SE LA DE' ASSAMI VOULET

CHAPTER NINE

"I wonder what my animhi is going to be?" Erin asked out of the blue.

We were laying on the floating bed that hung on the terrace of the tree house, watching the clouds go by. The tree house was large, spreading across two oak trees that grew side by side, the frame covering two stories. It was like our own little house on the border of the woods and the meadow.

I had joined them after my training with Sairen and my muscles were still sore from being tossed around like a rag across the gym floor. He was brutal but I had managed to go through a three hour session without passing out, so that was something. We worked on endurance again today, intertwining my powers with physical combat and trying to balance them both without burning out, and other than my usual headache I was fine. The girls and I spent the rest of the morning here, making images out of clouds and keeping our minds from all that was going on at home— at least Kali and I had; I didn't know whether Erin and Asli knew the full extent of what was going on, but it was obvious they knew something was up.

The bleeding had stopped around sunrise but the chill remained, and so did a slight fever. It took everything I had in me to keep my eyes open, but I refused to sleep— refused to give him the opportunity to toy with me more than he already was.

"..because I want a cool Mark. Maybe a panther like Matty or a wolf like Siya," Erin continued. "Or even a jaguar like Kali's— that'll be awesome!"

"Your Mark depends on the animhi the Goddess chose for you when she created you—Elephant!" Kali shouted suddenly, pointing to an elephant shaped cloud and grinning as she added a tally on the page we were using to keep track of our points. . "You already have your Mark, it just isn't visible yet. You'll just have to wait and see. "

"But we won't be eleven for another eight months and if we don't get our Marks then, we might have to wait another year! " Erin threw her hands up in the air and groaned. "I'm no good at waiting."

"I'll miss shifting into more than one animal though," A little brown beast skittered across my chest and it didn't take long for me to realize that it was Asli.

I brushed her soft fur. "You like ferrets?"

The creature nodded, it's brown nose twitching. "It makes sneaking out of the dorms so much easier. " A small paw came up to her mouth in surprise and a moment later Asli reappeared with her blue eyes wide. "Don't tell our parents."

"Don't worry, I wont. As long as you're not getting yourself into trouble." I gave her a firm look and she laughed.

" We wont. We never do anything illegal. "

"Wait, what?"

She continued before I could question the extent of what was 'legal'. "It's just that grandfather is so strict. All we get to do is study and train, study and train. Even on weekends. He's so overbearing, it's annoying ."

"Asli," Kali warned, "don't talk about your grandfather that way."

"But it's the truth." Asli crossed her arms, her face tight. "And he was even harder on Siya; no wonder he doesn't want to come back."

"Doesn't Sai live in Eçalis?"

"Yeah, but him and grandfather aren't on speaking terms so we barely see him anymore, only when we're here or if he's not too busy. " Asli's eyes grew wide as she stared up at the clouds. " Look Erin! That one looks like a dog! "

I leaned over to Kali and whispered so only she heard. "Fill me in?"

She shrugged and brushed her hair from her eyes. "He hasn't said anything about it. All we know is that he stopped going over there a couple of years back, some months after Matt and I got married. Even when the family goes to visit he won't step foot in the house."

Erin came up to her elbows and turned to me. " What's your animhi Soli? "

"I don't know;" I admitted. "I don't have a Mark."

" You don't? " Their three voices held the same note of disbelief.

I shrugged. "I don't."

"How?" Kali fought with the handful of her hair that kept finding its way into her face because of the breeze, brushing it away with an impatient hand.

"My...father," I paused; it always hurt to say that word. "...he isn't Dècalthian. Sai says that Dècalthian blood is potent, so I may have one but I'm not so sure; I've always been more of my other half than I ever was Dècalthian."

" Doesn't that bother you?" Asli asked softly, "Not knowing what you are?"

"When I was younger, sure, but it doesn't anymore. It doesn't really matter what I'm made up of, I'm still me."

Kali pulled me into a side hug and patted my shoulder. "You'll get your Mark Soli. Your blood runs silver; there's nothing more Dècalthian than that."

I hugged her back. "There isn't, is there?"

Matt's head poked through the archway with a wide smile. " Hey, I've been all around the house looking for you girls. Especially you–" He pointed at his wife– " I miss kicking ass with you at work today. "

She rolled her eyes. " You said that yesterday."

"It was also true then."

