Chapter 5

I think we just stood there for a while, taking in the burned down houses and crumbling wells. I think someone gasped. I think it was me. But that didn't matter. What mattered was that I was back. I was in my little village, if one could call a collection of thirty houses that, and not there at the same time. I was standing on graves. Graves that were there because of me. Not a single house was standing, all of them were piles of ash and whatever little bit of iron was used in making them. People had died there. Families. Elders. Friends.

I sucked in a breath and clenched my fist. No tears. Azriel didn't move either, startled perhaps. He was expecting it to be a lie. He thought there would be people. If only.

" That's where I used to live." I pointed one shaky finger towards a dark patch of land.

I know he noticed my hand shaking but didn't comment, which I was grateful for. Without a word, he began walking towards where I had pointed. I followed suit. We stopped in front of the little gate of our front-garden, or what used to be our front garden. Now it was covered in ash and not a single flower was in sight.

"Do you want to-" I began but a voice cut me off.

" Lillith? Lillith! It's you!" I turned around only to see a small woman running towards me.

"Mrs. Severy." I caught her arm while she cupped my face and ran her hands in my hair.

"Oh, my darling. My poor little girl." She sobbed. "We were all very worried." "I'm sorry, Mrs. Severy. I couldn't tell anyone where I was going." I wiped her tears. Seeing her like this broke my heart. I didn't want anyone crying because of me anymore. I didn't want to be the reason of anyone's pain anymore.

"I know, love. I know. Your parents..." She trailed.

I pursed my lips, refusing to let the tears escape. "How is Alcina?" I asked instead.

"She's great! Happy even!" She exclaimed. I forced a  smile for her.

She beamed back and pulled me along with her. "I know you can't stay. I must show you where your parents-" She mumbled. She stopped short when she saw Azriel follow, noticing him for the first time. "And who are you, young man? I have never seen you before." She narrowed her eyes.

With how silent he was, I wasn't surprised she hadn't seen him before he moved.

I answered for him, "This is a friend, Mrs. Severy. He is helping me through all this." I placed a hand on her shoulder.

She looked him up and down and he squirmed in his boots. "Hmm. You better not be lying to me." She pointed an accusing finger at me. "I will lock you up till hell freezes if I find out this boy is more than a friend." For all his strength and cold demeanour, Azriel turned fifty shades of red at her words, staring at Mrs. Severy wide-eyed.

I spared him the pain of making eye contact and engaged Mrs. Severy in another conversation. " You were showing me something?" I reminded her.

" Ah, yes!" She gasped. "Come, come!" She ushered me along. "You too, boy." She called Azriel. "Stop looking at her like that and put your long limbs to some use." Despite the things happening, I had to choke back a laugh as Azriel almost ran to catch up with her.

She took us down a little slope and soon we were deep into the forest again. Azriel helped Mrs. Severy down the uneven path and I followed behind, drinking in the view that I might never see again.

We stopped at a small clearing overflowing with tulips. Mum's favourite. There, in the middle of the flowers were two tombstones.

My legs moved mechanically and soon enough, I was standing near them.Florence Amberflow- my mother's name was carved in beautiful cursive on the dark marble. I kneeled down and traced the letters carefully. Murdered- because of me. Both of them were murdered because of me. So many friends were murdered because of me. Tears blurred my vision and I bit back a sob.

I think I sat there for a long time, maybe even hours. When we had reached the village it was still early in the morning, by the time Azriel told me we should go back, the sun was blazing down on us. I wiped my tears angrily and stood up after pressing a kiss over my parents' names. "I want to take my sister with me." I declared.

Azriel stared at me for a second before nodding. "Of course."

"I-I think I should go alone." My voice shook.

He bit his lip and nodded slowly. "Fifteen minutes."

I ran all the way over to the small cottages on the other side of the hill. Several heads turned but I pushed my way out of the crowd. Knocking on one of the doors, I waited. I was not expecting my sister to open the door herself.

She blinked a few times before throwing herself at me. "Oh my goddness! You are okay. I'm so glad you're back." She sobbed. "I'm not back." I pushed her away. We could catch up later. "Take everything you can carry. You are leaving with me." She frowned.

"But-"

"No buts. They have taken enough from me. I refuse to give more."

