Page 78 of The City Of Fractured Memory

My blood runs cold.

I recognise that voice.

Thirty-Four

Awoman bursts through the doors, her long white hair a wild thicket, her eyes bloodshot and searching. When they meet mine, we both freeze. Recognition instantly calls to me as I take in her features, realisation dawning on me like someone’s thrown a bucket of icy water over my head.

She’s the woman from my dream.

I stay rooted to the spot, shock preventing me from being able to move. The woman takes a few tentative steps forward before releasing the hold on her restraint and lurching for me, pulling me up into her arms and clutching me tightly. I stand there, numb, my arms by my sides as she hugs me, my brain struggling to process what’s happening.

She finally releases me and holds me at arms length, ignoring the frustrated murmurs spreading throughout the elders behind us.

“I knew it. The second you stepped foot in Lunoreth, I could feel your magic calling to me,” she sniffs, tears falling freely down her face as she looks at me like I’m the most precious thing in the world. Her smile quickly fades though as she registers the unease that must be showing on my face.

“You—you don’t remember me?” she whispers, devastation spreading across her features.

“I’ve seen you before,” I admit. “In my dreams.”

I cringe as soon as the words leave my mouth. She’s going to think I’m insane.

But she straightens with a sniff, smiling through her tears. “Not dreams, darling girl. It is your gift. You have the sight—you can astral project, just like your mother. You’ve been calling for me in your sleep, and I’ve been trying to call back.”

No…that’s impossible, surely?

“I—I don’t understand–”

“It’s okay, darling, it’s not your fault. None of this is your fault,” she says, brushing my hair back from my face with shaking fingers. “I’m Amari. My sister was your mother.”

I inhale sharply.

This is officially too much for me to process.

“Amari, how dare you interrupt a meeting of the Elder Council!” Althea snaps, rising to her feet. “The child needs answers–”

“And you’re scaring her with them!” Amari snarls back.

I bristle instinctively. I want to argue, insist that I can handle myself and I don’t need to be coddled, especially from family members who weren’t even part of my life until thirty seconds ago. But the words die in my mouth, because the truth is, she’s right.

I am terrified.

My entire world has been turned upside down, everything I thought I knew has been a lie, and now I’ve been barraged with so much information at once, I can barely think straight, let alone argue.

My parents—or rather, the mortals I thought were my parents—died when I was fifteen, murdered in the street by some cutpurse who caught them unawares, and I’ve been protecting myself ever since. I’ve made my own way in this world, and rebelled against anyone who’s tried to protect me, knowing I could do a perfectly fine job on my own. But as I stand between all these people, completely overwhelmed, panic threatening to pull me under, I start to wonder if maybe a parental figure wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world after all. Maybe, just this once, I can rely on someone else to look after me.

I inhale with a shudder, looking between the numerous faces in the room before my gaze meets with my apparent aunt’s. Her eyes are full of warmth and love, no hint of betrayal or ill intent.

Squaring my shoulders, I turn to Stryx’s mothers who are staring at us with concern. “Stop calling me a child. I’m a grown woman. And no one decides my fate, but me.”

Esmarie’s jaw tenses before she speaks, the words slow like she’s choosing what to say with great care. “Octavia, there is much still to discuss. You must stay here, for your own safety.”

I hesitate, curiosity still sparking in me despite my panic. But I make my choice and wordlessly take Amari’s outstretched hand, not prepared to admit out loud that I need help, but accepting the silent offer nonetheless. Stryx looks helplessly between her mothers and me, her expression full of uncertainty. Amari holds her other hand out to Stryx, offering her the same as me despite her obvious contempt for my friend’s parents. It’s a gesture that warms me to her instantly, a kindness I won’t easily forget.

Stryx shares a pointed look with Althea and the woman’s shoulders sag slightly as she nods dejectedly, the pair of them watching with clear concern as Stryx accepts the hand offered to her. Relief washes over me in a wave. She’s remaining by my side, acknowledging my decision, and my heart bursts with love for her, though I can’t help the pang of guilt at forcing her hand like this.

Without another word, Amari leads us both out the door, and I spare a glance back at the elders, their unanimous expressions of concern making me feel uneasy as we retreat.

The walk back through the cavernous structure of trees feels a lot more tense than our entry. Instead of a sea of awe-stricken stares, we are greeted with narrowed eyes and sharp whispers, their stares trailing our backs as Amari leads us back out into the forest. I share a confused side glance with Stryx while Amari stays suspiciously silent.