by Peach, Hanna
Jordan stepped up to Alyx’s side, close enough for her to feel his breath on her hair. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see Israel frown.
“I have some things to take care of but I shall come and find you soon, okay, beauty?” Jordan’s voice was soft, low enough to be taken as intimate, but loud enough that she had no doubt that Israel had heard him. Jordan nodded to Israel then floated away down the corridor.
Alyx had only just entered her room when she heard Israel snap from behind her, “What was that about?”
Alyx spun to face him. His features were hard. “What was what about?”
“That. You. Jordan. Is there... is there something going on with you two?”
“Even if there was, that is none of your business.” Alyx folded her arms across her chest.
“Well, gee. How quickly I am replaced,” he replied bitterly.
Alyx couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “How dare you. You’re the one who—”
“Alyx? Alyx?” Mini’s desperate voice called through the wall from the next room, cutting her off.
“I’m here, Mini. I’m coming,” Alyx called out. “I don’t have time for this,” she said to Israel and shut the door in his face.
Alyx pressed her forehead to the door. How dare he! He was allowed to obsess over another woman and she wasn’t allowed to have a friend?
For a moment there was silence behind the door. He was still there. He hadn’t moved away. Alyx began to think, to hope, that maybe Israel would knock and say that he was sorry and that he was an idiot or… something.
Her heart crumpled a little when she heard Israel’s footsteps travel the short distance to his room opposite hers; then his door slammed.
Alyx sighed. She moved through the door that separated her room from Mini’s so that she could comfort Mini.
* * *
Mini was fully awake and had begun to look around curiously at their new surroundings. Her room, like Alyx’s, was simply furnished.
Alyx was pointing to and sounding out the few simple things in their room when there was a knock on the door. When it opened, Ky’s face peeked through.
“Hi, Ky,” said Alyx. “You can come in, but be very gentle as this is all very new to Mini and we don’t want to frighten her.”
Ky closed the door behind him ever so carefully so as not to make a sound. He floated towards them with the caution that one would take when approaching a wild horse. Mini leaned forward, peering curiously at the young boy. Ky’s eyes were just as wide as Mini’s as they studied each other. Mini then looked back and forth between Ky and Alyx as if requiring an explanation of this newcomer. Mini didn’t seem afraid of him.
“Mini, this is Ky. He is our new friend. Friend.” Alyx made an effort to clearly pronounce this last word.
“Frehn,” said Mini her little tulip mouth working around the sound.
Ky’s face contorted. “Can’t she talk?”
“I guess no one ever taught her,” said Alyx.
“Didn’t her parents teach her?”
“No, Ky. I don’t think she ever had parents.”
“Never had parents?” Ky’s eyebrows furrowed with what looked like a soft compassion. His eyes remained fixed on Mini. He appeared to have been stunned into silence.
Alyx began to point to things around the room again, sounding out the corresponding word to Mini. Bed. Table. Light. Floor. Mini repeated them with a thick tongue.
“Can I teach her, too?” Ky asked.
“How about I make you a deal?” Alyx said.
“What kind of deal?”
“I have to see Tobias soon for a meeting. But I don’t want to leave Mini alone in this new place, and it looks like she trusts you. So if you could stay with her and teach her some words for me, maybe take her around Aradale if you feel like a walk, then I shall train you in exchange.”
His face lit up. “Oh boy! Will I ever…” Suddenly, Ky frowned and began to shake his head. “No. It isn’t fair, Warrior Alyx.”
“What isn’t fair?”
“I don’t feel like the deal is fair. I mean, I get to spend time with Mini and I get you as my trainer.” His frown deepened. “I don’t see what I am giving in exchange for these things. This deal isn’t fair to you.”
The boy looked so serious that Alyx had to stop herself from laughing. “Well, what do you think would be fair?”
“Perhaps I could polish some of your weapons.” Ky brightened up. “Yes, I could do that.”