"But the charms to -" she began.

" Mother and father are dead! Dead! How useful can their charms be?" I snapped. I loved my sister and I wanted her to be near me when I would most probably die in a few months.

"I- Yes. I'm packing my things. Wait." She hurried back inside while I tapped my foot impatiently.

"Hurry, Alcina!" I yelled.

She appeared again, this time with a little bundle in her arms. "Let's go." She closed the door behind herself.

It didn't take us long to get back to the clearing where I had left Azriel. He took one sweeping look at Alcina before he wrapped his hand around mine and we were gone.

This time, thanks to Alcina, we stopped only when we were right outside Velaris.

"This is.." My sister threw a questioning glance my way.

" Velaris. The home of the High Lord of the Night Court." I explained.

"Prythian? This is where you found the shadowsinger?" She looked around in wonder.

Azriel raised his eyebrows and I tapped her shoulder. "Alcina, this-" I thrust my chin towards him. "- is the shadowsinger. The Spymaster of Night Court."

For the first time, she looked at the shadows wrapped around him which looked similar to mine. "Oh, Hello." She bobbed her head.

Azriel returned her greeting.

"We can talk when we are inside?" I shifted from one foot to another. "Can you carry us both?"

"Are those wings?" Alcina gasped. "They are beautiful." She smiled at the shadowsinger.

"You should carry her before me." I told azriel, who was nervously moving his wings.

" Yes. Come." He said to my sister who readily walked up to him.

After they were gone, I heaved a sigh and sat down on the snow, not caring about cold. I had done nothing but my body screamed everytime I so much as moved.

I had to tell them everything today. I have to prepare them for when the Iedosy strike becasue they will. They don't fear faeries and even if they did, it wouldn't stop them.

My mother and father didn't die in vain. I will not let them unleash hell upon innocent people.

I was lost in thoughts when Azriel returned. He touched my shoulder and I almost jumped out of my skin.

"I didn't see you." I placed a hand on my heart."Is Alcina-"

He shook his head before I could finish."She refused to go inside without you."

"Understandable." I mumbled.

Once again, I was clinging to the spymaster as we flew over Velaris. I could never get tired of how beautiful this city was. I had always wondered why they kept the city hidden, now I understood. Everything was so beautiful and alive, losing this would be the greatest loss.

I spotted my sister outside the door of the house.

She frowned at me and I almost laughed. She never liked meeting new people alone. It would make her extremely nervous if we had guests over.

When we finally reached there I squeezed her hand and she gulped before Azriel pushed open the door. Inside, the heat filled up my bones quickly. I wanted nothing more than to curl up with a blanket.

"Who is that?" Someone screeched. My sister immediately froze. I looked around to see Morrigan standing near the dining table with one hand on top of it.

"Hello, Morrigan." I greeted her. Her eyes didn't leave my sister's face who smiled at her.

"This is Alcina. I told you about her." I placed a hand on her shoulder.

"O-oh." She mumbled. "Welcome." Morrigan smiled feebly at my sister.

"Thank you. You have a beautiful house." Alcina looked around.

"It's not my house." Morrigan tucked a strand of her hair behind her ears. "I usually live in the Court of Dreams."

Alcina's smile got brighter. "The Court of Dreams? It sounds wonderful."

"It is. Would you like to see it?" I had to blink twice to convince myself that Morrigan's cheeks were tinted red. The Morrigan was blushing.

"Of course." Alcina squealed.

"I would love to let you ladies continue-" Cassina appeared from a corridor. "- but I think having another witch in the house is not a good sign."

My sister's smile fell and her eyes hardened. "We are here to help."

"Your sister told me that, witch." Cassian said. "Help with what? How do we know you are speaking the truth?" This time he looked at Azriel who had been standing in a corner.

"It wasn't a lie." Azriel provided.

"Are you happy now?" I asked. "I have no reason to harm you, Cassian. I only want your help. There will be no Night Court to protect if the Iedosy succeeded."

His eyes lost their fire but he didn't let his body show that. A warrior thorough and thorough.

"If you can call everyone of importance, we can explain." Cassian stubbornly held my gaze for a while before he disappeared again. Hopefully, to bring the High Lord and Lady.

Alcina squeezed my hand for reassurance and that was the only strength I needed.