What now? I turned my head to the side and met Diana’s gaze. We knew that voice — Levina. And for her to shout meant she had probably seen us appear out of nowhere on the ground. For her to be here meant she wasn’t alone — that we had company.El, you didn’t foresee this? I gritted my teeth when her silence greeted me. Of course, abandon me when I need you the most.“Dora? Diana?” Sinclair.Oh goddess. Were they here for afternoon lovemaking? Did Levina somehow express her true feelings…–My thought was cut off when I perceived a scent, one that overtook that of the forest floor and my vomit. Adam.I sank my head back to the ground, wishing to be teleported back to Makeh’s abode — all to no avail. I was sure the woman would be laughing the hell out of me.“Aren’t you two going to get up?” he finally spoke. “You are standing in our way.” Indifference. I loved it. It would make my work easier.Immediately, I got to my feet with no small effort, Diana too. We took our time dusting
El?This time I heard my own voice, ridden with uncertainty and a little hope.El? I tried again, not minding that I was now the object of attention.Distantly, I was aware of Diana moving closer to me—as if, in doing so, she would be able to hear El speak when the latter finally decided it was time to put me out of this misery.Was it just a figment of my own mind? Was I just hearing my inner self admonishing me to choose to let go rather than letting guilt fill me up?I turned to Makeh. She was beside the injured Quafar, hand on his forehead—the only one not looking at me.I knew the reason the next second.You don’t know my voice still.El.Tears of joy filled my eyes—two slipped past, streams moving gently down my cheeks, meeting at my jaw.I was too stunned, too overwhelmed to even speak.I numbly walked to one of the chairs in the seeming hall and sat down. Diana sat beside me, taking my hands in hers. "Is she awake?"I only managed a nod.I had pictured this moment a thousand
"Who are you? Where did you come from? What is your name? Who are the Quafars? Why do you call them your children? Did you give birth to them?"The questions kept flying past my lips, nothing holding them back—only stopping when I noticed the strange witch looking at me blankly with a raised brow."What?" I hoped she was not about to tell me that she couldn’t answer these questions too. They were mostly basic. Surely whoever was calling the shots wouldn’t tell her not to divulge her name."You have a lot of questions," she stated simply.Not the response I was expecting—however, the most foolish. What did she mean by that? Whoever was in my situation would do the same! Especially when I was not aware if she would change her mind the next second."Are you going to start with answers, or are you going to dodge them as before?"She inhaled and crossed her legs, eyes perching on a strange painting I was just getting to see now. But then, everything was strange about the witch.The painti
Wolfish mother, and friend? She was talking about my mother from the pack, another foster mother since my heritage was unknown. My good mother and Naomi. However, I believed that the little boy and I were basically the same; fate had dealt us the same cards. I was also an abandoned baby before my first mother had taken me in, against her husband’s wishes. Only in the case of the little boy, he had more than one friend, and wasn’t bullied. “It’s true what you think, but even as a young boy he had seen the differences between him and my other children.” The witch spoke, of course, still reading my thoughts. “He feels confused sometimes. And I am sure that seeing you two compounds the confusion. He would want to know more, would be curious to see your world.” “Would you let him?” I met her gaze squarely, wondering what lie she had told the little boy—that he was a giant Quafar? She laughed, and I didn’t need a seer to tell me she had read my mind. I exhaled, giving up on
“If you are not a royal witch, how do you age so well, so… slow?” Diana asked, picking up the bowl before her. What was she trying to do? “Are you going to drink that?” “It will be rude not to.” Diana answered, with a look on her face that communicated I was being dramatic. Like seriously though? She didn’t know if it was poisoned! “You know she won’t harm us. Ask El. I am sure she will agree with me.” At the mention of El, the witch snorted and returned to scooping liquid from the pot into the bowls, or rather plates on the floor—utensils which I hadn’t seen before. I must have been too focused on the woman, on her jagged hair decorated with cowries. “Maya…” The witch called out.“Yeah, she agrees with you, but I am eating no magic food.” “You better join your sister and drink from your bowl if you want your other to show up anytime soon. As much as your energy levels are up, she’s in a coma.” The witch continued, still scooping liquid into the plates. Oh damn! L
“Diana! What the hell!” The brat laughed in response, eyes twinkling with anticipation and mischief as she glanced around the forest. Unfortunately, the Quafars paid her no attention. If our lookers were even the Quafars. “I’m taking you back home now.” I threatened when she opened her mouth to make another call. “Don’t you want me to see them so that I can believe your story?” I frowned. “You didn’t believe my story?” She shrugged. “Do you believe it yourself?” I let go of her hand, however hissing in exasperation the next second, when she burst out in laughter. “Jeez, you are so easy to toy around with. Levina will have the fits.” “Levina will not have believed my tale.” I said, continuing the trip. “You never can tell. She likes you, and is a good friend.” Diana pointed out, holding my hand. “Or do you think she is around you for the crowd? For the attention?” I furrowed my brows. “I don’t think so. We were friends before things went south. She is just a bit…” I