Blood Awakens

by Jessaca Willis

  It drew Laurel’s undivided attention. “You…you knew them?”

  A painstaking silence filled the room. Stagnant and thick. Silence was all Mara could offer, but it said more than words ever could. Knew them? They practically grew up together. Every family event—and there had been hundreds—Priscilla and Simona were always around. They were the sweetest girls, both with immense promise. Thinking about them made her think about her sisters and the fact that it was very likely they were dead. That pain, though, was too powerful to face.

  “What was your plan afterward?” she asked Laurel, breaking the silence. “After there was no one left to follow orders from.”

  “Make no mistake.” Her tone went taut. “I did not stay with the Giordanos because I was ordered to. I followed them because I loved them like my own family.”

  In that, Mara found a breath of comfort. At least, in the end, they were with someone who loved them.

  “Somewhere along the way,” Laurel continued, “we heard about a place rumored to be in California. By my accounts, I was nearby when…” When whoever had died last left her alone was what she had wanted to say, but couldn’t. “So that’s where I headed. I didn’t honestly think I’d make it, and I was even less certain it existed, but here I am.”

  “I’m so sorry, Laurel,” Graciela said. “You’ve been through a lot to get here.”

  The woman shrugged, though looking anything but impervious. “Mamma always said I was a survivor.”

  It was the same thing Mara had told her sisters last they spoke—that they were survivors. That whatever was happening in the crazy world, they would survive. Mara would see to it.

  “So Italia is destroyed then,” she said at last. “And it’s under the rule of Il Pristino who, it sounds like, will murder or at least imprison any Awakened who disobey the medication mandate?”

  “Precisely.”

  Graciela patted Mara’s shoulder, but Mara was in another place, lost deep in the nightmare of what she had yet to face.

  Mara found a dusty corner on the ground to focus on as tears flooded her eyes, but like Laurel, she didn’t let any drop. Not this time. She wouldn’t cry for loved ones she didn’t yet know were dead.

  There was only one thing left to do, something she should’ve done a long time ago.

  With haste, Mara turned to Graciela, blazing with fiery determination. There was no need for her to say what she was thinking. Graciela already knew.

  “You’re going to go, aren’t you?” Graciela asked. “You’re going to find your sisters.”

  “I have to.”

  “Italy is farther away than Guatemala. It took Laurel six months to get from the Atlantic Union to California, and she started with eleven people. How will you get there all by yourself?” asked Graciela.

  The question was a valid one, but Mara had already thought it through. “I will go by utorian.” She noted Graciela flinching at the mention of it, surely the unpleasant experience not one she’d like to duplicate. But Mara would do it. She’d do it a hundred times if she had to. “The one here has a direct connection to Genesis in New York. From there is where things become tricky. Traveling by boat sounded exhausting by Laurel’s recount, but maybe if Zamira can spare a few water temperals I’d be fine.”

  “And after you arrive in Italy, how will you get to Milan? That’s where your family lives, yes?”

  “Technically, I’ll disembark in Spain somewhere, perhaps France depending on how we travel. But I will figure it out. Maybe Zamira will be able to spare more people. Maybe I will find some people to help me in Italy. I don’t know. All I know is I will get there one way or another.”

  Mara made a point to speak with the utmost conviction. She needed Graciela to believe her so she wouldn’t try convincing her to stay or get anyone else involved. Nothing would get in the way of Mara finding her family now that her mind was made up.

  “Mara?”

  “Mmm?” she responded, her awareness of Graciela distant and distracted.

  “I don’t mean to be rude, but why haven’t you gone before? If it’s such an easy task, I mean.”

  Mara lowered her voice. She didn’t take offense to the question, but it stung nonetheless. It made her think of all the opportunities she had to leave Hope and return to Italia. The utorian had been up for only a few months now, but still. If she’d really wanted to, she could’ve walked the entire way.

