Chapter 39
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
Images flash through my mind.
Me getting dressed. The hallway where my room is. Neoma’s door that glows. Stairs that I descend. A hallway I’m familiar with. And one I’ve never been in before.
The images are blurry, out of focus. I recognise what it shows me, but it feels like I’m looking through cloudy glass. Until I stand in a field of grass, that’s when everything becomes sharp again.
Silver-leaved trees stand around me, their trunks so wide, I wouldn’t be able to wrap my arms around them if I tried.
Golden light filters through the branches as they shift on a warm breeze.
Insects hoover above a small lake, a gazebo cloaked in ivy and shadow stands at the edge of it.
If I’d have the skill to draw or paint, this would be the first thing I create.
“Where am I?”
I know for certain I’ve seen this place before. Even the scent is familiar; of things in bloom, fresh flowers and green grass. Something I am used to, although I can’t remember I’ve seen anything like this in the real world, only in my mind.
I walk over to the edge of the lake, kneeling down into the grass, searching for little animals that might be hiding in the water.
My reflection stares back at me, but my eyes look different.
They…glow, like I’ve seen the eyes of the others do sometimes.
A flame spreads across my shoulders and burns away the human part of me.
I look the same, yet different. When I reach for my ear, they are pointed, a little ticklish even.
“Maily?”
Ami. She is here too? I look around, searching for my friend, but she is nowhere to be seen.
“Are you alive in there?”
Alive? Of course I am! What else would I be?
“Yes,” I say, but my voice isn’t very cooperative somehow.
“Okay, I’m coming in. I just hope you’re not doing anything weird or funky.”
I frown at that. What could I possibly be doing in my…oh. Oh!
Someone — probably Ami — shakes my shoulder and I instantly return back to my room, sit up straight and nearly bump my head against hers.
“Woah, you alright?”
I look at her, seeing her as her fae self as well, beautiful as ever. “That was weird. But yes I think so.” I do a big stretch, enjoying how it feels on my muscles. “What time is it?”
Ami scratches her head, an amused expression across her face. “Well, that’s kind of why I’m here, I was getting worried. It’s already nighttime and you were very deep asleep.”
I must’ve dozed off once I returned from Mrs Delalune, the deep exhaustion rose out of nowhere and I couldn’t fight it any longer. “I’m sorry, I —”
She sits down on my bed, placing a cool hand on my shoulder. “Hey, it’s normal. You were drained yesterday. It’s a miracle you came out alive and honestly, I still don’t know how you did it.”
I’m about to tell her she’s the one who obviously saved me, her powers related to the water, when out of nowhere a tray loaded with food appears.
“But I do know that you must be starving, so I’m here to make sure you get some food in your system.”
Ami arranged so many different dishes, I could easily survive for a week and still have plenty enough to eat some more. Roasted, honey glazed chicken, jasmine rice, pasta in red tomato sauce, spring rolls…the list goes on and soon, my bed is loaded with food.
“Ami…I am hungry, but this is a lot of food for two people.”
As if on cue, a knock sounds at my door and Sirelle and Neoma enter, holding two trays of their own.
Siri’s tray is loaded with desserts that nearly make me drool, from cakes to chocolates to macarons.
While Neoma holds what seems to be all sorts of drinks and let’s just say I am certain there is water and lemonade, but the other things are definitely alcoholic beverages.
“I heard someone’s in need of a girlsnight,” Neoma announces. “So here we are. We brought the good stuff.”
I eye the bottle in Neoma’s hand that looks like midnight sky and don’t think I have ever seen a drink this beautiful. It is literally sparkling and twinkling as it swirls inside of its bottle.
“Dear moons, Neo, where did you find this?”
“Oh Ami, you do know who you’re talking to, right? I have my ways,” she says with a wink.
A delicate glass appears in front of me and is filled with the sparkling nectar. I place my lips at the edge ready to take a sip when Ami halts me. “Be careful, this stuff is strong and since it is your first time…”
I lower the glass, hypnotised by the sparkling liquid. “Is it dangerous?”
“No! No, of course not. It sometimes can make you do funny things, that’s all.”
Fun can’t be bad, right? “I think I can handle that.”
Ami grins. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
I take a careful sip, the nectar sweet on my tongue. Honey with a hint of elderflower and lavender. The combination is divine and I have to contain myself from downing my glass in one go. Warmth unfurls inside of me and I have to contain a giggle.
