to anyone else yet. He was reluctant, but he consented.¡± ¡°I¡¯m a bit surprised. He¡¯s always seemed to enjoy the hold he had over me, in a way. I understand he does not want me out alone, making mistakes that could put him in jeopardy. But I also believe he likes taking his frustrations out on me. And now he¡¯s willingly giving me to you? Just like that?¡± ¡°His soul must have deflated. Given up on you, finally. Besides, I am an accomplished adult and Master of my own property. Of course he would agree to send you under my care. You are welcome.¡± ¡°No. I never consented to this.¡± ¡°Your consent does not matter. You know this well. You are coming with me.¡± ¡°And what would your wife say to this?¡± ¡°She would be delighted.¡± Zara scoffed. ¡°What a fat lie.¡± ¡°Any strain you have with Sonya is of your own doing. Try and open your heart to her, and you¡¯ll adjust well to your new accommodations.¡± ¡°What exactly will I be doing in this new home of mine?¡± Zara decided to ignore his remark about Sonya for now. They will have to get back on this subject later on though, as that glamoured up grump was the one that seemed to be having trouble opening her heart. ¡°Whatever you desire. Within reason, of course, and under my watch. I plan to expose you to the real aspects of our society. You¡¯ve been sheltered too long. With my help, you are sure to bring some gold to the table.¡± He grinned widely. ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve got some talent under your belt.¡± ¡°¡­I really don¡¯t know if I do¡­¡± ¡°We can figure that out later. You are attending lessons with Noina? Thank Mother she will be out of your pretty head. I can hire a private tutor. We¡¯ll find that hidden skill of yours that will make you a tad more useful for city life. Say, perhaps we can even make use of your¡­?¡± He didn¡¯t even have to finish that sentence, his sneer said it all. ¡°Are you joking?¡± ¡°Far from it.¡± He stood. Instead of walking around the center table, he bent forward and easily pushed it off to the side, taking care not to spill anything, and made a straight path to where Zara sat with her rigid hands folded over her lap. She clutched them together tighter to prevent visible shaking. The room dipped in temperature just as Zara experienced a hot flash. The sudden contrast made her dizzy. Naz¡¯s face was unbearably close to hers. His normally caramel eyes were practically as black as Zara¡¯s. His pale, scabbed complexion was as ghastly as the faint smile upon his lips. ¡°What is it?¡± he whispered, lacing a finger down a lock of her hair. ¡°I can feel your air in this room.¡± Her stomach dipped. ¡°What?¡± ¡°It¡¯s gone slightly cold.¡± He gently touched the skin of her cheek. ¡°You, however, are very warm.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t touch me, Naz.¡± ¡°Stop being so stiff.¡± ¡°Can you back away? Please.¡± He leaned closer instead. Zara leaned her head further back. ¡°I am an observant man, and I know this your magic at play. Show me it again, Zara. I want to see more of that wickedly beautiful talent.¡± What the hell is wrong with him? What was his obsession with seeing her magic work? Hadn¡¯t the consequences hurt him enough the first time? His aura boded nothing but lurking deceit since the moment he had laid eyes on her. Zara was having trouble holding in her fury. ¡°I may disfigure you again,¡± she growled lowly. ¡°You won¡¯t do that.¡± He grabbed her hot arm above her bangles and squeezed. ¡°I won¡¯t take you out of here if you do that. Don¡¯t throw away your freedom just because you can¡¯t get over the past version of me.¡± I can¡¯t even get over the current version of you. ¡°Zara, you don¡¯t have many options without my help. It¡¯ll be the same old life, only worse. Think of what you will have in Darhai. So many opportunities. So much wealth. If you stay here, you wither. But with me, you¡¯ll blossom. You can be like Dolly.¡± He smiled with all his teeth. ¡°Look at her. And look at you. I know you see it, the stark differences between you two, despite having grown together. She sees it too¡ªthe pathetic, pitiful excuse of a person you are.¡± Before Zara could smack him, Naz let her go and moved away. Zara let out the breath she¡¯d been holding in. She didn¡¯t have time to process what happened before random shouts from the guests ensued outside. Naz opened the sliding door to the courtyard and beamed like a boy who had been showered with toys. A wind blew stray hairs from his braid. The outside had grown significantly gray. Guests were exclaiming with dismay. Naz turned back to Zara with gleaming eyes. ¡°We depart in three days. And don¡¯t worry. The pity you have now will soon be a thing of the past. I promise you.¡± With that last word, he walked out. Zara tentatively stood from the sofa on quivering legs. She gazed out the open door. Dark clouds were slowly rolling in. Young and Naive Cina didn¡¯t seem to notice Zara¡¯s quiet mood at all for the past two and a half hours. When Zara found her in the courtyard, she¡¯d been gobbling down food and wine, laughing with one of the tabla musicians as she danced to his beats. She had greeted Zara with a welcoming smile, commenting on the hilarity of the weather turning dark when it was so close to the summer season. The mean mother and her posse from earlier were long gone. Zahir was too, as he was clearly unable to keep up with both managing the party and maintaining a short leash on his daughter. Zara was free for now. Cina made jokes about putting that ¡°stupid little girl¡± in her place, but Zara was too distracted to laugh along properly. Not that Cina cared; she was drunk. Cina¡¯s stark blue eyes were overshadowed by dilated black pupils. It reminded her of Naz. Had they been like that the entire time? Was she just noticing this now? Or was it just her drunken state? It didn¡¯t seem right. Zara willed herself to shake it off; her creep of a brother had obviously disturbed her to the point where she was seeing things. But as time wore on, Zara sensed something wrong. There was definitely a change in her friend and a change in her older brother¡ªno, both her brothers. Because when they saw Rowan again, approaching the side of the house where the women stood concealed by a small tree, his face held the same bizarre expression, pupils significantly enlarged. Shia followed behind Rowan, tired and a bit lagging in step. The skies were still gray but not as bad as earlier. The guests were worried that it would suddenly begin to rain, or worse, hail, but it did not. The clouds remained where they were, thinning, but stagnant. ¡°Where have you two been up to?¡± Cina asked them. Rowan shrugged. ¡°Here and there. They brought out more drinks over at the parlor so¡­¡± His voice slurred. ¡°Yes, same situation in the courtyard. We got our henna done before meeting up with my parents.¡± Cina lifted one of Zara¡¯s hands along with hers to show their designs off. In Zara¡¯s other hand held a bottle of wine. She did not understand why she hadn¡¯t just started drinking from the very beginning of this stupid party. ¡°Zara almost strangled one of the bitchiest guests here, by the way.¡± Cina cackled with glee at the boys¡¯ piqued interests. As she explained the situation, Zara drank and only hummed affirmatively when Shia said, ¡°Really? You almost did that? Damn. Well, she would have deserved it. Wish I had been there to see it.¡± ¡°That¡¯s what I was saying! I really wished her brother hadn¡¯t stopped it when he did.¡± Rowan kicked at the grass in restless silence. ¡°Thankfully there was no rain after all,¡± Zara said, changing the subject. ¡°Hm. Strange skies, truly though,¡± Shia remarked. ¡°Where are your parents now, Cina?¡± Rowan asked. ¡°How are they doing?¡± Cina blinked hard, thought for a second, and then remembered. ¡°Oh! Right. I sent them up to your, uh, other brother¡¯s old bedroom? Right Zara? Anyway, my father needed a bit of a rest. He¡¯s still recovering, from his head, but doing much better.¡± ¡°I¡¯m glad he is,¡± He stole a glance at Zara before asking, ¡°Will they be heading out, then?¡± ¡°They might leave soon, but I can stay longer,¡± Cina replied. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t want to miss the show,¡± Shia said. ¡°I saw some of the dancers rehearsing steps and lines. I think it will be fun. Like a comedy.¡± ¡°I like that one dancer with the really wide hips,¡± Rowan said. He leaned his head back to stare at the clouds, grinning dumbly. ¡°You know the one Shia?¡± Shia snickered. ¡°Don¡¯t ask me.¡± Cina rolled her eyes. ¡°Or I may just leave with my parents now. If you plan on talking filth.¡± Rowan snapped his attention back on her. ¡°I won¡¯t talk.¡± She smirked. ¡°I think they¡¯re going to start soon,¡± Shia said. ¡°Better get it over with should it begin to rain.¡± Cina snorted. ¡°Good luck getting the older people to gather up right now. Some of them are deep into debating their stupid politics.¡± Shia scoffed. ¡°Like my parents, I¡¯m sure.¡± ¡°And mine,¡± Zara murmured, clutching the wine bottle like a life rock. ¡°Because what else would there be to speak about.¡± She chuckled sardonically. ¡°I¡¯m sure half of what they say is about me. They make sure to let everyone know whose side they stand on. Let me give you a clue. It is not mine.¡± Shia smiled sympathetically at her. He nodded to her bottle. ¡°Can I have some of that?¡± Zara regarded him for a good minute. He¡¯d grown taller, just maybe an slight inch more over Rowan. He would be a tall man. He¡¯d shaved his mustache, giving him a clean and clear facial appearance that made him handsomely youthful. Likely his mother made him shave it off, as Leyli did with Rowan whenever he disregarded the small growth of a patchy disgusting goatee. His brown hair was let loose, the wavy curls neatly combed out. He wore a long tan suit with red square patterns and plain slim-fit pants. The hazel part of his eyes looked more prominent than the slowly-expanding yet unabnormal black pupil, which comforted Zara for a reason she couldn¡¯t describe. Maybe it was because she¡¯d been spending these last few hours facing people who looked like they stepped right out of a fever dream: Naz, Cina, even Rowan. Shia was still definitely tipsy, however. Zara could tell because she was in the same state. She handed him the bottle and he took a sip. ¡°Hm. It¡¯s good. Sweet,¡± he commented. ¡°Are you sure you should be drinking anymore?¡± she asked. ¡°Are you?¡± She smiled. His smirking grin reminded her of Emran. She attempted to retrieve the bottle again, but he held it out of reach, taking another generous gulp from it instead. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t worry too much,¡± Rowan was telling Cina. ¡°I caught some of the conversation out in the field. It¡¯s just boring talk about the Kingdom¡¯s next heir.¡± ¡°Ah, little Princess Yana,¡± Cina said with a dreamy sigh. ¡°Have you seen her portraits before? Last year they came in to the art gallery in town and she was around five years of age back then? Even at that age, her dress and jewels were to die for. It must be so nice to have an abundance of wealth like that. She will be stunning when she is older, you¡¯ll see.¡± ¡°You¡¯re rambling on about some little girl you don¡¯t even know and who cares nothing for folks like us. It¡¯s just because she¡¯s royalty she¡¯s so pretty,¡± Rowan assured. ¡°Don¡¯t pout. You don¡¯t have to worry about looking good, you already do. You have great taste in fashion, naturally. That¡¯s more than we can say for any dumb princess out there.¡± ¡°You¡¯re just trying to flatter me,¡± Cina teased. Rowan shrugged, sheepishly. ¡°Maybe I am.¡± ¡°It¡¯s working! My, the flower¡¯s made your tongue slippy. What a smooth talker you¡¯ve suddenly become.¡± She laughed as he blushed and playfully tapped her on the head. ¡°Cina,¡± Shia scolded in jest. He was still hogging Zara¡¯s bottle. ¡°You play too much.¡± Cina lifted her shoulders in a comical shrug. The groom¡¯s father and Zahir appeared from the courtyard. Guests began trickling out behind them. ¡°Come,¡± Varun¡¯s father said to the group of four, joyfully. ¡°The show is starting now. We are letting everyone know. We want to enjoy it before the skies turn for the worse.¡± Zahir frowned at Zara. ¡°Zara, go let the guests inside know if they would care to join. Both upstairs and down.¡± ¡°Have Rowan help, Baba,¡± Naz said, making an unexpected appearance by their side and startling them all. He smiled that same cunning-like smile that looked absolutely pleasant to anyone who didn¡¯t know him. Stolen novel; please report. ¡°Oh shit,¡± Cina gasped. She quickly and self-consciously adjusted the front curls of her hair. It seemed Cina was still taken with the man in front of her, even though he had a scarred face. ¡°You¡¯re the-the brother? The older brother?¡± She giggled. ¡°I¡¯ve heard a bit about you.¡± Naz turned to Cina, boldly taking her hand. ¡°I suppose from my brother and sister here. And not very good things I presume.¡± He laughed. ¡°I see he¡¯s fond of you.¡± Rowan shoved Naz away from her. Cina cackled. Zahir yanked Rowan back. ¡°Watch what you are doing in public,¡± he snarled. He was lucky the groom¡¯s father was already leading the courtyard guests far ahead. ¡°No fighting with me,¡± Naz said, clucking is tongue. ¡°Haven¡¯t I been through enough?¡± ¡°No,¡± Rowan muttered. ¡°Be careful,¡± Zahir hissed quietly. ¡°Or I¡¯ll lock you in the shed this time.¡± Rowan¡¯s eyes automatically glanced to the far, far end of the property, where the crappy shed still stood, reminding him and Zara of that one horrific night. He looked at Zara, then turned away with a quivering lip. He followed the crowd, leaving his friends behind. Zahir walked after him. Zara remained still. The flashing images of her father dragging her across the harsh ground and Rowan coming to her rescue was making her feel faint. Shia gently put a hand on her shoulder, and she balanced out. She hadn¡¯t realized she¡¯d become unsteady. Naz snickered. ¡°I¡¯d better head over there too. My wife awaits me with a good seat.¡± He gave Cina a mock bow and practically skipped away. Cina watching him with a disappointed face. ¡°He¡¯s married?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t tell you?¡± Zara slurred. She didn¡¯t feel well. She could throw up. Shia still had his warm hand resting on her shoulder. ¡°I¡¯ll help you retrieve the guests in your house,¡± he said. ¡°My parents were in there too.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll come too,¡± Cina said. ¡°My parents may want to go home. If that is the case, I must see them out.¡± She let out a low burp and staggered toward the house. ¡°Thank you,¡± Zara told the boy next to her, and let him guide her with his hand now moved down to her lower back.
The last of the party guests were out the front door. Her bangles clinked down her arm as he ran his fingers over her henna designed palms, then the tight knot of the black thread. She¡¯d failed to keep it hidden. His fingers were warm on her wrist. They were in the upstairs hall. He stood close by her, a bit too close for comfort. Zara focused on the thumb running smoothly along the thread. It kept her from wanting to hurl or faint. ¡°What is this?¡± Shia asked with a lazy smile. The wine had been getting to him. The empty bottle had been abandoned in the dining room. They had taken turns sharing sips and giggling as they ushered guests outside. Being met with mostly disgusted glances, Zara¡¯s only highlight of the evening so far was Shia rudely telling said guests to ¡°move away quickly¡± and ¡°this isn¡¯t your home, don¡¯t make such a face.¡± Greeting Shia¡¯s parents was pleasant as usual. They¡¯ve always been nice to Zara, and even now that hadn¡¯t changed. ¡°Nothing,¡± she answered, leaning her head against the wall. She chuckled. ¡°Just a stupid string.¡± ¡°You tied it on yourself then?¡± ¡°No. My aunt did.¡± ¡°Your skin, though; it looks a little red under it.¡± ¡°It was itching earlier. While I was trying to eat.¡± She giggled. ¡°Is the string itchy?¡± ¡°No. Auntie put..uhh¡­dunked it in chili oil. I think.¡± She burst into laughter. Ridiculous. ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°She dipped it into red chili oil. Maybe that is what is causing the reaction?¡± ¡°¡­.Why would she do that?¡± The grip on her wrist tightened, though his voice spoke low and gentle. ¡°Hmm¡­I¡¯m not sure?¡± She may have been tipsy, but she hadn¡¯t gone stupid. She wasn¡¯t telling him the truth. ¡°Don¡¯t lie. I know this type of superstition. Why would she put such a thing around you Zara?¡± Zara tried pulling her hand away without success. Shia did not relent. ¡°This has to do with what people are saying about you, doesn¡¯t it? And your family believes it too?¡± ¡°Is that what Rowan told you?¡± She blinked slow. The hall was dark and Shia¡¯s face was fuzzy. He did not answer her then. ¡°He hates me, you know it. So much that it¡¯s caused him to become like an¡ªan idiot.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not exactly why,¡± Shia muttered. ¡°What does it matter? Everyone feels the same about me as he does. Naz, Baba, Noina Auntie, even Ma.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t.¡± ¡°¡­Please let go of me.¡± ¡°Zara¡­¡± She couldn¡¯t help but start giggling all over again for nothing. He¡¯d approached her close enough for his face to be near hers, and before she could move away, his teeth were on her wrist. ¡°What are you doing?!¡± she exclaimed, jumping back. She was still shackled to his grip. He bit at the thread until it was weak enough to rip off and drift across the floor. He finally set her free. Zara stood back against the wall, panting and shaking. The red spot on her wrist where she had felt his mouth¡ªconcealed again by her bangles¡ªtingled. ¡°Fuck your aunt,¡± he said. ¡°Fuck your brothers. Fuck all of them.¡± Zara narrowed her eyes, nervously. ¡°My brothers? Both? Rowan is your best friend.¡± ¡°That does not make him less of a fool.¡± ¡°What is the matter with you?¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°I mean, why don¡¯t you believe what they all believe? Huh? I can¡¯t understand it. You weren¡¯t even there when it all happened. What would you know? Hm? What if I am what they say I am?¡± ¡°Zara, why are you angry with me? I have my own thoughts on the matter. I am on your side.¡± ¡°Why would you be? Why would anyone be?¡± ¡°You are not what they say!¡± ¡°But what if I am? If I was, you wouldn¡¯t be so kind to me, would you? Hm?¡± Shia struggled to respond. Zara clucked her tongue, amused and dismayed. ¡°Oh you don¡¯t know what to think, you poor naive boy.¡± Shia¡¯s mouth twisted, hurt. ¡°I¡¯m¡­no. I¡¯m not a boy,¡± he claimed, weakly. ¡°I¡¯m not a child.¡± ¡°You and my brother are¡ª¡± ¡°I¡¯m not like him!¡± ¡°¡ªthe same age. You may not be a child to the world anymore, but you are much younger than me.¡± She hiccupped and laughed bitterly. ¡°You are sweeter than Rowan and the other stupid shits he spends time with. But¡­it is what it is.¡± Shia¡¯s lip trembled, his expression angry and saddened at once. Zara was never this honest, mainly because she hardly ever spoke on a regular day. But this was not a regular day. She couldn¡¯t remember the last time she¡¯d been this stupidly bold. It did not make her feel good like she thought it would. Her chest was hollow of feeling, and a coldness swept over her head, grayer than the clouds fogging up the sky. ¡°Shia,¡± she moaned out, but trailed off, uncertain of herself. She was sorry she had said anything. ¡°We should get to the field, so we don¡¯t miss the show,¡± Shia stated blandly. ¡°¡­Okay.¡± ¡°Can you walk properly?¡± His voice was devoid of any emotion. Zara staggered to him. In the end, the boy had to help. He proved to be more tolerant to alcohol. He kept his grip on her arm to steady her, at a distance.
A cup of aromatic black tea was placed in front of her. Steaming pitchers have just been brought out on trays to accommodate guests who needed it. Jars of cream and sugar were also being shared among the guests. ¡°Drink this,¡± Shia murmured. ¡°You¡¯ll feel better.¡± Next to Zara, Cina handed over the cream. ¡°It¡¯s cold,¡± she whined, holding her warm cup close to her. ¡°I would have worn something else if I knew it would get cold.¡± ¡°There is no predicting the weather, dear,¡± her mother, Nima, told her. ¡°It¡¯s not so bad. You¡¯ve been drinking too much, is all.¡± Her husband sat on the quilt by her side. He had felt well enough to sit and watch the show, so they stayed. The man¡¯s looks were similar to his nephew Emran, whereas Nima was an older, narrow-faced version of her daughter. Zara stole a glance at Shia¡¯s retreating back. He had walked off without another word to her. ¡°What¡¯s gotten into him? I thought he would sit with us,¡± Cina said. Zara disregarded the cream and sipped her tea raw. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°I thought Rowan would too. But I see him over there.¡± Zara squinted at the direction Cina pointed to. The wind blew her frizzy hair across her face. She slapped it away. Across the other end of the field was Rowan and some other boys and girls Zara had never met. Shia was going there to join them. There had been space for him next to her but¡­ Zara sipped her tea miserably. Cina might be complaining about the air, but the coolness of it would do wonders for Zara¡¯s head. She didn¡¯t mind it. The field in front of Zara¡¯s home was packed with over a hundred guests sitting on a variety of outdoor quilts, sipping tea or coffee and eating leftover plates of lemon butter rice, potatoes, and fried meats and veggies. The guest-of-honor¡¯s table in the back had been abandoned. Dolly and Varun were now sitting in the biggest, most expensively embroidered quilt at the very front of everyone, with the best view of the stage and surrounded by all of their friends, family, and more platters and trays of steaming drinks than any other quilt had on them. Naz and Sonya sat happily among them too, alongside Zara¡¯s parents. Where Zara sat was further off to the right and behind most people, where the viewing would be a bit angled, but fine¡ªobviously not as good as the front. There was nothing to be done, as by the time she¡¯d arrived here, every other quilt had been taken. Zara¡¯s stomach lurched at Sonya smiling at something Dolly said. For once, that exquisitely-dressed woman looked kind. But she was not kind, not to Zara. She could feel it. And soon the day would come where they¡¯d be living under the same roof. Zara turned away with a hammering heart. It was all going to happen so fast, so sudden. She kept her attention up ahead. The stage stood in front of them, proudly displaying its colorful drapes around the tent. Candles and oil lamps had been lit on it for illumination. The performers gathered and stepped on to the wooden platform, anklets jingling. Zara recognized the final performer up on stage to be Shyla. She looked beautiful and elegant in a simple red blouse and skirt. The other girls wore different colors as well. The male performers were dressed in white and shimmery silver. The musicians took their places to the side, off the stage. ¡°Ugh. Look who¡¯s there,¡± Cina muttered. Just as Zara¡¯s headache had begun to repel, it came swarming back when she looked up ahead and saw the rude young mother bringing a small plate of sweets to an older gentleman who was holding her baby. The girl¡¯s friends were there too. Zara figured that man had to be her husband. She rolled her eyes as the girl sat down with a giant smile on her face, laughing with the baby while loudly chatting with her friends. Of course they happened to catch each other¡¯s eye. The girl¡¯s face twisted with scorn, and she immediately began whispering to her husband and friends. They all took turns giving not-so-subtle glances in Zara and Cina¡¯s way. The husband did not care much for subtlety, though. His dark glare was like a weight on Zara¡¯s face. ¡°Bitch,¡± Cina whispered, glaring right back at him. ¡°That¡¯s the best she could do for a husband? He doesn¡¯t look like a tall man at all. He¡¯s just old and average. Heh. Of course.¡± She leaned toward Zara¡¯s ear. ¡°I know I¡¯ve said this a lot already, but I really wish your brother hadn¡¯t stopped you from choking the shit out of her.¡± Zara let the rest of her tea burn down her throat. She was unnerved to be feeling the same way. ¡°It¡¯s starting,¡± Nima said excitedly as the head performer¡ªa male in silver¡ªmotioned for the crowd to quiet down. ¡°Zara, would you like any more potatoes? We have plenty.¡± ¡°No thank you, Nima Auntie, I¡¯m fine. I would like some coffee though.¡± Nima flagged down a pitcher from a servant and poured Zara a cup. The aroma smelled delicious already. If anything could make her feel better, other than wine, it would be Pria¡¯s local ¡°liquid-gold¡± coffee. ¡°Me too please,¡± Cina said, holding out her cup. While they sat sipping their coffees through the play¡¯s introduction, comfortable and unaware, the sky dimmed as evening fell, the fogs swirled, and the witch doctor made his entrance through the unguarded gates. A Stolen Passion ¡°Show them your talent.¡± ¡°¡­that wickedly beautiful talent.¡± Very well. As you wish.
The show had finally reached an intermission after thirty minutes of mindless replays of how the bride and groom met, one sketch for each ¡°side¡± of the story. More characters that were supposed to represent their friends entered, and with each new friend character introduction came a zany little dance number. Zara cracked a smile maybe once. Or twice. Cina and everyone else was giggling away the whole time though, enjoying the show like normal people. Zara couldn¡¯t get her heart into it. It was too sappy and lovey for her. The way everybody cooed and cawed over Dolly¡¯s character¡ªwho was the pretty dancer with the wide hips, as she recalled Rowan gushing about¡ªmade Zara¡¯s chest sting. She usually loved romance. But for this play, with all its musical and comedic outbursts, rang hollow for her. Maybe she couldn¡¯t stand the damn grins on all these people. They¡¯d slighted her, be it through vicious words or unpleasant looks, or mockery¡ªas some of the younger kids had done when they thought she wasn¡¯t paying attention. She didn¡¯t like that they were happy. Especially the group surrounding the bride. Everything about what they had felt unearned, like a good life and beauty just happened to land on their heads because the angels favored them for no real reason. They weren¡¯t good people. But there they were, happy and loved anyway. ¡°Zara,¡± Cina said, ¡°can you get me some of those lentil balls? I want to try!¡± Zara glanced at her friend¡¯s eager face. She was practically salivating at getting her hands on a plate of spicy fried lentil treats that were being passed around by the staff, mainly where the bride¡¯s party was seated. The other guests huddled around the quilt, grabbing what they could before it was cleared out. The servants were doing their best to keep things orderly, but their efforts were failing. ¡°No. I¡¯m not going up there. Why can¡¯t we wait until they bring us some?¡± Zara complained. ¡°No, there are no more plates left, can¡¯t you tell? All the good snacks are going to them. Look at all those other people, they¡¯re going to take everything¡­¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t you go?¡± Cina shook her head. ¡°Nuh-uh. That¡¯s your cousin¡¯s territory and from what you told me about them, I¡¯m not going over there. I have no energy for a fight right now. Especially not in front of your older brother. Married or not, I don¡¯t want to look stupid in front of him. And I look like shit, I can feel it. I don¡¯t want them to see.¡± Her skin did seem paler, and while her pupils had shrunk back to normal, the tired shadows under her eyes had grown prominent. ¡°I don¡¯t want to go either,¡± Zara hissed. ¡°I don¡¯t think I look any better and they¡¯ll definitely notice me up there. They don¡¯t like me!¡± Cina pouted. ¡°Just be really quick? Look, that one servant over there served a plate to the family next to them. They seem nice enough¡­and maybe no one will notice you.¡± To Zara¡¯s relief, it was Rauna who was doing the serving. Naz and Sonya were nearby, though. ¡°Please,¡± Cina begged. ¡°Please, I¡¯m starving.¡± Zara rolled her eyes. ¡°You¡¯ve been eating all day. How are you still hungry?¡± Cina shrugged. ¡°I get hungry when I¡¯m high.¡± ¡°You were high?!¡± ¡°Shhhh!!¡± Cina put her finger to her lip angrily. She didn¡¯t want her parents to overhear. Nima turned to them, smiling obliviously. ¡°Are you girls okay? Did you want me to grab one of those plates for you? I wouldn¡¯t mind having some more food myself. Everything¡¯s been so delicious.¡± Zara stood courteously. ¡°No, Auntie. I¡¯m just about to go.¡± ¡°Are you sure?¡± Cina grinned cheekily. ¡°Thank you, Zara.¡± Nima frowned. ¡°Cina, why don¡¯t you go for yourself? Always making others work for you.¡± ¡°Ammi, I¡¯m a very hard worker as is, you know that! I¡¯m just feeling shy right now.¡± It was a load of shit, but since Nima was a kind person, Zara was willing to do her this favor. It was a matter of getting it over with. Besides, maybe she will get lucky, and that group would continue being absorbed in themselves to even noticed she¡¯d come and gone. Zara took her plate and approached Rauna, who was all too happy to see Zara. Rauna then divided up the snacks on Zara¡¯s plate upon request. It was all too easy, except for the uncomfortable sour face Sonya was making at her. That woman was not going to be easy to live with, and she wanted Zara to know it. Zara didn¡¯t even bother looking at Naz. She could feel him leering. It was smarter to ignore him. ¡°Dolly.¡± Zara couldn¡¯t help but flinch at suddenly hearing Sonya¡¯s voice speak out. ¡°Tell me again which day is the wedding, hon.¡± She¡¯s talking like they¡¯re so close already¡­ ¡°Everyone is trying to clarify that with me,¡± Dolly answered back. ¡°Maybe I should make the announcement.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t bother with that,¡± one of her many friends chimed in. ¡°You¡¯re the guest of honor. Somebody else should make the announcement.¡± ¡°Melega should do it,¡± one of Varun¡¯s friends said, laughing. Zara walked on, overhearing the incessant chatter of the women: ¡°I can¡¯t wait to have our henna all done again next month.¡± ¡°Yes! Hands and feet this time. Dolly, be sure the artists have the darkest paste. It¡¯s the highest quality and will ward off all evil spirits¡ª¡± When Zara sat back down, allowing Cina and her family to dive in to the plate, Dolly¡¯s redheaded friend, Melega had resigned herself to walk on to the stage and make the announcement. Her friends cheered for her, obnoxiously. The performers and musicians were off to the side, sipping on refreshments and watching her with curious eyes. Melega cupped her hands around her mouth. ¡°May I please have everyone¡¯s attention?!¡± ¡°Everyone! Everyone!¡± This was Tina shouting, the one with the impressive cheekbones. ¡°This is a relayed message from the BRIDE! QUIET!¡± Cina winced with a full mouth and muttered, ¡°Ugh does she have to be so loud? My head throbs.¡± As soon as the guests settled down, Melega continued talking, loud and proud. ¡°Thank you everyone. This has been a wonderful party, don¡¯t you all agree? Thanks so much to Dolly¡¯s family for working so hard to set all this up!¡± The guests applauded and whistled. Zara¡¯s parents were elated. Noina smiled humbly. ¡°And let¡¯s please not forget how great the show is going. Thank you to all the dancers and musicians; I¡¯m really excited for second half!¡± The dancers and musicians whooped, and the dancers even jingled their anklets. ¡°So on behalf of our beautiful bride-to-be, Dolly, and her lovely groom, I want to clear up when our other upcoming celebrations will be. These will be taking place near Dolly and Varun¡¯s future home in Darhai. Everyone who is here today will be receiving invitation letters with the date for the wedding. It will take place in the middle of next month. Do not fret, you will receive the proper date and the address to the location for your carriage rides. It is going to be fantastic. Get ready for a big party; there will be many many more invitations being sent out for all the family and friends that couldn¡¯t make it for this party.¡± Melega beamed. ¡°Close friends and family members will also be receiving the dates for the gift exchange at our temple, the clay and spa ceremony, the henna party, and of course this will all lead up to the best wedding ever!¡± Dolly and her girl friends squealed. Everyone else clapped politely as Melega left the stage and sat back down with her group. ¡°What was the real point of the last part?¡± Cina asked exactly what Zara had been thinking. ¡°To boast about these endless parties she¡¯s a part of, or to hear herself yap some more? So annoying.¡± ¡°Cina,¡± Nima scolded. ¡°You are so rude. I think she is a pleasant girl who is excited for her friend getting married, as any friend would be.¡± She smiled at Zara. ¡°I bet you are just as excited. Dolly is your family after all. Your mother mentioned you two were quite close?¡± Zara nodded, smiling back stiffly. She wondered if her mother had a clue about how their relationship was going now. ¡°But did she really have to point out all those other events?¡± Cina complained. ¡°It sounds exhausting and I¡¯m not even invited to any of them. Besides the wedding.¡± ¡°It is,¡± Nima answered. ¡°But that is how these things go. It is very much how my wedding went.¡± Nima¡¯s husband groaned at the memory. ¡°So much planning, and it ends all too quickly.¡± He laughed. ¡°The temple visit and the gift exchange is the most important before the wedding. The rest is just frivolous spending.¡± ¡°It was fun, so it was worth it,¡± Nima argued, teasingly. ¡°Sure.¡± ¡°Abbi, I want all of it too, all the events,¡± Cina said. Zara gaped at her. ¡°What? You just said it was too exhausting!¡± ¡°Hearing it from her shrieky mouth is. Besides, I don¡¯t know your cousin very well, so attending her events would be exhausting for me¡ª¡± She rolled her eyes. ¡°¡ªnot that I¡¯m invited anyway. But when I¡¯m getting married, I want to have everything. It¡¯ll be fun then, because it¡¯ll be all about me.¡± ¡°And it will be the same for you,¡± Nima told Zara. ¡°Has your family spoken to you about marriage my dear?¡± ¡°Marriage?¡± Zara¡¯s mouth parted, unsure of how to answer, even if the answer was obvious. ¡°N-No?¡± Nima tilted her head, confused. ¡°Really? I¡¯m shocked. With your age, I was sure your parents would have brought it up. Do they not have plans of arrangement for you? We¡¯ve already started looking into matches for Cina, just after she turned twenty-one this year. We would have looked last year, but I needed more hands-on in my shop and Cina was just not interested in settling down and insisted she help out instead.¡± She rolled her eyes. ¡°Foolish. I could have hired anybody. Young women like you two cannot be sitting around without a plan.¡± ¡°Ammi,¡± Cina whined, ¡°You are talking like we are still living in the older days. Women are fine with marrying slightly later now.¡± ¡°But not too much later,¡± her father cut in. ¡°The matches you try bringing me are not interesting in the slightest. They are so boring and I won¡¯t even start on how they look.¡± Cina shivered. ¡°Studious men are not my type.¡± The man raised a skeptical brow. ¡°And the few men you¡¯ve shown interest in are¡­questionable. To be polite.¡± ¡°Zara, do you have any interest in marrying?¡± Nima asked. ¡°I¡­¡± Of course not. Zara¡¯s parents hardly ever mentioned marriage, besides a very few times Noina fretted about what would become of her future. But her future was a shadow. Even to her own parents. They certainly did not have a plan before her father decided to finally wash his hands of her by sending her away with Naz. Marriage was not in her future. Zara rarely thought of it anymore. The occasional fantasies of weddings and romance would pop up when she read her novels, but that was all they were. Fleeting fantasies that used to make her cry herself to sleep. Things had changed now. She was resolved in not marrying, not unless she wanted to end up exposed and behind bars for it. She did not wish to give up learning magic, and that is precisely what she would have to sacrifice should she give in to human intimacy. A shame, truly. For a brief moment, Emran flashed into her mind. She blushed at how idiotic that was. She barely knew him, and she really only liked him for the way he looked and his laid-back demeanor. To think of him as a marriage partner was in over her head, ridiculously dumb. She quickly obliterated the thought, never to be revealed to anyone, especially not to Emran¡¯s very family members who were sitting right next to her. They would laugh her off the continent. ¡°I think¡­I think my parents have just been so busy they haven¡¯t planned anything quite firm yet,¡± Zara lied. ¡°Especially my father. He¡¯s a busy man. But¡­he¡¯s talked about it a little with my mother¡­but like Cina, I¡¯m not too interested.¡± Cina looked at her mother, smugly. ¡°We are too pretty to be tied down, aren¡¯t we Zara?¡± ¡°Watch your mouth,¡± her father shot back. ¡°We¡¯ll find a suitable man for you yet. Hasiim was speaking of it with me this morning, you know.¡± He leaned back, muttering lowly, ¡°Hopefully he¡¯ll guide your soul to the heavens.¡± Cina scrunched her face. ¡°Who? Uncle or my husband?¡± ¡°Both.¡± Zara¡¯s veins ran cold. Stolen story; please report. Hasiim. That was his first name. Hasiim Uqzar. Looking at Cina and her parents, especially Emran, it was too difficult to believe that such a man was considered their family. Zara assumed high priests, spiritualists, and witch doctors alike would all hail from people as fanatic as they were. She wanted to ask Cina about their vastly different ways of life, but it seemed an inappropriate and ill topic of discussion. Cina had apologized to her on her uncle¡¯s behalf before, and she did not want to offend her by insinuating dislike for the man. She had expressed, in tears that night after coming down the mountain and reuniting with the rest of her family, that she was not close to her uncle¡ªnone of them really were since he did not live in Pria¡ªbut he was still their family and a highly respected member at that. They cared for each other when they could. Besides, Cina could be quite firm in her beliefs too, almost zealot-like. Perhaps she and her uncle shared more similarities than the eye could see. Nima chuckled warmly, breaking through Zara¡¯s disturbing thoughts. ¡°Pipe down, Anton, dear. Zara, I advise you and my daughter to consider the marriage market. And when you find your man, you should consider coming to my shop. I¡¯ll provide you with the best wedding jewelry we have!¡± Her mind flashed back to the jewel headpiece she saw in the store long ago¡ªa shining, crimson beauty. Zara smirked, letting Nima¡¯s bright personality melt away her fears about the witch doctor for now. ¡°Only if you save a jewel crown for me. I like them in red,¡± she said. Cina laughed. ¡°That¡¯s fair. I think white and sapphire would suit me best.¡± Zara nodded. ¡°They will match you well.¡± And she meant it. Her friend would look beautiful in wedding attire. Perhaps Zara would be able to attend her ceremony in the future, somehow. As long as Cina never found out anything more about her, they could remain friends. ¡°Look, they¡¯re going back on stage,¡± Cina said, pointing at the dancers and musicians moving back into their places. ¡°The show is starting again.¡± ¡°Oh! It seems like everyone is going to join in,¡± Nima commented cheerily. ¡°Huh?¡± Zara blurted, confused. Besides Dolly, Varun, and their family members who remained sitting, all of their friends had stood and was striding toward the stage. The crowd whistled at the addition of performers. Even Sonya was joining them, touching Dolly¡¯s hand and smiling cutely before she headed off, as though she was celebrating a sister¡¯s engagement and not someone she just fucking met today. Naz had kissed his wife¡¯s hand before letting her go, clapping enthusiastically for her while she waited with the others on the grass in front of the stage. The stage itself was too small to accommodate everyone. ¡°How sweet,¡± Nima said when Naz sat back down next to his parents and aunt. ¡°I had the pleasure of meeting him, Zara. He¡¯s a very charming man. It¡¯s unfortunate what happened to his otherwise handsome face.¡± She shook her head, tsking in disapproval. ¡°I did not know squirrels could be so violent with people.¡± ¡°He was attacked by a squirrel?!¡± Cina exclaimed, incredulous. She whipped her eyes on Zara, accusingly. ¡°You said he tripped and fell, though?¡± Zara bit her lip, thinking of a way to cover up her error. ¡°Did I say that?¡± She had not been informed of the cover story for Naz¡¯s facial scars. She¡¯d just made one up on the spot when Cina had asked about it. ¡°Um¡­when?¡± she stalled. ¡°At the house, when we were bringing everyone out?¡± ¡°Oh¡­I don¡¯t know¡­he told me¡ªuh, it must have happened after the attack. He fell.¡± Nima sighed. ¡°He should really be more careful walking through that forest. Any number of wild animals could be deadly. He¡¯s lucky that nasty animal hadn¡¯t infected him with an illness.¡± Zara couldn¡¯t help but snicker at the image of Naz being attacked by a squirrel on a morning walk through the forest. What a joke of a story he had come up with, though Zara guessed hers wasn¡¯t much better. Melega stood in front of the line of people on the grass, beaming happily at Dolly. ¡°This is for you, beautiful,¡± she said. The music began with cheerful beats of the drums, followed by perky whistles from the flutes, then the tranquil melody of the sitar. One of the drummers began to hum and sing aloud. The female dancers that were up on stage twirled and swayed, making their own music with their anklets. Their voices joined in on the song, then the males followed suit, dancing alongside them. The friends danced simply and joyfully to the playful music, singing the song of love and eternal blessings for a life-lasting marriage. Zara was entranced by the choreography. It was an easy routine, but still managed to look colorful and gorgeous. She wondered when everyone was able to get together to practice this. A few of Dolly and Varun¡¯s friends worked as background dancers, swaying, hopping, and clapping to the beats. This group included Sonya. She had to have been asked to dance with them at the last minute and was instructed on doing the easiest steps. She hadn¡¯t even met this group or Dolly since today for Lilith¡¯s sake. Dolly¡¯s girl friends bounced to the front to do their special routine for her, while the men stepped back. It was a traditional Prian dance of sharp arm movements and fast skirt twirls. They were doing surprisingly well, despite not being real dancers. The guests hooted and hollered. Dolly squealed excitedly at what her friends had prepared for her. Her dupatta was pinned back on her head. The white flowers in her braid were showing through the cloth¡¯s sheer material. They glowed beautifully. Next to Zara, Cina was waving her hands in the air, clearly enjoying the show. Her mother was bobbing her head along to the music, and her father was simply clapping to it. Zara looked around. Adults had gotten up to dance along on their own, the children were also happily joining in. Everyone was loving this. She had been too, but suddenly, it wasn¡¯t fun anymore. When¡­had they all learned to dance like that? When had they ever liked such a thing? Were they as passionate about it as Zara was? What was it like to perform in front of actual people who appreciated the talent? Why couldn¡¯t she be up there? Why hadn¡¯t she¡ªDolly¡¯s closest cousin and the first one to have been like a sister to her¡ªbeen asked to join? What was Sonya doing up there with them? What could Sonya possibly be to Dolly anyway? They had just met. So what was that bitch doing swinging her hips and clapping like she deserved to be there? Zara knew Dolly better than her. Yet she wasn¡¯t with them, even as a last-minute additional background hip-swinger. Why? Because she didn¡¯t belong with them. She may be Dolly¡¯s cousin, but she was no longer a sister. The stupid redhead was. And Naz¡¯s wife had managed to snake her way into everyone¡¯s hearts with her pretty face and luxurious manner¡ªall in a few fucking hours. Zara had destroyed her relationship with Dolly in a matter of minutes. Dancing was her hobby, one of her passions, and she knew she could have executed the moves better than them all. These women were not dancers. They were only doing this for Dolly, for this one stupid day. Yet Zara, who actually loved training in this art, would probably never be allowed on a stage, performing for people like they got to do. Because the women up there weren¡¯t freaks of nature. They were beautiful and better accepted than Zara would ever hope to be. The dance finally ended. The proud performers were drowned in applause. It was unbearable to listen to. The wind picked up, a soft yet firm breeze. The twilight clouds rolled once again. Wisps of fog stroked the old wooden base of the stage. Attending this party had been a mistake. Dolly had wanted to see her, and now their relationship had resulted to nothing. There had been no point to any of this. It was an even bigger mistake than any to not have walked away by now. Instead, Zara remained sitting on the thin quilt, facing the performers with a face so obviously sour that one of them had noticed it. The servants were lighting the area with more large candles and lamps. Shyla was squinting at Zara, concerned. She lifted her hand in a gesture that asked what¡¯s the matter? She had the look of someone who did not understand why Zara would be miserably sitting out on such a joyous celebration, when all of the bride¡¯s important people had participated. Zara shook her head, refusing to answer. Shyla threw a dismissive wave at her and urged her to come up. Zara shook her head faster this time. Shyla wasn¡¯t having it. Thinking back on this night, the worst parts had moved so slow, yet blinked by all at once. Zara had been quietly stewing under the nuisance noise of these people, then suddenly, she¡¯d been yanked and dragged against her will, moving past the noise, past the people, past the nuisance. Now she stood surrounded by Dolly¡¯s friends and the dancers, in tense silence. Zara glared at Shyla, who did not seem to notice Zara¡¯s dismay at being manhandled up here. Zara glanced frantically back at her quilt. Cina was looking back at her, her face questioning what was going on. ¡°Shyla,¡± Zara hissed. ¡°Why am I here?¡± ¡°Yes, why is she here?¡± Melega asked, her auburn eyes burning into Zara. Shyla looked at Zara quizzically. ¡°Did you forget to come up here? You were supposed to be dancing with us, weren¡¯t you?¡± Zara gaped. ¡°I-I was?¡± Melega and the other women laughed before jabbering all at once: ¡°Don¡¯t be ridiculous.¡± ¡°Who was she again? Pfft¡­¡± ¡°She made Dolly cry, who cares about her?¡± ¡°Also, like, half the people here don¡¯t trust her anyway.¡± ¡°Oh shut up. That¡¯s too harsh. Dolly¡¯s family would never actually be like that.¡± ¡°But you have to admit, she¡¯s a little¡­¡± ¡°Can you say something? Can you, like, speak?¡± Zara ignored that final jab to her gut before everyone burst into cruel laughter again. The men stood back, choosing not to get involved in the women¡¯s squabble, though they looked entertained by this little show as much as the guests had enjoyed theirs minutes before. Shyla¡¯s deep frown created unattractive wrinkles on her otherwise smooth forehead. ¡°What is this? How could you say such awful things right in front of her?¡± she scolded the group. ¡°She wasn¡¯t invited to dance,¡± Sonya said coolly, emerging from the cluster of women. They quickly made room for her, like she was their queen. ¡°I had asked Dolly about it. She told me it would be too uncomfortable, since she and Zara were not close. Besides¡ª¡± Sonya smirked. ¡°¡ªit is unlikely for Zara to know how to dance anyway. My husband told me she doesn¡¯t really do much of anything.¡± How many times by now has Zara prayed that she suddenly gain the ability to make herself vanish? She blinked hard and lowered her head to the ground so no one could see how red her cheeks were, and how badly she was fighting to hold in her tears. ¡°Is something wrong?¡± Dolly asked, walking up to the group with Varun by her side. Her skirt still dragged despite her holding it up. Shyla continued reprimanding the group. ¡°What are you talking about? Zara here wants to be a dancer! She told me so herself, and she had her own set of anklets!¡± ¡°What?!¡± Sonya squawked. Zara could sense her sneering gaze. ¡°I had NO idea.¡± ¡°How could none of you know about this? The bride is her cousin and¡ª¡± Shyla pointed back at where Zara had been sitting. ¡°¡ªshe was just over there, the poor girl, looking absolutely glum! Did no one think to ask her what she wanted?¡± All eyes were on Zara. She did not raise her head, too cowardly to meet their faces. ¡°Did¡­¡± Dolly began cautiously. ¡°Did it bother you that much that you weren¡¯t¡ªI didn¡¯t know that you liked to dance. That¡¯s not something I pictured¡­you doing?¡± Sonya snorted. ¡°I¡¯m shocked to hear this myself. I wonder what her brothers will think. Her parents too.¡± Don¡¯t¡­.please don¡¯t tell them, you patronizing bitch. Her racing heart sunk. Zara hugged herself tightly. She couldn¡¯t run away. Varun¡¯s friends were standing around, watching in stark curiosity, unintentionally blocking her escape. Varun sighed and remarked lowly, ¡°Everything is all done with now. There is no use thinking about what we could have done. Let us move on from here. It was a wonderful show. That is all that matters.¡± ¡°No,¡± Melega said. Zara clenched up at her snide tone. She hadn¡¯t lifted her eyes off the ground yet. ¡°No, I want to see her dance.¡± Zara¡¯s head snapped up. ¡°Huh?¡± she croaked. ¡°You say you are a dancer? Prove it. Do a solo for Dolly, right now.¡± She smiled with her teeth¡ªa heinous expression. ¡°Since we so poorly left you out, let us see now what we all missed from you.¡± Zara was already shaking her head before Melega had finished talking. ¡°No, no, no, no,¡± she mumbled. ¡°The show is over. The party is over, the people are getting ready to leave¡ª¡± ¡°We can remedy that,¡± Tina said, her smile as vicious as her friend¡¯s. ¡°No no, I don¡¯t want to¡ª¡± Nobody heard her over Melega¡¯s shrieking announcement: ¡°EVERYBODY, PLEASE DO NOT LEAVE US JUST YET, THERE IS ONE MORE PERFORMER HERE TONIGHT! SHE WILL BE DOING A SPECIAL SOLO DANCE FOR DOLLY! PLEASE STAY ON YOUR QUILTS EVERYONE.¡± She then ordered a passing servant to light more candles on the stage and to quickly pass around the extra bottles of wine from the table. Shyla was already shoving an unwilling Zara up on the stage. The men were following, actively blocking Zara from wrenching away and escaping. They nudged her forward, again and again. ¡°Stop!¡± Zara panicked once she and Shyla were on the platform. ¡°Stop! I don¡¯t want to do this!¡± ¡°This is your chance, though!¡± Shyla said, taking off her anklets. ¡°Here, since we don¡¯t have yours right now, you can borrow mine.¡± ¡°For what?!¡± Zara screeched back through tears. ¡°What do I do? I don¡¯t even have a routine ready!¡± Shyla knelt down and wrapped the anklets around Zara¡¯s feet. ¡°Hike your skirt up a little more. You like dancing, right? I¡¯m sure you have practiced plenty of routines, then. Improvise. It¡¯s something dancers should be able to do anyway.¡± ¡°Huh?! I¡¯m not like you!¡± The guests had settled down again. The servants were pouring the adults wine. The kids had gotten sweet treats. Zara wanted to throw up. ¡°You could be.¡± Shyla spoke gently this time, squeezing Zara¡¯s arms. ¡°I was like you. Dancing was a dream for me, yet only a dream. When a chance came for me to make it my reality, I took it. Zara, this is your chance. You have a stage, you have people watching you. Let the music be your guide. So show them what you can do. Show them your talent.¡± Zara let out a soft cry. Here she was shaking and sobbing on the side of the stage, and in minutes she would be pushed to the middle of it. The steps were blocked by Dolly¡¯s poisonous crew, who were watching her expectantly. Gleefully. Dolly was the only one who looked unsure, and a little afraid. Zara had never been in front of an audience before now. She had never shown anyone her moves. Never had time to refine them either, if she was honest with herself. How foolish she had been to feel upset about being left out of the main dance. Zara couldn¡¯t do this. It didn¡¯t matter what Shyla said. Without a rehearsed routine, she was meant to fail and humiliate herself. Shyla led her to the middle of the stage and gave her hand a squeeze before scurrying off. All that was left now was herself, and the quiet crowd in front of her. A crowd whose faces were actually difficult to make out now as the sun dipped lower behind the peaks and the ground fogs thickened. Her nerves were a disaster, but it was a tiny gift that she couldn¡¯t see anyone¡¯s face. Melega stepped in front of the guests and declared, ¡°This is Dolly¡¯s cousin, Zara. She dances, apparently. We¡¯ve saved the most¡­hmm, entertaining performance for last. So, please, enjoy the show.¡± Melega turned back, grinning fiercely at Zara¡¯s shaken figure. ¡°Good luck.¡± The sitar¡¯s tune flowed past Zara¡¯s ears. She stood there, letting her eyes adjust to the observing faces in front of her: Cina¡¯s shocked expression, Rowan and Shia¡¯s horrified confusion, her parents¡¯ wide-eyed bewilderment, Noina¡¯s repugnant mouth¡­ The orange turban shone like a flare amid the evening shadows. What¡­? She had to be hallucinating. The stout figure was still a distance away, but it was slowly approaching. Like a ghost. It¡¯s not real. I¡¯m just stressed to the point of madness. In her heart, it wasn¡¯t true. Though the snickering crowd distracted her mind, she kept her attention locked on the walking figure. Pale, wrinkled face. Long white beard down to the chest. Cloaked in red, his turban deep orange. Those steely eyes were not lined with kohl this time around, but his intimidating features were recognizable nonetheless. His quiet presence here¡ªand that cold, steady gaze¡ªwas enough for Zara to understand that she had not deceived him in the slightest.
Revan ran as fast as he could. He cursed himself for not having any more feathers. Flying there as a bird would have been better. But he was quick, and it helped that he was already in the neighborhood. Zara¡¯s house was distanced from the rest of the scattered out homes around here. No oil lamps or candles were lit at any sill. The neighbors must be attending the party as well. Unfit as he felt, Revan was panting heavily by the time he rushed through the gates, which had been left unlocked and unsupervised. Trusting people, they were. But who in this tiny neighborhood would have guessed there would be people like him to worry about? A couple carriages were making their way down the road as well to take the guests back to their lodges for the night. The party was supposed to have been over by now. But circumstances had drastically changed everything. Revan was confident that he could put a stop to this event before all the coachmen arrived in front of the house. The commotion, and the dangerously enchanted air, was right in his line of sight. He stood facing the field, where the guests had scattered around in a disoriented fashion. Zara was standing on one of those portable stages that the theater folks carried around when they traveled through for work. The area was well lit. Revan could see most of the guests¡¯ faces looking lost and worried. The children huddled with their parents. A baby let out a babbling wail. The witch doctor stood on the grass, his back to Revan, watching Zara silently. If Revan had to guess, it was due to his presence that the people had not fully panicked yet. His ¡°Holiness¡± was a likely assurance that no real harm would come their way. They glanced nervously from him to Zara. Here was the woman His Holiness himself had come all the way to see. A woman he just couldn¡¯t dare keep off his mind. A woman that had escaped his ¡°spiritual senses¡± and created doubt and conflict at the heart of town. This man was here to prove a point. Because it¡¯s always that way with them, isn¡¯t it? Revan sighed wearily. Zara was standing in the middle of the platform, illuminated, and gazing back at the man in solemn silence. Her mouth gave no expression, but her bloodshot eyes¡ªand smeared with black makeup¡ªwere large and wary. She did not falter or flinch when she finally noticed him¡ªthose dark orbs had vaguely shifted on him before moving back on Uqzar. She had not given his position away. Her waist-length hair blew against the foreboding winds. She was both harrowing and entrancing. Her temper was high, but she kept herself outwardly controlled, along with the surrounding elements for the most part, as he¡¯d been training her to do. She was a witch who had accepted her fate for what it was. A witch who had nothing left to show, but her power. The sun was gone, and the fogs¡ªto everyone¡¯s horror¡ªexpanded across the field. Revan gathered his energy, remained alert, and waited. Zara took in a breath, angled her arms, stepped a foot forward, and began her dance. The Dancing Witch Outside the carriage window was a vast sea of green. The tall grasses rolled, stretching for miles on either side of the road. The sun was high, the clouds were like rounds of bunched cotton¡ªfloating, soft, and white. The peaks were as picturesque as ever; the snow caps never quite melt until Dry Season, the hottest season of the summer. Even then, bits of snow will remain. The ride smooth, the grasslands were clear of dwelling. Zara could make out a few homes and barns in the far, far distant. She remembered bits of this route, from her childhood long ago. The calm weather, the thin streaks of daylight breaking through the clouds, and the winds whispering through the grass were vaguely familiar, like a passing dream of nostalgia. They would be approaching the farmlands in another hour. They had passed a rice field the day before, and stopped at the nearby village to rest for the night. They would be crossing the city border in another day¡¯s time. Three days it will take until she was out of the place she¡¯d called home all of her life. Home? Zara scoffed at herself. What did she know of as home? All she really knew of Pria¡ªall she¡¯d known since her early adolescent years¡ªwas limited to that damn house with those damn people she was forced to acknowledge as family. The townspeople were either against her, or suspicious of her. Some had pitied her. None of it mattered now. She let out a shaky sigh. It was truly all she knew. Now she was heading straight into unknown horizons. Very, very unknown. No one she knew would be there. She would not have a single friend. The single ¡°friend¡± she did have, she¡¯d left behind. She was leaving an entire life behind. Some would say it wasn¡¯t really much of a life, but it was one she¡¯d grown used to. Even the misery had, at least, been familiar. Zara craned her neck and watched Mount Lilith move further away. No matter how far they went, it was still imposing, even though it was at a much greater distance. It was the sole black behemoth that stretched so far high no one could see its head. The snow at the top never melted, even in the summer. The pilgrims who had attempted to climb to the highest point, beyond the Holy Temple, were still laying frozen beneath the ice, for decades on end. ¡°Cold?¡± Zara turned her neck so fast she¡¯d almost cracked it. ¡°Huh? No,¡± she said. Revan sat beside her with some distance between them. The carriage he¡¯d gotten for them was roomy; there was no concern over him invading her personal space. Their coachman did not ask questions. Revan had paid him well not to. Zara had felt very silly for believing that Revan would resort to magic straight away in order to keep strangers quiet about their business. He had laughed at her for that, pronouncing it unwise to waste energy where it wasn¡¯t needed. ¡°You were shivering,¡± he commented gently. ¡°I was?¡± ¡°¡­Are you missing your home?¡± Zara thought about it for a minute. Her heart felt strangely torn. She looked back out the window, at the passing field, the distant forests, the mountains, everything that would eventually leave her sight. She thought of the forest near her house, the calming solitude the gorgeous clearing had offered her. A melancholic unease settled in her stomach. She wanted to cry, but forced herself not to. ¡°Zara?¡± His voice was soft and understanding. He¡¯d been through similar, perhaps worse. She may not have family or friends, or a real home. But she did have him. He was with her, the soothing familiar among the frightening unknown. ¡°No,¡± was the answer she gave.
