Page 82 of A Whisper of Cinders

She sighs, a sad expression edged across her beautiful features. I know the next part of the story will not be pleasant, and based on how Mrs Delalune is looking right now… It makes me wonder if she knew my mother, possibly even me when I was younger.

“No one knows exactly how it happened, no one knew about you except for a handful of fae. But dark, wicked forces came in the middle of the night. Your mother fought long and hard, while casting an ancient spell that could only be used once to hide you away. She slayed them all — she was a very skilled guardian — but one of the creatures was able to light its fire, creating a toxic smoke and with those flames…” She sighs and shakes her head. “Even the skilled, fire-wielding fae can’t douse those types of flames. Your mother knew that, and when you eventually came down, the flames were everywhere and she was intoxicated by the smoke. By some miracle, the ancient protection spell created a dome around you and you remained unharmed.

“Your mother’s friend arrived, the flames were completely extinguished by that time. She had received clear instructions from your mother and she was — and still is — an expert in her field. She entered your mind and created an impenetrable barrier upon your memories, making sure there was nothing left of the magical life you lived.

“House of Anima isn’t the most pleasant place, and that is an understatement. But your mother knew you would be safe there, because who would go looking for a magical fae girl in a place like that?”

I don’t know what to say. I don’t know what to think.

I’m relieved to hear it wasn’t me who killed my mother, but…all the other things she said? I’m on the edge of freaking out. The fact that someone is out there after me, is terrifying. But what she said about me being fae, doesn’t make sense, yet deep down it does.

Tears fall down my cheeks, I quickly wipe them away. “Will my memories return?”

Mrs Delalune gives me a tissue. “It is possible.”

Not a no, but not a yes either. “Who am I?”

A cool hand covers mine. “Now might be the perfect time to discover that.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

Even with the new information I learned, thinking about my childhood, of my mother who has magical powers and didn’t perish at my hands, who did everything in her power to protect me. My mind remains blank.

“Don’t force yourself, dear. A blockage this strong cannot be resolved in a few seconds, hours, weeks or even months. It will take time.”

She releases my hand and looks over her shoulder before looking back at me, patiently waiting.

“I really want to say that nothing you just said makes sense and I need to leave this place immediately.”

“But?”

“But, although I cannot remember it and my mind is still very certain about the fact that I did kill my mother, your truth sounds real too. It is very…confusing. Why didn’t I see or feel the magic here?”

She tilts her head. “Are you certain you didn’t? You never saw something that seemed out of the ordinary?”

I shake my head, but suddenly, I’m not so certain anymore. I did see things that were a little off, didn’t I? Siri, Aramis and Conláed, each of their eyes would glow at the most random times or change colour as if they wore contacts. And I do remember Mrs Delalune fingers that first day I arrived. I thought it was the fatigue playing tricks on my head, but I saw light glowing around her. Or the white lines on Althea’s hands, which I thought were residue of some kind of ointment.

“I know it is a lot to take in, but please take all the time you need. Even now that you know, your mind will try to convince you that none of it is real. Your real vision will shift in and out, like a dark cloud passing the sun. It might cause headaches at times.”

Headaches… They became worse the moment I arrived here, or at Anima, when I tried to find out more about my past. “The migraine attacks I have are connected to my mind and memory that have been tempered with.” Not a question, because I know what her answer will be.

“They are. The medication they gave you at Anima was to keep a hold on your magic, but also to keep it undetected. The stronger your headaches were, the more your mind was trying to reveal the truth, you got close to magic or you might have even used some.”

Does that mean they had people, fae, working on the inside as well? Thinking about it causes a vague throbbing in my head. “But why did you give me medication here? It’s not like it really worked.”

“That is true, because they were placebo. Meaning they were —"

“Fake”

“Correct. You had to find out at your own pace. It was written in the stars.” Not sure what she means by that, but she continues before I can ask her. “We have a seer here in the Academy, someone who can see your past and future, while living in the present. Her visions can be hard to decipher, she isn’t always capable of understanding them herself. But one day halfway through May she started sketching. It went on for days, and although the scenes were different in every drawing, there was one constant at the center of them all.” She pauses and a warm smile lights up her face. “You.”

“Me?”

She nods and turns her head to look outside the window. “It’s not unheard of, fae living amongst humans. It rarely happens, but we’ve known troubled times in Tyralune and some parents believed their children would be safer in the human lands and it would give them a chance at a bright future.” She looks back at me and there is quiet conviction in her eyes. “Moonveil Academy is a Sanctuary, protected by strong shields and spells, keeping all the danger out at all times. You are safe here, I promise.”

“I believe you.” Although it’s a lot to take in, I know no danger will find me here, whatever that danger might be.

“The children living amongst the humans don’t know magic, and if they do, they suppress it,” she continues. “At one point it erupts, like a volcano, and we bring them back to us, our seekers able to pick up the burst of magic. Some of the parents are still alive, others have perished, but we have safehouses here, where children can grow up and once they are old enough to come to the Academy, they are more than welcome here.”