“Weakling,” I repeated, and we broke out in breathless laughter.
I brushed the hair out of her face and admired her flair.
“I like you,” she whispered and stroked my chin.
My ears burned, and all I did was stare at her lips, unable to move.
“It’s late.” She sat up. “I’ll pick a new outfit for you and tell Tonio to bring you home.”
She made me try different wrap-dresses before I chose a black one with lace and embroidered flowers.
Downstairs, Claire brought me a bowl full of strawberries and Tonio joined us, dressed in a high-collared coat.
“Those are safe to eat,” she said and awoke his interest.
“Were they all poisoned?”
She nodded.
“Are you serious?” he asked.
“But you ate them, too,” I said.
Claire shrugged her shoulders. “Do I look like I care?”
Before we left, she hugged me and opened an umbrella for us while Tonio offered me his arm like a gentleman. I held on to him until we reached the temple.
The sun had set long ago, the path uphill stood dark. His calm demeanour scared me, but I did my best to contain it. He inhaled through his mouth and stretched out his arm, whispering to himself. After sparking up a few times, an orb of light appeared in his hand, similar to the alley lights at the library. He watched me, scanned my reaction, before we continued walking. I was close to betraying myself by asking him how he conjured it.
My hands curled into fists during our walk, afraid of Tonio instead of the wolf that followed us through the woods. He strove on without detecting the creature. Assuming that it watched out for me, I pretended to stumble and dropped half of the berries as a sign of gratitude.
6. Siren’s Voice
When we reached the entrance, he looked around and noticed that I continued walking.
“Is no carriage waiting for you?” he asked.
“I live in the night tower.”
“How convenient, Magicians love the tower,” he said while scanning my face again.
The campus would not sleep yet, but the lights were dimmed already.
We walked past the gymnasium where the track team practised during a spring shower. They waved to us. Tonio waved back, and I let go of his arm, afraid to get tied in rumours.
In front of the tower, we stopped. He held the umbrella over my head and let the rain pour onto his back.
“What are you doing?” I asked him and stepped forward.
His expression didn’t change. He looked at me unimpressed, never smiling like he would for everyone else.
“Thank you for bringing me home,” I said.
He raised an eyebrow and put his hand on my shoulder. My heart pounded under it and commanded me to flee.
“Be careful with my sister,” he said. “I didn’t want to scare you.”
After rubbing my arm he let go off me and joined the team. Their laughter spread across the gymnasium while I climbed the stairs, longing to belong, and I remembered how Claire made me laugh, too. Perhaps one day we could all be friends, at least until they found out I wasn’t who I had claimed to be—and I feared Tonio would get behind it soon.
I dragged my legs to the door of my new room and despised the stairs already. A single candle burned in front of it. I took it with me to light the ones inside and accidentally kicked against a container on the floor. Off it came a lovely smell that watered up my mouth. I lifted it up and stepped inside for the first time.
The walls stretched to the roof that was supported by pillars. The attic loft lived up to its name and even though the room had no corners, the furniture was sectioned well.
Before me stood a bed with dark blue sheets and pillows, big enough to fit three people and high enough to store all that I ever owned under it. Besides it, a table with books and empty papers, ink, and a feather of metal. ‘Amari Forge’ was engraved on its holder.
Further away, stood a sink and a tub under the window. The water inside reflected the moonlight and coloured the area in an icy blue shade. Then, a mirror and a closet where my dress and nightgown were hanging, giving off a flowery scent. By the wall stood a barrel with a tap attached to it and a pipe that led through the roof. I tapped against it, and it responded with a dull sound. It was full of rainwater. Past that, there was a place for studies and experiments. A mortar, pots, and bottles were arranged neatly on another table. Even a tiny cauldron sat in the corner.
I opened the shelf and found dried herbs, though most of the jars stood empty. I wished I had enough time to fill them all.
Everything was at its destined place, as I had been. The place where I belonged or believed to do so.
I put the strawberries on the table and lit a few more candles before opening the box. A meal had been delivered to me. The soup was barely warm, but I enjoyed every spoonful with dark bread. They prepared tomatoes with onions as well. Its fresh aroma made me welcome the spring in myself. I chewed on it for a while, taking my time. By the end of the last bite, I smiled and tears gathered on my lids. I earned none of it but was greedy for more. It all was only possible with the power of money, my grandfather’s money. I cried and laughed hysterically, finishing my meal.
Rubbing the tears and crumbs off my cheeks—still chewing, I ran to the table beside my bed and dipped the feather into black ink. While I wrote, I was careful not to drop any tears on the paper.
‘Dear