  “I made a promise to Sean early on, to stay here and help get people settled. At the time, people were coming from all over seeking refuge because they were forced to flee their own homes. Things were chaotic. I told Sean I’d stay until things calmed, but a week turned into two, turned into a month, and before I knew it, I was training all the incoming Awakened. I wanted to help them learn to control their powers so they wouldn’t be seen as such a threat and help them protect themselves in case they needed to. I kept staying because I believed Sean needed me, and I didn’t want to leave Hope with no one to guard her, or with a bunch of untrained, freshly emerged Awakened. I just thought I’d wait until things settled.

  “But things will never calm down. They will never be the same again. The groups who have pitted themselves against the Awakened are intent on killing every last one of us. You can’t reason with people who fervently believe, without a doubt, that you’re evil and deserve to die. There will be no peaceful resolution.” She grabbed Graciela by the shoulders to make sure she understood. “This only ends in war. We’ve already won one battle, but there will be others. And right now there is one in my home country. The people I love, they—”

  “They need you. I understand.” There was a sincerity in her eyes that told Mara she was being genuine.

  “I haven’t left before because I was a coward. I believed I didn’t deserve to go back, but I see now, with this new information, that I need to go back. I need to find my sisters. The longer they’re there, the more vulnerable they are to Il Pristino.”

  The others would have to understand, especially after everything that had happened recently. Or maybe they couldn’t, not firsthand anyway, not like Santiago. Even if it was only for a few hours, he’d lived what Mara had been experiencing for almost two years now. Hoping her sisters were alive, despairing what horrible things they might’ve experienced.

  Now was the time to leave Hope behind. She had waited long enough.

  Mara brought a hand down to Laurel’s shoulder, thanking her for her honesty. The two women shared a nod of camaraderie before Mara turned to leave.

  Graciela started to protest, but Mara cupped her shoulders with sisterly love. “I’m not leaving just yet. Besides, I need your help in gathering a few things before I go.”

  With Graciela a short step behind, the two young women kept a steady pace, careful not to draw attention with quickened strides. Most everyone would be at the dining hall at this hour, but still she couldn’t take the chance of rushing past someone she knew. If it were Darach, or worse, Sean, they would know in an instant that she was preparing to leave and insist on her either staying or them coming with.

  She couldn’t allow either.

  The young women pit-stopped at the strategy tent first. At Mara’s instruction, Graciela waited at the entrance while Mara went inside.

  Second only to the stables, the strategy tent was the place where Sean spent most of his time. Many nights the two of them had drilled over defense strategies for hours, discussing training tactics, and even deciding if certain newcomers were worthy or able to live at Hope. It was a place he came to for guidance, both from others and from within himself.

  Since it was their usual morning meeting location, Mara also knew that it would likely be one of the first stops he made tomorrow, and therefore a prime spot for Mara to leave a goodbye letter.

  To the right of the room there was a medium-size bookshelf, standing not much taller than a small child would. It was adorned with a variety of trinkets from the old world: a glass bottle with an intricately built ship inside, a Rubik�
��s cube that no one had been able to complete, a selection of tarnished, rustic clocks, and something one of the elders had called “Newton’s cradle,” which Mara knew to provide a hypnotizing if not droning amount of entertainment. There, located on the second shelf, was an ornate box covered in pink velvety fabric and shimmering gold embroidery.

  Opening it, careful not to break the ancient thing, she pulled out two compact mirrors, one a faded tan and the other royal purple. She went through the motions of naming one of them while she pushed the other into her pocket.

  When she was finished, she planted herself at a table covered with mounds of scrolls, notes and other forms of written communications. Although to the untrained eye it might seem cluttered and unkempt, Mara knew that Sean had developed a kind of chaotic orderliness and would know if one thing was out of place, even in the slightest.

  Her arms swept across the table, knocking every shred of paper to the floor. This would cause him anxiety in the morning, but she needed to make sure he noticed her letter.

  Time was dwindling, so she wrote hastily and kept herself concise.

