Fate and Destiny (The Fated Series, #2)

Chapter 55 - Katarina - Fauna's Secrets

Rohana and Darius left us standing in tense silence, everyone aside from the Thralians and Aracely trying really hard not to make it awkward.

I have no idea what just happened.

Hira turned into this really hot red-head which I was really excited about because there aren't many of us red-haired people in the pool of brown and black and blonde, so I instantly decided to like her. Then the Ginerva were hugging her and crying like they just saw a ghost come back to life, which I guess they have based on Rohana's words. I got little out of that too. I still don't know if Rohana and this woman - Branka - are friends or more than friends. Rohana spoke to her as if she were a lover, but she kept saying best friend or friend. It could be that she was just hardcore friend-zoning her. I don't know.

We all had to watch in silence while she shot out her anger. I felt like I was imposing on a very private conversation and kept my eyes pinned to the ground. Honestly, my life has been stacked with so many surprises and reveals in the past cycles, that this doesn't really faze me. I'm so used to being proven further that the characters from children's books are real, that I'm beginning to forget what it was like to think that all of them were just stories. I once dreamed of having magical powers, and now there are fourteen people in my life with these abilities.

I counted Branka in that count, figuring that her association with the Ginerva was clear enough.

"So are we supposed to go around in a circle and introduce ourselves, or do we just keep standing here like gargoyles?"

"Svenja," I whisper harshly, grabbing her arm and pulling her closer to me. She mouths the word "what" as if that wasn't at all slightly rude.

"I already know who all of you are," Branka answers, moving her gaze from where Rohana and Darius misted out. I don't look at her, still feeling like I'm invading her personal space.

"Don't tell me that you read minds too," Henry says in a disgusted tone, earning a glare from Tanith.

Branka smiles a bit, but I can tell it's forced. "No, I don't read minds. I am Hira, in a way. Everything she lived through and knew, I remember."

"Well, at least we don't have to hear a tragic backstory," Arlene remarks happily. I roll my eyes, more used to their snarky comments than the others who give her warning glares.

"I wouldn't be so sure," Willa says.

"Seriously," Thyra pouts. I turn to her and smack her hard in the arm. Toya opens her mouth to make another comment, but I raise my hand to smack her and she shuts it.

"You pirates have no filter," Mal says, shaking his head. I'm inclined to agree.

"So what's the new tragic story of the cycle, mate?" I would smack Cliff too if the question wasn't somewhat relevant. Although he could've worded it differently.

Willa and Branka share a look, looking like they're having one of those silent conversations that Fauna and Darius used to have. It sends a jolt of sadness through me as I remember how this whole adventure started.

I miss those days when I'd dress up Clarice as Lily and then watch as she and Darius had their usual morning banter already going in full swing. I miss seeing him pop out from under the couch to try and scare her, only for her to look more bored than ever. He was trying to cheer her up after her dad died, and though his efforts were childish, they seemed to work. I wasn't of much help in the matter, but he did whatever he had to to make her smile even a little bit.

"They've already encountered him more than once, it's about time they knew," Willa says, pulling me out of my thoughts.

"Knew what?" Lance asks, still standing beside Garrison who looks more stone-faced than ever as he tries not to stare at Branka. According to Lance, he and Hira got close while she was in the tunnels. Gods I don't even want to know what's going through his mind right now.