A Backup Plan

Cal's PoV:

Mor, Cassian and Amren were so drunk that Azriel had to winnow them in front of the house and get them to their beds.

The thought of winnowing made Cal feel sick and Azriel gave her an understanding nod.

"It will be dawn in a few hours," said Azriel, sitting down beside Cal who was sitting on the bank of the Sidra. "Rhys said-"

"That I have to be back before Feyre wakes up," completed Cal. "I am going, don't worry. I just- I like this view. Its pretty."

She was looking at the stars above her and how they reflected on the Sidra to make a glowing rainbow. Azriel stayed quiet beside her, and somehow, there was peace in that.

Silence was peace.

"Should I be worried about your work tomorrow?" asked Cal, looking at Azriel who looked at her face in confusion.

"Why?" asked Azriel.

"You are a spy. Your work tomorrow probably involves infiltrating some enemy place and risking your life if you got caught."

"The work is worrisome. I meant, why would you worry?"

"Why not?" asked Cal, nervously chuckling. "Rhys wanted us to be friends. I think the first stage of friendship is worrying about the other's safety."

"Well, Cal, thank you for your concern. But, I will be fine. I wont really be entering any place. I will just be watching. From far."

"Good."

"How did you end up at Amarantha's?" asked Azriel suddenly and looked at her unflinchingly, as if he wasn't even apologetic for the question.

In a way, Cal appreciated that. She hated having people walk on eggshells around her.

"I was caught," replied Cal simply. "I was in the woods beside the wall, you see. Feyre is my younger sister; cousin sister to be specific. We were just a year apart. My father, who is Feyre's father's brother, had married against the family's wishes, and then had me. My mother passed away shortly after, and my father dropped me off at my uncle's to be taken care of. But my father had bad habits like gambling and drinking, and soon he befriended my uncle's business friends and loaned money from them. When he became unable to pay back the loan, my father disappeared, leaving my uncle and aunt to take care of me. Of course, my father was part of the reason why the loan sharks beat up my uncle, why our family descended into poverty. When our family descended into poverty, Feyre decided to hunt for food. And I accompanied her. A fourteen-year old girl shouldn't be entering the forest alone, you see."

"Odd," said Azriel with a laugh and Cal looked sharply at him. "You too were just fifteen. Not that big a gap."

"Yes. But she was my younger sister, I couldn't let her go alone. Then one day, Feyre wasn't well. She had a fever and we had no food. So, I told her to rest and went to the forest. I waited there till dawn had drawled on to day and then to noon and dusk. I couldn't go home without food. So I decided to stay there. That's when I noticed a rabbit. A big rabbit. I had originally thought that it must be a faerie by its size. The rabbit could feed my family for at least two days. So, I went after it with my hunting knife, and then it disappeared. I searched around in the bushes until I found a wall with a big hole in it. I knew it was the boundary but I couldn't help it. My family was hungry. I had to get them food. So, I entered Prythian, searching for the rabbit that had so unwittingly escaped. And then I got caught. Maybe my human scent attracted the Attor to me and he took me to Amarantha. I was hoping that my uncle would at least come looking for me. But later, I learnt from Feyre, that after I had disappeared, he had told them a story as to how my father had come back and taken me with them, ensuring that nobody would ever come looking for me. I understand why he did that though: I was not his own daughter, in fact, my father was half the reason for the entire family's misfortunes. I was not worth the trouble of searching for. He was just protecting the family, and so he lied. And so my disappearance went absolutely unnoticed."

Azriel had stayed quiet as she was telling her story. When she turned towards him, he was still looking at her as if trying to unravel some mystery.

"And you stayed there till Feyre broke the curse?" asked Azriel.

"Yes. And I have been invited to stay at the Spring Court till my sister's wedding. Although, now that it has been postponed, Ianthe has made it very clear that I am overstaying my welcome."

"You really are brave, as Rhys said. And strong. Mortals couldn't have survived what you did."

"I wouldn't have either. When Amarantha was- experimenting on me, Rhys entered my mind and removed the pain. I felt everything they did, but the pain never registered."

"Until it did."

"Until it did." Cal echoed. The night had suddenly become colder. "Rhys was going through his own things at that time. So, I don't blame him when he failed to help. At times, he was too exhausted to do anything. And I just- I didn't scream. He thought I was alright."

"You didn't scream?"

"No. I just made it look like there was mild pain."

This time it was Azriel's turn to let out a nervous chuckle.

"Thank you for what you did for Rhys," said Azriel as he got up and extended his hand to her.

"Be safe tomorrow," said Cal as she took his hand.

Darkness swirled around her and the moment she felt her feet touch solid ground, her stomach heaved and all the contents of her stomach spilled out through her mouth.

She looked around and noticed that she was standing on the roof of the Night Court Palace.

And Azriel was already gone.

The week passed by uneventfully. The only entertainment Cal had was when Feyre and Rhys bantered. Cal knew that Tamlin was bad for Feyre, but Feyre was choosing to stay with him and there was nothing Cal could do to change her mind.

"You two are leaving tomorrow," said Rhys, entering Feyre's room as the two sisters were talking about their past life. "I have something for Cal, if you don't mind?"

