Chapter 22
Cassie
“You’re being removed from Kestrel’s flock. You’ll be reassigned to Cardinal.”
Cassie frowned. True, she and Kestrel argued frequently, but she’d spent years with the other passera. Why now? Why was he removing her from the rest of her flock?
“I'm sorry, I think I missed that.”
“Don’t be difficult, Cassowary. This isn’t up for negotiation.
Take your things and report to Cardinal’s wing of the Aviary.
He’s already been informed of the change.
” The Aviarist pressed the button on his desk to slide the door open.
Cassie paused for a moment, wanting to argue, but the bored expression turned murderous.
“Are you deaf as well as mute? You’re not here to question my judgment. Get out.”
Cassie fled, heart hammering in her very functional ears. Kestrel’s wing was mostly empty as she collected her belongings into a bejeweled satchel the Aviarist had gifted her after his last journey.
Where are you going? Hawk asked, glancing up from his holovid.
I’ve been reassigned. Cassie tore out of her home before Hawk had a chance to respond.
Cassie woke from a hazy, surreal sleep with the aftereffects of painkillers lingering in her system.
There had only been one ironclad rule at the Aviary.
The residents were not to touch the iridescence.
Iridescence was for clients only. Of course, it didn’t stop some.
Cassie remembered when they’d done an unannounced room search for all the residents, stripping their belongings from every corner of the room.
No one had understood the purpose until they dragged Wren away, screaming.
One of the clients had encouraged her to try the substance with her and then supplied just enough to keep her coming back for more.
After that, no one was allowed to leave a client interaction without a thorough screening.
The Aviary had zero tolerance for passeri who couldn’t follow rules.
But maybe this unfocused weightlessness was what Wren had been chasing.
Cassie hated it. She hated not being able to feel the tiniest twitches of her fingers and the reassuring thud of her heart.
It was too similar to the red and gray fog that overtook her when she couldn’t bear to be part of the world.
Cassie picked at the edge of a seam on the blanket covering her, still feeling entirely too hot and too stiff despite being asleep for what felt like days.
For the first time, she was awake enough to feel the discomfort from the feeding port they’d inserted into her belly.
It would be several weeks until she was well enough to swallow anything.
Eleri had explained the care instructions at some point, but she couldn’t remember.
All the painkillers were making it hard to keep track of what happened around her.
“Hey, Cassie.” Eleri pushed aside the curtain around her cot, carrying a basin of water and a pair of folded black pajamas. “I thought you might want some help washing your face and hair. I also brought a change of outfit for you.”
Cassie accepted, allowing Eleri to wash her hair in the basin before towel drying it back away from her face.
She then helped her navigate all the tubes and medical equipment to change into clean cotton pajamas.
It reminded Cassie of when she and Rhea used to sit and braid each other’s hair, a nightly ritual before greeting their evening clients.
Only then had they felt comfortable enough to talk, mostly gossiping about their clients.
But Eleri was content to remain quiet and focused as she helped Cassie.
“There.” Eleri placed the comb on the table next to the cot. “Hopefully, it feels better to be cleaned up. There’s someone here to see you. Should I let him in?”
?rim? Cassie signed his name. She found herself looking forward to his visit even though her body barely felt like her own anymore.
“I’ll go get him. We can check your bandages after he leaves.” She collected the basin and the towel before letting the curtain close behind her.
Cassie pushed her damp hair behind her ears as she waited. Her throat felt like it was burning, but she didn’t want to take more of the painkillers until after she’d had a chance to see ?rim.
“How are you today, Cassie?” ?rim asked as he pushed open the curtain around her bed. He was carrying a small box that he offered to her. “I brought this for you. You don’t have to keep it if you don’t like it, but I made it with you in mind.”
You made it? Cassie signed her question.
“You had said you wanted to see the crafting I do.”
She opened the box and found a tiny wire sculpture. It looked just like Kalai. Cassie smiled. It’s a pichari.
“It’s not my best work. I made it quickly, but I hope you like it. I know you like to visit the pichari, and obviously you can’t while you’re recovering.” ?rim rubbed at his wrist nodes while Cassie examined the little figure.
Thank you. I love it.
“That means you like it, right? Sorry, I’m still trying to add more of your hand signs to my functional lexicon. Would you let me record your signing at some point? I learn better when I can refer back to material.”
She nodded. I like it a lot. I can teach you more signs whenever you want.
“Oh, good. I’m so glad you like it. I can make you more if you want when, or if…
I should probably ask you first.” ?rim paused.
“Maybe this is a strange question. You can say no. Only, S’samph and everyone have agreed that it’s best if you aren’t alone for security reasons.
I have extra space in my home. You will also require help with your medical needs.
Otherwise, we can find another family in Laurus willing to help you until you are more stable.
I think S’kasia, S’samph’s clutch sister, would be willing. ”
Cassie regarded him with a head tilt. She was somewhat certain she understood the subtext of what he was trying to say, but she wanted to wait for him to finish.
She didn’t want to stay with a stranger.
The last thing she needed was to unravel herself in front of someone she didn’t know, someone who didn’t know her.
W-I-T-H-Y-U. She typed it into her datapad.
“Are you certain?” ?rim seemed surprised because he knocked his finger nodes together. “You don’t have to consider my feelings in your answer. I just want you to be well.”
She shook her head. When ?rim didn’t say anything, she typed again. Y-E-S-W-I-T-H-Y-U. Because he asked. No one ever asked. But ?rim asked.
“Thank you.” Gently, almost timidly, he placed his hand on top of hers. “Thank you for giving me another chance. Whatever you need, I’ll make sure you have it.”
Her eyes stung. Partially from the pain mounting in her throat and her raw arms but also from the weight of everything.
She knew about the Aviarist. She knew he was coming back for her.
Even though no one had told her directly, she could hear hushed conversations between S’samph and Eleri.
She could hear people making plans for her life without asking her.
She shuddered around herself, pulling knees into chest and tucking herself so tightly she hoped she might disappear for a brief moment.
“Cassie… I don’t. I don’t know what to do. How do I help you?”
Tell me the truth always. Don’t ever treat me like I’m small or less.
But she was too tired to write it down, and he wouldn’t know most of the hand signs involved in a statement that complicated.
Eventually, ?rim placed a hand on her wrist and soothed her skin with his cool fingers until she exhausted herself.
And somehow that was all she needed. Someone to sit with her through the silence of her own sobbing.
“Do you want me to leave?” ?rim asked.
Need to sleep. Please stay.
“I’ll stay then. Until you’re sleeping.” He rubbed his thumb against her palm until her eyes closed.
“I’m going to get everything ready for you at my home.
I’ll reinforce the security system and make sure you can be comfortable.
Anything I miss, we’ll get after you arrive.
Some things might have to be ordered from Abwele or Brasnia Prime, but I can pay extra for express shipping…
” He was talking to himself more than to her.
She was starting to drift off anyway. Her eyes grew heavy with the low gravel of ?rim’s voice in the background and the weight of his hand against hers.