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Ingrid pushed the door open to a large room filled with bookshelves. “Laurence mentioned you have only recently become aware of your heritage. And gained a familiar so fast. You must be very powerful.” She addressed Charlie but also seemed to glance at me before spreading her arms open, a wide grin on her face. “Of course, you’ll be welcome to spend your time here, learning about magic. My daughter will be happy to help. Very happy.”
Charlie rubbed the back of his neck, his charm fading as her strange behavior made him uncomfortable. “Er, thanks. I might take you up on that.”
She clapped her hands and fluttered back into the corridor calling, “I’ll let you rejoin your friends. Please, help yourself to food and drink.”
Charlie sighed as we made our way back down the stairs. “Was that weird, or was that just me?” he mumbled.
“I told you not to flirt with her.”
The entryway was getting busier by the minute, and we squeezed past people through to the garden. A recognizable winged body made us head toward a small table in the furthest corner from the square center where two strangers bravely danced.
Savida cheered when he saw us coming. “Ah, friends! Please, join us for a tiny cake.” He raised his food and motioned toward the three empty chairs.
My heart warmed at the sight. They’d been waiting for us all. Wanted us to be together amongst these strangers.
“A cupcake,” Charlie corrected as he sat down.
“But it is not in a cup.” Savida frowned. “Why would it be called cupcake?”
“I don’t make the rules.” Charlie shrugged and ungarbed the cupcake of its paper.
“Who does?” Savida asked.
I stopped listening to Charlie and Savida’s conversation as I looked at my faei friend. “You don’t look well, Daithi. What is wrong?”
His green eyes and hair were dull; his skin was sallow and had a sheen over sweat covering the usual glow. When I looked at his threads, I could see strands of orange tied tightly around him. I rested my hand on his where it gripped the arm of the chair and slowly healed him.
He blinked and quietly said, “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. Now tell me, what’s wrong?” I asked, although I didn’t want the answer. Not because I didn’t care, but because I thought it was to do with his visions about me.
He spoke quietly. “More visions are assaulting me.”
I nodded calmly but my stomach clenched. “Of me?”
“I cannot say.”
“Why not?” I frowned.
His eyes met mine, and I could see a deep fear in them. “Because for the first time, I’ve had multiple visions of the same event but all with different outcomes. I’m unsure what speaking of the vision would do. What path it would create.”
“You’ve let these visions control you for too long, my friend.” I sighed and patted his hand before pouring us both a drink from the bottle on the table. “Clawdia recently met an akari with the gift of sight and said she saw multiple versions too but knew what actions affected each thread. She seemed to be able to check as she pleased without falling unconscious.”
“I am not her.”
“No. But perhaps seeking out visions in a safe place would mean they no longer assault you,” I told him but knew he would either heed the advice or not.
There would be no convincing him if he didn’t wish to hear. He was a stubborn faei, and despite always suffering with his visions, he’d never sought help or mentorship for them. I wouldn’t waste my breath unless he really wanted my help.
I handed him a drink and took a sip of my own, my eyes now watching the crowd, waiting for my little cat to appear. She is who I wanted to spend this night with.
He paused for a moment before saying, “You’ve changed.”
“I have.” I was no longer afraid of losing his good opinion. I no longer looked up to him. I saw his faults.
He took a sip of his drink and sighed. “How do you believe I can control them?”
I hesitated, shocked he’d asked and then worried.The visions must be truly terrible for him to ask for help.I shuddered at the thought.Perhaps it is better if I don’t know about them.
