“I like plenty of things,” Binky snapped. “None of which include mysterious naked women.”
Grundlepus sat near the doorway, not in the least worried about the drama but more intent on doing what cats did best, cleaning their fur.
Arietta shifted slightly, reaching to adjust the blanket where it had slipped, and that was when she saw it.
“Wait, what’s this?” she said.
Jessica’s head snapped toward her. “What? What is it?”
Arietta carefully lifted the edge of the blanket just enough to reveal the girl’s left up arm.
There, clear as day, was a crescent moon, a birthmark, the pink mark clear against the pale skin.
Arietta slowly turned and looked at Jessica, waiting for her to step forward.
“What is it?”
Arietta moved aside slightly, letting her see, and Jessica’s breath caught. Because she knew that mark, of course she did. She had seen it before but not on skin, instead on scales, exactly the same shape and placement.
“Oh my goddess,” Jessica whispered.
Jessica’s hands dropped to her sides, her expression shifting rapidly to shock and confusion.
“That’s…” she swallowed. “That’s Edith.” The room was silent for a moment, then a touch of chaos ensued.
“That’sEdith?” Maeve repeated.
“Nooo way ?” Isabeau added.
“But she was tiny?” Bas clarified.
“And a dragon?” Binky said.
“Yes, that Edith,” Jessica snapped, though her voice shook slightly.
Arietta looked back at the unconscious girl, and at the purple hair as well as the unfamiliar yet suddenly very familiar features.
“Well,” she said. “That explains a few things.”
“It does?” Dave asked.
“No,” Arietta admitted. “But it feels like it should.”
Jessica sank down onto the edge of the bed, staring at Edith like she might vanish if she looked away.
“Why didn’t she tell me?” she whispered.
No one had an answer for that. Because there were a lot of reasons someone might keep something like this hidden, and none of them were simple.
Dave placed a hand lightly on Jessica’s shoulder. “Hey, let’s leave her to rest,she’ll explain later, I’m sure.”
Jessica nodded slowly and reluctantly got up, letting Dave lead her from the room.
Arietta straightened, too, then she stepped back and turned to the others.
“Right,” she said gently. “Out. All of you. Give them space.”
There was some grumbling. But soon they allfiled out. Binky paused at the door, glancing back at Edith.