¡°What even is that?¡± ¡°I thought she was supposed to be a dancer?¡­That¡¯s what we were told¡­¡± ¡°She¡¯s¡­okay. But not very good. Not as good as the others¡ª¡± ¡°That was an awkward way to move¡­¡± ¡°Right. She¡¯s not matching it with the song. It¡¯s like she¡¯s two beats behind.¡± ¡°She¡¯s the one we were talking about¡­¡± ¡°Yes. We suspect she had something to do with that boy, and the curse in the mountain. Strange that she should be showing her face up there, dancing like this. Like a fool.¡± ¡°Sometimes I wondered why we are even here. It¡¯s like asking for bad luck over our heads!¡± The hissing voices meshed together, loud enough to reach Zara¡¯s unfortunate ears. She slowed her clunky movements even further. She had no idea what she was doing. She had no routine, she was simply moving¡ªor trying to move¡ªwith the music, as Shyla had advised, but¡­it was the first time Zara was dancing to actual music. When she practiced alone, she¡¯d picture a song, or a beat, in her mind. Dancing to live music was a lot different. She couldn¡¯t keep up. She was all over the place. She knew this would be the only outcome. She should have refused adamantly, fought back more instead of letting herself be yanked around like a sack of straw. All those people standing below¡ªthe dancers, Dolly¡¯s friends¡ªhad set her up for humiliation, save for Shyla, who was¡ªto Zara¡¯s stark realization¡ªa feeble minded fantasizer. Shyla watched Zara with clenched teeth, flinching with each mediocre step. Surrounding her was a field of ugly faces. Laughing. Mocking. Enjoying the shit show with the rest of the party. Zara stopped. She¡¯d only been dancing for maybe two to three minutes. But it seemed much longer than that. Dolly was by Varun¡¯s side. He had his arm around her protectively. She was leaning into him, and she did not seem happy at all. Those two were the only ones not laughing, or speaking ill of her. Dolly¡¯s eyes begged Zara to end it, to stop ruining her special day. Too late. Zara was glued to the wooden boards beneath her feet. Her legs were like heavy lead. She felt as though the many candles around her had risen and was burning into her flesh. She did not lift her hand to wipe the sweat dripping down her head. She watched the crowd giggle at her hesitance. The same old gossip that had been going on all day was now circulating yet again. She couldn¡¯t even look at her family¡¯s face. She could hear them defending themselves. She couldn¡¯t look at Cina, who was frantically calling her name. She heard Shia¡¯s faint voice somewhere among the noise, calling for her as well. She thought of her brothers. One would be grinning at her as cruelly as his wife was doing now. The other made it clear he cared nothing for her. The witch doctor, hidden by the dusk, was visible to only her. He had ceased moving for her failed performance, but was slowly approaching again. She had wanted to believe in herself¡ªbelieve that she was good. She would dance her awful hallucinations of that man away and impress the people with her talent. She pictured herself dancing in her own anklets. The anklets she wore were not hers; the clinks were jarring. Unpleasant. I am not hallucinating. He is there. He¡¯s here to expose me. She closed her eyes, shivering. She might as well be naked. She distracted herself with scent of the ever so cooling breeze, woodsy and wet. It whispered over her hot skin. It felt good, cooled her down. She wanted more of it. A hard object scraped the side of her head before shattering behind her. Zara jolted at the sudden strike. What the fuck? Pieces of what looked like a small plate were scattered behind her, along with large crumbs of leftover sweets. Zara brushed more of these sticky crumbs off her hair. If that plate had hit her head directly¡­ ¡°What are we doing, indulging a witch with this joke of a performance?!¡± shrieked the slanted-eyed, rude girl that Zara almost had the blessing of forgetting about. ¡°She almost attacked me today! She¡¯s definitely the freak everyone suspects her to be!¡± Zara gasped. Her husband, a man much older than her with a long face, similarly slanted eyes, and scraggly beard, swooped down and picked up an empty mug. His oily flat hair came down to his shoulders, and his child was busy pulling it. He paid the baby no mind, holding it with one strong arm, and ready to throw the mug with the other. He¡¯d been the one to start the abusive tosses. More had followed after, mainly food and empty cups, which Zara managed to mostly dodge. ¡°What if she¡¯s doing magic on us?!¡± the boy with the orange stripe in his hair exclaimed. ¡°What if that awful dance was her doing black magic?!¡± ¡°Shut the fuck up!¡± Cina screamed out, shoving the boy down. ¡°It¡¯s obviously not¡ª! Hey, STOP! Stop throwing shit! LEAVE HER ALONE, YOU DON¡¯T KNOW WHAT YOU¡¯RE TALKING ABOUT! SHE¡¯S NO WITCH! I WOULD NEVER BE SEEN WITH A FUCKING WITCH!¡± Zara was trying to get off the stage with no success. Each way she went she was blocked with Dolly¡¯s taunting friends, forcing her to stay up there. Zara felt her magical energy surge. She wanted to pound these wild faces away. ¡°She¡¯s a liar, an accomplice!¡± Zara looked up to see the girl accusing Cina. ¡°That woman over there with the light hair has to be a witch too!¡± Zara couldn¡¯t see what was happening to Cina besides hearing her screech some more. After a few more attempts at escaping her own pathetic situation, she gave up, stepped back, and took a deep breath. The guests had gone mad, now choosing to fight among themselves over whether the gossip was truth or lie. The elders expressed dismay about the engagement celebration being held at this house in the first place, admitting that they¡¯ve felt uncomfortable the entire time they were here. Noina screamed back at them, insisting they were all hypocrites and shouldn¡¯t have come to bless her daughter if they¡¯d felt that way. Zara¡¯s lip quivered. Her eyes met the witch doctor¡¯s, who had finally come close enough to where the other guests¡ªparticularly the ones who were turning around to leave¡ªhad noticed. They halted, shocked. ¡°Silence!¡± His command rang out, hard and clear, striking everyone like dominoes. Ironically, it was like seeing magic at work. The hushed silence did not last. ¡°What?¡± Cina yelped quizzically. ¡°Uncle, when did you get here?!¡± Nima stepped forward. ¡°Brother¡ª?¡± she started, but one stern look from the man was all it took to keep her quiet. She reached for her husband¡¯s hand, grasping it tightly. Meanwhile, Zara forced herself to remain at ease. Her magic had built rapidly. She reminded herself of her lessons. Control. Observe. Composure. Her energy needs to expand at its own pace. She must focus on strengthening her innate instincts. Regain clarity. That smug fool was challenging her. That was why he was here. He and his people were why her life was hell. He was why this town had become so disturbed and divided. He was the true cause for all the death, yet no one dared question him for it. She was dangerously close to becoming his next victim. This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. So be it then. She¡¯d challenge him right back. The Sorcerer was here now, steadily watching his apprentice. The fog slithered onward. The storm rolled in. Zara stepped forward. The elements would be on her side tonight.
She danced gracefully despite the absence of music. Each intentional step on the wooden stage was like a pounding weight against the quiet night. The sudden crack of thunder startled the guests out of their stupor. They shouted and whined, disoriented and afraid of Uqzar¡¯s odd presence and Zara¡¯s bizarre performance. Revan had sensed the storm. Similar to the time on the cliffs, he did nothing but watch. He was prepared, though, in case her magic were to try and strike him. Her steps made the grass shiver, and her swirling arms made the wind blow quicker. She did a spin, forcing the fogs to expand and morph into a thick, smoky mass. The rain sprinkled down, vanquishing the remaining candles and lamps that hadn¡¯t already been blown out by the high wind. This lead to more screaming and shouting. Not even the moon was visible to provide these people some much needed sight. Revan blinked to adjust his eyes. It was yet another instance where he wished he had a night creature¡¯s enhanced vision. A bat or an owl would have done nicely. Zara¡¯s black fog first attacked a family of three¡ªa young woman, a man, and the infant he was holding. The fog wrapped around them and they soon began to choke. The child wailed. The man, scrambling to get himself and the woman away from the smothering cloud, dropped the crying baby on the ground. The wailing immediately stopped. The rain was pouring down in cold sheets now. The banging thunder had guests scrambling blindly to the house for shelter. Revan could only imagine what the coachmen and their horses back at the gates were dealing with now. The fog continued to consume people. The aunt¡ªNoina was it?¡ªhad run past him, her heavy screeches of prayer an ache to his ears. It was difficult to make out where the rest of Zara¡¯s family was in this dark chaos. How amusing. Whatever Zara had done to this fog was clearly poisonous. Poisonous enough to actually kill, however, was another question that would be answered soon enough. She went on dancing like all was well, her silhouette like a phantom on the unlit stage. The tent of the stage had blown back, drenching her in rain. She didn¡¯t seem to mind. She gladly danced to the screams of her tortured audience. The fogs had affected multiple people by now. The rain droplets had turned into shards of ice. The air howled like a hurricane had hit, even though such weather was impossible in these lands. The witch doctor struggled to stand properly. The hail struck him, and he gave a shout He eventually fell on his knees, sheltering his head with his arms. Teeth chattering, Revan decided enough was enough. He¡¯d worn a fresh outfit for nothing. He¡¯d thought he¡¯d have to present himself as a guest here and lie about his relations to this family. He hadn¡¯t realized the party would turn into such a wreckage so quickly. He growled at the mud splattering his nice shirt. He reached into his pant¡¯s pocket and pulled out a small enchanted hourglass with two minutes worth of sand. He flipped it once. The amount of sand in the hourglass had not changed, but now the time would count for four. He flipped it over and over to a total of sixty minutes, recited a spell, then rushed toward the stage. He passed the witch doctor on his knees, gaping and gasping. He looked like he had truly witnessed Hell for the first time. Revan would chuckle if he wasn¡¯t so preoccupied. The fogs were creeping closer. He coughed, scraping at the slight burn at his hand. It was like inhaling ash. An ash that scorched the skin. He rushed through the billowing hail, and mistakenly stepped on a faint body. He felt a bone crack underneath his shoe¡ªlikely an arm or leg he¡¯d just trampled on¡ªbut there was no time for remorse. On the stage, Zara¡¯s movements had slowed down as she watched Revan with slight intrigue. The hail beat on him like pellets. She was the catalyst for such a storm. The world could be her stage. A shudder of excitement ran down his belly. No. With her, it will be mine. He threw the hourglass into the air, releasing the spell. The hourglass shattered. Sixty minutes worth of white sand burst out of the tiny glass, creating a beautiful overhead shower that blocked the black fogs and unforgiving pelts of hail. The soft sand stretched across the sky, sprinkling over every single guest, and even went as far as to touch the panicked coachmen and their horses beyond the front gates. The screams stopped. The people stilled. The hail transformed back into droplets of rain before ceasing altogether, though Revan hadn¡¯t been responsible for the end of the storm. He looked at Zara and panted out wearily, ¡°Any more of this, and we likely would have had another quake on our hands.¡± Zara stood quietly on the demolished stage, staring back at him. The kohl had bled down her cheeks even worse, making her concentrated gaze look ghoulish. . ¡°I¡¯m sure it would have been a showstopper,¡± Revan said. He could manage to joke, even at a terrible time like this. ¡°It was what I was going for,¡± Zara replied back blandly. She was serious. ¡°You¡¯ve hurt quite a few people.¡± She blinked once, then looked beyond him. Her brow twitched, perplexed. ¡°¡­What is this?¡± she whispered, daintily touching her soaked mop of hair. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Revan held out a hand. ¡°Come. We must go.¡± ¡°Go where?¡± ¡°Away. We are leaving this place.¡± He beckoned her. ¡°Come with me. I will steal us a carriage out front.¡± ¡°Go?¡± She was getting worked, but it also meant she was coming back to her senses. ¡°Go?!¡± He approached her, but she leaped back, almost tripping and falling over the broken wood behind her. ¡°Careful!¡± He leaped forward and caught her hand. She yanked it back, breathing heavily. ¡°No. No. What have I done? Where is everyone? I can¡¯t see¡­¡± She froze, and for a moment, Revan wondered whether his spell had delayed and affected her too. He would be ashamed of himself. He hadn¡¯t performed this spell for a long time, but he couldn¡¯t be so rusty that he would make such a stupid error and cast it over someone he hadn¡¯t intended to use it on. This crowd of at least one hundred or so was nothing compared to the groups of thousands he¡¯d frozen in the past. That took much more energy than Zara could even begin to realize. She still had a long way to go. He managed a sympathetic smile when her eyes flittered back to him. He reached for her hand again, nudging her to come off the stage. ¡°What did you do?¡± she mumbled. Revan glanced back at the human statues. ¡°They¡¯ll be like this for only one hour, Zara. We must leave, quickly.¡± ¡°You¡­made them like this? With the powder? How?¡± ¡°It was sand. And I¡¯ll tell you. I¡¯ll even show you. It¡¯s a useful trick to know. Let me help you down first.¡± She allowed him to hoist her off the stage. Once she was on solid ground, Zara began to walk hastily, scanning the area. The storm had gone, and the moon was finally shedding its soft light over the hauntingly frozen field of people. ¡°Be careful,¡± he warned, ¡°you could step on someone¡ª¡± ¡°Are they dead?!¡± ¡°No. They¡¯re just still. For now.¡± ¡°Why are some of them laying senseless then?¡± ¡°¡­You truly have no memory of what you¡¯ve done.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Her voice shook. ¡°Where¡¯s my parents? Where¡¯s Dolly?¡± She stopped in front of something and whimpered fearfully. Revan sighed. ¡°The senseless people are your own doing. I thought you¡¯d be more in control of yourself by now, honestly. At least, enough to remember your actions. And¡ªwhat is it now?¡± Zara was hunched over on the ground. ¡°The baby¡­¡± she whispered. ¡°Baby?¡± Revan peeked over her shoulder. It was the family the fog had gone after first. They were sleeping like the dead. Perhaps they were. ¡°That toxic fog you conjured choked them.¡± ¡°I¡­yes. I can-I can remember a fog but¡­are they d-dead?¡± she sobbed. Revan checked the pulse of the girl first, and then the man next to her. ¡°I feel their heart. It¡¯s faint, but it¡¯s there. I don¡¯t think the fog¡¯s poison was strong enough to kill anyone here. Their skin looks like it¡¯s suffering from hives though¡­¡± He trailed off. The infant was a few feet away, where the father had dropped it during the outbreak. He did not need to check the pulse of the little one to know it was gone. The neck was twisted. Zara wailed. ¡°Why?! I didn¡¯t mean it,¡± she cried out, pitifully. ¡°Stop this.¡± He stood and sternly grabbed her shoulder, leading her away. ¡°Why the baby¡­?¡± she blabbered through tears and a ragged breath. ¡°Calm yourself, it was a mistake. I myself might have broken someone¡¯s bone trying to reach you tonight.¡± ¡°I hurt them¡­.I hurt these people¡­¡± ¡°And? What of it? Had they not hurt you first?¡± he spoke soothingly, weaving his words, his influence, into her mind. Zara ceased sobbing. Like a fly caught in his web, she was letting him sink his teeth into her waiting flesh. ¡°You did what you must,¡± he kept going. ¡°Isn¡¯t that right? They would have done worse to you had they been in your position. Had they had your power, you would have been gone. And see, Zara.¡± He made a wide gesture out to the motionless crowd. ¡°This is one of our many purposes. We can balance out entire societies this way. Decide between good, and not so good. Humans have never liked it though. They¡¯ve never appreciated what we can do.¡± He turned her head to face the witch doctor, to his bulging-eyed expression, as frozen as the rest of him. His arms were extended out in prayer. His soaked turban had partly unraveled from his head. ¡°Look at him,¡± he said. ¡°I know how you see him. I felt your heart, listened to your soul. You are right. He¡¯s the reason why the night turned into what it had. He¡¯s the reason that baby is dead. Two innocent children died, Zara, because of him. Not you. This isn¡¯t you.¡± The tension left her body. ¡°This isn¡¯t me,¡± she repeated softly. ¡°You are right.¡± She touched his hand. ¡°I¡­I want to leave. I want to leave this place.¡± ¡°As you should. You need to gather your belongings before the spell fades.¡± She turned to face him. He¡¯d calmed her down enough, but she was still worried. ¡°Will they know what I did?¡± Revan smiled. The sand he¡¯d infused into the hourglass was laced with a potion that will wipe the memory of those inflicted with it. The guests will not remember the entire hour before Revan had tossed the hourglass into the air. However long he¡¯d frozen their time was also how far back their memories would disappear. It happened as soon as the spell struck the air. ¡°No. They won¡¯t remember your performance, or you being on that stage at all. They are going to wake up very confused. It¡¯s not going to be a pretty sight. We must hurry.¡± ¡°Wait.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± Her eyes had not moved off that man. ¡°Can we¡­can we at least get rid of him?¡± she whispered, hesitantly. Revan shook his head. ¡°You cannot.¡± He went over to the man, threw off the turban, and knocked on the bald head like it was a door. ¡°They are like solid rocks right now. Within the hour limit, you cannot hurt them, and you cannot kill them. You cannot alter them in this state.¡± Zara pouted. Revan chuckled. ¡°Bad man or not, I don¡¯t think it would be good for you to hurt any more people tonight. Do not worry. His time will one day come.¡± Zara stepped up to Uqzar, spat on him, and pushed his rock solid form into the ground, backside up. On their way back to the house, they passed by Zara¡¯s cousin and the groom, who were fine for the most part. The fogs hadn¡¯t reached them yet, and they were stuck in flailing motion, as they¡¯d been in the middle of running away. Cina and her family had been doing the same, though her father was in mid-slump, like his legs were giving out. ¡°He was already weak. I feel terrible,¡± Zara said sadly. ¡°All of their faces are so¡­¡± Amusing? No, to Zara it was terrifying. Upsetting. Enough to cause her guilt. They had all been racing away from her in fear for their lives. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± she first told Dolly, then Cina¡¯s unmoving figure. She caressed her friend¡¯s damp, yellow hair. ¡°I¡¯m sorry I¡¯m leaving. I hope to see you again. But for now, this is goodbye.¡± The rest of Zara¡¯s family was in similar states of panicked flee. Zara ignored her father, her aunt, and after some reluctance, ignored her mother as well. She stopped in front of her younger brother and his friend. She silently stroked Rowan¡¯s arm and touched the other boy¡¯s cheek. She whispered something to this boy that Revan couldn¡¯t hear, not that it mattered much to him anyway. He wished she would move faster. He didn¡¯t know how much of her things she wanted to pack, and he knew how disorganized her bedroom was. He did not wish to run out of time. He¡¯d used his sense magic lightly on her, but now he thought that maybe influencing her to move at a faster pace would have better. Her emotions right now were like cactus pricks to his skin. Nazeer and his wife had suffered like the other fog victims, which at least elevated Zara¡¯s mood a bit. The dancer she had befriended, along with all the other performers and musicians, had also been affected. The scaly rashes on their skin looked quite painful. ¡°What was in that smoke?¡± Revan wondered with a chuckle, finally letting himself enjoy the moment. He also realized then that he had run over and cracked the arm of a redheaded woman. Zara let out a snort. ¡°You¡¯re laughing?¡± Revan asked. ¡°At such a situation?¡± Zara cleared her throat. ¡°You laughed first. But I shouldn¡¯t be. Um¡­thanks.¡± ¡°For breaking the girl¡¯s arm? Well¡­I did not mean to do it, but, you¡¯re welcome?¡± ¡°She¡¯s a horrible person.¡± She shook her head. ¡°Wow. The more I think about what you said, the more it makes sense. This was deserved. The baby was a mistake, but, I believe I hurt the right people.¡± The displeased horses at the gates grunted and neighed at the sight of the only two other living beings allowed to move. It took Revan five minutes to calm they couple they were taking. They would ride one of the smaller carriages. Zara climbed in with her two bags of belongings, wincing at the wet seats. Revan took the place of coachman after moving the real one out of the way. He took the dripping hat off the coachman¡¯s head, smiling at the fear stuck on his face. ¡°Don¡¯t look at us like that. It was only a little rain,¡± he said, tipping the hat at him. He grabbed the reins, and they were on their way. They¡¯d find another carriage¡ªalong with a coachman that would keep quiet¡ªtomorrow.
Come the morning after the engagement ceremony¡¯s end¡ªwith its guests battered, damp, chilled to the core, some afflicted with itchy rashes and sore throats, one with broken bones, and two with a child succumbed¡ªthe Anvars would find that a large portion of their field beyond the splintered stage had rotted overnight. The crunchy brown decay was an ugly, shameful stain on their home, leaving them no choice but to hire gardeners and field workers to mend it. They were the town¡¯s raging gossip¡ªa family to fear, curses walking among innocents. Their daughter, the accused witch, was nowhere to be found. The witch doctor, thoroughly confused of his sudden appearance at the event, insisted that the blame be on her. She¡¯d always been a suspect. And now she was gone. This event just proved foul play. Sorcery, he said. Evil magic at work. There was no other explanation for it. ¡°You are sure no one will know it was me?¡± Zara asked again. The carriage bumped; the road was rougher in these parts. They¡¯d be at the border soon. Revan chuckled. ¡°I¡¯ll assure you again, they will not remember what you¡¯ve done to them. But I don¡¯t doubt they will match the pieces of their puzzling night and realize you were the one behind it.¡± ¡°I was not the only one,¡± Zara muttered. ¡°No one else knew I was there.¡± Zara exhaled. ¡°It is not my problem anymore. They are not my problem. I will face no consequence for this,¡± she grumbled to herself. But Revan was listening. And he smiled at her. ¡°My dear. There will be a consequence. There is, at least one, for every spell.¡± Lurking Dangers 1559, Unknown Date She¡¯d managed to get across the vast meadow, limping on a bad leg. In one of her many dazed states, she¡¯d tripped over the rubble near her home and sprained it. She didn¡¯t feel the pain now, as she¡¯d taken a full dose of the illicit medicine that had been sold to her at the edge of the village, near the ruins of the former town. Her sprain was numb. She¡¯d feel the pain strike again in a few hours. She stood in front of the forest. This forest was¡­oddly dark, despite it being a bright afternoon. Was the shade really that thick? It didn¡¯t seem like it from a glance. She blinked. Her eyes must have been playing tricks on her. No¡­it¡¯s not¡­ A dirt path paved the way forward, into the trees¡¯ beckoning night, fading into the blackness beyond. She was afraid to take another step, for fear of suddenly falling into an abyss. She wouldn¡¯t be surprised if it happened. This was the path that would lead her to The Sorceress. This had to be a trap. What truly surprised her was her ability to cross the meadow in one piece. There was normally some strange force keeping people away from it. But here she stood, at the forests¡¯ entrance. She was within a dangerous barrier, only managing to get in because she¡¯d grown much more reckless over the years, and did not care of the consequences of testing a Sorceress¡¯s boundaries. That damn witch likely knew of her intent. It was luring her in, baiting her into the hole. It had to be a trap. She should turn back. But the forest urged her in. She wobbled, before taking one step toward it with shaky, exhilarating breaths. It was like a cold night had descended. She was not aware of how much time passed. There was no more daylight in here. Her throat and chest felt tight. Her heart raced. Her mind wandered on all the reasons she should turn and run back the way she had come. But where was the way back? She turned, again and again. Everything looked the same. The path behind her had disappeared. Like there had been no trail there to begin with. There was no sign of the meadow clearing either. She couldn¡¯t see anything but surrounding tree trunks, frayed bushes, and dead leaves and twigs on the ground. She looked ahead of her. The path only moved onward, to where it wanted her to go¡ªdeeper into the woods. But behind her, was nothing. ¡°Wait,¡± she whispered to no one. It didn¡¯t make sense. Nothing made sense in this stupid forest. Fear made her swallow her tongue. There was not another sound besides the shuffled steps of her feet against pebbles and the occasional crackle of leaves. There was only the dark in front of her, but it was worse behind her, as if it were daring her to even think about trying to run. She was not holding onto a candle or a lamp. Yet she was able to see enough to walk forward, as though her eyes were the source of light. She was seeing what The Sorceress wanted her to see. She heard rustling. She froze. She shook and she wept. This was a mistake. This witch¡ªthis thing¡ªwouldn¡¯t care about her. Wouldn¡¯t care to know her. That was how these creatures were. She should have listened to the village folk, her neighbors. Even the fools she stayed with had better sense. She should have listened to them when they warned her not to disturb the peace¡ªthe little that they had. She¡¯d gone off on a drunken rant instead. She wasn¡¯t afraid of this witch, at that time. She believed The Sorceress knew her, and therefore wouldn¡¯t harm her. For some fucking reason. ¡°Come,¡± the word echoed lightly, so suddenly, across the dark, almost like a passing breeze. Her scream died in her throat. She had never¡­ever heard the witch speak. The command was straightforward, almost nonchalant. The voice sounded young, almost pleasant. It scared her more than if she were to hear a craggly hag speak instead. ¡°I want to go home,¡± she whispered back. Her mind did not agree, though. Her legs moved by another force¡¯s will. Twenty more steps later, she was at the cottage door. The path had vanished. She was surrounded by tall, silent trees. The door creaked open. ¡°Come.¡± Her stomach lurched. Shivering, she stepped inside. It was empty and dark except for a candle dimly lighting a corner of the room, where a woman was sitting on a soft chair. Something wasn¡¯t right. ¡°Ilsah¡­¡± She flinched hard at the raspy sound of her surname. The thing¡¯s voice sounded nothing like it did before. The woman turned her head, letting the candlelight hit her face. All feeling fled her body. The thing¡¯s face, its eyes¡­those were not the beautiful large eyes she¡¯d see at the market. This face¡ªat least one large half of it¡ªlooked like it was melting. Its left eye socket was a hollow hole. Its cheeks were sunken in. Chunks of her skin on the left side were torn, leaving the back of its teeth exposed. Its mouth drooped too low. A chunk of hair on the front of the head was gone, like it had been ripped off the scalp. The skin on the face and the neck were patchy, wrinkled¡­.corpse-like. She was too paralyzed to scream. Her legs gave way, her eyes rolled back, and she fell with her head hitting the floor.
¡°You may not be able to go back to that town. Not for many years, at the very least.¡± ¡°¡­How many years exactly?¡± ¡°Until, perhaps, everyone there has forgotten you.¡± Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions. ¡°Forgotten me? That¡¯s not going to happen.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right. No one from the living generation will forget, more than likely. You¡¯ll have to wait until the next one, or the one after, if you¡¯d like to stop by for a visit. And even then, you¡¯re likely to find it pointless. You¡¯re likely to have forgotten the town yourself.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think so. Not after what it put me through. Either way, it is where I grew up after all, as well. Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯ve forgotten your childhood home, however crappy it may have been.¡± ¡°When you get to be as old as I, you¡¯ll find yourself wanting to revisit the past less and less.¡± ¡°¡­.The next generation, huh? The few people I knew would be¡­¡± ¡°Gone.¡± ¡°Yes. Gone.¡± ¡°Sand Time will wear off their memories of that night little by little, day by day. Right now, they are on the lookout for you. At a later time, they will begin to think that storm you conjured was only a bad dream. Eventually, they will believe that you were also a bad dream.¡± ¡°Huh? If that¡¯s the case, then why would it be dangerous for me to go back? No one will recognize me anyway.¡± ¡°It only takes a single trigger for a memory to return, which will then cause a ripple effect. The next thing you know, you¡¯re being severely hunted down. Do not make the mistake of growing nostalgic. It¡¯s not worth your life.¡±
Almost eight months since moving to the city, Zara was able to memorize many spells and Saiyyin chants. She¡¯d now been tasked with potion making, which was her favorite subject by far. The indigo mixture in the silver pot brewed over the hearth as Zara gave it one final stir before scooping it into glass jars. The instruction scroll lay half-rolled on the table beside her; she¡¯d gotten good practice at making this particular potion¡ªquick healing and sleeping¡ªand no longer needed to refer to each step, but she liked to have it out anyway, in case she were to somehow forget something. ¡°Zara,¡± Revan¡¯s lazy voice called from the terrace. ¡°Yes, sir,¡± Zara dutifully answered back. The room she was working in was adjacent to the terrace. They used this room as their workroom. ¡°I need you to pick up some herbs and seeds. I left a list for you on the table.¡± ¡°I saw. Wasn¡¯t sure what it was though,¡± Zara mentioned casually. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you say anything earlier?¡± ¡°The streets have lightened up by now. I thought you¡¯d prefer it that way.¡± ¡°What?¡± Zara looked out the open terrace door for the first time since beginning work. She¡¯d started when the sun was much higher in the sky. Now it was setting. The street in which they lived wasn¡¯t too busy in the first place as they were on a quainter side of the city, and would be quieter by this time of day. ¡°I did try to invite you for some tea earlier,¡± he remarked. ¡°The weather is not so bad today, a little chilly I suppose but nothing you are not used to¡­¡± ¡°Are you relaxing?¡± Zara complained. ¡°Why haven¡¯t you told me to stop?¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t hear me. Besides, you were doing very well. I decided not to bother you.¡± She couldn¡¯t see him from where she sat, but the easy sarcasm in his tone annoyed her. He was out there, sitting in front of the garden, watching the neighborhood with a cup of warm tea in his hand while she was cooped up slaving away on his work. Work she still didn¡¯t know every detail about, despite it being a year as his apprentice. She¡¯d learned a lot, but she wanted to know more. ¡°Oh, and please,¡± he added, ¡°if you could also find some sea scales¡ªthe same ones you picked up that time before¡ªthat would be kind¡ª¡± ¡°I¡¯m tired,¡± she muttered. ¡°What was that?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll try.¡± ¡°Thank you, my dear.¡± I¡¯m really not your dear¡­ She put on her cloak, grabbed her satchel, and headed to the marketplace, grateful for the millionth time to be living away from the crowds of inner Darhai. This area was neither rich, nor too poor, and Revan owned a large house here, only common among the upper class. An icy breeze slapped her face. The winter season had not fully passed. The nighttime mist would soon settle over the icy roads; Zara was careful not to slip. Perhaps it would snow a bit tomorrow. Winters in Darhai were nothing like Pria, where the DeepWinter and snow season was a real danger. She and her family would have to prepare ahead of time, shut themselves in, keep every hearth lit, warm their beds, and feast on fatty yet delicious meals prepared special by her mother¡­ Zara entered a shop and found the herbs she needed. The fisher¡¯s stall would close soon, so she had to be quick. She paid for the herbs and walked another ten minutes to her next destination. Not many people were out and about, but the few that were seemed to enjoy strolling despite the chill. The pebbled roads here were clean and spacious. Unlike the busier districts, there were hardly any carriage and cart accidents around here, nor were there beggars, junk users, and night walkers getting in the way. Some of the buildings were high, usually four stories at most coming to a point at the top, its sharp structures and designs unique and reminiscent of the ancient Kingdom it stood on. The White Sun emblem greeted her on the local temple she passed, shining like a beacon against the twilight. She was reminded, yet again, of Naz. How many buildings in the city had he designed? Were any of them here? She was frequently reminded of him whenever she took in the sights. And suddenly, the buildings would not seem so nice anymore. So ridiculous, the thoughts she had. Naz was not the only architect in Darhai¡¯s existence. She forced thoughts of him away. If she didn¡¯t, it would lead to other thoughts. Thoughts of a miserable past, and unsatisfying farewells. Zara was able to snag some scales off a Sorko fish¡ªa large hunting fish with sharp jaws and quick fins¡ªdangerous while alive, but tasty when dead and cooked. She thanked the seller and began the walk home, taking comfort in the light, misty air. Snowy winters in Pria looked beautiful, but they were hard to live in. There wasn¡¯t much to enjoy anyway, being shut in all the time. Zara chuckled bitterly to herself. Winter or not, she had always been shut in. At least now, in this city running errands, she was free.
Revan watched Zara closely through The Mirror as she walked away from the market. She¡¯d made much progress during their time here together. That is, after she had stopped worrying about the living arrangement. This home was big enough to give her enough privacy from him. Some days, they hardly saw one another. To the neighbors, they were simply close cousins. That, of course, didn¡¯t stop some gossip from naturally occurring anyway, but most had accepted it. Revan just thought they looked too different to be considered legitimate siblings, which would only cause more suspicious talk to circulate. So he¡¯d left it at that. Zara had gone through major depressive episodes in the first month, but as her training tasks increased, she got better. And so, through ups and downs, good times, awkward times, here they were. And here he was, still keeping tabs on her because there were still things about this city she wasn¡¯t fully aware of yet. Terrible things. The city was stained with a hopelessness that could not be scraped away. Even in nicer areas like this, there was no escaping it. There was always something lurking, always someone set out to end the temporary peace. He¡¯d taught her enough magic to arm herself, however, he wasn¡¯t fully confident in her ability to properly act in the face of danger yet. Just when he¡¯d ended the thought, disaster struck. A woman leaped from the depths of a dark alley Zara was walking past. If Revan had seen many human monsters. This was the lowest of them, as usual. My devils. The state of her¡­ Revan immediately stood up and went for one of his vials of wolf fur, keeping his eye on The Mirror. The woman¡ªor hag, as he could truly describe the wretched looking thing¡ªgrabbed Zara with her bony hands. Some of her fingers looked melded together. Her hair was thin and dry like straw, but her face¡­.her face looked like it was melting off her skull. One eye was almost covered by the skin of what was once her brow. Her lower lip jutted downward, and a few of her teeth seemed to be growing over it. Her skin was a putrid, brownish gray. Pink sores dotted her bare arms, legs, and upper head. Junk user. Of course. Zara screamed. The hag screamed right back, lurching for Zara¡¯s bag. The street was vacant. They were alone. Even if a thousand people were around, hardly anyone would step in to help. That was how things were in these parts. One had to always look out for oneself. Not in this case. You are lucky I am always watching you, my dear. He raced out into the night on four strong legs and bared, pointed teeth. Anomaly Zara had never seen such a grotesque creature in her life. She screamed again, as loud as she could, for help. But the street was quieter than the dead. The mists had settled over the roads, as they do a graveyard. She was left struggling in the slimy grip of this decrepit thing who screamed right back in her face. Its breath smelled worse than literal shit. Its teeth were rotten and half of them were missing. It was also much stronger than it looked, and Zara could not wring herself away. Its nails dug painfully into her arm. Some of its fingers were fused together. Zara winced, letting out another hard cry. The creature knocked the satchel off Zara¡¯s shoulder. A packet of scales, some crumpled notes, and her coin purse flew out. The creature screeched in delighted surprise before shoving Zara away and lunging after the purse. ¡°Wait!¡± Zara yelled. Wait¡­what am I doing?! The creature opened up the purse with its bony, rattling hands, greedily counting the coins inside. Zara caught her breath, shivering as the wet mists drifted over her. Upon another look, Zara realized that the creature¡ªso distracted by the shiny, clinking coins¡ªwas a person. It did not look so much like a person than a skeletal monster straight out of horror tale, but it was a woman with a heavily disfigured face, and a body rail thin. Zara ran to her satchel and pulled out a small dagger. She ripped the protective covering off it, recited a defense spell as best as she could remember, and charged toward the creature¡ªthe woman¡ªstruggling to stand. Her grunts were loud and abnormal, like an animal. All Zara had to do was stab her. Not even a full stab. A slice would do just fine. The thing in front of her would collapse like dust either way and Zara could run home without any worry. But it wasn¡¯t a thing. It was a woman. A woman who had paused to examine Zara¡¯s face, coin purse still in hand, while her stick thin body quaked against the cooling air. She was practically naked, wearing only a thin under dress barely concealing her body. Her washed-out skin was littered with patches of brown and red sores. Her face was like thawed wax. The woman was silent now. Her panting breaths whistled out of her one visible nostril and exposed teeth. Her crusty lower lip shook as her eyes moved to the dagger¡¯s blade. She hunched over, like she¡¯d just realized the gravity of the situation, and moaned pathetically. The dagger trembled in Zara¡¯s hand, unable to make its descent. Zara could feel the magic wearing off it. Useless. It¡¯s useless¡­ The woman took a crippled step back. Then another. She had not let the coin purse go. ¡°Give it,¡± Zara whispered. ¡°Give it back, please.¡± The woman bolted. Zara lurched forward with the dagger, shocked. ¡°Stop!¡± Before she could even begin to chase the woman, a giant beast leaped out of the foggy mists, its loud growls cutting across the vacant streets. A wolf. But it wasn¡¯t just any wolf. It was a Mogheirian species that only existed in the far north. Its fur was thick and black, its body was larger than four grown men, its eyes were small and white, and its temper towards mankind was as severe as its sharp teeth and claws. Zara had seen this particular wolf before. She knew who it was. She¡¯d just never seen him act like a savage. She let the dagger drop to the ground in fearful disbelief. The haggard woman had run a few steps before the wolf pounced on her. Its claws easily ripped her skin apart. Her agonizing wails went on and on as the wolf¡¯s teeth nipped at her disfigured face, before it finally showed her some mercy and chomped its jaws into her skull. Zara whirled away before she started vomiting. ¡°What are you doing?! What are you doing?! Stop that!¡± she cried with her palms pressed against her ears. The rumbling slurps and cracking of bones were unbearable. ¡°What?¡± came Revan¡¯s voice. ¡°This thief would have gotten away with all your coin if I hadn¡¯t stepped in.¡± Zara slowly turned her head, only to quickly look away again. She had gotten an unfortunate glance of the bloody sight on the road and it was making her dizzy. ¡°Stepped in? You mauled her!¡± Revan was obviously back to normal form. He walked over to her and dangled her purse playfully in front of her face. It was covered in blood. ¡°Ugh, you carry it. Please. And get it away from my face. I don¡¯t want it dripping on me.¡± ¡°Is this your thanks?¡± Zara let out a heavy sigh. She wiped loose strands of damp hair off her face. She was covered in cold mist and hot sweat and just wanted to head back home and forget any of this happened. ¡°You killed her.¡± She finally faced him. He looked perfectly aloof, like he wasn¡¯t a fucking beast just a second ago. ¡°Wipe your face,¡± she said, uneasily. ¡°There is blood on the corner of your lip.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± He casually wiped his mouth with his cloak sleeve. Zara stared at him. ¡°How can you stand that?¡± He shrugged. ¡°It does not faze me.¡± ¡°And what will you do about the body?¡± ¡°Dispose of it.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Zara squeaked as he went back to the body she couldn¡¯t look at. A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation. ¡°You should turn around and watch. This could be your next lesson.¡± ¡°No. I can¡¯t watch this. I can¡¯t do that.¡± Revan huffed, annoyed. ¡°Fine. For now. I could show you on a lesser animal like a rat or a bird. But it would do you good to not be so afraid of seeing death.¡± ¡°Unlike you, I think I still have a bit of humanity left in me.¡± Revan said nothing. She heard soft rustling and crunching behind her, then a light puff like someone had dusted off a pillow. Zara cautiously turned her head again, still afraid to face the mangled body but curious enough to want to know how he was handling it. She was surprised to see that the body and the blood was replaced with a mound of ash-colored soil. ¡°What is that?¡± she asked, walking up to the mound. ¡°What did you do?¡± ¡°I decomposed her.¡± ¡°¡­Into this?¡± ¡°Well, I can¡¯t leave her bones lying so openly in this road now, can I?¡± He started to kick at the mound, spreading the disgusting soil out. ¡°Stop!¡± Zara squealed, cringing. ¡°What is it now?¡± ¡°It¡­she¡­don¡¯t you think we should have buried her?¡± ¡°What? This thing?¡± He chuckled and continued kicking the soil out. ¡°And where out here could we have done so anyway?¡± ¡°She was a woman¡­¡± Zara hesitated. ¡°A hag, you mean. Go pick up your things. Check to see if my scales are accounted for, at the very least. The herbs might have suffered some damage but¡ª¡± But Zara had other concerns. ¡°I don¡¯t understand,¡± she mumbled. Revan stopped shuffling his feet and looked at her. ¡°What don¡¯t you understand?¡± ¡°What happened to her?¡± ¡°I killed it,¡± he stated bluntly. ¡°And now I am concealing its existence. No one will question any extra dirt around these streets. You should be more aware of your surroundings, by the way.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Have I not taught you how to keep your senses alert?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t do it as well as you,¡± Zara argued, embarrassed. In fact, she hadn¡¯t thought to use low level magic to stay alert tonight. She¡¯d felt too safe to need it. That had been a big mistake. ¡°A pitiful excuse. You are never safe, no matter where you are. Remember that. Also, you have no right to criticize my method, considering what you were about to do with that dagger. Which would have yielded similar results.¡± Zara sighed, running her hands down her face. ¡°I couldn¡¯t do it. I know it¡¯s wrong. I know. I could have done it¡­but I didn¡¯t.¡± ¡°Your feelings are misplaced. You see this thing as a person. It is not. It is dangerous. It could have done you serious harm, had you not had any coin on you to distract it.¡± ¡°¡­You didn¡¯t answer my question properly. I¡¯m not asking what¡¯s happening to her now, I¡¯m asking what happened to her to make her like¡­the way she was.¡± Revan kicked the dead soil again. ¡°It was a user. Its mental condition is enough proof of it.¡± Zara was aghast. ¡°I knew that but¡­just a user? We¡¯ve seen plenty of those but none as bad as this¡ªor at least, I have not.¡± ¡°Yes. You have not. Whatever this hag was using, petals or otherwise, it was extremely potent. That¡¯s why it wanted your money. It was entirely dependent on buying and using. Its life was nothing otherwise. As for its disfigurement¡ªwhich I know is what you are concerned most over¡ªit likely got itself into trouble with some cruel authorities, or underground thugs. It was severely burned. I believed it first to be from flame, but upon closer look, it might have been acid.¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡± A violent life and a violent end. What a terrible fate. Revan scoffed. ¡°And people think mages are the only ones capable of producing such terrible poison.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t sympathize at all?¡± Zara asked quietly. ¡°I only sympathize with those deserving sympathy. I don¡¯t sympathize with junks like this.¡± He kicked the dirt once last time. ¡°Now go gather your things, please. Someone is coming.¡± ¡°What?! How do you know¡ª¡± Zara stopped herself. It was a useless question. She quickly picked up the packet of scales and papers and shoved them into her satchel. ¡°Revan, are you sure no one saw us? Or heard us? Ugh, did you really have to use the wolf?¡± She glanced at the dark windows of the buildings around them. ¡°I wasn¡¯t any more noisy than you were. Besides, no one saw us. I would have acted differently otherwise. And for your information, I quite like using the wolf.¡± Zara pulled the satchel straps over her shoulders and stared into the once-again quiet street, lit by a few sconces and the moonlight reflecting off the mists. ¡°¡­No one came to help me. No one even looked.¡± ¡°People who have lived here long enough learn to only look after themselves and fear everything else. A mere look can involve you in situations you¡¯d rather stay out of. It is safer that way. You can¡¯t trust many people, Zara.¡± ¡°But I can trust you of course,¡± she muttered. Revan smiled. ¡°Of course.¡± He looked to the road behind them, and his smile disappeared. ¡°Now, let¡¯s go before we are seen.¡± They started striding back to their house. ¡°Wait a minute,¡± Zara said. ¡°This person¡­is the only one that has come out here. Why? Could it be curiosity or¡­are they another threat? Why are they heading this way?¡± Revan did not answer. For some reason, he seemed entirely disturbed. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± she asked, worried. ¡°Did this person see us? Do they¡­know something they shouldn¡¯t?¡± ¡°No. But they are what I like to refer to as an anomaly.¡± His expression tightened. ¡°I don¡¯t like anomalies.¡± He pulled his cloak hood over his head and walked faster. Zara followed, pulling her hood on as well.
