…
…
…
"Beginning…stabilize…"
What…? Hello?
…
"…dosage…eight vials… Push another…"
…
"Secure…splinted."
Who's talking?
The voices sounded far away. It took me a while to realize I was awake. Fighting my way out of this strange syncope was harder than wading through Noslux's bogs. I felt very close to yet somehow equally as distant from lucidity. Still, I kept pushing away the tendrils.
Where am I…?
My forehead felt damp with sweat. A sudden wave of nausea and pain hit me. It wasn't as sharp as earlier, but it was enough to keep me conscious. I was just thankful to be alive.
"…heart rate…"
"Administering analgesic…"
…Huh. That feels better.
With some effort, I managed to flutter my eyes open. The bright lights above invaded my retinas and I instantly squinted. Three people dressed in grey with matching medical masks hovered over me, their faces etched with steely concentration.
Oh no. Am I being operated on?! I tried to speak, but nothing came out. My throat was too dry. There was something covering my nose and mouth.
One of the staff leaned closer. "Keep resting, madam. We'll take care of everything." Whatever painkiller they had given me made me feel increasingly lightheaded. I decided that the best thing was to try to go back to sleep.
"Blood pressure is dropping," someone said. "…IV…electrolytes…" My hearing began tapering off again.
As the nurse tended to my condition, I closed my eyes and allowed myself to rest. My mind was in a mess, wavering from reality to dreams and back. The sound of mechanical beeps and whirs became a comforting lullaby, and I drifted off into a hazy sleep.
----------------------------------------
…
…
…
Eventually, my brain guided me back to consciousness once more. This time, the sounds of monitors and machines were softer. Although my mind was still fuzzy, I could tell that the light levels in the room had changed. It was completely black behind my eyelids. Maybe it's nighttime? I wondered. How long was I out for? Hours? Days? Weeks? Dull pain radiated from my left arm accompanied by pins-and-needles tingling. My body was stiff and sore, but I felt fairly well-rested. I didn't feel like opening my eyes quite yet though, so I lied there, dozing. I inhaled deeply through my nose. Something about this place smelled familiar. Clean linen with an undertone of disinfectant…
Seconds later, I heard someone opening the door to my room, then closing it behind them. Footsteps, then rummaging, more footsteps, some squeaks, then nothing.
A voice asked, "How is she?" It was Kadia's.
"Keeping stable, thank the gods," another voice replied. I knew I'd heard it before, but I couldn't quite place whose it was. I contemplated whether to actually move my head to look or just lie there. "These things tend to get worse before they get better, but we're keeping a close eye on her."
"I owe you greatly for assisting on such short notice," Kadia said. "I appreciate you very much, Elli."
Lunellia! Ms. Greengrove, of course… The Northview Infirmary. Then I made it to Nelorismel, somehow.
"There is not a soul I would rather help," she answered. There was a long pause, followed by, "…Have you told her?"
"No."
I felt Lunellia move my left arm slightly, fix the covers I was under, then brush a strand of hair from my face. "Truth weighs heavy on your heart," she said. "This was…cutting it awfully…close. You may not be blessed with another chance… All you need's a good plan of action."
"There's no plan for madness."
By now, my ears were functioning normally. What could they possibly be talking about? There was another long pause. I heard some beeps followed by metallic clinks.
Lunellia continued, "I am sure the last thing you would want is for her to discover it on her own while you aren't present. The poor girl should hear it from you… She deserves that much."
"…As if it was my fault," Kadia muttered.
"Kadia…"
"I am going to get something to eat. I will return." With that, the door opened and closed again.
I listened to Lunellia rustle around for a bit longer before deciding to look around. I figured they wouldn't have wanted me to have heard that conversation. However, I saw nothing more with my eyes open than with them closed. I could feel my eyelashes brush against something, though. Something thick was shielding my eyes. I tried to move my right arm to my face, but found it too heavy and stiff.
"Lady De Mavset?" Lunellia spoke up, her tone laced with concern. "Are… Are you awake?" I was far too parched to answer, so I nodded instead. She removed the cover from my eyes, which turned out to be a simple cloth. I squinted, then met her relieved expression. "This was to prevent the light from bothering you while you slept… I was hoping you would awaken soon," she said, "but please rest if you feel weak."
I didn't exactly feel stellar, but I wanted to be conscious. I needed to know what happened, and if I had any permanent damage. So, I lied there for a minute or two. Indeed, I recognized Northview's walls immediately. The room was identical to the one Ashkan had stayed in after our encounter with the Inkbloods, including the crisp white bedsheets, stained glass windows, and high ceiling. The clock on the wall told me it was just before eleven at night. There were several machines of varying sizes around my bed, most of them connected to me by tubes or sensors. Oxygen flowed into my nose through a nasal cannula. I was wearing a light blue hospital gown (that fully covered my back, thankfully) with matching shorts. My left arm was entirely covered from shoulder to wrist in bandages, as well as immobilized by a splint and sling. It definitely looked bigger than usual.