Rhys asked the question tentatively and Cal knew that he was half afraid she would slip back into her lifeless husk if she felt left out. But Feyre just nodded.

Cal left the room and met Rhys outside.

"What happened?" asked Cal, worried.

"You're leaving tomorrow," said Rhys. "And you let it slip that since the wedding is postponed, you might have to go back to the mortal world."

"Yes. So?"

"Nothing. Your new friends just wanted to see you once before you went back. We cant really cross the wall anytime we want to, you see."

"Oh. Alright, that's nice of them."

"Cal," Rhys grabbed Cal's wrist and she braced herself for the nausea that would follow the winnowing. "I want you to know one thing."

Cal opened her eyes as he had sounded serious. His violet eyes bored into hers as he cupped her cheek with his other hand.

"I know what you went through," said Rhys, "and I might be the only one who understands. You are going back to the mortal world, but I hope you understand how alone you will be there." The thought stung her eyes and she suddenly wanted to look away from his violet eyes. His grasp was firm as he continued. "If that Ianthe is making you feel unwelcome at the Spring Court, you have a home here, in the Night Court."

"If Feyre stays at the Spring Court," said Cal, "wont it be inappropriate if I stayed here?"

"No. You are my friend. You became my friend before I knew Feyre. And you were my only true friend Under The Mountain. I told you then and I am telling you now: The Night Court shall be your home. For everything you did for me. I know you are mortal, I might live for another five hundred years, but you won't. And I want you to know that whatever time is allotted to you, you are welcome at the Night Court. Your friends would love to have you with them for the remainder of your life."

"Th- thank you, Rhys." Cal choked on her words at the raw emotion dancing behind Rhys' eyes. "I will keep that in mind."

"Write to me, alright? And if you want to be picked up, just send in one letter. And I will pick you up. Even if that day comes forty years from now. You will always have friends here. We will never forget you. At least, I wont."

Rhys handed Cal a vial of pink liquid and she looked at it in surprise.

"Helps with the nausea," explained Rhys. "I used this when I first learned how to winnow."

"Faeries get nauseous during winnowing too?" asked Cal, downing the liquid in one gulp.

"Only when we are learning. After that, its second nature."

Darkness swirled around Cal then and she landed at the House of Wind. Her chest was heaving but her stomach wasn't as upset as before. The nausea faded within a few seconds before Rhys ruffled her hair and winnowed away.

"How have you been?" asked Mor pleasantly and hugged Cal.

"I am good," replied Cal with a laugh. "How are you?"

"We are good. So, what are you in the mood for?"

Cal looked at Amren, who gave her a warm smile upon meeting her eyes. She looked around to spot Cassian who was pondering over what looked like two pieces of broken knives. She turned around and felt her chest deflate with relief as she noticed Azriel, riffling through some papers which suspiciously looked like maps.

"Do you have games?" asked Cal tentatively to Mor. "Like cards or board games?"

The game continued well until late evening. Cal enjoyed every second of it. It seemed to be like a more elaborate, magical and detailed version of Dungeons and Dragons.

The game ended as Cal got burned by a firedrake, Mor got impaled by a magical tree, Cassian was eaten by sirens upon a lake (at great amusement from Azriel) and Azriel was exiled to the desert. Only Amren stood victorious as she booed the others.

After the game was over, they had dinner together, joking and laughing like a family. And Cal laughed with them, the laughter was effortless and real this time.

"I have some business at the Hewn City," said Mor through her teeth as she looked at the time and Cal noticed Cassian's and Azriel's eyes darkening at that.

"I will go with you," said Cassian.

"I need to go my apartment," said Amren. "I have to- sort some things."

"Alright," said Cal. "Bye guys. Its already pretty late, someone will just have to give me a lift to the palace."

"It was a pleasure meeting you, Cal," said Amren, shaking her hand.

"Goodbye, Cal," said Mor, "I will miss you. Just, send a letter, anytime you want. We will remember you and you will always be a priority. Even if that's sixty years from now, just send for us whenever you need."

"I will," said Cal, her throat feeling tight again. "Thank you all. It was nice to see you all."

They winnowed out one by one until only Azriel and Cal were left in the room.

"Glad to know you came back safe," said Cal, giving Azriel a soft smile.

"Glad to know you remembered," said Azriel with half a smile. "Cal, its still early in the night. You want to do something?"

"I would like to take a walk through the city," Cal said without hesitation. "Rhys kept telling me about how beautiful Velaris looks at night. Show me."

Cal was dressed in pink fleece lined leggings and a white high neck sweater. She wore a peach-coloured knee-length jacket to combat the biting cold.

Azriel looked at her outfit and narrowed his eyes, as if he knew it was not just because of the cold. He himself was clothed in a pair of jeans and a cotton tunic.

They walked through the city and Cal bought herself a box of chocolate eclairs. She offered them to Azriel who took only one and ate it very slowly.

They came to the bridge around midnight, Azriel looking slightly exhausted as Cal had kept him talking constantly. She had too many questions. She asked about every shop, every item, every unique looking faerie that they encountered along the way.

