"At the Ceremony, I lit all five goblets. What does that mean? I have no other powers but you just said I could harbor them."
"It means you have potential." Her eyes shine as she stares at me, and I resist the urge to prod her mind to see what the look means.
"As her mentor, I have to know...will she develop them?" Crowe asks. "Th-that much work...that might be beyond even my patience."
The Sage glances between us for a long moment. "In times like these, it's hard to tell what exactly may happen. This is a rare case, made even more challenging thanks to your accident." She runs a finger along the skin of her wrinkled hand. "Crowe, you know more than anyone that the Ceremony is not a great indicator of powers."
Crowe's eyes drift down, his face distant which pulls me into the depths of his mind. His thoughts come to me in the form of a vision and as soon as I see an eighteen-year-old version of Crowe, I realize it's a memory—his Arcane Ceremony. I remember he's from Aquais, but the thought that his powers stray so far from water amazes me.
Then I frown. What other powers could I be capable of?
"That being the case, will she be punished?" Crowe demands, folding his arms across his chest. The glare he shoots me tells me he guesses I’ve picked his mind.
I snort to myself, thinking of the irony. Only a day ago I had been in his position, saying the exact same words to the same person. What goes around, comes around, Crowe, I think and notice The Sage smile from the corner of my eye.
The Sage shakes her head and diverts her attention to Crowe. "On the contrary, I have a mission for the two of you. I want you to do a little flushing for me."
"Flushing?" I ask, scrunching my face.
"Find any possible members of the Elemental Coven hiding among the Covens and bring them in for questioning," The Sage clarifies.
"Will all The Council be joining us on this job?" Crowe ponders.
The Sage shakes her head. "Just you two—don't want to draw suspicion."
"l take that to mean we are to tell no one about this?" Crowe guesses, holding a hand to the side of his face.
"Correct."
"How will we know who's working for them?" I wonder.
Before Iris, I had never even heard of them, and now I am presented with the knowledge that they may have been living among me my entire life. I think of the faces of people I know in Ignis—the thought any of them can be an Elemental makes my heart flutter uncomfortably.
Can Angel be one? Ambrossi? My parents?
The Sage watches me through eyes clouded with emotion. "You'll know because they’ll show their interest in you."
"I-in me?" I ask, flinching slightly. "Why?"
"You are the most recent member of The Council. No doubt their failed attempt to stop the ceremony and your encounter with the Elemental girl will have their attention on you as well.”
You'll thank me for this later, the girl had said.
I'm sure that means I'll have another encounter with her, but I can't decide if her words should be taken as a threat or not. I swallow roughly suddenly feeling as if I have a red dot on my forehead. "W-was the poisoning my fault?"
The Sage presses her lips together tight. "l don't know what their reasons are for doing what they do, but I don't think the incident tonight had anything to do with you. It was most likely planned around the time the Arcane Ceremony ambush had been."
I nod and stare down at the floor, not feeling convinced. Her entire plan now consists of putting me in each Coven to draw out dangerous criminals cloaking themselves as innocents.
Lost in my thoughts, I barely hear her next words.
"Crowe, I'm counting on you to keep her safe."
Chapter Twenty-One
Stuck Together, Torn Apart
CROWE IS ICILY quiet as we travel down the corridor between The Sage’s room and the Common Room. I pry my way into his mind, but as I feared, it’s hazy with an attempt to keep me out. I have a feeling his reaction is partially do the fact that his thoughts—and his bad mood—focus on me. He turns to me once we’re outside of Headquarters with a sudden lack of emotions, and I can feel how difficult of a façade it is for him to manage.
“Thinking about the trip between all five Covens…we have some long days ahead of us, especially with your injury,” he says finally.
“That’s what I’m thinking too. I’m guessing that means get a good night’s sleep?” I raise an eyebrow. “That’s fine by me, I’m about ready to crash. Am I sharing with Tarj again?”
