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I narrowed my eyes. “Dis all seems tuh bi too suspicious. Shi could be a spy.”
Dossidian and Meredith both nodded.
“We have her restrained for now. Spy or not, she is still under the influence of the slavery bond. She is a safety risk regardless. We will have to keep an eye on her until Raven gets back.” Dossidian said. I sighed.
“Mi need tuh still cross di veil and speak with di Sorcerer General.” I pointed out. I fingered the signet ring that identified me as a certified member of The Board. Outside of asking if there was anything in the archives that could help to overcome the power of The Flute, I needed to warn my people of the upcoming war.
Meredith nodded, “I will watch her. Rycon is here in case she turns out to be dangerous. And as Dossidian said, she is restrained. Her powers have been crippled from being enslaved for so long. This alone leads me to want to believe her story. What has been done to her is… horrific. I have never seen anything like it before.”
Dossidian and I both exchanged a look, neither of us loved the idea of leaving Meredith here with a potential enemy and Rycon as her only defense. I glanced at Jeremy. I supposed he would be here as well. He was only human, yes, but I had not missed the way Rycon had listened to him when he had told him to take his feet off the table. Maybe he would be a good enough influence to keep things in line until Raven returned.
I glanced anxiously back out at Mount Frira again.
It was still erupting.
I bit back the swell of worry that welled in my chest. She should have been back by now. It didn’t take that long to dump a head into a volcano. I shoved down my concern and turned to Dossidian.
“‘Aight, we stick tuh di original plan. Mer, you stay here with Mista Fisha and di cat, Dossidian and mi will cross di veil and speak tuh Mista Abbey and di Sorcerer General. Me’ll come back as soon as mi can.”
Meredith nodded reluctantly. “Be careful.” She told me. I nodded.
Dossidian came forward and drew one of his sabers before slicing a hole into the fabric of reality, opening a portal between worlds.
“We will be back in a day or two. If you need us, send Raven to the Abbey house.” Dossidian said. Meredith nodded, but Jeremy didn’t seem to be listening.
He was still watching the erupting volcano.
Raven
‘Alexa, Play Cosmic Lottery by Evergreen.’
Iblinked, confused for a moment, at the electric blue door that stood before me. It was a brisk winter night and the soft nostalgic notes of ‘I’ll be home for Christmas,’ hummed sweetly from the interior of the house; the house I had grown up in.
I took a step forward and jumped a little, as my feet crunched in the crispy snow that crept in patches across the porch. I was wearing my trusty combat boots, black jeans, and the hand-me-down leather jacket that Clair had given me a few years back. It didn’t do much to keep me warm, but I loved it so much that it was worth feeling a little chilly when I wore it.
Red, green, blue, and yellow Christmas lights wound in and out of the porch’s banister and I could smell a turkey baking in the oven… Clair only baked a turkey twice a year. Thanksgiving and… Christmas Eve.
It was Christmas Eve.
Moving as if I had been possessed, I reached a hand forward grabbing the cold, golden knob and twisting, before slipping into the foyer. The warmth of the house enveloped me like a familiar embrace. A heart wrenching mix of laughter and friendly chatter met my ears, all trickling from the kitchen.
“Raven? Is that you?” My heart pounded in my chest. That voice. Why did it feel like it had been so long since I had heard that voice? I froze where I stood, unable to move.
“One second, I need to see who’s at the door, I think Raven just got here.”
I lost minutes as she came out of the kitchen and turned down the hall, her blonde hair piled on top her head, a red apron that said ‘Mrs. Claus,’ was wrapped around her waist.
“Raven! Honey it is you!” Clair beamed at me, wiping her hands off on a tea towel before tossing it over her shoulder and coming forward to gather me up in her arms.
“Mom?” My voice cracked. I felt like I hadn’t seen her in so long. There was a lump in my throat, and I buried my face into her chest as she hugged me, struggling not to cry. Why was I trying so hard not to cry? She pulled back, smiling down at me, taking in the look on my face. She ran a thumb over my cheek, frowning.
“Sweetheart, what’s wrong?” She asked. I struggled to find words.
What was wrong?
Why did I feel as if the very sight of her was shattering my entire world?
“I don’t know…” I said softly, “I just… I think I’ve missed you. So much.”