With some assistance from Lunellia, I managed to sit up against the pillows behind me. She quickly poured me a glass of water from a chilled pitcher, which I downed in about three seconds.
"…How did I get here?" was my first question after my vocal cords regained some function.
Lunellia checked my vitals, then took a seat beside my bed. "It is my understanding that after you fell unconscious, your helmsman retrieved his medulet, which brought you to one of Kelnesath's infirmaries. After you were in stable condition, she insisted on transferring you here. They had no medical records or information of yours, anyway."
"What's a medulet?" I asked.
"A medical teleportation device that is linked to every hospital and infirmary on the planet. It needs exact coordinates, however, and one needs a specific license to own and operate one. Your helmsman knew the coordinates of the Kelnesath clinic, and they knew Northview's. And…here you are. You arrived here about four hours ago."
"…My parents–!"
"They already know. Your father was notified. Don't worry."
I sighed. "Thank you for taking care of me, Ms. Greengrove. I hope I haven't caused you too much stress."
She smiled. "Well, don't thank me yet; you're still healing. My work is not finished."
"I suppose I should hear a rundown of everything, huh?"
"Legally, yes. But I will try to make it easy to understand." She picked up a clipboard from the windowsill and began reading. "As you know, you were bitten by a glass viper, or a theistekyde. Their venom puts prey to sleep quite quickly. Your level of envenomation is moderate to severe, but certainly not the worst case I have seen. Theistekyde venom is hemotoxic, cytotoxic, and neurotoxic, meaning it is harmful to blood, cells, and nerves. That being said, central nervous system damage is very rare, so it almost exclusively concerns peripheral nerves, like those in your skin. The most significant danger is its anticoagulating properties. Since you, in a way, ripped the viper's fangs out, the pressure on its head and venom glands made your condition somewhat worse, unfortunately."
"Okay," I said, "that all sounds bad. But I'm on painkillers. So how badly am I doing?"
"The analgesic you received in Kelnesath will wear off in an hour or two," Lunellia explained. "You are doing fine, Brielle. You must allow yourself enough time to heal, though. I have you booked in for three weeks. It's important to be patient. If left untreated, the majority of people die from theistekyde venom in thirty to seventy-five minutes. We take these cases very seriously. I have to watch for anemia, low blood pressure, low platelet count, allergic reactions… When it was reported to me that you awoke momentarily at the clinic in Kelnesath, that gave me much hope for your recovery. You will be just fine. I am sure of it."
Looking down, I expelled a long breath. Three weeks of hospitalization. Now that the sedation had worn off, and I wasn't distracted by pain, my emotions began to rise to the surface. I was tired, worried, and a little bit scared. But above all, I couldn't help but feel foolish for what I'd gotten myself into. I should've been more careful.
Lunellia scribbled some notes down, then added, "I will remove those gentle compression bandages in a day or two. They will be replaced with regular wraps after the swelling subsides. The splint and sling will stay on for a week or two. You have received all the antivenom you need for today; we will continue that tomorrow. Your electrolyte levels are good, along with blood pressure, but I will keep monitoring them. Your platelet levels are slightly low, but they might normalize on their own. I gave you intravenous antibiotics to combat anaerobic bacteria from the viper's mouth, along with a tetanus toxoid booster. The former will have to be continued. When the analgesic wears off, I will give you something else to lessen your pain. Lastly, I will continue with anticholinesterase injections, to repair affected nerves and prevent further damage." Finally, she set her quill down. "How are you feeling?"
I yawned, stretching my neck. "Sore, tired, kind of nauseous… But much better, thanks to you."
"Are you always this friendly?" she asked with a smile.
"Only after being bitten by a snake," I chuckled. "Although now that you mention it… I could use a bathroom break."
"Of course. I will assist you there." Lunellia pulled back the covers from my bed and disconnected any remaining wires or tubes I was connected to. She then put an arm behind my back, swung my legs towards the edge of the bed, and put slippers on my feet. My body had a lot to deal with, but only my left arm was damaged, so I could walk with only slight difficulty. Still, Lunellia supported me all the way to the washroom down the hall. "One more thing, madam?" she said before I closed the door. "Your appearance… Don't let it frighten you. It will go away."
