ShadowSong [Book 1 & 2: Complete] [NaNoWriMo16/17]

Chapter 13 - By The Auroras

With her aching side, Banshee didn't enjoy her run the same way she usually did.

A small group noticed her and tried to chase her down, Liaisers out and pointed in her direction. Usually, she'd have played a game of hide and seek with them before sneaking up behind them, but tonight, she just wanted to get home. It took her a few minutes to be sure that she'd lost them, but as always, she did.

From the rooftops, Banshee dropped into a quiet alcove a few blocks from her house. There, she placed Cryo's ice on the ground and spoke the words that would dim her.

"Shadow of Skypillar, return."

The shadow smoke took her sight, leaving Olivia completely disoriented with her half-broken glasses. She opened her bag for Viri to slip into the shadows of, relieved to see that her Ascended was looking far better than she had back at the skyshrine. Maybe it was that she'd dimmed out of choice rather than dimming because she'd drained Viri's power, but Olivia didn't think that was it. Even after recharging, Viri had still looked... off. If what Harpy had said was true, it'd explain a lot. Their bond was obviously still in tact, given that she'd been able to transform again after dimming on Cryo's back, but Olivia couldn't help wondering what damage the Shimmer had done.

Olivia picked up Cryo's ice, and with it pressed to her side, started rollerblading home.

She kept her bag open just enough for Viri peek out of. "Are you okay, Viri? How do I even give an Ascended first-aid?"

"I don't need first-aid, Olivia," said Viri. "We share the wound. I have a bruise, just like you, but I'll be okay. The auroras will heal me eventually. When you transform and dim next, we'll split and share what remains of the wound again."

Olivia frowned. "I'm sorry, Viri. I didn't even think how much the Shimmer might have hurt you. I was too focused on being dim around Cryo."

"You couldn't have known, Olivia," said Viri. "I could feel how disconcerted you were. I understand."

Olivia rubbed the side of her face. "That's not the point."

She paused as she bladed by the same group that was still trying to work out where Banshee had gone, blaming one of their members in particular for losing her. With a spark of inspiration, Olivia reached inside her bag for her own Liaiser, intending to appear as if her conversation was with someone on the other end when she realised it wasn't in her bag.

"Oh, Other take me, I'm an idiot," grumbled Olivia. "I must have left it at Ariel's or something. Mum and dad are really going to--" Everything came back in a flash--the gathering, her broken glasses, Jason, the High Speaker catching her in the Starlight Hall. With Banshee's last few hours, she'd completely forgotten how deep the hole was that Olivia was actually in. "--kill me. Like, literally this time. We may as well start planning the funeral."

"And um, I'm sorry about that too, Olivia," said Viri. "In the moment, I forgot you weren't allowed in the Starlight Hall. It's just so natural for me to be there. I didn't think twice about it."

Olivia blew a piece of hair out of her face. "We could have made a break for it if you hadn't panicked and left me right in the middle of it y'no."

"I didn't want to be seen!" said Viri. "If the High Speaker had happened to see me, it could have classed as a direct reveal and I'd have to leave you and you'd be Dark!"

"What do you mean a direct reveal?" said Olivia, raising an eyebrow.

Viri's mouth snapped shut.

Olivia puffed out her cheeks. "Rules?"

"Yup."

"Interesting," said Olivia. "There's more than one type of reveal. Are there any reveals that are okay?"