Page 110 of The Cerulean Sister
The candle on my dresser is almost down to the brass base when I notice it dancing too wildly, like someone is attempting to snuff it out but not blowing hard enough. The gust of air caresses my face, and when I blink again, Calliape is standing before me.
I jump to my feet in shock and wrap my arms around her in an embrace to prove she is real.
"Calliape! How?"
She used her gift to fold the distance from the safe house, a fact that makes all the blood drain from my face. What wards could have been set off just now when she arrived?
"It's so good to see you. 99 wouldn't let August and me out of the safe house until after the coup was over. We were so worried."
"You should not have used your gifts. It's not safe."
"Feel." She holds my hand to her chest.
I close my eyes and press into her mind's eye so hard my head aches. There is some sort of barrier around her, one I would not notice if she did not invite me to see. It's like looking into a mirror, the ward so disorientating and almost dull I can feel myself forgetting what I am looking for.
It's unlike the wards I’ve felt her use before. In fact, it's like no other. I don't think it is divine in origin at all, and her clever smile confirms it.
She pushes a curly tendril behind her ear and beams at me, proud of how well it held up to my probing. "I found it in one of my books."
If I did not test its strength myself, I would have doubts, but Calliape is capable and she would not risk setting off a ward unless she was sure.
"I'm impressed." I laugh.
"I am glad your gifts are back. 99 said the bastard that took them died in the coup."
I nod, slowly wondering how much he updated August and Calliape, if he mentioned how Lord Hollis died. "Still too dangerous to use them, Crixa has already tested me. Does 99 know you are here? He saidhewas going to meet me."
"He sent me to bring you to the safe house instead of traveling through the Estate." She smiles again, happy he asked for her help.
"I'll just change then." I rush over to open the wardrobe, anxious to see 99 and August.
"Are you alright, Ferren? You look like you have been crying."
I turn away because I didn't realize she could tell. My eyes must still be red and puffy. I hang up my robe and pull the simplest gown I can find in the armoire over my head, leaving the veil behind and pinning back my hair. All the while, Calliape watches, waiting for me to answer.
"I was with Leema. It was the first time we have spoken."
"Since you arrived?"
"Since I arrived, yes."
"It went poorly?"
"No. Well, I am not sure. I . . . wish it were different."
"I'm sorry, Ferren. I can't imagine." She stops her thought, sitting on the bed to reset herself. "I'm sorry."
"It wasn't all bad."
Calliape wraps her hand in mine. "Let me take you to the safe house. Everyone is waiting to see you. You will be nice and distracted by August's mother-hen hovering. He made me promise to hurry." She leans in and dramatically rolls her eyes.
I take a deep breath, preparing for the strange pull of Calliape's gift folding the distance for us. "I am ready."
"August likes to close his eyes. That might help." She ducks her head a little, embarrassed, as if sharing her gift with him is something to be shy about.
I nod, pressing my lips together to hide how cute I find it, and the moment my lids shut, I am swept away. Moving through walls and stone across the Estate feels like lifting off in August’s ship, when we ascend so high the space between becomes black and speckled with stars. The pressure against my cheeks pulls and weighs me down, but this is not a climb upward; it's sideways across a distance in a matter of three breaths.
When we come to a stop, the momentum sways my body forward slightly, my hip pushing into a piece of furniture.
