Devils and Angels

xxix. deafening silence

q u e r e n c i a

a place from which one's strength is drawn

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A STORM SEARED FROM THE marbling of clouds; an inferno of heatstroke against the bite of ice in vapourous winds that blazed the frostbitten air. Bullets of liquid icicles hammered against the window, shrieking as they collided with the glass, leaving trails of glassy distortion in their wake.

Amelia-Jay had fallen into a sound sleep in the spare bed, the chattering of her teeth reducing to hums of comfort as she wrapped herself in blankets. Mira promised to take care of her―the motherly touch to her smile a testament to that―and it seemed that every part of Elizabeth and I's plan had fallen into place exactly the way that we had orchestrated. The lack of collateral damage was liberating, and I prayed that the fallout wasn't yet to come.

Still, my fingers jittered as I yanked at the hem of my thick jumper, straightening it out before snatching my coat from the hook and pulling it back on.

"I should get going." I couldn't help the giddy smile that appeared on my lips. Excitement surged through my veins, and in the mirror over Elizabeth's shoulder, my eyes glittered with stardust.

"Off to tell Caspian?" A small smirk graced her lips, and I nodded with enthusiasm.

"He's going to be so happy." A broad grin stretched across my features, and despite how idiotic it appeared in my reflection, it was bright with joy. "So, I'll see you later, right? Thank you so much. You're not that bad, you know. I think I even hate you a little less. Does this mean I can stop calling you Elizabeth all the time, because I like nicknames, and it's kind of a mouthful―"

"Kat," She barked, stifling a laugh that was written beautifully all over her features. "You're welcome, thanks, same, and yes, now go."

"Right!" I slung my bag over my shoulder, and hurried down the steps to the front door.

Rain flurried through the open door, spattering my clothes, and piercing my skin with chills that slowly stole every ounce of heat from my body. In spite of my distaste, I launched myself into the outdoors, slamming the door shut behind me.

Adrenaline heated my veins as I broke into a sprint, desperation fuelling the pounding of my feet against rain-slicked tarmac; cloudburst skidding off of my limbs and plastering my hair to my face. Each droplet was a reminder of the energy bursting through my blood―dousing my face, pouring from my lips, droplets growing on my palms and numbing my hands as they sliced through the rain-torched air.

I just hoped that he was happy to see me, because this time, the feeling was mutual.

The bricks of Caspian's building were cinder-grey and darkened by bullets of moisture pouring from the open sky by the time I arrived, doused and abysmal. Drenched, trembling fingers wrung out my hair between fumbling with the door and collapsing into the warmth.

Rain drizzled onto the floor with each step I took, dark patches forming on the worn burgundy carpet as I shook out my sodden garments and arranged myself as best as I could.

Frozen fingers combed through my straggly hair, darkened to a dripping brown, twisting it into some semblance of a plait; cloud-kissed wisps escaping from each weave of the braid.

I slapped my cold-bleached cheeks, bringing back an ounce of colour; a stinging redness, from the numb, unprecedented force of my palms. Small, mechanical actions had the fervency of my emotions at a standstill, giving me the relief to force myself to breathe.