My anxiety spiked. I refused to look in the bathroom mirror until I had finished washing my hands. I gripped the edge of the sink with one hand, took a breath, and looked up. My platinum hair was the messiest I'd seen it in a long while, but that wasn't what I noticed first. My skin was very pale, and so were my eyes. The irises weren't as violet as they normally were, but most shockingly, my pupils were a milky shade of greyish-white. As if that wasn't unsettling enough, there were also white lines peeking out from under my bandages. These nearly opaque, vein-like markings covered my left hand down to my fingertips and rose from my left arm, spread across my shoulder and collarbone, and stopped just under my jaw. Trying to wipe them away did nothing. It was like a tattoo: under your skin, but not deep enough that you can't see it.
"This will go away?" I questioned incredulously upon exiting the bathroom.
"It always does," Lunellia assured. She took me by the arm and led me back to my room. "The venom makes your eyes appear cloudy, but it only increases sensitivity to light. The spread of the venom across tissues, as well as the severity and progression of possible necrosis, can be monitored by carefully inspecting your skin, starting from the injection site, which displays those white markings. They themselves are not harmful, but they allow the snake to recognize their dead prey. Necrosis follows after the markings, so it is very possible to have them without tissue death if treatment is provided fast enough. They will fade naturally within some weeks, and so will the eye discolouration."
"I look like a zombie," I sulked.
"Nonsense; you look like a brave girl in need of plenty of rest. The antivenom is doing its job of halting further damage, now your immune system has a lot of work to do to clean it up."
By then, the clock was approaching midnight, so I didn't stay up for much longer. Lunellia reconnected a couple of my monitors, then brought me some food and water before saying goodnight. I wasn't sure if Kadia was going to come back or not, but I was too tired to stay awake. I decided to ask her about that earlier conversation tomorrow. For now, I needed to focus on getting better.
----------------------------------------
I woke up very slowly the next morning. It took me a moment to remember what had happened. I couldn't sleep very well with my arm in a sling, but I was in no position to complain. Soon enough, a nurse came in to check on me and serve breakfast. On my tray was fruit, bread, eggs, and juice, along with a side of pills – antibiotics and painkillers. I was eager for the latter of those to kick in. You really don't notice how much of a bother pain is until you can feel it. I spent my morning reading magazines and newspapers until Lunellia entered my room a couple of hours later.
"I apologize for my slight tardiness," she began. "How are you feeling today?"
I shrugged. "Sore and weak, which you probably could've guessed. I'm not keeping you from something, am I?"
She shook her head vigorously. "Not at all! It was my superior, actually… My application for doctoral status is being approved… She was impressed by my work with you, apparently."
"What?! That's amazing!" I grinned, sitting up straighter. "Congratulations! 'Dr. Greengrove' has a nice ring to it."
Her face flushed pink. "Thank you, milady. But I assure you, this won't change my treatment of patients. My work is my lifeblood."
"Maybe it's a good thing that snake bit me," I joked. "Not to discredit you, but was I really in that bad of shape that your overseer promoted you so soon?"
"In my defense, I believe it was a long time coming," she replied, "but… Well… Just be grateful your gums aren't bleeding, or that I did not have to perform a fasciotomy like the last snakebite patient I had."
My stomach lurched. "…I don't think I want to know what that is."
Chuckling, Lunellia started jotting down today's notes onto her clipboard. As she changed her fabric gloves to latex ones, I caught a glimpse of her mechanical hand. As far as I could tell, it was just as dexterous as her other one. I mostly stared out the window while she measured vitals and studied my condition. When she changed my bandages though, I glanced over at my left arm, and promptly regretted it. It was visibly swollen, and covered in bruises, redness, and dried blood. The fang punctures were clearly outlined by the white markings I'd seen yesterday, which originated from that exact area.
"Edema is decreasing nicely," Lunellia noted after using a ruler tape to measure my arm's circumference. "Prominent erythema and ecchymosis… Highly visible pre-necrotic marks… Moderate hemorrhaging… Hm." She proceeded to replace the bandages, then set my arm back in its splint and sling. "I am somewhat concerned with your clotting factor, Brielle. The bite is still continuing to bleed."
I frowned. "So what does that mean?"
"I will take a sample of your blood and analyze its platelet levels. I believe an infusion supplement is in order," she explained. "Viper venom is notorious for causing thrombocytopenia, which is low platelet levels. It makes it difficult for blood to clot, so bleeding can become challenging to stop. This condition will solve itself on its own, but in the meantime, any bleeding needs to be avoided. I can, however, give you a platelet supplement to help the wound clot. It is quite simple – a fresh concentrate matched to your blood type, washed in saline, given via slow intravenous infusion. The effects will last three to four days."
