Chapter 6 #2
I hold her tight and breathe her in. Her hair is soft under my cheek, and smells herbal from whatever the academy uses in their shampoo. Most importantly, she feels like home.
"How long are you here?" She pulls back but keeps her hands on my arms like she's making sure I can’t get away. "Please say more than an hour, because Violet will be crushed if she misses your visit.”
"Hopefully, a few hours. We’re waiting on a call from The Order, but in the meantime, we came to check on you guys, and to make sure Mica's on track."
"She's your metal witch friend, right? The one that moored that stone castle by the edge of the forest.”
“Yep, that’s her.”
Lily turns to Asher and gets a second hug, shorter but no less sincere. "Hi, Ash."
"Hey, squirt." He leans back and looks at her properly. "You look good. Less raccoony… less haunted."
"Thanks. I feel better, too.”
"I have that effect on the ladies."
Lily laughs and then rushes back to her bench to gather her sketchbook. “Let’s go inside. I’ll show you our dorm, and we can wait for Violet to get back."
My youngest sister leads us back through the garden and into the east residential corridor, through a set of double doors and up a half-flight of stairs to a cluster of rooms arranged around a shared central space.
A round table. A small kitchen unit. Windows that face the forest. If I lean in close, I can even see part of the forge castle.
“I’m in here.” Lily's room is orderly in a way that's specifically hers.
Sketches are pinned along the wall in loose groupings.
There is a stack of books on the windowsill with a mug balanced on top.
Her bed is made. Everything else is covered in art supplies arranged with a logic only she understands.
"Nice digs, kid.” Asher gives the space an approving smile, and my sister stands a little straighter.
"I moved my desk to face the window. It’s crazy beautiful at night when the sprites and faeries come out and dance around all lit up.
” She sets her sketchbook and pencils onto the chair.
"Violet's room is nice, too. It’s next door. She’ll have to show it to you when she gets back.
They’re spelled so we can’t go in without the other person there. "
I nod. “I remember.”
"Right. I forgot you were here.”
“And as much as I didn’t want to be, it was what I needed to make sure my powers came back safely.”
We return to the common area and settle around the table. “Do you want anything? We have cookies and juice, some soda, and not much else.”
I check with the others, then wave away the offer. “We’re good. We ate right before we came. Tell me how you’re doing? What’s it been like for you two?”
Lily sinks a little deeper into her chair. “Well, for me it’s not so bad. Since my affinity doesn’t awaken for another couple of years, there’s less damage to overcome. Violet hasn’t said it, but I think she’s really scared.”
“Have they taken the blocks off?”
Lily tilts her head from side to side, considering. "Mine, yes. I think I’m as back to normal as I can be with no actual affinity present.”
“That’s awesome. So, how do you feel?”
“Normal, I guess. Relieved that I don’t have to worry about being overwhelmed or exploding like that witch in Emberwood.”
Yeah, that was horrible.
"And Violet?"
“Violet’s been working with Dr. Thorne. He meets with her every couple of days in the Destiny Spire. He’s taken a few layers of the block off, bit by bit.”
“And how is she doing?”
Lily's expression tightens. "She's handling it. I know there are moments she struggles, but she’s strong and very determined. She hits the practice rooms every morning before breakfast."
I think about the way Violet used to throw herself at any problem until conquering it. She’s definitely determined, but the fear of losing control and detonating like that other siphoned witch must terrify her.
The door to the common room opens, and Violet comes in at full speed, her long brown hair loose and slightly wild. She finds us sitting at the table and squeals. “S’Nark said he could feel you here, so I basically sprinted from the west practice block."
She rushes over, and I barely make it to my feet before she’s hugging me. “I’ve missed you. Oh, how I’ve missed you.”
She releases me and immediately moves to Asher. "Hey cutie. You taking good care of my big sister?"
"It’s become my full-time job." Asher hugs Violet and squeezes, while winking over at me. "Lily was just saying how hard you've been training. How’s that going?"
S’Nark hops onto the counter in his leather-winged gremlin form and picks up a cookie. “She’s a fuck-ton more dedicated and agreeable than Poppy was when she was here.”
I stick my tongue out at him. “How would you know? You ghosted me almost the entire time. You were the least ‘familiar’ familiar in the history of familiars.”
“So there.” Asher chuckles. “But he’s taking better care of you girls, right?”
Both Lily and Violet nod.
Violet takes the empty chair beside Lily and leans forward with her elbows on the table. "Okay. Tell me what’s happening in Emberwood. How bad is it? What's Tharuzel doing? What do we know?"
Yikes. I consider that and start with the most recent dilemma. "I had another dream where I was in his consciousness."
Violet straightens, and Lily goes very still.
"Now that he's in the physical plane, the connection is different… sharper. He was in a stone cave, working on a ritual. I couldn't tell what it was or where it was."
"But we think it’s related to an earthquake in Ireland," Asher adds.
“So, are you going to check it out?” Violet asks.
"Garrison and the Order are investigating first. They have the resources and expertise. But he told us to be ready.”
“We’ve got our go-bags packed and are ready to roll,” Asher says.
Lily frowns. “You’re going to Ireland?”
“Maybe. Nothing is for sure. But if we do go, it’ll be by portal and we’ll be right back. I swore I’d be checking on you guys on the regular, and I meant it. I’m not striking off around the world and leaving you guys behind.”
Violet frowns. “But you're the one in his head. You're the one with the blood bond. You should definitely be the one tracking him down.”
“And I will. But only if Garrison needs me.”
“Oh, he’ll need you,” Lily says. “And once Mica gets the demon death daggers ready, you’ll be able to take him out for good.”
“Demon death daggers?” Wylder repeats.
Lily grins. “Yeah. You’ve got to have a cool name for things. Names hold power.”
Well, that’s true. “Okay, so yeah. When Mica has the demon death daggers crafted and ready to roll, we’ll be ready to send him back to the Hell Realm.”
“And out of our lives for good,” Violet says.
I sigh. “From your lips to the Goddess’ ears.”