Page 109 of A Whisper of Cinders

Starfly. That’s what they were called.

And as I stare at the ceiling, the flickering of the lights like a second heartbeat, sleep calls my name and I follow.

CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT

After a night with little to no sleep, a lot of time to think and relive my near death-experience, I find myself sitting in Mrs Delalune’s office the next morning, which resembles a private temple dedicated to the moon.

The large, round window across from her mahogany desk gives the perfect view of the moon once night falls. A small shrine stands next to it and the galaxy is drawn on the ceiling, with twinkling stars included.

She knew I carried the weight of a thousand questions and shortly after I awoke and was ready to leave my room, she knocked on my door.

“Would you like some tea? Coffee?” she asks.

“No, thank you.” I’m nervous enough as it is, caffeine won’t do me any good.

She grabs some floral tea for herself and sits next to me on the very comfortable leather sofa. “Go ahead, Maily, ask away,” she encourages.

I have thought about what I should ask first, but this question kept resurfacing again and again. “Yesterday was a lot… Those creatures, Myrvael?” She nods once. “I was seconds away from dying and although Anima didn’t treat me right and I got hurt in more ways than one, I never felt like my life was in danger. So why am I here Mrs Delalune?”

I love being here, the Academy feels like home and the fae I’ve met here, learning who I am. I belong here, but at what cost?

Something like guilt flashed across her elegant features. “What happened last night shouldn’t have happened and for that, I am deeply sorry. All of my students are safe within the borders of the shield, every professor makes sure of that, as do I as we send our magic constantly into the shield. I cannot tell how they reached you, even that shouldn’t have been possible. You were on the edge of the barrier near Nocthyr, and the Myrvael managed to pull you into their territory.”

The ceiling above us grows darker, reflecting Mrs Delalune’s mood. “We were watching House of Anima around the clock, making sure they hadn’t found you. I’m sure you didn’t notice, but right outside the…safety of the grounds, decay was spreading. That in combination with your increasing headaches, we knew we had to get you out immediately.”

I see their reason, and again, I am grateful for being here, but still… “Why are they after me? Do they chase other students too?”

“That is a question I have asked myself many, many times before. One that even our seer can’t answer. We don’t know. We assume it’s for the fire that hums through your veins, the ones your mother desperately tried to hide and temper. All Morvith wants is more power and control, more than anything in the world.”

“But why me?” I pull my legs close to my chest, trying to make sense of it all. “I haven’t been able to use these so-called strong powers of mine, but I can’t believe there haven’t been other fae here that are equal as strong, or even stronger.”

Her eyes twinkle. “That is the question, isn’t it.” Mrs Delalune rises, walking towards the large window. “I believe you might be the key, Maily. The key to end the decay, make the ice melt and restore the fae realm to its wealthy and luscious environment.”

That is a lot of faith to have in someone who didn’t even know fae existed up until recently. It still doesn’t really answer why they are after me, but I guess a powerhungry psycho bitch doesn’t need that much of a reason.

Mrs Delalune observes me, her eyes glowing like a full moon. “You are…” a knock sounds at her door and she closes her eyes. “Extraordinary. You will reach your full potential, but it will cost time and patience, but we will guide you in every way we can.”

I watch her as she walks towards the door and somehow can’t shake off the feeling she was to say something else entirely.

She closes the door and returns to me. “I will have to excuse myself, with the shield being breached, we have to strengthen it again and make sure there are no other cracks that we’ve missed.”

I rise and offer her a kind smile. “Of course. I understand.”

She smiles back and the stars above us glow brighter. “If any other questions arise, please come visit me. I will be happy to answer them all.”

She leaves the door open and disappears with whoever was waiting for her. And as I look outside the window, staring into the distance, I can’t shake off the feeling that what happened last night was only the beginning.

CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

Images flash through my mind.

Me getting dressed. The hallway where my room is. Neoma’s door that glows. Stairs that I descend. A hallway I’m familiar with. And one I’ve never been in before.

The images are blurry, out of focus. I recognise what it shows me, but it feels like I’m looking through cloudy glass. Until I stand in a field of grass, that’s when everything becomes sharp again.

Silver-leaved trees stand around me, their trunks so wide, I wouldn’t be able to wrap my arms around them if I tried. Golden light filters through the branches as they shift on a warm breeze. Insects hoover above a small lake, a gazebo cloaked in ivy and shadow stands at the edge of it. If I’d have the skill to draw or paint, this would be the first thing I create.

“Where am I?”