The screams had erupted half a mile away from her home. The sounds were so torturous that she couldn¡¯t stay put. She wondered, as she exited the building she¡¯d moved into the week prior, why no one else was coming out to investigate. Every window of every home and shop were closed and darkened by curtains. Is this a mistake? Is there something they know that I don¡¯t? The screams dragged on. She could distinguish the voices of two women, and one of them was crying for help. She considered going back upstairs. No one else seemed to care and the mists were thick. She could get lost; she did not know the area very well yet. But it was not in her nature to abandon someone in need of help. She walked far and as fast as her long legs would allow her, relying on the noise for guidance. It was strange. At one point it seemed like a dog had gotten involved. She¡¯d heard growls and roars. No¡­it had to be bigger than a dog. These women were being attacked by a wild animal! She quickened her pace. Then, all was quiet. Are they dead? Am I too late? Had that animal gotten them? She continued to wander forward with uncertainty. She heard faint voices up ahead. The thick mists were blocking her sight, but she thought she heard a man speaking. He was still too far to hear. Her mind urged her to turn back, that there was nothing here to see. That she was being foolish. Then it told her she would regret her next step, that danger lurked beyond the mist. She had a strange, abnormally sudden desire to cower. This wasn¡¯t like her at all. She did not cower easily. Angered with herself, she forced the stupid voices out of her head. It took a couple of minutes until she was able to walk forward again. Her cowardliness had fled, but so had all other sound. There was no man, no women, no animal¡­nothing. She felt a hard crunch and prickling underneath the thin soles of her shoes, like she¡¯d stepped over small stones. Gray sediment scattered the area. What is this? Whatever had happened, it was over. The streets were peaceful, though a little unnerving. She was beginning to wonder whether she¡¯d just imagined it all. She¡¯d been having trouble sleeping properly since changing homes. Maybe that¡¯s all it was. A sleepless delusion. It wouldn¡¯t be the first time. She let out a frustrated sigh, running her fingers through her long, dark locks, dampened from the mist. She tightened her coat over her nightgown and was about to turn back when she noticed a small dagger on the side of the road. She carefully picked it up. Engraved on the handle was a name. ¡°Zara¡­?¡± she whispered. She looked around and found herself facing a dark alley. She clutched the dagger, thinking of the name. A familiar feeling pooled in her gut. It told her that the owner of the dagger had gone down the opposite road, and wasn¡¯t too far to approach. Perhaps, come morning, she would attempt to find her way back here and return the dagger to its owner. She would let her strong instincts guide her as she always had. They never led her astray. She was a stubborn woman, and would prove to herself that she wasn¡¯t a deluded, impulsive idiot like others in the past have claimed her to be. She¡¯d hiked half a mile on an empty, cold road in the dark for a valid reason and she knew it. She ran her fingers over the engraved handle again. There had been a very odd occurrence here tonight, and this Zara person surely had something to do with it. Wistful Longings The entrance into the city had been less than desirable. Granted, this was Zara¡¯s first time viewing the bordering regions of the Sanyaran Kingdom after many long years. As much as people gushed over the city¡¯s wealth and beauty, that all lay mainly toward the center in the capitol and near the western ports. Zara couldn¡¯t help but wonder how everyone¡¯s great expectations had to have dwindled upon arrival. They were all led to believe the entirety of the place was one big paradise full of rich prosper and hope. In reality, it was anything but. This was not the first time Zara had seen such poverty in these parts. Her first time as a child traveling with her family had made her nervous. Seeing it again, as a young adult, she wasn¡¯t sure if her childhood memory had deceived her into believing it wasn¡¯t so bad back then, or if the quality of life now had gotten so much worse. The uneven, cobbled roads were overflowing with carriages, horses, people, and stray animals. Every corner, every turn, every shop and stall, and the fronts of the most dingy living quarters were packed. Dust clouded the air, dirtying the worn-out buildings even further. The homeless begged for coin and food. Some of them were children, dressed in rags, or hardly anything at all. They went ignored, left to scramble through thrown away food scraps and garbage piles in the alleys. When Zara tried offering a coin to a lone girl, Revan had smacked her hand down and grabbed the coin before the child could lift her little hands. ¡°Don¡¯t. Many of them are thieves in disguise. They take your money and give it to their lazy mothers who don¡¯t want to work as maids or whores,¡± he had said. ¡°And you¡¯re so sure the child you just scared away is a thief like all the rest of them?¡± ¡°It does not matter. She doesn¡¯t concern us and you¡¯re better off saving my money.¡± But what had affected Zara most was not the homeless people or the starving children fending for themselves. What startled her was the alarming presence of many frighteningly bizarre behaviors. Men and women, young and old, would laugh at nothing. Talk to nothing. They either slurred or spoke a mile a minute. Their movements were twitchy or sluggish. Some banged their heads against walls until they bled, others stood like statues, even when they were screamed by coachmen to get off the roads. These people all had a certain type of garish appearance, their skin bruised up and sore. Their pupils were always unnaturally large. From a distance, their eyes seemed hollow, their faces like ghosts. Zara feared their wild tempers. She hated their smiles. They were hideous, and she was repulsed and saddened by them all at once. She didn¡¯t know why she felt this way, and no one else around her seemed to feel the same. Revan was practically heartless in this matter (like most matters it seemed), but given what he was, it wasn¡¯t a shock. Perhaps it was Zara¡¯s lack of societal experience that brought upon too much misplaced sympathy for people she shouldn¡¯t feel anything for. Perhaps, over time, she would feel nothing but contempt for them too. After all, they looted, they murdered, and they ravaged innocent civilians. The worse ones were practically inhuman. They dirtied what was supposed to be one of the most affluent places in the world. ¡°Junk users hiding in the mists. Literally,¡± Zara stated unhappily. It was late morning, following the night she¡¯d almost been attacked by one. ¡°How could you have let me go out knowing things like that were roaming around?¡± She placed the coffee leaves into the pot and placed it over the fire. She went back to the little kitchen table to nibble on some more buttery bread. Revan was gobbling down the flatbread and beef lentil soup Zara had cooked for brunch. He had bathed before coming downstairs; his combed back hair was still damp with a couple of strands framing his angular face. He¡¯d trimmed and cleaned his beard as well. Pleasant scents of sandalwood and amber wafted off him whenever he moved. Some days, they liked sleeping in late. This was one of those days. The morning clouds had been all gloom, like they¡¯d been preparing for rain. But the sun was finally starting to peak out, allowing its slim rays to shine through the window and warm up the tulip pot sitting on the sill. ¡°You are becoming quite the cook,¡± he commented, ushering Zara to fill his bowl with more soup. ¡°It¡¯s unexpected. I like it.¡± ¡°I learn from the best,¡± she said, her glumness brightening by a bit. He was changing the subject, but she could tell he meant what he said. She hadn¡¯t been much of a cook at first, but with his training, she¡¯d improved in various aspects of living, be it magic, domestic chores, or basic social interactions. He smiled at her. It was one of those playful ones that both flustered her and made her stomach flip. ¡°That you do. Besides, last night was quite the experience, wasn¡¯t it? It¡¯s all a part of your training. If you are going to live here, or anywhere really, you might as well be versed in all the region¡¯s good and ugly.¡± ¡°Experience? I was completely unprepared!¡± ¡°You were not. Not really. It¡¯s just that you lack strategy.¡± He chuckled. ¡°Shall we go over those again? Like the ones on defense?¡± Zara turned away and headed back to where the coffee was brewing before he could note her blushing cheeks. ¡°I¡¯ve made coffee. If you want some,¡± she bit out. ¡°I¡¯m here to help you.¡± He laughed. ¡°And of course.¡± ¡°Tell me this.¡± She ladled the coffee into two mugs. ¡°We¡¯ve been under the same roof for almost a year¡ª¡± ¡°Does it excite you?¡± ¡°¡­Does what excite me?¡± ¡°Living here. With me. I¡¯ve been meaning to ask.¡± Zara groaned inwardly. ¡°Aren¡¯t you in a playful mood today? Stop that. Let me finish my thought.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve filled our kitchen with my favorite aroma. It would be hard to focus on you without it in front of me. Come on, it doesn¡¯t take that long to pour.¡± She clunked the steaming mug down in front of him, ignoring him smirking at her pink, agitated face. He lifted the mug to his lips and blew over it, careful not to soil his slack, off-white shirt with a spill. He hadn¡¯t bothered with tying the laces on the front. If he had, his smooth brown chest muscles wouldn¡¯t be on such blatant display. He was full of shit. Would be hard to focus? Sometimes, it was hard for her to focus. His sandalwood musk was more enticing to her than that damn coffee. Zara had mostly gotten used to being around the man, but there were days when she was acutely aware of him and their odd little living situation. Especially the more she performed domestic tasks for him. It reminded her that her teacher, this Sorcerer, was quite a handsome and resourceful man. A man she still hardly knew much of anything about. ¡°How do you spy on me?¡± she asked directly. His slow, dragging sip was noisy and annoying the longer he stalled. ¡°You. Promised.¡± She clenched her teeth as she spoke. ¡°So long ago.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t promise anything. I believe I said when the time was right? Or when you wouldn¡¯t pester me about it? It was for some such reason, I remember.¡± ¡°Ugh! When will it be right? You know, you also mentioned teaching me how to fly.¡± ¡°Fly?¡± He was amused. ¡°Ah, yes.¡± ¡°Yes. Like a bird. Or it doesn¡¯t have to be flying. I wouldn¡¯t mind running and howling like a wolf. I would even be content as a squeaking rat or a slimy little worm, for Lilith¡¯s sake!¡± Revan pursed his lips, at an attempt to keep a straight face. Zara was becoming more upset, believing he wasn¡¯t taking her seriously, or still couldn¡¯t find it in him to trust her. Does he think nothing of me? Have I not proven myself worthy enough yet? How long is this going to take? ¡°Teach me how to morph,¡± Zara demanded sternly. ¡°Is that any way to talk to your instructor, apprentice?¡± Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. ¡°I request. Please. Sir.¡± After a moment¡¯s contemplating, Revan nodded. ¡°It¡¯s not simple,¡± he warned. ¡°I can¡¯t imagine it will be.¡± ¡°It would be a useful skill for you to know. I just don¡¯t want you to tire out.¡± ¡°I will do my very best.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t doubt you.¡± There it was, the strange bounce in her stomach when he looked at her like¡­that. His eyes gazed at her warmly, like he was more than just a teacher proud of a student¡¯s enthusiasm. It made her feel both giddy and awkward. She cleared her throat and sat in the chair by him, finally taking in her own coffee. ¡°The coffee in Pria is so much better, is it not?¡± Revan muttered, taking another sip. ¡°Mm. Needs more sugar. Can you¡ª¡± ¡°It¡¯s on the table,¡± she said before he could request she go get some for him. She sighed, letting her feelings dissipate. This was too weird. She was obviously reading the wrong signals, but did it matter? He¡¯d formed a clear boundary between them from the start, and he had practically two lifespans worth of history she knew little about. She trusted him, and at the same time, she didn¡¯t really. She had no idea what went on in his head, and it embarrassed her greatly to know that he probably knew almost everything in her own, including her brief moments of attraction to him. It was not a good idea to grow too attached. He was toying with her. This arrangement would one day change, and they¡¯d be on separate paths. She spared a glance at him, and paused. He was staring at his mug blankly. He had been doing that last night as well, while sitting on his favorite soft chair in front of the fireplace with a book. Except he hadn¡¯t been reading it, he¡¯d been staring off, lost in thought as he was now. ¡°What is it?¡± she asked. He blinked, looking at her like he was surprised she was still there. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°¡­Are you thinking about last night again? About that¡­anomaly, you said it was?¡± Revan let out a defeated sigh, slumping back. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. It¡¯s truly nothing. I¡¯ll drop it.¡± Zara shook her head. ¡°No. If it was truly nothing, you wouldn¡¯t be thinking of it at all and in turn, I would have disregarded it entirely. But here you are and I¡­don¡¯t think I¡¯ve ever seen you look so¡­.perplexed?¡± ¡°Yes, it¡¯s very¡­odd,¡± he reluctantly admitted, more to himself than to her. ¡°And because it is odd it also¡­interests me.¡± ¡°What is? What¡¯s odd?¡± Zara was leaning forward, intensely curious, cooling coffee forgotten. ¡°I haven¡¯t sensed something like her in¡­a long time. I wonder¡­¡± ¡°Her? It is a woman than? What do you wonder?¡± Revan put his fingers to his lips, thinking. ¡°I have a strong feeling we may see her again.¡± Frustrated at his lack of direct answers, Zara lightly tapped her palm on the table in front of him. ¡°Revan, what do you know about this woman? Was she following us? Did you sense something dangerous about her? Is she someone we need to run from?¡± Revan frowned. ¡°You blurt so many questions, all at once.¡± ¡°And you give so little answers, all the time.¡± ¡°No, we will not run from this.¡± He scoffed. ¡°As long as you keep your wits about you, we won¡¯t have to do much of anything but wait and see if this plays in our favor.¡± He held his hand up to shush Zara before she could complain again. ¡°And just for your pointy attitude this morning, I will not say another word about it.¡± Zara rolled her eyes. ¡°She¡¯s probably just another user wandering around the mists. You¡¯re just tugging my hems.¡± He quirked a brow as if that settled it and finished the rest of his coffee. Though the talk of users got Zara thinking about certain associations back in Pria. ¡°Revan,¡± she started, ¡°Those people, the users, their faces are always like¡ªI mean, it¡¯s their eyes. They become so black. Their faces pale like snow, and they act so creepy. Until last night, I had been lucky to not witness someone as intense as that¡­thing¡­up close. But something about the one eye she had¡ªat least the one not concealed by melted flesh¡ªit reminded me of¡­Naz. And of my old friend, Cina. At the engagement party. Rowan¡¯s eyes were a bit like that too. Though, they were obviously not as bad¡­¡± Revan nodded. ¡°Depending on the dosage of whatever petals they were using, it must have been mild. Though even a mild dose is strong. The user from last night must have been wearing off its last high. That¡¯s why it was out. It was hunting for money.¡± He was talking so casually, like it wasn¡¯t a big deal that Zara¡¯s friend and brother were both using illicit petals, leaves, berries or whatever the fuck else could destroy their bodies and souls. ¡°I can¡¯t believe they would do those things!¡± Zara cried out. Her mind was not even concerned about dosages, or that stupid user¡¯s motivation for getting out of the hole she crawled out of. ¡°I mean, fuck Naz. His circumstances don¡¯t concern me. But Cina and Rowan? Why would they want to? Do they even know what could happen to them? Rowan should know better! They teach these lessons in school! I know because my aunt had been following their curriculum. How could he be so stupid?! And Cina? She¡¯ll destroy her pretty face if she keeps this up! Wha-What could be possibly be the reason?¡± Zara threw her hands up, aghast. ¡°Huh? Don¡¯t people resort to this in the hardest of times? They do not have hard times!¡± She stood up quickly, letting her chair scrape back. ¡°I had hard times! Me! But I would never touch that shit.¡± Revan chuckled. ¡°Sure. You say that now, after seeing the worst result. But they haven¡¯t seen anything at all. Had you left your house more often, and had more personal connections like your friend and brother had, you¡¯d act similarly, as many young people tend to do.¡± Zara crossed her arms, scowling. ¡°That¡¯s some shit. Are you telling me you¡¯ve done it?¡± He didn¡¯t answer her, as usual. But he did smile. And it wasn¡¯t a nice one this time. It made her want to smack him. ¡°Ugh!¡± ¡°It¡¯s experimenting, Zara. They are naive. They¡¯ll eventually make themselves sick of it¡­hopefully. They can only afford the weakest herbs, I assume¡ª¡± ¡°That doesn¡¯t matter! It doesn¡¯t make it better.¡± ¡°What does it matter to you now? What they do should mean nothing to you. Rowan was hardly a good brother. And Cina would never have accepted you anyway.¡± Zara hardly had a response to that. He made a good point, however, that didn¡¯t stop her from somberly pondering over it to herself anyway. If only Cina could see that mages weren¡¯t inherently evil, their friendship could have potentially blossomed to new heights. Having a strong-willed woman unafraid to speak up for herself and her friends would have made a wonderful ally. With Revan¡¯s help, Zara wouldn¡¯t have had to cut contact with her. But that wasn¡¯t who Cina was. And if she headed down the path of addiction, there was nothing Zara could do about it. When did it begin? How was she led to try such substances? Did her other friends ever pressure her? Or was she the one doing the pressuring? Had she pressured Rowan into trying? She wondered if Shia had done it too, but the last time she saw him was at the party and he¡¯d only been slightly drunk. Remembering Shia and his lips brushing her wrist as he nibbled the black string off it brought on a tingle in her lower belly. She felt similarly whenever she thought of Emran, though stronger. If only it had been Emran who¡¯d come close to her like that, who¡¯d kissed her wrist, who looked at her like a jewel in need of protection. Despondence and loneliness anchored her heart. What would Emran have thought of her, if he had known? In their last conversation, he¡¯d told that he wasn¡¯t like his uncle, and that he did not wish to see people get hurt over heretical beliefs. He had apologized on his family¡¯s behalf. He could have accepted. Zara wanted to believe it. If only she had gotten to know this man on a deeper level¡­ It was useless thinking of it now. Besides, if Cina was a user, then Emran was too. He was always at that red light bar, getting drunk or high, and sleeping with whores. What a waste. He was nothing but a fleeting, faulty dream. ¡°Why the long face?¡± Revan asked lowly. ¡°Thinking of someone?¡± Zara narrowed her eyes. ¡°No.¡± ¡°Hm.¡± ¡°¡­I-I just can¡¯t help but wonder why Rowan ended up the way he did.¡± She might as well tell him that¡ªit¡¯d been partly the truth anyway¡ªbut she didn¡¯t want to risk him delving into her mind for answers. Although he said he didn¡¯t do that, Zara didn¡¯t always believe him. If he sensed she was keeping something from him, Zara would start to feel a low numbness crawling up her neck, making her head feel airy. It was a sign of his magic working, and when she berated him, he would laugh and congratulate her for developing better defenses, but then he would also warn her that keeping information from him was a bad idea. Zara hated it. ¡°You mean him using? Or distancing himself from you?¡± ¡°Both. I¡­I don¡¯t want it to be because of me, but I think that¡¯s exactly what happened. One day we were becoming like friends¡ªlike he was accepting me¡ªand the next, he had changed. And then he resorted to petals or worse. Something I did must have changed him. It doesn¡¯t make sense. What about me made him suddenly so miserable?¡± Revan stared her, impassively. And when he didn¡¯t stop, Zara began to feel uneasy. ¡°What?¡± she said. ¡°¡­I know why he changed.¡± Zara¡¯s heart plummeted. ¡°Y-You know? H-How do you know¡ª?¡± But she knew how. His face said it all. He¡¯d done something. And he¡¯d known about it all along. ¡°Listen. I was going to tell you what I¡¯d done¡ª¡± ¡°What did you do?¡± ¡°¡ªbut the subject hardly ever came up¡ª¡± ¡°Because you keep telling me to forget the past, to not bring it up,¡± she ground out. ¡°Well I¡¯m choosing to tell you now. It was the night you met me. He tried following you into the forest. I sensed his presence. I used the same spell I¡¯d tried casting last night, on the anomaly¡ª¡± He was interrupted by loud pounding. Revan snapped his head at the front door, his eyes suddenly very focused. Zara was beyond irked. She wanted to know what he had to say. The same spell? The anomaly? Rowan had been following her? Damn the door! What happened?! ¡°I can¡¯t¡­¡± The disturbance fell back on Revan¡¯s face. ¡°It has to be her,¡± he murmured. Zara stood along with him, her frustration fading into alarm. ¡°The anomaly. Can you sense what she is?¡± ¡°No. That¡¯s the issue. I can¡¯t sense much about her at all¡­¡± The knocking commenced again. They left the kitchen and headed carefully down the long hall to the front door, with Revan leading the way. When he opened it, a tall woman with waist-length, midnight hair greeted them with a smile that further brightened her pretty face. ¡°Hello,¡± she said kindly, though it sounded more like ¡°Elloo.¡± Her accent was unfamiliar; she was not from here. She reached into the coat pocket and pulled out something covered in a brown cloth. ¡°I hope I have not disturbed you. May I please speak to¡­¡± She spotted Zara in the hallway. Her round brown eyes practically sparkled. ¡°Oh. You must be Zara.¡± Zara and Revan glanced at each other, suspicions rising. How the hell did this random stranger know her name? ¡°And who must you be?¡± Revan said bluntly. ¡°What is your business here?¡± The woman chuckled. ¡°Excuse me, of course. I found this on the ground last night while I was taking a walk, and wished to return it to its owner.¡± She removed the cloth and revealed a small dagger with Zara¡¯s name engraved into the handle. Zara¡¯s throat went tight. Her mind had been so preoccupied with other matters that she hadn¡¯t even realized she¡¯d lost her dagger. She slowly stepped back, sensing Revan¡¯s displeasure radiating off him. ¡°Thank you, dear,¡± he muttered, gently removing the dagger from the woman¡¯s hand. ¡°We appreciate this thoughtful gesture.¡± ¡°It is of no issue,¡± she said lightly, her eyes lingering from him to Zara again. ¡°It would have been terrible if it had been stolen.¡± Revan studied her for a moment. ¡°Tell me, dear. What is your name?¡± He spoke more amicably this time. The woman grinned. ¡°My name is Saren. I just moved into the city. It¡¯s a pleasure to meet you both.¡± A Woman of the North Apprehension crawled beneath Zara¡¯s skin as she stepped out of the way to allow this stranger to enter their kitchen. They had never let anyone into their house before; they usually preferred to keep people out. ¡°Ooh how lovely,¡± Saren complimented. Most kitchens in the heart of the capitol were tiny and cluttered. Here in the outer regions, Revan made sure to find a home with just enough space for everything. Drawers and open shelves with kitchen items lined the walls. The window provided them natural light, and Zara had decorated the table and the sill with fresh flowers every other week. The hearth was spacious and clear of junk. The redwood table was wide enough to fit full meals for two. Zara had softened the chairs with forest green cushions. Prian arts of angels, wings, and geometric floral patterns lined the pastel-yellow walls, as they did in every other room¡ªa detail Zara had insisted would make the place feel more like home. ¡°And it smells delicious in here,¡± Saren added, grinning at Zara. ¡°You must be quite the cook.¡± ¡°Um, th-thank you,¡± Zara stuttered. The woman practically towered over her. Zara stepped back, nervous. ¡°How are you so sure Zara was the cook?¡± Revan questioned. Saren looked back, brows raised. She smiled coyly at him. ¡°Ah. I apologize. I did not mean to infer that a man had no knowledge in the kitchen. Are you the cook, then?¡± Revan regarded her for a good minute before cracking a smile himself. ¡°No. Though I had to ask. You were¡­hasty in your judgment.¡± ¡°A habit,¡± she said. ¡°Where I¡¯m from, women are a natural in hunting and cooking for their families.¡± She winked at Zara. ¡°Besides, I have a good intuition, no?¡± ¡°Saren, why don¡¯t we let Zara make you some coffee, maybe get you something fresh to eat, and you can tell me all about where you¡¯re from?¡± Revan approached the woman and pressed his hand over her lower back. She was maybe only an inch or so shorter than his six feet height. ¡°I¡¯ll heat up some soup for you,¡± Zara mumbled. ¡°Thank you, Zara. Soups and stews are my favorite. And it¡¯s the perfect weather for it. I thought for sure it would rain this morning, though.¡± ¡°Would you like some bread to go with it?¡± ¡°Whatever you have on hand.¡± ¡°What other foods do you like?¡± Revan asked as he seated her first before taking the chair opposite her. ¡°Oh, usually meats, fish. Of all kinds. I¡¯m really not a picky eater.¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t seem like it,¡± Zara grumbled. Saren looked at her. ¡°I¡¯m sorry?¡± ¡°The soup has some beef in it,¡± Zara said. ¡°Oh. I love beef. Thank you, really, you didn¡¯t have to go through the trouble.¡± ¡°Mm, no, it¡¯s okay.¡± Zara¡¯s voice was so low that she wasn¡¯t sure whether Saren had heard her. Not that it mattered because Saren and Revan had moved on to a different topic. Zara listened to the pops and crackles of the simmering coffee instead. She filtered it out, poured it into a fresh mug, and checked on the the soup heating over the brazier, berating herself for letting her nerves get to her. Think of her as just another person. She should be no different from talking to Revan. Zara wasn¡¯t used to having company. Strangers had always been foul territory, long before her parents had shut her away. It had taken her long enough to get used to Revan, and still, there were days where she¡¯d get tongue-tied around him, too. Zara glanced back at Saren. She looked to be closer to Revan¡¯s age¡ªat least by appearance, since he is obviously much much older than the average human. Zara would guess the woman to be in her third decade. Her hair was as dark and as long as Zara¡¯s, except hers was much straighter and silkier. She had attractive brown eyes, a wide jawline, fair skin, and a smile that could melt even the coldest heart. Her height and build was bigger than the average woman around here. Her hips were wide, her legs were strong, and shoulders were broad. Her northern accent may be thick, but the airy tone of her voice was pleasant to hear. She seemed like a genuinely nice person¡­ Zara watched as Saren leaned over, giggling at something Revan had said. His eyes crinkled, in a way that made Zara feel like she was invading an intimate moment. ¡°Zara, watch what you¡¯re doing!¡± Revan suddenly shouted out, making her jump. ¡°The soup will boil over.¡± Zara quickly pulled the pot off the heat, almost burning her hands in the process. ¡°Are you alright? Do you need help?¡± Saren asked. The fire must have reached Zara¡¯s ears. She shook her head rapidly, desperately wishing she could step outside and calm herself down. ¡°Everything is fine,¡± she said with a bit of a strain. ¡°You know, Saren¡¯s a good cook,¡± Revan announced, like it was something delightful. ¡°She¡¯s been telling me all the wonderful dishes she knows how to make. She is also a marvelous hunter.¡± Saren chuckled. ¡°It¡¯s practice. I¡¯ve had lots of it.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Zara muttered. ¡°She moved here all the way from the isles of Ghyora,¡± Revan said. ¡°It¡¯s southeast of the ice block that is Mogheir¡ª¡± ¡°Now what kind of tone is that?¡± Saren reprimanded. ¡°That ¡®ice block¡¯ is a gorgeous land, despite what people rumor it as. You act like it¡¯s nothing but some cold, desolate purgatory teeming with savages.¡± This explained her sturdy figure, at least. The people up in the far north were made to withstand most of nature¡¯s harshest conditions. ¡°Isn¡¯t that nice, Zara?¡± Revan asked while Zara brought the coffee and the soup on a tray, along with some extra flatbread. ¡°You are both from the north. You must have a lot in common.¡± Zara raised a brow. ¡°Oh¡­maybe¡­¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± Saren said when Zara set the bowl in front of her. ¡°So you¡¯re from the north as well? Which area?¡± ¡°Pria.¡± ¡°Ohh, I¡¯ve been there once ages ago. It¡¯s beautiful. The mountains, the people, the temples. So polite, and so peaceful there.¡± Not anymore. Zara smiled tightly. ¡°Oh, and Lilith¡­she is amazing! The biggest mountain I¡¯ll ever see in my lifetime. I visited in the LightSpring. I hear winters are deadly there too, though not as deadly as my town can get. That I can tell you for sure.¡± ¡°Yes, I can only imagine,¡± Zara said. ¡°Winters are¡ª¡± ¡°The worst!¡± Saren laughed merrily, removing her white coat. She wore a form-fitting lavender dress underneath it.¡°Ohh but you get used to it I suppose, when you know how to survive. When you¡¯re born there, it¡¯s ingrained in your blood.¡± Revan hurriedly took her coat out of her hands and hung it on the nearest hook. She crossed one thick leg over the other, not caring whether her bare calves were visible. Typical of someone so used to the northern winters that there was no need to layer up in the south. Not that this city was very far south, but definitely more so than wherever Saren said she was from. ¡°I could never get used to it myself,¡± Revan remarked. ¡°Hm? Where are you from, then, Revan?¡± He paused for a second, like he¡¯d just remembered his cover. Zara frowned at him. With the way he¡¯d been grinning at Saren, his mind had obviously been elsewhere. They were supposed to be posing as family, having moved here from Pria. Now he couldn¡¯t even say that, given how he¡¯d just admitted to being so unused to the cold. ¡°Oh¡ªwell¡ª¡± He cleared his throat. ¡°I am¡­from the south. Well¡ªnot from the south. My parents had moved away from Pria and raised me in Divvi as a boy. I met Zara much later, on a family visit. So, I suppose you could say I¡¯ve become warm blooded.¡± ¡°That explains your accent, then.¡± Saren seemed confused, but she smiled sweetly at him nonetheless. Zara furrowed. ¡°We¡¯re cousins, were you thinking to mention that?¡± she said. ¡°Wha¡ªOh, yes.¡± Revan was too busy staring at Saren to really acknowledge Zara. ¡°Zara and I are cousins.¡± ¡°Cousins?¡± Saren was surprised. ¡°I thought you two were married!¡± Zara¡¯s heart leaped. Her face warmed again. ¡°No,¡± she said hastily. ¡°No.¡± Revan laughed loudly. ¡°That¡¯s so silly. It¡¯s so silly of you to think that, Saren,¡± he said through his laughter. It¡¯s not that funny. He grazed Saren¡¯s dress sleeve. Zara exhaled and tried to keep her face neutral. Saren put a hand to her chest, giggling. ¡°Oh, I wasn¡¯t sure. I mean, you two don¡¯t look very alike.¡± Zara¡¯s insides prickled. This woman claimed to believe that Zara and Revan were married, yet she had made no efforts into concealing her blatant desire towards him. ¡°Not all cousins have to look alike.¡± ¡°Well, no. But within family, I always expect a little resemblance. That¡¯s strange. You two cousins are then¡­living together?¡± Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. ¡°We are. It¡¯s a special situation, see, and a private family matter. Zara wished to leave. I opted to come with her, to make sure she¡¯s safe and secure,¡± Revan explained. Saren put down the coffee and gave the soup a taste. ¡°That¡¯s very kind of you. I don¡¯t want to pry into private family matters but¡ª¡± ¡°You shouldn¡¯t,¡± Zara interrupted. ¡°How¡¯s the food by the way?¡± Saren swallowed it and turned to her. Her smile fell a bit flat at Zara¡¯s bluntness. ¡°Like I guessed, you¡¯re quite the cook,¡± she said. She turned back to Revan. ¡°I thank you both for your hospitality.¡± ¡°Please, we should be thanking you for returning the dagger,¡± Revan replied. ¡°Right, Zara?¡± He raised his brow, urging her to be more polite. ¡°Yes,¡± Zara mumbled. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°If you hadn¡¯t returned it, who knows what could have happened to it.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Saren said between sips. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t want it to be stolen, or worse, fallen in the wrong hands now, would we?¡± ¡°Not at all. But I must ask how you came about it? You mentioned to me that you lived all the way in the east district.¡± ¡°I was out on a nighttime stroll,¡± she said simply. ¡°That¡¯s quite a long stroll.¡± ¡°I like taking long strolls, especially when a city¡¯s quieted down for the night. I didn¡¯t think the mists would get so bad.¡± She chewed another bite, looking thoughtful. ¡°I was curious about all that noise, though.¡± ¡°¡­Noise?¡± Saren stared at him, skeptically. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you didn¡¯t hear it?¡± Revan cleared his throat. ¡°We might have heard¡­something.¡± ¡°¡­And you didn¡¯t think to come out and take a look?¡± ¡°Did anybody else do so?¡± ¡°¡­No.¡± ¡°Why do you think that is?¡± ¡°I really don¡¯t know. I don¡¯t this place very well, nor its people. It seems everybody would rather keep to themselves than aid someone in need.¡± ¡°That is exactly right. We are a careful bunch. You best learn to be careful yourself.¡± Saren scoffed in disbelief. ¡°Careful? I heard two women, screaming for help like their lives depended on it.¡± She turned back, her eyes on Zara almost glaring. ¡°Was one of them you?¡± Zara swallowed, shaking her head quickly. Saren¡¯s face twitched. ¡°So why was your dagger laying where I heard the screams?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Zara answered plainly. ¡°It must have slipped out of my satchel when I was walking home from the store.¡± ¡°How is that even possible?¡± ¡°Saren, dear,¡± Revan said carefully. ¡°Like I¡¯ve said, it would be wise of you to be careful approaching people in the night. Especially among the mists. I know you want to help, and you have a good heart for it, but the people here are different. It¡¯s very easy to run into trouble.¡± Saren sighed heavily, clunking her spoon into the half-eaten soup bowl. She took a piece of bread and ripped it forcefully. ¡°I suppose so, but you know what¡¯s even stranger? I could have sworn I heard a dog out there. A wild one. I thought it was¡ª¡± ¡°A wild dog,¡± Revan said as though it were a ridiculous notion. ¡°What would a wild dog be doing here? There are no such animals living around these parts. What, did you think a couple of girls were being attacked by a wild dog? I haven¡¯t heard anything remotely sounding like that of a wild dog. I heard a few shouts, maybe, but that was all.¡± Saren looked utterly unconvinced. ¡°There were growls. And they were loud. At one point it sounded like something much bigger than a dog.¡± ¡°The mists must have gotten to you.¡± He chuckled ironically. ¡°It happens. You¡¯re new here. Life in a new city can be scary, but perhaps it¡¯s best if next time if you hear anything out of the ordinary, you stay indoors. Like everyone else.¡± ¡°So if someone is out there dying, you wouldn¡¯t lift a hand?¡± ¡°I would not.¡± ¡°So let¡¯s say, I was out there, being attacked by a madman. You wouldn¡¯t help me.¡± Revan gave her a thin smile. ¡°I¡¯m afraid not.¡± Saren gaped unhappily. ¡°You¡¯re joking. You wouldn¡¯t help me?¡± ¡°To be blunt, Saren, I don¡¯t know you. I¡¯ve only just met you today. Unless you are family, I cannot and will not come to you. Which is why I greatly urge you to be cautious and keep your head down. You¡¯re a nice woman. I wouldn¡¯t want any harm coming to you.¡± Saren let out a breath of disbelief. A minute after she¡¯d swallowed a bite of beef, she spoke again. ¡°Zara, what about you?¡± Zara flinched. She had almost believed Saren had dropped the subject. She hadn¡¯t expected the woman to suddenly address her about it. ¡°Huh? Me?¡± she squeaked. ¡°Yes, you! You think the same as him?¡± Zara lowered her head, unable to reply. ¡°Unbelievable,¡± Saren muttered, disgruntled. ¡°This city¡¯s people are colder than the northern isles they claim to despise.¡± She looked back at Revan. ¡°I would tell you about the suspicious looking sand scattered all over the roads, but you probably wouldn¡¯t believe that either.¡± She sighed. ¡°I watched the road sweepers cleaning it up on my way here. I don¡¯t know what that could have been¡ª¡± ¡°How did you find us?¡± Revan cut in. ¡°I¡¯m serious. You couldn¡¯t have known just from holding that dagger¡­could you?¡± After some silence, Saren answered, ¡°Of course not. I asked about Zara, from a few shops here and there. I-I couldn¡¯t remember the names of where I went. One of them managed to point me in the right direction.¡± ¡°You really don¡¯t remember who? Or from which store.¡± ¡°¡­I feel as though I am being interrogated by a guard.¡± She chuckled, almost sounding nervous. ¡°What does it matter?¡± ¡°No one knows our exact address.¡± ¡°Well, I believe I¡¯ve mentioned it before. I have a damn good instinct.¡± The room fell silent. Zara turned back to the hearth to clean up while Revan let Saren eat and drink in peace. Before Saren took her leave, she put on her coat and turned to face Zara. Revan had excused himself to grab something from the ¡°study¡±¡ªotherwise known as their special workroom. ¡°I apologize if I was too forward earlier,¡± she said. Zara nodded, though she wasn¡¯t sure what exactly Saren had meant by that. Too forward in her opinion about this city, or too forward with her obvious interest in Revan? Zara smiled tightly at her. ¡°Okay, um. No. That¡¯s okay.¡± Saren scanned the hallway behind Zara. It was mostly left bare except for a few old paintings lining the walls. Down the hall was the workroom, its entrance closed and additionally covered by a red curtain. The stairwell next to it led up to the bedrooms. The parlor lay to the right side of the front entrance, concealed with beige curtains. ¡°How mysterious,¡± Saren commented. ¡°I bet the rest of your home is as lovely as your kitchen.¡± ¡°Thank you. It¡¯s¡­a bit messy right now.¡± Truthfully, they have always kept everything closed off. Revan did so out of years of habit, which Zara had now picked up on herself. It had proven fruitful for this unexpected visitor. Zara didn¡¯t need a stranger poking her nose around their private spaces, no matter how kind or pretty she seemed. ¡°Hm,¡± Saren replied coolly, studying Zara¡¯s face. ¡°You¡¯re young.¡± ¡°Oh. Yes. I¡¯m turning twenty-three this upcoming¡ª¡± ¡°I could have sworn there was more to you and that man.¡± Zara shook her head, bewildered. ¡°What? Wait, you are speaking of marriage again?¡± Saren cocked her head, her brows knit together as if she was trying to find the answer to a complicated problem. ¡°A bit. You both truly do not seem like family to me.¡± Zara bristled, though she did make it a point to remain polite. ¡°I¡¯m sorry if it confuses you, Saren. But Revan and I are what we are.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not exactly where my issue lies.¡± She leaned in, staring at Zara intensely. Zara instinctively leaned back, like Saren was a tower losing its footing. ¡°No. It¡¯s that, maybe, you are both not from where you say you are from.¡± ¡°Saren,¡± Zara spoke softly and patiently, ¡°I know you must believe very strongly in this instinct or-or this strange intuition of yours, but don¡¯t you think you are going a bit overboard? We¡¯ve just met each other today.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Saren went on, and suddenly, it was like she was under some odd possession. Her eyes were blank, and her tone was flat.¡°His accent, it¡¯s as beautiful as him. A rarity. One as old as time. And you¡­you do not hail from the north, or the south, or the west.¡± She was looking straight at Zara, but not really seeing her. ¡°Saren¡ª¡± Zara took a step back, frightened. ¡°You come from the lands in the east.¡± ¡°What are you talking about¡ª¡± ¡°The far, far east, where no one can go. Because no soul there, can bear any life¡ª¡± An alien pressure crept over Zara¡¯s head. ¡°Revan!¡± she called out. Saren flinched, blinking hard. Now she gazed at Zara with concern. ¡°Huh? What¡¯s wrong, Zara?¡± She looked as though Zara was the freak who had just shouted out for no reason at all. Zara was in the presence of a madwoman. And this was no ordinary madwoman, either. ¡°I¡¯m here,¡± Revan announced, appearing behind Zara. One look at her, and his relaxed face stiffened. ¡°Did something happen? You look troubled.¡± ¡°Saren was just leaving.¡± Zara strode past her and opened the front door. ¡°You should bid her a proper farewell. Now.¡± ¡°I am sorry again for bothering you,¡± Saren said, stepping out. ¡°I was hoping to leave a better impression. You may be the only faces I know in this place.¡± ¡°You were wonderful company, dear,¡± Revan assured her. ¡°You are welcome any time.¡± Saren blushed, beaming. Revan pushed past Zara. He had something in his hand, which looked like a piece of jewelry. Of all things¡­already? Zara huffed gruffly. She needed this woman gone. And she needed to consult Revan. No doubt he¡¯d been observing her, and he¡¯d have theories. That was, if he was thinking with his head and not the lust in his groin. ¡°Take this,¡± Revan offered, placing the object in Saren¡¯s hand and even going as far as to hold it there. ¡°A gift for your kindness, and a warm welcome to the city.¡± Saren looked elated. They stood there together, hand in hand, holding the stupid thing. Zara stalked forward. ¡°Thank you, Saren. Have a nice, long walk home.¡± Saren blinked, and once again, her eyes glazed over in a trance-like state. She let go of Revan, finally, letting the object¡ªa necklace, it looked like¡ªdangle in her fingers. She smiled faintly at Zara, looking more through her than really at her. ¡°It was once a beautiful place. I sense it. I do not mean offense. Pria is not your ancestral home. It is not for most people. That land had been taken for thousands of years, by Lilith¡¯s people. I would know. It was my people who were exiled to the north.¡± What are you blathering on about? Zara just wanted her to leave. The pressure on her head was becoming too uncomfortable to bear, and even with a bit of her own residual magic, she couldn¡¯t get rid of it. Suddenly, it vanished when Revan clamped his palm on Zara¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Saren, that¡¯s enough,¡± he ordered sternly. Saren blinked again. ¡°Huh?¡± She looked down at the necklace and smiled bashfully. Like she hadn¡¯t just been a mumbling oddity a second before. Revan lowered his tone back to how it was previously¡ªcalm and cheery. ¡°We were just saying to come again, when you feel lonely.¡± Saren nodded at them both, though her eyes lingered on Revan. ¡°I may take you up on that offer.¡± ¡°Would you like me to help you retrieve a carriage?¡± Gray clouds have once again blocked the sun. It could rain soon. ¡°I¡¯d rather walk. I enjoy it. Thank you.¡± Good. She headed down the hill, finally on her way. Zara did not lurk around her own front lawn to watch. She immediately marched back into the house, leaving Revan behind. But not long after she¡¯d begun tidying up the kitchen, Revan had appeared to stop her. ¡°Do not wash anything yet,¡± he commanded. His expression was hard, and his posture had tensed. He was in training mode. Zara¡¯s curiosity overrode the irritation she¡¯d been feeling earlier. ¡°This is about her, isn¡¯t it? Revan, I think there is something wrong with her¡ª¡± ¡°Like there is something wrong with us? Put everything she touched on the tray and bring them to me. Do not wipe down the table or any of the chairs.¡± Zara obeyed, though that didn¡¯t stop her from unleashing the barrage of questions she¡¯d kept stifled. ¡°What are you going to do? You know something. What is she? Have you figured it out? Is¡­is she a mage?¡± ¡°Not quite.¡± Zara set the tray on the table and waited as Revan rushed back into the workroom and returned with some thin white cloths. ¡°What are you doing?¡± she inquired. ¡°You wanted to know how I keep watch over you?¡± Zara halted, her eyes widening. ¡°Y-You¡¯re going to¡­to show me that now? And you do spy on me?¡± Revan didn¡¯t answer her. He continued taking swift wipes off the dishes and the table. ¡°That necklace you gifted her,¡± Zara mentioned, ¡°I suppose it has something to do with that?¡± He did not answer her right away. Once he finished with the chair cushion, he said, ¡°When she said Ghyora was her homeland, I had a hunch about her. She confirmed it for me, though, just before she left.¡± ¡°What did she confirm?¡± ¡°She¡¯s a descendant of the Mogheiri people.¡± ¡°But that¡¯s¡ªno?¡­That¡¯s not¡ª¡± ¡°It¡¯s possible. The Mogheiri were outcast from all the fertile lands of the north, such as Pria and its companion city, Bazant. You would know this too if our history hadn¡¯t been rearranged a thousand times by politics.¡± Zara closed her mouth. He must have been right. She did not know those people had been cast out. She also didn¡¯t know they could have such human-looking descendants, never mind one so pretty like Saren. She wondered, then, what kind of breed Saren was. Could she be classified as half-human then? What a terrible thought. She was starting to think like Naz. With a tired groan, Zara replied with, ¡°That¡¯s¡­I did not expect that. Okay. Um, but what does that have to do with anything?¡± Revan folded the cloths. ¡°This should be enough for now,¡± he muttered to himself. ¡°I¡¯ve even managed to swipe samples from her coat earlier as well.¡± He then spoke to Zara directly. ¡°We should keep her close. I know how she makes you feel, but remain civil with her. Be her friend.¡± ¡°Friend?¡± That was absurd. ¡°But I¡ª¡± ¡°You both need it. Companionship, right? This could be a new start for you. You may like her more once you get to know her.¡± ¡°Like you got to know her?¡± Zara spat. ¡°Is this about me, or you?¡± Revan scowled. ¡°I have my own plans. She may be useful, is all. Now should we begin your next lesson?¡± ¡°Y-Yes!¡± Zara followed him to the workroom. There were several glass jars laid out on the long table, two already stuffed with cloths. Next to one of them, lay an ornate, handheld mirror. ¡°Please remember what I told you,¡± Revan said. ¡°Keep her close. The Mogheiri, they are seen as a savage and ruthless bunch, but certain groups of them are special.¡± Zara¡¯s heart raced with anticipation. ¡°And the necklace?¡± Revan¡¯s lip curled as he picked up the mirror. ¡°Special people have special abilities, Zara. And those abilities are ones I want to keep.¡± The Northern Spirit Year 1349 The northern winds howled as loud as wild wolves. The frost covered every crevice of every rock in the plateau. There was not a sign of soil, or dirt, or life. Just snow and ice. Snow covered the ground like a cold blanket and danced in the air, slapping the branches of sparse trees and bare bushes. It was difficult to see and breathe. The sky was always enveloped in hefty, rolling storm clouds. A land cursed to be forever monochrome. If there was one word Revan could use to describe this place, it was hell. A hell made of ice. He inched forward through the snow. Not even the bundles upon bundles of cloaks and scarves he¡¯d wrapped around his head and body, even going as far as to lace them with heat derived from magic, no, not even that was enough to ease the agonizing frost. He passed by some old shacks with ice-dammed roofs and battered stone and wood. He wondered how people could live in these conditions, year after year, like it was normal. He wouldn¡¯t be here at all if it weren¡¯t for the orders of his Mistress. It was part of his training, and he was determined not to fail such an interesting, if excruciating task. He descended down a slope, being careful not to slip. Though, he really should have watched out for half-buried objects poking out of the snow. His boot snagged and he rolled the rest of the way down the hill. Snow flicked off his lashes and stuck to the front of his hair. The heavy scarf he¡¯d wrapped around his head was coming undone and letting the icy air through. He quickly wrapped it back up in a panicked haste. The extra surge of heat energy he was forcing out wasn¡¯t helping by much; his magic simply wasn¡¯t strong enough for this. Energy input and output wasn¡¯t innate to him¡ªthat was what his Mistress had said. He didn¡¯t understand what that had meant at first, but now he was beginning to get it. He stood up on shaky legs, half numb from the cold, dizzy from the tumble, and looked up the hill to see what he¡¯d tripped on. He assumed it would be a log sticking out, or some stone, but amid the vast white mound was something that looked to be a part of a quilted cloth. A piece of cloak, it seemed. Revan frowned. His boot hadn¡¯t snagged on anything that felt like cloth, that was for certain. He had been sure it was a harder object. He cautiously approached closer, squinting. It was indeed a patterned cloth sticking out of the snow, stiffer than glass. Revan could now see an outline of something larger underneath it, buried in the snow hill. He kicked it gently, and some of the snow slid down. With a gasp, he tumbled back and fell down the short hill again, this time landing on his behind. That stiff, patterned cloth had been attached to a man. Revan had caught a glimpse of ghastly pale skin and a hollow eye socket before he¡¯d fallen down again. He wasn¡¯t about to go back and examine the body any more. Shaking, Revan moved on, letting his eyes linger on the ground every once in a while, watching out for any other unfortunate souls that may have been forever trapped under this relentless storm. He hadn¡¯t wanted to make this long, daunting trip to the isles of the far north. He hadn¡¯t wanted to run into any strange people, or the ¡°savages,¡± as the rest of the world called them. He¡¯d heard stories of what the population of Mogheir was supposed to look like¡ªbuilt like mountains, hairier than bears, wide faces, hands and feet big enough to kill a small beast, or human. Teeth sharp enough to eat them raw too. But that frozen man back there, though, had looked surprisingly ordinary, if a bit thicker boned than the average person. Right now, he needed to get to the ice chasms. Within those would be the cave he¡¯d made this daunting journey for in the first place¡ªfrom riding horseback, hitching on wagons, trying to find a boatman that would take his money and guide him across the channel to the closest isles of this damned ice block, walking the rest of the way on sled, then on foot. He hopped from inns to cabins, and even to tribal igloos for some warmth when his energy levels decreased to nothing at the end of each day. The further north he went, the less people he saw, and the more he had to rely on tribes. Most kept themselves hidden, scarce. And at this point in his journey, there was none at all. He had no one, but himself to rely on for survival. It was a part of his training, and it had all better be worth it. Darkness would be settling soon. The snowfall had now ceased, and the parted storm clouds revealed the sun, in all its red glory among a purple canvas, dipping further into the peaks. He felt as though he¡¯d been walking for hours, far too long for his heat magic to keep up, but he¡¯d been sensing a lone active spirit the minute he¡¯d stepped within the vicinity of the chasms. They were deep and vast, stretching for miles on end, a never ending sheet of white. The tundra above it was surprisingly flat, unlike the rest of the country practically carved out of caves, ridges, and jagged cliffs. There was no sign of life anywhere here, but Revan knew better. There was life lurking within the chasm, and right now he could not tell whether that life was good or sinister. After another ten minutes of trudging through the snow, he arrived at the area the spirit was strongest. It was expecting him, its wariness washing over Revan like a freeze wave. While he wanted to continue this mission, he also really wanted to seek out a warm hut, immerse his cold and sore body in a hot bath, and bury himself underneath blankets for a few months. His stomach rumbled for some meaty stew. He wondered if the thing down in the chasm was going to offer him any of these things. He chuckled humorlessly as he rummaged through his backpack for a harness, a hook, ice axes, and rope. His Mistress was an active woman; she had shown him how to climb and descend ice walls on their excursion to Bazant, another northern city that experienced heavy snowfall. But compared to this place, Bazant was mild. Any ordinary human venturing out here would be long dead by now. Luckily, Revan was not an ordinary human. Most times he did not think of himself as human at all. The harness was snug over his cloak layers. He anchored the rope on the hook he¡¯d secured into an ice block, connected it with the harness, grabbed his axes, and began the steep journey down. He only needed to get thirty miles down onto the first landing. His breath shook beneath the scarf over his mouth. It was hard to breath, with all the energy he was exerting with warming himself and struggling down this damn wall. Beyond the first landing, he sensed other life forms, and they were anything but friendly. The chasm was as extensive as an ocean, likely just as deep. A thick layer of mist hovered under the first landing, shielding the abyss like water. The mist layer looked thick and sturdy enough to step on, though only a fool would actually try. Revan sank down once his shaky feet finally hit the landing, only to instantly regret it. ¡°Shit,¡± he cursed, standing back up. The ice hard surface had sent an unpleasant shock through his wrapped up body. Biting over his chapped lips, he forced himself to walk forward, leaving his axes and the dangling rope behind on the wall. Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. The cave was a few feet ahead of him. If the winds above were jarring enough, the winds down here were worse. The spirits further down the abyss were restless. Revan tried to drown their emotions out, focusing on the single one he¡¯d come to see today. He stepped closer to the jagged mouth of the cave and paused. It was dark. Abnormally dark, as though he would fall into nothing if he walked in. He sighed and lolled his rigid neck, preparing himself, then reached into his backpack to pull out a small lamp. He was able to get a rather weak flame going with a snap of his fingers, with the little energy he had left in him. It took some of the heat out of his body though, and he cringed, frustrated. With this source of light, Revan made his way into the cave, slow and cautious of every step. The further he walked in, the brighter his surroundings became, thankfully. The source was up ahead, like a faint, blue glow. With the help of his lamp, he could make out two figures, still and as silent as the cavern itself. Revan followed the magic. It¡¯s glow emitted brighter until he could make out the two forms. They hadn¡¯t made a single movement, not even a flinch or a turn his direction. His footsteps were not discreet; they echoed with each purposeful step. But there they stood, as still as stone statues. Something wasn¡¯t right. He was sensing something, but it was faint, almost muted. As though something was blocking him from reading their emotions. This abnormality had to be the result of an enchantment of some kind, otherwise it did not make any sense. His stomach twisted, and he halted when he got close enough to the figures. Revan almost dropped his lamp at the sight of these ¡°statues.¡± They were people. Very¡­odd looking people, but people nonetheless. Revan had to guess they were prehistoric, which would fascinate him, if it didn¡¯t make him feel incredibly uneasy. His gaze landed on the one in front. It was a man with a dark and hairy protruding face. He had on old snow-flecked tribal cloaks and pants, and wore a pointy turban on his head. From which tribe or religion, Revan could not guess. He could make out what looked like a faded crescent on the strange black turban. The man¡¯s blue eyes were wide open¡ªin terror. Revan stepped back, pointing his light to the other one a bit further behind this man. This one was a woman, with the same expression on her face. She was less hairy than he was, her ebony skin much smoother too. Her face was more wide-set, but protruded oddly just the same as his. Her clothing consisted of layered skirts, boots, heavy cloaks, and golden jewelry around her arms, neck, and ears. They were from the same tribe. Married. She had vermilion in the mid parting of her hair¡ªa tradition that was still practiced in Revan¡¯s society. Both she and the man had bulky sacks thrown over their shoulder. Revan stared at her in awe. Their tribe must be from the south, closer to where he was from. And to be all the way down here¡­they had to have been familiar with magic! Could they have been¡­.mages of the older days? Or simply people who were familiar with the ice spirits, who also happened to be better acclimated to this freezing hellscape than humans of today? Most of all, Revan wondered what they could have possibly done to end with such a fate as this. He would have to ask his Mistress about this when he finally got back home¡ª And then, the realization of where he still was, and what these two figures¡ªliterally frozen against time¡ªcould mean for him. It hit him at once, and his awe sank to his gut in dismay. He didn¡¯t know if he would be able to leave in one piece, should he make the same errors they had. This was the work of a curse, and its source was behind the blue glow up ahead, emitting behind a wall of ice. Revan could see the mighty silhouette of the thing approaching. It was bigger than even these robust tribal couple before him, probably three times the size of an ordinary person. Revan swallowed, involuntarily taking yet another step back. The thing beckoned him closer, and Revan had no choice but to obey. He sensed this creature¡¯s suspicion of him, but it did not mean him harm. ¡°He-Hello?¡± he whispered carefully. ¡°You are the one I seek.¡± The creature did not answer. Its steady breathing was audible and grating, like a beast¡¯s rumble. Revan stepped within the vicinity of the blue glow. The creature was mostly visible now, at least one half of it was, and Revan wished he could step back into the shadows and make his offering without having to see the thing up close. Its stature was large and broad, its limbs long and powerful. Gray and white hairs covered its body. Stone jewels decorated its wide neck, head, and waistline. Its eyes were small and opaque, sunken into its skull. Its nose was flat, its wide mouth set in a grim line. It was studying him, trying to gather whether he could be trusted. But it felt like death was staring into his face. He could not stand to look into those lifeless eyes, colder than the tundra itself. After some time, Revan thought he should make the first move. The sooner this was done with, the sooner he can hopefully make his way out. Nervously, he reached into his pack and pulled out a jar. The contents in it had naturally frozen, but it piqued the creature¡¯s interest anyway. He motioned with his claw for Revan to approach closer. He did not wish to do so, but took the a couple of measly steps anyway. ¡°I wish to make a trade,¡± he whispered. ¡°So¡­young.¡± Revan jolted at the thing¡¯s voice. It was deep and incredibly rough, like gravel. Like it hadn¡¯t spoken in a hundred years. Despite this, its sound was powerful enough to vibrate across the cave like thunder. He¡¯d been told the creature could adapt to whatever language one spoke to it. Not very well, but well enough to get direct messages across. ¡°You are like¡­child,¡± it said. Revan was seventeen years of age. He did not feel like much of a ¡°child¡±, but to this thing who had lived for eons, he might as well be. ¡°Young, but smart. Resilience. I thank you¡­for the heart,¡± it said. Revan nodded in reply. He could not speak even if he wanted to. It hadn¡¯t been an easy sacrifice, taking the soul and the blood of a former fellow slave. But the thing would feed off the trauma of such an act. It wasn¡¯t necessary for the creature to survive, but it would bring it some pleasure, like alcohol or illicit plants, or even sex, brought pleasure to people. It made for a good trade. Revan swallowed, forcing the dry lump down his throat. Now was not the time for self-loathing. ¡°I see your travels¡­.in the glass.¡± It lifted its heavy arm and pointed behind him, beyond the icicle infested wall where the haunting blue light continued to shine. ¡°I know the whispers in your mind. Go. Take.¡± Revan slowly stepped past the beast and peered behind the wall. His mouth dropped open at the sight. The space was filled with shards of mirror glass stuck on the floor, the walls, and the ceiling. Gems of every color imaginable made crooked lines along the wall. In the middle stood an ancient stone torch, its fire bright and blue. ¡°I see you¡­in the glass,¡± it said again, standing behind him. Its breath was old and chilly, like the cliffs Revan had suffered over to get here. He shivered. ¡°Yes,¡± he mumbled in wonder. ¡°You saw me in the mirrors, before I got here. How do you do it?¡± ¡°Unlike us spirits, blessed by God, mere mage need condition. I will show you.¡± ¡°And¡­the gems. My Mistress, she¡ª¡± ¡°Powerful Sorceress¡­I know of her desire.¡± Revan went quiet for a moment before asking, ¡°Can I trust her?¡± ¡°¡­Sometimes.¡± ¡°¡­Very well.¡± As soon as Revan moved toward a mirror shard, the thing clasped its giant hands on his shoulder. Its silver claws dug into his clothes and Revan shuddered with anxiety. The thing¡ªno, Revan should stop referring to it like that. It was more than just some frightful creature. This was a spirit. A spirit with a very ominous air, yet only malevolent when unjustly crossed. This was once a man native to these lands, blessed by the Northern God. This spirit offered powers to see one¡¯s present, past, and future. Many would think of it a savage, and in some ways, they were right. Revan eyed the jar of his most gruesome deed yet in the spirit¡¯s clutches. But most people had no idea the things that make the Mogheiri so special, why they were so protective of their land and their people. Why they fought to keep others away, why they let themselves be known as barbarians to keep distance from. The one Revan stood with today, was only one of many others that held ancient powers that had been lost long ago. Powers that had originated from the unknown lands, far, far in the east¡­ Revan gulped. Had he mistakenly caused offense? The spirit spoke again. ¡°You take only what you need, then you come back to me. Do not steal. Greed¡­forfeits departure.¡± Revan forced himself to look at the ghastly face above him. ¡°Like¡­those two mages in the cave?¡± The grim mouth seemed to grow more despondent. ¡°Only two you see. There are more. They still see too¡­they feel¡­they see only treasure, money, so they want more¡­so they remain forever. With their greed in their sacks.¡± The spirit then left him, its feet pounding away. No doubt he would enjoy the ¡°meal¡± Revan had brought for him. Revan did not dare test the warning. Those people¡­that¡¯s why he¡¯d sensed something off. They were still alive. The gods only knew how many other were scattered around this cave, paying the eternal price for their treachery. Revan would not be making the same mistake. He carefully lifted a shard and held it to the light. A shining green gem embedded in the ice wall reflected back. Jewels of Deceit The green gem of Saren¡¯s necklace glowed in the twilight. Zara watched, in the Mirror, as Saren unclasped the jewelry and put it around her neck. She admired herself, in front of her own full-length mirror in her home, with the necklace on. It was a simple black chain, and Revan had a professional jeweler attach the gemstone on it. It looked like something you could get at any upscale jewelry shop or stall. Saren smiled at herself, touching the glowing gem daintily among her plunging neckline. They had watched her walk all the way home. Zara¡¯s fascination with the Mirror¡¯s magic kept her rooted to the desk for an hour now. ¡°This is amazing. It¡¯s eerie¡­but amazing,¡± Zara had whispered, awestruck. ¡°So this is how you do it. This is how you see.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Revan had answered, amused. Zara still watched on with the same mirth as when Revan had first summoned Saren¡¯s image. That is, until Saren began to undo the laces of her lavender dress. Zara grimaced, and forced the Mirror down flat on the desk when Revan made no moves to do so himself. Revan cleared his throat. ¡°That¡¯ll be all from the Mirror today. I hope you learned something from it.¡± Zara nodded solemnly. ¡°I learned. I learned that I was always right for thinking you a creep.¡± Revan frowned. ¡°You have the wrong assumption.¡± Heat rose into Zara¡¯s face. ¡°Have you¡­have you ever watched¡ª¡± She shut her mouth, too embarrassed to finish what she wanted to ask, and also a bit surprised at herself for trying to ask in the first place. He sighed. ¡°This was a talk I was not looking forward to ever having.¡± Zara scrunched her face, scooting her chair away. What she really wanted to do was refuse to look the man¡¯s way until her mortification passed. But the day was not over. There were other lessons that Zara had been adamant about starting as soon as possible. The desire to learn magic trumped her shame, but it didn¡¯t make the moment now feel any less uncomfortable. ¡°I do not watch you at your intimate moments, Zara. I have no need, nor desire, for it.¡± ¡°¡­Oh?¡± His denial did not make her feel much better, for some reason. ¡°You have no desire?¡± she asked again. ¡°Absolutely none?¡± Revan smiled. ¡°Is there an issue? I thought you would be relieved.¡± Zara scowled, her cheeks still blushed. ¡°I am. I truly am. I don¡¯t want your eyes lusting over me without my knowledge anyway¡ª¡± ¡°They don¡¯t. I don¡¯t lust over you at all.¡± The urge to look away, and even leave the room altogether, had grown stronger, but she also wanted to really berate him, and she didn¡¯t understand why she should feel this way. It made her angrier and more humiliated for it. Why should she care that he finds her so undesirable that he does not have a modicum of passion to lust over her? It was a relief that he didn¡¯t! But does he have to be so blunt about it? He shrugged. ¡°Not to worry. There were times I¡¯ve mistakenly caught you undressing, or bathing, or quelling your own lust-filled¡ª¡± ¡°You WHAT?!¡± Zara burned. ¡°STOP talking!¡± ¡°¡ªand I always put the Mirror away immediately, my dear. You don¡¯t have to worry about any lingering, phantom eyes watching you while you are alone. I would never want to see any part of you that you wouldn¡¯t expose to me anyway.¡± Zara¡¯s mouth hung open, speechless. Her face felt aflame, and this time she did look away from him. ¡°Now that we have cleared that out of the way, do you have any other questions for me before we move on? I prefer we stay on task here¡ª¡± ¡°No,¡± Zara snapped, her annoyance still lingering, ¡°you can¡¯t say that. ¡®Stay on task¡¯? If I had not set down that Mirror, you would have been happy watching your beloved, clothe-less, Saren all day long!¡± Revan rubbed his eyes tiredly, exasperated with this accusation. ¡°Why is it that you keep assuming I have feelings for this woman? I told you from the start I¡¯m after her abilities to see across time, and her incredibly powerful instincts would make a great enhancement for my own senses. I need this. Therefore, I need her.¡± ¡°Need her?¡± Zara questioned skeptically. ¡°I need to get close to her, to her spirit power. That¡¯s what that necklace is about, and that is what that gem will help me get. I also think it would be wise for us to get to know her, and be her companion. She may come with other uses. ¡°Zara, it¡¯s not every day you come across people like her¡­similar to us. When I sensed you¡­¡± Revan paused, smiling wistfully at what Zara assumed to be his memory of meeting her. ¡°¡­it had been years since the last mage. Magic¡ªreal magic¡ªin our world today has dwindled so much it is practically nothing. You are living in such a time now. When I was growing up, there was not much of it even then, but the difference was still significant. Don¡¯t you want to see, and learn, more? Are you not the least bit curious about Saren?¡± Zara didn¡¯t need much time to think it over. Of course she was curious about Saren. Of course she was immensely suspicious of the woman¡¯s abilities, the most uncanny part of them being her strange visions of the past that she¡¯d been so vague in recollecting. This was information Zara would not be able to find in any textbook or old scroll in any library. Not even Revan, with all the books he owned, would have the knowledge Saren possessed. Saren seemed friendly enough, and maybe, if Zara got over her nerves and opened her heart a little like she had with Cina, she could find a new friend in her. However, Zara still questioned Saren¡¯s character. She¡¯d been enamored with Revan, and had been expressing it even when she¡¯d assumed the man to be married to Zara. Zara just did not find that to be a very good trait for a woman to have, and it had left a poor impression from the start. But she hoped she could look past it, for Revan¡¯s sake, and perhaps, for her own benefit as well. ¡°Yes,¡± she muttered, remembering again how her meeting with Saren had ended. ¡°I am. It was like she was trying to get inside my head. Whatever power she has over the mind, it felt stronger than yours. Harder to fight.¡± Zara met Revan¡¯s eyes. ¡°I would like to get to know her. And I really would like to know more about our history, too. She seems to know it better than you.¡± Revan chuckled. ¡°I don¡¯t think she even realizes how much she knows.¡± ¡°Why is that, do you think?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. This could be a good opportunity for us to find out.¡± ¡°Hm¡­the lands of the far east, huh? From what little you could tell me, there may be remnants of magic still there.¡± ¡°Within its soils, or the air, yes. It¡¯s only a guess. Even my Mistress could not say for certain. No one has been there, or lived there, in a millennium.¡± ¡°I truly believe it to be some sort of black magic that¡¯s keeping people out,¡± Zara thought out loud. The more they spoke on this, the more confident she felt about their plans to befriend the half-spirit thing¡ªwhatever Saren was. ¡°I have a feeling she will come around again soon,¡± Revan said with a smile. ¡°I think next time, I will let you speak to her. You could use a friend like her anyway. She seems more reliable than your old one.¡± Zara rolled her eyes. ¡°We don¡¯t know that yet, but if you say so. But please, next time, could you maybe act a little less like a boy in love?¡± Revan raised a critical brow at that. ¡°I¡¯m sorry? A boy in love?¡± Zara nodded with firm lips. ¡°I know this may be your way of getting close to women, but it felt a little¡­off.¡± Zara chortled. ¡°I don¡¯t mean any offense, by the way. But for someone who has claimed to have had wives before, I expected¡­¡± She trailed off, searching in her mind for a word that would fit. He sighed, agitated. ¡°What? What is it that you expected, hm?¡± ¡°Something a bit¡­suave?¡± She broke into a small giggle, only to shut up instantly after seeing the baffled look on Revan¡¯s face. ¡°You¡¯ve been reading those novels again haven¡¯t you?¡± ¡°¡­No.¡± ¡°Zara. Those frivolous characters you love so much aren¡¯t a reflection of real men, most of the time. Also, I told you to limit your fiction. You should be studying on your own time. I granted you library access to gather historical documents, current events, and to research new worldly findings when you are not training.¡± Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. ¡°And I am doing that.¡± ¡°But you are also wasting time fantasizing.¡± Zara groaned. ¡°Well, sometimes, I need a break from all the studying you make me do.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t exactly make you do anything. But I prefer you not fall behind, since you are no longer attending school of any kind right now.¡± Zara couldn¡¯t help but slump at that. Sometimes, she wished she could attend a school, or a university of some kind. She had always wanted to. They had passed by a large university campus on the move down here, and it looked so busy, bustling with students everywhere. The building itself was ancient yet expansive. It was amazing. She shrugged it off, though. She needed to be here, where it was safe. Though sometimes, even though she had more freedom to roam than she did back in Pria, it still felt somewhat the same in that she was kept hidden away from the rest of society anyway. Revan studied her for a moment, and his brows twitched together. ¡°Was I really that terrible at seducing her? She seemed to like me.¡± Zara shrugged, attempting not to laugh at him again. ¡°If she liked it, then I guess nothing else matters, does it?¡± She wanted to add that his appearance was probably the main factor here, but she didn¡¯t want to overstep. This entire conversation was already bordering on overstepping as it was. He sighed with resignation, staring off at the wall beyond Zara. ¡°I excel in most areas except for romance, I suppose. Some of my wives have been arranged marriages¡ªor I should rather say, forced marriages¡ªand others were by mere chance; she just happened to love me. Anyone else in between and after were usually not done for love at all, before I left humankind altogether. As old as I am, even with all the experience I have, women¡­intimacy, are still troubling subjects. Perhaps¡­that is why Saren is easier? I didn¡¯t feel as uncomfortable when I was around her. I am merely pretending, after all. Playing a part, like in a play. I don¡¯t care about her. I haven¡¯t cared about a woman in years.¡± Zara had sat up straighter in her seat. Her interest always piqued the highest whenever Revan willingly chose to talk about himself. It wouldn¡¯t last long, so she wanted to extract more out of his past whenever he was in one of his moods to be more open with her. She leaned forward. ¡°H-How many wives did you have? What about children? What happened to everyone? And why did you isolate?¡± As if Revan had been yanked out of a stupor, he looked back at Zara, his softened eyes hardening back into a glare. ¡°Again with the back-to-back questions?¡± He stood up, rattling his chair back in the process. Zara flinched back. ¡°Get up. We¡¯ll take a break, you¡¯ll prepare us a meal, and then we can start on the next phase of your training¡ªthe one you wouldn¡¯t shut up about.¡± Were her questions so bad to make him suddenly this cranky? Even so, learning to morph would be exciting. So Zara nodded, as an agreement to stop digging into him. ¡°Yes, sir,¡± she said quietly. Zara stood up and glanced around the table, where Revan had laid out various types of jewelry with these special gems. At the corner beyond the table was an open chest with a few of men¡¯s jewelry and clothing, all embedded with gems. Each gem had a unique ability, depending on the color. So far, Zara knew the green could suck the power out of a mage. In this case, they were trying to use it on a spirit¡­of sorts. Some of the other colors, like gold and sapphire, could alter one¡¯s personalities for better or worse, depending on what the user required of their victim. She didn¡¯t know about the other colors yet; they both had been more preoccupied with the Mirror, after all. Revan had also hastily mentioned that he hadn¡¯t taken too many gems out of the cave so he used them sparingly. She had wanted to know more about this haunted cave and the beastly spirit he had met, but she had been stupidly distracted by Saren lingering around a snack stall, arguing with the seller while deciding between cakes and biscuits. Amid the array of earrings, bangles, and hairpieces, Zara picked up a clear gemstone ring. Her heart gave a sudden pump as the type of stone was familiar to a ring she had owned before. She had owned a few other rings like it, but the one she was thinking about now¡ªand had ended up wearing the most in her past life¡ªhad firmly bound itself with very unpleasant memories. A ring that reminded her of one of the biggest mistakes she had made in her life so far. ¡°Revan?¡± He¡¯d been setting some notes aside by the shelf near the curtain. ¡°Hm?¡± he answered. Zara held onto the new ring, tightly. ¡°Before Saren arrived, you were telling me about what you¡¯ve done to Rowan,¡± she stated. ¡°¡­Yes. Well, we can discuss it after we¡¯ve eaten. I think I¡¯ll have some tea afterwards, for a change of pace¡ª¡± ¡°That is all fine.¡± It didn¡¯t matter to her if he wanted to delay the subject for now. She was getting answers today no matter what, be it now, or later, or before bedtime. She would not care how he felt about her questions¡ªshe would hound him if he delayed too much. She toyed with her fingers, bare of any jewelry for the past year. Losing her old ring, the one she¡¯d given Yohid before he was jailed and killed and Revan returned it to her possession, had been insignificant. To the point that she had mostly forgotten about it. Now, she couldn¡¯t help but wonder where she had left it. Because she hadn¡¯t brought it with her, that much was certain, but she remembered wearing it during the party¡ªthe night she had run. Wherever it had slipped off among the disorder she had caused wasn¡¯t what was really bothering her, though. ¡°I do still want to know what you did to change my brother. But I also can¡¯t help but wonder¡­what was Yohid, if not a mage?¡± Revan frowned deeply at her. ¡°What are you implying?¡± ¡°You said that it had been years before you sensed me. You¡¯ve mentioned this when we first met as well. Now here is Saren, this strange anomaly that has all of your attention, the same way I had. Yet, you never mention anything about Yohid. It¡¯s almost as though he wasn¡¯t significant, even though he was sacrificed as a curse. Why didn¡¯t the boy ever hold your attention, the way Saren and I do? Why was his life not worth preserving, or learning more about?¡± She squinted at him. ¡°The more I think about it, the less it makes sense.¡± Revan ran his hands through his hair, and his eyes closed as though Zara was irritating the shit out of him. And maybe she was. ¡°What was he?¡± Zara repeated. But she believed she half figured out the answer, and even though her exterior remained calm, her heart pumped viciously, afraid of what this Sorcerer would say. Revan opened his eyes, his hands now clutched on his hips. He raised a brow, indifferent to her ravaging emotions. ¡°He was just a lesson,¡± he replied coldly. ¡°Nothing more, nothing less.¡± He exited the room, leaving Zara standing there, examining the ring in her palm, drowning in dreaded guilt.
