Page 83 of A Whisper of Cinders

She speaks of children, and although I am not that old yet, I don’t believe I fit into the category of being a child. “It went differently for me, didn’t it?”

Her smile wavers. “It did. Macaria, our seer, found you right before you turned sixteen, but all she saw was fire, all she felt was agony. We could locate the origin of that awful wildfire, but when the seekers arrived, the house had already burned down and no living fae was left behind. The seekers returned to the Academy and Macaria’s visions of you ended. The last thing she saw was a white, concrete building.”

“Anima?”

“Exactly. It took some time for us to find it, the building somehow blocking all magic out. Imagine our surprise when we found out another fae had already been sent to help you, protect you.”

“Amira,” I whisper and Mrs Delalune nods. “But how did she end up in Anima if not sent by you?” Another burning question rises. “Did she really die or was that some sick magic trick?”

“I cannot answer your first question, but Amira entered House of Anima willingly, knowing there was this other fae girl all alone in that horrible place.” She pauses, debating her next words before answering. “For your second question, yes, she almost did. It was the only way for us to get her out. A powerful spell could teleport her back to the Academy, but only if she was on the brink of death and she couldn’t take anyone with her. So when your headaches intensified and she felt power rising within you, she injured herself. There was no perpetrator, but the stab wound and blood loss were real.”

She did what?

Mrs Delalune slowly rises from the chair and offers me her most comforting smile. “She loves you, Maily, deep down you know that. It was time for you to come here. The dangers of our worlds were closing in on you and with no possible way to get you out, she had to play out a scene so gruesome and horrifying, they had no other choice but to transfer you.”

I swallow audibly, stunned by what Ami had to do to keep me safe and what risk there might be for my own life. “What dangers?”

She walks towards the door, turning back around when she is nearly there. “I will explain that another time. Soon. Rest first and let all the information sink in.” She offers me a compassionate smile. “You had to figure it out yourself, Macaria’s outcome to us telling you as soon as you arrived here all ended poorly for you. For us.” She pauses, looks at the door and turns back to me. “Remember Amira made a sacrifice, knowing what it would set in motion, knowing what it would mean to your friendship. All she ever wanted was to keep you safe.”

And with that she opens the door and walks out of the room, but the doorway isn’t empty. Three figures stand there. Siri enters first, leaving Amira and Aramis in the centre aisle.

“Dear moons, Maily, I was so worried! I prayed to the stars every day and hoped you would wake up soon.”

She sits down on the bed, ignoring the chair that is still standing there. “How long was I out?”

“About five days or so. Your fever was sky high and very hard to bring down. I suppose that’s what happens when you mess with someone’s mind like that.”

Five days. Not very reassuring. “What is it with your moon references? Has it something to do with the magic thingy?” I ask, subtly changing the subject.

“Didn’t Mrs Delalune tell you?” I shake my head. “Oh, well. I’ll give you the short version then. We fae get our powers from the moon and the sun. I am an Elistrean priestess, or on the way to becoming one, basically meaning I have a very close connection to the moon and stars. It’s why my eyes have a hint of lavender, the more purple there is, the stronger the connection. And since I was born on a full moon…”

She waves towards her eyes and it takes a second for me to see that her eyes are indeed a deep lavender colour with blue interwoven through it.

“Can you see? I know your blockage will stop you from continuously seeing us as we are, but that will come with time, I’m sure.”

I stare at her and try to unlock my mind, or something like that, and for a moment her image flickers. She looks the same, but she doesn’t either. Her features get even more captivating, and her ears end in a delicate tip. I blink and it’s gone, the headache increasing.

“Are you okay though?”

I stop staring at her and try to think past the ache. “I think so. I mean, it is a lot to take in and it all feels so surreal, but it also feels like I finally fit in the puzzle, you know?”

“I think I do.” She bites her lip, weighing her words. “Hey, Mai?”

“Yes?”

“I’m sorry I lied to you. It is against my nature to do so, but we weren’t allowed to tell you anything.”

I grab her hand, surprised that I have become the touchy one. “It’s okay, I understand now.”

Although I don’t like being lied to, I can see why it was necessary. Although Mrs Delalune was a bit vague about the bad outcome, I wouldn’t want to risk other lives or myself for that matter.

Siri bows her head, grabbing my other hand and giving them both a squeeze, a familiar burning sensation warms up my skin. “Thank you. You have no idea how relieved I am to hear that.” She looks outside the window, observing the sky. “Would you be very mad if I told you I had to leave?”

“What? No! Of course not.”

She hops off the bed. “But please, when you’re ready, come to the greenhouse. I can teach you about magical plants from now on.”

“I’d love that. Thank you for visiting.”