ANATOMY OF A GIRL

part ten

As Sapphire walked the winding path that led toward the church, her phone rang gently in her pocket. Reading the name displayed on the screen, she inhaled a ragged breath and held it until her lungs screamed for air. She knew she couldn't avoid her mother forever, so she answered the phone, pressing it to her ear.

"Ravya, mami."

"Hello, shiyah. How are you?"

"I'm fine." She paused. Somehow, she had managed to avoid talking to her mother about Arlo. A blessing from the Goddesses, maybe. But she knew she couldn't go on any longer. So she continued, "His funeral starts soon."

"Yes, I know. It's why I called. Your dad and I are worried. You don't call us anymore."

Sapphire bit her lip, wincing slightly. "I've just been really busy," she lied. She knew her mother wouldn't understand. She couldn't possibly. There was so much she didn't know.

Her mother wouldn't be happy with anything less than the full, unedited truth. And she had ways of getting Sapphire to talk. Her mother would put her dad on the phone. Sapphire couldn't lie to him, and her mother knew that.

Sapphire knew she had to hang up soon, before her mother realized how much Sapphire wasn't telling her. "They're starting now," she said abruptly. "I have to go. I'll try phone you more often, okay? I love you, mami. Tell papi I love him, too."

"Of course, shiyah, I'll tell him. I love you. Stay safe, na amri vi," her mother said before hanging up.

Her mother seemed genuinely worried, and it caught Sapphire by surprise. Worried about something that mattered, anyway. Valentina Gracen was a woman of many words, and even more opinions. The first time Sapphire was in a play, she was given the part of the villain – a horned monster that ate children. She was quite happy to wear the little, red suit and waddle around the stage, occasionally grumbling and throwing herself onto her classmates. But her mother had other ideas for her daughter. Her mother decided that the role of a monster was unfitting for her daughter, and complained enough that eventually the teachers gave Sapphire the role of the Fya princess.

Unfortunately, many of her mother's words weren't kind, and often, Valentina didn't seem to care what effect her words had on Sapphire. Ugly words she said in moments of anger, but it didn't mean they hurt any less. And she never once apologised. It was an act of weakness. But Sapphire had gotten used to that. The anger dulled and the yelling stopped and her mother pretended it hadn't happened.

Sapphire hated that she was like her mother in so many ways. She angered easily and was quick to lash out at others.

There was, at least, a balance within her family. Because while her mother was fire and rage, her father was a gentle and outspoken man. He supported Sapphire in all she did, and could even calm her mother down when she had a fit about one thing or another. With her and her mother, almost every conversation led to loud arguments and hushed curses. But somehow, her father kept their family together. He was the balance.

Sapphire and Flair climbed the stairs of the church quickly, searching the room for Ayden and Leo. She saw Leo's curly black hair first, and then the figure of Ayden beside him.

She led Flair down the aisle and toward them, the bottom of her karovka gently dragging against the floor of the church. It was a peaceful sound, the heavy material rustling against the polished wooden floor. Hers was crimson – an indication of cognitive magic. Flair's and Leo's were both a deep purple, while Ayden's was a shade of blue that reminded Sapphire of the night sky. Few people wore the blue of dynamic magic, and that was evident as the church filled up. Purple more than red, due to the diversity of magic that qualified as earthly.