CHAPTER 2
Adiel
The light pours through the open window, shining on the small boy on the bed. He looks as fragile as a doll, with pale skin and dark circles under his eyes, but I have never met anyone as strong as him in all my past lives.
“I am so glad. You have to take care of yourself,” Zane says looking at me with his big, bright eyes. “Mina, sometimes I worry what will happen when I die and leave you alone.”
I hold his tiny hands with mine, trying to convey how much I care for him.
“Stop saying that. You will not die. I won’t let you,” I declare, blinking to prevent the tears from forming.
He chuckles softly, but that is too much effort for his frail body, and he starts coughing.
I quickly raise from my chair and hold him. When he calms down, he rests on my chest.
“Promise me that you will keep on living when I am gone. Promise me, Mina,” he says. His voice starts to fade, his hold starts to soften, and his heat starts to disappear.
Everything is so cold.
“I promise you. I can’t really die even if I wanted to.”
“Zane!” I shout, waking up in cold sweat. I hug myself and rock my body back and forth.
The loud noise wakes up Vian.
“Are you ok?” he asks, worriedly floating around my head.
“Yes. It’s only that I had that dream again. I haven’t dreamed of him in such a long time.”
I don’t need to further explain anything to Vian because he understands, he knows him too. Vian pats my head and it feels warm.
“Thank you,” I say as I calm down.
Ok, I need to get myself together. This is a new life, and I have to focus on it.
I stretch and walk to the window. I open the curtains and cough as they scatter dust all over my face.
“It seems that Irina didn’t open them much,” Vian says, flying to the window.
“You don’t say,” I retort between coughs.
The air comes through the open window, and caresses my skin. Good. Now that I got some energy, I need to assess my situation. My stomach growls and Vian starts laughing.
Well, I need to recharge first.
“Stop laughing and go get me some information,” I say, and Vian disappears in a small puff. “Show off.”
It just takes some minutes for Vian to show up again.
“Apparently, Irina’s parents will not be in the house for the whole day. If you want to make a move, you have to do it now,” he informs me.
“Thanks,” I say. He may be a show-off, but he sure is useful.
I grab the door’s handle. As predicted, it’s closed from the outside. I create a key with wind magic and insert it on the lock until I hear a light click. I get out of the room, opening the door with care, trying not to make a sound. Irina’s parents may not be here, but from Irina’s memories I know she has a stepbrother and a stepsister who treat her as poorly as her parents do. Not to mention, I am supposed to be locked in my room.
I walk through the halls without much incident. Vian guides me when Irina’s memories fail to do so until I arrive at the kitchen. I find some bread and milk unattended, and I take them with me, not believing my good luck.
“What are you doing, little pest?”
And… there goes my good luck.
I turn slowly to find a man in his mid-twenties. He is tall and lean, but that’s about it. Besides that, he has really plain features. And that’s saying it nicely.
“Brother, what takes you here?” I ask, trying to deliver my most innocent smile.
Atherol Everleigh, the heir of the house and Irina’s older brother, looks at me with disdain.
“I am here to have my meal, but I recall father prohibited you from even leaving your room, much less getting something to eat,” he says.
Ok, so the nice girl act is obviously not going to work here. I straighten myself and turn my innocent-looking smile into a smirk.
“Yes, I am well aware, but I was hungry. Are you all planning to starve me to death? Do you hate me that much?” I ask, and Atherol’s face contorts into a disgusted expression.
“You little…” he starts, but I don’t let him continue.
“I don’t have time for these games. I am hungry so let’s chat another time,” I tell him, and take advantage of his confusion to slip past him and walk in the direction of my room.
He has the decency not to go after me, and I keep my food close to me. I am near my room when I hear a loud noise, a smack, and someone crying.
Adiel.
I leave my food on the floor and ran quickly towards the noise. The scene rends me speechless. A woman that looks exactly like Isabella would have looked in her younger days is standing in front of a cowering Adiel who lays on the floor. At his side, there is a tray of food scattered all over.
“How dare you answer back at me. Do you have no respect for your older sister?”
There is no correct answer for that question, and Adiel knows it. He stays quiet, shivering.
