Chapter twenty-eight—Snow White’s awakening
I had ported back to the Order’s island a hot, sweaty mess. However, I was chilled and excited. I had not gotten answers on how to save the girl’s life, but I had been able to hear my mother’s voice.
Suddenly, I felt selfish. I could have just asked the rain how to save her, but instead I was too damn distracted.
I climbed the ladder to the entrance of the Order, and to Alhazred. He was still working on the girl, whom had grown paler in the hour. Her hair was the color of blood, as though she had a runny head wound.
“Welcome back, Mary.” He greeted cautiously. “Did you become one with the wind?”
“No, but you wouldn’t believe what had happened.” I exclaimed, walking up to him. He searched my face in surprise. “It had rained!”
“Rained?” Clearly that was unexpected. “The rains visited you?”
“Yes, but I heard my mother.”
Alhazred put the bottle he was holding on a counter. “You heard your deceased mother?”
“Indeed.”
“Well,” He stared at the girl. “That was much more than expected. Obviously, the Fate’s have taken liking of you. My dear scholar, you are now in the Order of the Fang; forever in debt to the protection of Balance magic.”
My eyes slid to the girl. “Can I be alone with her?”
Alhazred nodded, and put his books on another table. Quietly, he walked out of the room. I was alone with the girl.
I tried to think some things out. I thought of the spell that Malistaire had cast- I decided it was him- and thought of the words he had used. Fairytales, perfection, disguise, enemies.
Then I realized something. This woman has a curse that put her as Snow White.
“By the Fates, I’m so sorry…” I don’t know who she loved, or who her true love was. “Please forgive me for not saving you fast enough…”
There was silence.
“Please,” I begged. “Wake up, as a friend, as a sister…” I thought of Sabrina. If I couldn’t have protected her, I will give my life to save another sister. I put my lips on her cold forehead, and thought how much I already loved her. As family- the only symbol I had left. I’m not going to let her die, and Malistaire win once again. Once she’s alive, I am going to find the others. Then I’m going to kill Malistaire.
Strangely then, I felt a flutter against my chin, like little hairs. I moved away from her, and concentrated on her face. Her eyes twitched.
Her eyes began to move, as though watching something, but they remained closed. I cupped her face in my hands, and started to shake. “Wake up! You can do it. Please, try as hard as you can!”
It was a few moments too long. Her eyes stopped moving, and she went limp once again. Disappointed, I gently put her face back on the stone. I sat down and put my face in my hands in misery.
Then I heard movement. Just slightly.
Then: “How did you do it?”
I looked up, and gaped in shock. The girl was sitting up, her moonstone eyes wide, and strands of hair over her face.
“I- I’m not sure.” I stuttered in amazement. “Whats your name?”
“Melissa Nicole; we are the same race, aren’t we?” She stared in my eyes with content. “Seraphina-Alleyen.”
I nodded. “You are my blood sister, and you must be the person who has been watching me.”
Melissa nodded. “I was not sure… It was such a convenience that one of the Seraphina-Alleyen would be the daughter of the man we are supposed to destroy.”
I smiled weakly. “How did you figure out?”
“The Fates.” Melissa smiled. “They sent me messages in dreams. How did you… Find out..?”
I shifted my position, awkwardly. “It’s hard to explain…”
Somebody gasped at the doorway. I looked over to see Matt, with extreme surprise in his eyes. “How did you possibly get her awake?”
I looked at her, then back at Matt. “I think its something about our sisterly bond… Well, something cheesy like that.” I smirked.
“Sisterly?” Matt frowned, and my breath caught in my throat. Oh crap. “I thought your sister was recently deceased?”
“Oh-“I started, but Melissa interrupted me.
“We are good friends, like sisters.” She nodded at me to understand.
“Yes, we are.” I agreed half-heartedly.
Matt stared at both of us, disbelief written all over his face. “You never said anything about knowing her, Mary.”
I cleared my throat. “That’s because you weren’t there at the scene.”
“Indeed.” He observed. He straightened up, and looked at Melissa. “Do you need anything? Pretty soon you’re going to have to explain to the Order what happened.”
“No, and call me Nikki; after my middle name. Also, are we in the Order of the Fang?” She replied, curiously.
“Yes, we are.” I answered for her, rubbing my eyes. I was so tired. I looked up at Matt. “Could you go and tell Alhazred that she is alright? I have a feeling he will know already, but go tell him just in case.”
Matt nodded, and stalked off in annoyance. I turned to Nikki. “Do you know what Angel you are?”
Nikki grimaced. “How could I not forget? How could I not know?” I saw a tear run down her face. I patted her back smoothly, but she waved me away. “Every single part of my life- every second, minute, hour, I remember. I know and remember every piece of knowledge that I’ve learned. It may seem nice for a pop quiz, but it feels like hell after you have to relive a moment in time that you never want to think of again, every single day.”
“You’re the Seraphina-Alleyen of Knowledge?” I concluded.
“No,” She corrected, “I’m the Seraphina-Alleyen of Knowledge and Remembrance.”
I frowned in pity. To think that she has to live through torture every day pierced my heart. I don’t know what happened to her, but I couldn’t imagine reliving my family’s death everyday in my mind. I touched my amulet gently, remembering my mother. “My mother thinks I’m the Seraphina-Alleyen of Wisdom and Spirit. Before she died, I mean.”
Nikki nodded at my words. “Do you think you are?”
I groaned in confusion. “Oh, I don’t know. It just seems too improbable, you know? I can’t see myself as an Angel of Wisdom, when the absolute thing I am doing is following the yellow brick road to revenge. And the thing is, I don’t want to follow revenge, I just want to make peace.”
“Then don’t follow revenge.”
I sighed. “But I don’t want to be held down by who I used to be, either. Quitting will just kill our other sisters, kill me, and let everybody down.”
“That’s not what I meant.” Nikki leaned over, and whispered. “I meant that you can become a good new person, without following revenge. In our case, it’s our only choice, now.”
I gazed at her, staring into my own eyes. “We need to find the others.”
Nikki nodded. “I think I know where the next sister is.”
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