Chapter Twenty-Three

The weather that day was beautiful. White clouds dotted the clear blue sky, creating a frame around the sun. It was the picture of perfection. In Aria, a day like today—with fair, gentle weather—was coveted by other kingdoms. A day like today was what everyone in Aria looked forward to.

Except me.

Fair weather meant people. And people meant crowds. Hordes. Demons.

I had just been released from my prison—otherwise known as the castle—and was heading through the crowded Lower Quarter to my house. Since the attack, I had been poked, prodded, and interrogated by Clarice and her assistants. Finally, after three days, I escaped with a full voice and a (mostly) healed body. But my joy was shot down like a bird in the sky.

The people of Aria were in their grandest state for the royal ball. The market had fabulous and exotic foods imported directly from Nor, along with several textiles from Balua. I had to squeeze between two exceedingly fat men to even enter the market in the first place.

I spotted a tower of buckets near one of the stalls; it was the same tower that had toppled over the night I was attacked. I clenched my fists and continued walking. I didn’t need to be thinking about that now.

I ducked beneath the arm of a burly man—or was that a woman? The fact that I couldn’t tell was disturbing. My heart was beating fiercely by the time I exited the market. The colorful flags of Aria flew about on every shop, waving this way and that. This was why I never left my house—or why I never to leave my house, anyway. The exuberance that people had over a simple event was ridiculous. I would gladly switch places with any peasant girl.

But no. I, of all people, had been blackmailed into going to that stupid ball. Since the attack, I pleaded injury to Clarice, but she firmly disagreed and told me that I would now have to stay for the entire event. I found it funny how fate decided to turn the tables on me every time I tried to escape its wretched clutches.

I unlocked the door to my house, relishing in the silence that I met on the other side.

“Ah, Lilly, I was wondering when you would be back!”

I froze in the doorway.

I turned slowly to face the scarlet witch, who had positioned herself comfortably at my kitchen table. She was sipping a mug of tea. In my chair. In my.

I was speechless.

“Sorry.” Mayra stood with a smile. She wasn’t wearing her usual cloak; instead, she allowed her dark brown hair to cascade over her shoulders. Her pointed ears were noticeable, making me wonder exactly she was. “I had to see you,” she said. “Are you okay?”

She probably had ulterior motives other than checking up on me. I crossed my arms. “Yes, I am.” My memories flitted back to her battle with the serpent. “What about you? Did you defeat the Orandine?”

She barked a laugh, causing her dark brown hair to move with her. “Perish the thought! I only held him off until you escaped. Then I ran myself.”

I narrowed my eyes at Mayra, inspecting her, but finding nothing out of the ordinary—well, as ordinary as she could be. I didn’t like this one bit. “Why are you in my house? How did you get in?”

“Your lovely entrance back there”—she pointed to the window inside my study—“was unlocked. I would have tried the front, but I figured you didn’t want your neighbors wondering what you had to do with a witch.”

I needed to lock that window more often. “So you thought it was okay to just break into my house and make tea for yourself?” I was appalled. The manners that Mayra exhibited would one day bring Aria crashing down into the depths of uncleanliness and vulgarity. “How did you think that was a good idea?”

“Well, I needed to speak with you about some things,” she said, sitting back down at my table. “We left off on a very unfriendly note, if I recall correctly. I also recall that you did not give me the information on the prince that I requested,” she reminded me.

I didn’t care whether she recalled it correctly or not. “Sorry to burst your bubble, but I’m not giving you that information,” I said. “And I’m not a superhuman destined to save this world. I can’t even keep a sixteen-year-old from attacking me. Much less a man-eating serpent.”

Mayra chuckled. “It’s not exactly that is the superhuman, per se.” She stroked her chin thoughtfully. “It is something you that is—well—amazing.”

I considered her wise words in a moment of deep thought. “That makes perfect sense,” I said, nodding. “In fact, it makes as much sense as Odelia’s obsession with makeup.” I paused, waiting for Mayra to understand. Her blank expression said she didn’t, so I elaborated, “Odelia’s obsession doesn’t make sense. doesn’t even make sense.”

The witch frowned, her soft features breathtakingly beautiful. Like a portrait. She stood again, picking up her mug of tea in one hand. “Well, I don’t understand much of that. But since you are here, I want to test something directly,” she said. “I apologize prior to this action.”

Before I could respond, she took her mug and splashed it all over my face and clothes. I gaped at her. I was not the violent or straightforward type, but at that moment, all I wanted to do was grab her throat and throttle her like a rag doll. “Why the heck did you do that?” I yelled.

Mayra set her mug down on the table and studied me. “Bingo.” She pointed to my chest. For a brief, idiotic moment, I thought she was indicating to my unmentionable undergarment, but I quickly realized that she was pointing to my mother’s pendant, which was firmly attached to my blouse. It was glowing.

Great. That made sense now. I had a glowing pendant that held memories and tea.

Oh, Logic, where did you go?

Mayra looked proud of herself. “Of course!” She slapped her forehead. “I didn’t try with Helena.” The witch drummed her fingers against each other with glee, a strange, excited expression overcoming her face. “Hehe! Water. Oh, the wonders that could do… One of the most powerful…” She began muttering to herself as she paced back and forth in my kitchen.

Meanwhile, I stood there, dripping wet with herbal tea. The manners of this woman were despicable. I entered the bathroom that adjoined my study and grabbed a towel. Why in Aria's name had she thrown at me? Was this woman mad?

I would never know because Mayra was gone when I reentered the kitchen.

                                                ————————

I lived a strange, strange life. Where witches throw tea at you and tell you to save the world. My existence in a nutshell.

I had just finished my morning lesson with Clarice the next day when I ran into the queen and her plethora of guards. I curtsied to her, but stopped halfway when she came over and hugged me.

“Lannie, I’m so sorry I couldn’t visit you,” she said. “I had so many things to do. Are you alright?”

I stood there awkwardly in her embrace. “Er… Yes, ma’am, I am. I think.”