They stare at each other with a love that transcends all the ages of the world. Papa murmurs softly to her, and she laughs. Memories, I realize. They’re reminiscing over memories.
“What’s going on?” I murmur to Kel. “You’re waiting until Caspian and Farron destroy the prison?”
Kel holds my gaze. I know that look. A look that says, “you’re about to fall apart, but I’ll hold you together.” “Rose, it’s not as simple as we thought.”
“We didn’t think it was simple, but we knew we would do it,” I say, voice taking on a frantic note. “You have to get her out, Kel. No matter what, you have to get her out.”
Kel reaches for me, hand shivering through my shoulder. My body’s beginning to fade into incorporeality. “I wanted you to see your parents together.”
No, no, no. Why is his voice so soft? Why couldn’t I just see them together when she’s freed? What is Kel saying?
“Rosalina.”
I stiffen. The voice doesn’t belong to Kel.
The woman in the cage is looking at me. She’s very beautiful, but … tired. So tired.
I fall to the ground beside my father. He doesn’t notice me. The haze starts to creep in, his figure obscured. The prison walls shift away, until only the woman sits before me. I know I’m visible only to her in this moment. “Mom?”
Her eyes crinkle, gorgeous lines like gold filament through cracked pottery appearing in the corners. “My brave girl. What a life you’ve lived!”
“You’re coming home with us, Mom,” I whisper. “I want to meet you for real.”
“Oh, we’ve met before,” she says. “We’ve met in the songs of Spring and in the tides of Summer. We’ve met with each harvest of Autumn, and through the storms of Winter. You’ll find me there, dear one, whenever you need me.”
“No.” My voice hitches. “You have to come home.”
“I’m there every time I close my eyes.” A pained expression crosses her face. “You don’t have long here. Rosalina, I …”
“What is it?” I try to grab her hand, but I don’t have arms anymore. I’m fading away.
“I’m so sorry for everything. I have no right to ask you for anything—”
“Ask,” I breathe.
She shifts forward, eyes wild with desperation. “You must protect Castletree. It is the heart of the Vale. My heart. Whatever happens, do not let it fall. Do you understand?”
“Yes, Mom.” The words barely make it out.
“One more thing.”
I need to hear what it is, but pieces of my essence are being torn away. I fight to stay here with her, with Kel and Papa.
My mother reaches out, and I feel her hand in mine like a tether. “You have a sister. I couldn’t protect her. I wish I had a chance to get to know her. She doesn’t deserve the life she’s been given. Please, do what I could not. Save her. All I want is for her to have peace.”
The shards of me shatter, erupting away. The mist bursts back in, forming shapes and figures once again: first the huge crystals, then the prison, then Papa, and Kel.
I am nothing but splinters of a person. Kel looks up at me as I drift away.See you soon, darling, he says in my mind.
See you soon,I say back.
Before there’s nothing left, I fight for one last moment. “Papa,” I whisper.
My father looks up at me, his blue-fire gaze holding on to mine.
Then I’m ripped away.
I wake up in my bed in Summer, gasping and gripping the sheets.
