“I can’t do this with you now, I’m sorry. Not like this. Just…”
I shut my mind off, build a wall around it, and come back to the information I’m processing. I never knew them, so why does it still hurt? A tear drops to my cheek, and I swipe it the second I feel it, as if I can brush away the feelings, too.
“Kalan said our magic would work differently here. It’s not as strong for me. He made me practice on the journey over.”Ten’s got better at knocking through shields, and I love that he’s trying to distract me from what I’m feeling, but it’s too much right now. I close my eyes to the strange trees around me as I focus on the words that pushed me here.
I’ve been in the dark and assumed that finding the light—finding the truth—would help. But knowing my parents were dead all this time only kills the small burning candle of hope that was inside of me.
I wrestle with telling Ten and sharing the information that he had started to uncover, but I don’t want to do it like this. He’s a prisoner because of me. Kept in a cave after being led here, and no doubt, lied to.
And Crimson…
“Is Calix okay? Why is Crimson here?”My turn to change the subject.
“He’s fine. But Crim has a score to settle with your brother. We all do.”
“He’s too dangerous. We can’t do anything until we find a weakness, or I’ve jumped through the hoops they want, and I’m strong enough to take him on.”
It’s his turn to go quiet over our connection.
“Ten?”
“Sorry. We’re going to see where the cave leads?”
“Are you serious?”I stop my aimless wander, panic rising through me at the memory of the dark and cold path into the mountain.
“I’m not going to sit and wait for something to happen. Stars, they could leave us here to rot.”
“I won’t let that happen,”I vow.
“Kalan only promised to get us to you. Nothing more. But we’ll work out a plan. I promise. I love you.”
“I love you. And I promise I’ll tell that to you in person when I can.”
As the light fades through the trees, I realise I’ve been left out here alone for a long time. Much longer than I’d have anticipated. Fenix hasn’t sent anyone after me, nor has he come to bring me back himself.
It feels like a failure to pick my way back to their camp and ask for their food and shelter. But I’m not about to be that foolish. Not when Ten and Crimson are here.
Dusk has arrived early in camp, the trees acting like a personal blanket, blocking the last of the light, as if sheltering us, preparing us for Aslendrix’s rule.
Kalan isn’t there waiting. Fenix is.
Despite the truths he spilt, my disappointment at not being able to ask anything further is surprising. I’d painted him as the villain, and he might still be, but there’s so much of the story to fill in.
“Where is everyone?” I ask, the fire still slowly crackling, the flames softly kissing the air around them.
“The night isn’t our favourite time. We prefer the day.”
“Is there a reason for that, or is it just a riddle? Now that I know our parents are dead, I thought you might stop playing with truths.”
“I’m not playing at anything, Ever.”
“I’m not in the mood to argue, Fenix.”
“You squandered your opportunity for the truth, playing your own tricks on the journey over here. Don’t cry now as if I was the one to keep all of this from you.”
“I said, I don’t want to argue with you.”
My frustration ignites, red-hot and scorching as I release a stream of darkness, thick as cloud around us. Similar to before. Only this time it’s more concentrated, as if it wants to block out and shield me from Fenix, keeping him at bay.
