System - Book One : The Eyre Manor

Chapter 4

POV - Emily

I had just opened the door to the meeting that Sol had called when I heard Kate say a name that was so familiar to me it sucked the breath forcefully from my lungs. 

Was it really her?

I saw her thin body and her beautiful long blond hair that flowed like a stream down her back.

"Izzy?" Her name came from my lips in almost a whisper.

She turned around and when my eyes met hers I felt my heart skip a beat and break, the pain taking my breath away as I rushed to her.

We collapsed in each other's arms, my breath finally coming back to me as she clung to me.

The sudden closeness and physical contact made me freeze and glance over her at my hands as they pressed against her soft hair that laid over her back like a silk blanket.

"Emily..." she sobbed.

"Shhh... shhh... it's okay. You're okay." I soothed her. I knew all eyes were on us and that made my chest grow tight as the fear began to kick in.

I quickly pulled away from her, resting my gloved hands on her face as I wiped her tears that flowed from her eyes down her cheeks.

"Shhh... shhh..." I soothed as I rested my forehead to hers.

Sol came to us silently, his eyes resting on her and me while he lowered his head to eye level with me.

"Would you like to have some privacy, Emily?" He asked gently.

I nodded silently as my little sister buried her face into my shoulder. I could feel her shuddered breathing as she sobbed.

Sol turned away, his tail brushing my arm. "Come with me, I'll take you to a quieter place." He said.

I stood up with Izzy in my arms. It had been ages since I had let anyone get this close to me and as much as I had missed my sister, I wanted to step away from her not for myself but for her safety.

I focused my eyes on the floor as I followed Sol out of the room, I could hear the others whispering behind us.

They were concerned and on edge but with Izzy's arrival when things were already a bit unstable, I couldn't blame them for having their worries.

I didn't often involve myself in the meetings, but I did listen and I did watch everything that went on within each one that Sol called to attention.

I knew things weren't well with the other System's and I knew we were being watched and we weren't the only ones that were and I knew how frightening it was for everyone.

I knew Sol had seen and fought many wars and I knew how badly he wanted to prevent another from breaking out, especially one with The Council.

I knew he blamed himself after the storms had put his youngest son into a coma. The darkness kept him from speaking the names of his oldest son's who had mysteriously went missing not long after their mother disappeared when she passed realms.

Everyone knew or had a feeling what had really happened but everyone followed his orders religiously out of the deep respect everyone had for him.

If Sol said not to speak of the past then no one spoke of it.

Sol lead us away from the meeting, back up the stairs and through the halls of the Manor. 

We walked in silence apart from the soft sniffles from Izzy while she kept her face buried in my shoulder as she cried.

Sol returned to his human form and stopped outside of one of the rooms in the hall, glancing at me with a look of understanding in his eyes.

"This is her room, take all the time you need. Later tonight there will be dinner prepared. Come down whenever you both are ready." Sol said softly before turning away and leaving us to be alone together.

I carried Izzy into her room and sat her on her bed, feeling guilty as relief rushed over me when I finally had a few inches of space between her and me.

"Izzy, listen to me please," I whispered as I fought to hold her away from me. She looked at me with round, sad eyes that were the same dark blue as my own.

"Sydney is here too, she came with me when we ran from..." I paused, the memory rushing over me. Sydney clinging to me as we ran through the smoke as the flames licked the darkness like some eager puppy.

Our home had been burned to ash, our parents were killed and as much as I hated and feared my powers, they were our only way of getting out of that fire alive.

Izzy cried harder.

"I thought you were gone, I thought I wouldn't see you again." She sobbed.

"Shhh... it's okay. Everything is okay now, we're all here. Sol offered us shelter and he's kept us safe." I reassured her.

There was a soft knock on the door that grabbed our attention. I stood and went to the door, opening it to see Sol standing outside with Sydney at his side.

Sydney's dull pale gray eyes stared forward but she looked concerned as she reached her hand out to me. 

"Is it true?" She whispered, blinking as her sightless eyes moved from left to right along with the small tilts of her head. "Is she here?"

I took her hand in mine and let her grab hold of my arm so that I could lead her to Izzy who was standing now. 

"Come with me," I said softly as I lead her into the room. Izzy stared at Sydney with wide eyes. "Sydney, it's really you!" Izzy ran to her sister who had reached out both hands as she searched for her.

Izzy wrapped her arms around Sydney and hugged her tight. "It's you!" She laughed and sobbed simultaneously.

Sydney pulled away and touched Izzy's face as she laughed and cried with her sister. 

"Yes. It's really me." Sydney said as she smiled.

I watched in silence with my hands folded in front of my dress. It had been ages since I had seen Sydney laughing or crying or showing any emotion at all.

Sol stepped forward to stand beside me, I glanced over at him and smiled softly. "Thank you," I said to him as I turned my gaze back to my siblings.

He didn't respond for a moment as we both watched the girls laugh with each other, the tears had finally stopped flowing.

"She would have always come here, no matter who would have found her. You're family after all." Sol finally replied.

"That's not always the case, but at least she's safe. Thanks to you." I said as I glanced at him again.

Sol nodded once but didn't say anything as he stepped back to where he had previously been standing.

I walked up to my siblings, placing my hand on Sydney's shoulder and kneeled down to be next to Izzy. I looked up at Sol who was still watching us.

Sol smiled at us.

I smiled as I wrapped my arms around my sisters and hugged them both for a brief moment before pulling away and standing again.

Sol watched us with a look of pride and affection glowing in his eyes.

"Welcome home." He said softly.