Whoosh.

The guards started shooting. Enchanted flaming bullets whizzed past us as Analina and I took off into the sky. Three seconds later, blazing pain shot through my right leg. My leg was on fire, but at least now I had access to my blood supply. I could create a ward if only I could touch my blood.

“Analina, I am going to need you to smear some of my blood on my hand, doesn’t matter which one. I know this is scary, but the only way for me to make sure we don’t die is if I create a ward. Don’t worry. Your father still thinks that I am disposing of a body. Hang in there.”

“I- I can’t let go! I’m going to fall!”

“I got you.”

I reached my hands around my back and wrapped around her torso with my palms facing the sky as she unhooked her right hand from my neck. She quickly reached down to my swollen leg and wiped away some of the blood. Even just one quick swipe across my leg had me crying out in pain, but I had withstood worse. I had to if I wanted to keep us both alive. She smeared the blood across my palm and watched amazed as a crackling purple ward grew around us. Bullets smashed into it as we flew away, exploding like miniature fireworks on impact. Shards of the bullets lit up the night sky like shooting stars, brighter than even the moons in the distance. Analina turned to me in awe.

“What- who are you?” Analina asked.

It took up all of my energy to attempt to be nice to this small child earlier, but somehow I still plastered on a smile.

“Wait, did I forget to introduce myself?” I chuckled, “My name is Azura, but you can call me Zuri. I think I know your name, but what about your bear?”

She had sandwiched the bear between herself and my back like she was shielding it from the bullets. Now, she pulled it out carefully from underneath her and hugged it against her face.

“His name is Bear-Bear, like the bear. His mama was Bear, but she died when the maid tried to wash her but accidentally tore her up. I didn’t feel good about naming Bear-Bear after a dead person, so I had to give him a different name. Plus, I think Bear-Bear just sounds more… brave sounding. Bear-Bear is a strong bear who doesn’t let anybody harm him.”

“Aww… Bear-Bear sounds like somebody I should be friends with.”

Analina tapped me on the shoulder and I turned to look back at her. Her silver hair looked magical in the moonlight, streaming behind her like a halo. Her black eyes gleamed as she gazed back at me, reflecting the stars. She was smiling, well sort of. Her smile was more of a vague upturn of the corners of her mouth, but it was a start. Before this, I had never seen a look on her face other than distant sadness, the kind of sadness one can only experience when mourning a loved one. 

“Bear-Bear is perfect. Now, can you do magic? I want to see a unicorn!”

By now I had taken down my ward, so it took less than a thought to summon a little purple unicorn with the remaining blood on my right hand, sticking it out in front of me and letting the unicorn emerge from my palm. It danced around Analina’s head as she gazed at it in awe. I was not exactly sure if she had realized what had happened. She was acting like she was going on vacation. After observing her and the unicorn for a few more moments, I turned my eyes back in front of me, and just in time at that. I had almost run into yet another lizard-pigeon. I gently swerved out of the way. 

I flew on like this for a few hours, every once in a while looking back to check up that Analina was still alive. Within the first hour, I think Analina fell asleep, as I could hear snoring from the back. That girl was not a quiet sleeper. At first, she sounded like she was choking, so I looked back to see if she was okay. Not only was she okay, but she had swung her arms around my neck and was squeezing the air out of me once again. I was still holding onto her with my left hand, yet she felt the need to grab onto me. Then, she moved onto her elephant stage, or however she would describe it. Thankfully, she had loosened her grip around my neck, but now she was softly snorting like an elephant every time she took a breath. This continued on for a couple of hours, but eventually, she woke herself up.

“Zuri, I’m hungry.”

I sighed. I had just gotten used to the peace and quiet. I really couldn't be social for longer than an hour, especially with small children.

“I think I have something in my satchel, let me grab it.”

I reached down into my satchel with my right hand and rummaged around until I found something that felt like food. Eventually, I came across the wrapped-up piece of bread that I saved from breakfast. I pulled it out and gave it to her. She gratefully accepted it and gobbled it down, eating it like it was her first meal in days. It might have just been. This was the first time I noticed how startlingly skinny she was. She was dangerously underweight, but it was covered by her frilly nightgown. Could her father have been… keeping her from eating? Just then, I spotted my castle. I turned my head around and pointed to a castle in the distance.

“Okay. We’re almost there. See that? That is where we’re heading. I should be able to keep you safe, but I am going to need to figure out childcare. With this job being a success, the emperor should not call on me for at least another couple of days, so we have got time to figure things out. I’ll let you know when we get there.”

We descended upon my castle as the moon rose above it, making the water glow. I have to admit, my castle was terrifyingly beautiful. It was made of a deep gray stone, which was chiseled into imposing columns and tall windows. But, the gold accents along the windows and the balconies were what made my castle beautiful. The moon cast a halo around it, making the gold-tipped balconies gleam. Though it was not even close to as grand as the Duke of the North’s manor, I had earned it with my own two hands. It was my home, and it was perfect. 

As I glided down to the nearest balcony, I heard a suspiciously familiar voice.

“Did you miss us, girlie?”