  Dear Sean,

  First, know that I am sorry that I had to leave this way. I expect Graciela will be able to fill you in on the details, but you likely already know what this is about. I finally got the information I was looking for, and I couldn’t wait a second longer.

  I’ve borrowed one of the horses so I can make it to the utorian. I’ll leave her there with Lüften until you or someone else can retrieve her. From there, I’ll find Zamira and seek any assistance from her I can get. I expect to be in Italia within a month. Please do not follow me. I have my ulipsi if you need to reach me.

  Speaking of which, I’ve given a ulipsi to Graciela and Santiago. With me leaving and Santiago watching the jails, I think you would benefit from him having one, just in case anything were to happen there while he’s on guard. I know Graciela seems like an odd choice as she is Unawakened, but I believe she would serve as a strong ally, and she has a level head. Talk to her about difficult decisions. I think she will be able to support you in making them as I had done. Plus, I’d like to keep in touch with her, so she’s getting an ulipsi, and that’s that.

  Lastly, I just wanted to thank you for everything you’ve done for me. It has been a pleasure working alongside you. Good luck in the fight that is about to come. I hope you are prepared.

  I will be in touch, but depending on the state of Italia, just know that I might return with more refugees in need of shelter. I expect a warm welcoming, and maybe a glass of expensive wine if you can ever get your hands on some.

  Sempre Tua Amica,

  Mara Giordano

  For a second, she debated about whether to fold the letter and stand it upright like a greetings card or to leave it lying flat on the table. Ultimately, she liked the way it looked better laying two-dimensional against the table’s surface. It felt more symbolic of a goodbye that way.

  “Come on,” she whispered to Graciela when she exited the tent. “I need to be gone before Sean makes his way here.”

  Next, they jogged across town to Mara’s dorm. The few people they passed offered a friendly wave or asked when morning trainings would resume. Surprisingly, she felt no guilt at all for omitting the fact that someone else—likely Amal—would lead said trainings in her place. It made it all the easier knowing that her trainees would be left to capable hands.

  Maybe they didn’t need her here, not anymore.

  Inside the room where Mara had slept for the past two years with a dozen or so others, she retrieved a prepacked backpack. Since the Awakening, when her group had fled Berkeley, Mara had kept her belongings to a minimal and almost always had them ready to go, just in case. Thankfully, the last time she had been in here, over two days ago now, she had organized her possessions so that the necessities were already packed into a nice travel bag. Neatly tucked inside was a spare shirt, socks, underwear, a solar-powered flashlight, a rope, an extra knife in addition to the large one she kept latched at her side, and a large bottle for water.

  The small photo book nestled underneath her pillow was the only item she grabbed that wasn’t a necessity. It fit snuggly inside one of the front pockets, barely taking up any space at all so she didn’t feel guilty about bringing it.

  “That’s almost everything. All I need now is a horse.”

  This time, Graciela led them through the town. It was difficult to reminisce on how much she’d progressed since arriving to Hope, a quick learner of stealth and sleuthing as it came to be apparent. Mara remembered the moment earlier in the day when Graciela had been about to tell her something before Laurel woke. Though curious, she decided against asking. Hearing anything about Hope, or the people there, ran the risk of making her feel like she was obliged to stay.

  Together, Mara and Graciela squeezed through the partially opened doors of the stable, the ones Mara wouldn’t allow to be opened farther. She didn’t want to draw too much attention with the loud creek of the old wood.

  “This one’s named Penelope,” Graciela whispered, lightly petting the tip of the horse’s nose. “She’s the one I rode the other day.”

  “You named her?”

  Graciela looked slightly confused. “Of course I did. She deserved a name. It’s how we build trust and show compassion to animals. Who knows what it was like for her living with those Sanguinatores?”

  Mara couldn’t help but laugh. “Fine, I believe you. But, Penelope?”

  Graciela joined her, her giggle bubbling around them. Penelope leaned into the caress Graciela offered. “She’s a good horse.”