“Your room is ready tonight, but I’m gonna make you bunk with me. We have to get used to the idea of spending a lot of time together, and besides, we’re gonna need to get up early tomorrow if we’re going to get some training in before going all the way to Aens.”
I bite my lip, unsure which point I should bring up first—the fact he’s making me share a room with him or the idea that he picked the farthest Coven from The Council to travel to first. “We’re going to Aens first?”
Crowe nods as we begin to make our way through The Council’s garden. “I know what you’re thinking. Yes, it’s the farthest away, but I figure once that one’s crossed off, it’ll take us much less time to do the rest of the Covens.”
“Right,” I murmur as we approach a building with a door harboring a blue stripe. It’s not a terrible plan but my leg already hurts anticipating the amount of energy it’ll take to manage it.
Crowe goes to push open the door when he pauses and turns to me. “It’s a mess so keep your comments to yourself. Please and thank you.”
I roll my eyes and follow him inside, instantly thinking of Clio. From what I’ve come to understand, every boy’s house is a mess.
The scent of a marshland fills my nose, and I blink in surprise as soon as he switches the light on. There’s a thin layer of water on the floor. Crowe’s feet splash through it as if he takes no notice.
“There’s water on the floor,” I point out, tilting my head uncertainly.
He looks over his shoulder at me as he adjusts the blankets on his bed. “Yeah?”
“You…like it this way?” I ask, hovering by the doorframe, dreading the thought of treading through it.
He bobs his head slowly. “It reminds me of home. The Sage specifically designed this room for Aquais residents.”
I blink but don’t say another word. I can understand that—most people aren’t a fan of the desert but I can’t imagine a place more comfortable. My lip twitches in irritation with the urge to go back to the comforts of Tarj’s room instead. I search his space to distract myself, and when I notice there’s only one bed, my gaze falls back on him.
“Where am I going to sleep?” I raise my hand to my mouth to bite gently on my knuckle.
“I only have one bed, so we’ll have to share,” Crowe says with a shrug as he strips off his cloak and works at undoing the buttons of his dress shirt.
I fold my arms over my chest and stare at him. “You’re kidding, right? At least Tarj’s room had provisions for two people. This is absurd.”
“What’s the big deal, really?” Crowe asks with a roll of his eyes as he digs through his dresser. “We’re just going to sleep. I promise my bed won’t kill you.”
Clio wouldn’t like this, I think with a glance at Crowe as he tosses me a shirt of his. I don’t like it either.
You also don’t have a choice, Hyacinth reminds me.
I frown at the sound of her voice wondering how long she’s been listening to my thoughts without me being aware of her poking into my mind. “Do you at least have a bathroom in here for me to change in?” I demand in a tone harsher than I mean to use thanks to my newfound irritation.
He points to a door beside his window and I don’t say another word as I make my way through it. The bathroom is blue with water covering the floor like his room, making me feel as if I’m drowning. I sigh and slosh through the watery floor, closing the door behind me before I go to work stripping off my clothes to replace it with Crowe’s shirt. I toss my c
lothes into his sink before I study my reflection in the mirror. I tousle my hair, staring at the noticeable stress in my eyes before I turn to leave the bathroom. Crowe is already lying down when I make it back to his room. I eye the bed once I notice he’s settled on the side farthest from the wall.
“Are you at least going to move over so I have some room?” I fold my arms across my chest again.
Crowe laughs, cracking open an eye. “Nice try, but no. You’re gonna sleep next to the wall.”
I huff and crawl over him, purposefully kneeing him in as many places with my bad leg as I can manage before I plop down in the space between him and the wall, glaring at him. “You think I’ll leave during the night once you fall asleep…don’t you?” I ask, reading the thought on his face rather than his mind.
He smirks and turns his back to me. “Better safe than sorry.”
Asshole. Faintly, I hear Hyacinth giggle, and I smile at the sound. Her eavesdropping this time oddly comforts me.
