Silva listened to the echo of her boots against the hard floors of the castle. It was different than the long spires of her home in Agrentum. There were so many more floors and verticality to her home. She’d only read about castles like this in books.
As she walked through a ballroom, she paused to inspect the hanging chandeliers and warm lights above. She tried to imagine a ball in this massive area. Where the king and his retainers would look like leading the festivities. She traced her fingers across up a handrail as she traveled the stairs to the mezzanine. She walked toward the tall open doors to a balcony. That was something she recognized. Despite not being made with a dragon in mind, it was still familiar.
“I want to come back here,” Titanya said and Silva nearly jumped. There was still some getting used to when it came to the demon she now shared a body and consciousness with.
“We can come back here after the coming conflict,” she replied. “If we survive.”
“Such a pessimist Silva. You gotta look on the bright side. Try some optimism. Be like Seffy.”
Silva scowled at the mention of her brother through the demon’s mouth. But she remembered that the demon knew everything that she knew. Taking a breath, she stared at the star filled sky above her head.
“Our contract is different than Alison and Penny’s. Do you know why?”
“Aside from the fun way in which we were brought together?”
“Is there more to it than that?”
“Yeah. You’re not from this place. Your magic’s different than ours. So the contract at its fundamental level is different.”
“What do you mean?”
“Mages in Akoria draw their magic from the same place as us. Most don’t know it though. But when a demon and a mage form a contract it’s more intimately binding. Both halves start to influence each other. But in our case, it’s a little looser. Probably because the magic from your country is wilder. Rawer. It’s binding but you won’t catch me getting all proper and respectful.”
Silva rolled her eyes at the joke and shut her eyes for a moment. “Do you know why you have the name Titanya?”
“Somewhat. I know that even subconsciously you gave me a name. Like all demons and their hosts.”
“You mean to say you didn’t have a name before meeting me?”
“Not like you call ’em.”
Silva noted that internally, “Titanya is a type of compliment. Or title amongst faeries. Only those of power and renown get that title.”
“Like your q’unas?”
“Yes.”
“But not your una?”
“Renown and power was never una’s goal. She just wanted to raise a family and have a simple life. Ruling. War. All of this. She never wanted to be embroiled in it. But love takes you places. At least, that’s what she told me.”
“And what do you want?”
“I. I don’t know,” she frowned. She looked at the pocket watch around her neck that had turned black during her time with Daze. “I came here wanting glory. To get my own story. To be like father. But now all I really want is to go back home. To be with my family. To never think about life or death dangers again.”
She looked down and really thought about her sister. The little sister who followed her across the country. The little sister she tormented and hated. But now all she really wanted was to see her again. To apologize and mend the rift she caused. She felt a tear roll down her cheek and flicked it away quickly.
A door creaked open and she jumped turning on the defensive. But she had no reason to feel danger here. Forcing herself to relax, she walked to the edge of the mezzanine and watched as Cancer walked into the room. His head was down and he looked like he was mumbling something, almost like he was having an argument but there was no one else there. But having an argument with an invisible opponent was something she was getting used to.
He looked, saw Silva, and turned embarrassed. “Sorry. Thought I was alone here.”
“Don’t apologize. This is your home after all. We were just. Exploring. We wanted some time to think.”
“Then I’ll leave you to it,” he bowed his head slightly and started to turn around.
“Wait,” he paused and glanced over his shoulder. “You’re Cancer, right?”
He turned fully and nodded, “Yeah. And you’re Silva.”
“We are,” she frowned as the words that came out of her mouth. “That is still a strange thing.”
She walked down the steps until she was at ground level with him. “What is?”
“Talking as a we. Even though it’s new it feels far too natural. Going from suddenly one person to two, working in tandem despite us being different.”
“I know a little something about a voice inside your head,” he mumbled but when he caught her confused look he shook his head. “It reminds me of my brother. He’s one but also two. He never talks with wes but when there’s two of him running around at once, it can be like that.”
“The Zodiac of the twins,” Silva said.
“Yes. How’d you know that?”
“Aside from being introduced to many of them,” Cancer waved his hand realizing that was obvious. “Our teacher knew of the Zodiac. He had many books about them that we read. And we never understood some of it, the stories read more like fairy tales than reality. But here you are.”
