A flash went off. Krystan said, “Whoops, forgot to tell you to say cheese.” There was another flash as she took a second picture of their faces.
“Is this a joke?” Violetta asked. “This is no time for jokes.”
Sophie and I shared a smile. Her older brother Noah who shared her same fair features and dark eyes walked in, followed by their guardian. Their aunt Lisa licked her lips, trying to take in all the faces around her, a worried expression tightening her face. Despite her visible reservations, when I explained the situation over the phone, she hadn’t hesitated to book a flight from Seattle to Colorado.
Sophie and I sat down earlier together and had a long talk. It had been a couple years since we’d saved her from a soul eater. Unfortunately, her parents later were killed by demon dogs and she manifested power that saved her and her brother Noah who was sitting outside with their aunt—who was also kind enough to leave Seattle and come here.
“It’s no joke. I sat down with Sophie earlier, as has my father in law who was a former Chevalier.”
My father in law stood up from his chair against the wall at the other side of the room. Sophie waved empathically and he waved back, sending her a doting smile that softened his whole face. Turning his attention back to the rest of the room, Gregory was back to being all business. “I believed I lost my powers because I thought Diana’s love had returned my soul. Even knowing now that I was never lacking a soul to begin with, I struggled to regain my powers until I spoke to Sophie. It was then I made a great discovery.”
“Is it how to spell five letter words or long division?” Gatsby asked, his tone defensive. I don’t believe my brother cared to be compared to a child for any reason.
Gregory ignored Gatsby’s derisive comment. “Sophie explained to me how her magic feels and how she believes that the magic man, Calan, touched her rabbit that it became magic and nothing would ever harm them because he gave Merlin his powers.”
“He thought I was asleep but I wasn’t,” Sophie interjected. “I know he gave Merlin his power so I would always be protected.” The child looked up at me, eyes gleaming with adoration. I was overcome with the desire to sweep her into my arms for a hug, but it wasn’t the right time.
“She aligned with the light by believing the power was available to anyone and everyone.” Gregory’s fist began to glow with blue light. “I found my happy thought, and my powers once again.”
“That’s insane,” Gatsby said, yet he uncrossed his arms and leaned in. “She’s a little girl and you’re saying she has our powers.”
“No, I’m telling you she is more powerful,” I said.
Sophie’s face split into a grin. Then when she noticed the scrutiny she was receiving; she ducked her head and grasped her rabbit in front of her face.
After Krystan and Travis explained to me how she had helped them, I asked her to show me. I’d been blown away by the pure energy she could call to hand almost instantly.
“How can we reunite the books, if Emma has destroyed all of them?” Mika asked me.
“Someone from each Order has memorized the text, Master Violetta is in charge of that for the Luxis.” Travis offered up.
Violetta’s head snapped toward him, her nostrils flaring. She didn’t care for him outing her coveted position amongst the Luxis.
“I mean, y’all have someone on that in each Order right? Someone who has memorized the book?” Krystan added, with an expression that dared anyone to pretend otherwise.
Mika nodded. “My father made my brother and I memorize it. Our mother knows it as well.”
Regina and Phillip gave a curt nod, as the High Priestess nodded in kind.
“I’m sure we have someone in the Tenebrae who has done so,” Astrid said, excitement now in her voice as if she could see the hope in my plan.
“You’ll need to work fast, but we need you to be on this together,” I said.
Astrid folded her hands together, looking at them intently as if working through some internal battle. “How can we trust the right information is shared?”
“Yo,” Krystan waved a hand. “That’s why I’ll be in the room. As your local human lie detector, no one will be able to get away with shit.”
“You want us to simply give away the secrets of our Order?” Violetta’s voice was low and thick with emotion, her face had become pinched.
Sophie raised a hand in the air. When I nodded at her with a smile she said looking at the older woman. “In my kindergarten, Mrs. Kettles said we can’t graduate until we learn to share. Did you not graduate kindergarten?”
More than one person had to stifle their laughs as Violetta’s cheeks sunk in farther, not able to bring herself to answer.
“Someone here wanted to know if I knew what I asking. Save Emma or save the world?” My eyes lingered on my mother for a moment before looking around the rest of the room. “That’s not what I’m asking here. I’m asking for you to believe in the light. Believe in each other and our shared desire to live, to keep the Stygian out of this world.”
One by one, I watched the people around me come to the only conclusion that was left. Work together or die. We had one shot left, and we were going to take it.
After the meeting adjourned,Mika came and found me. “I wanted you to know something.” Taking a deep breath, a line formed between her eyes. “Emma knew before the Reckoning what it would do to her. I don’t believe she was aware of what she was harboring inside her after you came out of the Stygian, but I believe at the time of the Reckoning she could see the outcome and chose this.”