Over the past several months, Pria had become a blend of confusion and chaos. It started with the riots. Groups that were once at peace together were now thirsting for each other¡¯s blood. Anyone who shared positive associations with the family responsible for creating such unrest in the first place were assaulted. At first it started in the streets. Then the fires and stones came to their homes, which then resulted in people migrating out in droves. Something black had fallen upon a town that was once a source of light and salvation for many. At first, they had all seemed to have a grasp on what it had been. The chaos had made sense, at least. Now, it was just mindless. Shia sat on the grass in front of his destroyed and looted home. In his palm was the key to this mess, but he didn¡¯t even know why. It was on the tip of his tongue, every time he held the stupid thing. He found it during an engagement party he¡¯d attended last year, a night in which he and every guest, including the children, had blacked out. The field had been a mess, the performance stage in shambles. Many had awoken on the field injured and sick. Some even had rashes spread throughout their body. There had only been one casualty that night, an infant. Shia would never forget the howls of the grieving young mother. They had been poisoned, somehow, and that poison had seeped through every vein of every body in Pria today. Shia¡¯s family had done well to steer clear of the Anvars, but Shia¡¯s friendship with the son had come back to bite them. His family had made it out. They had to be safe. Shia just had no idea where they had gone, though. Maybe, this was all fate of some kind. Maybe he was meant to move on from this place. Alone. With nothing but the key in his hand. He opened his palm, and the image took him back to Rowan¡¯s house, in the middle of the night, during that dreadful event. He had found it on the grass, picked it up, and stared at it laying in the palm of his hand, the same way he was doing now¡ªkneeling on the grass¡ªthis time in front of his own house¡ªamid a horrible, panic-inducing situation. He¡¯d been in tears that night. Fear and uncertainty ran through him like an illness. Back then, he had felt something more akin to grief. Like he¡¯d lost something important to him. But why? Shia continued to stare at the ring. The stone would have been transparent had it not been scratched and dull. It would have been beautiful. The silver band was small, fit for dainty fingers. A young woman¡¯s hand. This ring¡­it was so familiar and alien at once. If his mind would work the way it should, everything would make sense. Clutching the ring, he had an urgency to leave. He had no idea where to find his family. Maybe they were headed south. South was where he should be. He had no place in the north¡ªits scenes and beliefs had always mismatched his family¡¯s and his own, but Pria had always been a safe haven for just about anybody, and now it wasn¡¯t anymore. The northerners were determined to take back their lands, and drive the outsiders¡ªcurses, they were calling them¡ªout. Shia fingered the ring¡¯s band. The south called for him. Maybe he¡¯d find what he was looking for there¡­ He gently kissed the ring, as he had done the day he first found it, on a memory that was now lost to him. The street was quiet. Suddenly, shouts and screams commenced as a distant home was set aflame, its occupants smoked out into the waiting fists of zealots. Shia felt a tug on his arm. ¡°Shia,¡± the shaky voice said. ¡°Shia, hey. Hey we need to go. I found us¡­a-a wagon.¡± Shia turned to look at his best friend. Of course he wouldn¡¯t abandon Rowan, even if his loyalty had gotten him into this mess. Rowan¡¯s tear stricken eyes glanced around before snapping back on him, determined. ¡°Shit. I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯m sorry, brother. We need to go. Now.¡± ¡°You found us a caravan?¡± Shia asked hoarsely. Rowan nodded. ¡°We¡¯ll find your parents, but for now, let¡¯s leave this shit behind us. Please.¡± ¡°Will the wagon take us south?¡± Rowan huffed. ¡°Where the fuck else is there?¡± Shia looked back at the ring again. ¡°I want to go to the city.¡± ¡°Now¡¯s not the fucking time to be picky! We go where the wagon takes us. We¡¯re practically fugitives, not travelers!¡± Rowan shook him by the shoulders. ¡°Shia, are you okay? Something¡¯s not right. I-I think you¡¯re in sh-shock!¡± He tugged him away from the road. ¡°Come on, just follow me. Follow me.¡± They eventually made it to the wagon, far down the street. Shia was only mildly aware of his soot-infested surroundings. Everything looked the same to him. Everything was shit. As the horses were whipped and the wagon¡ªstuffed with ¡°fugitives¡± like him¡ªlurched forward, Shia closed his eyes, trying to remember the voice that soothed him. It was soft, comforting, and brought him some hope. He had no idea who the voice belonged to or what it was about, but for some reason, it brought him peace in tumultuous times. He still remembered the whisper, word for word: ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, Shia. I¡¯m sorry for tonight, for hurting you¡­I want to say more, but I¡¯m leaving now. And it¡¯ll hurt you again, I know it. Please, forgive me. You are truly one of the good ones here. You are a friend. I pray we meet again someday, but I¡¯m not even sure if it¡¯s possible. So until then, this is goodbye. Please look after my brother. And do not forget me.¡± He could almost feel the gentle touch that accompanied her message¡­ Shia opened his eyes with a jolt, his fingers hovering over his cheek, and cast a disoriented look to his friend. They sat, afraid and flush together in this crowded wagon, watching their hometown whiz by them through the cracks of the covering. ¡°Rowan,¡± Shia said. Rowan startled, then leaned over to hear him better. ¡°Do you have a sister?¡± Rowan blinked, and for a time, his only movements were that caused by the jostling wagon. Finally, he answered with another, bewildering question: ¡°What the fuck are you talking about?¡± Shia¡¯s mouth went tight, and he shook his head. He was tired of hearing this voice with its equally strange words to him, but at the same time, he wanted to keep hearing it. He placed the ring in his pocket, and closed his eyes again. A New Companion The squirrel finally, finally stopped moving. It was amazing. It just froze on the grass standing on its back legs, and it would have been chomping on the nut in its hands if it had been allowed to move. But it wasn¡¯t moving, because she had stopped it from moving! It was like a real statue, of her own creation! She had done it, and she began jumping up and down, excited. She was soon running all over her big garden, whooping in excitement. ¡°Princess?¡± The princess whirled around and looked down the path leading back to her home and grinned. Her very special teacher was standing there with her lips curled up. ¡°Miss Dayana!¡± she exclaimed, running to the older woman. The woman adjusted her red and white jeweled shawl over her woven blouse, letting the young girl hug her. ¡°Look what I did!¡± the princess said, pointing to the squirrel. ¡°I did it! I did it!¡± ¡°I know you did, Princess.¡± Princess Yana dragged her special teacher to the squirrel on the grass, where she had used the special spirit inside of her to freeze it in place. Miss Dayana would be proud, because Yana had worked hard and concentrated just like she was instructed to do. Miss Dayana knelt down on the grass. ¡°Very good, child.¡± Yana grinned, clutching onto her puffy dress. ¡°I want to show Amma.¡± Miss Dayana suddenly looked angry. Her eyes went wide and the way she looked at Yana made her feel a little scared. ¡°You can never tell anyone about this. You know you can¡¯t,¡± she said with a hard voice. ¡°This power we have is very special, and if you tell your Amma, she will take it away from you. She will then take me away from you as well. Is that what you want?¡± Yana shook her head rapidly. She would never want that. Miss Dayana¡¯s beautiful big eyes were nice again. Her red lips formed a smile. ¡°Very good. Congratulations, Princess. You have successfully halted this squirrel¡¯s time all on your own. That takes talent.¡± Yana jumped up and down, clapping and giggling. Miss Dayana stood tall again. She was a tall woman, even taller than Yana¡¯s mother. She had very black hair with some gray hairs in them that made it look shiny in the sun. She wore really nice jewelry all the time, like big earrings and necklaces and rings. Sometimes she liked to wear headpieces as well, and those were Yana¡¯s favorite. It made her teacher look like royalty, even though she was not. Princess Yana loved jewels, but she was only allowed to wear them, and her crown, in portraits or in public outings with her family. Sometimes Miss Dayana would let her wear her jewels in secret. Miss Dayana was so pretty. Sometimes she was scary, but she was mostly pretty. She had a deep, lovely voice that was soothing when she was happy, and frightful when she was mad. Her large eyes were golden¡ªhazel was the right word. She had taught Yana that word too. Hazel was also the color of Yana¡¯s hair, which Yana loved because everyone always told her how beautiful it was. Miss Dayana was her private teacher. Her parents hired her when Yana turned five the year before, and she taught Yana many things since. But some things, like freezing squirrels in time, should always be kept a secret. Even Yana could understand that, even if it was so exciting she wanted to tell the world how special she was. She really loved Miss Dayana. They made a great team, and they even had names that sounded almost the same! Miss Dayana reached for Yana¡¯s little hand. ¡°Now, it¡¯s time for your other lessons. You have horseback riding today as well, so we must hurry.¡± Yana pouted. ¡°I don¡¯t want to learn those boring lessons. I want to do more lessons like these.¡± ¡°In time, child. You are a descendant of my one true Queen. You will one day learn everything.¡± With a swoop of her hand, Miss Dayana let the squirrel run off.
For a week, Zara had been trying her hardest to morph into the cat Revan had found for her in a nearby alley. He had trimmed off a generous amount of its fur, had her study the animal, and taught her the chant. The pronunciation was complicated, but she had to recite it perfectly at the same time she absorbed the fur into her skin. Her first try had been disastrous. She had grown whiskers on her face, which Revan had found very amusing. Razoring them down hadn¡¯t been enough; they¡¯d grown back within hours. Revan had concocted a wax and an ointment that had done the job, painful as it was. The second try was worse. One of her hands had grown claws, but the other had morphed down into a disfigured-looking paw, and that had hurt. Another two days had gone by healing the changes that had gone wrong. Revan hadn¡¯t had the decency to look sorry even once. She didn¡¯t care. She didn¡¯t need his sympathy right now, or maybe ever. She would rather avoid him altogether if she wasn¡¯t so dependent on him. Now she was at her terrace, reluctantly readying for the third attempt. She had practiced her pronunciation, but it was a lot more advanced than the other spells she had done so far. Revan had warned her that this transformation could take months to perfect, or years if she chose to keep her magic inactive. So during the times she wasn¡¯t whisker-faced or writhing in joint pains, she kept up her regular schedule of potion-making, studying, and honing her power. Zara sighed, and put the vial with the tuft of alley cat hair down on the outdoor floor table. Her nerves were getting to her. She sat down on the cool grass in front of the tile flooring instead, inhaling the crisp air. The sun was peaking out of the clouds the further into the afternoon it went. The neighborhood below was busy. Children were playing in the streets; sellers roamed with full carts; families and couples went about their errands. It was nice. If only she could sit here all day, without having to fret about her growing obsession with perfecting an impossible ancient chant. As Zara watched the street musicians starting a new tune, she couldn¡¯t help but think of her old home, and how she¡¯d wandered the streets daringly by herself that one day, before everything went to shit. She couldn¡¯t help but miss doing other things. Like dancing, for one. Zara watched a couple walk up to the musicians and clap while stepping in beat with the rhythm of the dhol. For a second, she envied them. Revan would call her ridiculous for feeling so, but she did, in a way. It must be nice to enjoy a normal day and worry about normal things, and never have to run away or hide all the time, lest she want an early grave. A lump formed in her throat. Revan had told her everything. Yohid had been nothing more than an ordinary boy that had lost his life for nothing. On top of that, Revan had made Zara feel dumb for having actually believed the boy to be anything special at all. She had foolishly confided her secret to him, and had given him her ring. Then he had betrayed her on the cliff, like any child likely would in that situation. She truly had messed it all up. And Rowan¡ªwell, not that any of it mattered anymore because by this time, he would have forgotten her. But his almost hateful demeanor had been the cause of Revan¡¯s influence, commanding that he steer clear of his sister. He¡¯d sealed it by convincing him that coming after her, saving her, or protecting her, would never be worth his own life, nor his family¡¯s. The mighty urge in Zara to smash the workroom to pieces after that revelation had been immediately halted by Revan¡¯s raised hand, and his silent command¡ªa particularly strong one that Zara could not fight¡ªto hold back her foul temper, or face a painful consequence. A tiny flower bud peeked out of the soil within the tall grass. Zara smiled wistfully at it, and with her fingers, she warmed the bud and the soft stem. This was easy for her now. A comforting heat engulfed her heart as the flower bud blossomed into a pink rose with a few gentle twirls of her fingers. ¡°Zara?¡± Zara almost leaped off the grass at the sound of Saren¡¯s voice calling out to her. She almost ended up squashing the rose entirely. ¡°S-Saren? Saren! Hello,¡± Zara rushed, getting up and brushing herself off. She headed to the side of the house, where Saren was standing by the open gate. ¡°You¡¯re here.¡± ¡°Revan let me come here,¡± Saren explained, a little shyly. ¡°He said he was a bit busy at the moment, but that you would be here. He pointed me to the garden.¡± Her eyes were scanning over it now as she spoke. ¡°So¡­you were here to see him?¡± Zara was not surprised. She was more surprised that she hadn¡¯t come sooner. She made a quick glance at the gemstone still around her neck and smiled sweetly at the woman. ¡°Maybe¡­though, maybe seeing you would not be so bad either.¡± ¡°¡­Right. How kind of you to think so.¡± Saren looked at the patch of grass where Zara had been sitting. A lone pink rose stood proud and tall. ¡°What were doing over there?¡± The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. ¡°Nothing,¡± Zara answered quickly. ¡°I was¡­admiring the folks down below.¡± Saren let out a laugh. ¡°That is something, then, no?¡± Zara did not reply. She did not feel very comfortable with Saren here, but she knew it was necessary to try and bond with the woman. Zara looked her over. She was without any cloak and in more modest attire today¡ªwhite trousers and a long mustard colored tunic. A shawl hung casually over her shoulder, and her thick ebony hair was braided to one side. Zara self-consciously adjusted her own hair, as it was done up in a messy updo and likely looked stupid compared to Saren¡¯s kept appearance. She only wore a plain gray dress with worn-out ruffled sleeves. Zara guessed she should be more relieved that Saren hadn¡¯t stopped by a couple days prior, otherwise she would have seen the ugly wax scars on Zara¡¯s upper lip and jawline, and that was just something Zara could not have explained. The fast-healing ointments were truly a miracle to keep around. ¡°May I step in?¡± Saren asked after a moment. Zara wordlessly moved out of the way and let her stroll into the garden. ¡°The flowers,¡± Zara explained lamely, ¡°they won¡¯t grow much until later in the season.¡± ¡°You grow a lot of herbs,¡± Saren pointed out, referring to a corner of the garden reserved for them. ¡°Yes, we¡­cook with them. It¡¯s so much easier than finding them at the market.¡± Of course, only a part of that was true. They also needed the herbs for potions, and she hoped Saren¡¯s curiosity wouldn¡¯t drive her to go inspect the plants. Because then she would see that some of those herbs were not meant to be consumed with regular meals. But Saren was heading toward the pink rose instead. Zara silently observed her pick the flower off and roll the stem between her fingers, taking care to avoid the thorns. She brought the rose to her face, inhaling its sweet scent. ¡°It¡¯s beautiful,¡± she murmured. She was looking at the rose, but it seemed something else was on her mind. ¡°I¡¯m sorry?¡± Saren turned to her and smiled widely. Her eyes had that odd, almost glazed look to them again, though it wasn¡¯t as obvious, so Zara wasn¡¯t sure if she was just being paranoid. She didn¡¯t feel any pressure in her head like before, so that was a good sign. Saren walked up to her and handed her the rose. ¡°Here,¡± she said. Zara took the rose with confused hesitance. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°A token, of the friendship I see in our future, and of gratitude for the warm welcoming and your food.¡± ¡°¡­The friendship you see?¡± Saren bobbed her head. ¡°Sure. Why not? I think we can be friends.¡± If Saren was a normal person, Zara wouldn¡¯t even question any of this. But this was just¡­so interesting. She wondered what went on in Saren¡¯s head and how she was processing it. If she even knew what she was processing. But none of these questions would be met with answers, since Zara couldn¡¯t outright ask. ¡°You¡¯ve grown such a lovely rose here,¡± Saren muttered with lowered eyes. ¡°It suits you.¡± Zara¡¯s eyes rounded. ¡°Huh?¡± Saren¡¯s eyes snapped up, with sudden clarity. ¡°You look so pretty holding it. An off-the-season rose from your own garden, no? The color is nice against¡ª¡± She gestured to Zara¡¯s gown. ¡°¡ªall the gray, I suppose.¡± ¡°¡­Oh.¡± Saren¡¯s lips quirked up. ¡°You¡¯re welcome.¡± Zara then offered to bring out some tea, insisting that Saren wait here. She could use some time away to gather her thoughts. ¡°I think I have biscuits as well, if you¡¯d like some,¡± Zara told her, pulling out a seat cushion. ¡°No, I had some at the tea stall on the way here.¡± But Saren took a seat on the cushion anyway, resting her arms on the floor table. ¡°Sit with me, girl. I want to get to know you, and I know you would like the same from me.¡± ¡°How do you figure that?¡± Before Saren could respond, Zara held up her hand to stop her. ¡°Instinct?¡± she said flatly. Saren giggled. ¡°You¡¯re starting to understand me already!¡± Some time passed as they chatted, and Zara wasn¡¯t aware how long but the sky had dimmed. They could not see the sunset from where they were, but they could at least admire the coloring of the twilight. Zara lit the lamps around the terrace. ¡°You must be hungry now, Saren.¡± ¡°Is that an invitation to eat with you this evening, Zara?¡± Saren¡¯s smirk was playful, and Zara found herself responding the same. It was strange, very strange that Zara was feeling this way. Like she was beginning to grow some fondness, an affinity of sorts, towards this woman in a single afternoon. This was unexpected. Zara could not imagine such a thing happening just a few hours before. Saren had actually been likable today. They¡¯d started with small talk about their days; Saren had gotten a job as a weaver, though she had wanted a job where she could be more physical, like a butcher or a wood bringer. Zara had been a bit surprised by that, but then remembered where Saren was from and with her size, physical labor suited her. But much of those jobs were run by men who were naturally going to be more hesitant to hire even a woman as capable as Saren. They did not want to be liable for any injuries, nor cause unrest among the other workers. So Saren had to make do, a bit grudgingly at that. Zara mentioned she was taken care of by Revan, which Saren had envied a bit. Though, she asked whether Zara ever got bored or wished to do other things, or meet other people. Zara couldn¡¯t really reveal how busy her days really went and felt a little pathetic, as though Saren thought she had nothing more to do than cook and clean after Revan. But this eventually led to an easy discussion about each other¡¯s hobbies, which Zara took pleasure in how enthusiastic and encouraging Saren¡¯s attitude had been about it. It just so happened that they shared a love of music and dance. Saren also enjoyed the theater and took an interest in acting in small stage plays back home, often ones that had light musical routines. She also enjoyed romance comedies and tragedies, both in books and plays. Zara couldn¡¯t be more impressed by this. Her previous insecurities and moody suspicions about Saren, in that moment at least, had flown out of her head. The cooler winds had begun to blow, though Saren seemed unbothered by it. She stood from the cushion and walked toward Zara who had been on her way inside to prepare a meal. ¡°Let me help you,¡± Saren insisted. ¡°I miss cooking for others.¡± Zara gave her a real smile. Saren had been just as tight-lipped about her own family as Zara was. Another area they shared in common. But Zara guessed whatever had happened, and whatever had led Saren here, was causing her to miss her family. That was something they didn¡¯t share in common¡ªa yearning for the people back home. Zara had some leftover bread to heat over the fire. Saren washed the rice grains and set it in the pot with some butter and a squeeze of lemon. The women chatted as they cut fresh herbs and sliced meat; Saren wanted Zara and Revan to try a roasted egg and hen dish she loved making back home. Normally she used more fatty meats, but hen was all Zara had in the ice box at the moment. As they prepared the meal, and the kitchen warmed with pleasant scents of cooking spices, Saren suggested whether Zara would be interested in taking professional dance lessons with her. ¡°I¡¯ve always wanted to do something like this. It might be fun!¡± Saren said as she rubbed the spices onto the meat. ¡°And it¡¯s a nice way to get out there and perhaps meet some people? Make friends.¡± Zara was on board until she said that. Of course, she couldn¡¯t avoid meeting people if she wanted to do this. Dance, she was willing. People, she wasn¡¯t. ¡°Oh¡­¡± Zara went to stir the boiling rice. ¡°Sure. It sounds fun.¡± She could feel Saren¡¯s quizzical eyes on her back. But she did not comment on Zara¡¯s meeker tone. ¡°I believe,¡± she went on, ¡°I heard a lady talking about lessons on the street as I walked home from weaving the other day. One of the temples is hosting it.¡± ¡°It might be for holy dances then,¡± Zara said, turning back to face Saren. Saren shrugged. ¡°It would be a nice start. Until we find another place. It is a big city and I haven¡¯t been able to get around as much as I wanted to yet.¡± ¡°We should head for the Kingdom then,¡± Revan voiced so suddenly it made Zara jolt. Saren, however, looked entirely unaffected, like she¡¯d sensed him coming. For all they knew, she had. ¡°You¡¯ll find better activity opportunities there, ones that may fit what you are looking for.¡± Zara narrowed her eyes at him. ¡°Where did you come from? Were you listening in?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve just arrived, and I happened to hear some of what you were discussing,¡± he told her simply. ¡°Where have you been?¡± Saren asked, heading to the hearth and putting the meat into the sizzling pan. ¡°Running errands. Very important errands.¡± His eyes fell on Zara. ¡°I need to head into the capital district next week. If you two would like to come with me, that will be alright.¡± Saren was delighted. ¡°That sounds perfect! Is it for materials? Zara was telling me your clothing sales have gone up. It must be as popular as your jewelry.¡± She touched the green gemstone, a bit pink in the face. ¡°I¡¯d like to see more of what you sell.¡± To Saren, Revan was just an ordinary merchant. He smiled at her. Zara did not miss his gaze flickering over the gemstone. ¡°How are you feeling, dear?¡± The blush on Saren¡¯s cheeks darkened. She shrugged. ¡°Well. Very well. Why?¡± Revan gave her a slight nod, and turned his attention back to Zara. ¡°I must meet someone. I can always have the carriage stop by the port so you two can explore the city more on your own.¡± Saren beamed but Zara was appalled. ¡°What? Drop us off? How long will we be alone? That doesn¡¯t sound very safe.¡± ¡°I think you¡¯re both more than capable together.¡± Revan nudged his head toward Saren. ¡°Besides, if anything, she can protect you.¡± He gave her a pointed look, as to not argue with him further. After all, Zara was the one who was supposed to know how to defend herself, anyway. Zara crossed her arms stubbornly. She¡¯d gained her dagger back at least, and with Revan¡¯s help, she¡¯d felt more confident in defense than she had before. But that didn¡¯t mean she was going to unleash it all in front of Saren if the time ever came for it. And in a city like that, it just might happen. ¡°I don¡¯t know about this,¡± she mumbled. ¡°That part of the city isn¡¯t very safe and¡ªand it¡¯s dirty and smelly. There¡¯s too many suspicious people¡ª¡± ¡°Now why do you do that?¡± Saren asked. ¡°What?¡± ¡°You are always doubting everything. You even doubt yourself.¡± Zara scrunched her face. ¡°When do I doubt everything?¡± ¡°Just now. And whenever you talk about yourself. Like you doubt you have any talent, or if people will like you.¡± Zara felt hot. She hadn¡¯t even voiced any of those things, but thinking back on their conversation today, she guessed anyone would be able to tell of Zara¡¯s insecurities, ¡°instinct¡± or not. ¡°We should go. This could be good for you. And I think we should still consider the temple here anyway. It¡¯s closer to home, and some spirituality may also do you some good as well.¡± ¡°She is right,¡± Revan said, removing his cloak and seating himself at the table. Zara ignored him. She put her vegetables in the pot of water to wash. It seemed they were going into that shit-infested place, and that was that. ¡°You know, Zara,¡± Saren spoke in a softer voice, ¡°the world isn¡¯t as ugly as you think it to be. There is beauty here, even in Darhai.¡±
Revan ate his meal with the company of the women. His heart was uneasy, and he was sure Saren could feel it too. She kept sending concerned glances his way every now and then. It was annoying him, and he needed to rectify this issue soon. For now, he could only sip down his wine until his act of being fine became more convincing. But this uneasiness was something he hadn¡¯t felt for a very long time. Not much fazed him like this. Though it was natural, after all, his former Mistress was watching him as he ate. She was well aware of how he felt about it, and she didn¡¯t care. It was all too well. He figured she¡¯d be around these parts, and she had finally chosen to break the seal that had prevented him from finding her.
She watched him through the reflection of the castle¡¯s pond. With a slight touch of her finger, the water rippled, and the image vanished. She smiled with tight lips. She had missed doing this¡ªmaking him uncomfortable. Her apprentice had grown well though, and was now training yet another. Those women¡­their powers are intriguing. I wonder¡­ ¡°Miss Dayana! What are you doing out here?¡± The princess was calling for her. An exceptional specimen, that one was. Though she had been a planned tool from the start. Dayana stood from the pond¡¯s edge and smiled amicably at the little girl who had run from the castle to find her. She was so attached, this little one. It was endearing. This innocence of the girl would be cracked the older she grew, so Dayana would enjoy this time while it lasted. ¡°Coming, child. Let¡¯s go back in. It¡¯s getting late.¡± Dayana walked back to the grand castle, hand in hand with the bubbly princess. He already knew where she was. So she would simply let him come to her, like old times. A Real Devil The buildings lining the roads of the Sanyaran Kingdom¡ªcomprised primarily of stone, brick, and clay¡ªwere vast and seemingly endless, as though each one were its own miniature castle. Zara and Saren¡¯s mouths dropped open before the carriage had even entered through the official stone arch, welcoming them into the richest capital in the world. Many of the structures were like mountains with sharp pointed tops, decoratively carved. They were multiple stories, and for some, painted arched doorways and windows lined every floor. The people were just as ornamented as their property as they bustled by in fancy clothes, carriages, and wagons. The men wore aristocratic jeweled suits and turbans, and the women wore gowns and headpieces fit for queens. Palm trees and statues of religious figures filled in the spaces on the road. They passed temples that were on higher ground, with multiple steps leading up to them. A swarm of worshipers were on their way for afternoon prayer already. Zara could smell the sea; she could even catch glimpses of it in the distance as the carriage continued its descent down the neat cobbled roads, past the multitude of high-end shopping districts and food stalls, and headed through a neighborhood, where the houses were stacked on hills on either side of the road. The homes ranged from multi-story to humble single flooring, and while they weren¡¯t as grand to look at, they were still decent and clearly housed the better-bred portion of the population. Overlooking the ocean was a castle surrounded by cliffs, but Zara was too far from it to see it properly. The sunlight reflected on its magnificent golden tower. Zara had been partly wrong. The entirety of the capital wasn¡¯t a total sack of shit and she¡¯d been a fool to believe that the soil the Royal Court was built upon wouldn¡¯t be dignified. But the outer regions they had been forced to cross over an hour ago had been as messy as she had imagined it¡ªsimilar to the border districts Zara and Revan had traveled through the previous year, yet somehow more disgusting. Saren had tried remaining optimistic, but even she had scooted closer to Zara with her hand blocking her nose, away from the carriage door. As pretty as the Kingdom was compared to everywhere else, Zara would also be a fool to deem it completely safe. Nowhere was ever safe; Revan had made sure to drill that notion into her head. If only he could have drilled it into Saren¡¯s too. ¡°This is wonderful!¡± Saren spoke with a breathy voice. ¡°We should stop for prayer as well, don¡¯t you think?¡± ¡°Why?¡± Zara asked. ¡°I¡¯ve always enjoyed spirituality. It¡¯s been a stressful day and we could use some peace. Besides, it may be good to experience some of the local lifestyle.¡± Zara was apprehensive, and she looked to Revan in the seat across from them. Their carriage was plain black wood and modest, yet classy enough to pass through the arched gates without seeming out of place. Four horses, reined by an upper-class coachman, pulled them through their two-hour journey, and the cushioned space inside was big enough for the three of them, with some extra room left over for their overnight sacks. It had been a comfortable ride so far, minus the unpleasant bumps and smells. Now Saren was asking to stop for prayer, of all things. Revan did not encourage religion, and Zara didn¡¯t mind, as she rejected it as well. But as she gave him a pointed glare, he offered her no help in this regard whatsoever. In fact, his attention seemed diverted elsewhere. He was staring out the carriage window, his brows drawn together in concentration. ¡°Very well,¡± he muttered. Zara stared at him in disbelief. When they arrived closer to another temple, Revan gave the roof a hard tap. The old coachman brought it to a halt on the side of the road. ¡°Revan,¡± Zara started. But he made no space for her to interject. ¡°Go. We passed a theater not far from here, and they might put on a show later. See if it¡¯s to your liking.¡± ¡°I saw it!¡± Saren said giddily. ¡°The actors were already in costume, practicing! Thank you so much, Revan.¡± Zara did not see any such theater or costumed actors, but that was likely because she¡¯d been so focused trying to figure out why Revan wasn¡¯t acting like his secure and assertive self. Something was off. He never revealed to her what this trip was really about. He allowed a tiny smile at Saren before the coachman opened the door for the ladies to step out. ¡°We will meet again back here,¡± Revan said, ¡°in the evening. If you cannot find your way back by then, remain at the theater. I will come find you. Zara.¡± Zara turned to look at him. His expression was firm. ¡°Don¡¯t get into any trouble. On stage or off it.¡± The carriage door slammed closed, and with a sharp crack of a whip, it rolled off down the road, leaving the two women behind. ¡°What did he mean by that?¡± Saren asked. ¡°¡­He meant that I shouldn¡¯t get myself into trouble. I tend to do that.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­on stage or off it¡­have you been on a stage before?¡± Zara shrugged nonchalantly, and changed the subject. She wished Revan¡¯s mouth had been smaller, as Saren was the type to yap questions until she got the answers she desired. ¡°Saren, shall we go in? The lines are long, and if I have to do this, I at least want to enjoy some sweets before the other worshipers eat them all. In a temple like this¡ª¡± Zara stared up at the long, ancient building, just now taking in the full sight of it for the first time. ¡°¡ªI¡¯m sure they serve the finest.¡± The old, charcoal-hued temple was situated near the port, and Zara could get a better peek of the ocean¡¯s deep blue horizon, along with some boats situated at the docks. The jagged structure towered high, engraved with arts and idols on its walls. The White Sun was carved and painted in careful detail over the arched entrance, and by each side stood two of Lilith¡¯s angels. Palm trees shaded the temple¡¯s edges, and while the low winds caused the long green leaves to flutter, it wasn¡¯t very cold. The afternoon sun was bright, but unoppressive. There were still quite a few different types of temples around these parts, despite Lilith¡¯s reigning dominant across the Kingdom. Revan had dropped Zara and Saren off at a site that was at least familiar to them, as northerners. Saren didn¡¯t look as though she really wanted to drop the matter, but sighed and took a look around. She had matched the color of her earrings to her necklace, both of which glinted in the sunlight. They had both decided on comfortable but finer attire for today¡ªlong embroidered blouses, slim fit trousers, and light jewelry. Zara was pleased that while they were outsiders here, they had the decency to look fresh and made up. ¡°It really is a pretty place. I¡¯m sure they have the finest sweets. And I would like to get myself cleaned up first. Hey, while we bathe, why not tell me about one of those troublesome times of yours?¡± Zara began heading up the steps, and Saren followed, grinning. ¡°Maybe,¡± Zara mumbled, knowing she would have to think of some horseshit story that was only half a lie. Because Saren could always sense when she was being fully lied to. Then again, maybe Zara wouldn¡¯t say anything at all. It was probably better to resist the matter entirely, even if Saren pushed it all day. When they made the short ascent, nodding heads politely at other worshipers heading inside, Saren grabbed Zara¡¯s hand. Zara looked up at the woman¡¯s dark, glimmering eyes. The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. Saren smiled. ¡°Relax. Let us enjoy our day together. I see you do not wish to really be here. But I bet I can show you the beauty of this temple, and of this city.¡± Zara exhaled. ¡°Saren. First, this city is already pretty enough. I can see it. Also, you¡¯re speaking like someone who has lived here for years. You¡¯ve only seen the city for a few hours, and out of a carriage window through most of it.¡± She shrugged loosely. ¡°What about it? That does not mean I can¡¯t seek out some fun. I can tell you¡¯re reluctant anyway. You were the whole journey here. Now, come.¡± Giving Zara¡¯s hand a squeeze of encouragement, Saren led her into the temple.
Thankfully, they¡¯d been running a little late, as the first part of the congregation was close to start. This meant that Saren hadn¡¯t had time to interrogate Zara on private matters. Matters like how she¡¯d catastrophically ruined an engagement party with her demonic dancing. Or how she almost really had been attacked by a mangled, junk-using thief the night Saren found her dagger, all because Zara had been too afraid to use the damn thing as intended. At least Saren remained lucid. Not once did Zara feel any amount of heaviness in her head beside the occasional ache of having to be in a temple¡ªa place she clearly did not belong. Saren kept to the present, and her expression was as clear as the day. Perhaps¡ªand Zara was taking a guess¡ªit was the necklace¡¯s doing. Hopefully the effects wouldn¡¯t wear out too quickly. Along with the rest of her jewelry, Saren had rid herself of the necklace before stepping into the communal pool. Zara would be defenseless against her should she try anything, unintentionally or otherwise. As Zara washed her body, taking care not to let her eyes linger on Saren¡¯s more voluptuous figure, she wondered if a chance to put her powers into practical use would ever come. Unless she wanted to live in complete isolation, that time would arrive someday. She hoped it wouldn¡¯t be today. Cool water splashed down on Zara¡¯s head. When she turned around, stunned, Saren stood in front of her, holding a bathing bucket. The pool water only went up to her thighs, leaving the rest of her fully exposed. Saren giggled when Zara growled a curse, averting her eyes from the jiggling woman. Her stomach was beginning to act up and she self-consciously covered the bloat that had started to show. Saren, despite being much broader than the usual woman, was healthy in all the desirable places. She probably never had to deal with a bloated gut in front of others. She probably never had to worry about people judging her creamy, even skin tone either. Not that Zara¡¯s tan was terrible, but sometimes it looked dusky and unappealing. Perhaps she was also too thin. She briefly wondered if Saren had ever exposed herself to another man. But with the way she behaved around Revan sometimes, it was a stupid thought to ponder. Of course she had, at some point in her early life. She seemed too confident and willing to be inexperienced. Zara shook her head, and wondered why she was thinking about any of this at all. ¡°You¡¯re so cute,¡± Saren said. ¡°Shut up.¡± ¡°Hey. Watch that mouth. We are in a holy place, you know.¡± Zara rolled her eyes. Saren clucked her tongue. ¡°Distasteful. You tell me nothing. You are like a wall.¡± Her voice was low and pleasant to the ear, especially in the quiet, airy space of the pool. And that was another trait she had that Zara lacked: an accent that could make even nonsense sound good. ¡°You are too invasive,¡± Zara replied shortly, her arms still around her stomach. ¡°Like a hound.¡± Saren took a slow step closer, sloshing the water, her mouth a straight line. They were the only two left in the water. The sun¡¯s rays shone through the open roof, illuminating the pool and the tall woman that stood directly in front of Zara. She held out the bucket. ¡°Cool me down.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Zara¡¯s mind was muddled. ¡°Cool me down, like I did you.¡± With a short exhale, Zara filled the bucket as Saren knelt down. She at least had the decency to pour the water gently over Saren¡¯s hair and face, rather than dumping it all so suddenly. Saren stood up again, smoothing her jet black hair back, and letting the water run down her form. Her kohl had smudged a little. Zara, who always went heavier with it these days, imagined her own eyes looked worse. This time, Zara did not tear her gaze away. They regarded each other, their faces at once drawn with uncertainty and interest. Saren had a point. This friendship would go nowhere if Zara didn¡¯t attempt to open up. It felt hopeless sometimes. Old friends or new, such matters would always be trouble for her. ¡°Ladies,¡± an old, henna-haired attendant dressed in plain white garb said. She stood by a pillar near the dressing area, catching their attention. ¡°You must hurry. The offerings will begin soon.¡± The women left the pool and dressed in the simple, soft temple attire¡ªa white gown with silver trimming, paired with a matching headdress. The men wore a similar gown and a turban. The service jogged Zara¡¯s memory of much older times, back when she was a girl learning her first prayer. Her mother and Noina had taught her well, and she still remembered the motions. Noina had viciously hammered the ritual chants and all of its translations through her skull, and Zara could at least thank the Holy Mother now for getting her away from that cruel mess of a woman. They lit the candles and offered food, stone, and plants at the shrine, honoring the deities. They touched each angel¡¯s statue and offered another prayer to protect humankind and curse all the devils¡ªespecially the scraps left of mages and the wicked¡ªthat possibly walked among them today. Zara hid a scowl before anyone else had noticed. Only Saren had seen her, and she was naturally suspicious. But she said nothing as the priest slathered their foreheads with paint while the attendants placed garlands around their necks. They entered a circular room. The high walls were covered in scripture and ancient paintings. The Sun symbol was carved intricately into the stone floor. In the middle of it stood a great statue of Lilith, a perfect image of royalty and grace. Her seven angels surrounded her, each guarded with their own symbols above their heads¡ªRain, Snow, Palm, Leaf, Jewel, Stone, Arrows. Lilith was depicted as a tall figure with waist-length hair, her crowning headdress made of pure white-gold. She wore a sheer, silvery jeweled dress, and her slender, bangle-encased arms were held up in prayer. Her face was narrow and symmetrical, a supposed mark of true beauty and gentleness. To Zara, it looked impassive. But she let her hands be held in the circle and bowed down to the idol with the rest of the worshipers because that was what she was supposed to do right now. It was then Zara felt Saren¡¯s hand squeeze hers. Hard. Zara twitched at this sudden, uncomfortable reaction. She peeked at Saren while she chanted. Saren looked uneasy. Zara couldn¡¯t fathom the reason. She was the one that had wanted to come here, but her brows were scrunched like she was getting ready to spit fire. Her stomach clenched. Wetness pooled between her legs. She felt it trickle down her thigh underneath her dress. Zara looked down at herself in horror, just as Saren did the same. The fabric was thin and as the priest demanded they all prostrate, Zara¡¯s gown shifted, and the blood stain became apparent to everyone near. ¡°Shit,¡± Zara spat out, trying to cover herself up. She didn¡¯t care that she was in front of the Holy Mother. She didn¡¯t care that she was in such a ¡°sacred¡± place. She said it again as more blood leaked out of her. ¡°Shit!¡± The man on Zara¡¯s other side gave a shout, and yanked his hand out of hers. The prayer was halted as the worshipers expressed dismay and disgust. The priest, an intimidating man in his high turban, blackened eyes, and Sun-painted forehead, was downright angered by such a crude interruption and demanded Zara leave the premises immediately before she was forcefully thrown out without a change of clothes. ¡°Do not leave anything behind! Take that gown with you and burn it!¡± he boomed as Zara skittered to the double doors, cheeks burning. ¡°Filth! Only a devilish woman would enter holy grounds without a regard for her moon cycle. Get out! Away! This is why we all must pray for our safety, from the devils that walk among us¡­¡± His voice fell further away as Zara ran. Tears pricked her eyes. Seriously? This makes me a devil? I can show you a real devil. I can show you something more worthy of a prayer! It was precisely because she did not visit temples, did not participate in religious affairs, that she did not bother tracking her menstrual cycle on a regular basis. Now, it had occurred at the worst time. Now, she was considered evil for it. Her skin heated. Revan had told her explicitly not to start trouble, and here she had done so already through no true fault of her own. She wiped her eyes and began to change, ripping the headdress off and tousling her damp hair in the process. She violently tried rubbing the Sun off her forehead, but more than likely, she just made a pasty, crumbly mess out of it. ¡°Zara.¡± Top half naked, Zara whirled around to see Saren standing at the doorway. The gown hung above her waist, uselessly. She had no cottons or rags to stop the flow, and there wouldn¡¯t be any supply for this sort of thing at this stupid fucking temple to begin with. No attendant would dare help her either. Shame coursed through her. Her face down to her fingertips felt hot, and a part of her was aware that her magic was becoming unstable. A lone pebble in the room flicked up, and Zara flinched. She was afraid of what she could accidentally do. ¡°Wh-What are you doing here? D-Don¡¯t you need to finish the service first?¡± Zara quivered, hoping Saren would leave her alone. Saren wordlessly removed her headdress. She then ripped a large piece of the cotton fabric off. Zara gasped. ¡°What are you doing?¡± she whispered. Saren handed it to her, placing a reassuring palm over her bare shoulder before letting her fingers caress her neck and jawline. ¡°They may believe they are right, but they¡¯re not. You are no devil. And¡­I¡¯m sorry,¡± she said quietly. Zara swallowed the lump in her throat. She leaned in to the touch, and the heat under her skin eventually passed. Saren stepped back and allowed Zara to change out of her soiled gown. She began changing out of hers as well. Before they exited the temple, Saren grabbed some fresh sweets from the table¡ªreserved only for the worshipers. The old attendant gave a shout, but a glare from Saren had shut her up. The women enjoyed their fine treats and welcomed the natural light. Saren adjusted her necklace. The gem shone brightly against her fair skin once again. Dark Beauty The women strolled down the clean cobblestone street further away from the temple, ironically in better spirits than when they¡¯d been inside it. Saren carried the satchel that had Zara¡¯s temple gown squished in it. Its only use was going to be tearing it apart to help Zara block her blood flow. Saren had purposely left the soiled part of the gown in one of the potted plants at the temple. Everything there, including the water and its greenery, were considered blessed and pure. It was amusing to imagine what the attendants would do once they found it. It was even more amusing to imagine how the priest himself would react. ¡°I am really so sorry,¡± Saren told Zara again. ¡°That wasn¡¯t the right place to start our tour.¡± Zara pressed her lips together, willing to forgive, but she needed to ask: ¡°Why did you want to go there, Saren? I know you talked about liking spirituality but, now that I remember it, don¡¯t you have a different belief?¡± Saren took a quick glimpse at her as they walked through a quiet neighborhood. ¡°Did I say that?¡± Well, truly, Saren had been under some sort of strange possession when she mentioned Lilith¡¯s people driving hers farther north. Just from that, and the fact that the isles tended to have a belief system of their own, according to an interesting literature Zara recently happened upon, she assumed that Saren would be against the Faith of Lilith. Her willingness for a temple visit today was surprising. Saren sighed, defeated. ¡°I am not sure what to believe anymore. My people¡¯s faiths are what yours call myths. Spirits, wanderers, seers, destiny¡­meanwhile, I want to believe there is a much higher power here, watching over us. Helping us. Perhaps, I had misunderstood Lilith¡¯s people. I wanted to test myself in that temple, but¡­it was wrong. It felt very wrong. And I¡¯m sorry I pulled you into it. I knew you didn¡¯t want to from the beginning. I was very selfish. But I thought that, if the experience was good, and if I had been mistaken, then it would have been worth it. Our moods would have been lifted, particularly yours.¡± ¡°So you do not have a single belief? Not even from your own people?¡± Saren smiled wistfully. ¡°I do. Not much in the gods, but I do believe that a person can be given multiple chances at life. Be it human, spirit, or mage.¡± Zara¡¯s insides jolted at hearing the word ¡°mage¡± through Saren¡¯s lips for the first time. ¡°We are all here with a purpose,¡± Saren went on. ¡°We will be born again and again and again, through many different souls, good and bad, until we have completed that purpose. This division between man and magic, these past wars in our history, are so meaningless to me. We are all from this world, and we must reside in it together. What is the point in this superiority? First the mages, now the humans. Neither are invincible, in the end.¡± Zara searched Saren¡¯s face, but all she saw was clarity. This was Saren speaking, not the hypnotic version of her. Zara was in awe. A vague recollection of Naz¡¯s frighteningly black gaze suddenly popped into her mind. It had been their final face-to-face interaction, and Naz had said something about mages and humans living in harmony as an ¡°illegal faith.¡± Naz had also expressed a distaste for the upper northern people as well. Perhaps, he had also been referring to Saren¡¯s people. Saren was exactly what Revan had described¡ªan anomaly. She wasn¡¯t a mage, but she wasn¡¯t fully spirit or human either. But if anyone in authority were to find this out, she would be taken, tried as a mage, and publicly executed. Her belief system was indeed prohibited in these lands. All the temples and religions in this continent took humanity¡¯s side only. Everything else was blasphemous. Saren¡¯s breathing suddenly became heavy. Zara stopped them where they were, concerned. The gem had brightened for a quick moment before returning to normal. The woman put a hand over her chest, as if there was something wrong with her heart. ¡°Saren? What¡¯s wrong?¡± Saren gulped, then shook her head like it was nothing. ¡°I¡¯m fine. I just¡­I don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°What? What did you feel?¡± Zara pressed. It had something to do with the gem¡¯s magic. It was taking effect. Zara wasn¡¯t sure exactly how it would, but if Revan was using her power right now, perhaps Saren had felt that. ¡°I felt a bit ill. But it went as fast as it had come. Have I stressed myself too much?¡± Saren groaned. ¡°Look at what my foolishness has caused. I¡¯m fine now, Zara. No need to worry.¡± They walked on. The road was steadily getting crowded as they approached a market zone. Zara was starting to see the sea more clearly. The breeze was delightful, as was the salty scent of the world¡¯s largest body of water. Zara turned to stand in front of Saren. The woman still looked uncharacteristically insecure. Zara wanted to forgive and forget. Even if the temple visit was a case of poor judgment, Saren wasn¡¯t a horrible woman for it, and in the end she had looked out for Zara like a decent friend would. Zara smiled encouragingly. Maybe Revan was right. Maybe, besides for the purposes of their mission, this could be a second try at a real friendship. Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation. She reached out and took a gentle hold of Saren¡¯s arms, gazing up at the taller woman with more ease than she had before. ¡°Maybe we could try again? It¡¯s like you said. Despite the ugliness here, there¡¯s still a lot of beauty for us to see, apparently. And I want you to be the one to show it to me.¡± Saren¡¯s insecurity transformed into a jubilant grin. She laughed and pulled Zara into the market. As the women passed by a stall shadowed by tarps and trees, Zara felt a peculiar set of eyes following them. Very quickly, the eyes turned into a fully formed presence, carefully concealed among the throng of shoppers. Zara walked on like nothing was wrong, though she kept one hand at her side, near the dagger in her pocket.
