Serafina's Flame

by J. C. Hart

  Vana seemed satisfied with this though she gave Aida a quizzical look. "Tell me, are you truly okay?" Vana asked, drawing her in for another hug.

  "I wasn’t sure I would be, but you’d be proud of me, mother. I stood up for what I believed in, I made sure that we were heard. Serafina has blessed me as her beacon."

  "And Carmel?"

  Aida shook her head. "I asked her to go into the flames. I’m grateful for her sacrifice, but I don’t want to share my body, my mind, with anyone."

  Vana let out a great sigh, and a satisfied smile graced her lips. Aida felt a pang, knowing that even after all Carmel had done, Vana still held something against the woman. But there was no point convincing her otherwise. Vana very rarely forgave anyone, not entirely.

  "Where is Jonti?" she asked. "I know you fought. Have you made up?"

  It was Vana’s turn to still, and then she shook her head slowly. "When he didn’t try to save you, it broke my heart. I would do anything to protect you, but he…" She swallowed hard. "We’re still close, and maybe in time we can work through this."

  Aida extricated herself from her mother’s arms. "I know you like to lock things up, keep people out to keep yourself safe. Don’t let that stop you from loving. He’s only human, and we all make mistakes."

  "I’ve made my share, don’t you worry." Vana’s lips curved into a smile. "I think he has a lot of forgiving to do, too. I’ve learned my lesson though. I know people can change, and I know that I don’t deal with things in the best way, which is why I hope that someday we will reunite. Just, not right now."

  Aida was impressed with the steadiness of her mother’s voice. "And Gabe? Will he be with you, or Jonti?" She looked around the tent, noting that there was just one bedroll.

  "He goes where he pleases. Some nights with me, and some with Jonti. He has the freedom to choose."

  "And me?" Aida asked, nervous about the answer. She didn’t hold Jonti responsible for what had happened to her and, in all but biology, he was her father.

  Vana swallowed hard, tears finally springing into her eyes. "You get to choose as well."

  Aida nodded, then spoke, knowing she needed to say her piece. "I choose my own space. A home for Lucian. He needs me more than you do, more than Jonti or Gabe. I’m his family now, and he needs a secure home." She pressed her lips together, holding in all the other words, the apologies, the begging for forgiveness, the promises that she would still be around all the time. It was a small village, and it was time for her to claim her place in it.

  Vana released a great rush of air, but didn’t speak. She nodded slowly, wiping the tears from her eyes and smiling. "You’re a woman now, and you must spread your wings."

  "I think I’ve spread them enough for a lifetime, mother." A small laugh slipped from her throat, and a louder one escaped from Vana, who pulled her in for another hug.

  "I’m sure it won’t be the last time," she whispered. "I’m pleased you’re home. We should probably go and tell the others that we’re safe."

  "Can you?" Aida asked. The warmth of the tent was seeping into her, and the bedding was so soft, so much more comfortable than the ground in the forest.

  "Of course." Vana kissed Aida on the forehead, her lips tracing the mark Serafina had left her with, and eased her under the blankets. "Anything for you, my love."

  Aida watched as her mother slipped from the tent and she relished in these small comforts. Soon she would have her own hut, a place just for her and Lucian. She felt a pang of sorrow that it had come so soon, that this wall between her and Vana had been raised before it was time. But there was no way to go back, not now.

  And you’ll still be there for me, won’t you, Serafina? Tell me I’m not really alone. Tell me that we truly are safe.

  You are never alone, and you will always be safe.

  Aida closed her eyes and slept.

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  J.C. Hart is a writer of (mostly) speculative fiction, lover of coffee, chocolate and everything zombies. She was raised at the foot of Mount Taranaki and the raw, wild beauty there left its mark on her, and her writing. That said, she recently relocated to the greater Wellington region where she is enjoying the finer things in life (ie: physical catch ups with her writer friends, critique group, and other writerly events often involving coffee).

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  I’d like to thank my family and friends, who have always supported me on my writers journey. My writer crew, who always have the best advice. And you, my readers

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