The Awakening

Chapter Forty Four

Avelon had wandered amongst the rows of books for longer than she should have. She knew Lugh was waiting for her outside the onyx door, yet she was not ready to face him. He had too easily suggested the spice which Dana had mentioned was misleading information. Everything that surrounded Lugh was too matter-of-factly, and the realization of it stung her heart.

She liked Lugh. More than she would care to admit and enough that her feelings for him had begun to grow and sprout in all the silent parts of her heart. She frowned.

He had misled her. Intentionally. She could feel the truth of it within her very being.

He did not have to admit anything to her when everything was so clear. Dana had been right. She had trusted too easily, especially those who threw her a bone. It stung more now- the betrayal that had come from someone she thought she could rely on. The realization made her doubt every relationship she had formed within the palace.

Brianne's blazing eyes and mischievous smile flashed in her mind. Not Brianne. She would not betray her. She had risked her own life and had gone with Avelon, without so much as a flicker of doubt.

Not Brianne. The words repeated in her mind, a silent chant that soothed the ache in her chest.

Her limbs protested as she continued walking through the library. Physically, she was healed, but mentally? That was another situation entirely. She could still feel the dark touch of Balor's shadows wrapping against her skin, igniting her entire body. She shook her head at the thought, slowing her pace to a near stop.

Balor had summoned air- commanded it with brute force, and somehow the darkness that clung to him also answered to him. Shadows of pure evil- not air. She tried to visualize Balor only ever using just air, but she could not form one memory where only air had swept around him. Darkness had always followed him.

She braced herself against a bookshelf, a headache starting to pulse at her temples. Gods had walked among them. Dana had made that clear. Who better than Balor? She felt the blood drain from her face. She could face a normal Fae, maybe even a powerful one, but a God?

Her body swayed at the thought, and bile rose to her throat. She was not ready. Still, her sixth sense prickled, confirming her fears to some extent. She dragged a trembling hand across her face, silently pleading for help from any of the other Gods. Dana had given her knowledge, but she had needed far more than that to face whatever was coming.

Silently, she pushed herself from the solid bookshelf and retraced her steps toward the onyx doors. The flap of wings caught her attention as the Quillshifter flew overhead. Its gold-tipped feathers sparkled beneath the library's ambient light. For the briefest of moments, she allowed herself to forget her worries. She allowed herself to drift into another time. Somewhere far enough where all of Vexar's troubles has not bothered her. The sight of the Quillshifter was enough to take her breath away. She imagined herself coursing so freely through the air.

It was beautiful in its non-beastly form, though if she were honest, she never thought much of owls. Truthfully, they had made her uncomfortable. She shrugged to herself. She would tolerate the white owl that cautiously watched her every move- just because she had no other choice.

Why an owl? She wondered, careful not to voice her thoughts in case the Quillshifter took offense.

Why not something more endearing, like a cat? She suggested, hoping her thoughts would reach Dana.

No answer came. But for a moment, she could have sworn she heard warm laughter. She smiled.

***

"Find anything?" Lugh's whisper reached her as soon as she stepped into the hall. The library door closed with a loud thud.