The Sorko scales had come to use, as he suspected they would. Revan swam in the depths of the ocean. It had been so many years since he¡¯d done this that he allowed himself the leisure of enjoying it. He swam at a slow pace toward the caves situated behind the castle. There was no chance he would be allowed in through the main gates, for obvious reasons. He was not acquainted with the royal family; he was a nobody. There were other methods of passage at his disposal, even a forceful entry through the gates if necessary. But Revan wanted to remain as hidden as possible. The palace grounds were always teeming with servants. He did not want to be seen at all, even if he cast a memory alteration over them. This was also a good excuse for him to use his beloved scales, in his own special way. What he hadn¡¯t taught Zara was that in certain cases, one had the option of transfiguring into an animal of choice, half-formed. Doing so was more complicated, and Zara had yet to accomplish a full morph without hurting herself in the process. Revan¡¯s current form was bigger and broader than normal, with a scaly blue and black tint like that of a normal Sorko fish. But his upper half remained humanly intact. His teeth were incredibly sharp, as were the points of his ears. His irises were a deep red color, and practically shone in dark waters. Spiky fins protruded from his elbows and on his back down to his lower half, which was a long, thick tail¡ªthe only part of him that did not resemble a man. This tail had the strength of twenty muscle men. Revan could easily smash the bottom of a boat, or even damage a small ship, with his tail alone. He surfaced near the opening of the cave, where the waters were still deep and he wouldn¡¯t be noticed by guards. Hardly any soul roamed these parts. A mile away stood the castle, tall and proud. Behind him, the ocean went on forever. Thick white clouds swirled endlessly across the horizon, shrouding life and land beyond it in mystery. The palace was a gold beacon among the city, surrounded by red fort. He can see the many windows aligning each floor. He could only imagine how many more structures were within those walls. In all the places he had been in his long life, he had never been able to step foot within the ancient palace walls. The Sanyaran Sun waved to him in the form of a flag situated at the top of the highest tower. ¡°You are a sight for sore eyes, my dear.¡± Revan was not the least bit surprised to hear her silky voice so close by, yet his heart involuntarily pinched anyway. His old instructor emerged from the shadows of the cave, a Sorceress he hadn¡¯t seen since he was a young man in soul. She looked the same as ever¡ªtall, slender, and as sharp as the spikes around the palace¡¯s fort. Dayana of Rune, the most ancient city in their southern homeland, sauntered easily toward the water¡¯s edge. She wore a blackened jewel wrap gown that reached the top of her ankles. Her midnight hair, graced with a bit of gray, was tied back, leaving her tan shoulders exposed. A thick gold necklace lined her bare neck, and her matching earrings drooped heavily on her lobes. She smiled at Revan with maroon lips, and her sultry hazel eyes popped against the thick lines of kohl. Despite being over a thousand years old, her appearance had barely reached middle-aged. It was no matter. The Sorceress radiated dark beauty. ¡°It¡¯s been so long, and this is the form you greet me in?¡± Dayana clucked her tongue. ¡°What a shame. I was hoping to see someone more familiar and handsome.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve seen me, Mistress,¡± Revan said, his voice deep and grating in this rather hideous guise. He swam closer to her, baring his teeth on purpose. ¡°I know you¡¯ve been watching me.¡± Her slim brow arched. ¡°Is that so?¡± But it was a question that didn¡¯t need an answer. She already knew. ¡°For how long?¡± ¡°Since your arrival in Darhai.¡± Revan¡¯s eyes narrowed suspiciously, which incited a soft laugh from Dayana. ¡°Get out of that water and please, turn yourself back into the Revan I know. I cannot take you seriously as you are now. Those eyes¡­my dear gods. I do appreciate your cautious approach. But why Sorko?¡± Revan shrugged, flapping his tail. ¡°They are fast swimmers. I did not wish to keep you waiting.¡± Dayana nodded in approval, even though Revan didn¡¯t need it. ¡°So,¡± Revan went on, ¡°you¡¯ve lifted the barrier.¡± ¡°That I have.¡± ¡°Why did you put it up at all? Why conceal yourself from me?¡± Dayana turned her back on him. ¡°You¡¯d better hurry on then before a fisherman spots you. We will talk by the Reena statue. It¡¯s not far from the cave¡¯s entrance. I¡¯ve set up a table near it. I hope you haven¡¯t filled up on too many sea creatures already, but I brought some treats I know you like.¡± Revan did consume some other fish while he¡¯d been swimming, but the woman knew his favorites, so he was willing to eat more. A long conversation just wouldn¡¯t do while he was half under water anyway. The gills on his neck were a source of discomfort amid the open air. ¡°I brought coffee as well.¡± Dayana side-eyed him, gleaming. It was an expression she used to use on him all the time when he was a boy. ¡°I¡¯m coming,¡± he groaned, swimming away to find shallower land. Revan¡¯s heart gave an uncharacteristic pound. It truly felt as though no time had passed between them, even within only a few minutes of meeting after multiple decades apart. A Bleak Vision The air grew chilly. Thick gray clouds rolled in, lingering primarily above the cliff Revan and Dayana occupied. The rest of the Kingdom remained bathed in sunlight. ¡°A beautiful sight, is it not?¡± Dayana said in a silky voice. ¡°You know how to pick your spots well,¡± Revan answered, somewhat in jest. The wooden table and embroidered cushions Dayana had set up for them was concealed by surrounding black rocks, boulders, and greenery, but they were allowed a decent view of the ocean waves roaring along the coast. Fisher boats floated lazily along the water, and small ships drifted to and from the port. The cave¡¯s dark, gaping entrance was a few yards away. Reena¡¯s tall statue stood in front of it, her hands clasped together in front of her. The painted symbols had mostly worn off, but the figure held up fine. Dayana had once grudgingly described her as a youthful beauty with round eyes and pronounced lips. Her hair was as bright and as long as a bride¡¯s veil, with never a knot or tussle in sight. The statue displayed her image accurately. ¡°She is a sight to admire, isn¡¯t she?¡± Dayana asked smoothly. ¡°Even as a statue.¡± Revan smiled thinly. ¡°All statues and idols modeled after her are so carefully crafted. It is obvious that she is very well respected angel.¡± Dayana took a sip of coffee, her face smug. ¡°Yes, ¡®angel¡¯. She¡¯s the worst.¡± Revan already knew the details of Dayana¡¯s old feud with Reena, and he didn¡¯t care to hear or think of it any more. He happily took the plate of cocoa cake offered to him, once again eyeing the ominous-looking cave behind the statue. Long ago, the cave had been a prayer site for Reena, one of Lady Lilith¡¯s most loyal subjects and a brilliant healer to all living beings. But due to the rise of conveniently located temples, the cave was all but forgotten and left unmaintained. Revan had not stepped inside to see the state of it, but from the puddles of muddy soil surrounding the opening, along with the faint echoing drips and the frequent skittering inside, it was likely now decrepit and uninhabitable. ¡°How are the cakes, dear?¡± Revan had his mouth stuffed, so he could only nod. He hadn¡¯t realized how much he missed Dayana¡¯s berry and chocolate cakes. He poured himself some more coffee. Dayana smiled at him like he was still a boy under her care. ¡°Good. I was worried I lost my touch.¡± Revan swallowed. ¡°Why? Have you not made them since I left?¡± He stopped himself, chuckling. ¡°No, no. I didn¡¯t leave. You did.¡± She shrugged, unbothered. ¡°I had you fully trained by then, didn¡¯t I? What more use was I to you?¡± ¡°It couldn¡¯t have been about that. You know I wanted to work with you, always. We still have the same goal.¡± ¡°Well¡­no, Revan. We didn¡¯t. I¡¯m old. My purpose has permanently sewn itself into my heart. Pumps through my veins. You, however, were young and still so easily swayed by the comforts of human life.¡± Revan frowned. ¡°What is that supposed to mean?¡± ¡°You married again. She had a baby on the way. And this wife¡­she wasn¡¯t like the others. You cared about this one. Your final one. Did you really think you could have kept up with me?¡± Revan did not respond. He was too numb to. ¡°I don¡¯t slow down for anyone, Revan. You made your choice to settle with a family again. That was fine by me. I figured I could count on you later on, when all that was over and life among humanity had all but worn you down. Spouses, children¡­those pesky things always get in the way. I did not wish for you to seek me out.¡± ¡°So you blocked me.¡± ¡°I did. Back then, your mind, your magic¡­none of it was in tune with mine. You had lost yourself in the solace of mankind. There, you didn¡¯t have to be different. You didn¡¯t have to be a monster. And for me, it was as good as a betrayal.¡± ¡°Betrayal? That¡¯s nonsense, Dayana. I was always a monster,¡± Revan muttered with a derisive snort, bringing the warm coffee to his lips. Dayana smirked. ¡°Yes. I know this well. I admire that side of you. But with her¡­I won¡¯t say her name out of respect to you. But with her, you were no monster.¡± Revan set his cup down with a light clink. His hands no longer shook when memories of his past life collided with the present, which he was grateful for, but this was not what he came here to discuss. He didn¡¯t wish to stroll down down a road to places and people that no longer existed. He instead made himself aware of what did lie in front of him: himself, Mistress Dayana, this strange island with its high cliff and its black cave looming over him, with Reena as their witness. Further away from him walked his young apprentice and her new spirit-infused friend. He suddenly had the urge to check on how¡ªand more importantly what¡ªthey were doing. ¡°The girls are fine,¡± Dayana assured. ¡°I¡¯m sure of it. They should be safe near the temple sites, where you dropped them off.¡± Revan narrowed his glare at the woman as she brought her own cup to her lips. She sipped calmly, not letting her steady gaze roam away from his. ¡°Hm. You haven¡¯t looked at me like that in ages,¡± she commented. ¡°That is because I haven¡¯t seen you in ages,¡± Revan pointed out rather dryly. They could do this all day, really. It was starting to frustrate him. ¡°I am happy to see you like this, by the way. Out of your dreadful Sorko form. You have grown very handsome.¡± ¡°Do I not look the same?¡± Dayana nodded, eyeing his dark wavy hair that had grown shoulder length, the neatly trimmed beard on his slim face, and his wide shoulders accentuated by his gold-embedded black coat. ¡°Almost. But there lies a quality of determination and certainty in you that is appealing. It seems you¡¯ve come back from wherever your body and your mind have been dwelling for the last seven decades.¡± ¡°You know of that too. You know it all.¡± Revan¡¯s soft chuckle was that of old annoyance. He used to feel it all the time when he trained under her, and he knew Zara felt the exact same way with him as his apprentice now. It would be funnier if Revan had been in the right mood to laugh about it. Dayana smiled. ¡°So easily irritable.¡± ¡°Dayana.¡± ¡°Hm?¡± ¡°Why are you here? Have you taken another apprentice?¡± Dayana grinned, lifting a purple pastry to her mouth. ¡°Yes.¡± Revan¡¯s brows flew up, though he was not surprised. He¡¯d been sensing the high and low levels of magic and had made a logical guess. He¡¯d been right. There was another mage in the Kingdom. Specifically, within the palace walls. ¡°Do you sense her now?¡± Dayana asked with a devilish smirk. ¡°She¡¯s a sneaky one. Practicing on her own again without my supervision.¡± Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. ¡°How old is she?¡± ¡°Six.¡± This really did catch Revan by surprise. ¡°Six years of age,¡± he murmured. ¡°And beyond the walls¡­Dayana¡­who is she?¡± He had already made another logical hypothesis, one he knew made the most sense and would most definitely be correct. But he wanted to hear the answer from the woman herself. While he figured the identity of the girl, he had yet to find out how all this came to be, including the girl¡¯s existence. Especially her existence. Dayana¡¯s dark lips curled. ¡°Our very own Princess Yana Mazumi. Future Queen of Sanyara.¡± Her smile widened wickedly. ¡°She will be the first mage ruling the Court in fourteen hundred years. By the time everyone realizes such, it will be too late.¡± ¡°¡­How is this possible?¡± ¡°Oh, you¡¯re surprised? I assumed you had it figured out.¡± Revan shook his head. ¡°No, I meant¡­how is it possible for her to have magic at all? The royal family has no such lineage; they wouldn¡¯t be a royal family otherwise. And with the level that I¡¯m sensing from her already, it seems as though¡­¡± He paused, watching Dayana smirk with glee. Which meant she was withholding important information. The dramatic woman. ¡°¡­it seems as though she¡¯s been descended directly from one,¡± Revan finished suspiciously. ¡°And it seems you are simply dying to say something about this, aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°I am, my dear. You are right. Her mother was a Sorceress.¡± She¡¯d surprised him yet again. So much so that he was rendered speechless at first. ¡°What¡­do you mean by that?¡± he eventually asked. ¡°I mean exactly what I mean.¡± ¡°But in this day and age¡­that is not possible.¡± Revan kept his tone quiet and steady, though his mind was racing a mile a minute. Dayana arched a brow. ¡°You are right about that as well. It is not possible¡­in this day and age. In another lifetime, it is so.¡± Revan blinked. ¡°¡­Another lifetime,¡± he whispered. A different lifetime. A lifetime when powerful mages lived to give birth to other powerful mages. There was ever only one such time¡ªand it existed in the past. ¡°Dayana, did you¡­?¡± Dayana nodded, her grin wide. ¡°Altering time is an innate trait to me, after all. But even a mission as complex as this had required some extra effort to execute.¡± Revan gaped. It wasn¡¯t like him, but he¡¯d always been reduced to a stunned young thing around this woman. ¡°You did it¡­¡± he said lowly. Dayana nodded. ¡°You traveled east? The talisman and the gate¡­¡± Dayana laughed. ¡°I had the talisman all along. There was no need for me to go back east. After many long years of preparation, I was able to open my own gate. Right here, deep within the lonesome mountains in these very lands.¡± Dayana¡¯s bright eyes filled with a distant fondness. ¡°A messy task, but a success. I held the child right after she was born. So small, fragile. Nameless, at her mother¡¯s request. But once I walked back through those gates, she became Princess Yana Mazumi of Sanyara, next in line for the throne.¡± ¡°Her mother knew of this?¡± ¡°Her mother and I had planned this. Over fourteen hundred years ago. Long before the final war broke out and left us all in ruins.¡± ¡°And the real Yana?¡± ¡°Dead.¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Dayana shrugged. ¡°I tossed her into the sea after I made the switch.¡± Revan rubbed his temple. He had always compared Dayana to a ghost, traipsing across timelines and memories. Every instance she wielded her power, Revan couldn¡¯t help but wonder what ripples it caused to his own timeline. He would never be able to tell when the course of his life had been altered because of her. She was such an expert at her craft though that the consequences of her time traveling were minuscule. But this¡­she had brought a person back from the past. No doubt time and memory had been heavily modified because of it, but the world had not collapsed in on itself. His Mistress was truly a miracle worker. He¡¯d been vaguely aware of such a plan back when he¡¯d been by her side, but she¡¯d always been tight-lipped about it for the most part. Years and years and years had dredged by, and young Revan had been an impatient boy. But older Revan understood now. A successful task like this took loads of dedication, impeccable precision, and serious patience. The ache in his head continued to bloom. Part of his own plan to take back this land also had to do with adjusting the past. But unlike Dayana, he did not have the innate ability to do so on his own like this, even if he had a talisman with him already. No amount of training could help him in this. This was the blackest of black magic, which only Dayana¡¯s kind could do. In his case, he would need to travel to the forbidden eastern zone of the world and find another shymastone talisman¡ªa transparent diamond pendant that resembled a dial. Then would come the difficult journey of accessing the Realm of Time¡ªa gate that already existed on that continent. He needed more power to harvest that energy into the talisman, which would be used to open that gate. This was where Zara would come in. He¡¯d searched for mages far and wide and after a few hiccups, he¡¯d found her. Unlike his other apprentices, she was still alive and under his care, and very determined to perfect her magic. Once her training was complete, her magic would be strong enough to assist him with the gate. Saren had been a fantastic find by chance. If he could hone that spirit in her¡­he felt he could be limitless. His mission would run more smoothly if he gained the seer-like abilities she had. He was relaying all of this to Dayana along with other details of his plan. She listened intently. After he finished, she waved a hand as though swatting a bothersome bug away. ¡°Oh I don¡¯t know about all that, dear. It comes with so many risks, and as talented as you are I don¡¯t know if you can handle it without driving yourself mad. I did the hard part, didn¡¯t I? I was thinking that you can pose as a prince, and when Yana is of age, you can marry her and then you would be¡ª¡± ¡°Enough with the jokes,¡± Revan interjected, his brows furrowing deeper the longer she went on. ¡°She is going to be a very beautiful one, Revan. Like her true mother. You¡¯ll like her, or at least the look of her. Trust me on that.¡± Revan rolled his eyes. ¡°You are lucky her family suspects nothing.¡± Dayana giggled. ¡°They have questioned her features, as they don¡¯t exactly match with mother or father, but they assume some of their past ancestors had lighter hair and sharper faces, and that those gorgeous traits finally blessed their little Yana.¡± Revan smirked. ¡°By the way, you must allow me to meet those girls of yours,¡± Dayana said. ¡°They have piqued my interest very much.¡± ¡°I imagine they have.¡± Dayana smiled wistfully. ¡°Yes. It would be nice to be surrounded by our own kind all the time, wouldn¡¯t it?¡± Revan couldn¡¯t argue with that. ¡°Revan, I¡¯m proud of you. It isn¡¯t easy to train someone with lower magic, but you are doing fine with Zara. She is impressive. I do wonder of her ancestry.¡± ¡°Well, I wonder of mine, too,¡± Revan added. ¡°Perhaps Saren can help in that area¡­Revan?¡± At the mention of Saren¡¯s name, Revan suddenly felt like his heart had caved in. ¡°Huh?¡± He grasped his chest in confusion. ¡°Revan?!¡± He was vaguely aware of Dayana hurrying over to his side as he slumped over and slid off the cushion, laying face-up on the grass. Dayana¡¯s concerned expression above him faded in and out. Overlapping images flashed across his eyes, and he squinted, trying to make sense of them. He could see Zara. She stood in a temple¡¯s pool, naked and alluring, her dark eyes trained on him in wonder. But it wasn¡¯t him, was it? He wasn¡¯t with her right now. Trickles of blood stained white fabric. Waves of hatred roiled within him. Women and children waited in cages. Silver anklets jingled against a mesmerizing tune. Firelight surrounded an audience of leering men. Saren held Zara¡¯s hand, leading her through a market¡­across the sand¡­then on a stage¡­ They were being followed. Zara pulled out her dagger. She was in an alley. Her dark eyes glowed. The pursuer was on his knees¡­ The White Sun glowed against her golden skin¡­ A little boy tumbled off a mountain, set aflame¡­ She lay in a crusty old shed with a stabbed knee. A feathery shadow with beady eyes and a cracked beak watched her be eaten alive by poisonous centipedes¡­ A wooden stage cracked in half, a storm ravaged the land¡­ The world was covered in ice and ash. A meadow stretched on for miles, leading to a forest draped in grief¡­ The last few images flitted by in a haze: a golden-white crown, Zara enveloped in red and white jewelry¡­his admiration of the sheer vastness and beauty of the Royal Court¡­and of Zara herself, as she tentatively reached for his outstretched hand¡­ When Revan woke up, his head was in Dayana¡¯s lap. She was stroking his hair back, asking if he was alright. ¡°What happened to me?¡± Revan asked, slowly sitting up. ¡°It was her,¡± Dayana explained. ¡°The gem you have on that north woman.¡± Revan¡¯s eyes widened, astonished as his mind registered the odd visuals that had raced by. ¡°It¡¯s starting to work then¡­¡± Dayana nodded. ¡°I know the experience. It will take some time to get used to at first. You probably weren¡¯t shown very much at all, and it may not make much sense¡ª¡± ¡°I saw them. The girls. I saw¡­bits and pieces of their present. But¡­I mostly saw Zara and¡­¡± He didn¡¯t know what to say. He was stumped as to why he only saw visions of Zara, and none of himself. What could this possibly mean? Revan ran his hand over his sweaty head and through his hair, overwhelmed and irritated at his lack of control. He didn¡¯t have the mental capacity right now to analyze everything he had just seen, even though he desperately wanted to. Dayana soothed his back. ¡°Revan, my dear, it is like I said. You are only going to see tiny bits and pieces of the spirit¡¯s visions first. It will take some time to control what you wish to see. For now, do you have your Mirror?¡± Revan nodded, silently pulling it out of his coat along with a vial of Zara¡¯s hair. Soon, his eyes were graced with Saren¡¯s beautiful smile. ¡°Pretty girl,¡± Dayana murmured. ¡°Those northern girls are a healthy size, aren¡¯t they?¡± Revan grunted. They watched intensely as Saren led Zara through a busy market zone. Revan¡¯s breath hitched. This had been in his vision. It was happening now. The girls were being followed by a sinister individual. And now, all four of them sensed it. A Miracle at the Sea Zara felt as though she¡¯d been yanked through every stall in this outdoor market. Yet the street never seemed to end; there was still so much left, so much she did not care to see. Because at one point, it all blended together like splashes of paint hastily swiped across a slate. It seemed like fine art at first glance, but it was really all the same pretentious shit. Saren promised they¡¯d explore the beach soon, and at this point, Zara was looking forward to doing that the most. But this did not mean she disliked shopping. In fact, despite her impatient weariness, Zara was rather happy with what she and Saren had picked out. In a large woven bag, graciously handed to them by a couple of older, lavish-looking women selling accessories, were an assortment of clothes, jewelry, small home decorations, and snacks. Most of the goods sold here were expensive¡ªthat had been a given¡ªbut Zara was okay with spending a bit more coin than usual today, as long as she did not overdo it. She hardly ever got the chance to spend luxuriously, save for the first few times she¡¯d gone out on personal outings around the local shops near her neighborhood after settling into the new home. Besides, Revan had gifted her some extra money for this trip. He was well-aware of the costs of food and entertainment in this city. Zara followed Saren down a steeper path, eating from a small bowl of tasty fruit and cream. They passed more food tents, a casual restaurant and bakery, and a florist shop. They were nearing the beach, which was finally their next destination. Zara never thought she¡¯d be in a place like this, alone with a friend, peacefully strolling along a gorgeous city without much to worry over. It was such a stark difference from when she¡¯d wandered around her own hometown. She realized now just how rushed she¡¯d been at that time, stressed about her father catching her¡ªwhich he had. The entire ordeal had ended in multiple regrets. This outing, however, would hopefully not. She did not have to worry about her father or her mother or that terrible little town with its terrible little people ever again. She could wander as she pleased, and go back to a home where no beatings or draggings across rough grounds awaited her. Zara only had one worry today. One tiny worry that may or may not end in an entirely different regret. She¡¯d be enjoying this day a lot more if not for the dark presence lingering behind her and Saren this whole time. It never came too close, never approached them, but as distant as it was, it was near enough to make Zara uncomfortable. Near enough to where she did not let her guard down. The dagger in her pocket seemed to graze at her thigh more and more by the minute as the trudged down the hill that led to the sea view. Although Saren never uttered a word about it, Zara could tell she felt this strange presence too. Every once in a while, her brow would twitch and she¡¯d survey the area. It was easy for her to do over the crowd because she was the tallest woman ever. She¡¯d received so many awestruck looks and questions about her heritage within the market every place they had shopped. Practically every local here could tell they were tourists and asked where they had traveled from. Zara only mentioned the neighborhood she lived in, never once revealing her old home. News had gone around about Pria, and it wasn¡¯t good. The northern zealots were pushing people out, burning homes, injuring families, and destroying places of worship that did not fit their ideologies. She did not wish to be associated with that place. She didn¡¯t even want to bring its name to her lips. It was once a home that welcomed everyone, and now its beauty was reduced to a mangled mess of maniacs. It was so bad that whenever Saren mentioned that she hailed from the far north, people took the opportunity to bring up Pria instead, even though that was not where Saren was from. Zara did not miss Saren¡¯s suspicious sideways glance over her during each of these repetitive conversations. The women were about to pass a grooming salon. Zara disposed of her finished cream cup in a nearby bin and began walking quickly. Saren followed her stride. They really wanted to lose their mysterious stalker but it was difficult. It seemed to be keeping an eye on them. Zara couldn¡¯t figure out why. What did it want? What was it planning to do? Her instincts were telling her that it wasn¡¯t good, so she¡¯d rather not find out. A tall, skinny man wearing a perfectly groomed beard and a fashionable dress stood outside of the salon¡¯s clean and colorful exterior. He was calling out to every person passing by, hoping to reel in his next customer. When he spotted the girls, his shapely brows flew up. In the next instant, he was blocking their path. Zara jolted back. If she hadn¡¯t, she would have smashed her body into the man¡¯s. That was how close he¡¯d gotten. Saren pulled her back by the arm before she could topple over backwards. ¡°Good afternoon, ladies,¡± the man said, raising his hand in a traditional greeting. His voice was rather high and delicate for a man, though it suited his graceful appearance. Saren and Zara wordlessly raised their hands as well, stunned. And a little unnerved. ¡°My, what beautiful young girls you are!¡± He grinned widely. His teeth were white against his dark skin. ¡°Heading somewhere important?¡± ¡°The beach,¡± Zara mumbled. ¡°The theater,¡± Saren answered at the same time. ¡°Well¡­yes. After we see the beach.¡± The man chuckled. ¡°Of course you are. And look at you, as big as a tower!¡± Saren smiled. ¡°So I¡¯ve been told. Many times today.¡± ¡°You¡¯re northern folk, aren¡¯t you? Such pretty accents you have!¡± Saren and Zara gave each other a look. They did not wish to repeat yet another talk about that. Even Saren, after the fifth time, had finally stopped mentioning Ghyora. ¡°Don¡¯t be shy,¡± he blathered on. ¡°I love the north. All of it. Every place. Despite its¡­unpleasant politics so thoroughly spreading about everywhere¡ª¡± ¡°Yes, well, we should be going,¡± Saren interrupted. ¡°Not so fast! Here you ladies are, out and about all this lively luxury¡­it would be a shame if you missed your chance to properly¡­integrate yourselves here, don¡¯t you think? You never know who you might run into. Especially at a beach or a theater. How about a fresh groom?¡± He leaned into Zara¡¯s face, examining it. ¡°My, my! It looks like you could actually use one too! We do everything from the face to the body. Waxes, trims, blades, threading, everything. Body grooming may not be as common where you¡¯re from, but here in the Kingdom, it is quite a necessity! We even have facial cosmetics. Eyelid pigments and paints to conceal those little spots you have growing there.¡± He waved a finger around Zara¡¯s jawline. She frowned at him, touching her cheek insecurely. Indeed it was a bit too prickly and bumpy for her liking. ¡°I¡¯ll give you girls a great discount, seeing as how you are new!¡± the man finally finished his speech. ¡°I don¡¯t know¡­¡± Zara said, stalling. She hadn¡¯t really been in the mood for this, but now he had gotten her uncertain about walking around with such an informal appearance. If they went into the salon, how long would it take until they got out? She looked to Saren for help. Saren sighed, turning back and scanning their surroundings as she so often anxiously did today. ¡°It may not be a bad idea, Zara. For now.¡± ¡°But I really want to go to the sea.¡± ¡°The sea can wait!¡± the man exclaimed. ¡°It will be there, still, when we are through. I promise we will work fast. The days are getting longer, yes? Do not worry! There will be time to see the sun set. It is a beautiful sight from beach, the port, that one old temple hardly anyone ever attends¡ªwherever you make your stop! There is a theater not too far from here. You will be gorgeous the whole time. Is that not what you desire? To be eye-catching? Again, you never know who you will meet. Your next lover could be awaiting you on that beach!¡± Saren chortled. ¡°He makes a convincing argument.¡± Does he? He just wanted their money. And he wasn¡¯t going to move until he got it, or Saren shoved him out of their way. And she didn¡¯t seem like she was going to be doing that any time soon. You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story. Zara was left with no other choice but to follow the man into his wealthy salon. Saren had a point. At least their stalker had retreated for the time being.
They made it to the beach in time to see the sun lowering further toward the ocean¡¯s horizon, just as the money-hungry salon owner had promised them. Even though Zara and Saren stood, with their toes digging pleasurably into the soft sand, with very little coin left in their purses, the man had kept his word and they got out of the shop looking better than before. They did not agree to a full body groom no matter how much the owner had insisted; the facial grooming had been more than enough to fill his pockets anyway. But he had delivered well, as the salon and its products were of high quality, and the workers were experts at their craft. The women had changed into the nicer dresses they bought earlier, giving Zara the opportunity to address her hygiene once more before they left the building, red lips stretched out happily. Zara wore a gorgeously embroidered wrap dress in maroon, leaving one shoulder bare. Her hair was tied in a high bun, ornamented with a pearly hair piece. Saren had on a purple blouse that left her midriff and neckline generously exposed. She paired it with a beaded long skirt and shawl. Her jewelry, particularly her earrings were heavier than Zara¡¯s, and she¡¯d kept her silky hair down. She was very beautiful, and for once, Zara wasn¡¯t shy to say it. Saren had told her the same, and even though Zara felt that she wasn¡¯t as kind to the eye as Saren was, she¡¯d accept the compliment. It was nice to hear and she was in too good of a mood to let her insecurities overshadow it. They were both especially impressed with the colored cosmetics around their eyes. Zara personally would always prefer a simple dark kohl and lip color more than any other sort of makeup. But she could see herself enjoying this on occasion. Not only were they beautified to match the society around them, but they were given free samples of products and perfume to take with them as well. The man may have been a tad pushy, but he was, at least, an honest one with a good heart. He¡¯d bid the girls goodbye with a kiss on the back of their hands, assuring them that they could make it to the theater for its evening event. ¡°Go show your lovely selves off. Be proud. And come back any time. Oh, and spread the word; my services are always available right over here.¡± When they had arrived at the spacious beach¡ªleaving their belonging hidden behind some rocks up the hill¡ªSaren had knelt down and let the sand run through her fingers. ¡°I can¡¯t believe I¡¯m here,¡± she said breathlessly. ¡°I¡¯m actually here.¡± Zara grinned. ¡°It¡¯s so different from home, huh?¡± ¡°It¡¯s like a new world. Warmer, fuller, livelier¡­there¡¯s so much I still haven¡¯t seen. But I¡¯m grateful to all the gods¡ªif they be true¡ªthat I am here.¡± ¡°Me too,¡± Zara said. ¡°I¡¯m grateful that I¡¯m still standing in one piece.¡± Saren laughed. Their skirts billowed slightly against the salty air. The waves crashed majestically up ahead. Birds squawked as they flew high, like specks in the sky. Zara wriggled her toes, wanting to walk further. She wanted to feel the water on her feet. It would be the first time in her life, but she was afraid to soil her clothes. A few yards away, a small crowd had gathered around some musicians getting ready to play their next ballad. The people cheered at the energetic sound of the tablas. Saren grabbed Zara¡¯s hand and yanked her forward. ¡°The sea awaits!¡± Apparently, she had no qualms about her clothing. So why should Zara? Laughing, they danced their way to the shore. Zara closed her eyes, letting the briny breeze, the soft warm sand beneath her feet, and the tabla¡¯s vibrant tune overtake her. When the water rushed over her feet, Zara shrieked and almost fell back with Saren. She ran away, afraid of the tide pulling her in. But soon, she was right back where she started. Her dress no longer mattered, at least not the bottom of it. Saren had been right. There was beauty in this city, and this was it. She knelt down, touching the muddy sand. Saren was speaking, but Zara wasn¡¯t hearing any of it. A hot trickle ran through her body, wrapping around her arms like ribbons before dropping all at once to the center of her palms. The only sound apparent to her was the waves approaching, trickling out, running over her hands, rising up her arms. Her dress was soaked, but even that felt refreshing. For some strange reason, she never wanted to leave this water¡­this sand. A strong urge to stay overtook her senses, as though she wanted to be a part of it. Become the sand. Become the sea. She hardly registered Saren¡¯s squeezing grip on her shoulder. Zara closed her eyes again, embracing the roaring waves, the cold touch of the ocean. Suddenly, the water was gone. Zara immediately opened her eyes as Saren¡¯s gave her a violent shake. ¡°Zara?!¡± ¡°What?¡± Zara stood up. The tide was receding very quickly, like it had made a mistake coming up at all and was now running away as fast as it could. Confused at the sight and of Saren¡¯s panic, she repeated, ¡°What?¡± ¡°I think we need to get back!¡± ¡°Huh? Why?¡± ¡°Look!¡± She pointed as the ocean rolled and rolled, preparing what looked like a giant swell of a rising mound. Zara cursed as Saren took her hand and ran up the beach. Soon enough, the wave came crashing after them. They weren¡¯t too late, but unfortunately, the musicians and their dancing audience were blindsided. Surprised screeches rang out into the air as half the beach was cascaded by seawater. It had been a big wave, but not destructive. The people who had been caught in it lifted themselves out of the water in a drenched, stupefied daze. The tide rolled back. The musicians unfortunately lost their instruments in the process. They watched, crying out helplessly, as the sea stole their tablas like a heartless thief. Bewilderment and shock eventually led to whooping laughter, as though the gods had played a prank on them all. Meanwhile, as she stood on shaky legs at the top of the hill in a damp dress, Zara¡¯s heart hammered uncomfortably. The heat in her skin had died too fast. Now she was shivering like she had fallen deathly ill in less than a second. ¡°Are you okay?¡± Saren asked, gathering Zara into her arms to warm her up. ¡°It¡¯s okay. It¡¯s okay.¡± Zara stared at her. ¡°I¡­¡± She was speechless. What had just happened? ¡°That was amazing, wasn¡¯t it?¡± Saren said, looking back at the beach. ¡°It looked scary and fun all at once. But I am glad we did not get all soiled down there like those people. My, the sea was so eager for us!¡± Zara nodded. ¡°Sure¡­¡± Saren looked back at her gently. ¡°Are you really okay?¡± ¡°¡­Yes.¡± Saren smiled, bringing the girl closer to her. ¡°That felt good didn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°What? Yes?¡± Zara at first assumed Saren had been talking about everything before the tidal wave¡ªthe dancing, the playing, the sightseeing. But when she glanced up into Saren¡¯s eyes, her pounding heart almost stopped. That glassy gaze of hers was back. It was very mild compared to the previous time, but Zara could tell Saren wasn¡¯t all present right now. ¡°Saren?¡± ¡°I felt it too. With you. Look, over there.¡± Saren pointed again to the water, and what Zara saw had her mouth dropping down in awe. A thick blanket of sea rose up and up, almost as though the ocean was preparing its next assault. But out of this blanket ripped out a ginormous steel-blue whale. Its hefty size was one Zara did not know could exist, even after seeing illustrations of them in books. It was big enough to block the setting sun and was wide enough to cover multiple small homes in this very city. It tore through the air and flipped over. Its eyes were giant and black, yet it somehow glistened, almost like a twinkling star. The whale dove downward, leaving its broad tale up and swishing wildly before disappearing back into the ocean. The powerful dive had been enough to cause another strong gush of water racing out, once again flooding the beach and its onlookers. This time, every spectator on the higher roads stopped to gawk. Soon, the area was absolutely crowded. Many people were loudly exclaiming this to be some sort of miracle, for they had lived in this area for years and had never seen or heard of such an occurrence ever happening before. Such a large whale hardly ever came near the shore, as its species were known to be recluse and afraid of people. The large boats at the port were rocking quite dangerously, like one wrong wave would tip them over. Zara could see some smaller boats had actually overturned in the distance. Though, with the help of some magic, she sensed no real injury other than some minor inconvenience. Multiple fish were lying around the sands, having been washed up from the most recent tide. When Zara looked back at Saren again, all had returned to normal. Saren was blinking slowly around at the throng of people, frowning at being jostled. She still had her arms firmly around Zara. ¡°I don¡¯t know what that was about,¡± Saren said, ¡°but I think we can agree with what everyone is saying. Such a magnificent creature, flying from the depths of the water, just to greet us during our very first visit to the sea. It was like a miracle just for us, wouldn¡¯t you say?¡± At that, Zara¡¯s heart finally eased. The ocean was calm again. The sun was now half under the horizon. The crowd of people were slowly dissipating as they headed down the beach to engage with others on what had just happened. That whale had been a miracle of her doing. It had come at her calling, and it had sent her a greeting. Knowing that brought Zara an unexpected tranquility, as though the creature belonged with her. It felt like meeting a long lost friend. Zara found herself smiling at that, and she cuddled closer to the other woman. Her other friend. ¡°Are you still cold?¡± Saren asked. ¡°Yeah.¡± Saren snickered. ¡°Okay. We should go, then. The theater is back up this hill. We do not want to be late. Seeing all this fish out here is making me hungry again too.¡± She grinned excitedly. ¡°I can¡¯t wait to talk about this. Finally, we have such a good story to tell that isn¡¯t about the north.¡± Zara laughed. ¡°I¡¯m surprised to hear you saying something like that.¡± ¡°Oh, I do love my home. But these people have made me so sick of it in only a few hours.¡± Turning on their heels, the women gathered their shoes and their bags¡ªthankfully left untouched by the water¡ªand began walking to their desired destination. Zara let Saren go ahead of her so she could discreetly look back at the beach. The sun had gone, leaving the horizon in a stretch of deep orange. The rest of sky and the rippling sea were enveloped in soft purples and pinks. The stars were beginning to emerge, twinkling just like the eye of the whale. She kissed her hand and swung it out, waving the sea farewell. All Things Forbidden They were almost there; Zara could hear faint commotion of people dining up ahead. Dishes clinked, laughter echoed. Hunger-inducing aromas of fresh rice, bread, and spicy meat wafted across a nearby alley. It made her nervous stomach grumble for food. She wished there was a faster way to get there already, as she and Saren walked briskly over the stony ground, their heeled shoes clacking and making too much noise on this uncannily quiet street. Where is everybody? The area¡ªstacked with closed shops and boarded-up inns¡ªfelt too vacant, and too hushed for being so near a theater attraction. Zara wanted to see more people. People¡ªparticularly families and children¡ªstrolling around with smiling faces and talkative mouths that indicated worry-free security. She wanted to be surrounded by the embraces of a jovial crowd of art appreciators. Anything to free herself from the damn stalker that had once again begun pursuing them soon after they had left the beach. ¡°Who is that?¡± Saren murmured to herself. Zara turned her head around for a split second. Their pursuer was finally visible. It was a hooded silhouette, a good distance away, steadily following their path. Its stature was shorter than them both. Zara wondered if it was a woman, but it didn¡¯t seem so. She could make out the leather sandals that were typically worn by men. The thin legs were bare and stuck out of the long cloak. She faced forward again. ¡°Let¡¯s take the alley,¡± Saren suggested. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°I bet it¡¯s a shortcut.¡± ¡°Are you sure?¡± Zara asked. ¡°Saren, there might be a dead-end¡­¡± And then what? Saren stopped by the alley¡¯s narrow opening, situated between a bookshop and a bakery. She squinted, as though doing so would help her see all the way to the end of the alley. ¡°Hmm¡­I don¡¯t think there is. Come on, I can still hear everyone. The food is smelling stronger too. The sooner we get there, the better for us.¡± There weren¡¯t many sconces or street lamps lit in this area in the first place. But there were none at all in the alley. ¡°It¡¯ll be fine,¡± Saren said, tugging Zara¡¯s hand along. ¡°How can you see?¡± Zara asked, walking carefully so as to not trip over a stray object or hit her head on a wall. ¡°My eyes get used to the dark quickly. Also, it¡¯s fairly kept clean. The people who own these shops must sweep frequently. Even the garbage is piled neatly in that corner over there.¡± Zara didn¡¯t bother looking. Because she couldn¡¯t see whatever it was Saren was seeing. Eventually, her eyes did adjust a little. Then they turned a sudden corner and the moonlight shone down, casting their path in a dim, bluish glow. ¡°How much farther?¡± Zara whispered. ¡°Are you sure we¡¯re going the right way?¡± ¡°It seemed like it. I wasn¡¯t expecting that corner though¡­¡± ¡°I told you there would be a dead-end!¡± ¡°It was not a dead-end. We are still walking, after all. I just assumed the path wouldn¡¯t curve like this. I know it has to lead out somewhere. Everything does.¡± ¡°But it¡¯s leading us away from the theater.¡± The boisterous noises had gotten faint. Meaning, they were moving away from it rather than toward it. ¡°This is bad. Not only is that man still following us, but we don¡¯t know what else could be lurking in here.¡± ¡°So you¡¯ve felt him too,¡± Saren muttered. ¡°Yes!¡± Zara hissed. ¡°And even if there is nothing else here, we are stuck in a dark alleyway with no one else around but him.¡± Saren sighed. Her feet began to slow. ¡°Perhaps we should do something about it.¡± ¡°Excuse me? Like what?¡± Zara asked incredulously. She really didn¡¯t want to do anything, even though she had the capability to. She was still afraid. This reminded her of the time she was attacked by that shrieking junk user on her way home. It had literally leaped out at her from a dark alley. While the pursuer did not seem like an addict, fending him off may still pose a problem. Zara was immensely glad that she was not alone in this, but she had to face the fact that having Saren by her side was going to limit her actions. Revan had trained her to primarily use magic to defend herself. She couldn¡¯t use magic with Saren being right there. This wouldn¡¯t be a problem if Zara was advanced enough to where she could use magic more cleverly and discreetly like Revan could. But Zara was still at the stage where her stronger use of magic was still very obvious when emitted. In the end, she may not have a choice. Technically, with a dagger, she didn¡¯t even need magic. The blade was sharp enough to cut and stab on its own. It wasn¡¯t what she wanted to do, but with Saren as witness, what else was there? She slowly removed the sheathed dagger from her pocket, quivering. The cloaked man was visible again. He had followed close enough to where Zara could see a smile stretch his mouth. It was definitely a man. The stubble around his jawline gave it away. The top half of his face was still a mystery. He held up a hand as though this was some friendly greeting to a local passing along. Saren moved in front of Zara like a shield. ¡°What do you want?¡± Saren called sharply. ¡°You¡¯ve been following us all day. Don¡¯t think we haven¡¯t noticed you. And don¡¯t think just because we are women we don¡¯t have the means to defend ourselves.¡± Zara wasn¡¯t sure what sort of defense weapon Saren had, but she hoped she would whip it out now to save them all the trouble. ¡°You have sharp eyes.¡± The man¡¯s voice was very croaky and had an improper, eastern-city accent. ¡°A sharp-sounding tongue too. Exotic. What do you speak?¡± ¡°I asked you a question sir,¡± Saren said. ¡°What do you want from us?¡± Behind Saren¡¯s back, Zara quickly unsheathed her dagger. Her breath was shallow and her palms were hot, as if merely holding it was releasing its enchantment over her. She tried to remember what she¡¯d been taught and re-taught, but her mind was beginning to blank. Her eyes blurred in frustration. Why was any of this happening? Why did it have to happen? Why couldn¡¯t tonight have been as simple and as pleasant as she had hoped it would be? It had gone crumbling to dust the second they had stepped off the beach, the minute that beautiful whale descended back into the ocean, taking all the magic of the day with it. Well, the day wouldn¡¯t be the only thing that crumbled tonight¡ªthat is, if Zara could just get a hold of herself. Zara peered from behind Saren¡¯s steady stature. The hooded man smiled wider now, showing off yellowing teeth. He walked forward on thin, hairy legs. His sandals were worn, as was his cloak. Something glinted at her from the lobes of his ears¡ªjewelry? It must have been. After all, his fingers were also littered with silver gem-embedded rings. He lifted a gold-bracelet cuffed hand, allowing his sinister rings to gleam under the moonlight. Saren took a step back as soon as he did, bumping into Zara. The man held a sharp, rusty knife. ¡°Your jewel,¡± he said, pointing his knife to their bags. ¡°Give it here.¡± ¡°You¡¯re robbing us?¡± Saren exclaimed. ¡°Sir¡­our jewelry isn¡¯t that nice.¡± Zara blinked. He had been following them all afternoon¡­for the jewelry they had bought from the stalls. Not even from the actual jewelry shops¡­because the stalls were where the cheaper jewels were at. They were pretty, but not very valuable, at least not enough to resell at a steep price. But with the way this crook had been tailing them all this way, one would assume Zara and Saren possessed jewels fit for the queen herself. This was pathetic. Zara stepped out from behind Saren. The man leered at her. ¡°There she is,¡± he said, his rasp deepening. ¡°I was wondering where you¡¯ve been hiding. Must be nice having this mountain woman around as a shield, ¡®ey?¡± ¡°Zara stay behind me,¡± Saren ordered. ¡°What are you planning to do?¡± Zara timidly asked her. ¡°¡­I don¡¯t know. But I am more able to fight him off than you are.¡± ¡°Saren, he has a knife. The most you have in your bag is a beaded tiara with a pointy tip.¡± Saren groaned. Zara inhaled deeply. Even though she felt like she was lit aflame, she steeled herself in case the situation turned ugly. Judging by the man¡¯s impatient grinding jaw, it was already heading in that direction. She moved in front of Saren and held up her dagger. ¡°Zara, what are you doing? You brought that?¡± ¡°Revan always forces me to be prepared. If this man wants our imitation gold bangles so badly, he will have to avoid my blade cutting his throat to get it.¡± The man laughed cruelly. ¡°You? Cutting me? A thin little thing like yourself, with a measly little thing like that? Don¡¯t jest with me. The only way you stand a chance here is if you handed that pathetic dagger over to your behemoth friend over there.¡± Saren grimaced. ¡°Zara, let me have the dagger.¡± ¡°Does it have your name on its handle?¡± ¡°No¡ª¡± ¡°Then trust me.¡± The man waved his knife impatiently. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter you foolish fucking woman! I could have killed the both of you with my cloak strap tightened over my eyes if I wanted to!¡± ¡°Then why didn¡¯t you?¡± Saren said sharply. ¡°Why don¡¯t you just kill us now, if it¡¯s so easy? Hm?¡± You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story. Don¡¯t push him! Zara wanted to shout. She clutched onto the dagger as though her life would immediately forfeit should she choose to loosen her grasp even a bit. She tried to control her panting. Her chest heaved up and down, and she was sure her panic was becoming more noticeable to their soon-to-be-violent attacker. The man¡¯s nasty yellow smile returned. ¡°You are both such pretty looking creatures. Feisty too. You would sell above normal market price. Especially you, tall one. Maim you, I will. But kill? It would be such a waste.¡± He readied his knife. ¡°I don¡¯t need your imitation jewels. I just want the real one. The one you¡ª¡± He nodded toward Saren. ¡°¡ªwere wearing earlier before you changed into those lovely garments you have on now. Garments that really suit you so well. I don¡¯t want to have to tear it apart.¡± His grin seemed to become nastier by the second. ¡°But if you refuse me, I will.¡± Zara gave a jolt. She looked at Saren¡¯s chest, void of the green gem and replaced with a necklace more suited to the purple colored outfit she wore now. Zara had been so distracted since entering the salon that she hadn¡¯t thought at all about the fact that Saren had switched out the very jewel that was supposed to stay in contact with her skin all the time. What was going to be the consequence of this? How would this affect Revan¡¯s plan? Did any of this even matter right now? Zara couldn¡¯t even think properly. Her mind swam, then sank deeper than an ocean floor. Saren touched her current necklace with a deep frown. ¡°What are you saying? My necklace?¡± ¡°Not that one. The emerald that glistens with the sunlight. The gem that flickers when its power is released.¡± The alley suddenly felt like it had tilted. Zara¡¯s heart rushed and pounded at once. The silence hung around their heads like a giant noose. What did he just say? ¡°I¡­¡± Saren shook her head, dazed. ¡°What does that mean? I¡¯m confused¡­¡± She was touching her neck, her eyes zigzagging like a woman descending into madness. Now was not the time for this. Zara couldn¡¯t have Saren going into one of her trances right now. The vile man in front of them¡­he clearly knew about the gem. Its power. Who the hell was he? The man let out a low chuckle. ¡°Surprised? I thought so. I don¡¯t know where you got that gem sweetheart, or who gave it to you. It¡¯s obvious that a fine woman such as yourself receives many gifts like this. I¡¯m sure it was from some man infatuated with you or whatever. But whoever he is, it must have cost him a fortune. That particular gem¡­I know of it. I¡¯ve seen its sort, many years ago. The gem holds an abnormal shine, and sometimes beneath its surface, it appears to be like smoke wisping about like ghosts¡ªsaid to be the forbidden power from the weird spirits of the north at work. It¡¯s extremely valuable. I know of a man who became rich off it after selling it in the hidden market. I don¡¯t know if any of the legends are true, but hey, I¡¯ve always been fascinated with all things forbidden.¡± Zara gave a quick look back at Saren, who seemed to be contemplating what the man had revealed. Her eyes were wide and concentrated on nothing. Her expression wasn¡¯t of shock or bafflement over hearing a tale that¡ªto a normal citizen¡ªwould be a far stretch. Instead, it was almost like she was trying very hard to remember something that she was already supposed to know. Zara did not like this. At all. She wished she could tell the stalking man to shut his mouth. A trickling sensation between Zara¡¯s legs soaked through her dress from the back. She instinctively, yet discreetly, ran her fingers over the wet spot to try and stop the inevitable mess, but then realized how pointless it was right now. She¡¯d be more embarrassed about her situation if her entire life wasn¡¯t at stake. He snickered. ¡°With you two, and that glorious gem, I¡¯ll never have another worry in my life ever again. I¡¯ll be living better than the fucking king himself! So hand it¡ªand yourselves¡ªover. I¡¯ll hate for this to get too messy.¡± The moon rose higher into the sky. When the light touched her face, Zara¡¯s heart rate steadied. She had been simmering in her own rage as the man talked and talked¡ªa rage that seemingly came from nowhere, when she had been nothing but frightful before it. Her emotions had taken a turn sharper than her dagger¡¯s blade, and it was doing so yet again. She could see the man¡¯s eyes now. The dark hood had slipped up, and in the shadowy light, she could see that they were the color of steel. They popped against the deep tone of his leathery, scarred skin. If he were a better man, those traits might have been something to admire. Zara glared straight at him, her gut stirring. Perhaps¡­she could still find something to admire anyway. The man¡¯s shining gaze narrowed in on her and twitched with curiosity and wariness. ¡°What is it, pretty eyes? You really wanna do this with me?¡± Zara stepped forward, refusing to blink away. She could sense this man¡¯s pulse rising; his scent was old musk, sweat, and dirt. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Saren hissed. But Zara paid her friend no mind. ¡°Yes,¡± he said carefully. ¡°Is that bag where my precious stone is? Just drop it right here and come¡ª¡± But Zara had tossed her bag to Saren¡¯s feet before he could finish talking. ¡°No,¡± Zara spoke, eerily calm. ¡°You come to me.¡± A cool draft blew into the alley. Zara ran two of her fingers smoothly over her blade. She was surprised to see the trail of blood coming off her hands. Had she cut herself already? No. This blood had an all-too-familiar stench to it. It reminded Zara of the time she¡¯d purposely soiled her fingers in its wretchedness, all for a lesson she had yet to put into actual use. She bit her lip, hiding a realizing smirk. Tonight may just be the night. The wind blew colder. Saren shivered. ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± she whispered. But her question was ignored. The man pointed his knife at Zara¡¯s face. ¡°Drop that thing before you hurt yourself. Now.¡± A new sense of superiority swelled up inside her. She stepped forward, raking her eyes up and down his shorter appearance. She had been dumb to be afraid of this little runt at all. What was he really going to do? He would not kill them. He would not dare actually stick that knife into her face. Then she would no longer be the whole, unsullied product for him to profit off of for his sick ¡°business¡±. Zara arched a brow. ¡°No.¡± ¡°What did you say?¡± Her response was to hold the enchanted dagger up, letting the natural light shine down on the bloody silver. ¡°What in all the hells,¡± the man muttered. Her mild magic had stunned him enough to take a step back. ¡°Zara!¡± Saren shouted out, bewildered by the sight of it all. ¡°Stay,¡± Zara told the man. The man¡¯s face contorted into an ugly scowl. He lunged with the intent of jabbing Zara¡¯s shoulder. ¡°No!¡± Saren squealed. But before she could move, the attacker frantically fell forward as though he¡¯d been caught on something. Zara whacked his arm with her wrist. The man howled as the knife swung out of his flailing limb and clattered to the nearest wall. Saren quickly made a grab for it. ¡°What the fuck?!¡± the man bellowed. He looked down at his foot, only to find it molded into the ground. He howled again as he tried to move it. ¡°Agghhh. What¡¯s happening?! This hurts! I can¡¯t move!¡± As he hyperventilated, Zara coolly stepped to his side. He was so busy panicking over his useless foot that he didn¡¯t even notice her close proximity. Though he finally stilled once she brought her blade to his cheek. ¡°Shhh,¡± she cooed, ¡°stay still.¡± The man¡¯s bright silvery eyes, once so arrogant and unfeeling, were now rounded in terror. It was a beautiful sight. ¡°Y-You¡ª¡± ¡°Shh¡­keep still. And it won¡¯t hurt.¡± She ran the sharp edge down delicately, not willing to hurt him with it yet. His pupils were larger, and best of all, he was obeying her. Zara tilted her head, studying him in wonder. She was so near to his face. If she leaned down a little more to meet his height, their lips could touch. She could make him do whatever she desired. That thought alone made her stomach flutter pleasurably. ¡°Your eyes,¡± the man whispered. ¡°Hm? Do you like mine too?¡± Zara whispered back. ¡°They¡¯re¡­I don¡¯t know. They¡¯ve changed.¡± ¡°Oh? How have they changed?¡± The man swallowed, but did not answer her. Zara offered him a false smile. With her free hand, she gently removed his hood. The man did not have a lot of hair. The sparse strands were white and black, like a skunk¡¯s. His earrings were pure diamonds. They suited a scum thing like him well enough. ¡°What are you?¡± the man asked. Zara pressed the dagger into his skin, inciting a tiny whine out of him. It was delightful to her ears. He went down on his knees with a pitiful whimper. Zara stared down at him, like he was nothing more than a piece of flesh for consumption. The man glimpsed at his stone-mangled foot, then slowly looked back up at Zara. Fear colored his entire being. The night was deathly cold¡ªuncommon for this city, but welcoming for Zara. An unusual foggy mist had settled into the alley, surrounding them in a damp, frightening hug. Above the man was a demon that wasn¡¯t about to show him mercy, and he knew it. ¡°W-What are you?