“I might let you win this time,” I offer with a flirtatious smile. We’ve got time for a little closeness before the morning mist gives way to a clearer light, illuminating the wistful and wayward.
Looking up at the tunnel of glimmering light lining our way to the portal in the sky , Conrad returns the smile. “First one above the clouds gets to choose where we visit.”
“Fair enough,” I say, placing my face in my winged companion’s powder-blue feathers. The feeling of flying is infinitely better with your eyes closed … the exhilaration rushing through your body as you ascend at speed … made even better with the boy you love beside you.
“Then we free fall into the place we’re visiting,” Conrad adds with a sly grin, knowing he’s the master of this particular trick. “Don’t worry,” he continues, “I’ll catch you if you lose control.”
I study his face and lean torso, fully planning to lose control to make the most of our morning rendezvous.
“I’ll give you a head start,” I add before he leans in for a kiss, and then he’s gone, darting upwards through the golden tunnel of light, hiding us from above-ground eyes … a vision of love I race to catch as my powder-blue Williynx swirls silently upwards, acutely aware that any display of magic outside of our secret world comes with severe consequences.
As I fly through the sky, keeping my body pressed to my Williynx, I turn and look down at the dots moving through Society Square. The above-ground crowds have no idea of the magical universe hiding in plain sight, existing in the fabric of the very shops they’re visiting now — too conditioned in the mundane to question the bizarre offerings in shops like Wimples and The Spinning Shoe.
Feeling the buzz of my penchant as we near the spinning portal in the sky, I smile at how lucky I am: an ordinary girl in an extra-ordinary world about to embark on another day of adventure.
2
The Winter Quarter
We glide through the portal in the sky, spinning through the glittering tunnel of multi-coloured light until we re-appear, overlooking The Winter Quarter. This part of The Society Sphere is famous for its gentle light and endless snow. The light washes streets and buildings forming the above-ground section — the snow a strange wonder for those lucky enough to access magical spaces.
We’ll make a dramatic arrival in the next few minutes, appearing to track a certain person is making a few too many trips to The Shallows: a place where a certain evening witch is said to hanging out. For now, though, I enjoy the feeling of the snow falling on my face as Conrad itches to begin our romantic ritual.
His intensity is one of the most attractive things about him … an intensity I feel every time he makes eye contact, as if he’s studying something deep within me. He wasn’t always this adorable, by the way, and it would be fair to say I found him a bit limp when he first arrived in The Cendryll, but I was less trusting then and he’d recently lost his mum.
He’s now lost both parents, adding to his brooding energy, but somewhere along the way he decided to park his grief and immerse himself in the wonder at his fingertips.
As the wind lifts my long, brown hair, a single powder-blue feather falls from my Williynx followed by a turquoise one from Conrad’s feathered companion: a sign our romantic ritual is about to begin. We arrive in the magical realm of The Winter Quarter, snow falling softly on our faces as we glide side-by-side.
“Ready…?” Conrad asks.
I nod, lowering my face into my Williynx’ coat of powder-blue feathers before a tap of my feet causes an explosion of feathers, marking the beginning of the race. With the snow falling onto the Williynx’ colourful coats, we spin in tandem as we dart through the sky, Conrad staying low on his turquoise companion, urging it forward.
The vision of the snow falling in gentle patterns is one I never tire of, savouring the tranquil beauty of the space we fly within. Not too long ago, we were journeying in unknown territory, hunting evil things and evil people. Now, it’s more about fun with the odd journey to strange realms.
With the race on, I whisper to Laieya — the name of my Williynx - as I edge ahead of Conrad, blowing him a sarcastic kiss as I do: a reminder that the girl he’s fallen for can more than hold her own.
With the race over and me victorious, we glide lower until the buildings come into clearer view. The sight of vast, colourful creatures carrying Society members isn’t anything out of the ordinary in Society spaces, The Winter Quarter being no exception.
This can’t be said for free falling … the art of spinning off your Williynx in a rapid, kamikaze descent. The Society elders frown on such elaborate acts, but Conrad and I agree we’ve earned the right to bend the rules. We got dragged into a war we helped to end, eradicating significant threats for the Society’s benefit, so a little bit of drama in the sky should be allowed.
“Remember to hold on if you spin out of control,” teases Conrad, preparing for the rapid descent.
I feign helplessness as my powder-blue Williynx lets out an almighty squawk and then I’m gone, spinning free from Laieya as I hurtle towards the ground. I know how to regain control of my spinning body but enjoy the sensation of syncing with Conrad as we fall … a simple act of alignment beginning with hands connecting before our legs entwine.
The seemingly perilous fall takes on balletic tones as we enact our hilarious sky dance, exaggerating each twirl and extension until the ground nears and our Williynx swoop down to our rescue, delivering us to snow-covered
