I stayed in the bath for a long time, finding my moments of peace. Mera, who had dragged a cushion into the room, had fallen asleep at some point, and I let her rest while I soaked. By the time I emerged, dried off with my energy, and found a cloth to tie around my body until the outfits for this dark-moon event arrived, I felt refreshed. Ready for whatever lay ahead.
Taking a moment, I called some of my battle gear to my room, leaving the pieces lined up against one wall in case I needed them in a rush. Shadow had been quite right before about using foreign magic in this world, but I’d figured out the best way to touch the meadows from here many years ago, and as long as we weren’t too close to the Delfora, my small ripple wouldn’t upset the balance.
Polishing a spot on my bronze-and-gold breast plate, I was reminded that my best armor was still missing, lost that day we’d fought in the Shadow Realm. Usually, I could see my items in my mind’s eyes, no matter where they were, but my death and rebirth that day must have broken my bond to that particular piece.
It bothered me because there were sentimental memories attached to that armor, but in the grand scheme of losses, it wasn’t near the top, especially since I had plenty of other armor to choose from. All of my pieces were strong and durable and able to save my life during battle.
Checking on Mera again, I saw that small flames had seeped from her body and were surrounding her with their warmth. Her energy was stronger and more volatile than ever, and I wondered what this child’s energy might add to our dynamic. I expected them to be powerful. Exceptionally so. But only time would reveal what else they’d bring into our lives.
Deciding that Mera would be more comfortable on the bed, I lifted her with ease, and the warmth of her fire cocooned us both without burning. She trusted me and so did her energy. Moving out of the bathing area, I transferred her onto the large pad in my room, adding a few cushions around her to cradle the stomach. She turned in her sleep, wrapping her arms around one cushion and lifting her leg over another, getting into the position she’d told me was most comfortable in her late stage of pregnancy.
Her breathing evened out again, and it was clear that she was tired. Her body was preparing to bring a god child into this world, and all of us needed to remember this as we moved through the mission. Mera’s rest had to be a priority.
Leaving her to it, I decided to check if the outfits had been delivered. As I passed through the main lounging zone, my stomach rumbled, reminding me that I had to fuel that part of my body now. It didn’t exactly impact my energy when I didn’t eat food, but my body missed the taste and sensation of being full. Desertlandians did eat as part of their energy renewal, and I was sure that this event tonight would involve many of their delicacies. I’d never actually tasted any of them before, and I was beyond ready to finally know what I’d been missing all of these years.
When I reached the entrance it opened, and as I walked out, noise slammed into me. The tents were surrounded by energy, protecting and insulating them from the outside, and it wasn’t until I stepped free that I was once again deep in the sights, scents, and memories of this world.
Forcing myself to compartmentalize, because there was no time to disappear into the past, I reached down for the large olive-green sack made from fronds of the pamolsa tree, which was sitting just to the left of the entrance. It was heavy, and that was all I needed to know about how formal this event was going to be. Full Rohami getup for all of us.
Just as I straightened to bring the items inside, a sweet, husky voice called my name—not Angel, but my warrior name. Not many knew that name since for centuries I’d been without a name or family, but now I had two names and a family I loved.
“Tsuma,” I said with surprise, staring at the familiar Rohami woman. Older than me, she had been a close friend of Reece’s family. One of the originals, powerful and strong, she had not physically aged a day since I’d last seen her many centuries ago. The long, orangey red strands of her hair curled to midback, her light brown skin was plump, showing no sign of line or age, and those gold-tinged eyes were as warm as ever. She’d been beautiful in youth, and the years had only increased her glow.
“I’m so surprised to see you here,” she said as she bustled forward, wrapping her arms around me. I was surprised by the gesture since powerful beings didn’t usually make physical contact with each other, and I wondered if Mera was somehow rubbing off on this world too. “Reece never mentioned that you would be at this gathering.”
Tsuma spoke in her native tongue of Rohami—one of the first languages I’d learned.
“It was a last-minute decision, but it’s definitely nice to be here,” I said.
Her hands were still on my arms, and I fought the urge to shake them off. She was acting weirdly out of character, but it had been a very long time since I’d known her. My judgement of her character was uninformed. I’d changed, and maybe so had she. “I came by to see Reece,” she continued excitedly. “Where are your wings? You look so different.”
