Holding on to Iris’ newfound happiness wasn’t easy, but her new family wouldn’t let her be miserable.
Elera insisted on buying Iris a white wedding dress. Iris didn’t feel right about wearing white, but it wasn’t worth arguing a point she knew she would lose. She did, however, protest the new party dress Elera bought her. Elera said she’d want it eventually, and what was the harm in getting it now?
The one point Iris wouldn’t concede was a high neckline for both dresses. Elera assumed the stipulation was for modesty’s sake, which was somewhat true, but Iris was most concerned with hiding the crystal in her chest. Nobody needed to know about that.
Nobody except Char.
And Iris would only tell him after they married, when it was impossible to hide the crystal any longer.
She kept little else secret from Elera over the next few days, especially during her worst moments of darkness. Elera could be a little overbearing at times, but she cared, and she was there. She never once turned Iris away because it was too late or she was too busy. Iris knew what an inconvenience their late-night talks or cry sessions could be, and although Elera was no Char, Char was also no Elera. Sometimes, there was nothing that could beat a mother’s love.
Iris had never known that before. Not personally.
She missed Char, though.
It felt a little silly. He and Rath came over for dinner every day, but she still missed him.
The war was at a standstill, thanks to Micah’s death and the ensuing chaos in the human kingdom, and yet Kelnor was still keeping his team busy. Rath and Char wouldn’t say what he had them doing, but they were always tired, and they never stayed long past dinner. Iris knew they weren’t involved in the peace talks, and Rath was still dead set against leadership training, which left one thing she could think of: Micah’s research.
For all the evil he’d done, he was a magical genius. There had to be valuable information in his vast writings. Sifting through his horrible experiments to find the hidden gems couldn’t be easy, though. Iris could see how that would wear a person down.
But as much as she hated to admit it, as much as she wanted to forget everything about that man, she often thought of his words when she was practicing her magic.
Maybe that was why using magic still unsettled her.
Magic came easily to her, even without the whispers to guide her. That bothered her. She’d never wanted it in the first place, and she didn’t want it now. She’d thought she would be done with it after she got rid of the amulet. She wanted to be done with it.
But it was like a craving. It was an addiction she couldn’t break, and when she remembered Micah's obsession with it, that scared her. At night, she lay awake in bed, trying to resist. And she couldn't. She had to give in eventually. She had to try something different, push a little harder.
At least learning how to trigger and guide the memories of her mother seemed safe enough.
She could choose the emotion now. She could choose if she wanted to smile or cry, if she wanted a lighthearted moment or something deeper and more emotional. The images were always from her point of view, limiting her field of vision to her mother’s face and whatever her mother was showing her, and when she was in these visions, these memories, she experienced the simplicity of being an infant. Pure joy. Awestruck wonder. Innocent curiosity.
In every memory, her mother told Iris she loved her. In some of them, she said she had to leave Iris soon, that she hated to do it, but it would be for the best. Sometimes she would dangle the amulet over Iris when they were playing. She would laugh when Iris grabbed at it and would tease her about it being too valuable for a chew toy. And then there were the nights when they curled up on a bed of straw in a stable somewhere, and she would hold Iris close and say how wonderful it was to have a warm place to sleep.
She prayed—a lot.
Iris had never known a mother’s love, and now, it felt as though she had two mothers.
Almost.
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“Look, Iris. See that? It’s the place where you’re going to live.”
Iris looked where her mother was pointing, toward an old church with stone walls.
“There’s a priest there named Father John, and he’ll be taking care of you from now on.”
Iris snuggled into her mother’s shoulder. The building wasn’t that interesting, and she was tired.
“You won’t have to worry about where you’re sleeping or what you’re eating anymore.” Her mother laughed. She was trying to keep her voice cheerful, but her words were coming out thick. “Not that you worry about anything now. I do all the worrying for both of us, don’t I?”
Iris yawned.
“But I won’t have to worry about you anymore. You’ll be safe here, and Father John will make sure you have everything you need.”
Her mother stopped walking and hugged Iris tight.
“I’ll miss you so much, Iris.”
She bent over and laid Iris in a basket, arranging a blanket over her while Iris stared up at her. Tears were streaming down her face. Iris didn't understand why.
“I won’t be coming back, Iris,”her mother said, her voice choked. “He’s getting closer, and I’m afraid…”
She stopped, pursing her lips to silence her sobs as she reached into a pocket to produce the amulet.
“Maybe if I could just get rid of it… but…” She stared at it for a moment, then sighed and tucked it into the blankets. “But it wants to be with you.”
She leaned in and kissed Iris on the forehead.
“I’m sorry, Iris. I love you.”
And then she was gone.
Iris stared up at the starry night sky, alone and confused. All was still and quiet.
Then pounding hoofbeats echoed through the air and shook the ground. Suddenly, Iris was afraid. The noise was getting closer—and then a man shouted and the hoofbeats changed direction, traveling away from Iris and fading into the distance.
A single scream pierced the night.
Iris squeezed her eyes shut and cried, desperate for her mother to come back and comfort her.
“Hello, who are you?”
Iris didn’t recognize that voice. She opened her eyes as gentle fingers caressed her cheek and saw blue eyes above her, but they weren’t her mother’s eyes. They were much paler than her mother’s, and the face that held them was unfamiliar. She continued wailing, scared of the stranger, just wanting her mother to come back and make it all better.
“Oh, don’t cry.”
The hands that lifted her out of the basket weren’t her mother’s, but they cradled her with just as much care, and the stranger continued whispering to her.