I tuck my arm under the pillow, staring at Crowe’s messy red hair as my mind drifts back to the conversation with The Sage. The thought I really have powers from all the Covens hasn’t been forgotten. What else am I capable of doing…what else could I be capable of with a little extra effort?
I stare at the water on Crowe’s floor, thinking about ice with my mind, but the texture of the liquid doesn’t change, and I frown. Most witches in Aquais can manipulate water into any form of their choosing, be it solid, liquid, or gas. I can splash the water with my telekinesis but that’s about it.
I want to believe The Sage made a mistake but logic in my brain won’t back down. In every age and every time period the Covens have been through, one thing has always been true—The Sage is never wrong. The very function of our land depends on it.
My mind flashes back to the uncertain look The Sage had worn while talking about the poisoning in the river, and I have the feeling Hyacinth is behind the switch in memories. I tense suddenly as I realize what she’s trying to say—The Sage hadn’t been sure…if she wasn’t sure that meant she could be wrong.
I swallow roughly, once again blaming the poisoning, and Callista’s condition, on me. You’re not who they say you are. Hyacinth’s words bounce in my head again, and I lift my hands to my face. If I’m not who I believe I am, then who am I?
“Something wrong, Li?” Crowe mumbles into the covers without moving.
My whole life is a lie, I think, scoffing inside my mind at the irony of my nickname.
I don’t answer Crowe as I clear my mind, settling into the blankets beside him.
Tomorrow is going to be a long day.
***
I WAKE UP to Crowe prodding me in the ribs. He smirks at me when my eyes flutter open, and I groan, picking up the nearest pillow to hold it over my face as weak light filters into my vision, making it impossible to see. It feels as if I’ve only slept ten minutes, and I’m ready to claw the faces off anyone willing to pull me out of bed.
“Come on, Lilith. Rise and shine!” Crowe says, ripping the blanket off me.
I move the pillow to glare at him and notice he’s already dressed.
He’s been up for a while, Hyacinth informs me.
“You know, without your cloak of burning rage, you almost look like a girl,” he teases with a wink at me.
That’s when I realize his shirt hiked up exposing my stomach and thighs. A blush lines my cheeks as I sit up to pull his shirt as far down as it’ll go. “Do you at least have clothes for me to change into?”
Crowe nods, tossing me the bundle of clothes I hadn’t noticed were in his hand. I dip my head to him and crawl off the bed to make my way to the bathroom. As I pull on the shirt and shorts, I’m surprised at the material. It’s thicker than what I’m used to wearing in Ignis, and the yellow color is different as well.
I frown at the outfit but know The Sage had had good intentions when she picked it out for me. Yellow is Aens’ Coven pride color. If I’m cloaked in it, she might hope for me to better blend in while scouting out potential members of the Elemental Coven. A shiver passes through me at the idea of the danger I’m trekking into, causing goosebumps to break out across my arms. I rub my hand over my forearm, trying to get them to disappear as I splash through the bathroom. When I go back into Crowe’s room, he’s leaning in his doorframe, arms folded across his chest as he gazes out the open door to the garden beyond.
“Ready to train?” he asks with a casual glance toward me.
I dip my head and follow him as we pass through the garden, in the direction of the training grounds. My stomach growls and I pass a longing glance to Headquarters as I hold a hand to the tremors.
“What about breakfast?” I inquire, just barely keeping myself from pouting.
“We’ll eat after we train,” he promises, chin held high as he leads the way.
I nod to hide my downcast expression as we make our way through the forest of the Grove. Even though I had only been to the training grounds once, I can tell we’re not heading in the same direction as last time.
“I thought you said we were going to train,” I call, raising my eyebrows.
“We are,” he replies, glancing at me over his shoulder. I narrow my eyes in confusion and he continues. “We’re gonna train on the Aens grounds today.”
“Any particular reason why?” I ponder, tilting my head to the side.
“Besides the obvious, you mean?” Crowe slows his pace to walk beside me. “I think it’ll be good to get a feeling for fighting on Aens land…just in case.”
