51. Chapter 51
Chapter 51
Viola - 3 Months Later
T he shadow darts out so quickly I barely thought of it and catches the clay pitcher that was flying directly at my head. "I hate this!" Tulip shouts, her face red with frustration. "I'm never going to figure this out!"
"It takes time, Tulip," I say, placatingly.
"You don't get to talk, you had the Witch's Ladder to help you!" A thick cloud of shadows forms around Tulip's feet and sinks heavily to the ground, resting upon it like a stubborn steer.
"And you have me. The Shadowweaver. Isn't that better than a Witch's Ladder?" She tries to set her intentions to throw her sad cloud of Shadow magic at me, but it does nothing more than rest on her feet. Shadow squeezes my neck from his position as my jewelry, giving me an idea. "What if we try something a little more fun first?"
Tulip flops down in the grass, staring at the keep of Rainworth. She leans back on her hands as I lower myself in front of her. "What do you have in mind?"
"A familiar. Maybe my Shadow magic responded to me so well because, from the moment it appeared, Shadow was with me in some way."
Her eyes catch on the bundle of shadows that rest beside her. I'm assuming she released her intentions, but the cloud remains. "Do you think this is a familiar?"
I squint at the cloud, trying to picture it as an animal. "No idea, but it's not leaving, and I'm assuming you dropped your intentions. Why not try picturing it coming alive? Not as a specific animal. Just…" I suck on my teeth, trying to figure out how to put it into words. I knew what Shadow was, which I think made it considerably easier. "Okay, throw your intentions into making you a magical guide. Something that can help lead you. Shadow has ways of gaining my attention and letting me know he wants me to do specific things, so think about that. An animal guide."
"I guess it won't hurt to try," she mumbles, scrambling to her knees and facing the cloud. I adjust myself so her face is in my line of sight, watching as she closes her eyes and focuses. Minutes later, the shadows begin to morph. I have a hard time containing my shout of excitement, but I do until the animal is sitting in front of Tulip, staring up at her with shining, obsidian eyes.
"Open your eyes, Tulip."
She does, and the look on her face has me nearly falling over laughing. "Are you kidding me?" she complains. "You get a badass sep snake thing, and I've got…"
"A bunny rabbit." Now, I cannot restrain my laughter, and I lean into Tulip's shoulder to support myself.
The rabbit is larger than average and the color of a dark winter storm cloud. Its eyes sparkle at Tulip, and its black nose twitches as it stares at her. Its ears are large and flop over. She reaches forward tentatively to rub its head, and it quickly jumps into her lap. As she wraps her arms around the familiar, the tension leaves her shoulders. "It's kind of cute," she says, dipping her face into the fur.
"It's really cute," I say, reaching forward to pet it.
The little shit tries to bite my fingers!
Now it's Tulip's turn to laugh uproariously, snatching the rabbit away. "Not sure why you'd try that. It's not like Shadow is super friendly."
"He is now!" The snake slides off my neck and slithers across the grass to where Tulip sits, lifting his head up and flicking his tongue out at the rabbit. It jumps from Tulip's arms, and the two are off, chasing each other and playing together like old friends. "What are you going to name it?"
"Hellebore," she says with all the confidence in the world.
"Like the plant?"
"Yeah, it's black, so…"
"A little on the nose, don't you think?"
Her head whips to me, incredulity making her jaw slack. "Lola, you named yours Shadow, for crying out loud!"
Together, the two of us fall into a pile of giggles as we watch our familiars run together, Hellebore pouncing and Shadow wrapping him up gently.
The door to the keep creeps open, and Plume emerges with Jaz on her heels, a cloth sack thrown over her shoulder. I hop to my feet and pull her to my chest, wrapping my arms tightly around her waist. "You're sure?" I ask in her ear, where only she can hear. "I know firsthand how persuasive they can be."
"Viola," she says with a laugh. "It was my idea."
"And I cannot entice you to stay?" I ask, grasping for anything to keep Plume here. "I cannot imagine you not being here."
"You don't need me, for one, and for two, there are… not great memories here, Viola. I just need need something fresh."
I hold her at arm's length, admiring how the morning sun reflects on her long blonde hair, which is braided with flowers. The first boat of people from Ytopie made it to Rainworth yesterday, and the children Plume had spent training on their Spring magic were delighted to see her. They spent all day yesterday growing flowers and feeding them into her hair.
But besides the flowers, she's dressed for travel in brown leather boots, billowy cream pants, and a deep purple blouse that blows slightly in the wind. Her best accessory is the massive smile that lights her face up.
"You're always needed, Plume. You're family."
"I know. You're my family, too."
"You're not going to say goodbye to the others?" All of the fae are going to be devastated to know they missed this. Tulip joins us and wraps her arms around Plume, whispering goodbyes in her ear.
