“Was my mother a Dusk Wielder?”
She smiles and turns her gaze back to the sea before us. Her dark eyes reflect in the water, and I watch her, this time allowing her the space to process the question.
“She was, yes.”
I nod, having already assumed the answer to my question.
“A gifted one at that,” Rose continues. “She kept her magic extremely private. Very few people knew of her wielding abilities,” she replies.
“Not even me.”
“Why did you think to ask this?”
I only gaze at her before taking a second to look at my stained hands.
She knows the answer to that question, and I make a puzzled expression.
“I see,” she says. “You have the same ability, don’t you?”
“I had no idea. I was scared and desperate, and I prayed for light in such a dark time. I felt like I was drowning.”
“And?” she pushes, not allowing time for the words to catch in my throat.
“Before I realized it, light burst from my body, saving me, and Yara helped me escape.”
“Fear has a strange way of making us act. I’m not surprised, though.” She shakes her head. “You resemble your mother so much, and when you stopped using magic, I knew your powers would only be postponed.”
“You knew?”
“Call it a hunch,” she says, and smiles.
She turns to face me fully and grabs both of my hands.
“Your eyes brighten more each day. Have you noticed?”
“I don’t look at myself in the mirror much,” I admit.
“Well, you should. You’re stunning. I’d look at myself all day, every day, if I looked like you,” she replies, with a smile.
“Oh, please.”
She huffs a laugh.
“You know, there’s a way to change your eyes, to hide your abilities from those around you. It’s how your mother managed to conceal her powers from the outside world.”
“But, I always knew my mother had these autumn eyes.” I attempt to pull my hands away, but she holds firm. “I suppose I never thought to ask. I feel foolish remembering the things I always swept under the rug.”
“She wanted you to see them, Briar.” She squeezes my hand. “And you were young. No one thinks about things too deeply when you’re young. We all have things we regret, my shadow.”
I furrow my brow and fight back the urge to blame myself for everything once again.
I was naïve and only thought of myself. My mother tried to warn me and tell me many things, but I ignored her advice. My thoughts start to spiral, but I choke down the overwhelming feeling.
“I don’t want to hide my eyes. I want people to see who and what I am.”
“Then don’t. Give the people someone to fear.” She winks, nudging my shoulder. “Give them a reason to look at you, not away from you.”
I smile at her support and continuous understanding.