And Azriel had obliged.

"Do you ever stop talking?" asked Azriel more than once and Cal had tactlessly avoided answering that question.

When they came to the bridge, Cal thought that his cheeks looked flushed.

"I am sorry," said Cal, biting into the last éclair. "I know I ask too many questions."

"You do," he said with a heavy breath and Cal felt embarrassed.

"I should go now, I have bothered you enough."

"You haven't even seen the best sight yet."

"And that will be?"

"Its about to rain," said Azriel and Cal heard the distant rumble of thunder.

"Rain is the best sight in Velaris?"

"Promise me you won't freak out," said Azriel seriously although Cal noticed a mischievous smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

"At what?"

Cal felt a metallic twang in the air which she was very familiar with till now. Then, in front of her, behind Azriel, rose two huge, black, membranous wings.

Cal took a step back in surprise.

"Me and Cassian had kept the glamour on," said Azriel. "And Rhys keeps his tucked in."

"They are beautiful," said Cal in reflex, looking at the black wings that towered over her, the membrane glowing a faint purple in the moonlight.

"Come on," said Azriel and extended his arm out to Cal who took it without hesitation. "Now, hold on."

Azriel jumped off the bridge with Cal as she screamed in surprise. His wings panned out before they hit the water, gaining altitude and then he flew into a nook under the bridge. They were closer to the water this way.

Cal became hyper aware of Azriel's closeness as he released her legs and set them gently down on the nook. She had to sit down immediately as the nook was too small to stand. Azriel and his wings just fit into it.

Cal's legs were hanging off the nook as she looked inside. It was dark. But the floor was surprisingly clean.

A chill ran down her spine as she looked at the darkness behind her.

"There's nothing there," said Azriel, as if reading her mind. She nodded briskly but still felt tensed. Azriel, who was sitting beside her in the same way as she was, with his legs hanging down, shifted closer to her, their hands touching. "Better?"

"Better," said Cal, feeling a huge wave of relaxation as Azriel's warm hands touched hers.

Thunder rumbled louder and it started to rain. Cal gasped as she thought her legs would get wet but the bridge above them shielded them. Big drops of water fell into the Sidra and the rainbow was dispersed into many.

Everywhere the water droplets fell, a new rainbow formed.

Cal stared in awe at the sight, the steady sound of rain calming her mind.

Azriel had been right.

This was the best view in Velaris.

Cal didn't know how long they had been quiet but it must have been very long because Azriel spoke first.

"Is there anything else you want to do?" he asked.

"I just want to see the rain," said Cal, looking mesmerised at the Sidra.

"As you wish. But if there is anything else, tell me. Its your last night in Velaris after all."

"You are saying that as if I am about to die," said Cal with a chuckle.

"Well, you are going back to the mortal world. And we don't know when we will see you again."

"You all will be living for millenia, I think. You'll get over me."

"Good friends are a treasure, Cal. Finding even one is a divine alignment of luck."

"Thank you so much, Az."

Azriel looked at her then, his lips parted in a wide smile.

A real smile.

And he was beautiful.

"I need to ask you a favour," said Cal cautiously.

"What do you need?" asked Azriel, his voice immediately serious.

"Have you ever been caught? While spying, I mean."

"No."

"Can you ever be?"

"Yes. It is a plausible outcome."

"What happens then?"

"Depends on where I get caught. If I am at a reasonably diplomatic area, Rhys will get me out, make some deals and explain that I am just a member of his court and working for security."

"What if its not a diplomatically favourable place?"

"Then I accept the inevitable." Az's face set in a hard line, his eyes suddenly impassive and distant.

"Death?" asked Cal casually.

"If I am lucky," replied Az with a humourless laugh.

"What else?"

"They will torture me for information, which they will obviously not get. This torture can continue for centuries, either till Rhys gets me out, or I escape, or I die."

"So, you will physically withhold information?"

"Yes, obviously."

"What if they bring in a daemati?"

"I will take a special potion spelled to shield some specific information in my mind."

"You can get that type of potion?"

"Yes. We carry them all the time. Multiples vials of it, infact."

"Do you have one now?"

"Why?"

"See, the last time when Feyre was returned, Tamlin ruthlessly interrogated her. But she knew nothing that could harm the Night Court. She doesn't know now either. But I do. Tamlin won't give a shit about me, that I know. But Ianthe seems a little pissed at me. Just in case they try to get a daemati, you know, to peacefully pick my thoughts, and given that I am mortal, I can't shield my mind, I will need one potion spelled to protect this place. And you all."

"You got lucky," said Az before reaching into his pockets and handing a vial to Cal. It was filled with a purple glittering liquid. "This one's spelled to protect Velaris and Rhys' Inner Circle. Any information about them is going to be sealed and no daemati other than the one whose blood has been used to make this potion, will be able to extract this information. But know one thing, this is irreversible."

"I will only take it if necessary, Az. And blood? So this one contains-"

"Rhys' blood."

"Alright. Thank you so much, Az. I had a really nice time tonight. And I promise you, I will never forget you all."

"We won't forget you either. And Rhys was right, you are resourceful."

"I am just keeping a back up plan."