Cancer let out a humorless laugh, “The children of the Goddesses. A step below the four in Arkoria but still gods in a way. But I don’t feel like a god most of the time. Most times I feel really human.”
“We’ve never met a god. And if we’re being honest, we think you’re not that bad.”
“You don’t know me that well.”
“Titanya met you a few times, which, we’re sorry for Titanya constantly jabbing at you. Especially so soon after what happened.”
“Forgiven. I’ve learned that demons are kind of like that.”
“No, Titanya’s a special case.”
“The fuck’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means exactly what you think it means,” Silva retorted glaring at the air. Sighing she looked back at him again. “What brought you here?”
“Remembering a past life. And glad I didn’t end up repeating his crimes. I was close to fighting my own family. I ended up fighting a friend instead but,” He shut his eyes tightly. “Sorry. That’s my own problem to deal with. Didn’t mean to overshare.”
“Don’t be,” she walked over to him slowly and then pointed back out the way they’d come. They walked together taking the long way. “We liked Xye. It was a different country. Radically different than anything in Reditus.”
“I did too. I think every Cancer has had some sort of interest in Xye.”
“We want to go back one day. Assuming we don’t die.”
“If you do, come find me. We can see Xye for real this time. No kidnappings, no crazy mages, and no demons.”
“No extra demons,” Silva corrected and he cracked a smile.
As they turned a corner they slowed and watched as Alison joined them, “Hello Alison.”
“Hey you three,” she said and gave a small smile. “It’s time. The spell is ready.”
The simple sentence made things so much more real. The spell to rejoin the others in the Free City. For her to see her family again. They gathered together in the foyer of the castle and everyone was there. Roxanne looked indignant, Julie and Frost both laughed at her expense, Miles tried to keep the peace and Badou just looked relaxed.
Looking at them reminded Cancer of his own family. And sure enough, the Zodiac were mingled with the Arkorians. Aries and Vincent both looked mildly inconvenienced and Virgo and Capricorn were as bright as always. Gemini and Aquarius were talking with Alistair while Leo, Scorpio, and Taurus talked to Morrigan. But Sagittarius looked up to see Cancer approaching first and gave him a wave to join them.
Cancer glanced at Silva for a second longer and then went to his brother and mother. Gemini smiled at him brightly and Leo wrapped her arm around his shoulders squeezing it tightly. Meanwhile, Silva looked at Badou and frowned hard. Unlike Cancer, these people weren’t her family. Not even friends.
But Miles looked at her and waved, “Silva! Are you okay? How are you feeling?”
“We’re alright Miles. Thank you.”
He nodded quickly and looked away, “We didn’t think we’d get here like this.”
“No. We didn’t see any of this coming. It didn’t end as badly as we thought it might.”
“No but now you’ve got a demon in you. So welcome to the team properly,” Julie said wrapping her arm around Silva’s shoulders. “Need any help or advice ask us or his majesty.”
Silva made a face at her but when she saw the smiles of everyone else, even Roxanne, she nodded slowly. “We will.”
Badou walked toward Alison as did Leo and Morrigansd. The four of them stood together and Badou glanced at the women spreading his arms. “So we go back to Arkoria. Is there a plan for when we’re there?”
“We arrive back in the Free City and find Sehren. We regroup all of us together and make a real plan of attack or defense against Daze,” Alison said. “Do you have any other suggestions?”
“Not really. The man’s been hunting us,” Leo said simply. She reached toward her neck and Alison saw the necklaces there. Her own and her husband’s. “I’m going to make sure he dies and never threatens me or my family again.”
“Is it safe for you all to come through with us?” Alison asked.
“Yes. Daze has taken what he wants from our lands. Nerodala will be safe for now.”
“Glad we’re in agreement,” Morrigan replied. “But I’ll need to return to Cerise. I need to warn my Queen. Only after that will we be able to join any sort of defensive action.”
“Of course,” Alison nodded toward her. “We’ll take you back as soon as we get home. Without further ado then, let’s get casting. Silva can you come over here.”
Silva blinked confused and came over slowly, “What can we do?”
“We need a powerful mage to help us open a portal large enough to get us all back to the Free City.”
“But we don’t know the magic of Arkoria. The magic that you use,” she looked at her hands then at her.
“Just follow our lead,” she said.
