All Shades of Magic

Kimi Alone

We went inside and Kimi started her long tale.

"Once I ran away, I found a stream. I just sat for a while cuddling Kimi and getting myself to calm down. I didn't cry, because I was scared. I just kinda sat in shock for so long, it felt pointless, but it really helped me think, or I thought it did. I slept there and when I woke up I started my journey back home," Kimi paused for a minute, and I glared at her to get her to keep talking. She obliged. "I ate the food we kept and it was much quicker because I stored much more energy than you from, well, practice. I felt really freaked out walking though, because the creatures were... friendlier. I think your magic scared them when we were together, but once we weren't-"

"They started to get closer, because they were unafraid," I put in.

"Exactamundo," Kimi responded. "I was in constant fear of being attacked. I had my sword in one hand and a torch in the other, just for good measure. I got attacked a couple times when the fire went out and I had to stab a few things. It was brutal. Kari got eaten by a mutt on my 2nd night alone. When i woke up i cried,"

I almost cried at the sad news. The little rat friend had started to grow distant in the later days of our journey, but Kari was always a cheery little friend. The little rat would be missed.

"After that I walked all day and all night, no matter how tired I was, because it wasn't safe and I needed to go home. I really needed to go home,"

"Faerie..."

"It's ok! I'm fine now," Kimi reassured me. "The trip only took about one or two days on my own, I can barely remember. When I got home they ran me around making sure I was ok and everything. I got baths and the maids took care of me. I could hear the sounds of war and I was so afraid because I knew it was pointless. I constantly wondered whether you had continued with the moonstone search," Kimi paused again. "When i heard the explosion i was freaked out,"

"Oh no! I forgot about the explosion. Do you think-"

"No, I don't think anyone thinks you did anything. According to the guards when you dropped the moonstone the power was so immense it struck them back. Good thing they never saw it though,"

Kimi glanced over to the moonstone, which I hadn't turned light yet.

"Yeah, I guess," I said.

"Anyway," Kimi started again. "I knew I wanted to see you, but like I said the guards would not leave me alone. I had to wait until not too long ago to even get left alone in my room," Kimi laughed a little. "And well, you know the rest,"

"Yup," I muttered. But I didn't feel like I knew the rest. I had never known much about Kimi's life. But now, with this small story and the discovery of a murder not too long ago, i felt like i knew less than ever. The truth was, the most I knew about Kimi were the things anyone who ever talked to her knew. Besides from the few stabs of the surface, I really knew nothing at all about my one and only friend.

I wanted - no - needed to know more. Which could only come from one thing. Asking.

"Kimi, do you remember when you were dolled?"

"Yes," Kimi said. "Oh... are you going to tell me you were the one who changed me back and made me a fire elf, because don't worry the knights helped me get rid of that," I was startled by the news and quickly turned my eyes to her ears and nails. They were no longer pointy. And her nails were no longer red.

"That's a relief," I sighed. Then I focused back on my original goal. "But that's not what I was going to talk to you about," I said. Kimi nodded.

"What is it then?"

"Kimi, to transform you back, i performed a story spell on a necklace your cursed body had-"

"I had a necklace?"

"Yup," I replied. "But I also performed it on you, in case your doll body would tell me anything about the curse. And it didn't, it told me one of your secrets. Something you didn't want me to know, and I want to ask you about it. Because now I feel like I need to know and it's all I can think about and- well, you get it right?"

"... Yes," Kimi quaked. She sounded uncertain. God this is really hard.

"Kimi..." I paused cautiously. "Kimi, how did Morgan Miller really die?"

Kimi froze. Her eyes were wide with hate and fear. Tears started to drip from them, slowly at first, but then in faucet-like streams. Kimi made no noise as she did so, which may be worse than if she did. I opened my arms and she collapsed into me.

I had never seen Kimi cry. I had cried to her so many times, but she had never cried in front of me. It was weird to see Kimi, the strong, invincible, powerful girl who wouldn't take anyone's crap, crying. It was hard to believe it was happening. But I was there for her, even if she did hurt Morgan Miller. It was an accident. It would be ok.

And that's exactly what I needed to tell her.

"Shhh... Kimi it's ok, it's alright-" i assured her. But she shook her head in my chest. I must've been flushing furiously, but I wasn't focusing on that. I was focusing on not Kimi, but this hurt version of her. The version that needed my help, that I needed to protect.

"No it's not!" Kimi sobbed. "Valerie, I killed somebody!"

"It was an accident Kimi, it's ok,"

"But it wasn't an accident! She was trying to steal from me! I thought she was a burglar and I stabbed her. But she just needed money to pay for medicine for her husband,"

"Benjamin," I muttered, remembering when he was ill all those years ago.

"Yes! She was married, she had kids on her way!" I did a double take.

"She was pregnant?" I yelled.

"Yes, they were so short on money and she wasn't getting paid much because she was in a low position so she was in my room, taking a loan. There was even a note apologizing and saying she was paying me back, but I stabbed her, I took her life!" Kimi was now making audible crying sounds as I processed this information.

"Then why did the story spell tell me otherwise,"

"My parents really wanted to cover it up. They made up the kitchen accident story, and they put a spell on me blocking the truth. They didn't take me to a strong enough mage to make a whole new secret, but they could cover it up as an accident. I'm so sorry Valerie. I would've told you, but they made me scared to tell anyone at all! Not even the guards know,"

"Kimi it's ok, it's ok! You were using self-defense. What if it was a burglar and you had done nothing? Imagine that!" I said. Kimi cried still. "I know it's hard, I'm so sorry Kimi," I said. "I am so, so sorry,"

Kimi kept crying for a while, and I just held her like she held me. I wasn't going to tell her to stop. This was probably the first time someone comforted her about it at all. So I let her cry, I reassured her and just let her cry it all out.

It was very painful to watch, but I did it.

"Thank you," Kimi muttered once she was done.

"You did it for me," I replied. We stayed in the same position for a bit, just cuddled up together. It was nice. I had almost forgotten what fireworks in someone's stomach could feel like. Specifically, mine.

"I should go," Kimi whispered at one point. "If someone finds out im gone they'll be worried,"

"Ok," I said back, but I didn't really want her to go.

She left through the balcony as always, and I watched her go. Flowing red hair following her speeding figure down the abandoned path as the stars went full glow.