Alyx stuck out her hand. “Deal.” He shook her hand very solemnly. “Mini, I’m going to leave you with Ky here, okay? He’s going to keep you company while I’m not here. Be good.”
Ky moved towards Mini, smiling at her. “Hi Mini, you and I are going to be best friends.” He pointed to himself. “Ky. Friend.”
Alyx slipped out of the room.
* * *
Earlier, Tobias had said that his office was in the other wing, just past the covered courtyard that separated the east and west wings. As Alyx made her way through the Aradale building, she smiled at the few Seraphim that she passed. They all seemed quite friendly... so far.
Entering the other wing, Alyx noticed a disheveled looking seraphelle standing to one side of the corridor that she needed to travel down. The seraphelle was wearing a long skirt that looked worn and was rimmed with dried mud. Oily hair lay limp across a gaunt face pierced by vacant, snowy blue eyes. Alyx didn’t know why, but she found herself veering to the other side of the corridor as she passed this seraphelle. The seraphelle’s gaze found Alyx’s face. Her vacant eyes came to life.
“You,” the seraphelle hissed at Alyx as she lifted a crooked finger to point at her face. “The ghost, she walks. The ghost walks.”
Alyx felt an odd prickle along her back. “What?”
The seraphelle scuttled in front of Alyx, blocking her path. Alyx froze in place, unsure of what to do. She could feel the seraphelle woman studying her face. It made her feel like insects were crawling under her skin.
“No,” the seraphelle began to mutter. “Not the ghost who lost it all. Not the ghost, but looks like the ghost.”
The ghost? Who was this seraphelle? Was she just crazy or was there a ghost?
The seraphelle began to chant in a strange voice,
“Come forth, I charge thee, arise,
Thou of the many tongues, the myriad eyes!
Thou comest not with shows of flaunting vines,
Unto mine inner eye, Divinest Memory!”
As she stretched out her hand towards Alyx’s head, Alyx was too stunned to move.
Another hand grabbed the seraphelle’s wrist just before it touched Alyx’s forehead, her dirty fingers wiggling like worms.
“Don’t let her touch your head,” Jordan said as he eased the seraphelle’s hand away from Alyx. She was no match for his strength. Jordan leaned down to the seraphelle and spoke to her in a low voice. Alyx couldn’t hear what he was saying, but the woman recoiled and started to hiss. Finally the woman snatched her hand away from Jordan and scurried away through the corridor.
“What the hell just happened?” Alyx said. “Why was she talking about a ghost?”
“Who knows? She doesn’t ever make any sense. Stay away from her. She’s crazy. And don’t let her touch you. Ever.”
“Why?”
“We call her the MemoryThief. She steals memories from people but she doesn’t destroy them, so they become her own. They say that she has been stealing memories for several hundred years. Now she is confused as to who she is, where she is, or even what century it is. She rambles on such nonsense. Don’t let her touch your head. She’ll steal a memory from you.”
“What was that poem she was reciting?” Alyx thought it had sounded familiar, but she couldn’t quite remember.
“It’s part of a poem by Tennyson. When she chants it, it brings your happiest memories to your forethoughts, which makes it easy for her to access and steal. Some time ago she started stealing only happy memor
ies.”
“Why is she here, then?”
“It’s the sanctuary’s code; we provide refuge for all Seraphim outside of the Elders’ society. Are you heading to Tobias’s office?”
Alyx nodded.
“Let me escort you.” Jordan took her arm before she could protest.
Chapter 7
Tobias’s office was essentially a small library with shelves upon shelves of books and Threads. Tobias was sitting behind his glass desk as Alyx and Jordan entered. Alyx flinched when she saw that Israel was already sitting there.
Alyx turned away from the table and moved across to the shelf filled with various objects. “What are these?” Alyx asked, picking up a glass orb. Unlike the soulglobe, this globe was clear and hollow.
“They are glass containers,” Tobias said as he appeared at her side. “The glass is made by one of our resident FireTwirlers who melts sand, then it is air-blown by an AirWhisperer. These smaller ones with lids are for your trinkets; these open ones are for flowers.”
