Page 37 of The Garnet Daughter
“Selene.” I run my hands down my face.
“I would not be able to protect you.”
“Well, you looked very familiar with them,” I say and regret it because I know this is not what she wanted. She never asked to come back to this place.
“They may already know. You have been going down a dangerous path from the moment you left Frith.”
“Don’t.” I take a few steps away.
She catches up, raising her voice slightly and then recalibrating. “You are out of control, Calliape. I am terrified.”
“They accepted the statement, even if they suspect I am lying.”
“No. First, the voices you heard in the forest, and now you are folding between worlds. I have never known someone who could, and now . . .”
Her deeply set eyes are glossy and wild as they search my face. I am terrified too, but agreeing with her would give over control I am not willing to give up.
She glances back at the threshold of the council meeting, and August stands just outside, watching us. Too distant to hear but enough to make us aware of his focus.
“I do not like how close you have become with that Viathan,” she says low. “You can’t trust him.”
“Who can I trust then? Not Viathans, not the priestess order, not even my own elders who turned a blind eye when I asked them for help.”
She shakes her head. “You knew they would not. The mountain village does not involve itself in conflicts of the other worlds.”
“But maybe it should.”
“I do not disagree with you on this.” She takes a breath and places a hand on my arm. “I want to help you. It is all I have ever tried to do.”
I nod, hopeful but mostly exhausted.
“When will you tell them?” she asks, her tone a little different now.
“What?” I ask, perplexed by her sudden shift.
“They do not understand, nor do they remember that you tried to wake First Mother, but I do.”
It seems like a betrayal somehow. My body won’t allow any words or movement, only a frozen stare back at her. She alone understood what was occurring. And now, the way she presented that reminder is as if she is saying if I don’t confess to them, she will be obligated to. She took the spell book from me, says she is terrified, but I am certain it is more solidly rooted in distrust. Just as this is.
When I don’t answer, she steps closer. “Calliape, you must. Someone was hurt.”
“You don’t think I know that!”
“I will make up your room in the safe house. Tonight, we will sit down together and figure out how you will tell Ferren what happened.” She touches my face. It’s gentle and meant to comfort, but it only stirs frustration.
I don’t need her to help me speak with Ferren, my own friend. I wanted to when I first returned but her state of mind threw me, and warning her about the monster’s intentions seemed more important.
Selene smiles at me flatly and returns to the council meeting without even a glance to August as she passes him.
He takes a few steps toward me, but I put my hand up for him not to approach. I’m too embarrassed to face him, and anykind word from him will unleash the tears I am fighting to keep inside.
“Fold somewhere I can easily find you.” His voice carries across the hall, indicating just how much he could have heard of my conversation with Selene.
I nod because it’s all I can offer, and when I turn to walk away, I close my eyes and fold to the first place that feels safe.
August’s ship.
I keep my lids closed for a long time, standing in the middle of the cockpit, knowing no one is around me. I am far from the observation of the council members and Selene’s borderline poisonous help.