¡± he repeated, even though he obviously knew. Zara knelt down next to him, placing the tip of her dagger on the side of his neck. She knew the spell by heart, and relayed it in her head. To the man himself, she answered softly into his shivering ear, ¡°Forbidden.¡± The man¡¯s throat bobbed, and his body quaked. ¡°L-Look. Y-You can keep the gem. I don¡¯t want it. I want nothing to do with this. I saw nothing¡ª¡± ¡°Quiet.¡± The man obeyed, because he had to. Zara¡¯s lips curled. She found this so amusing. She wanted more. ¡°You want me?¡± He nodded like he didn¡¯t have a choice. Zara was pleased. ¡°Give me your jewels then, pretty eyes,¡± she said. He forfeited his diamonds, his rings, and his golden bracelet. Zara held them out behind her without a glance back, simply waiting for Saren to retrieve the items in her palm, which she so dutifully did without being told. With that out of the way, Zara veered closer. The man¡¯s gaze raked over her face and her chest as she breathed in and out. ¡°Are you a spirit?¡± he asked lowly. The fogs thickened. Zara ran her tongue quickly over her dry lips. ¡°No.¡± ¡°¡­Oh¡­the gods almighty,¡± he whispered. ¡°You¡¯re the devil. You¡¯re real. You¡­you¡¯re a fucking witch.¡± Zara nodded. She planted her lips gracefully over his. They were very rough and tasted faintly of pipe smoke. He did not resist her advances. She made a shallow cut in his neck, letting the blood on her blade mix with his. Zara pulled back. Her work here was done. ¡°You are very observant. What is your name?¡± ¡°Ronny.¡± ¡°Ronny,¡± the name slipped off her tongue like a sweet candy. ¡°It¡¯s a nice name. Ronny, I may need you again someday. When I call for you, will you promise to come to me?¡± The man, Ronny, gave her a firm nod. ¡°Good. When your debt has been paid, you will be released.¡± Zara stood back up, and allowed her fog to consume him. He did not protest, because he could not. She did not grant him any will to do so. When the fogs cleared, only his deformed foot¡ªhalf flesh, half stone¡ªwas left behind as the only evidence of their disturbing encounter. There was nothing Zara could really do about that, for the man now had to deal with only one foot in whatever dark realm she¡¯d sent him to, awaiting her first call. The mists dissipated and the air warmed back to its original state. When Zara turned around, Saren was staring at her, grimly. It then began to sink in the gravity of everything. What just happened? Her rambled mind raced dreadfully. What did I do? That man¡­did I really¡­? Acidic bile rose up her throat. She had not acted as herself at all. It was as though she¡¯d been consciously watching another woman akin to a temptress take over her body, and she¡¯d just let it happen without doing anything to stop it. But it was her who had done it all in the end. For the first time, Zara had carried out blood magic¡ªin one of the worst ways possible. Like a truly atrocious witch. Saren¡¯s here. She knows. What have I done? Zara did not think she could have controlled her own actions tonight. It all just came to her and left in one swoop. She stared down at her blood-smeared dagger, wondering if she would ever have total control. Trembling, Zara regarded Saren, anticipating the worst. But Saren did not do anything Zara expected her to do. She did not yell, she did not curse, she did not back away, and she did not run. She instead nudged her head at Zara¡¯s dress. ¡°You¡¯ve soaked through. Change out of it. Then we¡¯ll go.¡± Zara swallowed painfully. ¡°Saren¡­um, I think I should explain to you¡ª¡± ¡°You don¡¯t need to.¡± Saren gave her a small smile of understanding. ¡°It¡¯s okay. I had a hunch. We¡¯ll discuss it all later. Right now, change your clothes. Then, we will enjoy the night while we still have it.¡± As Zara numbly unwrapped her dress from her body, Saren handed her a new attire from the bag, along with some freshly ripped white cloth, and spoke again. ¡°Thank you, Zara. You saved us both tonight.¡± Zara paused her movements, gazing at Saren under a new light. She shrugged bashfully. ¡°I don¡¯t need thanks. You are my friend. I will protect you¡­with any power I have.¡± Saren grinned as she held up Ronny¡¯s knife. ¡°And I, to you. Next time.¡± They laughed as though nothing deranged had happened to them at all. Saren placed the rusty knife carefully into her bag, and once Zara was cleaned up and dressed in the plain beige blouse and black trousers she had thankfully bought on a whim today, they made their way out of the alley, paying no mind to the disfigured foot meshed into the ground, as though it was just another piece of stray rock or trash. Whoever was next to somehow wander through this alley and discover it in daylight would be met with a gruesome surprise. The girls made it to the outdoor theater with time left for food and drink. They were also met with the sight of Revan¡¯s carriage approaching the site as well. He was very tense¡ªZara could sense it from the carriage without even seeing him. When a waiter passed by to offer them some grape wine, Zara took two glasses. Saren was right. For now, everything would be best left ignored. The Red Diamond ¡°Is that Revan?¡± Saren exclaimed when she saw the carriage approach. ¡°Oh, we were supposed to meet him back where he¡¯d dropped us off, weren¡¯t we? Now he¡¯s had to come all the way here to find us.¡± Zara gripped the stem of her wine glass. ¡°Well, with the day we¡¯ve had, who could remember?¡± she muttered before taking a big gulp. There was now only a quarter left and the taste was so dry it made her gag a bit. ¡°Um, he doesn¡¯t seem too happy, though I am not sure why that would be,¡± Saren observed as Revan stepped out of the carriage and began scanning the boisterous crowd. Indeed his brows were so knit together, causing unattractive wrinkles to appear. ¡°I wonder if it has something to do with the fabrics he said he was supposed to get? Were they not to his liking?¡± While Saren pondered over useless things, Zara looked for anything else that could ease the restless, nagging emotions wrestling within her. Flashes of the temple, the beach, the sands, the waves, the whale, the stalker, her powers, her blood¡ªit was hammering her head, making her skin hot again, which scared her the most because in her current state, she couldn¡¯t tell whether this was her magic preparing to make another disaster happen, or if she was simply flushed. She wanted to press the cold glass over her face, but that would look odd, so she resorted to drinking more from it instead. It truly was the driest wine ever. She shuddered. Perhaps, she should be looking for some water. The light breeze blew in the scent of fresh buttery bread being brought out from a tent. Food was her next priority. Revan still hadn¡¯t spotted them, so Zara pulled Saren into an especially crowded area. ¡°Let¡¯s find an open spot. I¡¯m hungry,¡± she said. ¡°If we can sit, we can wait to be served.¡± Saren frowned. ¡°What about Revan? He¡¯s looking for us. Shouldn¡¯t we wave him over?¡± ¡°He¡¯ll find us when he finds us,¡± Zara replied flatly, yanking Saren down onto the quilt. The large round floor table situated in front of them was decorated with small flowers and a couple of wax candles in the center. The surface wasn¡¯t entirely clean, but there was not much to do in a place teeming with tipsy people in need of constant serving. Every quilt was considerably sized and shared with multiple members of the party. Zara and Saren were sitting with three very made-up and eccentric-looking friends who gave them a quick glance-over before continuing on with their conversation in an unfamiliar language. To Zara¡¯s annoyance, Saren snatched her second glass of wine and took a long sip. ¡°I think we are under dressed,¡± she said plainly. It was true that everyone here was as well dressed as the locals roaming around the streets, but their style was much more exaggerated. The makeup on the women, and even some of the men, were bolder and artistic. Their clothes were flashy and long, and their headdresses, jewelry, and scarves were huge and very sparkly in the firelight. Some women were wearing heeled shoes that made them tower over even the tallest men. In this type of crowd, Zara and Saren stood out poorly¡ªin the literal sense. They looked too ordinary, especially Zara, who had been forced to change her soiled dress into what had to be the plainest beige and black combination a city like this had ever seen. The dress she¡¯d had on previously wouldn¡¯t have helped her blend in any more, but at least it had been pretty. Zara self-consciously rubbed her neck. At least she had a good view of the stage from here. Situated in a small clearing surrounded by bushes, trees, and smaller buildings, this stage was a modest size and gorgeously structured. The exterior arched up to a point, with various designs carved into the tan stone. The interior was lit with two circular chandeliers, revealing more arches, columns, and an embroidered curtain towards the back. Zara wondered about the depth of such a stage, and what more could be beyond the curtain. There were also doorways on each side, which Zara guessed was where the actors would prepare for entrance and exit. The front of the stage was mostly empty save for a few instruments lying about. Tents supplying food and drinks circled the area. Quilts and floor tables littered the center, surrounded by fiery torches. Right now, everybody was minding their own way mingling with others, but once the show started, the audience would be expected to gather here and sit quietly. Some have even brought their pets with them, as Zara noticed a few people with a bird resting on their shoulder, or panting dog being pulled by its owner. More people huddled around Zara¡¯s vicinity. The chatter was loud and incessant, so she couldn¡¯t help but overhear the gossip: ¡°I swore it was going to rain, and I am so happy it didn¡¯t. I don¡¯t understand why it had gotten so cold all of a sudden, but at least my face is saved. The painting took hours at the salon. It would have been all for nothing if silly rain water washed it away!¡± ¡°The mist worried was what worried me. It had come from nowhere. We don¡¯t usually get mists around here¡ª¡± ¡°You don¡¯t? Well, I¡¯m new to the city so I wouldn¡¯t know¡ª¡± ¡°Stranger weather patterns have happened I suppose¡ª¡± ¡°Strange indeed! Did you hear about that giant whale that washed up ashore?¡± ¡°Washed up ashore? A whale? Really? I think you are joking.¡± ¡°No, not at all! The beach was flooded. You should have seen it!¡± ¡°I actually saw it myself! It was the Sabre Whale, and a big one at that! I have never in my life seen anything like it. It is unheard of for such a whale to leap out of the sea. I didn¡¯t even think they could get that big either!¡± ¡°I saw it as well. It must be an abnormality of some kind¡ª¡± ¡°It was amazing. It actually jumped out of the water, but it did not come to the shore. It wouldn¡¯t do that. It did flood the beach a little, but no one minded. There was plenty of catch to go around because of it.¡± ¡°Speaking of catch, did you try the fish yet?¡± ¡°I need to try it¡ª¡± ¡°Tell me more about the whale¡ª¡± ¡°It was a miracle. Everyone¡¯s saying it. It¡¯s like a sign of prosperity, a blessing. All that fresh seafood that washed up, it was like an offering! I¡¯m telling you! It¡¯s just a damn shame you missed it, hon.¡± Zara¡¯s glass was empty. The talk around her turned into one unanimous buzz. She could feel Saren¡¯s scrutinizing her. They had said they would talk about this later, but she felt that the talk would be coming sooner than planned. Saren was smart, regardless of her mystical abilities. She had no doubt connected the astonishing event at the beach as Zara¡¯s doing. Saren was also sure to question everything about the dagger, the night she had found it, and how Zara had blatantly lied about it all. She would question just about everything there was to question, especially about the green gem that was supposed to be around her neck. Saren nudged Zara with her elbow before leaning closer. ¡°So¡­is Revan the same as you?¡± Zara kept her mouth in tight line. Saren sighed. ¡°I know I said we would discuss it later, but can you blame me for my curiosity? I won¡¯t say anything too revealing right now, but I want to know¡­what is really your relationship to him?¡± Zara sighed. She guessed there was no point in hiding it, but now she wished Revan was here. She was hesitant to reveal that they were not, in fact, related at all. There was a chance that Revan wouldn¡¯t like Zara telling her that. Even if Saren knew of their identities as mages, Revan may prefer that they at least keep up the rest of their act for as long as possible. But maybe, it was too late for that. Saren would not believe it, as they had already kept enough from her. Damaging a new friendship so soon would not fit in with Revan¡¯s plan, ultimately. Besides, she did not want to damage it. Saren was special. She knew what Zara was, yet did not fear her, judge her, or attempt to turn her in. Instead, this night seemed to solidify their bond even more. That was an even bigger miracle in and of itself. ¡°We¡¯re friends, are we not?¡± Saren urged. ¡°You can trust me, Zara.¡± Eventually, Zara nodded. She looked Saren in the eye and answered honestly, ¡°Yes. We are the same. He is my instructor. I am his apprentice. Can we leave it at that for now?¡± Saren smiled, and it was obvious she was excited. ¡°I¡¯m trying to hide how eager I am to keep asking for more information. I cannot wait until we are all alone. There is so much I want to know! I hope Revan will be okay with¡ªOh! I almost forgot he¡¯s here, looking for us!¡± She stood on her knees and surveyed the area. ¡°Where did he go?¡± Zara felt a hand suddenly land on her shoulder. Saren flinched when she felt the same. ¡°I am right here,¡± Revan said behind them. Calm as he sounded, Zara could hear the displeasure hidden in his tone. ¡°Oh!¡± Saren startled, turning around to face him. ¡°What? Huh, that¡¯s strange. I didn¡¯t¡ªI usually know when you¡¯re nearby.¡± Revan smiled thinly. ¡°Well. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve had a busy, busy day. That could tire out even the most cognizant person in the continent. Don¡¯t you agree, Zara?¡± His grasp was hard on her shoulder. Zara tilted her head back. ¡°Can you see if there is any more wine?¡± she asked nervously. ¡°Maybe the sweeter kind?¡± Maybe if she pretended nothing was the matter with him, and that there wasn¡¯t a chance of him knowing what they¡¯ve been up to (thanks to the help of his spying mirror), then she could enjoy the rest of the night. After tonight, though, would be a different story. The man¡¯s brows seemed to fall even lower over his eyes. ¡°See if you can conjure some up yourself.¡± Saren knelt back down, looking back and forth between her friends with a wide grin, like this was the show she had been waiting for all along. ¡°So,¡± she said, ¡°how was your day?¡± ¡°It was fine, thank you for asking,¡± he answered simply. ¡°Oh? Everything went well? You received all the fabric you were searching for?¡± ¡°Um, yes. I did.¡± ¡°Were they of good quality?¡± If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. He looked at her quizzically. ¡°They were decent enough.¡± She smirked. ¡°I¡¯m sure they were. I would love to see them. If you really have them, that is.¡± Revan sighed, addressing Zara once again. ¡°She knows everything, I presume?¡± ¡°Not¡­everything,¡± Zara responded reluctantly. ¡°Just what we are. But that¡¯s all. We said we would discuss it later.¡± ¡°Oh, we will. I¡¯m sure of it,¡± he muttered. Zara stole Saren¡¯s half-emptied glass from her side of the table. ¡°Hey!¡± Saren protested. ¡°It was mine first,¡± Zara argued as she drank from it. ¡°I¡¯ve noticed you two have switched out your clothes,¡± Revan said. Saren nodded, grinning. ¡°Aren¡¯t they divine?¡± Zara scowled. Yours is. Mine on the other hand¡­ Revan took note of the party¡¯s unique fashion sense. ¡°A bit more preparation would have done you two some good.¡± ¡°Oh!¡± Saren groaned in dismay. ¡°How were we supposed to know? Besides, that would have cost us more than everything we have and you know it!¡± ¡°But¡­you look lovely. As always.¡± He pecked her pink cheek before settling between her and Zara. Zara frowned. ¡°What about me?¡± Revan merely glanced at her. ¡°What about you?¡± It was obvious he was not happy. But what exactly was the reason for such displeasure? Was it simply because of her magic? She had done what he had advised and trained her to do so many times and protected herself and Saren from harm¡¯s way. Successfully at that. So what was the problem? Was it because she had revealed her magic in front of Saren? But what could she have done about that? How much had Revan actually seen in his Mirror? Had he seen their full altercation with the brazen man who had wanted to rob them? Because if he was watching, he would know that Zara had been left with no other choice. Perhaps it was about her lack of control in the situation. This had been the second time today, the first having been at the beach. She had once again let her emotions take over and emitted enough power to cause an abnormal change in the surroundings to the point where others had noticed. She didn¡¯t even know where the man was right now, just that his foot was left behind in the alley, mangled into the ground. Zara downed the rest of the wine, troubled. Yes, she had finally protected herself. But she had not used her blade as intended. Deep down, Zara had an inkling that these could be some of the reasons for Revan¡¯s attitude towards her. He had always emphasized control, first and foremost. Nobody in their environment should suspect anything too out of the ordinary. But now there was a crowd huddled together at a quilt nearby, still talking about the ¡°miracle Sabre¡± and its majestic dive. Revan regarded the new jewelry around Saren¡¯s neck. ¡°Saren, dear, those are some precious stones you have on.¡± Saren instinctively touched it. ¡°Thank you. They look real don¡¯t they?¡± ¡°They do. But what of the stone I have gifted you?¡± ¡°Safely tucked away in my bag. Unfortunately, it wouldn¡¯t match my new dress very well.¡± ¡°¡­I see.¡± ¡°Why? Does it upset you that I¡¯m not wearing your gift?¡± she teased. ¡°How sweet.¡± He cleared his throat. ¡°Uh. Yes. You look so much nicer with it on your neck, after all. I hope to see it again there, soon.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± She put her elbow over the table and rested her chin on her hand, gazing deliberately at him. ¡°That gem must be very special to you then.¡± ¡°What makes you say that?¡± ¡°We had a man following us today. He wanted to steal it. He mentioned just how special it was before Zara got rid of him.¡± Revan kept his expression impassive. ¡°Please,¡± Saren said amiably, ¡°you don¡¯t have to say anything right now. I can keep your secrets. I know you have greater knowledge of that green stone than that stupid thief did¡ª¡± Revan quickly turned to face Zara. ¡°And just where is this thief now?¡± Zara shrugged. A pleasant buzz had settled over her. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Revan hissed as Saren forced him to turn back her way. ¡°Revan, Zara, listen to me. That gem¡­its history¡ªit¡¯s linked to Mogheir, isn¡¯t it? I have a strong feeling about it. I can¡¯t explain but¡­perhaps it may help me understand my own heritage. Do you know something about that too? You can trust me. I¡¯m¡­well, I¡¯m not like what you two are. That much is obvious. But I am different. I know it. My family, my village, they knew it too. I don¡¯t know exactly what it is about me that is so different since no one ever told me anything. You two have been amazing befriending me and accepting me so far. So if you know something more, I would appreciate you not keeping me in the dark any longer.¡± It was a genuine plea. So much so that Zara felt inclined to just spill everything. But before Revan could formulate a response, a stout and slightly heavy-set older woman had arrived at their table accompanied by a waiter holding a tray of refreshments. It was clear that she had come to see them, as her steely eyes focused only on them. She was impossible to ignore, despite her short height. Dressed in fancy red garb and heavy eye makeup and jewelry, she exuded a commanding presence like no one else around them. Even the crowds had parted significantly for her, and the others at their quilt had ceased their foreign conversation. The waiter busied himself by setting down the snacks on the table for the foreigners. Unfortunately, he placed nothing in front of Zara and her party of two. One of the ladies in the group piped up in a thick accent, ¡°Ms. Rubi! I was wondering when I¡¯d see you tonight. The woman of the hour!¡± Ms. Rubi held up a palm¡ªheavily designed with henna¡ªin a curt greeting. ¡°Yes. I wasn¡¯t planning on being out just yet, at least not before our show, but something has come to my attention here.¡± Despite her dignified look, her accent was subtly informal. Zara had heard it before, and very recently too, she was sure. But she couldn¡¯t register where it had been. Ms. Rubi seemed tense, which was worrying. She was apparently the one in charge of this event, hence everybody¡¯s admiration and respect. Had they done her wrong somehow? ¡°Can we help you?¡± Revan asked bluntly. Zara¡¯s breath hitched in anxious agitation at his tone. Ms. Rubi gave him an artificial smile, and the outer corner of her black-lined eyes wrinkled. ¡°Perhaps. I was informed there were guests here that passed through the gate without paying for entrance. I am assuming that it is you three.¡± ¡°Can you prove that we didn¡¯t pay?¡± ¡°Can you show me your tickets?¡± Revan bit back his tongue at that. ¡°I-We apologize!¡± Saren claimed. ¡°We did not realize there was a fee for entering.¡± ¡°It is not a free show, darling,¡± the older woman said coolly. Zara was suddenly entranced by the shiny headpiece wrapped around the woman¡¯s jet black hair. The ruby stone was so familiar¡­but the memory was blurry. Everything was a bit blurry at the moment. ¡°But we were informed it would be,¡± Saren said reluctantly. ¡°By whom?¡± ¡°Well¡ª¡± ¡°Honey, I don¡¯t know how others choose to run their business when they¡¯ve booked the theater. I know some might not care for such fees. But tonight¡¯s usually my night. And on my nights, you must pay to be here. The entertainment, the drinks, the food¡ªthey are not just given to you for free.¡± ¡°Oh! Oh okay, then we have misunderstood. We were not informed of the differences in management, much less that it was your night to¡ª¡± ¡°And you have severely missed our code of dress. Especially this one.¡± Ms. Rubi pointed out Zara. ¡°She is the plainest of you three.¡± Zara wanted to melt into the quilt. Her body burned as light snickers trickled into her ear. Revan put a cool hand to her shoulder, willing her to stay calm. He sighed wearily. ¡°Ms. Rubi, we did not mean to disrespect you. I assure you we did not see anyone collecting payment¡ª¡± It was by luck that Zara and Saren had managed to slip in from a dark corner out of the alley. Revan had no doubt evaded payment at the front purposefully. By his own will, the money collector had likely not even noticed him. ¡°¡ªand we truly apologize. It¡¯s just that the girls here are interested in theater and dance. We are just tourists and it is our first day here. They wanted to learn something of value, to watch the talent and implement their skills in themselves. But if you wish for us to leave, we will.¡± Ms. Rubi¡¯s bright eyes danced over Revan mischievously. ¡°Actually, you can stay for as long as you¡¯d like darling. Your face compensates for your lack of style.¡± He smiled at her mildly. ¡°I appreciate the compliment, Ms. Rubi.¡± ¡°It¡¯s just Rubi to you, my darling.¡± By now, the attention around them had dissipated and the party resumed as normal. Saren was already digging through her bulky bag. ¡°I¡¯m trying to find my coin purse but¡ª¡± ¡°Save it,¡± Rubi demanded promptly. ¡°What is your name, handsome one?¡± ¡°Revan. Next to me are Saren and Zara.¡± He introduced them as he said their names. Zara meekly bowed her head in a lame greeting. ¡°Revan. Interesting name; interesting voice you have too.¡± ¡°I could say the same of you. Where are you from¡ª?¡± ¡°Oh, we could save all that talk for later. If there¡¯s time.¡± She winked, and to Zara, it was more gross than alluring, given this woman¡¯s more advanced age. ¡°I¡¯ll take you as payment for the evening.¡± She let out a huff, and her expression suddenly contorted to stress. ¡°Mother knows I could use it right now,¡± she grumbled. Saren gaped, and unhappily at that. Zara¡¯s fingers itched to hold another drink. Revan¡¯s brow flew up. ¡°¡­Oh?¡± ¡°It is either this, or I have you and your harem escorted out.¡± ¡°Well now that is just¡ª¡± Saren began to protest, but one warning look from Revan had her simmering down immediately. He inhaled, resigning himself. When he leaned in, Zara could feel some of his magic at work. ¡°Very well. As long as you can find some way to benefit these girls, I¡¯ll be happy to provide some entertainment of my own. For your eyes only.¡± He practically forced those words through his lips. But Rubi didn¡¯t seem to care. ¡°I like the way you speak,¡± she remarked with a wide grin. ¡°You will be meeting me behind the stage after the show is over. Come now, the three of you. The performers are just about ready, but they still have some time to chat with us. You¡¯ll have much to learn from them.¡± At this, Revan plastered what merely looked to be a genuine smile of gratitude. ¡°Thank you. This is a fantastic opportunity, isn¡¯t it girls?¡± Rubi laughed. ¡°It better be! I don¡¯t normally do this. No audience member is ever allowed behind the stage, especially so close to show time, but I am willing to make an exception. I¡¯m not as uptight as some would describe me to be.¡± His magic always worked so well. Zara nodded amicably, partly excited to be getting a closer look into the stage and mostly relieved that they hadn¡¯t been kicked out. Otherwise, everything would have been for nothing. Saren smiled stiffly as she stood. ¡°Yes. Thank you.¡± ¡°Oh my, a tall one!¡± Rubi exclaimed, cackling. ¡°Now, where you¡¯ve come from, that I¡¯d like to know!¡± Saren did not respond to that quip, but Rubi was leading them off anyway. They passed a servant with a tray of wines, and Zara stealthily grabbed a glass off it. Thankfully, the taste was much to her own liking this time. As she drank, Saren came close to her ear. ¡°I don¡¯t have a good feeling about her,¡± she whispered, her eyes trained on Rubi¡¯s smooth brown back¡ªleft intentionally exposed by her impressive gown. She clung to Revan¡¯s arm, talking enthusiastically. Next to that tall man, she seemed even shorter somehow. ¡°Oh? Could it be jealousy?¡± Zara shot back. ¡°That bat¡¯s reined him in before you¡¯ve even had a taste. I don¡¯t need your silly little ¡®instinct¡¯ to see how much you hate it.¡± She didn¡¯t care how disgusted or upset Saren was with her over this. Because now she knew what it was like being woman left out. They weaved through the crowd, passing by many who greeted Rubi generously, as though she was going to be the starring actress. Zara wondered what this play was actually about. Would it be good enough to be worth spending so much money and time looking as frivolous as possible? They crossed to a clear spot on the side of the stage. Stone steps led to a wooden doorway. Zara could hear commotion inside. Rubi turned to them. The vibrant red jewel on her head glimmered from the torchlight. Like a gorgeous red diamond. Diamond¡­ Zara gasped, suddenly recognizing this exact headpiece. She¡¯d admired it a long year ago, on her hasty way toward Pria¡¯s diamond-shaped center. It had been displayed at an accessory shop window, luring her in, altering her path off course¡­ ¡°Where did you get that?¡± Zara blurted out. Rubi scoffed. ¡°Well! The quiet one has finally spoken.¡± ¡°Excuse her,¡± Revan said. ¡°She¡¯s not used to¡­people.¡± He was giving her one of his admonishing glares, but Zara didn¡¯t care. ¡°Where did you get that?¡± she asked again. ¡°Get what?¡± Rubi said, amused. She noticed Zara¡¯s eyes fixated on her headpiece and chuckled, touching it carefully. ¡°Oh this thing? Gorgeous isn¡¯t it? It makes me feel like royalty. I bet I could sneak my way into the Court and no one would be the wiser.¡± ¡°Yess,¡± Zara slurred. ¡°Where did it come from? It isn¡¯t supposed to be here¡­is it?¡± Revan distastefully snatched Zara¡¯s almost-finished glass out of her hand. ¡°Thank you darling,¡± Rubi said. ¡°I was going to say food and drink aren¡¯t allowed through that door. To answer your question honey, I bought this from one of the many caravans passing in from the north.¡± Zara¡¯s gut jumped. ¡°The north?¡± Rubi nodded, clucking her tongue. ¡°Yes. The poor babes. They were running from all the unrest up there in¡­.Pria was it? Yes, that was it. It¡¯s unheard of, such a place going through this amount of distress. Those people were just a fright to look at.¡± She was beginning to understand what Saren had meant by not having a good feeling about this woman. Rubi¡¯s false sympathy was easily replaced with an almost wicked smirk. ¡°I did what I could to help a few willing to be helped. Including buying out some of their belongings, and old inventories and what-not. This marvelous piece was one of them. " ¡°¡­Oh,¡± was all Zara could get out. ¡°Now, shall we?¡± Rubi said. ¡°Revan, let¡¯s keep an eye on the quiet one. Make sure she doesn¡¯t fall over herself.¡± She giggled and led the way up the steps. Zara followed absently, with Saren supporting her arm and many questions left on her struggling mind. She wanted to ask who, exactly, sold the headpiece. She wanted to know whether this person was a young woman with yellow hair. She wanted to know what became of that caravan, who else had been on it, and where they were heading. She wanted to ask what they¡¯d been through, in the time she had gone and left them. She wanted to know if they¡ªwhoever they were¡ªwere safe. But¡­why? Why do I care? What would be the point in that? The vast city suddenly seemed as small as Pria. Wherever they were, somehow, Zara felt that they were close. A Familiar Face Each cramped room he checked was void of any coin. When he went outside to scour the tents, he not only came up empty again, but he was chased back inside of his dwelling by a mad man cackling along the street. ¡°Out of his fucking mind he is,¡± he muttered. The twitch in his neck returned, as it always did when he went without his preferred drug for too long. He crushed up an entire petal before sprinkling bits of it onto his tongue. It made him gag, but he knew it would feel good soon, and the twitching and the headaches would stop. The only problem was, he was down to his last few petals. Coins were what he needed. Without them, he could not buy what kept him alive. Footsteps echoed down the grimy hallway before stopping in front of the open door. ¡°Shia!¡± His best friend stood before him with a bag of food, his mouth a grim line as he regarded the smashed dry petals littering the table top. ¡°What are you doing, Rowan?¡± Shia asked monotonously. Rowan scratched the itchy, scaly skin on his cheek. Crusty scabs fell away, causing him to grimace. ¡°Uh, the usual. You finally made it back.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a good thing too. I¡¯m starving. Did you get the onion crisps? From the old lady in the corner stall who fries them up, was she there this time?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°Ugh. Damn. Did you at least manage to avoid that madman running down the street?¡± Shia sighed heavily. ¡°What madman?¡± Rowan giggled. ¡°So he¡¯s left then. You¡¯re lucky.¡± Shia set the bag down on the floor near the foot of his cot. Rowan¡¯s cot was right beside his. Besides the small table at the center and the overflowing dresser in the corner, it was all they could fit into this room, where they were packed in with dozens of other tenants in other rooms similar to this one throughout the shitty building. Shia was about to leave when Rowan called him back. ¡°Hey wait a moment, Shia. Hey.¡± He scurried over to his friend, almost tripping on the annoying crack in the old tile. ¡°Do you have any coins to lend me?¡± ¡°Why?¡± Shia asked flatly. ¡°I need them. I-I need coins.¡± ¡°For what? That?¡± He nudged his chin toward the table, powdered with broken petals. Rowan shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s not gonna be much this time. Please.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have any coins left for you.¡± ¡°But¡­but you must.¡± ¡°No. For the last time. I don¡¯t.¡± ¡°Shia¡ª¡± ¡°Let me be. I still have some time before I leave for work tonight, and I¡¯d like to spend it alone.¡± Rowan wanted to hold Shia back, but it was impossible. His friend had sprouted good muscle and strength over the year. Manual labor will do that to a young man. Rowan was no match for him. During the day, Shia worked in the construction zone. In the evenings, he traveled to the western part of the city to serve and clean for the wealthy patrons that lived there. They had lost their home and most of their families, but time kept on, so together they survived with the few friends they had left. Shia grew into a sturdier man whereas Rowan had become weaker. He hated himself for it, but he couldn¡¯t stop the shitty habits that kept him this way. He didn¡¯t even understand why he had started it in the first place. Shia yanked his arm away and regarded him with a disdainful scowl. It was something he did often now, and it instilled some fear into Rowan. He feared that one day Shia would have enough of him, and leave him behind to rot in this crap of a city. ¡°Where are you going?¡± Rowan asked nervously. Although Shia managed his own health just fine, he¡¯d been gloomier than ever. Rowan didn¡¯t know what was wrong. It was true that nobody was happy here. But Shia had become a different person. He wasn¡¯t suffering the same type of misery that everyone one else here was suffering¡ªcaused by the massive population, the horrible living conditions, and the corrupt and depraved running the streets. But Shia didn¡¯t seem very bothered by any of it. Something else plagued him. Something he wasn¡¯t telling Rowan. It had been this way since they hitched the caravan and left Pria. ¡°The roof. For a smoke,¡± Shia grumbled, wiping some sweat that had accumulated on his forehead. Rowan frowned at the object that glinted on his friend¡¯s smallest finger. ¡°Hey¡­¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°What do you have there?¡± Shia glanced at his ring. The colorless stone was scraped. ¡°It¡¯s nothing,¡± he answered. Rowan was getting desperate. ¡°Is¡­do you think it¡¯s worth anything?¡± Shia sighed. ¡°No, Rowan. For you, it¡¯s worthless.¡± He disappeared down the hall. Rowan sat on his cot alone, somberly listening to the creaking steps leading up to the roof. Everything grew fuzzy and warm and nice, and soon he was wondering why he had ever been moody at all.
Zara stumbled into the darkness that was the back of the stage. She blinked rapidly, her eyes having a poor time adjusting to the dimly lit space. Her vision was getting dizzier by the minute. Her gaze landed on a dresser and for a good moment, she thought she¡¯d been transported back to her old bedroom in Pria, and her heart lurched. The design of it was such an uncanny resemblance. Except this was not her bedroom, and that was not her dresser. A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. ¡°Ugh, let go,¡± she slurred. ¡°You¡¯re holding me too tight.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve had more than a bit to drink,¡± Saren groaned, clutching Zara¡¯s arm harder. ¡°If I let you go, you¡¯ll topple.¡± ¡°So let me topple.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°I¡¯d let you topple.¡± Saren clicked her tongue, agitated. ¡°What is the matter with you? Is this how you really see me, Zara?¡± She let Zara go, which caused her to stagger forward. She eventually regained her balance and saw Saren standing directly in front of her, arms unhappily crossed. Revan and Rubi were further ahead of them. Rubi was touching Revan¡¯s sleeve as though they were an intimate couple already. Which later tonight they would be anyway. Revan stopped and turned back to them, watching with a quizzical gaze. Rubi looked more bored and impatient than anything else. ¡°Come on girls, don¡¯t dawdle,¡± she called. ¡°Zara,¡± Saren hissed, ¡°I thought we were friends.¡± Zara shrugged, entirely too exhausted to think properly. ¡°Sure. We are.¡± ¡°You aren¡¯t acting like it all of a sudden. You are acting as though I¡¯ve done something to upset you. And this can¡¯t be just the liquor speaking for you, now, is it?¡± Saren huffed. ¡°Back home, we say that the truth always comes out through drunken speech.¡± Zara sneered at her. In the back of her mind, she knew she wasn¡¯t being sensible. Old jealously and annoyance of the other woman was quickly resurfacing for practically no real reason. But Zara wasn¡¯t in the mood to be rational at the moment. Her emotions always had to be buried in rubble, while everybody else got to wear their hearts out so openly. Well why was this? Why couldn¡¯t she be encouraged just the same? ¡°Well, you are not home, are you Saren? None of us are really home. And according to you and your freak visions, I¡¯ve never been home in my entire life.¡± Saren¡¯s gaping mouth was large enough to hop through. It almost made Zara chuckle. ¡°What are you saying, you crazy girl?¡± ¡°What I¡¯m saying? How about everything you¡¯ve been saying¡ª¡± A near-violent poke to her collar almost made Zara fall over. Revan was beside them, glaring. ¡°What¡¯s the matter, here?¡± he demanded to know, annoyed. Saren scrunched her face. Zara did not miss her eyes flitting back as Rubi approached them as well. ¡°Revan, she¡¯s drunk. I think we should just go to the inn.¡± Zara giggled. ¡°Oh, and leave his new nighttime lover behind? Is that not too convenient for you Saren¡ª¡± She was met with a harsh pinch to the arm. ¡°Ouch, Saren!¡± Zara gasped, rubbing the sore spot. ¡°Cry louder Zara,¡± Saren shot back. ¡°Keep quiet you foolish girls,¡± Revan said through clenched teeth. Rubi eventually arrived by Revan¡¯s side. ¡°How much has the thin one had to drink?¡± she asked, amused. ¡°It couldn¡¯t have been much. Can she not keep her liquor?¡± ¡°No,¡± Revan grumbled. Rubi threw up her hands. ¡°Well, we might as well get this over with and get her back to my place where she can sleep it off. She may not remember much later. What a waste.¡± ¡°Oh no, Rubi, thank you for your generosity but we have accommodations elsewhere.¡± ¡°Nonsense. You¡¯ll all be staying with me. I have plenty of space. Besides, there isn¡¯t any point sending the girls off alone without you now is there? The streets aren¡¯t very safe in the late night.¡± ¡°That is quite alright,¡± Revan insisted. ¡°Zara will be fine. We do not wish to trouble you.¡± The stout woman¡¯s lip curled. The strangely familiar sight of such an expression made Zara¡¯s spine shudder. ¡°It isn¡¯t trouble. Believe me on that. My residence is not far from here.¡± ¡°But¡ª¡± ¡°Revan.¡± Rubi arched a serious brow. ¡°You are staying, and so are these fine girls. Now please, time is slipping.¡± Revan groaned, but he relented. ¡°Alright, fine. We will stay. But before anything, may I please tend to Zara first? I have something that may aid her drunken state.¡± He pulled Zara into a corner. Zara still wasn¡¯t entirely sure what her surroundings looked like. There were only a few lamps on the walls, so it was difficult to see properly. But it was noisier in the next room. Zara leaned toward the friendly noise in anticipation. To meet a real actor, or a dancer, was exciting. But then Zara remembered that she had met a dancer already in the past. And that night had not ended well at all, mainly because of said dancer and her friends. Her gloomy attitude returned. ¡°Do not drink any more alcohol tonight,¡± Revan scolded lowly. ¡°Try your best not to make an even greater fool of yourself.¡± ¡°Are you really going to sleep with that fat old hag?¡± Another pinch, this time to her other arm. ¡°Stop it!¡± Zara yelped. ¡°Of course I¡¯m not going to lie with her, you daft woman!¡± Revan growled. ¡°Don¡¯t hurt your skull thinking too hard about this. I¡¯ll handle her my way.¡± He reached into his pocket and pulled out his trusty little bag of medicinal potions. He parted the strings, and it grew in size, as it usually did. Zara pouted. ¡°What are you going to do to me now?¡± ¡°Hush.¡± He felt around the inside of the bag and shortly came out with a vial of dark blue liquid. ¡°Drink this. It will steady you. But do not dare take another sip of wine after this.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Because you may die. Now hurry.¡± Zara drank only half the liquid before retching. ¡°Good enough,¡± Revan muttered, quickly taking the vial and shrinking the medicine pouch back to its tiny form. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Rubi said. ¡°Is she okay?¡± ¡°Yes, yes. Let¡¯s head on,¡± Revan assured pleasantly, dragging Zara back to the other women. This time, he made sure she remained close to him, even going as far as to link his arm with hers, which made neither Rubi or Saren very happy. ¡°Here we are,¡± Rubi announced plainly, stepping into a vast room full of costumed people in front of full-body mirrors and vanity tables. Zara was struck in a silent awe at the chaotic sight. Colorful clothes, jewelry, scarves, and props were strewn about the place. Crowds of actors chattered while touching up their face paint, dancers rehearsed their steps and adjusted their dresses, and backstage workers passed around cups of water or helped actors into their costumes. The air was permeated heavily with an assortment of perfumes. Saren coughed, fanning her face. But Zara¡ªthanks to Revan¡¯s mysterious potion¡ªwas able to take it all in with a clear mind. This was real-life show business. What stood out to Zara most was how different everybody looked from one another. Some were heavily adorned in fancy royal garb while others were more bare and mystical. A few costumes were plain, like that of peasants. A group of bulky men gathered at the back of the room, their bodies painted in red, blue, or black. Their faces were covered with masks that reminded Zara of the demons her mother used to tell her about when she was little¡ªthe ones who only showed themselves to the most damned of souls. If she kept herself good and pure, she would never have to see them in life or death. Zara was very curious as to what Rubi¡¯s show was going to be about. But she needed to work up the courage to ask. The contents of her stomach swirled uncomfortably. ¡°As you can see, it is quite hectic in here,¡± Rubi explained. ¡°My people are very busy. But there should be an actor who is free to answer any questions you may have.¡± Her smile perked up. ¡°Oh, there is one now! And just the young man I wanted to see, too!¡± Rubi waved high at a tall, broad-shouldered man walking toward them. He wore a tight, low-cut sleeveless beige top that showed off much of his lean muscles and wide chest. A red cloth draped his lower regions, reaching down to his knees. Gold bands wrapped his wrists and upper arm, as well as his ankles above his leather sandals. His hair was a beautiful sand color, carefully styled in voluminous waves that hung just below his shoulders. The man¡¯s face was lowered so Zara could not see it properly yet, but she could already tell that he was handsomely gorgeous. He was getting close and her heartbeat rose, for she was about to meet a good-looking male actor for the first time. She quickly smoothed out the front of her hair and was dismayed to find her skin sweaty. She was also once again upset about being severely under-dressed but she prayed the actor wouldn¡¯t really notice it. She went back to smiling gallantly¡­until he finally lifted his chin. If a soul could hurl out of a body, Zara¡¯s would have done so. Whatever smile she put on had fallen through the cracks on the floor. ¡°What¡­is this?¡± Zara whispered. Her eyes were locked firmly on the man that stood before the group, and there was no key to set them free. Rubi smiled widely at him. ¡°I¡¯ve been waiting for you to stop by, and I do hope you are ready for your part.¡± ¡°Yes, Madam,¡± the man mumbled, making Zara¡¯s crinkling heart lurch. Rubi planted herself beside the new visitor and turned to face the three of them. ¡°Friends, I would like you to meet one of my newer associates: Emran Mukrov.¡± Blind Attractions Zara unintentionally leaned back on her heel. If Revan wasn¡¯t standing behind her, she would have fainted. He frowned down at her. ¡°Pull yourself together. Please,¡± he commanded in a hushed tone. Rubi beamed devilishly. ¡°Isn¡¯t he a gorgeous one? So loyal too. Almost like a dog¡­¡± Emran jolted when Rubi squeezed his rear. ¡°¡­but thank all the gods he¡¯s not.¡± The hag was raking her steely eyes over him in such a lewd manner that it was making Zara nauseous. But her biggest concern out of everything was the fact that Emran¡ªPria¡¯s Emran, her Emran¡ªwas here, somehow. Why is he here?! ¡°Zara,¡± Revan whispered, jerking her body back towards his. ¡°Please. Listen to my voice. Calm down.¡± Zara rubbed her forehead, flicking off the sweat, and trying not to look too pained. Emran¡¯s golden gaze landed on her for a brief second before acknowledging the other two guests beside her. ¡°It¡¯s nice to meet you all. Um¡­¡± He stared at Saren, smirking. ¡°Wow. You are as tall as I am, Miss.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t she?¡± Rubi laughed. ¡°She makes me feel like an ant.¡± Saren laughed along pleasantly enough. ¡°Yes¡­I am a big woman. What else can I say?¡± It was like Zara didn¡¯t even exist. Her jaw grew tight as her blood simmered. Why didn¡¯t he remember her? Revan, meanwhile, was growing agitated. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you listening to me?¡± he hissed. ¡°Calm yourself.¡± A force of his magic fell over her head like a blunt stump. She took a deep breath and tried to see reason. Of course he wouldn¡¯t recognize her. The key reason for his bland behavior was the effect of Revan¡¯s Sand Time. He wasn¡¯t supposed to remember who she was, and it was important to keep it that way, lest they unravel an unpleasant chain of events that could lead to her capture. But still. How unfortunate was this? Zara couldn¡¯t help but think about how this reunion would have gone if magic hadn¡¯t had to be in the way. But an uncertain gloom settled in her chest instead. It would have likely yielded similar results. He hardly knew her from the start; they had met at a bar when he was drunk and high, and then only ever had one real conversation in front of Revan¡¯s home, with a fence in between them, all of which seemed like years and years ago¡ªand he was out of sorts even then. It was natural for a man like Emran to not to remember a face as insignificant as Zara¡¯s. However, if such obstacles ceased to exist, Zara would have been able to remind him of her. How nice it could have been, if she had been allowed to do such a thing. ¡°Madam,¡± Emran was speaking quietly now to Rubi, ¡°may I have a word?¡± ¡°Can it wait?¡± she said. ¡°The girls here are interested in the art of theater and I thought you could¡ª¡± Emran¡¯s calm exterior trembled. His disconcerting frown had come and gone so quickly Zara wasn¡¯t sure if she had imagined it. ¡°Please. It is urgent.¡± Rubi huffed exasperatedly. ¡°What could possibly be urgent now?¡± ¡°Your brother has not returned.¡± In an instant, the woman¡¯s mouth closed into a firm line. ¡°Did he say where he was headed?¡± she eventually asked. ¡°He left the premises during peak daylight. He wanted to look for¡­¡± Emran glanced at the group, who was curiously listening in on their conversation while pretending not to. Saren coughed, playing with a strand of her hair. Zara scratched at a spot on her wrist. Revan turned his head away carelessly. Emran cleared his throat, regarding his distressed Madam with concern. ¡°Maybe we should discuss this elsewhere?¡± Rubi clicked her tongue, her face distorting as though she wanted to rage and weep at once. ¡°Oh that idiot,¡± she hissed. ¡°Oh, this is bad. This has got to be bad. He is such a fucking fool! I knew this could happen. I knew it could! He doesn¡¯t have a damn fucking clue about discretion. I tried telling him! He never listened to me though, did he? I knew some day, some day, he¡¯d leave and never come back.¡± ¡°Um, Madam, we don¡¯t even know what happened yet. If anything has even happened at all. Perhaps there is still a chance that he¡¯ll be back later tonight.¡± ¡°He¡¯s supposed to be here NOW damn it!¡± Rubi suddenly boomed out. She sighed, shaking her hands remorsefully. ¡°Whatever. You¡¯re right. When you see the moron again, send him to me. We¡¯ll discuss this a different time.¡± She turned back to her guests as soon as Emran nodded his assent. ¡°I apologize,¡± she said, her cheerful tone strained. ¡°I¡¯ve strayed too much. I¡¯m just in the middle of a personal predicament.¡± ¡°Are you alright Rubi?¡± Revan asked. Rubi bobbed her round head, her red lips stretching forecefully. ¡°I am¡­happy enough.¡± ¡°Are you sure? Did something troubling happen with your brother?¡± Rubi chuckled. ¡°Revan, dear, it¡¯s nothing of your concern. Yes, my brother is known for losing his own tail at times. He is not here at the moment, like I want him to be, but¡­.what can I say? He¡¯ll likely turn up later.¡± ¡°Do you work with him then? Does he help you run these events?¡± ¡°¡­In a way. He is a very helpful man. I can honestly say, I don¡¯t know what I would do without him.¡± Emran shifted, putting his hands together behind his back. Zara bit her lip, trying to keep her eyes off his muscled abdomen. ¡°Are you close with your brother?¡± Saren added. Rubi smiled kindly this time. ¡°Very. We shared the same womb, after all.¡± She laughed merrily, but Zara couldn¡¯t help but sense something wrong. Something about Rubi wasn¡¯t rubbing off right. The mention of a twin brother was oddly disturbing, as though Zara was aware of whom she spoke of¡­even though she really didn¡¯t. She gazed up at Revan to gauge his reaction. Revan was tight-lipped as always, but even he gave her a sideways glance, moving his head ever so slightly to confirm her own suspicions. He felt the same as well. ¡°But enough about that!¡± Rubi said. ¡°Girls, why not ask me something of real substance? Hm? We have a lovely actor right in front of us. What is that you want to know about the craft? Or are you more interested in the dancing aspect? Should I call over a dancer as well?¡± ¡°Emran,¡± Zara croaked. When those golden eyes targeted her face, Zara swooned. Heat crawled up her belly, even though his gaze was vague and lacked recognition of her. It didn¡¯t matter though, and she did her best to keep her excitement hidden. ¡°Um, how did you become an actor?¡± ¡°That¡¯s a good question to start with,¡± Rubi approved. ¡°Dear, share with them how I discovered you.¡± She grinned proudly before answering it herself. ¡°Hand-picked him up from a wagon, that I did. He¡¯s one of Pria¡¯s runaway boys.¡± ¡°Uh, yeah,¡± Emran said, sniffling. ¡°Rubi saw me and she¡­¡± He looked to her, seemingly stuck before she encouraged him with a nod. ¡°¡­she had me recite some lines for her. She said I had talent and potential to be great so¡­here I am. This isn¡¯t my first show or anything, but I¡¯m still learning. It really helps to step into the character¡¯s role and let it take the reins. Better to jump right in, you know, and get real active with it. That¡¯s how you get good. My role here isn¡¯t a very big one right now. Maybe it could get bigger some day.¡± If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. Rubi winked at him. ¡°I hope so too, soon.¡± ¡°What is your role?¡± Saren asked him. ¡°Yes,¡± Zara said, ¡°I would really like to know what this whole show is going to be about, actually.¡± ¡°Tales of love and passion and heartbreak,¡± Rubi answered. ¡°This story has many characters, not a single one to be called its main hero or villain. It is also not a linear tale. It is abstract, spanning for ages across the entire timeline of mankind.¡± ¡°Are you the writer?¡± Revan asked plainly. Rubi paused, thinking about it. ¡°I am one of the many who develops such tales.¡± ¡°Marvelous,¡± he muttered, unimpressed. Emran cleared his throat. ¡°I¡¯m the queen¡¯s house boy turned¡­lover.¡± Zara nodded with great interest. ¡°Oh.¡± She wondered how that was going to play out on stage. Did she even want to know? ¡°It¡­It really does pique my interest,¡± Saren stuttered, likely thinking the same. ¡°Has this been your passion for a long time Emran?¡± ¡°No,¡± Emran answered immediately, laughing. When Rubi gave him a stern look, he replied again with, ¡°Not at first. I didn¡¯t think I could ever do something like this. Now I can¡¯t see how I¡¯ll survive without it.¡± Clear eyes, clean shaven, combed hair, refined speech. Not a stench of liquor wafting off him. Rubi had done well taking care of this man. She may not be terrible after all, despite Zara¡¯s feelings telling her otherwise. ¡°I¡¯m excited to watch you and all your fellow actors perform,¡± Saren said genuinely. ¡°Everybody¡¯s worked so hard I am sure. Zara and I will most definitely learn something.¡± ¡°I have an idea!¡± Rubi suddenly piped up. ¡°Why not join the show yourselves? Since you¡¯re already back here and all, I can arrange for you to be a part of the second act!¡± ¡°What?¡± was Zara¡¯s immediate, pulse-rising response. ¡°Yes! Take the advice I¡¯ve given this one here.¡± She patted Emran¡¯s behind. ¡°Better you dive right into it. Get the experience. Immerse yourself into your characters and I promise you, you will flourish.¡± ¡°Excuse me,¡± Revan spoke up while Saren and Zara visibly panicked beside him, ¡°but this is all too quick and these women have very little experience.¡± Rubi waved him off. ¡°Oh don¡¯t worry about that. The second act is much later on, and I only want them as extra backup dancers. It¡¯s very very simple and easy to learn fast. The routine is one you can do in your sleep.¡± She was already pulling them both further into the crowded room. ¡°Come. We have extra costumes here that may fit. The bigger one, Sarah was it¡ª?¡± ¡°It¡¯s Saren,¡± Saren corrected. ¡°Right. Your large stature is not normal for our group, but you are gorgeous and I may have something for you yet. I¡¯ve been meaning to compliment you on how fluently you speak by the way. Your accent is like a melody, and I bet your mother tongue is just as¡ª¡± ¡°Ms. Rubi, what about our bags¡ª?¡± Zara protested, trying to find any way to get out of this. There was no way she was getting on a stage in front of a wide audience¡ªmuch wider than the one she ¡°performed¡± for last time¡ªagain. She wasn¡¯t ready for this, and she wasn¡¯t feeling well. Revan¡¯s disgusting concoction had helped her sober up but she was still slightly nauseated. She hadn¡¯t had anything to eat since this afternoon. But even without food, she¡¯d hurl up her gut. Being dragged onto a stage against her will was much too familiar of an episode. It brought back flashes of a dark stormy night, along with every terrible incident that came before and after it. This wasn¡¯t her old life. She¡¯d be damned if she were to mimic any part of it tonight. ¡°Your bags are safe where you left them by the door. Do not worry. Thieves are never among us, as there is plenty of security walking about. We do not take such things lightly.¡± ¡°Revan,¡± Zara hissed back. But Revan ignored her plea for help this time. Shockingly enough, his lips curled up into an amused smirk. ¡°Rubi,¡± he called. ¡°Be sure to find Saren something nice and green. It matches the necklace I¡¯d like her to wear from here on out.¡± He shot Saren a pointed stare, and she briefly nodded back. Even though she didn¡¯t fully understand its purpose, she was willing to have it around her neck again if it would please Revan. Even if it was something that could potentially hurt her, she¡¯d probably wear it with pride anyway. For him. Zara¡¯s insides prickled. Even she wasn¡¯t sure if Revan¡¯s power-sucking gemstone would actually cause Saren harm. It made her feel a bit guilty about her thorny attitude earlier. But the guilt quickly morphed into irritation again. Saren was her friend, and she was supposed to be rather smart and intuitive, from Zara¡¯s first impressions of her. However, the blatant desire Saren had for the man was off putting. From Zara¡¯s limited knowledge of romance, derived solely from novelists and playwrights, love and infatuation could make people very dumb. ¡°Wup! Careful doll,¡± Emran warned when Zara bumped into his arm. Her hand detached from Rubi¡¯s forceful grasp, leaving her standing closely in front of him. She¡¯d been so busy glaring at Revan behind her while Rubi tugged her forward that she hadn¡¯t thought to look where she walked among such chaos. Two more steps further would have had her headbutting into a slimmer woman wearing an extravagant headdress. ¡°Are you alright?¡± he asked her, concerned with how she was staring up at him like she¡¯d been caught in a wrongdoing. He laughed. ¡°What is it? Did I hit you that hard or something, girl?¡± It wasn¡¯t that. He was touching her shoulder, which sent a shudder up her spine. Up this close, he was more handsome than he was when they first met. That night at the red-light bar, he had been out of his mind with drugs and liquor. Here, he was seeing her clearly. ¡°I am so sorry,¡± Zara mumbled awkwardly. ¡°Forgive me. I should have taken care to watch my steps.¡± He grinned brilliantly, taking her all the way back to the tavern, where he had smiled all the same. ¡°Hey, loosen up. That funny talk¡¯s not gonna make you any friends in these parts.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not?¡± she asked stupidly. Why was she like this with him? This type of conversation was just as familiar as his overwhelming presence. Emran snickered. ¡°No. Drop the stiff speech you¡¯ve got going on. Or am I just making you that nervous?¡± His eyes danced over her. Zara felt her skin go hot. ¡°Um. No.¡± The hand on her shoulder tightened its grip suddenly as Zara lost herself in his hypnotizing gleam. She could stand there in his proximity for as long as he wanted her to, but when his brows started twitching anxiously, Zara¡¯s heart jerked in fear. ¡°Have we met?¡± he whispered. His eyes were beginning to grow wider, glancing all around her face for some search of recognition that was lost to him. Zara gulped. The room grew darker for her in an instant, as a feeling akin to ice water flowed through her veins. This was wrong. Her head moved away from him. Revan was standing behind Saren, who had changed from her purple dress to a sparkly emerald green wrap¡ªand nothing but the wrap. The generous curves of her body were like a show of their own, at least to all the men in the room. Her inky hair flowed over her bare shoulder, and the jewelry she had on previously was now absent. Revan held up the green gemstone necklace he¡¯d retrieved from her bag. The stone twinkled as he placed it carefully around her, letting it rest over her near naked chest. Saren¡¯s face glowed with a pink blush as she turned to face Revan with a shy smile. They matched each other, Zara thought absently, in terms of their fine appearances. They¡¯d make a good portrait if Rubi¡¯s stout frame hadn¡¯t thrust its way into the middle of them, thus ruining the picture. ¡°What did you say your name was again?¡± Emran asked her curiously. ¡°Um¡­¡± At this point, she couldn¡¯t tell him. She couldn¡¯t have him remember. For her sake, and Revan¡¯s. But what could she say? What should she do? He wasn¡¯t going to let her go so easily. The longer she stayed near him, the bigger the risk of his memory returning. When she willed The Sorcerer for his help, he finally caught her worrying gaze. Alarmed, he abandoned the two other women with him¡ªalong with the throng of female dancers that had waltzed his way¡ªto come to his apprentice¡¯s aid.