Alison went over the spell step by step, something that had become second nature for her at this point. And Silva picked it up quickly, only needing to see it twice before she was able to replicate it. Together they performed the spell and opened the portal at the center of the foyer.
It was massive, shaking the chandeliers, and bright enough for them to shield their eyes. Silva panted, shocked by the sudden drain of the magic and Alison gave her a reassuring smile, “Not bad for your first try. Though relying on your other half for these things is going to be crucial. You’ll learn.”
“Sure,” Silva stood up straighter. “So we walk through?”
“That’s right. Go on. We’ll keep it steady and open on our side.”
She stared into the magic in front of her and stepped through. Once the flash of light faded away, she felt the sand underneath her feet. She looked back and forth absorbing the majority of her new environment.
She took a few steps forward and took a very slow but deep breath. “So this is Arkoria. Looks pretty barebones. Though it has some charm.”
“The Free City specifically,” Silva said slowly. “We were supposed to come here before we got sidetracked.”
“Silva?”
She paused and turned around slowly and as the others began to come through the portal, she froze on the spot. She watched Dawn approach, her own eyes a dark forest green. Silva felt herself shake slightly as she looked at her. It had been so long since Silva’d seen her mother, to the point she thought she never would again.
“Una?” she whispered already walking toward her slowly.
Dawn broke into a run as she closed the distance and hugged her daughter. She pulled her close and Silva wrapped her arms around her tightly. Silva didn’t bother fighting the tear, crying as she held onto her mother.
“Oh lela. Oh Silva. I had feared that I would never see you again. And here you are. You’re safe.”
“Una. Una.” She shut her eyes tightly holding her as tightly as she possibly could. “We didn’t think we’d make it back to you either.”
Dawn pulled away slowly and wiped her eyes and then wiped at Silva’s eyes. But she looked at her eyes and her own went wide turning yellow for a moment. “Your eyes.” But her face softened. “They look like your fathers.”
Silva watched her, knowing exactly what she was thinking. “We. We lost our faerie magic una. We’re just. We’re just a mage. We’re sorry.”
“Oh lela,” Dawn shook her head slowly. “You don’t need to be sorry. I know how much being a faerie meant to you.”
“You’re not upset?”
“Upset? For leaving in the middle of the night and going to a foreign country? Very. But for losing your faerie magic? Never. You’re my lela. I was scared I was going to lose you,” she tilted Silva’s head up slightly. “All I’ve wanted this past month was to see and hold you again. And I have that. That’s all I or your mother or father have wanted. No matter what, you are always our daughter. And even without the magic or the eyes, you’re always going to be a faerie to me. You’ll always be my daughter.”
She nearly cried again as she pressed her face against her chest. She sniffled and finally took a few steps back. “Where’s father? And mother? And Seffy and Sofia?”
“Your father and sister are flying. But with this,” she motioned back to the portal. “This will be enough to bring them back in a hurry. But your mother and Sefirin were at an inn eating. I was with them too but something told me to take a walk. And I’m glad to have done that.”
“Can we. Can we go see them?”
She smiled her eyes resting on pure white, “We can do one better.”
She took her daughter’s hand gently and Silva squeezed it. “This feeling. What is this?”
“It’s love Titanya,” she whispered.
“I. I think I like this.”
“Get used to it.”
“Titanya?” Dawn repeated looking at her daughter.
Silva looked away embarrassed but nodded, “Our partner. Like Alison.”
Dawn’s eyes widened slightly but she nodded, “I thought I sensed something different. When you’re ready you can tell me all about it.”
“We will una.”
The two of them walked through the city as the others passed through the portal. Traveling through the city was still a little new for Dawn, but rather than stay within the city’s limits, she waved her hand creating a small orb of white light. It flew from her hand toward one of the gates. She raised her hand and it flew into the horizon of the sandy dunes.
Silva looked toward the sky and watched the two large shapes descend. The pair of dragons came down spreading their wings wide but they landed carefully. Nero and Sofie slid down the side of their dragons and hit the sand.
The wind picked up as Lily and Sefirin descended from the sky as well. Before they could ask any questions, they stopped and saw Silva. Their eyes widened slowly, trying to comprehend this little miracle. Silva looked around at her family, her words escaping her. But Sofie ran straight at her and wrapped her arms around her tightly.