“They’re beautiful,” she said as she picked up one of the smaller globes and turned the cool glass over in her hand.
“Thank you.”
Alyx put down the glass and picked up a small coin-like object.
“Those are MirageWeaver-infused Alchemist metals with a touch of MemorySong. I call them Miragecharms. You can attach them onto small things and create your own temporary mirage by pressing here and holding the image of your wanted mirage in your thoughts. They’re an evolution of the larger pieces we installed around the grounds to hold the ward up.”
Alyx turned the piece over. It was light and cool in her fingers. “Tobias, that’s genius.”
“I like to create new ways of working with our magics.” Alyx hadn’t thought it possible, but this confident man looked almost bashful.
He pulled Alyx over to a shelf of blades, grinning like a child. “These are my latest projects.” He picked up one of the blades, turning it so that the metal caught the light. “I’ve infused the Alchemist-blend blades with different magics. Here, touch it, but do it lightly.”
Spurred on by Tobias’s enthusiasm, Alyx reached out with the tips of her fingers. As soon as she touched the blade, she gasped and drew her hand back. “It’s hot.”
Tobias grinned. “It’s infused with FireTwirler. Similar to your bloodink tattoos, the magic needs to be re-infused after it is all used up.”
What beautiful examples of the magics working together. What could they create if they were to work together more often? What other ways could they make things better? Magics working together was not something that Alyx ever remembered being taught was possible, yet here was the proof.
The doors to the office opened, followed by a small whirlwind of noise. Marin and Lukas had arrived along with two seraphelles she didn’t recognize. Marin appeared to have calmed down somewhat, but he still glared at Israel from across the room.
Alyx was introduced to Vix and Dianne. Dianne was tall with flaxen hair and a strong jaw. Alyx detected suspicion in Dianne’s eyes. Vix, however, grinned radiantly. Vix was shorter than Dianne with an athletic build. Her short hair, almost white, flared about her head like silver flames. Her eyes were a radiant blue, clear as if you were looking through peepholes into the sky. Alyx was reminded of a cat by the way Vix moved and by the way her eyes darted over Alyx, taking all of her in.
Tobias directed everyone to chairs around a large round table that occupied a corner of his office. Alyx took the empty seat next to Jordan. Jordan stretched one arm across the back of her chair, brushing her back. Alyx caught Israel staring at them as she leaned in closer to Jordan. “Did Vix used to be a lightwarrior?”
Jordan nodded. “Good catch. Vix used to be one of Urielos’s flock leaders.”
Tobias cleared his throat. Jordan settled back, but he left his arm around the back of her chair.
“We’ve all heard about what happened to poor Zia,” Tobias said. He turned to Israel. “Israel, perhaps it’s best that you explain to the room about the significance of how she was murdered.”
All the eyes around the table fixed on Israel. Israel nodded and spoke into his lap. “I think it’s a call for me to show myself.” He paused. “It’s what I did. I carved ‘Adere’, the name of a friend of mine who became Darkened, on the stomach of a Darkened I killed as a way of trying to get Adere to show herself to me.”
Marin growled and a murmur started between Dianne and Vix.
“Please...” Tobias said as he raised his palm for silence. “I have more to say.” The room fell silent. Alyx’s stomach began to turn. “There has been a report of another Black Stone theft. This time the Merlion, the national monument in Singapore, has disappeared.”
“Was the statue made of Black Stone?” gasped Vix. “I thought the Merlion was white.”
“The local FreeThinker community has confirmed that it was Black Stone coated in a glazed polymarble,” said Tobias.
Marin’s fist slammed against the table. “Something must be done. The more Black Stone that the Darkened acquire, the more weapons against us they have, the more of us will die.”
“I don’t think that’s even in question, Marin,” said Tobias. “The question is... what do we do?”
There was a silence. It hung heavy like a dark cloud full of ready thunder.