“Let’s get you inside. Father John just went to bed, but I think we can wake him up, don’t you? Shh, it’s okay. You’ll be safe here, little one. My name is Jonah. I’m your new big brother.”
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Iris was still crying when she opened her eyes.
Her heart ached. She didn’t want to wake Elera up this late at night, but the heartbreak of losing her mother, Jonah, and Father John all over again was too much for her to bear alone.
The crystal in her chest pulsed. She touched the fingers of her right hand to it.
Kayla flashed through her mind. Then Fred, and then Ginger.
Then Ginger.
She hadn’t said goodbye to them—not properly. And with all the chaos at the castle right after she left, they had to be worried about her. And Father Peter, too…
She needed to tell them she was okay. And it couldn't wait until peace came.
She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. It felt like she was flailing about in a void without the whispers, but when she managed to leave her body and climb into the air, out of Elera’s house, out of the mountain, it all came back to her. It all felt natural.
The night sky was beautiful. Just like the night her mother left her. It was clear, adorned with millions of stars and a silver half moon, and down below, the scattered trees halfway up the mountainside grew thicker together as they descended, creating a dark forest in a valley.
She flew east over more frosted peaks and deep vales, past the rolling foothills, until the treeline broke and gave way to the plains. Patches of green dotted the flat landscape now. The sight lifted her spirits. Things were changing for the better. It would take time to recover, but it was happening.
She knew the path to the capital city well, and she covered the distance in mere seconds. Although she hadn’t taken a good look at the church’s exterior when she was there, its tall spires made it easy to find among the plain rooftops. She dove inside and down to the dark basement, where sleeping children filled bunk beds and cots. Kayla’s bright blonde hair next to Ginger’s bright red stuck out from the bunch.
Kayla.
Kayla’s blue eyes shot wide open. She sat up, looking around with wild eyes. “Iris?”
Shh. I’m not actually here. It’s magic. Just think what you want to say.
Iris?
Yes, it’s me. Can you wake Ginger and Fred up so I can talk to all of you? Quietly?
Kayla shook Ginger. The teenager clutched the blanket around her and grumbled, “Kayla, just go by yourself.”
“Wake up!” Kayla hissed. “It’s Iris!”
“What?” Ginger sat up, rubbing her eyes. “What are you talking about?” she whispered.
Hello Ginger. I’m only here by magic, not in person, but if you think what you want to say, we can talk without waking everyone up.
Ginger’s jaw dropped. Her green eyes were as wide as saucers. Iris?
Kayla was already weaving through the beds and cots to Fred. “Fred, wake up!”
“Kayla, ask Ginger to take you,” Fred mumbled.
Yes, Ginger, it’s me. Hello Fred.
Fred sat bolt upright and hit his head on the bunk above him.
“Shh! Keep it down!” somebody hissed.
“Sorry,” Fred mumbled, rubbing his head and looking around.
It's magic, Fred. I'm not really here. Why don’t you all go to the kitchen, and we can talk without disturbing everybody?
Kayla tugged Fred in that direction, and Ginger followed. Iris couldn’t help giggling at the twins’ mystified expressions contrasted with Kayla’s excitement. She was almost skipping toward the kitchen, and when the door closed behind them, she jumped up and down and squealed. Iris!
“Iris?” Fred asked. “How…?”
I’m a mage.
“Since when?”
“Just think it, Fred,” Ginger whispered. Like this.
He stared at her.
I can do it too! Kayla exclaimed. She was dancing around the kitchen now.
I’m sorry I had to leave so suddenly. I had something I needed to do, and I wanted to come back and see you when I finished, but I couldn’t.
Was it something to do with those men? Fred asked.
Iris heard and felt his suspicion.
Yes, but they were helping me and trying to protect me. Did you hear anything about what happened at the castle?
Something about the king’s mage dying, Ginger replied.
Soldiers have been all over the city looking for somebody, Fred added.
They were looking for me and the two men who were with me, which was why we had to leave. Their names aren’t Charlie and Roger. They’re Char and Rath, and they’re dragons.
Dragons? Kayla stopped, her blue eyes round with wonder.
Iris had to laugh at her. Yes, dragons.
Is Char really your lover, then? Kayla asked.
He is. We’re getting married on Sunday.
Kayla and Ginger let out squeals of excitement, but Fred’s brow furrowed.
Iris, what have you gotten mixed up in?
It’s complicated, and I’ll tell you all in person as soon as the war is over. I just wanted to let you all know that I’m okay, and I miss you, and I love you. And if you could tell Father Peter, too, I’d be grateful.
Kayla’s smile fell. Wait, are you leaving again?
Using magic is very tiring. I have to go back and get some rest. We’re meeting the priest who will perform our wedding ceremony tomorrow, and I don’t want to oversleep.
Wait. This Char guy, Fred said. He’s taking care of you?
Yes, he’s been very good to me. We’ll come back as soon as we can for a visit. I know you’ll like him when you get to know him, but I really have to go now.
Goodnight! I love you! Kayla exclaimed, waving at the air.
Goodnight. I love all of you, too. If I can, I’ll try to contact you this way again.
Goodnight! We love you!
Iris was reluctant to leave them, but she was feeling the drain of using new magic, and she had to end the endless cycle of goodbyes to find her way back to her body. Fortunately, the return journey was as quick and easy as her foray to the west, and when she opened her eyes in Char’s bed at Elera’s house, she smiled.
She had a lot to tell Elera in the morning.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHFHe8ZjxGD