While waiting for the blood sample to develop results, she administered my first anticholinesterase shot of the day, followed by five vials of antivenom through an IV. Surprisingly, I was quickly getting used to having a catheter in the crease of my right elbow. After an hour or two, Lunellia determined that a platelet supplement was ideal based on my condition. Since I already had an IV in, she simply switched the hardware and hooked up the platelet bag. I had to sit there for an hour while it got into my system. Thankfully, I had plenty of visitors to keep me company. I hated being fussed over but knew it was inevitable.
Not long after I started the infusion, Kadia came to visit. She spoke more to Lunellia than me, but she still made it obvious that she cared a lot about my health. Thorne wasn't far behind her. To my delight, he brought me lunch – a delicious stew with beef, root vegetables, and a fragrant broth. It felt like a hug from the inside. After midday, Tyrath knocked on the door and entered with Morgina. The two of them cracked some jokes and got everyone laughing, which gave me an instant boost of serotonin. On top of that, Tyrath gave me a small vase of multicoloured flowers – which was kind of hilarious coming from a man who could probably rip a phonebook in half – and Morgina brought a deck of cards for all of us to play a game. Later, Reyshore stopped by. He gifted me a small box of sweets and apologized for being unable to prevent this accident. I just hoped I drove it into his skull that it was not his fault in any way. Besides, there was no point dwelling on what had already happened.
In the early evening, Shaye came to see me after classes ended. She halted for a second once her eyes landed on me, taking in the scene, but quickly switched to a big smile. "Hello! I'm so relieved to see you awake. How're you doing?"
"I won't lie, I've been better," I answered, leaning forward to give her a hug as best I could with one arm in a sling and the other connected to an IV drip – the latter of which was now a specialized concoction of vitamins and antioxidants.
"Perfectly understandable." She sat down on the stool beside my bed and glanced at the catheter in my arm. "Um… Would you like me to sit with you? Or I could get you something to drink."
"I don't care, I'm just happy to see you," I admitted. "It hasn’t even been two days and I'm already anxious to leave."
"Well, I have some good news that might brighten your day a bit. We unlocked that container! The air gemstone is ours!"
"Really? That's great; I was a little worried it was a lost cause. How'd you do it?"
"The vessel was sensitive to air density. We set it in an air-tight room and used magic to thin out the oxygen, and it popped open!"
The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
I crossed my legs, being careful to keep my right arm straight. "Did you hold the stone?"
Shaye nodded. "Yes. It was quite tiring. It made me feel like I had just run a marathon. But the gem was beautiful, like the first one! It's kind of a flat disc shape, with a spiral indentation on both sides. Not as sparkly as the last one, but very delicate and light. It was as if I was holding nothing at all. It is mostly turquoise, but sometimes it changes to lavender or pale blue. The colours move and marble together like clouds. It's fascinating!"
I smiled at her level of detail. Could you blame her? "Interesting. So, how was school today?"
"Nothing special. But I have all my notes from the classes we share for you to study! Although I'm unsure if you need to… Headmaster Gunthren and Miss Lucera both know about your hospitalization. They told Kadia you won't be penalized for any incomplete assignments during this time."
"Thank you, Shaye." I sighed. "I wish it was the same for Earth."
Her eyes widened. "Right, you would still need to go back! My stars, the timing of this…"
"Yeah. I still have Earth school to attend; I don't really have a choice. I'm going to miss a day or two, but I can't afford any more than that. I can't switch dimensions when I'm in the middle of a treatment, but my Emiarhian body also can't heal if I'm not here. I kinda just have to figure things out as I go."
"I'm here to help in any way I can," Shaye said, giving my hand a squeeze. "How about I start with that hair of yours?" She took out a hairbrush from her bag and began untangling my rat's nest.
I smiled again, then noticed something. "Hey, how's Ashkan?"
She furrowed her eyebrows and suddenly threw her hands up in exasperation. "I haven't the foggiest clue! He's refusing to talk much at all, or even pick up the telephone! I don't know what the problem is. He won't tell me."
"What?" I tilted my head to the side so she could start braiding. "He was so warmhearted the last time I saw him... That sounds really strange."
"Absolutely! I'll try to knock some sense into him."
As the sun approached the horizon, Shaye and I continued chatting well after my IV drip was finished. We discussed school, training, the prophecy, and everything in between. I appreciated the pleasant distraction a lot. Unfortunately, not all of what she told me was nice. The media outlets were already circling reports about my hospitalization, which was spreading rumours about the cause. I knew it wasn't preventable. The only thing I cared about was that they stayed completely unaware of our mission. Still, I tried not to be embarrassed about it. As long as they didn't show up with cameras, I would be fine.
