34. Chapter Thirty-Four
Chapter Thirty-Four
Astrid
Effie comes skipping back out and gestures to follow her in. I groan as I shove myself onto my feet, turning to help Embla up only to find Thea gently pulling her to her feet.
“Wait, wait,” Embla says softly, and I can see Thea’s eyebrows shoot up, but she listens. I do the same. I pause, and Embla grabs my hand, tying a braided grass bracelet around my wrist she made while we waited, then Thea and Effie’s too. I was really hoping I wouldn’t have to face this Augustus guy again. How many people saw me screaming at Dwellin? I shake my head, my eyes turning to my feet as I trudge to the door. Embla, Thea, and Effie step inside but I pause at the door.
“Hey Dwellin, I’m sorry for yelling at your door earlier,” I say looking up to the plaque on the wall that houses the speaker.
“I know your anger wasn’t directed at me, but don’t lose your fire. Augustus needs someone who is going to challenge him.” I can hear the smile in Dwellin’s voice, and I nod. The door falls open and I make my way inside. The smell of cigar smoke and alcohol fills my nose as my eyes hover over the circular bar that sits in the middle of the large room. I weave through the tables and chairs surrounding the bar following my three companions up a set of stairs. I throw out my middle finger when I feel Augustus’s eyes on me.
“Welcome back, Trouble.” I can hear the smirk in his voice. I refuse to look anywhere else except for in front of me until he is out of sight. The stairs open into a veranda with dark, oak railings, and rose colored elevator on one side. A ding comes from the double doors. I step inside along with the rest of the group as we ride the elevator up.
My room has sky blue walls and a white bedspread. The calming smell of lavender floats through the room. There’s a door that leads to the bathroom, and a dresser against the wall opposite the bed. Other than that, the room is the bare minimum with a single window.
I drop onto the bed, lay back to stare at the ceiling, wondering when feeling safe became a privilege I can now barely afford. My head still reels over Erik’s death. I’ve done my best to keep it out of my mind, and with everything going on it's been easy to find distractions. It’s in the quiet moments like this when the thoughts of him, my grief for everything that has been lost, creeps up on me. If Embla was strong enough to fight back and stand up for herself, to fight for something, anything , then maybe Erik would still be here.
She’s going to have to learn how to fight. It's just not safe enough outside of Demendia’s walls for her without that knowledge. She’s going to have to learn or she’s never going to leave this tavern. My need to protect her is overwhelming. I raised her whether my father will admit it or not, and I’m not going to let anything happen to her. Even if that means I have to be the bad guy. My duffel bag was deposited in my room before I arrived, and I decided against unpacking.
“I won’t be here long.” I bend over the bed to the bag at my feet, placing a finger on the smooth surface of the stone I have hidden there. Hoping something will happen like it did in the temple, that the warmth will spread through my arm and show me what I’m missing, but there’s nothing. The stone remains gleaming beneath my fingers. At least this interlude in travel will give me some time to do some research. Maybe I can find something on what this is. I zip the duffel bag closed before sliding it under the bed.
Night falls outside as I stare at the ceiling. I got my wish to be outside of Demendia, for freedom, but at what cost? The only person I care about who hasn’t been affected by all of this is Embla, and that’s because I brought her with me. The world used to be simple, but now there’s magic. Fae, faeries, and underlings. Suspicion. I remember the way Augustus looked at me, the warmth I thought I saw in his eyes going cold. His accusation of me having magic. But I would know if I had magic... Wouldn’t I? It would do something when I got upset, isn’t that how it works? None of this is important, I need to find a cure and save my people. I wish I could free them from the walls that keep them captive, but I’ll have to settle for curing the illness that has left them vulnerable.
I sit up, running a hand over my face. As much as I need the fae’s help I can’t sit still. I can’t pause my search; I need to do something. I need to find the library. My thoughts and feelings are still whirling but I’m tired of being stuck in my head, and with the sun dying in the lone window of my room, I know I’m not going to try to find the library tonight. Instead, I decide to go check in with Em. Shoving off the bed, I walk through the door to the one across the hall. Having a door that separates us after sharing a room our entire lives feels strange. Like we’re disconnected. I knock three times, and the door swings open to reveal Embla’s shining face.
“I was wondering when you would come see me,” Embla says, an exhausted smile stretching over her face as she ushers me inside.
I step into a world drowning in yellow. Yellow tulips are painted on every surface. Just like my room, Embla’s merely contains the bare minimum. Though there are a few more frills on the decorations here than in mine. I drop on the couch, and Embla plops next to me.
“This room suites you.” I appraise my sister’s white hair, and the happy glow that radiates off her.
“I do love it, though it’s weird to have a room to myself,” Embla admits glancing around us.
“That is weird, isn’t it? I think it’s good though, a new experience. Privacy,” I trail off. The silence presses between us, and I know we are both burning to tell the other something. “You need to learn how to fight,” I say quietly, knowing already this isn’t going to go over well.
“I can’t.” Embla shakes her head refusing to say more and I sigh.
“If you can’t then I can’t let you leave the tavern alone. I won’t risk you getting hurt or dyin’ in a city we are unfamiliar with,” I whisper, but I know she won’t ever agree. I don’t know if I will ever get through to her. I feel like I’m talking but she’s not truly understanding the danger that’s around us.
“You can’t lock me in this place.” Embla props herself up on her elbow to look at me. “I haven’t cataloged all of the plants we saw on the way into the city.” Her voice grows higher pitched as she whines before flopping back down onto the bed.
“Then you need to learn how to protect yourself. But right now , staying inside the tavern is the safest thing for you to do. Unless that changed your mind.” Embla shakes her head no, crossing her arms over her chest grumbling under her breath. My stomach gurgles, loudly. “Do you want to come with me to see if there’s anything to eat downstairs?”
I sit up and Embla follows suit. Nodding before following me to the elevator, I can feel the anger cresting off her. I know she’s going to be upset that she can’t go outside, but this is for her safety. If someone in the city wanted to attack her, she wouldn’t be able to defend herself at all. I’m not risking her.
We make our way downstairs. Uncertainty settles in my stomach as I lead Em to one of the recliners in front of one of the four fireplaces that line the space.
“You don’t want to sit at the bar, or at least a table if we’re going to eat?” Embla asks, eyeing the recliners.
“The guy at the bar kicked me out earlier. They don’t like humans here,” I admit, my eyes tracing the stones that craft the hearth.
“Then we don’t have to sit at the bar, but can we sit at that table? I’d like to have something to set my food on.” Embla motions to a table not far from us but it is the farthest one from the bar. I agree easily, following her. Glancing back at the bar, I can feel green eyes trailing me as I take my seat.