The air shifted when the gem¡¯s delicate touch rested over her skin once again. A foreign strength coursed through her, and she became better aware of her surroundings than before. Unlike the first time she¡¯d worn it, Saren understood its significance now. Or at least a little of it. She knew it was important to Revan, and it had everything to do with the strange powers she had within her. She desperately wanted the night to end, to be alone with the man, to ask him all the questions she had about it. What was it? What did it mean? What was she, if not like him? Because she wasn¡¯t like him, that she knew for certain. Was her power greater, or lesser? And was it linked to short blackouts and memory loss? She had always suffered from these strange blips of time passing, unaware of it until somebody felt afraid or annoyed enough to point it out. He knew more than he let on. He knew her better than she knew herself. She licked her dry lips, watching him as he strode away from her. His back looked strong, and his fingers had been warm and delicate when they had grazed the back of her neck. A light wetness pooled between her legs. Standing on a stool, the ghastly Madam Rubi clutched Saren¡¯s chin with one hand and brushed red coloring to her lips with the other. Saren vaguely recalled the back of her naked shoulder being painted on as well, by one of Rubi¡¯s many assistants, but she didn¡¯t bother inquiring about it. She was too busy watching Revan leave her for Zara. The gem¡¯s glow was subtle, but Saren felt its heat. A strange pressure fell over her head and heart. It drew her to the man in a certain way she couldn¡¯t explain, but she forced herself to stay put. ¡°Gorgeous, dear,¡± Rubi stated. ¡°The thin one is next. If she could just get over here, she can change out of that dreadfully boring garb she¡¯s got on and our backup dancer Muni here can show you both what to do.¡± I don¡¯t care you hag of a whore. Just let me be. But Saren smiled politely before turning her attention back on the couple ahead of her. Zara and Revan. Those two were in no way related. That was a fact she had guessed from the start. ¡°He is my instructor. I am his apprentice.¡± His concern and attentiveness for her was one that he would never have for Saren in this lifetime. The fat red whore tugged on Saren¡¯s dress again¡ªif she could even call this green piece of cloth a dress¡ªlowering the already low neckline even more. Saren concealed a scoff. She already figured out what this woman was. Rubi may be a legitimate authority figure here, but she was no playwright, nor director, nor writer. She was no real artist. Saren sensed the same nature in Rubi as she had with that vile man in the alley, the one Zara had condemned away to nothing but a mutilated limb. Revan was now shielding Zara from Rubi¡¯s handsome manservant, or whatever he really was. For what reason could this be? The room¡¯s chatty noises drowned out their voices, and she was too far to hear them. He looks so protective. How chivalrous of him. How lucky for Zara. Saren was sure Revan had an idea of what the red shrew beside her was really up to. Unlike Zara, who seemed a little slow to catch on. She was slow in many things actually, now that Saren thought about it. What makes her so special over me? Cold envy struck her like a wind. Strong enough for Revan¡¯s sharp eyes to snap toward her for a long second, before Zara stole his attention away from her, once again. Sometimes, Saren swore he could actually hear her silent threats in his own mind. Given what he was, she wouldn¡¯t be fazed if that were the case. The Beauty in Power ¡°I don¡¯t believe I¡¯ve had the chance to introduce myself to you, personally. My name is Revan.¡± Rubi¡¯s servant, Emran, took Revan¡¯s outstretched hand in his, giving it a respectful shake. He cleared his throat, glancing from him to Zara. He was confused, more confused than he was a second ago, but that was normal. Better confused than coherent. ¡°Good to meet you, sir,¡± Emran said. ¡°You belong to her?¡± Revan scoffed. Cowering behind him, Zara frowned. ¡°No.¡± He sighed. ¡°I am her cousin.¡± ¡°Oh. Okay. Um, I didn¡¯t know she had a cousin.¡± ¡°Well, of course you didn¡¯t. How would you know a thing like that? You¡¯ve just met her.¡± The young man blinked, then shook his head rapidly as though he was trying to get something out of his healthy mass of hair. ¡°Oh. Right. Yeah. I¡¯m sorry about that. I just had a hunch we¡¯ve met somewhere and she never mentioned¡­but that¡¯s so silly. Never mind.¡± He laughed. ¡°I guess she¡¯s one of those girls, isn¡¯t she? It¡¯s not every day I¡¯m so impressed by one, but she¡¯s cute enough to stir a memory I don¡¯t even have.¡± Revan did not want to engage with this man any longer. He wanted his eyes to be off of Zara. Because the longer they stayed on her, the more he would recall about her. Zara, despite her heady infatuation, was damn well aware of this too. It was why she had reached out to him, lured him over with her magic when his back had been to her. He¡¯d be prouder of her if he wasn¡¯t so preoccupied with Emran. ¡°We¡¯ll be leaving then,¡± he said curtly, holding Zara¡¯s shoulder steady. ¡°It was nice meeting you. We appreciated you sharing your experience with us.¡± Emran lowered his head. ¡°Uh, yes. Yeah, Madam wants her to get dressed, doesn¡¯t she? Don¡¯t want to keep her waiting long.¡± He chuckled. ¡°She isn¡¯t always so patient. I guess I¡¯ll see you later¡­¡± His puppy eyes were seemingly still searching for her name. It was no business of his, at least not while he was in this dubious state. ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± Revan said, taking Zara¡¯s arm. But to his displeasure, she did not budge so easily. ¡°Wait! Wait, I need to¡ª¡± she stammered. ¡°I need to ask him something.¡± ¡°What?¡± Revan questioned through clenched teeth. A cold wave hit what felt like the inside of his skull. He immediately turned back to the source of such force. He was met with Saren¡¯s dark eyes digging into him like she wanted to extract his heart from his body. He understood well how she felt for him. In fact, at certain times, he found himself flattered. If he was a normal man, he would waste no time in pursuing her. But every time he looked at the woman and sensed desire pumping in her blood, he almost felt pity for her. She was nice in appearance and strong of mind. Vocal, resilient, daring, and optimistic, a woman like Saren could have made him happy¡­if he had been a century younger. But he could not bare his soul for her, or for anyone truly, anymore. She only had one use for him. Then she would be done for. Revan glared back at her, willing that she wipe the ugly jealousy off her face. Even if she liked him, he was still a little surprised that a woman her age would still be letting such childish emotions sway her judgment. How silly. But it wasn¡¯t just the jealousy that was the issue. Saren¡ªnow newly aware of the green gem¡¯s significance and its link to her identity¡ªhad apparently begun experimenting, casting wisps of power while she was fully cognizant. She was naturally perceptive, and had picked up on his ability to read others like a book. She was attempting to communicate with him, mind to mind, and shockingly he could feel bits of her message¡ªher warning essentially. The stone resting over her breast glowed as alluringly as her skin. It was a shame he could not communicate back to her the same way. She was not a mage. They were not the same. Weak as her ability was, it still managed to be a level above his own. What she had was real power. Power he wanted. Revan offered a quick nod of acknowledgment her way. There was no need for him to be cautious around these ¡°actors¡±, or of the Madam fiddling with Saren¡¯s flimsy wrap. He already figured out what this theater was, and what this show of theirs was really for. He glanced back at Emran, who now gazed at Saren with a sleazy glimmer in his eye. The crap that flowed in his soul¡­what Zara saw in this shameless creature of a man was beyond Revan¡¯s comprehension. This wasn¡¯t anything new of course. Revan was aware young women fell in love with cheap-hearted men all the time. But it was still exasperating; he supposed it always would be. With Zara, it was another case. She was his apprentice, the one with the most potential to be something by far, and it was frustrating to him how clueless she could be. Zara pulled his arm, like a child would her parent. ¡°What is it? Does it have to be now? He¡¯s sufficiently distracted,¡± he told her in a low voice. ¡°We shouldn¡¯t be around him while he¡¯s like this. And I don¡¯t want you blurting your name to him either.¡± Zara¡¯s face crumpled. ¡°I¡¯m not a fool, Revan, I wouldn¡¯t do that. But I don¡¯t understand. Ms. Rubi has already introduced us. So what is his problem? Why can you say your name, but I can¡¯t mine?¡± ¡°Because he doesn¡¯t know me as well as he knows you. He¡¯s only met me once.¡± ¡°What? He hardly knows me either!¡± ¡°But it seems you¡¯ve left enough of an impression on him anyway.¡± The slight glow to her face and heart was almost endearing. She hid a small smile, looking back towards the man she wished to call her lover, who was too busy gawking at Saren to even notice her. Innocent. Untouched. Her desire is pure. Revan shook his head, but continued, ¡°Just so you are aware, it is not too strong, given your weak association to him. He¡¯s only recollecting bits and pieces of you. However the longer he looks at you, speaks to you, that puzzle may come together eventually.¡± ¡°Would it really be so bad?¡± Zara asked indignantly. ¡°It¡¯s like you said. Our association is weak. He is not that significant. Also, he was never even at that party.¡± Revan immediately twisted her wrist. ¡°Ah!¡± she yelped. ¡°Do not be so mindless as to try and test it,¡± he growled. ¡°There is a reason I cast that spell to trickle over the entire fucking town, to everyone who has ever heard your name. This man that you are so unusually fond for may be duller than a pebble, but even he is capable of unraveling such a chain. Do you understand me?¡± This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. ¡°Okay, okay,¡± Zara gasped. When he let her go, she protested, ¡°He is not dull! You don¡¯t even know him.¡± ¡°I know enough. Now what is it that you wanted to ask of him?¡± She rubbed her wrist, scowling. ¡°I want to know who else from Pria is here. Who he traveled with and where that caravan is now. Where did the others go? If he knows, then I need¡­I need to know if¡ªif anyone important is here.¡± ¡°Important. Like your family?¡± Zara did not respond. She didn¡¯t need to. The question was one he already had the answer to. ¡°What good will that do, my dear?¡± he asked, softening his tone. She shrugged uncomfortably. ¡°I¡¯ll pry it out of him as well as I can,¡± he conceded. ¡°I suggest you not be here.¡± He nudged his head toward Rubi and Saren. ¡°Best head over to them, before she drags you back by force.¡± ¡°Why should I?¡± Zara burst out, upset. ¡°I don¡¯t want to do this. I don¡¯t want to be on a stage, dancing or whatever, again. I can¡¯t believe you¡¯re okay with letting it happen! And my mag¡ªI mean, my mind,¡± she spoke lowly after almost blaring out loud the secret that would doom her, ¡°my heart, my body¡ªit¡¯s all unstable, especially right now due to reasons I refuse to say out loud, but I know you know the reason¡ª¡± And he did. ¡°¡ªand you know very well what that could mean. After what happened last time, I¡¯m surprised you¡¯re not fighting to keep me away from this shit.¡± ¡°Your mind and body are always unstable, dear. Now is not so different.¡± She smacked his arm lightly. ¡°Now is not the time to joke.¡± Revan blew a chuckle. ¡°I¡¯m hardly joking.¡± ¡°Revan, why aren¡¯t you telling Ms. Rubi no?¡± ¡°Because this presents a wonderful teaching opportunity for me.¡± Zara¡¯s eyes rounded. ¡°What are you saying?¡± He edged closer to her, lifting her chin further up to him. ¡°Your mind might be unstable and reckless. Sometimes outright stupid even.¡± Zara bristled. ¡°But it is also magnificent. A kind of mind I have not witnessed in a long, long while. As always, I want to see more of it.¡± ¡°Does this mean you aren¡¯t mad about¡­the thief? Or even the whale?¡± she whispered. Revan pressed his lips in a smile. ¡°Yes, I was mad. That damned whale almost threw out my sense of direction under the sea.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± He shook his head. After his ordeal with Dayana and witnessing those confusing visions, he¡¯d been swimming hurriedly back to the main shore¡ªin Sorko form¡ªhoping to intervene in whatever danger Zara and Saren had been about to fall into, when that incredible incident had occurred. The force of the whale¡¯s transformation and subsequent behavior¡ªrising from the depths in a rapid, excited pace¡ªhad flung him back and disoriented him. Zara¡¯s magic had been painted all over it. Its size had been bigger than it normally would be¡ªalso a trait of Zara¡¯s magic¡ªand seemed like it had been trying to communicate with her, and she with it. And then there was the lurking predator she¡¯d apparently put an end to. Revan knew that man would turn up somewhere someday. What foul-ups she¡¯d created, causing scene after scene. This would not do, should the wrong people catch on to such suspicious occurrences. Any threat of magical activities would be hunted and eliminated. Zara was still at the lower stages. She¡¯d succumb easily if she were caught¡­ But in no way was Revan willing to let it happen. Through all the painfully slow training they¡¯d gone through over the past year, she¡¯d overcome a lot. Her gradual progress was good and steady. If she could just now overcome this hurdle, this irritating timidness that constantly threw off her internal balance, it would be a huge step forward for her, and more importantly, for himself. ¡°The man you wiped away is an issue to be discussed another day. What happened at sea proves once again your gift. A connection with this world and its natural life,¡± he explained, resting his hands over her shoulders. ¡°Yes, yes,¡± Zara replied, a bit impatiently. ¡°You¡¯ve said that.¡± ¡°The whale. Did it speak to you?¡± Her brows drew together as she thought seriously about it. ¡°Um¡­I¡¯m not sure.¡± ¡°Not necessarily by speech I mean, but through a feeling? Did you feel anything from it?¡± Zara nodded slowly, her eyes staring off ahead as she recollected. ¡°Yes. It¡ªHe acknowledged me. It almost felt like a greeting¡­of sorts.¡± Revan smiled in understanding. ¡°You¡¯ll get better at this. But you need to be stronger, dear. What happened today, all of it, caused quite a stir among the locals. Among me, and a certain old acquaintance, especially.¡± Zara regarded him suspiciously. ¡°Were you shopping for cloth with this old acquaintance that you never mentioned before now?¡± He wasn¡¯t going to mention it. He hadn¡¯t known what Dayana had wanted from him before meeting her. Now, her meeting Zara one of these days was inevitable. ¡°What are we really here for, Revan?¡± Zara asked. ¡°Why did you bring us here?¡± Revan didn¡¯t need to bring the women. But he didn¡¯t want to leave Zara and Saren by themselves for two nights without him there. A worthless concern, because she had done the thing he¡¯d been afraid she would do in front of Saren anyway. He coolly studied her dark-eyed glare¡ªexpectant of a legitimate answer. It strangely appealed to him as much as the vision of her in red and white appealed to him. He ignored her question for now. ¡°I¡¯ve changed my mind. I want you on that stage now. It is not a significant role anyway as you¡¯ll be in the background this time, rather than front and center. But I want you to listen to me. Really listen. If you do that, and you do it right, you¡¯ll prevail over one of your greatest weaknesses yet.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t understand¡­¡± He ran his fingers lazily through her hair, unable to help himself. The more he thought of the visions, the more he realized why he was so drawn to her. ¡°On rare occasion, you remind me much of Aryaram,¡± he muttered wistfully. ¡°There is beauty in your power, but destruction may be your downfall.¡± Zara scrunched her face, offended. ¡°What are you talking about? Who is Aryaram? Your stupid acquaintance?¡± ¡°No. He was a demon.¡± Zara jerked away from him, displeased. Slightly amused, he was ready to take her next blast of wounded interrogation until they were sorely interrupted. ¡°You!¡± Rubi¡¯s raspy shriek nearly blew out Revan¡¯s ear as she scurried over to them. The older woman grabbed Zara¡¯s wrist. ¡°Why in all hells are you still fucking standing here? Your friend is nearly ready. It¡¯s your turn, girl! Join us in the back room. You can have a small bite to eat in there, and only in there, and then one of my dancers will train you on what to do.¡± She jerked Zara¡¯s wrist scornfully. ¡°I cannot believe you, really! Puttering about, chatting like a total dunce! Do you not have any consideration for the one providing you this opportunity? The opportunity you so apparently wanted since you got here?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t really¡ª¡± Zara trailed off, looking to Revan desperately. But he just waved her off. ¡°Get on with it then,¡± he said. ¡°I¡¯ll see you back there in a bit. After I¡¯ve done you the favor you asked.¡± After a moment¡¯s reluctance in which she realized she didn¡¯t stand a chance against Rubi¡¯s overbearing insistence, Zara sighed. She looked at Emran once more, who had since gotten bored once Saren left his sight and had wandered off to a floor length mirror by the wall. He adjusted his hair with a comb, satisfied by its clean, tousled appearance. ¡°I wonder,¡± Zara mumbled, ¡°if Cina came with him too¡ª¡± She finally let herself be violently led away. Revan took a deep breath. He¡¯d find that out for her too. It was something he couldn¡¯t help but wonder himself, among other things, like the state of that town before Emran chose to leave it. He walked up to the younger man, who was still eyeing himself in the mirror. His body had a nice sheen to it, like he¡¯d just lathered on some oil. Revan cleared his throat. ¡°Oh,¡± Emran said, turning around. ¡°It¡¯s you again. Revan, was it? Can I help you with something, sir?¡± Revan grinned like a friendly man. ¡°There¡¯s not much to do while I wait. I¡¯d like to chat with you.¡± ¡°Oh yeah?¡± Emran glanced behind him. ¡°Where¡¯d the girl go?¡± ¡°Which one?¡± Emran shrugged, his lips quirking slyly. ¡°Either one.¡± Revan chuckled. ¡°They are in the back room, preparing for the show. So it is just you and I. If you are not too busy that is.¡± ¡°No, we have time. Are you with Madam tonight? You two seemed close.¡± ¡°Yes. We have gotten quite close. I respect her and her business after all,¡± Revan lied. Emran raised a brow. ¡°Oh? Are you a seller too? Is that why those girls are here?¡± ¡°They are not for sale.¡± ¡°Then¡­are you a buyer? Is that you want me for? Because I¡¯m gonna have to turn you down. I only take sales from¡ª¡± ¡°No,¡± Revan said harshly, dropping the smile. Emran flinched, taken aback. ¡°O¡­kay.¡± ¡°You strike me as interesting man, Emran. Your background interests me the most, really. Tell me more about your life in your hometown, and how it was before you moved. Tell me about what made you leave, the people you came with, and what ultimately led you into this shameless dump you call a ¡®theater¡¯.¡± The man naturally hesitated. ¡°Who¡¯s asking?¡± ¡°I am asking. Do remember that your Madam and I are closely acquainted. If you refuse to answer, I will ensure you do not walk on that ¡®stage¡¯, or any other stage, again. So talk.¡± Emran obeyed, swallowing nervously before he spoke. A Desire to Burn When Zara entered the back room, Saren was sitting by a table crowded with light snacks and a jug of water on the side, and speaking with a little girl likely no older than ten years of age. Her short, brunette hair had been painted with red stripes, and she was wearing a cute short silk dress. ¡°You even worked in the snow?¡± the girl said with a musical accent that displayed her southern heritage. It reminded Zara of Revan¡¯s, however, this girl¡¯s tone was lighter, like a wisp of a language long gone. Her heavily kohl lined eyes were wide with awe, and her red-lipped smile expressed fascination at whatever tale Saren had been telling her. She was wearing a small crown on her head and her forehead was painted haphazardly with various religious symbols. ¡°Yes, there is no avoiding it,¡± Saren replied, biting into a dried fish. ¡°Mm. My home is a snowy, snowy place. It gets a little better in the summer seasons but the ice refuses to melt until late in the spring. Food like this is what we would eat throughout the day, especially as we worked.¡± She waved the piece of fish. ¡°It provides a lot of nourishment and energy. You should not be so picky, and have a bite.¡± She teasingly held a piece of the fish to the girl¡¯s face, but she scrunched her nose and leaned back, giggling. There was another woman here, sorting through deep orange fabric Zara assumed was for her. Zara could only see the back of the woman¡¯s head. Her long mousy hair was braided down and she was in a sleek blouse and trousers that did not match the abundant energy from the other costumes. ¡°Jiyara only likes to eat sweets,¡± the woman said smoothly. Her voice was definitely native to Darhai. ¡°I am surprised she is not fatter already.¡± The little girl¡ªJiyara¡ªpouted. ¡°I want to see the snow.¡± The woman sighed, now arranging the jewelry next to the fabric. ¡°I do not see how you ever can.¡± ¡°Why not?¡± ¡°Jiya, I don¡¯t have time to explain to you how¡ª¡± The woman had turned and noticed Zara still standing by the door, where Rubi had forcefully dropped her off. Her face was rather plain, and while she was pretty, she had an aged look to her. Her body seemed slim and toned, like that of an active dancer. ¡°There you are,¡± she spoke curtly. ¡°You must be the other new girl I¡¯ve been waiting so patiently for.¡± Zara stepped forward to introduce herself. ¡°Hello. I¡¯m¡ª¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care. Take your clothes off.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± The woman held up the orange-hued fabric. ¡°We need to get you into this. So get to it. Everything needs to come off.¡± She nudged her chin toward Saren. ¡°If you wish, you can have a bite before I begin teaching you two the routine.¡± ¡°The selection is impressive,¡± Saren informed her. ¡°It¡¯s nice, and not at all heavy.¡± The woman smirked. ¡°Of course not. We cannot have bloated stomachs on display now, can we?¡± Zara eyed the assortment of dried meats and fish, nuts, assorted fruit, mint, fennel, and raw vegetables paired with a dipping sauce. Her stomach growled lowly. She hadn¡¯t had anything to eat in hours. She could eat grit if that was all there was. ¡°Hello.¡± Zara had not realized little Jiyara stood in front of her with a small smile of welcome. Zara relaxed. The girl seemed shyer. She was very cute. ¡°Hello,¡± she said back. ¡°You are Jiyara?¡± The girl nodded. ¡°I am Zara.¡± ¡°Zara¡­.I think I had a sister with that name. She was older than me.¡± She giggled. ¡°You look a little like her.¡± ¡°Her name was Zaira, girl,¡± the woman told her curtly. ¡°It¡¯s all too common a name. Now get out of the way.¡± Zara found it odd that the girl would remember she had a sister, but not of her name. It seemed they¡¯d been apart from each other long enough for the youngster to almost forget about her. How sad. Zara ignored the woman¡¯s rudeness, choosing instead to ask the little one, ¡°And where is your sister now?¡± ¡°Gone,¡± Jiyara said bluntly, shrugging her petite shoulders. ¡°Gone?¡± ¡°That¡¯s what everyone keeps telling me.¡± The woman interrupted. ¡°She became too ill to work. Caught it from one of the clients. That¡¯s why we finally got little Jiya here to take her place last year. She¡¯s too young to remember much of the past but here she is. Like you, she¡¯ll be dancing for the first time tonight.¡± Saren sucked on a piece of salted fish skin, eyeing Zara with an expression she couldn¡¯t understand. Even stranger, when Zara tried getting a read on her, she came up blank. Saren smirked, like she knew what Zara had been trying to do, and was mocking her failed attempt. Suddenly, Zara felt a tug on her trousers. The woman¡ªwhose name she still did not know¡ªwas by her side, glaring. Her eyes, though dark, had specks of brown in them. ¡°If you don¡¯t get this off, I¡¯ll get it off for you. Madam does not like her girls dawdling. And you, it seems, are a dawdler.¡± The woman scanned her body critically, her fists clenching into the trouser¡¯s fabric. ¡°I have yet to see for myself what she¡¯s seen in you. I guess that won¡¯t be a mystery for long. I cannot believe you came here wearing such a dreadfully boring thing.¡± Well, it wasn¡¯t as though the woman herself was wearing anything special either, but Zara was polite enough to not comment. Then again, she had a feeling that even if she weren¡¯t so polite, disrespecting one of Rubi¡¯s workers was not going to go over very well. When Zara felt her trousers be yanked down further, she stopped the woman from handling it further. ¡°Wait!¡± she said, looking at the girl in front of them. ¡°Is there anywhere more private?¡± The woman scoffed. ¡°What? Suddenly shy? Don¡¯t tell me you haven¡¯t been naked with other women in the room, in this line of work?¡± What? ¡°Um, no but¡­¡± Zara stalled, glancing at Saren. It wasn¡¯t that she couldn¡¯t undress in front of other women. She used to be bathed and changed by maids back home, and she had bathed with one today. But Jiyara was a little girl, and she was right there. It would be too weird for Zara, even if everyone else was apparently as used to it as the crude woman behind her. There was also the issue of her blood, which she didn¡¯t want the girl to see. To Zara¡¯s bewilderment, Jiyara spoke up with a smile, ¡°Can I help?¡± ¡°Sure,¡± the woman said. ¡°You take her trousers, I¡¯ll get her out of this.¡± Then she yanked Zara¡¯s top, along with the slip she had on underneath, right up over her head. Zara protested in panic, calling Saren for help until she heard her friend burst into laughter. ¡°Toughen up, Zara. I had the same done to me,¡± she said. ¡°But I suggest you go easy on her Muni. She¡¯s started her blood cycle today.¡± A miffed Zara watched as Saren easily swallowed two more grapes before walking over. Jiyara had Zara¡¯s trousers in her grip, tugged down only a bit before hearing the mention of blood. ¡°It¡¯s no matter,¡± the woman¡ªMuni¡ªsaid. ¡°Jiyara, step away then. And all devils you giant, haven¡¯t you had your fill?¡± Saren grinned. She had finished off a good chunk of the meats on the table, and part of the fruit bowl. ¡°All I¡¯ve felt missing was a bit of blubber. Seal, preferably. Have you ever had some?¡± Zara was left with little choice but to let the women clean and change her while in the midst of some pointless conversation. Jiyara just watched curiously, her expression riddled with a mix of interest and worry when bloody rags were tossed aside. Zara wondered why they wouldn¡¯t just send the girl out the door. She was too young to be exposed to such things. Zara had not learned of a woman¡¯s cycle until she had it for herself. Perhaps things of this nature were different to city girls. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about her,¡± Muni said, deftly wrapping Zara¡¯s hair in a low bun to get it out of the way. ¡°She knows what this is. As much as we explain it to be every woman¡¯s fate, as it will be hers in a few more years, she still fears it.¡± The thin silk fabric had covered her rather quickly after that, and Zara felt much better. Fresher too, since Saren had wiped her body down with a floral scented cloth, similar to the scent she had on her own body. Muni finished tying the dress, then ordered Jiyara to fetch the cosmetics. The little girl knocked over a jar of paint onto the vanity, causing Muni to shriek and stomp away to do some scolding. In the meantime, Saren slipped a grape into Zara¡¯s mouth; she was famished and her stomach had been rumbling loud enough for all ears. Saren adjusted Zara¡¯s necklace, and Zara noticed the green gem¡¯s glowing hue on Saren¡¯s chest. She looked up at the taller woman again curiously, once again trying to read her. It was all too apparent that this upscale event was hiding something¡­or rather it wasn¡¯t hiding anything; it was just Zara who could not see it for what it was. Saren smiled plainly. ¡°Have you figured it out?¡± ¡°What is that supposed to mean?¡± Zara replied lowly. ¡°And how are you doing that?¡± ¡°Doing what?¡± ¡°You know what. You were smug about it earlier and here you are, smug again.¡± Saren had just discovered magic to be alive and kicking to this day, and that she had some sort of enchanted forces within her as well. So how the fuck was she blocking Zara out within a few hours of discovery, when Zara had taken a year to even attempt something of that level? And still she was not that good at it¡ªat least not up against someone like Revan, her only person to practice against. The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. Saren pressed her red lips together tightly. ¡°I will be honest with you, I don¡¯t know what I am really doing. I¡¯ve suspected all my life to be different. Now that it is confirmed¡­I have become more aware of myself and my influence on things¡­and the things trying to influence me.¡± Her tone, soft as it was, had hardened. Her fingers ran smoothly over Zara¡¯s dress, adjusting it be lower, similar to hers. ¡°Perhaps I should tell Muni to tighten it,¡± Saren commented. ¡°To keep your breasts together. Have it looking more like mine and some of the other women I¡¯ve seen tonight.¡± Taking a deep breath, Zara looked back to see what was taking Muni so long. The woman was hurriedly clearing off the mess that had fallen onto the cosmetics she planned to use right now, and she was still griping with Jiyara about it. It was then, with Jiyara¡¯s back fully visible, Zara noticed a painted number on her. The number twenty-three to be precise. Zara¡¯s gut lurched. ¡°It is similar to livestock, no?¡± Saren said smoothly. ¡°I have worked in farms back home, have seen more in my travels south. They are all the same. They are all tagged and marked in some fashion.¡± She turned around so Zara could see her number: fifty-three. Saren turned back to face her closely. Muni and Jiyara would be crossing the room soon. ¡°You have been rather cold to me tonight,¡± Saren whispered quickly. ¡°In spite of everything, and how I¡¯ve treated you. You have suddenly turned an ill cheek. However, I will still protect you. I will not let your secrets nor your body be revealed to anyone, nor your obvious chastity destroyed.¡± Zara had a lot to process, but all she could ask was, ¡°Why?¡± Saren narrowed her gaze. ¡°I¡¯d like to think we are still friends. Even if we are no longer, it is simply in my nature to protect.¡± Muni yanked Zara around suddenly enough for Zara to almost stumble over herself. Her face was quickly slapped with paint, and her hair was let down, coated in a balm and scrunched for texture. ¡°You seem so nervous girl,¡± Muni said, chuckling. ¡°Is this your first night, ever?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t feel well,¡± Zara mumbled. ¡°This is a bad idea.¡± ¡°Hm. I can now see the appeal. You have that pure, troubled look about you. Some of our clients crave it.¡± Saren rubbed her shoulder to ease her, though it didn¡¯t help much. She offered Zara a piece of salted dried beef strip, but now she was no longer hungry. ¡°It¡¯s for the best,¡± Muni remarked, glaring at Zara¡¯s stomach. ¡°You have a bit of a bloat already. Any more will be unbecoming. Jiya, pass me the red paint.¡± Fifty-four marked Zara¡¯s back, in red. An obvious contrast to Saren and Jiyara¡¯s black stamps. ¡°I think it¡¯s so they are aware you are¡­¡± Saren nodded toward Zara¡¯s lower half pointedly, leaving Zara to fill in the blanks. ¡°Alright,¡± Muni said. ¡°Take a quick glance in the mirror. I know you want to. Then I will show you the steps. Jiya, please, get away from the table and position yourself. Get Zara here a glass of water though while you are there.¡± The reflection that looked back at Zara did not feel like hers. She was done up, but it wasn¡¯t pretty. At least not to her. Her makeup felt garish and sloppy. Her lips were too bright of a red, as were her cheeks. Her hair looked like she¡¯d just risen out of bed¡­but that was probably the point. The orange fabric hugged her body, and her jewelry and side-hair pieces looked both fancy and tacky at once. Muni informed them they¡¯d be wearing anklets soon. The second act was going to be surrounding lovers¡¯ quarrels, and they will be part of the third song as backup dancers. ¡°You will carry yourself onto the platform like you are upper-scale ladies,¡± Muni explained, ¡°and then when you hear the flute, you sink down, like so.¡± She showed them three times, and it really was not challenging at all. Zara was more nervous about the audience now than her own performance. She needed to calm down, so when she found the chance for a break, she left the smaller room. She immediately ran into Revan. The main area had emptied significantly, though there were still people waiting for their turn to enter the stage. There was a large door on the opposite wall that had finally been opened, though the view was obscured by curtains. Zara could hear the audience clapping and laughing. The music was boisterous. This was not how Zara imagined her first in-city performance to be. It was beyond pitiful, and standing in front of Revan now, she felt like she wanted to cry, but didn¡¯t. ¡°Where is he?¡± she croaked, speaking of Emran. Revan understood. ¡°He went outside for a smoke. Our talk took a lot out of him it seems. I am sure if you walk a few steps further, you¡¯ll smell it.¡± ¡°What did he say?¡± Zara asked directly. ¡°Well, he¡¯s traveled with his cousin¡­¡± He took in a breath. ¡°¡­and your brother. Though he is unaware of his whereabouts. The yellow hair is dwelling elsewhere in the city and is not present here.¡± Zara¡¯s throat constricted. Cina was near, though how near was another question. Even more pressing was the matter of her family. ¡°Which brother?¡± she said shakily. ¡°The younger. He has no recollection of meeting the eldest; he didn¡¯t even recognize the name when I brought it up. I assumed as such, since Nazeer¡¯s home is in Darhai anyway. He probably left long before the conflict began.¡± Another matter Zara was curious to learn more about. She read about it in papers, heard stories through neighboring gossip, but hearing it from a direct source was more intriguing. She would get to that, but her mind was jumping from the fact that Rowan was somewhere out there. Who else had accompanied them? This made her ill with dread, even though she wasn¡¯t even being forced to meet with anyone again anytime soon. ¡°What about my family then? The rest of them?¡± ¡°It had just been Rowan. Your parents have been taken in by officials.¡± ¡°¡­.Why? Their beliefs coincide with the town¡¯s majority.¡± When she thought about it, even Rowan and Emran running away made little sense to her. Their religion was the dominant one, and the damn hack witch doctor Uqzar was Emran¡¯s uncle. It was their people that had been attacking the ¡°outsiders¡±. Outsiders that had once been welcomed akin to family for generations. Now they were being tossed, starved, jailed, and burned. ¡°It¡¯s a complicated situation,¡± Revan explained. ¡°Many were concerned that the town has been cursed with evil due to the boy¡¯s death ceremony. Emran¡¯s family has been questioned on their true allegiance to the Mother¡­and whether his uncle is really of any ¡®holy¡¯ spirit as he¡¯s claimed to be.¡± ¡°There¡¯s an easy answer for that,¡± Zara grumbled. ¡°I know. Though the interrogation hadn¡¯t lasted very long, there were still suspicions of black magic wielding at play. Which of course there was. Just not by him.¡± ¡°So Emran¡¯s people left because the people have turned against them too?¡± ¡°It is that, and they were associated with your family. Your family is the biggest target in that place, and they¡¯ve been arrested for it. That is cause enough.¡± Revan scoffed. ¡°Emran feels there is something he is missing amid all of this. He doesn¡¯t even know what your family has done to deserve such a thing, as he is only associated with your young brother. His cousin has felt the same, and he doesn¡¯t even understand why.¡± He chuckled. ¡°It¡¯s a good sign. They¡¯ve truly forgotten you.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not funny,¡± Zara snapped, her heart pounding. She didn¡¯t know why she cared. She hated her family, but she still wanted to know more details of their fates anyway. Particularly of her mother. Leyli¡¯s kind face flashed in her mind. It was through memory alone that Zara could pick up the scent of her mother¡¯s perfume, her warm voice, and her cushy embraces when Zara had been nothing more to her than a pure child. Her neck felt like it was swelling. It was difficult to breathe, and she knew that she was being ridiculous. ¡°Sometimes¡­I wish you¡¯d been born a different person.¡± It was one of the last things Zara remembered her saying. At the end of it all, she had turned out to be a disappointment for the woman who had birthed her. ¡°So he really has no idea where Rowan could be?¡± she insisted. ¡°He doesn¡¯t know that,¡± Revan repeated. ¡°How can he not know? You just said he traveled with him. They are¡ªwere¡ªsort of friends, I guess. So, what, he never asked him where he planned to go?¡± Revan shrugged. ¡°He¡¯s been out of touch with the caravan, even when he was on it. Truthfully, this is typical for a man like him. Besides his cousin and his own mother, he doesn¡¯t know where anyone else has scattered. He is more concerned with starting a new life for himself. That is all I can tell you about that.¡± Zara felt frustrated. She wanted to lie down and forget this whole night. ¡°You look¡­¡± Revan studied her, his eyes squinted playfully. ¡°Ravishing. Very much the part you¡¯re meant to play¡ª¡± ¡°Just stop,¡± she hissed. He laughed. ¡°Are you ready?¡± ¡°No, of course not.¡± ¡°You have nothing to fear. I will be here, always. Just think of this as one of your dreams finally coming true.¡± Zara clenched her jaw. ¡°Dream? My dream? No. No, this crap is not my dream. This is not real. I just want to leave this¡­this glorified brothel. Revan¡­can¡¯t we? Can¡¯t we just go? What is the matter with you, having us stay?¡± ¡°You¡¯ve realized what Rubi is now. She won¡¯t let us leave so easily.¡± ¡°So what? We have you.¡± Zara chuckled harshly. ¡°But no. You want to see me ¡®dance¡¯. Dancing your way. Dancing to your sick fascination. You say this is to help me overcome something. But I don¡¯t think so. This is yet another time that I don¡¯t know what you really want. All I know is that it¡¯s all just for you. Everything is all about you. One day, I may kill you.¡± Revan smiled flatly. ¡°Of course you will, dear. I will simply wait for that day.¡± Zara marched past him as best as she could, stupidly wrapped as she was, taking care not to push past some of the children that were standing near the hall by the exit. Children. Jiyara¡¯s age, some older and some younger. There are children here¡­all numbered¡­ She raced outside and gagged. The stench of whatever it was Emran was smoking was nasty. ¡°Hey,¡± he said, leaning against a wall, his eyes glazed. There was not a hint of bewilderment or wonder in him like before. He was out of his mind, and for once, Zara was perfectly fine with that. ¡°What¡¯re you doing out here, girl?¡± He¡¯d been more careful with his tone when Rubi had been around¡ªnot exactly formal, but not too relaxed either. Now he was so relaxed Zara almost didn¡¯t recognize him as the man from earlier. Just the ill-using addict from the red-light bar. Her addict, the one she¡¯d taken a liking to somehow. It was familiar. Comforting. Like being back home. ¡°Damn¡­¡± he whispered in a smoky breath. ¡°You are quite the doll.¡± Feeling brave, and more willing to get into the ¡°character¡± she¡¯d been thrust into, Zara sauntered right up to the man. ¡°What are you¡ª¡± He was cut off by Zara¡¯s fingers tracing over his hand, leading the small pipe he held into her own mouth to inhale it. Because fuck it. Fuck everything right now. She was playing the whore, and she¡¯d commit to the part. This was something whores would do, wasn¡¯t it? Besides, she had read something like this in a play once last year. It was a bold thing for a meek woman like her to do. What a time to feel inspired. The smoke from the pipe burned her lungs and throat. She coughed, regretting her decision. The taste made her heave. It was like inhaling a stranger¡¯s vomit. She couldn¡¯t see the appeal of this at all. Emran laughed. ¡°What are ya trying to do, silly doll?¡± He pressed his thumb over her cheek, where tears from her coughing fit had fallen. He dragged it down over her lips, brushing over the red makeup and likely smearing it. It didn¡¯t matter to Zara. She was so close to him. This was the first time she¡¯d been like this, in this sort of situation, with any man. It was something out of one of her wildest dreams. The substance was taking effect. Zara¡¯s vision blurred, and her head was woozy in a pleasant way. She had her wits about her still, but she was also willing to smile more than she should, given how Emran had dropped his pipe and backed her against the wall. When he kissed her, Zara¡¯s spirits rose to great heights. Her stomach bounced and her heart beat with joy. She felt like she was living a strange romantic tale. The fire on the sconces burned brighter. The pebbles on the ground shook with elation. The grass waved with the wind in celebration. Emran shuddered against her mouth. He tasted like shit, but she powered through it, for him. She had no idea how to move her lips or tongue so she followed his lead. She willed him to touch her further, and he did. Hell, she probably didn¡¯t even need to. Zara was aware of his indecent nature; he would have done it regardless. The dress unraveled a bit when Emran forcefully lifted it up. In her murky state, Zara hadn¡¯t told him of her current condition. He hadn¡¯t even noticed that the number on her back was done in red instead of the usual black, which would have given it away to a man familiar with this business. The first touch of his hand on her was electrifying. The breeze over her bare nipple thrilled her. There was no space in her mind for shame, committing such acts without a curtain of privacy. She was not concerned about the uncertainty in her heart. She only cared what her body desired. In the span of minutes, she had become the most shameless version of herself. He pressed his mouth over her again. ¡°You¡¯re slippery,¡± he grunted. ¡°What are you wearing here?¡± Her dress had slipped down a part of her upper half, but still covered the rest of her body. Emran had not seen the girdle around her waist, but he was feeling it now. He had expected her to be fully nude. So when it finally registered for him, he pulled his dirtied hand back. ¡°Oh¡­¡± he mumbled. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you say something?¡± Because Zara was not herself right now. Instead of cowering in mortification, she was laughing as she watched the blood seep into his fingertips. An abnormal desire engulfed her and she wrapped her arms around his neck and began whispering into his ear. He listened to her attentively, just as the man in the alley had listened to her so attentively. After she was done, permitting him one more lasting kiss, he grabbed the nearest torch from the wall, and began walking towards the back of the stage building in a dazed state, his fingers still a gloppy mess. Over the past few months, she had learned enough about blood magic to know its influence over life and death, and the sex she craved¡ªwhich was men. She wanted this stage to burn. With this man¡¯s help, she would soon get her wish. On With the Show By the time Revan came outside searching for Zara, Emran had been gone for a good five minutes. In that time, Zara¡¯s attempts at fixing the wrapping of her dress was proving futile. Many times, the cloth slipped down to reveal her full chest, but she was too dizzy to really give it much thought. ¡°What in the fucking devil is it that you are doing, woman?¡± Revan grounded out, marching toward her. Holding the cloth up to her chest, she could only whimper, leaning against the wall. When she saw the fury on his face, an urge to smile made her lips quirk. Revan¡¯s eyes trailed down her sloppily-garbed figure to the pipe Emran had left strewn on the dirt near her feet. The next thing Zara knew, her cheek was smacked red. She cried out, the tiny smirk having effectively been swiped off her. ¡°Oh my¡­¡± a woman¡¯s soft voice whispered. A couple of young women had come around the corner of the stage, holding hands. They were guests, and they seemed drunk. Zara had not even heard them approaching. ¡°A lover¡¯s quarrel, likely,¡± the other woman spoke. ¡°The whore¡¯s obviously pissed him off. Best not interrupt.¡± They left the way they came, and Zara wanted to plead with them to stay. Revan¡¯s vexation was quite unbearable to her already blooming headache. She wasn¡¯t sure he could keep his temper in check if they were left alone, and it was clear he wanted to hit her again, but was refraining to. ¡°What do you think you are doing?¡± he said firmly. ¡°I told you not to take anything.¡± ¡°Y-You told me not to drink,¡± she mumbled. ¡°I didn¡¯t. I just¡­took one tiny whiff off Emran¡¯s pipe.¡± ¡°You shouldn¡¯t have done that either.¡± ¡°¡­Will I die?¡± His breath came out long and annoyed. ¡°No. You are lucky it was not alcohol. It would not have interacted well with the potion I gave you. This is not good for you either, but if it was truly just a tiny whiff then it will wear off soon. Are you unwell?¡± ¡°I¡­think so. I¡¯m starting to feel that way.¡± He yanked her ear hard. ¡°Good!¡± ¡°Ow!¡± ¡°You once so strongly expressed that you¡¯d never touch these things. Now look at you. One puff and you¡¯re on the wall. You deserve it. For your own stupid hypocrisy.¡± He let her go. ¡°Where is Emran?¡± He looked around, then his brow rose up in realization. ¡°You¡¯re making him do something.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not making him. I simply suggested it¡ª¡± Revan forcefully lifted Zara¡¯s clothes and haphazardly arranged them around her to be more modest. He then pulled her, roughly by her hair, back inside the building. ¡°I know,¡± he said in a patronizing tone. ¡°You¡¯ve been playing around with your special magic all day haven¡¯t you?¡± Zara whined at the pain the hair-pulling was causing her skull. Thankfully the main room had emptied out and there was no one nearby to see or hear this. ¡°Have you resorted to wanton degeneracy then? The very degeneracy that you despise? That plagues much of this city?¡± he asked as he strode along without a care of her cries. ¡°I understand. An easy option to get any man to do as you please.¡± Revan turned around, finally letting go of Zara¡¯s hair. He leaned in close to her to whisper. ¡°How did he come into contact with you? Have you let him fuck you already?¡± Zara gritted her teeth. ¡°No.¡± ¡°¡­But he¡¯s touched you enough, hasn¡¯t he?¡± Her voice went quiet. ¡°A little.¡± ¡°What were you thinking?¡± ¡°¡­I¡¯m not sure. I just hate this place. They¡¯ve¡­it¡¯s a mockery. It¡¯s a mockery of art. Of what I love. And these poor children¡­I just hate this. And I want it all gone.¡± Revan scoffed. ¡°How noble of you.¡± ¡°You will never understand, you heartless beast.¡± ¡°Oh you don¡¯t believe I understand?¡± He jerked her hair back again, so her teary face tilted up at him. ¡°You don¡¯t believe I understand this life? A life I¡¯ve lived through, being taken and sold and beaten and used, you don¡¯t think I understand that?¡± Zara¡¯s lip trembled stubbornly. He sneered. ¡°We may share many people¡¯s painful experiences. But we are not one of them. You need to understand that. The sooner you do, the sooner you will be at peace with yourself.¡± ¡°What does that mean?¡± Zara questioned indignantly. ¡°These people¡­these kids¡­they don¡¯t matter?¡± Revan shook his head. ¡°Do not make the same mistake you¡¯ve made with the boy in Pria. Your sympathy will go to waste. Do not forget the history I¡¯ve been teaching you. It has always been us against them. You may want to aid them as their fellows, but despite it all, they will see no issue in taking your life away. Taking the ones you have loved away. And as your flesh burns and melts off your bone, as the stones and rocks rain down on your head, as your shackled body is chopped to pieces, they will not remember your friendship. They will not remember a single kindness you¡¯ve ever done for them.¡± Her heart felt like it was being ripped slowly in different directions, each yank causing a bigger tear in her conscience. He may be right, but a part of her did not want to believe it, even though she should. She was of Revan¡¯s kind. She¡¯d just spoken out of line with him, disregarding all he had experienced, and he¡¯d made her into a fool for it. But it just felt so isolating. Just she and Revan against this world. Against a world where innocents like Yohid and Jiyara were made to suffer. And according to Revan¡ªa man who also experienced similar hardships and terrors at their age¡ªthey deserved to suffer. She didn¡¯t like it; she felt it was wrong. But what could be done about it? Revan released his grip, moving it to her hand instead. ¡°Were you this provocative with the Madam¡¯s brother as well?¡± The Madam¡¯s brother. That was the twisted familiarity rolling through her the minute she¡¯d laid eyes on Rubi. Of course. Same stature, same eyes, similar cocky tone¡ªthough Rubi was more professional about it¡ªand most of all, the same foreboding presence. Zara and Saren had walked right into their domain as soon as they had stepped into the market zone. That soulless, desolate neighborhood they¡¯d passed before ducking into the alley beyond this stage was for¡­what, exactly? The paying customers here? Was it designed for the workers to take shelter after their hours were complete? Or was it reserved for something more sinister? The wheels began to turn rapidly in Zara¡¯s muddled brain. Revan tugged her hand down to bring her attention back to him. ¡°Were you?¡± he asked again, firmly. ¡°No,¡± Zara denied. ¡°That is not entirely truthful, is it?¡± ¡°It wasn¡¯t like that.¡± Revan nodded sardonically. ¡°Right. I saw it¡­well, bits of it.¡± Zara scrunched her face. ¡°Enjoyed the show through your Mirror did you?¡± His grip on her hand was like a clamp. ¡°Your eyes, Zara,¡± he whispered. ¡°Both times. With that man you¡¯ve vanished, and with Emran. I caught a glimpse when I went out to retrieve you just now. They were as crimson as the blood flowing between your legs.¡± Ugh. How lewd. Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation. Her humiliation and anger rose quickly. ¡°Calm. Down,¡± he said through clenched teeth. ¡°Okay,¡± she spit out. ¡°Zara?¡± they heard Saren calling. ¡°Zara, where¡ªOh, there you are! Revan, you are here too.¡± Her voice and footsteps drew nearer, echoing down the hall that led to the back room. ¡°We are supposed to go on now¡ªZara! What happened to you?! What happened to your clothes!¡± ¡°Your hair is a mess!¡± Muni shrieked. Zara hadn¡¯t even noticed the other woman was behind Saren until she glanced their way. She was now dressed similarly to them, wrapped in a lavender cloth, though her face paints and jewelry were more subdued. She was a lot prettier made up than not. ¡°Ugh! Were you fucking around with your master over here? Sir, with all due respect, we have a show to get to. Madam would not be pleased with you dirtying up the girl like this under my care. I¡¯ll lose out on my pay!¡± Revan¡¯s eyes crinkled with devious amusement. ¡°Apologies,¡± he said blandly. ¡°I must have gotten carried away.¡± Saren rolled her eyes, displeased. ¡°What shit,¡± she muttered, crossing her arms. ¡°Now I have to fix her all up again,¡± Muni complained to Zara. ¡°Your lip stain is all over the fucking place too! I obviously misjudged you, woman. You are not at all new to this kind of work after all. Come, we can¡¯t waste any more time.¡± Before Zara left, Revan held her back a second, bringing his lips down to her ear. His whisper was a pleasurable smooth tickle over her heightened senses. ¡°There is nothing to fear. Remember, you¡¯ve performed on one stage already. Let us see how well you play out on this one.¡±
The foreign anklets were like shackles on her feet. If Zara knew that this Darhai trip would have led her to a place like this, she would have brought her own anklets. But she felt ready, much more so than the last time she was thrust for a performance she didn¡¯t want to make. This time, she was better prepared, and she had a friend by her side. She squeezed Saren¡¯s hand like a small form of apology, smiled at Jiyara like everything was just fine, and when the thunder of the drums echoed, they marched through the curtains¡ªled on by the capable Muni¡ªand stood in their places. Zara wished she could be glad they weren¡¯t at the very front near the hooting crowd, but they soon would be when it was their turn to dance. The audience were like obscure dim shapes from where she was standing on the third step of the elevated platform. She glanced at Revan standing by the curtain offstage. He nodded his assurance before leaving. She would let her inner strength and the heat in her core guide her tonight. Suddenly, Zara¡¯s body convulsed, and for a minute, she fell into a disorienting state. Sound ceased to exist. All movement had paused. The people around her had blurred. The audience seemed to disappear. ¡°Re-Revan?!¡± Zara choked out. ¡°Where are you? What¡¯s happening?¡± Breathing rapidly, she turned to see a woman draped in an ornate black cloak. Her dark hair flowed in waves around her, and her face was a sharp beauty. Her eyes, an enchanting hazel, glowed, and she sent Zara a red-lipped smile that quivered her bones. ¡°It is a pleasure to see you up close, my dear,¡± the woman spoke in a silky tone, with an accent extremely similar to Revan¡¯s. ¡°My name is Dayana. I will visit you all again, in person next time. Please let Revan know for me.¡± She smirked. ¡°I imagine he¡¯ll tell you the rest.¡± It was like the world literally shook Zara awake. Every sense assaulted her at once, and she almost keeled over from the pain of it. ¡°What is the matter, you damn girl?¡± Muni scolded, yanking Zara forward. ¡°You don¡¯t ruin this for me. You hear?¡± ¡°Are you okay, Zara?¡± Dazed, Zara looked down to her right at Jiyara. There were dozens of other younger boys and girls across the row as well. Zara was shocked that they were already being paraded to the very fucking front. Even though they were near the back before that maddening vision of that mystical woman cloaked her wits. How long had she been out of her mind? Was it because of the drugs from earlier? No¡­she wasn¡¯t sure it was. It had worn off like Revan said it would, and she felt fine now. So what the hell was it then? ¡°I-Yes, I¡¯m okay. I just had a¡­shock,¡± she whispered. Jiya smiled sweetly and squeezed her hand. ¡°It¡¯s okay to be scared. There¡¯s lots of people here. I¡¯m a bit scared too.¡± Saren gently moved Jiyara to her other side before taking her place back next to Zara. Her frown only told her to get a move-on as their dance sequence began. As Zara took the first step, it dawned on her that the ever-so-observant Saren had no idea what had just happened. She felt Revan touch her mind, sending an apprehensive tingle through her body. She twirled and felt immediately dizzy afterwards but there was no time to dwell or fall over. She bounced on her feet, giving her anklets a shake, then twirled again. The crowd whistled and hollered and laughed and clinked their liquor glasses together, and Zara thought that maybe this wasn¡¯t so bad. Their routine was practically done already. Next, she would simply have to stand to the side while the rest of the scene played out. That was her only main thought, really, as there was no breathing room to think about anything else. There was too much going on all at the same time while Zara did her best not to trip over herself. Her dance¡ªher passion¡ªwas continuing to prove difficult yet again. She wished could just enjoy it and bask in the present. If she ignored every shitty context surrounding this performance and the leering men and women with all the dirty money to throw at it, this could have been nice. The woman¡¯s foreboding figure slunk into her head again and again, but that was all it was. A memory or strange vision that had only been visible to her, and one she couldn¡¯t talk about until she was alone with Revan again. Could it have been another mage, like she and Revan? Or something greater? Something more akin to Saren¡¯s kind? The woman¡ªDayana was her name¡ªwas a mystery, but it seemed like she was familiar with Revan. Revan¡­ She could feel him again. The air smelled faintly of smoke. The music bellowed across the platform as Zara and her group twirl in front of the audience one more time, slow and steadily, giving a clear show of the numbers on their backs. It was right when Zara felt a grab at her ankle¡ªfrom a wayward audience member who had pressed himself too close to the very front of the stage where she was¡ªthat one of the luxury dogs among the crowd snapped away from its owner and launched an attack. Zara kicked the man who had tried to touch her right in his nose. He wailed angrily and bled, and was soon quickly helped by some servants. The show, however, had to go on. When the performers faltered at the interruption, Rubi got on stage and ordered them to keep going. The wayward man was dealt with. The dog, along with its begrudging owner and the few people it had injured, had been kicked out of the event. And life on stage continued on as though nothing had happened. They were truly in their own world; a new background was dropped in the back, and some of the set pieces were swiftly changed. The singers went on belting out their song through it all. While Zara was shaken from the man who had grabbed her, she still found a bit of humor in the situation. She followed Saren off to the side, relieved to be away from the front lines and from lewd eyes. She looked down at herself, checking to see if her dress had slipped too much. Almost none of the people on stage with her were modest, but they weren¡¯t naked either. Revan was invisible to her, but she could tell he was happy with the result so far. They both figured she had influence over living beings other than people, and Zara had confirmed it once at the beach. The dog was yet another confirmation, the only difference being she was in more control of its actions. It hadn¡¯t been much, certainly not a showstopper¡ªRubi made sure of that. It was merely like an appetizer. Zara felt rejuvenated. She vaguely wondered what the main course would be. Now they had to pretend to be servants for the queen. Most of the men had exited the stage, but a few stayed behind, an odd cluster of handsome servants and what looked to be like soldiers. The children had gone, save for Jiyara. Further back were those costumed as angels on the right, and the demons were gathered on the left. Zara had no idea what role they were supposed to play here. If Muni hadn¡¯t bothered to explain it, then perhaps Zara didn¡¯t need to care. However, she knew Emran was supposed to be a part of this scene. But thanks to Zara, he wasn¡¯t here. The queen character, a sexy lavishly-crowned beauty that had the crowd gazing in awe, stood waiting, trying not to let the confusion show in her perfectly painted expression. The stench of burning wood was still weak, but Zara worried it would get strong enough for everyone to notice. ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± Saren whispered to her. ¡°Was that your doing before? Where is Revan?¡± Zara gave her a short nod and reassuring smile. With Revan¡¯s guidance, she was feeling better. Even her stomach hurt less. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about him. This is just practice.¡± ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Saren hissed. ¡°Shhh!¡± Muni scowled. The audience fell into a hush when the music slowed, and Jiya hopped up to the front. Zara cringed at just how short the girl¡¯s dress really looked up there. She took her spot next to the ¡°queen¡±. This scene, according to what Muni had told them, was supposed to be of the heartbroken queen breaking off her affair with her house boy¡ªwho was supposed to be played by Emran. He would say goodbye to his daughter¡ªJiya¡ªand she would sing her song of farewell to the father she could never have. Jiyara singing with innocent sorrow was sure to get the men in the audience riled up. Just how many have memorized the number on her back? Zara clenched her jaw, plastering on a fake smile as Jiya was forced to start singing early. She had a lovely voice for someone so young. The lyrics made no sense without Emran present, but there was nothing Rubi could do about it. The woman looked wild with irritation as she continued piecing this play together at the other end of the stage as best she could with one of her important actors missing. Zara bet that if Emran had come, every woman in the mob would be drilling his number into their heads. Wait, did he have one? She couldn¡¯t remember. She didn¡¯t think to check his back during their little tryst. But she hadn¡¯t been aware of it when he¡¯d first arrived to speak with her and the others as a group either. Had she even seen his back at all tonight? What the fuck did it matter. Girls and women would be all over him all the same, number or not, based on his handsome looks alone. He was easy to pick out from a crowd. He also worked closely with Rubi, so anyone better acquainted with her would probably be able to request him easily. Worse, Muni had said¡ªwhile she¡¯d been fixing up Zara¡¯s clothes again¡ªthat he and the ¡°queen¡± would share a bit of intimacy. On the fucking stage. They had already brought in a little love seat for them to do it on. Zara didn¡¯t know how she would have handled seeing something like that happening in front of her. Thank the Hells that he is not here. And thank the Hells if the fire he is setting spreads fast. Zara sighed impatiently. She was getting no other signal from Revan yet. Jiyara was almost finished with her song and the queen looked as awkward as ever standing near the love seat by herself. Saren sniffled with a frown. ¡°What is that smell? It is like a forest is burning.¡± The signal came, like a strong trembling wave through her head and neck. She shuddered and her legs almost wobbled. But she knew what to do. And she would do it whatever way he desired. Zara would prove a hard year¡¯s worth of his lessons had not gone to waste. A Nightmare Come to Life With his trusty Mirror, Revan had stolen away into the woods behind the stage and conjured Zara¡¯s image into it. He was still within range of her and for his magic to work. Easy enough tonight since she was willingly allowing him into her head. She¡¯d been doing alright by far, except for that instance in which her expression, along with her mind, had seemingly frozen. She was moving with the other dancers, following the crass routine she had learned so quickly, but she wasn¡¯t herself at all. He could not read her. He could not reach her. For those few seconds, an unnatural panic settled over his heart. What happened? And then all was well again. She had snapped out of whatever mental issue had overtaken her. Had it been nerves? But Revan would have known that. He would have known whatever it had been, no matter the issue. And that was the problem¡ªthe confusion. He didn¡¯t know anything about her. It was as though her conscience had been blocked entirely from him. Which shouldn¡¯t be possible for her to purposely cause, given her level of practice. Whatever that was, he¡¯d be sure to ask Zara about it. Even now, it was difficult to sense her entirely as he normally did and he knew it wasn¡¯t Zara¡¯s doing. Rubi¡¯s staff was currently collecting cards from the audience. Scrawled on each card was the guest¡¯s name and the number of the performer they had taken a liking to. Taken with the card was their hefty payment for said performer¡¯s continued services for the rest of the night. Zara, anxious as she was, was not a bad dancer. She liked to practice the hobby on her free time, when she was not practicing spells and incantations with Revan. Now he wanted her front and center, showing this audience her flourishing skill, and proving to herself that she wasn¡¯t as terrible as she believed herself to be. That she was no longer the same dancer she¡¯d been during her last night in Pria. Revan smirked as waiting staff went around refilling glasses with drinks. Not everybody was drinking, but enough were to make Zara¡¯s magic effective. He had the pitchers laced with her blood. It had been easy enough to take samples from the heap of soiled rags in the backroom. He was ready, and judging by the peak of confidence in her thin smile, so was she. But there was still the issue of Emran. The opposite side of the woods had caught fire, and that had been his doing, of course. Revan sighed. It was still a small flame at the moment, so he¡¯d put Zara¡¯s test into motion before seeking out the young man and putting an end to his unfortunate predicament.