Additionally, Ashkan's lack of presence was weighing on me more than I'd anticipated. Based on what Shaye had told me, it was as if he was avoiding her…or me. After everyone had returned to Nelorismel, he became very distant. He was still showing up to training and school, however, so at least I wasn't worrying about his safety. I hoped this wouldn't last long, though. His peculiar behaviour was becoming increasingly worrisome. Was it something I had done? Was he trying to give me space? I couldn't erase his face from my mind. The last expression I'd seen him wearing was like permanent calligraphy stamped onto my brain. I wanted to see him, to find out what emotions were there. We had grown this strong, mutual understanding between us, and I didn't want to let that go. All I could do was hope he would visit soon.
I was deep in thought when Kadia entered the room. "Good evening," she said, setting down a tray of food on my lap and then pointing to a canvas bag she was carrying. "I brought you dinner and clean clothes."
"Thanks," I replied, sitting up. "Have you eaten?"
She sat down in the armchair in the corner. "Nevermind that, I'm much more concerned about you. Are you feeling alright?"
"Fine, all things considered. A little bit of a bruised ego, I suppose."
"These things happen, Brielle. Dangerous? Yes. Preventable? Maybe. But I can't exactly say I am surprised. It could have been any one of us in your place. I can only aim to do better."
A slightly sombre mood filled the room. The setting sun shone its rays through the stained glass cathedral windows, casting soft colours onto the floor and walls. The very top sections of them were clear, so I could see it was snowing outside. I ate my dinner in silence while Kadia stared at her feet. It was no question that there was something bothering her.
"What's on your mind?" I asked her after I was finished eating. "Is it what you and Lunellia were talking about yesterday? Something about cutting it close?"
Kadia clenched her fists. "Blasted… You were awake during that?"
"Barely, but enough to hear."
"…Yes, it involves that conversation. The problem is that the truth never hides for long." She pinched the bridge of her nose. "But you have far too much to handle right now. I do not want to worry you."
"I'm already worried."
"It can wait."
I folded my arms – or, rather, tucked my right one underneath my slinged left. "If it involves me, I'd like to know. What, am I dying? Am I in trouble? Am I getting kicked out of Emiarhia?"
"No, no, none of that."
"All right, then? It can't be that bad in comparison."
"It is too great of a shock."
"Honestly, whatever it is, I can handle it. I think now is actually a good time to tell me. I'm stuck here until I'm healed, so I have plenty of time to think about stuff," I countered.
She gestured vaguely. "No, it would be premature... There is too much going on for this to be known."
"You said that already," I pressed.
"I know what I said."
"Then why don't you quit dancing around the subject and just tell me already?"
"You do not want to know."
A flash of annoyance shot through me. "That's not even true!"
She glanced up at the ceiling, her hands in her lap. "Brielle, I do not wish to argue."
I set my jaw. "You don't wish to argue, or you don't want to tell me? There's a difference, Kadia."
Her eyes narrowed. "Both. It is too much right now."
"Don't make this about what's 'right' for me. It's obviously too much for you, too, so just tell me!" My voice became increasingly frustrated.
She snapped, "No. You cannot possibly understand."
"Just because I've lived a different life doesn't make me completely naïve! You act like you can handle the entire world's burdens on your own! Just because you're a captain with some special title doesn't make you invincible, or better than others, or unbreakable, or whatever you think it means!" I was so annoyed by her stubbornness, it was impossible for me to calm down. I was just glad the heart rate monitor wasn't currently attached to my chest. "Ugh, I hate when people do this...!"
"I am protecting you," she insisted. "How could you not understand that? The less you know about the things that don't concern you, the safer you are!"
"Well, maybe I want to be included! Maybe I can handle knowing what's going on! Did that thought ever cross your mind?" My face was growing hot, but I was on a roll. "Plus, I'm pretty sure a lot of the things you don't tell me are things that involve me!"
She was losing patience too. "And what could I possibly gain by telling you?"
I scoffed, "It's not about gaining anything. It's about giving me a choice! If I get myself in danger, fine! That's on me! It's not your choice to make; it's mine!"
"You are still a child!" she yelled, rising from her chair.
It took me a second to process her outburst. Kadia wasn't exactly the most easygoing or happy person, but she didn't often actually yell. My mouth gaped open slightly, and my anger wavered for just a moment. "...What does my age have to do with anything? I'm almost eighteen! Why do you get to make every decision for me?! You keep talking about protecting me, but you never ask what I want, or how I feel!"
That seemed to be the tipping point for her. She stepped towards me and exclaimed, "I want you to be safe and healthy! That is what I want! I care about you too much to watch you get hurt! I have to be there to shield you from this world!"
I rebutted, "Why, because you feel responsible for me?"
"Not exactly–"
"Because I'm your charge?"
