Earth and Sky

Chapter 16

Sloane

After a bit of confinement, I'm finally allowed to walk around. I'm very slow so I don't upset my stomach but to me, it doesn't matter. Right now, I miss the joyful days when my sisters, Laec, and Araquiel would run around and play. We didn't have any worries less then a week ago, now I don't even know if they're alive.

I head into my room and see Simona sitting on her bed with a bag. Filled with suspicion I leave the room and leave the door open as it was. I sit next the the door, ready to run if needed.

"Hm... I have clothes, weapons, my horse has been called for... Is that everything? Oh no. I still need food. I can just send a maid to bring me some. Of course then she would have to swear to secrecy..." She stops talking and fiddles with her bag. "But this is more important." I hear footsteps come closer to the door and bolt. When I finally stop running, I'm in front of Laec's room. I brush my skirt down and knock on his door.

"Go away!" I hear his muffled reply.

"Laec? Its me! Sloane! Please let me in."

"Sloane? Your well again? Or are there others with you?"

"I come before you entirely alone. All I ask is entrance into your room. I won't force you to do anything. I put this all on my honor!"

The door opens a peek, and I see Laec's light blue eyes stare at me.

"It actually is you Sloane! Come in, there are things we need to discuss."

I nod. "That couldn't be anymore true."

I shut the door behind me and lock it. Laec sits next to his open window.

"Do you know exactly what happened that night?"

"No. They haven't told me much of anything. All they say is that 'I'm a miracle' or that 'Everything will be fine.'"

Laec smiles, but it doesn't reach his eyes. "Common adults. Thinking that children don't have a thought in their heads. What do they expect? That I'll be fine with my sister's near assassination! That I won't care that one of my friends was injured!"

"Laec, calm down."

He looks down and sees the cup he smashed in his fury, blood spilling down his hand and plopping leaking onto the table. "Shoot."

I stand up. "I'll send for the nurse."

"That's not needed Sloane."

My eyebrow purks up. "Not needed? You could have glass in your finger, do you suppose you could take it out by yourself?"

"Yes."

My eyebrows furrow as I stare at him in confusion. He touches his bleeding hand slowly pulls his hand back, the blood slowly following behind. I gasp, this was not common. It was unusual, and only the best Water Nymphs could do it. He bends his blood until I spy little specks of glass floating around within its red grasp. Finally, he freezes his blood and sets it on the table.

"Laec... How did you do that?"

"There's water in blood. All I had to do was find it, and everything else follows. I found it out by accident. I was trying to dehydrate a flower, but instead the dog next to it moved. I tried again with my own blood and after a while, it worked."

I nod, totally entranced. "Do your parents know?"

"Of course not! Do you think that they would be proud of my ability? I have the makings to cause fear!"

"But you don't have to make people fear you. If you only use it for healing, then it should be fine. And wouldn't be an advantage against enemies?"

"But what defines an enemy?"

"Someone who kidnapped your sister."

His eyes widen in realization and he flexes his hand.

"But... How would we get to him?"

"I know someone who may or may not be running away later."

"Who?"

"Simona."