mark of the moon child

The Magician

"There you are, darling. All better." Sirona said as the last mark vanished from above her head.

"Thank you." Elle replied.

"Now, Jay said he'd be back soon to claim you and escort you to your room. Remember to take it easy for the next day or so. Your brain got jumbled good this morning." Sirona said in her charming Irish accent. Elle smiled weakly and nodded.

"Would you happen to know where my phone is? I think it was in my sweater pocket last time I checked before-" she stopped, remembering.

"Yes, it's here." Sirona took it from a nearby cabinet that held the items they'd brought in along with her. "But," she said before handing it over to Elle. "Only a couple minutes and then put it away again. It won't help with your head."

Elle thanked Sirona and took her cellphone. 42 missed calls, 26 texts from Mia. More missed calls from her mother. She sighed and unlocked her phone, choosing to ignore the voicemails they'd left, and texted Mia.

Hey, I'm sorry I haven't been answering. I need some time to process. I'm safe.

She pressed send.

I'm going to find some answers. I can't trust what my mom says anymore. I'm sorry I left the way I did. I'll text you soon.

She pressed send again, ignoring the immediate buzz in response and slipping it into her tattered duffle bag Sirona had left beside her bed before leaving.

"Look who's up." Elle turned to find Noah walking through the door. "How's the head?"

"Uh," Elle wasn't sure how to react to Noah's friendliness. "It's alright."

"I've been sent to escort you to your room." He came around her bed, collected her things, and held a hand out.

"I thought, um," She looked back towards the door.

"Jay's presently preoccupied with an assignment." Elle hesitantly took Noah's hand and got up slowly. She looked down and realized she wasn't in her clothes anymore. "Sirona found you some clothing and changed you. Don't worry," he said when he saw the instant embarrassment on Elle's face. "We were out of the room before she did." At least there was that, she thought.

They walked up the stairs slowly and quietly. When they'd reached the same room she'd stayed in the night before, Noah opened the door for her and let her in.

"New clothes have been left in the armoire for you. Extra training clothes we had on hand. The bathroom is fully stocked. You may want to wash up."

"Thank you." She said after a moment. "Listen, Noah, I-"

"I don't like you, Elle." She was cut short. She simply stared at him as he continued. "I don't trust you. Understand that I will do anything to protect my family. Jay seems to have formed an attachment to you, though I don't know why."

"I tried to leave." Elle said, feeling defensive. "I don't know what's going on but I don't want anyone getting hurt because of me."

"Yes, well it seems leaving is what made it worse." Noah squared his shoulders and put his hands in his pockets. "Who are you?"

"I," Elle found she didn't know how to answer. "I don't know anymore."

"Hm." He paused a moment, then added, "Try not to run away this time." Then turned and closed the door behind him. Elle's shoulders slumped as she walked into the bathroom. She stood there shocked in front of the mirror.

Her face was covered in scratches, still healing from the mark that Sirona left on her, and smudges of dirt. Her hair was dirty with patches of dried blood and she noticed cuts on her hands when she'd reached up to touch her hair.