"No, that's–!"
"Your soldier? Your pawn?!"
"No!"
"An expendable asset? What?!"
Kadia grimaced, and her eyes squeezed shut. "Brielle, for crying out loud! You're my SISTER!"
...I felt the wind leave my chest as if I'd just been hit with a wrecking ball. The room suddenly became so silent that I could hear my blood pumping through my eardrums. I just sat there in utter bewilderment, completely blindsided. My face fell flat, and my body locked up.
Her sister...?
No, that was crazy talk. Lies. Or some sort of twisted joke. I swallowed and took a deep breath, waiting for some explanation or apology.
But she looked just as shocked as I did, her eyes flaring with a deep mix of regret and despair. I could've sworn they were even a little teary. And that was enough of a confirmation that she was telling the truth. She hadn't meant to say it. It was an honest confession. Now, she looked like she'd seen a ghost. I believe I looked the same way.
"This...information...does not have to change anything," she stuttered in a clipped tone while avoiding my gaze. "I do not expect any sympathy or pity from you, nor do I desire it. But it is true, though it sounds absolutely mad, and...perhaps it is best...that you know. That is all."
The silence that filled the space between us was suffocating. I felt like I was going to have a stroke. Kadia had been keeping a secret so monumental for so long! What was I supposed to think? How was I supposed to respond? Was she serious?! There were so many questions floating around inside my mind that it felt like my brain was turning to mush. It didn't compute. It just didn't make sense. She couldn't be. There was no way. Was there?
"What... What is going on?" I eventually uttered, barely audible.
She rubbed her temples, sighed, then returned to the armchair and sat down. I could tell she was mentally preparing herself to spill everything she knew. "I am not Kadia Lowell," she admitted. "I am... I am Kadia De Mavset."
I had never been more surprised in my life. My jaw went slack. My knees grew weak even though I was sitting, which felt very bizarre. This had to be some sort of elaborate joke. My entire worldview was shattering into pieces around me, and all I could do was gawk like a fish out of water. I stared at Kadia in disbelief, unblinking.
"You cannot be serious," I whispered.
In response, she gave me an apologetic look, then reached towards her neck. She promptly unclasped her oval pendant necklace and tossed it onto my lap from across the room. With shaky fingers, I took hold of the gold locket and opened it.
Inside was an old, dusty photo of two young girls. One of them was me; I recognized my haircut and shirt. I looked to be no older than two. The other girl resembled me, and definitely resembled Kadia. She must've been around six or seven years old. That was us. Whatever resemblance we shared in childhood had moderately faded by now, but it was clear as children. It was undeniable. It was too much. Too many thoughts swirling in my head. I didn't know how to even begin to begin to sort them out.
"What's… What's your name?" I demanded, voice unsteady. "On Earth, what's your name?"
Her expression turned pained. "Finley. Finley Harlington. I would not lie to anyone about this, Chloe."
My breath hitched in my throat. There was no way I could think of that she could've known my Earth name. I had to believe her. The realization hit me like a ton of bricks. I've had a sister for my entire life. And nobody told me.
I spoke after a minute or two, "Okay, no. You have to explain this to me. None of this makes sense."
Kadia stood up and moved closer to me, sitting on the bedside stool. "I was born on Earth, about five years before you. In Minnesota. I lived there for roughly seven years before I moved to Emiarhia. When I encountered you six months ago, that was the first time we'd met since you were two years old. It's hardly a surprise that you didn't recognize me. I hadn't a clue what face I would one day be searching for…or even if I would see you again. You weren't supposed to arrive here until you were eighteen, at the youngest."
"But why did you move?" I asked. "Why'd you leave Earth?"
A flash of resentment streaked through her eyes. "Your… Our parents insisted on it. You were born, and everything was fine for two years. Then, the Tremaium prophecy came to light. You were banned from Emiarhia for your own safety, and I was sent to live with the Greengroves – in the town of Umnarendos, not far from Nelorismel... Lunellia and I essentially grew up together. That is why we are close. Her parents were good friends with ours long before I was born, so it wasn't a bad fit… Our family has a presence in both dimensions, and our parents did not want me to be robbed of experiencing Emiarhia. Unfortunately, since I represented a link between those worlds, I could not safely visit you. Father visited me every few days due to his work as a royal guard, and I saw Mother once a month or so."
I was in shock. I leaned back, trying to decide what question out of thousands to ask first. "They wanted to protect you from the mess with the prophecy?"
"I suppose," she replied with a half-shrug. "I have long since given up trying to reason why I couldn't have grown up solely on Earth alongside you. I would have been somewhat stifling, perhaps, but I wouldn't have known that. Father insists that it was for fear of you being found on Earth. That way, I would be safe in Emiarhia. I understand that the decision was not made lightly. I carried such anger with me for years, still."
