The Peregrines

Chapter 9

{ Edited - 20th August, 2021 }
{ Edited - 6th May, 2024 }

"Doesn't that affect all of us," We heard a voice coming from behind us, and to my dismay, it was Enoch standing there when we turned around. "And on that tip, I hope you aren't distracting the American too much, Emma dear. It's hard to keep a lookout for hollowgast when there's a young lady's tongue in his ear."

"Don't be disgusting!" Emma said.

"I couldn't ignore the feeling if I wanted to," Jake said.

"So, tell me about your secret meeting," Enoch said. "Did the Gypsies really protect us because of some dusty old alliance none of us has heard of?"

"The leader and his wife have a peculiar son," said Emma. "They hoped we could help him."

"Radi is peculiar?!" I said which took me by surprise.

"That's madness," said Enoch. "They nearly let themselves be filleted alive by those soldiers for the sake of one boy? Talk about emotion clouding vision! I figured they wanted to enslave us for our abilities, or at the very least sell us at auction—but then I'm always overestimating people."

"I'd be happy to sell you to an auction," I said under my breath.

"Oh, go find a dead animal to play with," said Emma.

"I'll never understand ninety-nine percent of humanity," said Enoch, and he went away shaking his head.

"Sometimes I think that boy is part machine," Emma said. "Flesh on the outside, metal on the inside."

I chuckled, yet deep down I pondered whether Enoch's words held truth. Was it truly insane, the risk Bekhir took for his son? If Bekhir was indeed crazy, then I must be too. How much had I sacrificed to conceal my true self? Despite the risks, the debts to Miss Peregrine, and the dangerous situations, I found myself here for two simple reasons: I am an Ymbryne's daughter, and a sister to my brother, with a duty to safeguard my family and those in need.

Miss Peregrine has discovered a part of my true identity - she now believes I am her "long-lost daughter". However, she remains unaware of my Ymbryne nature. I believe it's for the best that this secret remains hidden, especially now that the children are embarking on a mission to rescue their guardian. Perhaps it wouldn't hurt to have a bit of steel inside me, I pondered. If I hadn't concealed my Ymbryne abilities, I wonder where I would be today.

It would be simple - I'd be in the comfort of Miss Raven and Miss Crow's mansion, finding solace in their company. Losing myself in the solitude. Slowly withering away, consumed by remorse. You coward. You weak, pathetic child. You threw your chance away. But that's okay, either way, I know that I'll never be good enough for a big task.

However, I hadn't done so.

I had taken a chance and put everything on the line - and I continue to do so every single day. But in taking that risk, I had managed to enter a world that was beyond my wildest imagination. I found myself surrounded by individuals who were truly vibrant and full of life, accomplishing things that I had only ever dreamt of doing. I even managed to overcome challenges that I never thought I could conquer. All of this was made possible simply because I had a goal, even though I was unaware of it.

I should work on fixing things, whether it's reuniting the family or restoring things to how they used to be.

It's amazing how, despite the challenges and risks we faced, and even though this unfamiliar world that only had a fragment of my family was falling apart from the moment I found it, I couldn't help but feel an overwhelming sense of happiness for being here.

Despite all odds, this peculiar existence was something I had always desired, and it was a part of me that I possessed no matter what. It's strange to think that you can experience both your dreams and your fears simultaneously.