She laughed and stood to hug him, pressing a kiss on his lips, and Erin gagged, covering both her and her sister's eyes. "You're making me sick. Stop it."

I shook my head at their antics and stood, stretching my limbs. "When did you get back?"

"Not too long ago, but I stopped by the study for a bit."

"Are they still there?" Kali asked the question I was just about to.

"Yeah, they're still going through some of the spell books we have. " Matt shook off his coat and draped it across his shoulder. " There's nothing new as yet but a spell that big is bound to leave traces. If we're lucky we can track it, we just have to find the original spell first. They're narrowing it down and then dad will take the books back to Eçalis with him. " He looked at the twins, "Speaking of, you guys have to go home today instead of tomorrow. Dad asked me to tell you to get ready."

Their faces fell instantly. "What? Why?"

"Something came up at work that he needs to see about."

"Can't he come back for us ?" Erin asked. " We planned on leaving tomorrow anyway."

"Plans change kid. I would have dropped you guys off tomorrow night but we all have a lot to do."

"Can we at least go to the lake before we go?" Asli pleaded with big eyes.

Matt ruffled her hair and she smiled, watching him cave. "I'm sure Dad wouldn't fuss over a few minutes. Go on, we'll be down in a second."

"Okay!" They ran down the stairs, grinning as if they weren't disappointed seconds before.

"What's the real reason they're going home?" Kali asked once they were out of earshot and Matt sighed.

"Things aren't looking great here; besides the missing people and our own special case, demons have been going on a frenzy recently. Bodies have been found mutilated across several places. It's like they don't care to cover their tracks anymore."

"If they aren't scared of getting caught then it means they're no longer scared of consequences,"

Kali seemed to understand where I was coming from and she nodded, her eyes narrowing. "Why would you be scared of consequences if you have protection ? Or insurance?"

"It looks like word of his plan–whatever it is–is spreading, and the demons like what he's putting on the table." Images from my dream suddenly crept into my mind. "They think they can do whatever they want to this world since it's going to be theirs if things go according to his plan."

Matt groaned and shook his hair, as if dusting away some of his problems. "It's going to be a tough few weeks."

We walked on the cobblestone path that paved the way to the lake, it's grey stones stopping at the gazebo that overlooked the clear water. Erin chased Asli around the beams with a long stick, a worm dangling from the end as she ran and as her sister screamed.

I saw us in them— Sairen, Matthias and I — in their bright eyes that held an innocence not yet corrupted by the harshness of life, and my heart pained for the childhood we lost, but I promised myself that I wouldn't let that happen to them. I wouldn't let their smiles dim.

I looked up at Matt as a sudden thought crossed my mind. "Why didn't you guys move to Eçalis with uncle Tom?"

The question seemed to catch him off guard and his steps faltered, causing me to bump into him." Sorry. When grandfather asked dad to work at the academy we decided that we would stay back; we couldn't have you coming home to an empty house. "

I wrapped my arms around my waist. " And if I didn't come back? "

Matt smiled and tussled my already wild hair. "We would've come find you, minion. Obviously."

Erin waved her hands wildly at us from the gazebo, signaling for us to hurry up before continuing her chase.

I remained on the path even when Matt and Kali stepped onto the platform, my fingers grazing the jagged indents of the pillar, following the faded carvings of our names that chipped away the white paint. The moment I stepped onto the gazebo memories came flooding back; The theme had been pastel pink– my favorite color then, but it was quickly turned silver. I saw their bodies on the floor, bruised, bleeding or seriously injured; and I saw them fighting, painted in blood, but there was only so much they could have done unarmed against so many demons. The floors had been repainted, but I knew the blood still remained underneath.

"Soli?" Kali touched my arm, "are you okay? "

I gave her my best smile, trying to make it look as real as possible. " Of course, why? "

"You zoned out for a second."

" I must've gotten lost in my mind again."

"The girls are begging me to go in with them," Matt began as he walked towards us. "Come swim with us. "

Kali shook her head as he wrapped his arms around her waist. "No thanks, I'll just watch you guys from here. "

Matt was actually pouting when he looked at me. "Are you coming, Soli? A little water tag like like the old days?"

"I'll keep Kali company. Besides, I don't want to spend the rest of my day drying my hair."

Matt's eyes narrowed. "Aren't you supposed to be fun?"

"Aren't you supposed to be an adult?" I fired back, " Pouting's for kids."

