“At this point, I’m used to being thrown into random ass mysteries and adventures with y'all hoes. It’s a train stop on the line though, right?”
“They aren’t going to let us go in that way,” Isis said. Ayira whipped her head from Asha to Isis than me, realizing what we were all saying.
“We’re coming with you,” I smiled. “You went with Maggie so she wouldn’t be by herself. We’re coming with you so that you’re not by yourself.”
“We could make this another trip or adventure!” Isis beamed while grabbing my arm. “I’m still trying to own my own hospital and become a healer, but this side quest looks good on my resume.”
“My sister is like Maggie,” Ayira claimed. “She is powerful just like Maggie and doesn’t know it yet.”
“Let me guess, she’s a moon Goddess too?” Asha asked with a dull tone. Isis and I tried to keep from laughing. I forgot she wasn’t here for the big revelation that Namir was actually the moon, but to my surprise, Ayira one upped her.
“No, she is the sun. My sister is the sun.”
Asha stared dryly at her before throwing her hands up.
“Like I said, fuck it. What we doing? Sneaking into some ancient palace on the weekend before heading back to class?”
“That is exactly what we are going to do,” Ayira said. “We will grab my sister, free her from whoever is holding her captive, and warn my father. I am going to confront my mother and then we will all be back in time for a new week to start.”
We all knew it wasn’t going to be that easy but as Ayira walked off, the three of us started to talk amongst ourselves.
“This is why I don’t like new bitches in the group because look at what we’re doing,” Asha said. “Look at what we just agreed to.”
“She’s a part of us now,” Isis said. “She looked out for Maggie and went with her when none of us did.”
“Because she,” pointing at me. “Thought Namir was going to handle it, remember?” Asha hissed. I looked back at Ayira asthe two went back and forth on the status of Ayira being in our group. It was already done. She was more than a part of us. She became the closest to Maggie more than anyone else and I could tell by their mannerisms. Even in that short amount of time, they moved like sisters. I know Maggie says Gaia is the reason for her change in aura, but I truly believe it was Ayira, and her natural confidence that changed Maggie.
Watching her now, she stopped right in front of Seth who looked up from his phone, confused. She leaned in for his ear as her hair fell into his lap, whispered something and I saw his eyes widened. She pulled back, grabbing both sides of the plastic white chair to keep him in place as the two agreed on something. She walked off with a whip of her hair like her own natural tail and made her way back to us. Seth sat for a moment before calmly getting up and walking inside.
“We will find a way to get to the Solhari Kingdom on our own,” she said, not speaking on her little convo with Seth. “I cannot let anyone recognize me, especially now.”
“You’re famous,” I told her.
“Soooo if they see you out here riding a dragon like a total bad ass,” Isis dragged slowly. “Who are they going to think is in your place back home? They’re going to know your sister is…”
“A fraud,” Asha said with a laugh as Ayira’s eyes grew wide at the realization. “A fraudulent princess sitting on the throne pretending to be you. You better hope we get there in time. I’ll ask my boyfriend about ways to get in. He may know something.”
Asha Avery
I was one of the last to leave Maggie’s Aunt house. Ayira left with Namir’s brother. Quan made sure Isis got back home with her parents. Souxie was doing her best to avoid Harvey but once he offered to take her home, she insisted that I ride with her, so she wasn’t stuck being with him by herself. Everyone else from the wolves to Maggie’s family was all but gone. Harvey was still speaking with Trevor. Souxie was in the bathroom getting herself together, and Himora was standing out in the backyard in the middle of the night with her daughter in her arms. Her wings were on full display slowly opening and closing as she wore nothing but a black bra and black pants with bare feet. I decided to step outside and stopped when I heard a small hum drift into the air. She looked down at her sleeping daughter in her arms, gently rocking her from side to side as the baby slept. She didn’t have her glasses on so when she looked over her shoulder at me, her usual dark brown eyes were almost bright blood red, fiercely protective over the one in her arms before settling as she looked back at her daughter.
“My father says if you hum to a fae when they’re young, their ears won’t be as sensitive when they get older,” she stated like a fact from a book. I walked closer, in awe of her wings as they continued to fold open like a butterfly. I caught her gaze cut towards me without picking her head up from her daughter, as if she was watching for my next move to see if I would try anything but I didn’t feel it was personal. It felt more instinctualthan anything. Even her wings opening wide felt like a display to discourage predators or scare them off.
“I was just coming out here to say goodbye and thank you,” I said, keeping a step or two away from her. As much shit as I talked, a mother with her baby in the most vulnerable moment was not to be played with. I could feel it with her. If I even thought about lashing at her, she would probably attack.
“Thank you?’ Himora repeated.
“For what you said to me back at Maggie’s mother’s house. You may not remember it but I…I’ve always had these…anger problems and I don’t really think it’s anger issues but people around me seem to think I’m mad or upset. I just…I don’t take shit from anyone and I’m tired of people thinking they can take advantage of me or the people I care about.”
I started rambling as she continued to watch over her daughter, smoothing her orange hair from her forehead.
“You see…I grew up without…a family. I was raised in a…” I threw my hands up before letting them fall loosely at my sides in defeat. “My upbringing has made me who I am, and we can leave it at that. The things I’ve been through shapes the woman I am today, and I don’t know how to move forward from it. I get to a place like this, like the Underground and I just… I never felt more at home and so confused at the same damn time,” I laughed before clearing my throat after seeing she didn’t react. “Anyway…What you said that night kinda stuck with me so thank you. I don’t say that often to people, so you know, cherish that,” I joked.
“You are a particular tribe of siren?” Himora asked. She finally looked up from her daughter.
“It’s a long story but yes,” I said, instinctively touching my cheeks where my scars would have been today.
“Asha!” I looked back to see Souxie waving me over. “We’re about to leave!”
