The Awakening

Chapter Twenty

"We should get inside." Brianne's voice drifted along the wind. Avelon stood timidly, watching the almost invisible sandy path leading into town.

She could run. Blood rushed to her ears at the thought.

The guests were almost all back inside, spare for a few lingering chatterboxes. The evening was silent, and the torches were struggling to stay lit against the soft breeze sweeping around them. They could both run and be almost invisible.

Avelon blinked a few times with a deep frown settled on her face, "Would Balor really notice if we disappeared?"

She knew the answer before Brianne voiced the insanity behind trying to escape. Brianne's voice was muffled, the words not registering as she rambled. They had discussed breaking free or running away, multiple times. The ending scenario never changed. Avelon also knew that her hands were quite literally tied to Balor and that her careless thoughts were frivolous.

She felt Brianne's hand clamp around her wrist, snapping her back to reality. She had taken a step in the direction of the town without noticing the movement.

Avelon sighed deeply as the wind softly caressed her cheek, "I know we can't, but I wish we could."

Brianne had stopped listing reasons not to run away, pressing her lips into a thin line. Whether Brianne knew that Avelon had not heard a word she said- she did not let show on her face. She waited patiently for Avelon to turn back to the palace.

"Me too." Emotion laced Brianne's tone as she let her grip slip on Avelon's wrist to instead clasp Avelon's hand.

Brianne's touch would have almost startled Avelon, though she had expected it. Brianne had seemed to sense that her touch grounded Avelon when she was consumed by her own distraught thoughts. Avelon offered Brianne a small smile as she faced her, ready to return to the reality of endless half-drunk fae, Balor's offspring and ultimately Balor.

Avelon clung to the hope that Balor would be off mulling over Ernin as he settled into his new immortality and power, though her sixth sense told her that Balor did not particularly care for fondness or fretting. Comfortable silence settled over Brianne and Avelon as they made their way back to the palace. Avelon revelled in the peace of the moment, glancing up at the sky littered with brightly shining stars. The sight was breathtaking. Avelon almost felt bad for not admiring it sooner.

"The nights here are very beautiful, especially during summer solstice." Brianne's voice cut through Avelon's admiration, her eyes sparkling as she watched the sky. Avelon snorted at the mention of summer. The mention of seasons felt redundant in a place like Teine, where every day had felt warmer than the day before.

Brianne caught Avelon's snort. She glanced sideways and grinned, "Of course, it never really gets cold here, but winters are more bearable. You sweat a lot less and the winds are often cooling." Avelon found the statement quite unbelievable as a bead of sweat rolled down her back in protest to the tangible heat.

"Then I can honestly say I look forward to winter. When is that again?" Avelon swiped at her forehead for added effect, rousing a chuckle from Brianne.

The topic of the weather felt casual, the conversation light and calming. In Uisce Avelon had been used to cool, comfortable air and somewhat chilled afternoons or evenings- the seasons were more regulated, though always had a base of cold weather sprinkled on top of them. In Teine, it was just heat. Unbearable, disgusting and draining heat, but she had not experienced every season- yet.

"I wonder what the seasons are like in the other continents." Avelon wondered aloud, her lips pouting in thought.

Brianne shrugged quickly before a lazy smile spread on her face- her eyes glazing in thought, "I bet Anam has the best weather."