Kali gave me a high five but her grin bled from her face as Matt's hands came around her waist and knees and she was hoisted up. "Matthias, put me down."

He kept walking towards the water.

" Matthias Alistair Rayne! Put me down. Now!" He stopped two steps from the edge and placed a quick kiss on her mouth, his lips pulling into a big smile against hers.

"Okay."

A small scream left her lips as she fell, disappearing momentarily before she resurfaced with a glare that had Matt beaming. Erin and Asli took her little dive as incentive to jump in as well, clothes and all, splashing water all over me.

"Oh come on!" I groaned, and unfortunately drew Matt's attention to me. He turned on me with that same mischief in his eyes and I took a step back. My hands came up in front up me in defense. "Matty. No."

I don't know why I thought my pleas would deter him even when his wife's didn't.

"You're soaked already." His steps ate up the distance between us and before I knew it I was airborne.

The water enveloped me and the cool coated my skin like a thick blanket as I sank. I held my breath, giving myself a few moments before I resurfaced and killed Matt, but something stirred at the bottom of the lake and my eyes tried to focus on the shifting figure below as it came closer. My blood ran cold and I screamed, but nothing came out but bubbles. He floated up towards me and I pushed to the surface with all my strength, hauling myself up on the platform. Cold fingers brushed my ankle and I kicked my feet up before it dragged me down.

I crawled as far away from the edge as possible, my breath coming out in painful pants from the bit of water I swallowed and I looked around, wondering why no one was bothered; Kali was trying to push Matt's head into the water a few feet away and the girls were holding him down for her, laughing loudly as their brother struggled. They didn't see even though we were so close– he was so close– and that scared me.

Matt's eyes finally met mine amidst the tangle of limbs and he stretched his hand towards me dramatically. "Soli help!"

I shook my head and pushed myself to my feet. " You're on your own, dude. Kali, drown him a bit. "

"I'm sorry!" His pleas faded as I walked back to the house in hurried steps, clutching my burning wrist to my chest and ignoring the breaths on my neck.

I was freezing by the time I reached inside, even though the water hadn't been cold at all and ran straight to my room. I was already laying with my back against the wall before the door closed, screaming silently into my fist as I clutched my left hand to my cooler skin. It felt as if someone had painted acid over the lines of the scar and I watched in horror as the shadow over the sun grew little by little until it stopped, and so did most of the pain.

I would have loved to believe that it was a coincidence; that the eclipse growing had nothing to do with the impending deadline, but I wasn't a fool. I didn't have the luxury of coincidences.

I crawled into the shower, sitting as the hot water beat my skin but did nothing for my chills, but I imagined that I was warm and that I wasn't shaking profusely and it helped somewhat. I counted to ten to clear my head, but I had reached fifty and my mind was still reeling. I peeled off my wet clothes and wrapped the towel around my body as I wiped the fog off of the mirror. My hair had gotten a bit more white since the last time, now there was around four inches of it from my roots. My pupils flickered white like it often did when I was overwhelmed and I gripped the sink and focused on calming down.

"I will not be overthrown by fear. I will not be prisoner to my power. I am in control. I and I alone. " The white flickered back into familiar brown and I breathed slowly, walking out of the bathroom as naturally as I could.

There had been another face in the mirror, and it wasn't mine.

I dried my skin quickly and hurried outside. I was still pulling a t-shirt over my shorts as I ran down the stairs when I barreled straight into Sairen. I clutched my forehead as he staggered back and I sank down on the step, water welling up in my eyes.

"Fuck!" Sairen groaned as he tilted his head back and pinched his nose to keep most of the blood from running down. "Why the hell are you zooming down the stairs with a shirt over your head?"

"Don't ask," I rubbed profusely at my throbbing forehead and glanced up at him. "Are you okay?

"My nose may be broken but other than that I'm completely fine. Are you?"

"My skull's fractured but I'm good."

He laughed as he held out a hand and I took it, his eyebrows furrowing as he hauled me up, and he pressed a palm to my forehead. "You're burning up,"

"I took a hot shower." I pulled my hand out of his and shoved them into my pockets, ignoring the look he was giving me. "What's the situation? "

He frowned. "What situation?"

"The one you've been in the study for hours talking about. What other situation is there?"