Her first line of thought led her away from her spot. Her sudden and fast movement even had Saren startled. When Zara looked back at her friend, her eyes were rounded quizzically. She didn¡¯t understand what was happening, and she couldn¡¯t use her newly developed ¡°instincts¡± to figure it out. Zara didn¡¯t know what it was, but she was sure it had to do with this mysterious woman that had appeared to her, Dayana. While Revan still had some access into Zara¡¯s mind and heart to guide her, he had no clear window to either. And neither did Saren. Jiyara was finished with her song, and the audience whistled for her. As she smiled and waved a reluctant hand in the air, Zara grasped her shoulder. Startled, Jiyara turned around. Zara smiled encouragingly, nudging her head as a signal to step aside and let her take the center. Dumbfounded, Jiyara moved, obedient to Zara¡¯s silent command. The actress playing the ¡°queen¡±was not pleased with bouncing off her precious script. ¡°What the fuck you think you doing?¡± she hissed at Zara, in a broken accented speech. Rubi almost made herself visible right then, practically leaping into the audience¡¯s view. ¡°What are you doing you damn girl?!¡± her rasping voice spat. The woman turned beckoned a couple of guards to seize Zara. Zara had a song in mind. It was a swift and classical beat she remembered from childhood. She was confident, and would remain so as long as she didn¡¯t look directly at a single person beyond the platform. Ignoring Rubi and the ¡°queen¡±, she raked a searing gaze over the baffled musicians, silently urging them to play her song. She felt her magic roll off her. Her ability to persuade as is was strong tonight, stronger than any other night. The musicians wordlessly readied their instruments and began playing like marionettes. Zara lifted her arms above her head, bringing her fingers together in a point. She brought one leg up to her thigh, brought it back down in quick succession with a light bounce to her feet, then twirled. Round and around she went, across the entire lower platform, from one side to the other. The queen had even stepped back, mesmerized. The security men Rubi had tried siccing on her reluctantly stepped back, baffled whether this was actually a part of the show after all. As the drums and tambura slowed, Zara stopped at the center again. She continued her sequence, taking purposeful hip-swaying steps forward to the harsh beat of the percussion. She had the people entranced to her movements, and with each motion she had her audience¡¯s minds swirling with thoughts and memories and emotions as black as their greedy self-serving souls, and as tragic as this very tune. Their drinks had been poisoned. Zara sensed it at work, and it was the work of Revan. It was taking affect as the melancholy mood below the stage drew in like a thick gray cloud. Zara would not be sold, and she would not let the children be sold. It hadn¡¯t seemed like any performer was here against their will, but some might be. In the end though, the adults made their choices. The children had not been given one. Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. So Zara would take it in her hands to make sure those cards the staff were collecting were useless by the show¡¯s end. She did not want any of that money in Rubi¡¯s possession. Zara had taken the woman¡¯s shit brother hostage, as he deserved, and she would happily steal her chance at a life and an income too. She would save herself, the kids, and Saren. Saren had said earlier she would not let anything happen to Zara. But Zara wanted to control her own path tonight, and controlled she was. She would be the one doing the saving here. This level of control was new. She was aware Revan was helping here and there, keeping her calm and relaxed, nudging her on what she should try with her captivated crowd of watchers, but it was only guidance. He was not holding her hand like he¡¯d do during their training sessions, talking her through every step by the minute. At the halfway point, the audience members who had not taken the poison turned on each other, the bombardment of their grievances, grudges, and ill memories driving them mad. Their assaults ranged from strangulation to stabbing to bludgeoning. Zara had let their pets make clean escapes from the massacre. ¡°WHAT IS HAPPENING?! WHAT ARE YOU FOOLS FUCKING DOING?!¡± Rubi had come on stage while Zara was still dancing, shrieking at the mob before her crazed-glare landed on the helpless performers and her security team behind her. ¡°WHAT IN THE FUCK ARE YOU ALL STANDING AROUND FOR? DO YOU SEE WHAT¡¯S BECOME OF THESE PEOPLE! STOP THE MUSIC! STOP THE SHOW! GET THAT BITCH OFF THE STAGE! IS SHE BLIND TO THIS? DO SOMETHING FOR FUCK¡¯S SAKE!¡± Her screechy annoying cries fell on deaf ears. Nobody was doing anything except witnessing their show fall to pieces in absolute horror. Almost all the children were backstage, away from the raw sight of mindless carnage, but Jiyara wasn¡¯t. She had begun to weep, confused and obviously terrified of the dark aura that had surrounded them all. It was for the best, though. Zara was doing her a favor. It was actually too bad that the other kids couldn¡¯t be here to witness her noble act. She was their dancing heroine. By forcing her fellow performers and Rubi¡¯s security to stay put, Zara was able to finish the song in peace. The only person she allowed for free movement was Rubi. She wanted the hag to break down as much as possible. Rubi was shoving and pounding her fists at her useless security until Zara felt pity and had one of the men lift her by the throat. The regal headdress with the beautiful red jewel Zara so admired slid from her hair before she was thrown off the stage. With the last beat of the drum, those who had been drinking were knocked out of their stupor. Their veins had swollen and their hearts had filled with too much blood for it to pump properly. Each heart ruptured at once, then it was over. The gruesome episodes came to an end, and every piece of filth on the ground was gone from the world, their final thoughts being nothing short of grim and ugly¡ªconsumed by their worst memories and fears. She had done it. She had been successful. She had controlled this mostly herself. She was proud of her work. The stage would probably burn soon, as the dark smoke trail was finally becoming visible to the eye. The low orange glow would grow bigger and soon brighten up the dreary night. Revan¡¯s pull summoned her to him at once. Zara¡¯s eyes roamed the stage; her hold over each performer had been lifted, and now it was chaos. They scrambled through the doors to the safety of backstage as Muni gathered the weeping Jiya in her arms and wildly scanned the area below the platform where Rubi had fallen. It was too dark to see anything. Zara contemplated if she should burn the torches around the place higher or something. That way, she¡¯d give enough light for Muni to see whatever the hell she wanted to see before letting those flames loose too. But Revan apparently needed her for something. Zara smirked. Perhaps the stronger she became, the better his need for her would be. If she became stronger than him, she would have no use for that scum in her life anymore, however grateful she was for his training and wisdom. She caught Saren¡¯s eye, the only person not panicking or doing much at all. Saren studied Zara tensely. Then, she marched over and grabbed her hand. ¡°I¡¯ve seen this,¡± she murmured in Zara¡¯s ear. ¡°In a dream. Long ago. I didn¡¯t know it was you at the time, but I am sure now I have dreamt such a nightmare, where I was at some kind of playhouse, surrounded by screams and the heat of flame.¡± Before Zara could think about what that could mean, the fire had reached the trees on the left side of the stage and were burning faster than before. ¡°WE NEED TO PUT THAT OUT!¡± Muni screamed, pointing at it. ¡°NOW! JIYA GET A BUCKET, FILL IT WITH WATER!¡± When Jiya ran off, Saren looked at Zara pointedly. ¡°You heard her. You need to put it out. You are the one controlling this, no?¡± ¡°I have to see Revan,¡± Zara said simply. Saren gazed at her a little longer before relenting. ¡°I will go with you.¡± They walked briskly to the back and down the narrow hall, leading them to the rear exit door. Zara reveled in the stench of smoke and the distant shrieks of mayhem. It felt better than the quick puff of Emran¡¯s pipe had. ¡°Where is he?¡± Saren asked. ¡°I can¡¯t find his direction. Everything is just¡­¡± She swallowed uncomfortably. ¡°Everything is just wrong tonight. It is like I am losing something¡­¡± She clutched her heart, near the gem resting on her breast. ¡°You¡¯ve dreamt about this, then?¡± Zara inquired. Saren confirmed it with a curt nod. ¡°Something like this. Although it was hard to see everything¡­it was like trying to see through a black fog.¡± ¡°Do you know what it could mean?¡± ¡°¡­I believe I saw a future. A future that has now come to pass, an entire decade later. But I do not know its significance, at least not clearly yet. I do know that if you don¡¯t stop this flame, the children will get hurt. That much I saw as well. And I don¡¯t see you as the kind to want that to happen.¡± Zara¡¯s curiosity had only grown, but they didn¡¯t have exactly have time for dwelling too deeply on this. ¡°Fine. Perhaps, Saren, you were meant to be here to change things. Well, a few things, at least.¡± They began to walk through thin woods. ¡°Perhaps I am,¡± Saren stated. ¡°And I hope I can succeed.¡±
After taking a long swig from his bottle of cheap beer, Shia¡¯s gaze landed back on the small orange glow in the far distance. It seemed like a mere spark from where he was, similar to what one would see leftover in smoldering ashes¡ªremnants of an eager blaze. He recalled the area over there being a place of show business, but he couldn¡¯t be entirely sure. Either way, it was going to be in ruins by morning. At least, that¡¯s what Shia assumed. He set the bottle down and leaned back on his hands. He enjoyed being up here, sitting alone on the rooftop and away from the overcrowded, smelly shitheads below. The city air, aside from the subtle stench of piss and garbage, was as pleasant as always, but this time the breeze sent over wafts of burning wood and leaves, along with a restless craving to be in the midst of all of it. Was he becoming suicidal? He hated his life now, and here he was wanting to throw himself closer to the flame. Was that what the feeling was, then? It couldn¡¯t be. Shia did not wish to die. But he knew there was something important there. Maybe not something, but someone. It made the hairs at the back of his neck feel prickly and strange. As did the skin of his smallest left finger, right under the ring he wore. He took another deep gulp from his bottle, longing once again to be where the fire scorched the scene. Tempting Fate By the time the women reached Revan, the fire had spread rather fast. Once the trees were burning, the homes and buildings behind the sparse forest were to be next. Perhaps even the temples if the fire continued to unfurl. Oddly enough, Zara felt nothing. Normally she would worry about the innocents¡ªthe children, especially, that could be hurt from it. But her main concern right now was the smoke in the air, making it difficult to breathe. Revan wanted to put an end to this, for reasons Zara couldn¡¯t understand, given his apparent loathing of people. He would succeed, as usual. What did concern matter, when there was no real danger after all? Saren and Zara had to unwrap a part of their dress so a piece of its cloth would be long enough to hug over their mouths and noses. It was a hard trek, and their eyes stung the closer they got to the heat. . Zara¡¯s feet were getting pricked and cut up on the nettle and rock infested ground. She hadn¡¯t thought to go backstage and put on her shoes after the show, but it would have been the smart thing to do. ¡°Zara,¡± Saren said through her cloth, squinting at tall dark figure. ¡°Is that him?¡± What Saren had been referring to looked nothing like a person, never mind the man they were searching for. ¡°What in Lilith¡¯s name is that?¡± Zara squawked. What was a giant black owl-hawk, born to the forests in the western lands, doing in the middle of a city like this? ¡°Revan?¡± Zara called as they approached the thing. It turned its head the entire way around, its nightmarish eyes looking too round, too yellow, and glowing with sinister aura, making Saren cringe uncomfortably. The bird stood at the height of an adult person. Zara had never seen one of these live in front of her before. It was typically a carnivorous bird, and while they were not much of a threat to living humans unless attacked, it was said to bring ill health and loss of one¡¯s fortune, monetary or otherwise. She couldn¡¯t imagine the bird actually spreading its humongous wings and taking flight. An overwhelming sight to behold, for sure. It was no wonder such a bird was often chosen as a focal villain in children¡¯s stories. How the hell had Revan managed to get his hands on such feathers?! And why didn¡¯t he EVER show it to me? The beast-like creature morphed back into its human form. Saren shuddered, then coughed violently when her dress cloth mistakenly slipped from her face. ¡°What¡ª?!¡± Zara was about to ask. But Revan intercepted her. ¡°I was out of raven feathers, but no matter. The hawk was better for visual sight through this smoke. It has little affect on its powerful lungs.¡± He was clearly keeping that part of its power going in him to aid in breath and vision. That creepy yellow still tinted his normal eyes. ¡°Emran is close by. I was able to spot him from the treetops. He¡¯s near the tents, where the rest of the food and beverage remain. It seems he¡¯s mindlessly stolen a multitude of torches around the site for this. Still inflicting as much damage as he possibly can. Zara, I need you and Saren to gather some water with as much ice as you can retrieve.¡± ¡°Huh? Where are we going to get ice?¡± Saren asked. ¡°There¡¯s a large ice box in the back of some of the tents. I am not sure which ones. I suggest you two start looking now. We should put this fire out before the authorities get here and start investigating. We also need to bring Emran with us and hide him until I¡¯ve worn off the spell over him.¡± ¡°What spell exactly?¡± Saren¡¯s muffled voice was teeming with eager curiosity, even though they were amid the danger of burning weeds and trees. ¡°Ask Zara,¡± he replied shortly before shooing them away. He then went off to retrieve Emran. As much as Saren wanted to ask, there was no time for questions. Zara and Saren hurriedly waded through the cooking tents that Revan had pointed them toward. They had split up to make their search go quicker, and among the ten or so tents, they had gathered four full water jugs with ice gathered from the cooling boxes. ¡°What are we doing?¡± Saren demanded. ¡°I swear if anyone saw us now, they¡¯d think we are insane to try and put out a fire like this, with just these.¡± She held up her two sloshing ice-filled jugs. ¡°Careful!¡± Zara warned. ¡°I think I know what he wants. Trust that you¡¯ll be witnessing yet another enchanted miracle tonight.¡± Saren scoffed, panting. ¡°Oh I¡¯ve seen plenty today alright. Life has gotten much more interesting since the day I greeted you both.¡± They soon began to cough and hack, and were forced to set the jugs down on the flattest ground they could see through the thin smoke. Up ahead of them, the condition was worse. Zara didn¡¯t know how they could possibly make it further. So she decided they would wait. Wait and watch the fire destroy something more pleasant than trees: the stage. Though only one side of it was scorching; it had yet to spread into the middle where the platform was. But it will still cause some damage for sure. Damage that may take a while to fix before it looked as pretty as it once did. The theater had been going to waste anyway, hosting filth-ridden events like tonight¡¯s. Its fate was unfortunately deserved. Zara had left the creativity of this final act up to Emran, and she couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit of pride for it, along with how much space he had covered so far. When she was clearing the tents, she noticed multiple torches, and the oil lamps near the cooking tables, had been missing. ¡°You seem pleased,¡± Saren judged, holding the same part of her dress¡ªnow dampened with cold water¡ªover her mouth and nose, the same as Zara had done with hers. ¡°Well¡­I made my choice,¡± Zara said. Whether it was really for the best or not, was a question better left to contemplate tomorrow. Revan soon emerged, dragging with him a disoriented Emran. The men were dirtied with sweat and grime. Emran was holding onto the older man like his legs wouldn¡¯t work, hacking and heaving. Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. ¡°He resisted, but I had him see reason,¡± Revan announced simply. ¡°The fire hasn¡¯t damaged the homes beyond the woods yet. But it¡¯s causing more ruckus. Zara, come with me. Saren, you stay here with him.¡± He dropped Emran to the ground in front of her like a sack. ¡°What?¡± Saren protested. ¡°I can¡¯t come?¡± ¡°No.¡± He picked up the jugs by her feet. Zara picked up her own two, trying not to breath through her nose. She wanted to assure Saren they would be back soon, but she didn¡¯t really want to talk. Instead, she settled on a look that told her friend that she was sorry to be abandoning her, temporarily. Zara took one glance at Emran, curled up on the ground shaking, and her heart twinged. She followed Revan into the woods where the flames burned brightest. ¡°Follow my lead, dear,¡± he said, setting one jug down and gathering the other with both hands. The cold surface of the jug felt great on her palms. Zara wanted to rub her face with it. Revan began a quick recitation, and while she carefully copied his words, she felt herself somewhat resisting it, for some reason. He and Zara soon flung some of the ice water into the fire and immediately a thick sheet of crystal blanketed the shrubs and floor, crawling up the nearest tree, and effectively smothering the flame. ¡°We¡¯ll need to melt all this straight away,¡± Revan added. They kept this up until they were near the theater again, or at least the part that had been most inflicted. At one point, Zara had stopped reciting the spell at all. She didn¡¯t need it, and the resistance within her ceased. Once she understood the task, it came naturally to her. Such magic was in her nature. Revan gave his acknowledgment to this, glad that Zara was picking up on her innate senses even better now, and also because this made their work go faster. Zara was almost through with her second jug when she heard the squealing cry near the theater. ¡°MUNI! MUNI!¡± Alarmed, Zara ran like her feet had a mind of their own, clutching the jug to her chest. The heat was growing¡ªthe fire had reached one of the tents that had yet more cases of unopened liquor. A servant lay near it, unconscious. The crying rang out again. Zara now recognized those screams belonging to Jiyara. ¡°SOMEBODY HELP US!¡± ¡°I¡¯m coming!¡± Zara called back, running again. This side of the theater was littered with shrubs and stray trees, which were still burning. If there had been stronger winds, the fire from the tents would have made all this a lot worse. The tattered-looking young girl finally spotted Zara coming. She was knelt on the ground over Muni¡¯s still body. ¡°Zara!¡± she shouted through her sobs, shaking the limp figure. ¡°I can¡¯t get her to wake up!¡± Zara¡¯s breath caught when she saw the pool of blood under Muni¡¯s head, seeping into the dirt. ¡°What happened?¡± Zara asked. ¡°What caused this?¡± Fat tear drops gushed out of Jiya¡¯s eyes, her heavy black kohl streaking her cheeks. ¡°She was helping the servants get out, and then everyone came running and stomped over her,¡± she wept. ¡°I don¡¯t know where they went. I don¡¯t know where anyone is.¡± She¡¯d been trampled by her fellow panicking actors. Zara knelt down and tried feeling for a pulse. She wasn¡¯t sure if Muni would rise again, and the flames were getting nearer. Jiya was coughing horribly, and Zara was seeing dizzying spots. There was a slight pulse, but there would be no time to save her if Jiya was in the way. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Jiya,¡± Zara said hoarsely, covering her mouth and nose with her dress cloth again, ¡°but you must go.¡± She needed to put this fire out. Zara had only wanted the stage to burn and its watchers to go to Hell; she hadn¡¯t wanted the performers harmed. Her heart sank to low depths, and her head ached as she attempted to restrain the ever rising guilt. ¡°But I can¡¯t leave her¡ª¡± Jiyara protested. ¡°You have to!¡± Zara said firmly. ¡°If you want her to live, you¡¯ll go!¡± When Jiya didn¡¯t move, Zara insisted more furiously, ¡°GO!¡± Flinching back, Jiyara forced herself to run away, her head constantly turning back to look at her dear injured friend, whom she might never see again. She soon disappeared into the smoke cloud ahead. ¡°Muni, please get up,¡± Zara begged, shaking her and tapping her face. The woman wouldn¡¯t stir. ¡°Fuck.¡± There was a way to save her. Zara was on her cycle, so it was possible if Muni was dying, Zara could make use of this uniquely feminine ability to save the woman¡¯s life. She rolled Muni¡¯s body around to lie on her back so Zara could access the gashing head wound. Perfect. But was there time? Zara should put some of the fire out first. It was getting unbearably hot as the dry shrubbery nearby readily embraced the constantly oncoming flame. A shrill scream tore across the night. ¡°Jiya?!¡± Out of instinct, Zara left Muni behind to search for the little girl in need of more immediate attention. She called her name louder once more, though it was muffled by the damp cloth wrapped sloppily over her face. The little water left in the jug sloshed around as she ran with it. ¡°HELP!¡± It was difficult to see through the damn fog. The curtains at the front were burning steadily, and more smoke arose from the back rooms of the stage, creating thick blankets of smoldering fumes. The stone foundation of the theater was serving as a decent protection, preventing it from falling apart entirely. Zara managed to follow the frightening voice, and it led her to a terrible sight. ¡°Oh my¡ª¡± Zara panicked. The girl was on fire. Or rather, her dress was. Jiyara was flailing around and screeching like she could run from it. How the hell had this happened? It was too hard to see where the exit gate was. To the left, Zara could see a stray body on the ground, ablaze. The body lay closely below the stage, where the smoke was the heaviest, though there were no active fires around, so Zara didn¡¯t understand what brought this on. After a speedy assessment of her surroundings again, she guessed the body belonged to a performer that had gone backstage with everyone, in search of safety. Once the fire had come to that area, the poor actor had tried making a run for it, but it was too late. Navigating the fog in their disoriented state, they tumbled back out to the platform and tripped off it. If she hadn¡¯t been paying attention, or perhaps if the smoke had caused enough fatigue, Jiya must have accidentally stumbled upon the blazing body. ¡°Jiyara!¡± Zara yelled to the small flailing figure. ¡°Hold on!¡± The girl¡¯s wails were difficult to listen to. Her fear and subsequent pain as the flames danced over her backside, no doubt attacking her skin by now, felt too unbearably familiar. Zara¡¯s mind flashed back to the mountain at Pria, to Yohid¡¯s death ceremony. Neither of them deserved such a fate. At least Zara had a chance to change this one. With a mega strong burst of energy, fueled primarily by panic and fury, Zara flung the jug and let the last bits of cold water rain over Jiya. The intensity of the magic brought on an unexpected¡ªand extremely undesirable¡ªeffect. The water and ice mixture had spread across the ground in a thick sheet, in a pace too rapid for Zara¡¯s eyes to keep up. It had spread over the dead body and Jiyara. Within a second, the fires had been successfully put out on them both, and Jiya¡¯s screams of agony had stopped. The only problem was, Jiya was completely shrouded by ice. ¡°NO!¡± Zara cried out with a heavy cough and a sob. ¡°NO!¡± She raced up to the girl, who was rigidly encased in a glazed block. Zara assessed her, searching for signs of life in her wide, open eyes. Zara examined Jiya¡¯s backside; the fabric of her dress had burned off and her skin was very badly charred. ¡°Jiya?!¡± she called, carefully knocking her fingers on the block. Of course there was no response. Everything about her was frozen and unnatural, like she¡¯d been captured and framed into this shiny jaggedy box as a cruel display. ¡°Jiya,¡± Zara wept, pointlessly poking the ice again. Her mind was already thinking of how she was going to undo this mess and thaw Jiya out until the unthinkable occurred. The ice tipped over and shattered into pieces. Along with Jiyara. It was like she had been nothing but a porcelain doll. Except Jiyara was a human being, and the sight of this was more gruesome than a broken toy could ever show. ¡°Shit,¡± Zara whispered shakily. ¡°Shit!¡± She stepped back, unable to peel her eyes away from what was left of Jiya. Only One Choice With a throaty cry, Zara ran back the way she had come, almost getting lost among the gray smoke emitting in dark, ashy bursts from the back of the stage. The curtains were in flames, along with the instruments that had been abandoned. The beautiful set pieces and backdrops were in ruins, and the silent audience continued to bathe in their own blood. Zara dared not look back to where Jiyara was. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she pressed the cloth around her face so tightly she could barely breathe. It was enough to make her head spin. She wanted this night to be over, and she wanted to forget about it. Was there an enchantment of some kind to bar every sense of guilt and ugliness within her? Revan once warned her about these things during a lesson. He¡¯d warned her that there would be times where her mistakes may cost a life, or many lives. There would come a time where she would be forced to commit unthinkable acts to innocent and sinful alike. There would be times where she would feel like drowning in her own grief. This was the life of a mage, in this time, in this world. She had listened, and she had believed him, and she had feared his message. But the reality of such a thing happening had still been so far. How fast the time had come. More than one time, in actuality. Dark moments of weakness up on a mountain, summoning a quake, the burning of a boy, a dancing curse¡ªshe¡¯d been through a mass destruction of her own doing, one that had caused death, imprisonment, and rejection of innocent people to this day. But that was the fate of a mage in this society. Revan will continue to drill this in her head when she would inevitably break down in front of him later. These people didn¡¯t matter. The bigger picture¡ªas he loved to allude to¡ªwas what mattered. Mages mattered. Their power mattered. Their strength mattered, especially their strength together. Zara¡¯s only goal was to get stronger in every aspect. He had granted her desire to kill the scum tonight. Though Revan still believed her morality was skewed and that even the numbered performers Rubi had been planning to sell were of no real importance, he had still let her indulge in her witch-hood. Even aided her in it. Anyone caught in the crossfire shouldn¡¯t matter. But Zara couldn¡¯t think that way, still. She was a bit weak in that regard. She still cared about innocents who hadn¡¯t hurt or had the intention of hurting anyone. Human children, to her, were the most innocent of all. Was there a way to change this? Zara was not asking for much. She did not wish to reverse her actions of the entire night. Just a way to turn back the clock a little¡­a way to save at least one innocent soul. Muni¡¯s prone figure had become visible to her again. A familiar cloaked figure stood over the body, like it was waiting for something. Zara gasped. It was that woman again! The one that had appeared to her in the middle of the show. She had an incredibly strong aura¡­stronger than Revan¡¯s. This made Zara nervous. What was she doing here again? Was the smoke making her hallucinate? Was she really going mad? The hazel-eyed woman smiled kindly, but it did not ease Zara¡¯s heart. She stopped in her tracks, staring shamelessly at the woman, once again in awe of her dignified and uncanny appearance. The woman gave Muni¡¯s barely-breathing form an undisturbed glance. Then, she spoke in a silky, almost calming voice. ¡°Would you like to save her? Or the child?¡± Zara¡¯s eyes grew wide, baffled. ¡°Huh?¡± The woman chuckled. ¡°You can save one or the the other, if you so wish. I simply hope to test your ability. So I am offering you this choice. This one¡ª¡± She nodded down to Muni. ¡°¡ªor the child you left back there.¡± ¡°I-I don¡¯t understand what you mean,¡± Zara mumbled beneath her cloth, her eyes watering. ¡°I can save one? Only one? How? Why not both?¡± ¡°It can only be one, dear. One life exchanged for the other. The consequence of saving both is¡­¡± Her mouth pursed. ¡°¡­rather dire.¡± Zara¡¯s mind raced. Saving Muni might be possible. Her trampled figure looked pretty bad, but she was breathing a bit and she might not have hit her head hard enough for the injury to be fatal. But saving Jiyara at this point was definitely impossible. The woman¡¯s maroon lips curled. ¡°Let me show you the possibilities, dear. Give me your hand.¡± At first Zara did not budge. It was almost like time was slowing¡­ She quickly realized that her surroundings¡ªthe leaves rustling in the trees, the misty smoke floating through the air, the soft wind blowing around the ground¡¯s debris¡ªwere, in fact, moving at an unnaturally slow pace. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Zara whispered, staring at the woman¡¯s offered palm. The woman¡ªDayana¡ªnodded reassuringly. Or at least, it was supposed to be reassuring. ¡°It¡¯s alright, dear,¡± she said, beckoning with a slight twitch of a finger. Zara moved forward. She reached for the hand, sluggish and apprehensive. A jolt of energy surged through her body, and two sets of fuzzy images dashed in front of her eyes: The first was of Muni, with Jiyara not too far behind, leading a young actor in the right direction of escape before the stampede of others came rushing out. The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. ¡°Wait!¡± Zara felt herself calling. It was like a dream where every sound and movement felt too heavy. Looking around, Jiya stepped toward the direction of Zara¡¯s voice. Unfortunately, she¡¯d put herself directly in harm¡¯s way. The panicking crowd of actors overtook her and she fell underneath their feet. Muni jumped out of the way on time, screaming helplessly as the young girl was steadily stomped on. Zara couldn¡¯t get her voice out anymore. Muni had lived. Her job here was apparently done. Livid, Zara tried to shout, but it was fruitless. The vision suddenly transported her in front of Jiyara. The girl wept in her arms. Up ahead, a lifeless body was flaming. The smell of burning flesh stung her nose, and Zara took the young girl away. There was nothing she could do for Muni anymore, but the least she could do was lead the child to safety¡­ An oddly strong gust of wind struck Zara out of the trance. She blinked as Dayana let her hand go with a wistful smirk. ¡°It¡¯s just as well. Our time has run short, much like the fate of those poor girls. But we will have another opportunity like this, someday.¡± Zara shook her head, bewildered. ¡°Wait, what are you¡ª!¡± ¡°Once again, do tell Revan I said hello, my dear.¡± She vanished just as the man in question¡ªin his giant hawk form¡ªlanded in front of her. Zara leaped back, horrified to see Emran being dropped from the animal¡¯s freakishly huge talons. He rolled over in pain. ¡°You flew with him, like that?!¡± Zara shrieked, unable to think properly. What had just happened? Muni had stopped breathing. In the end, Zara hadn¡¯t saved a soul. Revan morphed back into himself, panting lightly. ¡°Yes, and I¡¯ve just about reached my limit with this creature. The bigger they are, they more energy they take. I ordered Saren to gather your bags and go to the carriage. The real danger back there has been dealt with. We should leave. Now.¡± ¡°Which way is out?¡± She couldn¡¯t see through the haze properly. ¡°There¡¯s an exit ahead of¡ª¡± He regarded Muni¡¯s body with a raised brow ¡°¡ªwhere she lies. It isn¡¯t far. It goes through an alley, adjacent to the one you and Saren came through. Help me with him.¡± Zara aided Revan in lifting Emran¡¯s sluggish body up. ¡°And how will the carriage find us?¡± ¡°I gave Saren instructions for the driver. They¡¯ll be waiting on the street once we are out.¡± ¡°Wait, what about¡­¡± Zara looked at Muni, regretfully. Revan¡¯s face hardened. ¡°What about it? Haven¡¯t you had enough of the theatrics for one night? Get moving.¡± So they took Emran and left Muni behind. Zara stomped down the misery in her heart. What did it matter? She hardly knew that woman, and she¡¯d been kind of abrasive anyway. But still. She probably didn¡¯t deserve this. Emran¡¯s head lolled near Zara¡¯s. Her heart skipped. His hair was so soft and ticklish. His skin warmed hers plenty. ¡°Mmm, I think I know you.¡± Emran groaned as she and Revan continued to drag him through the dingy alley. ¡°I think I remember¡­¡± ¡°Shut up,¡± Revan said. ¡°If you have the strength to talk, you should use some of it to move your own fucking legs.¡± The jingling bells of Zara¡¯s cheap anklets echoed as they trudged further into the alley. Zara was sure the soles of her scraped feet were riddled with blood. She was already sore, and the sharp pebbles and debris littered across the disgusting alley was making it worse. Morning would be hell. She could only hope for one of Revan¡¯s special medicinal ointments to rapidly soothe the pain. The alley wasn¡¯t as winding and extensive as the one Saren and Zara had entered through. But the environment was all too familiar and Zara couldn¡¯t help but remember the stalker: his eyes, so much like Rubi¡¯s, the cold touch of his lips, his blood, his mangled foot. Would she have done it differently? Had she taken it too far? Should she have spared him, or at least sent him away whole? Dayana¡¯s curling smile suddenly flew through her mind. No. She wouldn¡¯t change a thing. They soon emerged into the quiet street. Saren was already in the carriage. She hastily opened the door for them. Wordlessly, they lugged Emran inside. It was going to be a tight fit. Revan forced Zara to sit with Saren. He gave signal to the driver and off the horses went. They turned a corner, and it wasn¡¯t long before more carriages had crossed the street they¡¯d just left. The authorities, for sure. It was good that they had taken a detour early. They would have been stopped if the authorities had seen the carriage. In the eyes of the law, it would look too much like they were fleeing a crime scene. Which would be true. But they wouldn¡¯t be caught. Zara exhaled in exhaustion. It was over at last. They were headed¡ªwell, not home. But at least to the inn. Where they would be safe. ¡°Rubi¡¯s still alive,¡± Saren suddenly announced. Zara remained quiet. ¡°You¡¯ve seen her?¡± Revan said. ¡°Yes. Delirious. Searching for her¡­workers. And a way out. She was in the thick of the smoke. But yes. Alive.¡± ¡°Alright then. I suppose¡­it is of no consequence.¡± Saren smirked. ¡°Yes. Not a consequence to you either.¡± Revan matched her smile. Zara scoffed. The carriage jerked. Emran was resting on the side, and he groaned when the motion caused his head to bump on the door. Saren looked out the small window, relaxing. ¡°What consequence would a whore-hustling hag really be to us anyway?¡± Revan sighed. ¡°Well, that madam in particular is quite a well-connected woman in this city.¡± Zara straightened up. ¡°She told you this?¡± ¡°Yes. She managed to steal some time alone with me while you two were busy rehearsing, after all. She certainly has strong eyes and ears, that one. Her brother, as I¡¯m sure you know Zara, had grown quite an obsession with¡­the forbidden arts, and the like.¡± Zara glanced at Emran, but it seemed like he was fast asleep. ¡°What are you saying?¡± she asked. ¡°She told me she finds it dangerous, and rather idiotic. But she still listens to the tales from him. The legends. She knows things. Now her brother is missing. A chunk of her business is destroyed. And she¡¯s witnessed your dance very clearly tonight.¡± Saren breathed out lowly, exasperated. ¡°That is one concern not to be brushed aside so easily. Though, your failure to kill her may not matter in the end,¡± Revan continued lightly. ¡°She may be as delirious as Saren claims.¡± Zara nodded. ¡°Right. Maybe.¡± ¡°And remember, you do have her brother.¡± ¡°That I do.¡± Saren frowned. ¡°But what if she died after all? She was quite injured after she was thrown offstage. And with all the smoke she was heading into¡­¡± Revan eyed the women with some mirth. ¡°I suppose we will just have to wait patiently, and pray for Mother Anvi¡¯s guidance, hm? What do you think Saren?¡± Saren leaned back and stared out the small window without answering, visibly discomforted by his suggestion. With a tired heart and throbbing feet, Zara wished to settle down in the inn. She swore she could sleep for a whole year. As soon as her eyes closed, the visions of tonight appeared, along with memories of Pria. Memories of her brothers. Memories of her mother. Memories of her friends. Memories of the witch doctor, on a dark foggy cliff, a boy on fire, then a girl on fire, soon to become nothing more than frozen pieces of broken flesh and hair. She let her tears stream down, but she did not open her eyes just yet. The carriage would reach the inn soon. She¡¯d be happy to sleep in peace for years, so as long as she didn¡¯t dream. A Girl Hell Never Know There it was again. The sluggish feeling, the darkness creeping. Zara didn¡¯t want to turn around. She could sense it stretching across the walls, the floor, and the ceiling behind her. But as always, she turned to face it. It couldn¡¯t be helped. The dark had a mind of its own, and it demanded her attention. Else, she was stuck with the urge to faint and never rise again. When Zara turned, the darkness disappeared. As it usually did. What was left was nothing but a lone woman standing still. In the background was Zara¡¯s old bedroom in Pria, in shambles, and covered in soot and ash. The woman looked very similar to Zara. Almost exact. One could say she was Zara. Except¡­she wasn¡¯t. The resemblance was uncanny, but she was not Zara. She¡­.was something else. Her almost-hollow looking black eyes stared blankly at Zara, even when her lips curled into a soft, gentle smile. Zara shuddered. ¡°You¡¯re not okay, are you?¡± the thing said. It always asked this question. It didn¡¯t need to be a question. The answer was always the same. ¡°No. Of course not,¡± Zara whispered back. ¡°That is fine. That is good,¡± it said, spreading its arms. ¡°Let yourself feel this way. Always. Come to me, Zara.¡± Zara tentatively stepped forward. The thing¡¯s disturbingly dark pupils stretched out. Its skin was a lot paler¡ªalmost ghost-like. Its hair was oily flat on top, frizzy waved and dirty looking mid-length to ends, like it hadn¡¯t had a proper washing in months. It wore a dreary stained gray sleeping gown. The closer Zara got, the worse it smelled. The stench of body odor was grotesque, but she couldn¡¯t get herself to stop walking. Her head pounded, telling her this was a bad idea, as it usually did during this moment. But her heart said otherwise. Her legs moved forward, her arms reached out¡­ The embrace felt soothing, and all the tension melted from Zara¡¯s shoulders, and she let herself fall into devastating spell of the other woman who whispered, ¡°I am here. I will always be here, Zara.¡±
Zara awoke with a gasp. She sat up and scanned her bedroom deliriously, searching for the thing that had held her moments before. After a moment, Zara¡¯s breathing evened out. She was in her bedroom¡ªher real bedroom. The one in the house she shared with Revan, not her childhood room in Pria. The light of dawn seeped through her curtains, casting the room in a chilling blue. A pile of clothes lay on the stone floor in a mound. Miscellaneous clutter was spread about, along with books, torn scrolls, and random note pages. Her dressing table was piled with more clothes, towels, makeup, and an array of jewelry and hair pins. Her bedside held a mess of used handkerchiefs, old dusting rags, and medicines. Zara rubbed a hand down her face, exhausted before the day had even started. She had to get this room sorted. It was looking too much like the disaster behind that human-looking thing in her dream. The bedroom was different, but the level of disorder was almost the same. She slowly got out of her bed, picked a robe off the floor, and slipped it over her nightgown. The hearth was devoid of flame, reduced to a few burning embers. Zara yawned, wishing to get some water before trying to sleep again. She doubted sleep would come though. Perhaps she would read a bit of history. As interesting as the subject was, it did wonders putting her to sleep as well. Zara stepped out into the hall as quietly as she could and was making her way toward the stairwell when she stopped. Down the short hall, the door to the guest room was ajar. That was a first. Zara swallowed thickly when she heard movement inside. She tiptoed to the door, and peaked in, feeling her heart thud as it always did when her gaze fell upon him. Emran¡¯s broad back was to her as his front faced the open window. Wisps of smoke trailed around him, blowing away in the cold winter breeze. The sheets on the bed were in disarray, and the state of the room was looking quite similar to Zara¡¯s, except this room had that earthy burning aroma from Emran¡¯s frequent smoking. This was only a temporary living arrangement. After putting out the fires at the theater and making a narrow escape before the authorities showed up, Revan had Emran move in with them for the time being¡ªmainly through Zara¡¯s stubborn insistence and Saren¡¯s support. Emran thankfully remembered almost little to nothing of that incident. Though, there had been a worry about his memory returning at first. Revan couldn¡¯t exactly use a spell like Sand Time on him again, nor was he able to simply will a person to forget their memories (as Saren had tried suggesting as she learned more about him and his magic), but if need be, he could whip up a special tea to help fog his mind to certain events. It would make them seem like nothing more than a bad dream. Meanwhile, Zara was ordered to keep away from Emran at all costs, only allowed to admire him from a distance. Emran had found this odd, and he questioned why he hardly ever saw ¡°That Girl¡±, despite living under the same roof, but Revan was strict on the matter that he not go near her for any reason, and that he was under no obligation to explain why. He demanded that Emran get his financial matters settled and leave in two weeks time. Those two weeks had turned into a month when Emran had failed to find a job, no thanks to his ever-growing addiction to alcohol, drugs, and mindless sex with any prostitute he could find. He¡¯d been good about job hunting during the day, but that fell through to his old habits of enjoying the night life and sleeping in until the afternoon. Zara naturally hated this behavior, but she couldn¡¯t find it in herself to hate him, no matter how much she wanted to. Instead, she became more curious about the things that made him this way. He was like this back in Pria, seemed to have gotten clean under Madam Rubi¡¯s thumb, and was now back to this again. He¡¯d been through a lot, no doubt, essentially being a runaway from turmoil back home. And what really poked at her was what his relationship to his uncle Uqzar had really been like. If her aunt Noina was bad, Uqzar was a million times worse, she was sure. If the man had been a significant presence in Emran¡¯s life, then that would explain Emran¡¯s constant need to seek out easy sources of pleasure and excitement¡ªthe opposite of what people like Uqzar and Noina always preached. Revan was losing his patience but Zara insisted that he help Emran rather than just kick him out on the street. Revan was generous enough to give a small allowance as long as Emran did the bulk of the household cleaning. How Zara wished she could just break the rule and speak to him. She wished to pick his brain. But she understood the risks, and she was grateful to Revan for being as generous as he was being. She didn¡¯t totally get why, and perhaps he was scheming something. She could be overthinking, but it just didn¡¯t seem like Revan to be so generous to a common, ¡°less-than-respectable person¡± like Emran. ¡°Hey,¡± his soft voice suddenly spoke. Zara had been so lost in thought, eventually her gaze having left Emran to stare off at nothing, that she hadn¡¯t noticed him turn to look right at her. Zara jolted, practically leaping away from her peeping spot at the door. Her face burned, and she made to leave without a word, but Emran¡¯s quick footsteps, followed by the door swooshing wide open, stopped her. They stood still, staring at each other. The silence and the steady gazing was so¡­strange. It was almost like they were trying to figure one another out. In Emran¡¯s case, who knew if he was still trying to recall who she was. His brow twitched when he frowned. She couldn¡¯t tell whether he was upset, but it would make sense. A woman he barely knew and was hardly allowed to see was now lurking outside his door. The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. Zara swallowed thickly. ¡°I-I¡¯m sorry,¡± she whispered. As she turned to make escape, a strong hand grabbed her wrist. Zara¡¯s heart jumped. ¡°Wait a minute. Don¡¯t go,¡± he said. Zara cautiously turned back to Emran, careful not to look up at him. If she did, she wouldn¡¯t know whether her eyes would remain locked on his beautiful ones forever. If they did, he might know. He might remember her. Zara tried tugging her hand away, but to no avail. He was much stronger and his grip became tighter. The smell of muddy mush or whatever he¡¯d been smoking tonight was too much to handle. It was difficult to breathe properly. Though, perhaps it was not even because of the smoke. ¡°Why do I hardly see you?¡± he asked, trying to maintain patience. ¡°You¡¯re always hiding away. I can feel it. Every time I enter a room, you run away. Are you afraid of me?¡± ¡°No!¡± Zara said automatically. Emran shook his head. ¡°Then why? Master Revan doesn¡¯t allow me to talk to you, for some strange reason. At first I didn¡¯t care much, but now it is starting to bother me. There¡¯s just something about you¡­I don¡¯t understand.¡± Zara gulped, keeping her eyes firmly down. ¡°It¡¯s like¡­I don¡¯t know you. But I do. I think I do. And I¡¯m not talking about meeting you at the theater either.¡± This wasn¡¯t good. Zara tried tugging her hand back again. Emran¡¯s grip was beginning to hurt. ¡°It was like¡­.you remind me of someone¡­.but I can¡¯t¡­.I don¡¯t know.¡± It was obviously frustrating him. Zara wished he would let go. Her wrist was really beginning to hurt. ¡°Emran, please,¡± Zara mumbled, drawing back. Emran narrowed his eyes, chuckling. ¡°You know my name. And I don¡¯t even know yours.¡± He dragged her close to him, gaze gleaming with agitation and a bit of mischief. ¡°Emran, stop.¡± ¡°Come on, doll. Don¡¯t think I forgot about what we did. Behind the theater, near the forest¡­¡± Zara grew hotter by the second. He hadn¡¯t remembered much leading up to the fire that night. But he had remembered her. As much as she wanted to drive herself into him, she absolutely knew she shouldn¡¯t. Emran leaned in, his lips practically brushing her ear. ¡°Tell me your name.¡± The heat that had been pulsing through her nerves zapped straight to her captured wrist at once. Emran jerked back with a small shout, hitting the doorway in the process. ¡°What in the Hells was that?¡± he gasped out, rubbing the affected palm. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Zara snapped back. ¡°I did not feel a thing!¡± She had to resort to it to get him to stop. Her wrist was red and she wondered if it would look bruised later. What she¡¯d done was risky, and could definitely arise suspicion in him. But Emran was out of it most of the time, so eventually, maybe he¡¯d think he had imagined that sudden shocking sensation through the nerves in his hand. Emran stared at her, a mixture of distrust and apprehension darkening his pretty features. Zara hated this. ¡°You¡¯re right,¡± he said. ¡°You should go. What should your name matter to me, anyway? I¡¯ll be leaving soon and I¡¯ll be glad of it. I cannot stand the sight of Master Revan any longer. I¡¯ll be glad to leave this cold house. A strange cold house for even stranger, cold people. Like you.¡± Zara was hurt. She was instantly disgusted at herself for the pang his words caused in her heart. Why should I care? He is still but a stranger. He is always a stranger to me, and will likely remain this way. An addict. He cannot hold down any job but demeaning ones. He is not well with money. He is easily unattached. This is the way he is. Always was. Always will be. So why¡­do I feel this way? Zara just watched Emran go back to the window and light up another joint. He¡¯d left the door open. Zara, conflicted and acting on impulse, stepped inside. It was freezing in this room. Freezing and smelly. She could not understand how Emran could just stand in front of the open window like that, even if to let the smoky air out. Emran huffed at her when he noticed she hadn¡¯t left. ¡°Oh, so now you¡¯ve got nowhere to be?¡± he rasped out, coughing and taking another drag from the joint. To Zara¡¯s surprise, he reached his arm out behind him to pass it to her. She shook her head, even though he was still facing forward and could not see her. ¡°I don¡¯t¡­I don¡¯t smoke,¡± she said. ¡°Yeah you do,¡± he muttered. ¡°You smoked with me that time, did ya not?¡± Zara¡¯s stomach lurched. He remembered all right. At least, the part when she¡¯d thrown herself at him like one of his favorite red-light girls. She felt her cheeks grow hot again, but as she contemplated on leaving without another sound, she found she couldn¡¯t. There was something she still wanted to know. She tentatively took the joint, feeling awkward with it in between her fingers. Standing beside him at the window, jittery to the skies and back, she brought it to her lips and inhaled. As soon as she began a coughing fit, she thrust the odorous thing back to him. Emran chuckled, letting her cough it out without offering a word of comfort. The haziness soon began to settle into Zara, and she relaxed. They didn¡¯t speak for at least two minutes, simply choosing to watch the sky slowly turn a brighter blue, clustering with yellow and pale orange. ¡°What do you want?¡± he said bluntly. Zara frowned, taking a deep breath. ¡°Where are you planning to go? I mean¡­where will you work? Where will you live?¡± ¡°Why do you wanna know?¡± ¡°¡­I just want to know. That is all.¡± Emran shrugged. ¡°I¡¯ll take a carriage into the city. Maybe walk around the streets, find a bar. Plenty of women around those parts, itching for a good high, among other things. I¡¯ll take my pick, and stay with her for a bit. See if anything in her home has something of value. I¡¯ll take what I can, then move onto the next one.¡± Zara scrunched her face. ¡°That is your plan?¡± ¡°What, it¡¯s no good?¡± ¡°¡­It doesn¡¯t sound stable.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t do stable, doll. It¡¯s boring. This house is nice, and it¡¯s suitable for people like you and Master Revan, and that broad woman that likes to come visit. But it is not for me in the long term. Us parting ways was inevitable.¡± ¡°¡­Do you miss it? Your life with Madam Rubi?¡± ¡°It was a short time. But it had its thrill, yes. Proper work wasn¡¯t always guaranteed, but when there was, it paid big. And even if Rubi was old and stout, she knew her way around a man. I was one of her favorites.¡± Zara tried to ignore that image. ¡°Right.¡± ¡°I hope she¡¯s okay. Wherever she¡¯s at.¡± ¡°You cared about her?¡± Emran shrugged again. ¡°She got me out of a tough spot. That¡¯s all.¡± ¡°What about your family? Do you miss them? Do you miss¡­Pria?¡± Emran put out the joint on the sill. His body became like a statue, his expression one of deep concentration. Zara bit her lip, her breathing began to stutter. Had she utterly screwed up and jolted his memory? Had he figured her out? ¡°My family?¡± he whispered contemplatively. ¡°I don¡¯t know. I wasn¡¯t close to them. Well, I was to Cina, sort of. My cousin. I don¡¯t have siblings, so she was like my sister. But¡­I lost track of her.¡± Zara was saddened to hear this. Wherever Cina was, Zara hoped she was okay. And that she had not crossed paths with anyone similar to the likes of Rubi, or worse. Suddenly, Emran snapped his head to look at her, his eyes blazing with intensity. ¡°Pria¡­¡± he murmured. ¡°Are you¡­from there too?¡± Zara shook her head rapidly. This was a mistake. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. You seem tired. I should let you sleep.¡± She made a beeline to the door. ¡°Wait.¡± Zara froze where she was, in the middle of the room. He walked to where she was to stand directly in front of her, gazing into her eyes like she was the only thing present. Zara couldn¡¯t help but gaze back. What beautiful eyes he had, the color of rich amber. A strong jawline. Luxurious cocoa hair. He was built so well. She could stare at him forever. She often secretly watched him do his morning exercises in the terrace from her bedroom window. He was quite hyper in those moments. Then he¡¯d fall into a deep sleep until the late afternoon, to Revan¡¯s annoyance. Suddenly, he leaned close to her face. Zara almost flinched. But all he did was lay a gentle kiss on her cheek. He stood back again, wistful. ¡°It¡¯s a shame,¡± he said. ¡°You are a beauty. You are what I like. It is too bad you refuse to let me get to know you. Whatever your reasons are, just know that I appreciated you approaching me tonight. For some reason, I enjoy you. I enjoy seeing you around the house: lurking, working, studying, walking to the market or to the temple with your friend. I enjoy when I see you watching me, though I never revealed that I knew you were. I enjoyed our little tryst at the theater. I enjoy talking to you. Even if it¡¯s for a second. Even if it would be about nothing, I will enjoy you.¡± A lump formed in Zara¡¯s throat. She couldn¡¯t open her mouth to give even a simple thanks, though would that be the correct response? It felt awkward, stupid even. What could she say to all that he expressed? He had admitted what she¡¯d been yearning to hear from him for a long time. Now that he said it, it didn¡¯t feel real. Perhaps this was another dream. Zara would wake up in her trashed bedroom in a cool sweat once more. But that didn¡¯t happen. This was real, and it made her overwhelmingly happy and sad all at once. Regretfully, and with a blushing face, Zara smiled shyly. If she tried to speak now, her voice would come out a cracked rasp or something. Finally, she proceeded to leave the room. Leave him behind. Because there was nothing more she could do. If only, if only, if only¡­. If only it wasn¡¯t this way. If only I had a chance¡­. ¡°So long,¡± she heard Emran softly speak as she closed the door for him, ¡°Girl Whose Name I¡¯ll Never Know.¡± Threads of Fate The same night Zara experienced her usual nightmare, a young man miles away, forced to reside in the innermost slums of Darhai, stirred restlessly in his sleep, envisioning a nightmare of his own. It was one that seemed eerily connected to the the missing piece in his life, his only clue to it being the delicate ring he wore day after day on the smallest finger on his left hand. At first, the dream hadn¡¯t been so bad. His vision was white, like a blank painter¡¯s canvas, but that was okay. A gentle voice speaking to him, close to his ear, kept his heart at peace. At some point, he knew he was dreaming. He knew if he wanted to get himself out, he could have, at any point. But no. It¡¯s too nice. Her voice¡­it¡¯s there. Whose voice? That was the bigger question. Whose voice was it that he loved its deep, yet feminine tone, awkward and shy? A sudden bright light flashed, and Shia was now standing at the edge of a mountain. This mountain was unbelievably high. He couldn¡¯t even see the ground below. He was surrounded by gray skies and thick clouds. It was terrifying, yet heavenly. The cliff he stood on was not very wide. One false move, and he¡¯d plummet down from the heavens and into the depths of agony that lay beyond those clouds. A quick glance back at the craggy black rock told him that this mountain he was precariously perched on was home. He was in Pria, atop Mount Lilith, near the highest peak¡ªeven higher than the temple that pilgrims from across the continent made the dangerous trek for. He should be dead¡ªbe it frozen stiff or simply out of air. But here he was, alive and deathly afraid. ¡°Help me,¡± he whispered to nothing, rubbing an anxious palm over his left hand¡ªover the ring. ¡°Help me.¡± The cliff began to move. It shifted and shook. Snow flaked down, faster and faster, and soon the flakes turned to pebbles of ice, hailing over his head. He flinched and his throat closed when his foot almost slipped off the edge. The cliff shook more steadily, and the edges began to crack and fall. Soon, Shia would have no place to stand. He couldn¡¯t take this anymore, and screamed. He screamed that death take him before he plunged into those stormy clouds that now threatened him with strikes of lightening. ¡°Hey!¡± a faint voice shouted. It was the voice of a woman, but not the one he wanted to hear. This was a voice he did not recognize. ¡°Hey! Over here! Look at me.¡± Shia turned his gaze up toward the voice. A girl, likely only a few years older than he, was shuffling around the cliff to try to get to him. She was on one of the rocky landings above him, and he had no idea what her plan could possibly be. They were both stuck, as far as he could tell. He squinted as the girl managed to step down to a lower landing. She moved lightly, almost floating like a feather. Her hair was long and ripply, a beautiful shade of brown. Shia couldn¡¯t look away, especially once he got a clearer view of her face. She was a golden beauty, with round eyes the color of hazelnut, and a worried type of expression that severly reminded him of his own face. A lovely face, and a familiar one too. But¡­he had no idea who this was. Was it just that she kind of looked like him? Was she his own personal angel? That could explain the absurdity of this situation¡ªshe being an angel coming to save him. But¡­she also looked like someone else he knew. Though he couldn¡¯t grasp who this could possibly be. The cliff¡¯s movements were becoming more violent by the minute, and Shia let those meandering thoughts drop. He would have to, before the damn mountain dropped him. The girl was now close enough to reach a thin arm out. ¡°I can help you,¡± she panted. ¡°Please let me help you.¡± She looked so desperate, those big beautiful eyes watery with unshed tears. It caused an odd, sharp pang in Shia¡¯s heart. She was in pain, for him, and he couldn¡¯t bear it. He found himself reaching out to her, not necessarily to let her save him, but as a means to offer her some comfort in their dire situation. After some tries, finally, he grasped her smaller hand. At that moment, Shia saw how fragile she was, and how he was failing to protect her. The cliff jolted, the rumbling was louder than ever, the black fogs turned blacker, and the crack between Shia and the girl had grown too wide. They lost their grip on each other, and the girl began to sob, scrambling back. ¡°I can¡¯t¡­I can¡¯t hold on¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t panic! Don¡¯t panic, sweetheart, I¡¯m here!¡± Shia blurted out, in a voice unnaturally deep for him. He bit his tongue immediately, a fresh wave of bewilderment and shame spreading through him. What had he just said? Why? He didn¡¯t even know her, yet at that moment, seeing her in danger, he¡¯d forgotten his own predicament, and wanted nothing more than to protect her like she was family. Suddenly, he felt very aged. He did not have a mirror, but his hands showed signs of it, as did the prickling sensation of a thick beard he never had until then. A flash of lightening from above almost blinded him. When he opened his eyes, the light hadn¡¯t gone away; it seemed like everything had frozen in time, except for him, the girl, and the figure standing amid the white light near the top of Mount Lilith. It was a woman¡ªher large irises were as frosty as the surrounding snow. Her wild hair was streaked black, gray, and white. Her slender body was wrapped in flowing cloth of blue and silver, billowing softly in the wind. A beam of light seemed to emit from the center of her forehead. Her feautures were striking, yet terrifying. She stood with a power like no other, almost like she was floating. Like an angel. Or a Goddess. The icy eyes grew somber for a moment as it gazed upon his face. His heart stopped. He knew. He knew who this was¡­ The mountain quaked once more, the vibrations making Shia¡¯s teeth rattle. It was too late. Too late to reach her now¡­ The girl¡¯s focus had been on the entity as well, but now she was wailing at Shia once again: ¡°She¡¯s going to do it! She¡¯ll destroy us! She¡¯ll destroy our home! Please stop her, before she¡ª¡± The subsequent explosion was so incredibly strong and brutal, it made Shia wish he had just jumped off the cliff earlier. He wailed in agony as his body was flung out, engulfed in flames, though it wasn¡¯t long before he was left writhing and choking for air as hot ash flooded his lungs¡ª Shia gasped heavily, like he¡¯d unwillingly stepped a foot through death¡¯s door. Up on that mountain, as high as any human has ever been, he was surprised he hadn¡¯t lost conciousness. He still felt chilled, given the harrowing experience, but the temperature was not as cold as it was supposed to be¡­ Then, he realized he hadn¡¯t been on Mount Lilith at all. It was the middle of the night and he was in his room, sitting up in bed, safe. His aged hands had gone back to normal, though clammy. He touched his sweaty face and felt no trace of a beard, save for a few sparse hairs that had begun growing in. His mind now fully awake and present, he took a deep breath, running his hands through his hair. He looked to the other side of the room; Rowan was still fast asleep, his frail limbs hanging off the edge of the bed. It had been nothing more than a dream. But the intensity and the vividness of it was¡­ eerie. Something roiled in his gut. It didn¡¯t feel natural. It almost felt like¡­a warning. What could it mean? The girl was someone he did not know, yet he felt like he did. She clearly knew who he was, but if this was just a dream, then Shia had surely conjured her up somehow, for some reason. She had looked a little like him, so maybe because he¡¯d been lonely and feeling quite shitty lately, his mind had brought him a source of self-love in the form of a girl. It was a strange idea, but Shia didn¡¯t know how else to explain it. He wanted to believe that it was only a weird dream. This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. He then remembered that nightmarish deity, and even remembered his recognition of it. But frustratingly enough, he could not recall who it had been. He had been so sure, and now, it had fled his memory, like a frail scrap in the wind. Why? Why does this matter so much? He wished it would stop plaguing him. He wished he could just rid himself of this annoying burden that could never be solved. He grasped at the ring on his finger and pulled it off, intending to toss it out the window and finally close this chapter for good. But it was impossible. Tears welled in his eyes, as though he were about to toss his chances of finding home again. He slipped the ring back on his pinky, drew the covers up, and eventually went back to sleep. In another lifetime, the young woman jerked awake, shaken, afraid, and in tears of grief. She sat up, disoriented at first, only to find herself still in the dark confines of the witch¡¯s cabin, with the witch herself looming over her, her molten features haunting in the candlelight.
Zara smiled brightly once she saw Saren finally coming up the hill. ¡°I¡¯m sorry!¡± she said, gasping as she jogged over. She was a quick walker regardless; the long legs helped with that. ¡°I am late. There was a spill on the road near my home.¡± ¡°Spill?¡± Zara questioned, hoisting her satchel further up on her shoulder. She tried to ignore the lingering presence of Emran gazing at her from the open window upstairs, as well as the dark gloom Revan protruded consistently from the study room. He had not been very happy with her performance today. She¡¯d tried mutating again, and they¡¯d been using rat¡¯s fur, as that was easiest to get and, according to Revan, good enough for a beginner level practitioner. Zara had nearly perfected it, except for the tail. The tail had not shrunk in size with her, and had a mind of its own, Zara swore. It had erratically swiped and swished, knocking Revan¡¯s coffee and treats off the table, and all over his notes. She had apologized profusely, but when he threatened her with a backhand, she stomped away in tears. The only saving grace of this day would be Saren and their upcoming dance class at the local temple. They had started three weeks ago, and had classes twice a week. Zara looked forward most to these days of learning classical dance, even if it had to be temple style. ¡°A passing cart was almost tipped over by a broken piece of the road,¡± Saren explained, amused. ¡°The cart was fine, but a whole case of gooseberry oil bottles riding at the back of it were not as lucky¡­¡± ¡°Yikes,¡± Zara said, sympathizing with the poor seller who had likely lost wages from the ruined shipment. ¡°It was everywhere, and the smell¡ª¡± Saren laughed. ¡°Ooh my! I had to take another way since I could not dare step into it. But here I am now, and hopefully we will not be too late. Shall we go?¡± As usual, she scanned behind Zara for a sign of Revan, but of course, he was nowhere in sight. ¡°He¡¯s a bit busy right now,¡± Zara answered what was clearly on Saren¡¯s mind. ¡°Oh, is he?¡± They began to walk back down the hill to the main street. ¡°With a new spell, maybe?¡± She added that last part in a lower voice, even bending down a bit to Zara¡¯s level so as to not risk speaking of it too noisily. Zara couldn¡¯t help but giggle at Saren¡¯s giddiness whenever the topic of magic or their magehood was brought up. Since that night at the theater, she and Revan had sat Saren down the next morning at the inn, and carefully told her as much as they could about their true identities. Revan had been very tactful with his words, cautious not to reveal too much about himself or what his intentions were. After all, they did not want Saren to know about what her necklace was bound to do to her. A pang of guilt flashed through Zara as she side-eyed the green gem resting peacefully on Saren¡¯s chest. Overall, Saren had taken it well, as she was both disturbed and excited at once. She¡¯d had so many questions for them and about who she could potentially be, given her strange abilities. Revan had placated her with filtered information then as well, merely revealing her mysterious ancestry to the ancient Mogheiri spirits. They strolled the short distance down the market, chatting and laughing all the way, to the small temple built of stone. Its entryway was guarded by statues of different deities, each seemingly watching over the sacred space. The jagged stone path to the temple was weathered by countless footsteps over centuries. Right above the entrance was the engraving of the White Sun, radiant and mesmerizing, the only part of the temple painted a snowy hue. Glowing with a mysterious energy, it was as though it was the very essence of the sun itself. Yet¡­Zara felt nothing when she looked up on it. Just a slight distaste for it. As usual, she watched worshippers kneel to the deities as though they¡¯d come to life and grant them their desires. She¡¯d once been like that too; she¡¯d looked forward to temple visits as a little girl. Up until she discovered her ¡°tainted¡± powers, she had no reason to dislike this way of life. But now, it made her uncomfortable to be constatnly surrounded by people who wished her kind dead. It was why she resisted wanting to participate in this class a lot at first. Saren managed to convince her in the end; it wasn¡¯t like they were going there to pray. No one could read their mind; they didn¡¯t have to respect the beliefs if they did not want to¡ªand they didn¡¯t. This made each visit more bearable. ¡°I think I have almost gotten the squatting position down,¡± Saren remarked proudly. Zara cackled. ¡°Oh really? I¡¯d love to see it.¡± She remembered the first few lessons. It had been the first time witnessing Saren looking so awkward, and even more out of place with her bigger stature. Her legs grew tired quickly in the more difficult dance positions, one of which involved a lot of knee excersise and squatting with a straight back. Zara had more self-practice with it, so she was able to learn the proper technique quickly. Even then, their guru always had pointers to perfect Zara¡¯s form. This made Zara feel even better about signing up for the class. Saren rolled her eyes. ¡°Not everyone can be as natural as you are, Zara.¡± Zara blushed. ¡°Natural? Come on. There are plenty better than me. Rishanna is one of the best beginners here. Even I¡¯m not at her level.¡± ¡°You are modest,¡± Saren replied. ¡°Though maybe it would help to get advice from her, yes?¡± Rishanna was a sweet girl, a few years younger than Zara, who shared their class. She was not only humble, but showed signs of a blossoming talent. She had the full support of her family and guru. Sometimes Zara couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit jealous about that. Jealous and sad, as she had always yearned for the unconditional support Rishanna was lucky to have. They entered the temple and turned down a short corrider to a door that led downstairs. The general upper areas were for everyday worship, but the space underground was used for learning the arts of song, music, dance, and the teachings of the scripture. As they descended the steps, the air immediately grew cooler, tinged with the faint scent of incense and stone. A few feet away from the bottom step was the expansive dance hall, opening up like a hidden world, bathed in the warm glow of golden lanterns and oil lamps that cast intricate shadows across the walls. Stone pillars rose from the floor to meet the carved ceiling above. Each pillar was adorned with detailed geometric and spiritual patterns. Soft tapestries hung along the walls in deep reds, blues, and golds. The floor was polished smooth and decorated with inlaid mosaics. Each alcove along the walls was like a small sanctuary, filled with plush cushions and low seating, inviting dancers to rest and prepare. The room was bustling as Zara and Saren were the last ones in. They¡¯d spotted Rishanna across the room right away¡ªdressed in pretty pink with her brown locks tightly braided. Her smile always brightened up every space she was in. Unfortunately, she was too busy indulging in gossip with her friends to come say hi. Zara and Saren chose the nearest empty alcove to set their things down, wrap their scarves around their bodies properly, and put on their anklets. This was the best part of Zara¡¯s simple dressing routine¡ªgetting to wear the anklets she¡¯d bought in Pria so long ago, believing she would never be able to wear these things outside her bedroom. ¡°So, Saren,¡± Zara teased as she adjusted her dress once more, ¡°before the class starts, did you wanna show me that squat or¡ª?¡± When Zara looked back up, her words came to a sharp halt. Saren was standing as straight as the pillar behind her, her concentration disturbingly set on something beyond them. At first it seemed like Saren was having another one of her strange occurences again. But this wasn¡¯t it. Her expression wasn¡¯t glazed over, and Zara could sense that her mind was still intact. No, this was too different¡ªforeboding, even. Alarmed, Zara tried to see what Saren was looking at. ¡°Saren?¡± Zara muttered, scanning the room. ¡°What is it? Is something wrong?¡± ¡°There¡¯s someone there,¡± Saren said, her eyes still locked on whatever she was seeing. ¡°I think she knows us.¡± ¡°Huh? She?¡± A moment passed as Zara continued to search impatiently, hoping Saren hadn¡¯t suddenly lost her wits. But when a few of the other conversing dance students finally stepped out of the way, she saw her. And she instantly knew who this was. ¡°Alright everyone!¡± their guru shouted, clapping her hands. ¡°Get in formation; we have a lot to cover today!¡± Zara couldn¡¯t move. Towards the edge of the room, in the last space in the front row, stood a woman with midnight hair, long, glossy, and straight. Her figure was tall, and she wore a deep violet traditional dance drape, perfectly wrapped and pleated over her lean body. She had her palms together in front of her, like she was meditating. Her aura had been muted; Zara hadn¡¯t even noticed her at all. But now, the darkness was beginning to pulse through. The woman had made Saren feel it first, and now it was Zara¡¯s turn. Zara had no choice but to follow Saren to their assigned spot, which was in the row behind the woman. Zara gulped as the woman¡ªpalms still together¡ªslowly turned her head, her burning yellowish eyes, lined heavily with black kohl, locked on her. Her ruby lips curled in greeting. ¡°Hello, my dear,¡± Dayana said. ¡°I told you we would meet again.¡±