Raven of Water

Chapter 18: Revelations

The sound of the metal curtain rings screeching along the rod heralded sunlight smacking me in the face, making me groan as my eyes fluttered open. After so many dreams, I'd hoped I'd awaken to see Kai. Instead, I saw my cousin glaring at me.

"Clem—"

She held a finger to her lips before pointing at the open door. I shrugged as I looked down the darkened hallway. It seemed the same as always, dark wallpaper, smooth paneling and devoid of people, yet even though I couldn't see my grandfather there, I knew his presence. I could feel eyes on me, watching, sizing up. Predatory eyes. The strange sensation had me shuddering as I sat up and pulled the comforter up to hide my exposed skin.

Kai wasn't here. I'd thought he would be here when I woke up, and my annoyance was only amplified by the presence of so many people I despised just out of my line of sight. So many watchers who I couldn't see.

Frowning, I lifted my hand and willed my power to manifest. Responding to my call, a wave of my energy then slammed the door closed, and in the corner of my vision I noticed Clem jump as I whispered some complex spells from a past I only half-remembered. These were the same sorts of spells I'd seen Kai do earlier, the day after we'd first re-met when the members of my coven were trying to spy on us as we chatted. I was weaving wards of protection and privacy, though I couldn't recall when I'd learned to weave them. Perhaps it was by watching Kai.

Or maybe I'd taught him to weave these wards in the past...

After a few seconds, everything snapped into place. The protections pulsated around me, giving the room warmth and light that I didn't know if Clem would be able to sense or not. Once the task was done, my remaining external power trickled back into my palm then dripped back into that new well of strength inside of me. Smiling, I turned to Clem, who was now seated in one of the chairs in front of the window.

"No one can hear us now."

"Dramatic." She rolled her eyes to hide her discomfort and rubbed her shoulders as if to stave off a chill. "How'd you do that?"

"It's something I used to know how to do."

When I saw confusion in her gaze, I broke eye contact with her to look around the room. "Kai isn't back?"

"Explain something to me, Alex."

"What?" I frowned, looking down and realizing I was stark naked under the comforter.

"How do you go from hating the demon to... to... whatever you feel for him now?"

Still not looking at my cousin, I scowled deeper. I wanted my dress. The one I used to wear back when I was a—

"Colonist." I whispered before willing the simple day dress of purple onto my body, complete with the necessary undergarments and woolen stockings to keep the cold away. It was colder than I'd originally thought on the other side of these covers. No wonder Clem was chilly. Smiling now that I was properly clothed, I slid from under the blanket to find Clem gaping at me.

"What is it, Clem?"

"What do you mean 'what'?" She sighed, clearly bothered by my magical change of attire but trying to hide it as she stood and took my hands in hers. Her skin was cold and clammy as she pulled me to sit next to her on the edge of the bed. "You promised you'd explain what was going on. Spill."

What was going on?

I didn't quite know. All I knew is that I remembered many, many things that I'd simply... forgotten.

"I'm still a little confused," I said, hoping she'd leave it alone because the story was outrageously unbelievable, even to someone who I knew loved me unconditionally like Clem did. Hell, I didn't quite believe what my dreams had told me.