  Mara shrugged at the implication. “She’s too new and unpredictable. I’d rather take one of the horses we’ve been training.”

  Choosing a snowy steed instead, one that she personally had helped bring back to Hope months prior, Mara gave the familiar horse a short greeting. After readying her with a saddle, she turned to Graciela.

  She plunged one hand into her pocket. “I grabbed something for you, while I was in the strategy tent.” She then revealed two ulipsi.

  Graciela squealed. “Really?”

  “Shh, we don’t want to draw any attention,” she warned, peeking through the cracked door to find everyone still eating. “The larger one is called Narcissus. I named it especially for your brother.”

  “Who or what is Narcissus?”

  “He was the son of a Greek river God. He was so obsessed with his appearance that one day he saw his reflection in the river and fell in love with himself. I thought it was fitting for Santiago, what with how obsessed he can be with his hair.”

  Graciela giggled.

  “Sean would like him to have an ulipsi so that he can call him if he needs anything while he is watching the jail. Please give Narcissus to him. The rounded purple mirror is yours though. I didn’t name it. I thought maybe you could think of a name for it. Something that would suit you. Do you have one in mind?”

  Graciela twirled the object in her hand, tracing her finger along its smoothed edges. It fit perfectly in her palm, and something about its weight was already familiar. If she were able to name it anything she could think of, she wanted to make sure it was something good.

  There was a twinkle in Graciela’s eyes, and Mara couldn’t determine if it was sadness or contentedness she was witnessing.

  “What about Rabbit?”

  “Rabbit?”

  “Ah, you don’t know the tale. Mayor Rabbit is a Guatemalan favorite. He was a crafty rabbit who always found himself in situations that required him to outwit other animals, and sometimes even people. I always admired him for his intellect and courage.”

  “Intellect and courage,” Mara said with a twist of mischief. “Sounds like me.” Before her joke could be taken too seriously, she added, “Naming an ulipsi after Mayor Rabbit is a great idea. Did Sean show you how to name them?”

  Graciela shook her head.

  “Here, let me see it.” Handing the mirror over to Mara, she stood back
and watched her work. “Awaken ulipsi. Receive your name,” Mara said, the mirror responding with a burst of life.

  Unlike the last time she had seen the ulipsi at work, this time it glowed red, looking as if there was a bloody fog encircling the object. It brought forth memories that Graciela was trying desperately to forget. She gulped them away and focused her attention on Mara.

  “I name thee Rabbit, belonging to Graciela of Hope. Transmit new ally.” In response, the mirror swirled like thick, melted, velvety chocolate. It made Mara sick to look at so she averted her eyes until the mirror was done. Finally, the light faded, and Mara closed the ulipsi, handing it back to its now rightful owner.

  “There you go. Your ulipsi is now named Rabbit, and everyone else with one will know how to contact you.”

  “Thank you, Mara.”

  “Don’t mention it. Now we can stay in contact while I’m away.”

  The question that Graciela asked next tore through her like shrapnel. “Do you think you’ll ever return?”

  On the one hand, her heart was in Italy and would always be there. It was where she grew up, the culture that shaped and molded her into the woman she was. But on the other hand, Hope had become her home away from home. It was where she had found purpose and meaning. After the Awakening and all of the traumatic experiences they endured, they were able to find solace in one another, and she looked to each of them as if they were family. How could she choose between her homeland and the place that had now become home?

  “It’s possible. I guess we will find out.”

  After feeding the horse an apple—a rare jewel these days—the three of them left the stables.

  “I’ll send you a message when I arrive in New York,” Mara said, void of emotion. Goodbyes always had been difficult. When she’d left Italia, the only people she said goodbye to were her sisters and father. Awkwardly, she held her hand out. “It’s been a pleasure.”

  Graciela didn’t grab it though. Instead she shoved it out of the way and threw her arms around Mara’s neck. Mara’s first instinct was to fight it, but then she eased her own arms around Graciela, giving in to the forced hug.