38. Magdalena
“Isee you still haven’t found any answers.”
The voice was back—this time, stronger. Magda was once again in the void. She couldn’t discern where the voice was coming from or who she was speaking to.
“Who are you?”
“A friend,” the voice answered. “Care to ask me about being a guardian?”
The space was unnerving, and Magda still didn’t trust a voice that had never identified themselves. “I don’t need your help,” she retorted.
“The time will come when you do need it. I think that you will come running to me. In the meantime, this journey will be good for you. The more you discover, the more you can embrace the storm within you.”
“What do I need to discover?”
“If I told you, you wouldn’t have the chance to discover it.”
Magda scoffed under her breath.
The voice continued, “By the time we meet, the magic burning inside you will be so great, that you’ll be ready for the chaos.”
“My magic will not contribute to chaos.”
“Once you uncover who the guardians really are, and why I am here to help you, you will understand. New worlds can only be born from the ashes of the old…”
Magda’s eyes burst open. She lay paralyzed on Ravi’s bed, the starry night coming into focus through the rooftop window. A trickle of beaded sweat lined her brows and neck. What were these strange dreams? They felt entirely too real.
Her fingers grasped around Odie’s fur, and she was relieved when she realized her dog was safe and sound beside her. His head shot upright, his ears perked in alarm while she ran her fingers through his fur.
“It’s fine, go back to bed,” she whispered.
Odie rested his snout on his paws, but kept his eyes on her.
“Are you alright?” Ravi’s voice startled her.
Magda looked to the floor, seeing Ravi sleeping there, using the damp towel as a blanket.
“What are you doing?” Magda asked.
“You looked like you were sleeping soundly. I didn’t want to disturb you.”
“Don’t be an idiot. Get up here,” Magda said, scooting over on the bed. Odie reluctantly shifted, finding a new comfortable spot at the base of the bed.
Ravi reluctantly agreed, standing up and hanging the towel on the wall. He was still shirtless, but at least he had put on pants.
He slid into the bed next to her. “You had a nightmare?”
Magda turned onto her right side, facing Ravi with her back positioned up against the wall. She adjusted her pillow and sat up on her elbow. “I keep imagining I’m talking to someone in a dark space. It doesn’t make any sense.”
“Well, I haven’t had any dreams tonight. I haven’t been able to fall asleep once. Just been stargazing.”
“What’s on your mind?” Magda asked. She extended her hand slightly towards him, letting her fingers graze against his.
Ravi noticed the gesture and let his hand interlock with hers. Then he said, “Dagmara, what I did tonight…killing a guild leader…I could be sentenced for a very long time.”
The name struck her, and she was once again reminded of the lies that she was spinning. “It was self defense.”
“No it wasn’t. We broke into the guild’s lair. Technically, we were trespassing. If they find out it was me, they’ll send me to Dreadmarrow.”
“What?” gasped Magda, remembering the deadly prison.
He reached up and placed his hand against her cheek. Then he stroked her hair and said, “After everything that’s happened, I just want you to know that—”
“Stop. Don’t talk like that.”
“It’s the truth and you know it,” said Ravi. He moved his hand, caressing around her neck and sliding closer to her. When their faces were inches apart he said, “Guild leaders are their own type of protected politicians here. They rule in partnership with the royals. All of Vex’s officers will be after me.”
Magda gulped at the thought of Ravi going to Dreadmarrow. It was on an island at the center of all four kingdoms where criminals went for the rest of their lives. No visitors were allowed. Most people died after carrying out only a few years of their sentence.
“I’m so sorry,” Magda mustered. She slid her arm around his waist and burrowed her face into his chest, taking in every inch of him. His bare skin was soft underneath her fingertips. “I never wanted this to happen. I…,” Magda’ voice cracked as tears welled in her eyes. Right when she was getting close to someone else, he was in danger of being taken from her too. At least she was a guardian. Maybe she had some kind of weight in these decisions?
“I’d do it again,” said Ravi, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her tighter to him. “A thousand times over.”
A guilt spread through Magda’s body as he held her. Ravi had put all trust in her, but she couldn’t even bring herself to tell him the truth about who she was.
If Ravi was really in danger, she couldn’t hide her identity for much longer.
Some secrets were meant to be told.