"You'd be unpleasantly surprised," He chuckled and wiped the blood on his hands on his pants. "Well we've managed to narrow it down to thirty books to look for the spell in, and Tomas' students are still searching for the symbol at the library . If it's not there then it doesn't exist and we've wasted precious time. "

"Wonderful."

"Isn't it?" The tightness around his smile told me it was far from wonderful. "And regarding the fundraiser; I have a friend who has eyes all over the city. I gave him a call and he said he'll be on the lookout. We'll be there before the bloodbath starts."

If Sai's friend really had eyes all over Brooklyn, and he really could tell us before the massacre started, then I had a chance of saving Rae. He wouldn't hurt my mother, I was sure of it— not yet, anyway. "That's good news I needed."

"There you guys are," uncle Tomas' voice came from behind Sairen and I craned my neck to see him walking in, the twins trailing slowly behind, their heads hung low.

"What's wrong?" Sai asked as he descended the stairs and the girls ran into his arms.

"Dad says we have to go home now. We don't want to." Erin clung to his leg as if it would keep them from leaving, but most it would have done was drag poor Sairen to Eçalis with them.

He squatted down so that he was at eye level with them and pulled them into a hug. "You're smart girls, aren't you?" They nodded slowly. "Then I'm sure you know that there's a lot going on right now and it isn't safe here. You'll be safe in Eçalis, we can't guarantee that here."

"We know," Asli sniffled and dried her eyes. "I'm just gonna miss you. We don't see each other as much anymore. "

Sairen winced. "And that is completely my fault. When things get better, I'll take some time off work and I'll make it up to you guys. Just us, yes?"

Asli looked up from his chest. "What about Soli?"

He nodded. "Soli too."

"When everything's better? " Erin asked. "You promise?"

He entwined his pinkies with their much smaller ones and placed it on his chest. "I promise."

"Alright girls," Tomas patted their shoulders. "finish saying your 'see you laters' and grab your bags; we have to go."

They placed a kiss on each of Sai's cheeks before stepping away. "See you later Siya."

"Take care, okay?" I bent to hug them when they came up to me, squeezing softly. They tightened their hold on me briefly before letting go.

"You too, Soli. Be safe."

Uncle Tomas turned to me when they left, clasping my shoulder intently." We'll find her."

"I know we will uncle Tommy. "

He smiled softly and gave me a quick hug before patting Sairen on the back. "Well, I'll see you. Tell Drea I stopped by but she was asleep."

"I will."

The house had taken on a sudden silence the moment they left.

I avoided every mirror in my room when I entered, and surprisingly it wasn't as hard as I thought it would have been; I've mostly been avoiding mirrors recently anyway. I laid on my bed, staring up at the ceiling and playing with the gold carvings on my dagger. I had spent the last ten minutes trying to figure out a way to not be pushed out from the tracking spell, and twenty before that trying to locate my mother— both in vain. A knock on the door drew me from my thoughts. "Who is it?"

"It's Kali, can I come in?"

"Yeah." I sat up and sheathed my dagger. I patted the spot next to me for her to sit once she stepped in and she settled down on the bed beside me. "What's up?"

"I'm just checking in on you, I didn't really get the chance to until now. How are you feeling?"

"In general, or at this moment?"

"Both."

"Well in general I'm doing completely terrible, but at this moment I feel fine." I smiled and her brows tightened.

"That sentence wasn't deserving of a smile, Soli."

I groaned and leaned back into the pillow, stretching my arms. "I know. How are you two feeling? "

Kali rubbed her stomach . "We're fine, but we were talking about you. "

"I don't want to talk about me, it'll just depress us both and I'm not in the mood to be depressed, and you can't afford to be depressed. So let's talk about something good. Please?"

Kali laid down next to me and sighed. "The baby's fine, I'm fine. I think Matty wants a son, there's already a lot of little girls in the family. But it wouldn't matter as long as the Goddess grants it health. "

"Se la De'assami vuolet."

She breathed out audibly, repeating my prayer. " If the Goddess wills. I hope she grants your health as well. I pray for it. "

"Thank you,"

"You can thank me when my prayers work," Kali turned until she lay facing me on her side. "I have a question: From one married woman to another, what's the deal with you and Siya? "

I rolled my eyes, sending mental daggers flying at Matt's head. "So I'm guessing Mathias told you that?"

"He did. By the lake, after you went inside."

"The whole story?"

She nodded and I sighed in relief; I was too tired to go through it all.