"I wasn't even going to say goodbye to you, Viola," Plume says, extracting herself from Tulip. "But you just happened to be out here instead of in the kitchen like you normally are this time of day."
"You were trying to sneak out!"
"Of course I was." She playfully pushes my shoulder. "This is not forever. I want to be a part of bringing humans from the Lowlands."
"And you don't want to leave me," Jaz says, walking up behind Plume and finally making themself known. "You can just say that, you know." Today, their hair is bright blue, shaved on the sides, and long and curly on top. Dressed very similarly to Plume, Jaz slings their arm around her and pulls her close. "It's time to go, Feather."
Plume's face lights up with a flush as she nods. "You're right. I'll see you soon, Viola, Tulip."
I pull her to me in one more hug, surprising even myself with my show of emotion. "Take care of her, Jaz."
"Of course, Vi. I won't let any harm come to her."
As they walk away, an arm wraps around my waist. Tulip leans into my shoulder. "Things are changing," I say quietly.
"I know. But that's what growth is. You couldn't think everything would be exactly as it was before, could you?"
"No, I know, but still. It just feels like so much is happening at once."
"Taegan, I've told you a thousand times what she said," I groan, dropping my head to the wooden tabletop. "It's not going to change."
"I want to make sure this is right, Shadowweaver."
"Viola."
"Shadowweaver."
I lift my head, glaring at him. The Helios stares me down, blue eyes strong and firm. I always forget that despite how soft-spoken and gentle the man is, he went toe to toe with Loris, who by all accounts was an absolute force to be reckoned with. I roll my eyes. "Fine, whatever. The Equinox told me that when I am ready, I can pass all of the magic onto one another. That one Equinox and four magical high priests will provide balance."
"And so you plan to pass the power on?"
"Obviously."
"When?"
"What is this, an inquisition? I don't know Taegan. She said I know when it's time."
"Leave the Shadowweaver alone," Morrow says, dropping down into the seat next to me. "Even I can tell the story in its entirety, and I tune out most of what she says."
Taegan grumbles and gathers up his papers, muttering something that sounds a lot like, "Stubborn fucking God and her stubborn fucking high priest."
My gaze lands on Morrow, his hair wrapped in a bright yellow scarf and his bulky body dressed in all black. "High priest," I say by way of greeting.
"My Eternal Shadowweaver," he says with a smile.
"Ew, stop."
His laugh echoes around the meeting hall. We're the only two here. Cirrha is gathering the remaining Patricians, and Mace and Tulip are getting paper and drinks for the meeting. He rests his head on the table, eyes drifting shut. I poke his shoulder, and he opens one squinting eye. "Tired?"
"Her nightmares are back," he says quietly. "I don't know why."
"I think it's because her body is having time to process and heal. Since Twig died, we haven't stopped moving, fighting, Racing. I think it's just all settling in now. Plus, there is the fact that she is not just living a human lifespan without Twig, but a fae one." I rest my head in my hands, my own grief pulsing to the surface.
I've lost a lot. In less than a year, I lost Max, found out my parents and Link were murdered, lost Zeph, and killed a megalomaniacal God who was rapidly becoming a father figure, regardless of the fact that I should not have seen him that way.
I shake myself out of it, burying it underneath the responsibility I have for my realm. One day, soon, I'll unearth it and explore all of what I have gone through.
But not today.
Tulip and Mace walk in with arms full of papers and pitchers, setting them up on the table in front of us. Tulip's familiar, Hellebore, hops along behind her.
"Whatcha talking about?" she says, sliding in beside Morrow. She wraps her arms around his bicep, leaning against his shoulder. Seeing their relationship blossom these past few months is incredible. They were both holding themselves back for the other's sake. I know Tulip getting magic cut down a lot of the barriers that they had, but I can't help but think losing Zeph did as well.
"Oh, you know, just what an incredibly benevolent God our Shadowweaver is," Morrow deadpans.
"Oh yes, she is just so warm," Mace says, grabbing my hands and pulling them across the table. His green shirt matches his eyes, which sparkle with mirth. "Where are the Patricians?"
"Here!" Cirrha calls, walking a small group of fae through the large doorway. It has been a pleasure getting to see our small city through their eyes. Even now, all of the Patricians are glancing around the meeting hall with curiosity. I wonder what they think, having gone from the luxury of the Palace to our stone and wood building. There are no decorative sconces, banners, and flags. Right now, it is just stone walls and exposed wood beams on the roof.
"Welcome," I say, standing up. Tulip tried to convince me to dress more 'Godly' today, whatever that means. I let her dress me in a black jumpsuit that has shimmering lines of Colris steel in it, courtesy of Mace. The man has a knack for clothing design. I did, however, turn down the thin robe that had depictions of all of the magic. "Come have a seat. We have a lot to discuss."