Chapter 13 - ADRIAN
836 Words
We had been in the cave for almost the entirety of the morning. We had talked about seeking help from Rosa but failed to come up with anything resembling a logical plan. I had wanted to search for my sister in the woods but the little Witch had disagreed strongly.
“You know, I don’t have to take your word for it,” I say for almost the hundredth time. “We don’t have evidence that anything magic has to do with – “
“I found you trapped by magic,” Ari says patiently. “It is only common sense to deduce-“
“You were the one who said whoever did that wanted us to die. How does it make sense that they leave me there and take Fi, who is…” My voice breaks as I remember her exhaustion, her tiredness. She was so close to…
“I don’t know why they took your sister,” Ari said, her voice sympathetic. “All I can say is that it makes sense that the person who locked you in with magic took your sister. You should be thinking of ways to look for him instead of blindly searching for her in the forest.”
“Him…” I say, feeling anger bubble up inside me. “He decided that we were a burden to Rosa and decided that killing us was…”
“Is there any reason why he would take your sister?” Ari asked. “Can you think of anything?”
I have to admit that having her beside me, helping me reason out everything felt good. She was as sweet as Witches could be. Well…That was unfair. She was too sweet for a Witch and that was what got her the death sentence. I wished that Rosa would know how to help her. If I could even find my way to her, that is…
“From what you told me,” Ari said, tired of waiting for an answer. “He could have been obeying the Head Fairy’s orders. I see no other person he would obey.”
“Or he could have been-“ I begin eagerly, then stop, blushing. I had almost quoted one of Fi’s favourite stories. Even the little Witch would laugh at me for that.
“You’re thinking her could have been corrupted,” Ari says slowly, her eyes growing wide. “A shadow could have…”
“That’s ridiculous!” I say quickly, my cheeks still red. “Those things don’t exist. They are just stories.”
“I don’t know…” Ari says, thoughtfully. “My Mama always told me never to call anything ‘just a story.’”
“So you think shadow demons that corrupt the souls of Fairies exist.” I laugh. “That would mean Siren is herself corrupted as hell. You would think the other guardians would have noticed something.”
“That’s where you are wrong, Adrian,” Ari says. “A Shadow demon can never corrupt the Siren, at least from what I understand of the stories.”
“Oh come on! Now you are just spouting nonsense.”
“You should never dismiss things you don’t understand as nonsense, you know.” She says, pouting. I couldn’t help but smile.
“Ari…” I say gently. “People do horrid stuff all the time. You can’t blame them on demons.”
“That is not what I was saying.” Ari purses her lips. “I was trying to explain why someone like Siren can’t be corrupted.
She is so like Fi in the way, she leaned against the stone wall, her little face turning away from me.
“Ok…Ok…” I say. “What is it you wanted to explain?”
She looks at me, the edges of her mouth curving into a smile. It was Fi’s face that I see. Every time we got something remotely good she would…
That is not your sister…
“It is guilt that Shadows feed off,” Ari says in a serious tone. “Our stories do not say that. Maybe because it is easier to see them as monsters responsible for all bad deeds than…”
“Siren feels that everything she does is good so…” My voice trails off. “Heck, that’s ridiculous! So only the poor unfortunate souls who feel bad about the wrong things they did…” I shake my head in disbelief. “That’s so unfair on so many levels.”
“You know…” Ari sits up straight. “Guilt doesn’t always have to be about something you did wrong.”
I look at her, thinking. It seems so damn complicated what she is saying. Yet, I somehow believe it. And from the look on her face, I can see that she understands what I’m thinking.
“You believe me.” Her face is radiant. “You don’t think I’m an i***t that reads too much into stories.”
“Oh…you are not an idiot.” I laugh, ruffling her hair. “If anything, I feel like you are a lot older than I am.”
Fi…
I have to find her. I will do anything to do that. But as Ari smiles at me, I also know something else.
I have to help Ari…
Her skin is already paler than last night. Dark circles have appeared under her eyes. The rotting wound on her cheeks flickers into existence and fades. I recognize the peace I see in her eyes. It’s Fi again, full of acceptance of her death.
I can’t let that happen. I have to help her! But how? I don’t even know how to find Rosa!
- Writer