“Answer me!” she shouts and lifts her feet.
That witch lifts her feet.
I don’t know exactly when, but my body moved on its own accord, and I block her kick with one hand.
“Good morning, sister.” I pretty much spat the last word, like it’s something dirty.
Indira Everleigh looks at me with the same cold eyes as her mother.
“Irina.” Is all she says.
“Can you please tell me what were you trying to do?” I ask, my voice as cold as ice.
She doesn’t understand at first, but I look at the feet I am holding, and she reluctantly takes it away.
“I was just disciplining my younger brother.”
“Disciplining, you say?” If looks could kill, she will be already dead.
She takes a step back involuntarily and coughs.
“Exactly, he needs to know how to treat his elders with due respect.”
“Well, with all due respect, if I see you disciplining him again, I won’t let this go as easily,” I warn her.
She glares at me, and the tips of her ears turn red, but she stands her ground.
“Do as you please. I can’t waste any more of my time with either of you,” Indira declares, and she goes away as dignified as she can.
At least she is clever enough to know when she is going to lose.
I feel a hand tugging my sleeve, and I turn around to see Adiel. He is in a deplorable state, and I have the sudden urge to run after Indira and give her a taste of her own medicine.
“Sister, it’s ok. I am ok,” he says with a trembling smile.
I take a deep breath and hold him by the shoulders.
“Adiel, listen to me,” I say, looking at him in the eyes. “You don’t have to act strong all the time. I am your big sister, and you can tell me whenever someone is bothering you. Did you hear me?”
Tears start forming in the corner of his eyes, and he hugs me tightly, sobbing.
For a moment, I am startled, and I don’t know what to do, but then I hug him back and stroke his head in circular, calming motions.
“Everything is going to be alright,” I tell him. Over and over again.
I walk through the dark hallways, holding an old lamp I found in my room. Irina hasn’t visited Adiel in a long time, so I am guided by Vian’s directions until I arrive at his room. I knock.
“Adiel, can I come in?” I ask.
I hear fast footsteps, and Adiel shows his head through the gap in the door.
“Sister? What brings you here?”
I smile.
“Can I come in?” I say again, not answering his question.
He nods and opens the door.
The room is dark and dimly lighted by one lamp that looks as old as mine. It is smaller than my room and as dusty as mine.
I walk to the bed and leave the lamp on the nightstand alongside the other. I sit on the border and tap my side, telling Adiel to sit there. He complies and looks at me with curiosity.
“I want to show you something,” I tell him.
I close my eyes and start singing, I haven’t sung this way since my ninth life, and it feels liberating. I just let the words flow and, unconsciously, use wind magic that creates figures of spirits made out of thin air. They dance and float and laugh like tiny little fairies.
I open my eyes and see Adiel looking at them with fascination.
“I missed your singing,” Vian says.
Suddenly, Adiel turns his head to look at Vian.
“Who is this?” he asks.
“Can you see me?” Vian asks, surprised. Adiel nods. “Oh! Another human that can see me. How rare!”
Adiel laughs, and Vian starts flying around Adiel, delighted. “I like him. Let’s keep him.”
I chuckle. I have never seen Vian this excited in many centuries.
Adiel takes my hand and claims my attention.
“I want to show you something too,” he says and guides me to the window.
He lets go of my hand and pushes the window until it opens. He then climbs through it and jumps to land on the other side.
I copy his actions, lifting my nightgown, and land on the fresh grass. Adiel motions to follow him, and we walk through the forest. We finally arrive at a small clearing.
“This is my secret place,” Adiel says, smiling. “I always come here to practice.”
“Practice?” I wonder.
Adiel nods and walks to the center of the clearing. He closes his eyes and lifts his hands.
What I see next takes me by surprise.
The water in the atmosphere condenses, turning into small balls of water that float around his body. The plants around his feet grow and nuzzle his side. The air turns into a breeze that plays with his pink locks.
It’s basic magic, but it’s wonderful. Not only that but to be able to control three elements at such a young age makes him almost a prodigy. However, the main thought that comes to my mind when I see it is far from good.
We are in big trouble.
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