Her random jumps between talking points of conversation was much more how I remembered her, and no doubt I did look different standing here in a sheet of cloth, hair wild and streaked with red, no armor or wings. Very few beings had ever seen me like this.
“I recently experienced a rebirth,” I told her, finally managing to move away so she was no longer making contact with my energy. “But the fundamentals of my power remain the same.”
She chuckled, perfect white teeth flashing. “Yes, that is true. A few strands of fire in your hair did not change your insides.”
This was only partly true because I would always be a stoic warrior type, but I was also no longer the robotic loner.
“You said you were looking for Reece?” I reminded her. “He’s just gone out to mingle with the dynasty leaders before tonight’s celebratory event. He should return soon.”
She waved me off, the gold in her eyes dancing as she did what she’d always been excellent at: creating a sense of comfort and warmth. “Running into an old friend, such as yourself, confirms the push I felt to attend this meeting. I don’t usually bother myself with this world’s politics any longer, but somehow I knew this was going to be an important one.”
“Right,” I said, trying to read her, but she was holding her cards close to her chest. “We can catch up further at the dinner tonight. Will there be others in attendance from your family?”
She nodded. “Oh yes, Dally, Mirinda, Fleur, and Miver will all be there. Seeing all of you together… that will truly be something.”
Those names evoked as many memories as this world did. Tsuma’s children had always been at Reece’s home in Rohami.
“What about Zena?” I asked.
That was when her smile faded. “Yes, she is here. I came to see Reece on her behest, actually. She’s hoping he’ll save the first dance for her tonight, but now that you’re here…”
Some of her reticence in explaining why she’d been looking for Reece made sense now. Her eldest daughter, the very beautiful Zena, had always had a thing for Reece. I’d tormented myself over the years thinking of those two together, but from what I’d heard, it had never happened. Seemed as if that hadn’t stopped Tsuma from continuing to try.
“Don’t worry about Reece and me,” I said shortly, a few flecks of ice seeping into my tone. “We are as we’ve always been.”
Enemies.
While that wasn’t strictly the truth, our lives no longer as black and white as they had once been, it would hopefully set her mind at ease.
Now I just had to endure whatever happened tonight because being back in the same room as my old life could be a recipe for disaster.
Once Tsuma left, I found myself pacing the tent, wishing that Mera was awake so I could vent all these… feelings. How the hell did people live like this? With what felt like a damn bomb inside about to explode.
I should never have agreed to come back here; this world had always been destructive for me.
“Angel?” Mera appeared in the doorway, her face scrunched up as she yawned and rubbed her eyes. “I fell asleep?”
Thank the meadow’s creator. She was finally awake.
Hurrying toward her, I found myself right in her personal space, which was so unlike me that there was no surprise when Mera’s drowsiness vanished as her wide eyes locked on mine. “What the hell happened while I was asleep?”
I shook my head, reaching out to grasp her biceps. When Tsuma had touched me, it’d been uncomfortable, but it felt like second nature with Mera. “I collected our outfits, and just as I was about to return inside, an old acquaintance of mine from this world showed up.” My words got faster and faster as they spilled from me. “I haven’t seen her in centuries, but dammit, it was like no time had passed at all. I don’t think I can do this. I can’t be here.”
At this point Mera looked like she was freaking out, no doubt because she’d never seen me freaking out. “Angel, slow down and take some deep breaths. You’re having a panic attack, which is perfectly acceptable in these circumstances, but it’s stopping the very rational side of your brain from functioning.”
My breathing was rapid at this point, whistling through my teeth in harsh gusts, and I could not remember ever feeling or acting like this. It had to be some side effect of my rebirth, which was all well and good, but how did I snap out of it?
Mera pushed me down to the ground, spreading my legs apart, and when I blinked at her, she smiled. “Trust me.”
I trusted her more than anyone in the worlds, so when she put her hand on the back of my head and forced me to lower it between my parted legs, I didn’t fight her.
“Now take deep breaths in and out.”
At first, I couldn’t comply, but as she started to count the beats for me to breathe in and out, I managed to slowly get myself under control, all the while cursing my momentary weakness.
For a second, I’d been the same Melalekin who had lost everything in these lands.
I refused to go back to that being, not now or ever.
Tonight would be a true test, and it was one I was determined to win.