Silva nearly fell over, her much taller sister almost knocking her over. Sofie cried hard as she held her. “Silva! You’re alive! You’re safe!”
Silva hugged her back and rubbed her back slowly as she felt her tears coming back. “Yes Sofia. We’re back. We’re so sorry. For everything.”
One by one they broke into runs and suddenly Silva was being hugged by all members of her family. There were lots of tears across all of them and she was beyond happy to just be in their company. Even the dragons got involved as best they could. When the initial emotions died down, they made their way back into the city as a group of six.
Vincent met them at the gate and waved, “Family’s all together?”
“Yes,” Lily said softly looking at her daughter. “And thankfully the tent you set us up with is big enough for everyone.”
“We rarely need to fill out those big tents. Though with the newcomers, we’re going to need to figure things out,” he scratched his head. “This is a big pain in the ass and I know Monica is going to rip my head off for this.”
“We can imagine. I’m sorry Vincent,” Silva said lowering her head. “Are we still going to be coming together and plan our next move today with Sehren?”
It wasn’t missed by Silva that she saw the look that her father gave to her mothers. She looked at the three of them, but it went further to her siblings. She knew she was missing something. “No. We’re going to regroup in the morning. Sehren’s friend. Ryza. She knows what’s going on next.”
Nero nodded, “Yeah she would. We still have a day left before we have to figure things out.” But he looked toward his family. “Come on everyone. Let’s turn in for the night. Unless you’re hungry Silva.”
“No father. We’re good. Promise.” He looked at her for a long moment but finally nodded. “Maybe a little.”
“We?” Sefirin repeated but it dawned on him slowly. “Like Alison?”
“Yeah,” That simple affirmation told her brother and sister infinitely more about what she’d endured than words could communicate.
Sofie took one of her hands slowly, “Let’s go back to our tent. You look exhausted.”
It was true. She was exhausted. And yet she knew she couldn’t rest. When they were back at their tents, when they’d even had a meal, they talked as much as they could. She told them about everything that had happened since she disappeared. From her time in the dungeons of Isal, to being with Badou’s group, her slumber in her own mind while Titanya took over, and Alison helping her to wake up.
Just recounting all of it was draining. But Sofie updated Silva on what had happened since their separation. They talked together until sleep was the only thing left to do. But for Silva, she couldn’t drift off. Her mind wouldn’t slow down enough to allow her to sleep even when no one else was awake.
She slipped out of the tent and found herself roaming around the city. But eventually, she was on the walls looking at the sand. It didn’t feel like she’d come much further than when she and her siblings first started this journey. And yet it felt like she’d been gone a lifetime. She hugged herself, half from the cold and half from the memories as if that would make things better.
“What are we going to do Titanya?” she whispered.
“I had a feeling you’d be out here.”
She turned, startled, and watched as her father walked toward her. But he wasn’t alone. Silver, in her human form, walked beside him almost like a shadow. But when Silver looked at Silva, she smiled warmly, and that simple action made her relax.
“What are you doing out here?”
“Checking on my daughter,” he said softly and motioned for her to sit with him on the edge of the wall. “You look tired.”
“We are,” she replied but he shook his head.
“Not just physically,” he tapped his head. “Physically you want to sleep but mentally you can’t. Something’s holding you back.
Her eyes widened but she nodded, “How did you know?”
“Because I’ve been there little one,” he raised his arm, the one he lost and then recovered. Scaled and clawed. “I still remember the night before our big fight with the nil. The one that ended the war. I didn’t know what was going to happen and I couldn’t sleep. I was roaming around Agrentum all night.”
“What did you do about it?”
“We flew. We flew for hours,” Nero stood up slowly as did Silver.
She jumped forward and in a massive flash of light, the dragon gracefully landed in the sands shaking herself. She turned back toward the two of them and lowered her head. Nero turned toward Silva and tried to smile. “It’s not an answer or a solution. It won’t make tomorrow or the next day better. But it’ll make tonight easier.”
They both got onto Silver’s back, settling in on the dragon. Once they were comfortable, Silver spread her wings and took off into the sky. They flew for hours, nowhere in particular just the same circular paths above the clouds. By the time the light began to glow on the horizon, Silva had long been fast asleep.
The Harlequin Library 