All of the puzzle pieces began clicking into place. "Was it planned that you would train me?"
"No, but I was interested in the military from a young age. Somehow, this arrangement happened. I believe I was sixteen or seventeen when I asked Father not to visit as often… I needed to focus on my career without emotions plaguing me. I made the decision years after that to be the one to tell you about our relation. I didn't know when, or how, but I wanted you to hear it from me instead of our parents. I cannot lie, I hated you for most of my life. But that has been put to rest."
I felt a pang of sadness in my heart. "Honestly, Kadia… I don't blame you. …Who all knows about this, then?"
She paused, then answered, "Father and Mother know. Evidently, both Lunellia and her parents know. Thorne knows. All three of your trainers are aware, too. King Typhis and Queen Valanche have also been informed. And now you. I will leave it to you to choose whether or not to tell Shaylie and Ashkan. Although, I believe their parents know, as they have also been longtime friends with our parents… Everyone was united either by the ownership of the interdimensional necklaces, or simple camaraderie. Sometimes coincidences are less coincidental than they seem."
I couldn't even begin to think about that last part. "The King and Queen? Why do they know about us being sisters?"
"When I lived with Lunellia, her parents gave letters to Father every time he visited with updates about me and my life, and he would share those with Mother. When I was old enough to move out on my own, the Queen took on that task instead, since I was part of the Rime Guard."
My brain instantly remembered when I had first met Queen Valanche. She handed me a letter that was addressed to my parents…and they never told me what it was about. At least part of it must've involved Kadia. Remembering something else, I added, "I found some old letters in my attic back home a couple of months ago. They weren't addressed to anyone, but they were all signed by 'G'. I thought they were written by Mom, but maybe not… One of them had a photo of who I thought was me, wearing–"
"That light pink dress," Kadia cut in, "with the ribbons on the sleeves. That was me in the photo; it was my dress first. 'G' is for Greengrove, not Geneva. I am surprised she still has those… They were intentionally kept as anonymous as possible for safety reasons. I see that was a good decision."
I felt nothing short of stunned. She was able to answer every question of mine, except why. Why did things have to be this way? Why had my parents separated us? Were there no other options? I couldn't decide how to feel. My emotions spiralled into a dense, muddled combination of anger, sympathy, confusion, sorrow, and relief. I couldn't even imagine how Kadia was feeling, let alone for all these years.
"Thank you," I said after a beat. "For taking care of me and everything. I'm sorry this happened the way it did."
She just shook her head. "It is not… It is not your fault. It's best that you know before it may become too late… Just remember that this needn't change anything. There is much lost time to make up for, but you have plenty of more pressing matters. Focus only on healing. Nothing more."
And with that, she got up and left the room.
It wasn't easy for me to sleep that night. After Lunellia checked on me, I used my necklace to teleport back to Earth. I no choice but to keep attending school at Oceanside. Although that obligation would slightly prolong my recovery on Emiarhia, it was a welcome repose from all the solemnity. There was no avoiding the late-night conversation I had with my parents after I'd returned, though. They essentially repeated everything Kadia had told me. I still wasn't sure how to feel about their decision, but there was nothing I could do. It had been so long that Kadia had time to learn, understand, then make peace with their choice. The initial bitterness she had towards me made so much sense now. I too decided to accept the truth, but it would take time for me to adjust. I'd never had a sibling, after all. But I never was an only child. A single wonder remained: Will we ever have a normal sibling relationship?
----------------------------------------
"Are you feeling better today?" Spencer asked as the school bell rang through the halls, signifying lunchtime.
"Yeah," I said, shutting my locker after dropping off some textbooks. "Sorry for being kinda MIA."
She fell into step beside me as we walked to the cafeteria. "All good; I get it. I'm just glad you're okay."
I smiled and slung my backpack over my shoulder. If only she knew what had happened that past weekend. "I was just exhausted, that's all. I'm really not looking forward to writing that essay for next week."
"Me neither," Spencer replied, "but if tomorrow's not the due date, then today's not the do date." I laughed briefly.
The two of us rounded a corner and were met unexpectedly by a sight most unwelcome. Farrah and Luke were standing off to one side, seemingly deep in conversation. I couldn't see Luke's face, but his arms were crossed. Farrah was smiling widely, of course. I recognized four of her cronies lingering nearby. It didn't take long for her to spot me, doing a double take, then frown. She said something to Luke before making her way over. He waved vaguely and opened his locker, effectively blocking us from view. I knew what was coming.
"Do me a favour and leave us alone," Farrah said when she approached Spencer and me. "You already have Nathan. Or do you want to string along two guys?"