I’m so ravenous, I want to try everything all at once.
Siri reaches out for my hand, giving it a little squeeze.
“How are you holding up, Mai?” She visually shivers.
“I’ve never seen a Myrvael up close before, but I can imagine how scared you must’ve been.
” A small frown appears between her blonde brows.
“Although I must admit I’d love to research one, yet I am relieved that none have crossed my path. ”
Neo feeds Ami some grapes and she playfully bites at her fingers. The sight makes me smile, she looks so happy.
“It’s a feeling I wouldn’t wish upon anyone else. How everything dies around you before you are being drained as well… I was terrified and knew I was going to die, until Ami appeared and saved my ass.”
Ami stills and looks at Neo before her gaze finds mine.
“I did find you when you were back on land, but I wasn’t the one to pull you out of the water.
My powers…don’t really work like that.” She holds up her hand and creates a small sculpture of ice.
“I can manipulate the frozen form of water. I create ice shards or make a frozen lake crack, my shield is pretty strong too. But I have no influence over liquid water.”
“But…who did save me? Was it one of the others, Aramis?”
She shakes her head. “I’m not sure, but…”
“Maybe nature was on your side, Maily, protecting you,” Neo adds.
“Yes, maybe.” I’m not convinced, though.
Siri squeezes my hand again. “It doesn’t matter, I’m happy you got out and feel alright.”
Ami grins around the rim of her glass. “Of course she’s doing alright, she got to ride my brother. Who wouldn’t be happy with that?”
I spit out half of my drink, the liquid running down my chin. I quickly wipe it away. Did she really just say that?
“Well, well,” Neo teases. “Naughty, naughty girl.”
Siri looks as shocked as I feel right now. “I didn’t…it’s…it’s not like that at all. He was in his animal form and offered me a ride back. It was very polite and not sensual in any way.”
Ami scrapes her throat.
Okay, maybe it was a little, but they don’t need to know that. The thought alone creates an inferno within me.
“I bet you wish it was different though,” Ami says with a wink.
I open my mouth, close it and open it again. “You know what, I’m not even going to comment on that.”
The three burst into laughter and I can’t help but join them. Neoma analyses me for a moment. “But there is something going on between the two of you. It’s as clear as a full moon.”
I shift under their curious gazes, a glow spreading inside of me and eventually settle my eyes at my hands before I answer. “We sort of uh…kissed.” A deep, tongue twisting, toe curling kiss.
The room explodes in high pitched squeaks of excitement.
“When did this happen?”
“Why haven’t you told us sooner?”
“I’m so happy for you!”
They say it all at the same time and it makes me instantly feel better. Yet, something still burdens me. “I’m sorry, Ami…”
Ami grabs my hands and silences me. “Hey, don’t apologise? I do not own him. Do I get what you see in him? Not really, but I mean I guess he is kind of good looking since we did share a womb —”
“Dear moons Ami, stop it!” Neo says as she gives Ami a gentle push. “Your brother is smoking hot and you know it. I would be all over him if I were into the opposite sex.”
Ami winks. “Thank you.”
We all look a little confused at her. “We are twins after all,” she states and we laugh again.
Thankfully, they don’t ask for further details, although the questions are burning on Ami’s tongue. The only reason why she isn’t voicing them, is because my kiss was shared with her brother.
I never had nights like this, or at least not that I can remember. But it warms my heart. Friends who care about me, care about my wellbeing and are worried when I get hurt. Friends who make me laugh and forget about the horrors that wait outside of this room, even for a little while.
As yawns start to spread, we call it a night and Ami cleans up everything with a single snap of her fingers. No trace to be found of the small feast we had.
Ami lingers in the door opening, watching as the other two walk away. Neo looks back over her shoulder, smiling at Ami as she disappears into her own room.
“How are you feeling?”
“Good…why?”
Ami gives me a quick kiss upon the cheek. “Oh, nothing. Just…don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”
I pull back, my brows furrowing. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
She winks before slipping into the hallway and enters Neoma’s room instead. I snigger before closing the door. Whatever those two are up to, I will not be doing any of that. I will be safe and sound in my bed.
Asleep.
But as I lay down, my thoughts drift off to the handsome blond male I kissed not so long ago, a burning spreads inside of my body. The thought of his lips on mine sends a pulse straight to my core. I push my legs together, but that only adds fuel to what can only be my burning desire.