“Right,” I say, licking my lips nervously.
“If what The Sage says is true, you’ll have some kind of Aens power in you too…don’t you want to know if that’s true?” His eyes flicker as he studies my face.
I look away, biting my lip. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed and part of me fears I’m losing a grip on myself. “To be honest, I don’t know. Mindreading is enough to cope with let alone air bending.”
Crowe chuckles. “I bet, but if you do have the power in you, it’s my responsibility to help you bring it out.”
I sigh. “Why? What does it matter if I ever manifest all the supposed powers I have when I can’t accurately use any of them?”
“Because one day that won’t be true,” he replies, cocking his head to the side.
I puff my cheeks before exhaling loudly, not in the mood to argue. “Sure.”
“That’s the grounds up there.” He points through the break in the trees.
Both of us speed up our pace at the same time, and I stand at the edge of the clearing while Crowe moves past me. The land ahead is flat and grassy, barren of any imperfections such as rocks or holes. A breeze blows gently, sending goosebumps down my spine. The odd material of the clothes The Sage had lent me keep the wind from reaching the skin underneath, and I suddenly understand the reason for it.
“It’s so…empty,” I say with a glance around the endless ripples of grass.
Crowe claps his hands together with a survey of his own. “Yeah, I agree.”
***
I DRAG MY feet as we cross the threshold back into Headquarters. Crowe and I are covered in dirt and grass stains from throwing each other around the Aens training ground. Sweat covers my forehead, and Crowe’s hair is even more disheveled than usual, some of it clinging to the sweat on the back of his neck. It had been a tough training session—he had made sure of it—but there are still no updates to offer. My telekinetic powers are the most prominent ones I have, and nothing even remotely Aens seems to be rooted inside of me. I pick in disgust at my wet shirt as we pass through the common room.
Crowe doesn’t say a word to me as we take our places at the dining table. Hyacinth offers me a sympathetic glance, but I hardly notice as Crowe hands me a cup filled with ice cold water. I down it quickly, wincing at the hint of a brain freeze, but don’t stop until the cup is drained. Crowe passes me a plate next, and I begin to eat the food without tasting it. I wish for nothing more than to
go to bed, but I know I can’t do that.
Not today.
I hear thoughts of Aens running through Crowe’s mind, and I have a feeling he’ll be up and ready to run off the second his stomach is full. Part of me is amazed at his ability to push away his exhaustion in the blink of an eye. I sigh, propping my chin on my hand as I push my plate to the center of the table. At the sound of clattering dishes, Rayna glances up at me, and my heart sinks when she stands to her feet.
She approaches me and sets her hand to my arm as she gently pulls me to my feet. I glance at Crowe, and he shrugs, resuming his meal, before I look back to Rayna. She leads me to the mouth of the hallway, the edges of her lips turned down.
“I heard you and Crowe are going on a pretty important mission,” she informs me with a glance to Hyacinth.
I dip my head but stay silent, wondering how much The Sage wants me to tell the others. With Hyacinth around, it’s a wonder she thought the secret could be contained. “Yeah, we’ll be off the Grove for a few days.”
“The Elemental Coven are a crazy bunch,” she says, jaw slack as she eyes me. “My mother used to tell me horror stories about them when I was being groomed for The Council. You don’t want to underestimate them. It’s that insanity that makes them dangerous, you see—look what Iris did at the ceremony.”
I scrunch my face. “Not to sound rude,” I utter, honestly not caring how it comes across, “but why are you telling me this?”
“Hyacinth told me that The Sage fears they’re after you. If what I’ve heard about them is right, you’ll need more than just Crowe to take care of you when you’re out there in the fray.”
“I can take care of myself,” I state curtly, raising my chin. I blink in irritation. Do they all see me as a helpless wounded animal? If that’s the case, why would they even recruit me in the first place? This is maddening.
It gets easier, Hyacinth offers.
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