I rolled my eyes. "Nathan means nothing to me. Also, I go to school here. I'm not going to put in extra effort to avoid you."
She turned her head slightly as if searching for a lie. "This isn't about us; this is about Luke. Didn't I already tell you we're dating?"
"Uhh, does he know that?" I scoffed.
"Obviously!" she exclaimed, her voice raising in pitch. "He's mine."
"He doesn't belong to anybody. Not that you would know the difference."
"God, you're so jealous. Just get over it already. Luke doesn't like you."
"What, he's not allowed to have friends?"
"Don't act stupid. I see the way you look at him."
I sighed and rested my head in my palm. Why do I waste time on this idiot? "We're friends, Farrah. Quit being insecure."
Her hands curled into fists. "What the hell; do you keep hanging out with him just to piss me off?!"
"Why, is it working?"
"Oh my god. You're pathetic. Luke would never date you," she stated. With that, Farrah and her friends sped past us in the opposite direction, shooting hostile glances over their shoulders.
I turned to Spencer. "That was insane, right?"
She nodded. "I can't believe Farrah doesn't feel any remorse for what she did to Luke on her birthday."
"I think I can, unfortunately." I planted my hands on my hips. "Why does she have such a problem with me? It's getting kind of exhausting."
"I mean, think about it. Why does she hate you so much? Because you're competition. She wouldn't feel nearly as threatened if she genuinely thought you were horrible and ugly. Which kind of says a lot, since Farrah sees herself as Aphrodite reincarnated."
"I hate the idea of competition… Not that it even is one." Spencer raised her eyebrows knowingly and I gave her a pointed look. "Anyway, I'm gonna go talk to Luke. I'll catch up with you in a bit." We parted ways, and I took a moment to breathe and square my shoulders. Farrah could really be an energy vampire when she wanted to.
Luke seemed surprised to see me. "Hey, what's up?"
As soon as I met his gaze, an inexplicable spike of nerves hit me. I quickly smiled. "I just wanted to thank you again for helping out with Winona last week. So…I want to give you these." Shifting my backpack towards my front, I zipped it open and retrieved a small bag of lemon cookies. It wasn't an incredible gift, but at least I knew he liked them. "It's a fresh batch, I promise!"
His eyebrows shot up. "Really? You don't have to… Thanks, Chloe." He graciously took the bag, then added with a laugh, "It might be hard for me not to eat all of them in one sitting."
"Hey, nobody would know," I laughed. Then, a different thought formulated in my mind. Maybe it was a bad idea, or maybe it was petty of me to care, but in the moment, I couldn't resist. "So…listen. Farrah's been saying some stuff about you for a while now. I need to know; are you and her…together?" I tried to sound as indifferent as possible.
Luke's face turned ever so slightly red. He shrugged and looked away. "Well… It really wasn't cool what she did at her party. I thought she was better than that. It was kind of a disappointment."
"No kidding," I said. Luke was being really mature about this. Even though it was quite obvious that their dynamic was one-sided, I still got an 'I knew it' feeling.
He was quiet for a moment. "I think she just has some growing up to do. But don't we all?"
A sigh left my mouth. "Yeah."
"Farrah is…I don't know." He pursed his lips, thinking. "As an athlete, she wants everyone to think she's perfect. She's implied that to me. She puts all this pressure on herself to maintain some sort of image that's all in her head. It's near impossible to have a connection with someone when you're always questioning if they're being genuine. Maybe that's just who she is. But you, for instance –"
"Really don’t have that problem," I joked.
"I don't think you have to try that hard, actually." Luke's voice grew a bit softer. For a second, my heart felt like it was jammed. It was a simple enough statement. But I could feel my entire body stiffen. "I mean, you don't seem like a tryhard to me," he continued. "You're just...you."
"That I am," I replied, not knowing what else to say. I doubted that he was trying to insinuate anything in particular, but his words still caused my brain to short-circuit briefly. How did he manage to do that so effortlessly? I just blinked, maintaining casual eye contact. There was something about his eyes that could be so piercing at times, and demand your full attention, yet maintain this level of warmth. I don't think I could've looked away if I tried.
Just like that, the feeling dissipated. We shifted the topic of conversation to other pleasantries before eventually going our separate ways. I was left with a smile stuck on my face as I met back up with Spencer and my other friends in the cafeteria. If there was one thing I knew about Luke, it was that he could always make my day better. I was dreading returning to Emiarhia to continue treatment but knew it was imperative. After finishing some homework on Earth, I teleported over, hoping to talk to Shaye, Kadia (my newly-discovered SISTER), my trainers – and perhaps a certain someone else.