“What if...” it was Israel who spoke. Alyx looked over to him. Their gazes locked and Alyx had to look away. “What if we stole the rest of the Black Stone... before the Darkened do?”
Marin spoke, “Impossible.”
“No, wait a minute Marin,” said Tobias. “I think Israel is onto something here. Steal it before they do.”
“But we don’t even know where the rest of the Black Stone that returned to earth is,” Marin complained, crossing his arms. “How the hell do we even begin to find out?”
“Well, the Darkened seem to have a source, so…” said Alyx.
Tobias raised his hands to try to soften the mood in the room. “I’ll send out swallows to the other FreeThinker communities worldwide. See if any of them know of the location of any Black Stone pieces. It may take a few days to hear back from them. In the meantime we just keep up our training and never leave the community unless you are with someone, okay? Don’t take any unnecessary risks. Anyone else have any other ideas? Come and see me straight away if you do.”
Tobias adjourned the meeting, promising to call them back once the swallows had started returning with news.
Alyx stayed in her chair as the others stood up and started making their way out the door. She felt a blush of awkwardness come on when both Israel and Jordan looked like they were both lingering behind to talk to her.
Israel frowned at Jordan, who stared back, looking slightly amused. Turning to Alyx, Israel said, “I need to talk to you.”
Alyx tried to keep her tone neutral. “I need to talk to Tobias now, so it’ll have to wait.”
Israel’s face hardened. “Fine.” Shooting another suspicious glance at Jordan, he left the room.
“I can stay if you like,” Jordan said, placing a hand on her shoulder.
Alyx was hyperaware of his touch. “I’m fine. I’ll see you later.”
Jordan turned to leave, but then he stopped. “Perhaps you’ll have dinner with me tonight?”
“Dinner?”
“The community usually has dinner together in the dining hall, but we could take our dinner out onto the little deck outside where there are some smaller tables. We should be left alone there for the most part.”
Jordan was pleasant company. And he seemed to be going out of his way to be friendly with her. It also meant that she could avoid that talk with Israel. “Sure,” Alyx said.
Jordan flashed her a smile. “Great. I’ll see you soon.”
* * *
“So, Alyx,” Tobias said after they were alone in his office. “You had some questions for me?”
“I wanted to ask about my mother. She fled Michaelea about seventeen win
ters ago, when I was born. Her name is Elise Perrin. I heard she was in Egypt somewhere. Please, tell me you know her.”
Tobias frowned as he repeated her mother’s name under his breath. “Sorry, I haven’t heard of her. But I shall include an additional message with the swallows that I send out to our contacts in the known Egyptian communities. Do you know what she looks like?”
“I have been told that she looks very much like me.” Symon and Jovanna had told her this many times. Snapping back to the present she said, “Why do you ask?”
“Sometimes new FreeThinkers will change their names. It’s very likely if there has been a traumatic reason for leaving. Sometimes it helps to leave their old life behind.”
Alyx remembered Mason and his Clan of the Saints, street pirates who helped Israel and her escape two lightwarriors who had almost captured them. The clan members took on a new name when they joined the Saints for that very reason. They had called Israel “Scrapper” and had given her the name of Dark Angel.
“I will send a description of Elise and details about when she turned Rogue as well,” said Tobias. “Don’t worry, Alyx. We’ll find her.”
Alyx breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank you.”
After all this time... she would soon hear news about her mother. Perhaps she may even get to meet her. It felt almost unreal. Alyx suppressed a small bubble of joy – she shouldn’t get ahead of herself now.
Dearest Yael,
I fear the Elders have killed you.
No. I know in my heart you are alive. I would know if you died. A part of me would have died, too.
Lukas tells me stories of the last Rogue genocide. A lot of them were killed, but they were able to save many. Oh my love, the stories make me shiver. How could our Elders do this to their own people, their own race? Are we not all Seraphim? Do we not dance under the same sky, cry into the same earth, laugh into the same wind?
It has been several weeks now and you still do not come. But I still have faith.