"Well first off, we're not married. There was no ritual, just a ceremony on the gazebo when I was ten... At the time I didn't know that it was all fake though, I put on my favorite dress and made a bouquet and crown out of wildflowers—" I paused, recalling. "–and there's nothing between Sai and I; we were just really close and I think we're trying to get back there." My shoulders came up in a barely there shrug as I finished the rushed and watered down version of a longer story.

" But you love him. " It wasn't a question, she stated it as a fact and it made my heart feel funny for a second.

"Of course I love him," I trailed the near-invisible scar on my palm. " He's an irreplaceable part of my life and I'm grateful for him."

Kali shook her head. "But it's different than that, isn't it? You're in love with him."

There was that funny feeling again. "Am I?"

"Are you?"

"I don't know." I answered truthfully. "At least, I don't think so. I don't think he thinks so either."

"Well," She wrapped her arm around me so that I laid on her shoulder. " If it is indeed love-love, then I hope I'm the maid of honor this time and not Matty; I'll look better in the dress anyway. "

I laughed, remembering how silly he looked in that bright and frilly ensemble. " Yeah, he couldn't pull that of no matter how hard he tried."

Her palm came up to her mouth to stifle a yawn. "I really need a nap. You should take one too, I think you might need it more than I do.

I wasn't planning on sleeping anytime soon, but still I nodded. "I have to check on Aunt-Drea first. "

"Okay, I'll see you in a few."

The room was dim when I entered, her figure scarcely lit by whatever little sun streaming in from the closed curtains. "Aunt-Drea? Are you awake? "

Her voice was weak, barely a whisper when she answered. " I just woke up,"

I flicked on the light and gasped softly as I took in her appearance; she looked worse than this morning. Her skin had lost all of its remaining pigment, leaving her looking eerily pale under the harsh light, her once electric blue eyes now dim, yet still a harsh contrast from her colorless face. " I came to change your dressing and give you something to eat. How are you feeling? "

"I wish... I could say better, but—" She gestured to herself with a weak hand. " You know. How are you? "

I smiled as I sat down next to her, resting the tray on the side table and began undoing the knot for the bandage on her shoulder. " I'm fine, you don't have to worry about me. "

"Your hair," She rasped, "It 's more....white."

"I know, but it's nothing new— help me raise your arm a bit. " I slid the last piece of cloth under her arm and the bandage came undone. The skin underneath was a ghastly sight; red welts covered the area around the the wound, which was tight and swollen. It had turned a purpleish-green within the last twenty-four hours.

"Aunt-Drea... Does it hurt?" I began clearing the wound and gently rubbed on the medication, avoiding the entry hole. "It looks like it does... "

She tried to shake her head but groaned instead. " No, it's just numb....but I feel terrible. "

"Is there anything else I can do to help? Maybe I can ask Jules to increase the dosage of your medication?"

" No need. Your company makes me feel better, "

My laugh came out more strained than I intended. "I tend to do that. I'm just a naturally radiant person."

She released a sound that sounded suspiciously like a scoff and I raised an eyebrow . "I'm going to ignore that since you're sick, but once you get better we are going to have a discussion about just how much of a great of a person I am. "

"I... Look forward to it." Her eyes started to fall shut again and I placed a wet rag on her forehead to keep her awake.

"You need to eat before you go back to sleep, okay? " I placed the medicine on the floor and took the bowl that I left on the nightstand. " It's a thin soup so there's no chewing necessary. You just have to swallow for me, "

Her smile was strained. "I would've made a joke but I don't have the energy,"

" I know you would. Now open up."

She took a few spoonfulls before she shook her head and grimaced. Her thinning hand covered her mouth as she gagged and I held the basin of water under her chin. She retched into the bowl, turning the water into blood. She heaved until she had nothing left then she sank into the headboard, drained. I cleaned her off with the rag and emptied the contents of the bowl into the toilet. She was already falling back asleep when I returned, her head lolling off to the side, but her eyes fluttered open when I sat down again and I took the glass of water from the tray.

"Hey, let's at least get some more fluids in you before you fall back asleep, okay ?" I held it to her lips as she drank and placed the half-filled glass back into the tray when she finished.

She didn't look at peace even when she slept; her skin was too pale, her face too tense, so I made myself comfortable on the sofa by the window, watching over her as she slept.

I didn't sleep that night either.