Page 45 of Echoes of War

Folk music blared out as we rounded the corner. Large pockets of flame lined the main street and echoes of claps and stomps vibrated off the buildings. Arms and legs intertwined as people swung each other around in laughter, dancing and enjoying the strings of a banjo and guitar.

It wasn’t my usual taste in music, but the sight alone brought energy back into my body that it hadn’t possessed in a while. I glanced down at Amaia, her eyes wide with amusement as they landed on her family,ourfamily, a few feet away. Reina, to no one’s surprise, was off dancing with a random group of girls, her large laugh ringing out even feet away.

Sloan ushered us over and I found myself on the other end of a tug. Amaia pulled me over to where Sloan, Abel, and Moe stood, drinks in hand. She glanced down at Sloan’s cup, who extended it out to her for a sip.

“No, thank you,” she said.

Sloan opened her mouth to argue, only to be met with the glare of the bloodhound. She nodded her head once in acceptance and focused back on the cigarette lit behind her ear.

“You should consider putting the cancer stick down,” I said, not sure why I even bothered.

She leaned close to my ear, taking a deep drag in and blew it out in my face. “No thank you. I enjoy the things that piss you off the most.”

Amaia’s head turned slightly and I knew she had heard it but chose not to engage. Instead, she grabbed both of us and brought us into a circle to dance near Reina, Tomoe, and Abel followed in our shadow.

We danced to the music, following the movements of the other citizens and Abel’s instructions until we got the hang of it. It wasessentially line dancing, with more looseness in the movements, he explained. As awkward as the movements were for my rhythmless body, I could admit I was having a great time watching her let loose. Realization hit me that someone was missing.

I scanned the crowd, eyes falling upon Reina, who now hung off to the side. A small smile pulled at her lips and I reminded myself to check in with her soon. She had been straddling the extremely thin line between being okay and borderline insanity these last few weeks. While I doubted I was the only one that noticed, I was the one least affected by Seth’s departure that had the mental capacity to take a step back and see how dangerous her behavior had become. Reina was in a dangerous spiral. Despite appearing to come out of it on her own slowly, I worried. She put her cup in the air in silent cheers and tossed the drink back. Her brown, mousy hair cascaded down her fur coat as she chugged.

Seth’s absence had taken a toll on them all, and I wished he would have had the decency to not check back in. Just disappeared. But I would make sure that fool would get his one day. For now, however, all I cared about was having fun. A rare, blissful moment of pure fun. I motioned Reina over with my head. She smiled, squeezing through the crowd over to our group.

Abel grabbed her hand instantly, twirling her around, their movements completely free. Even Sloan and Tomoe had seemed to call a brief truce. They danced around each other mumbling the words of some song that I’d never heard. Amaia wrapped her arms around my neck, standing on the tips of her toes, and I hoisted her onto the top of my boots to bridge the gap. Her body swayed against mine, her head tossed back, enjoying herself and fully immersed in the moment. Reina bellowed another loud laugh at the dip Abel had placed her in. Even without her magic,without trying, her joy was contagious as I watched it seep into Amaia.

Maybe this little family of mine did stand a chance after all.

Amaia

Today was the day. The day that could be my last.

I was grateful for that last day of fun my family had offered me, what Alexiares had set up. So grateful that I couldn’t let him do this. Reina was right about me. The lines between want and need were confusing to me. I found myself not caring to seek clarity over which was right or wrong anymore. To hell with that when it came to keeping people I cared for safe.

Alexiares’ deep slumber made it all the easier to sneak out of the apartment this morning and barricade him behind it. He would be furious, probably hate me. And I would have to be okay with it, even if it broke what remained of my heart.

I saw how he looked at me yesterday, how he had watched our little family. Alexiares had finally found his place in the world.Happiness radiated off him despite our shitty circumstances. I’d be damned to be the one who took that from him.

The rest of the crew sat waiting for me in Reina’s makeshift lab. Sloan’s eyes narrowed at the absence of Alexiares at my side, but she said nothing. Tomoe, on the other hand, was not afraid to chew my head off with questions.

“Where is he?” Tomoe said the second I opened the door.

I feigned ignorance. “Where is who?”

“Okay,” she huffed, eyes narrowing, “back to being difficult. Understood.”

“Someone’s got to make the tough decisions around here, Tomoe. I thought you understood that.” I sighed, pretending to study my fingernails.

Tomoe, per usual, was quick in her response, “Tough, or reckless?”

“Ooh, I know the word you’re searchin’ for: selfish!” Reina exclaimed, a mischievous grin on her face, as she egged Tomoe on.

Sloan rummaged through Reina’s belongings, letting out a huff of boredom. “Are we doing this or not?”

“Don’t you care that she’s about to make a life altering decision?” Abel said quietly, head low.

“Oh I care, spy,” Sloan ground out before meeting my eye. “It appears I’m the only one here who knows her enough that nothing anyone says here will change her mind. Yesterday was fun and all, but you two need to leave here soon, and this is the last thing we’re waiting on.” She tossed her head in the direction of Reina and Tomoe with impatience.

I scanned her over with a sense of appreciation, my thumb extended in reference. “Thank you.”

“Don’t thank her,” Reina mumbled low. “Your death will weigh on her just the same if this kills you.”

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