CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
New Home
It was hard to tell where I was because I hurt all over. I tried to hold my head up.
"Easy now," Aster said as he gently placed a pillow under my head, propping me up.
"Where am I?" My voice came out raspy.
He handed me a small glass of water from the wooden table next to the bed. I drank the contents and it coated my throat and entered my stomach.
"You are in the healing ward. You have been out for three days," Aster removed a loose strand of hair from my face.
"Three days," I said too loudly. I rotated my head, but we were alone in the room.
"I've never seen a person drink so many healing droughts. At least twenty just to keep you stable."
"Stable?” I shook my head in confusion. “Twenty?"
"Are you sure you want to have this conversation now? You just woke up."
“Uh—” I looked down and I was covered in bandages. My breathing became erratic as my heart raced.
"It's okay,” Aster said. He gently caressed the side of my face. “Well, not okay, but they know, Noah."
"Why is it not okay?" I asked.
"They will be here later. They will explain. The council didn't tell me anything."
A tear fell from my eye.
"It's all over isn't it?"
"It is. I'm sorry. But you can't let that stop you. You awakened, Noah. The first woman ever. That's not some small feat, nor something the council can ignore."
"Nothing will matter if they smear my name."
Aster grabbed my hand, and I cried some more. "I'm so sorry, Aster. I killed you. All of this is my fault."
"Fault doesn't matter. What matters is we are here together after all of this. You came and got me, Noah. That had never been done before! You raised me from the dead without necromancy. The council doesn't know what to do with you. There is still a chance, Noah. Just plead your case."
"I have no case." I gripped his hand tighter. "I'm just glad you are okay."
"Hey, stronger together."
I smiled at him. Nothing could get him down. "I love you," I said just so he wouldn't forget.
"And I love you." He brought my hand to his mouth and kissed it. "Now don’t ever awaken again. You nearly killed everyone."
"So, I almost killed everyone twice…” My heart skipped a beat. “Oh, gods... Elise."
He remained silent.
"Is she really gone?" I asked.
"Yes, Noah. I'm sorry."
I turned my head away from him. The tears rushed down my face. What had I done? I should have just taken the free pass, but I had to be stubborn. I had to prove everyone wrong, and what did I get for it? A dead friend and I almost lost Aster. Not to mention all the other students who were present.
"What's going to happen to me?" My hands started shaking.
Aster turned my head back to face him. "I don't know, but whatever it is, I'm on your side. Even if it means fighting our way out of here."
"Thank you, but I’d recommend against that. You seem to get hurt badly when I'm around."
"Well, that was before you had no powers."
"I still might not have any. I can't feel anything," I said softly.
"Trust me, it's still there. You can't just throw around that kind of magic and not have any when you awake."
But that’s exactly what I was exactly afraid of. The voice warned me that I would be severely weakened if I raised Aster. It was an easy choice that I didn’t regret.
“I just don’t’ want that to be my only taste of magic. It is a selfish thought, but true all the same.”
“Trust me I understand.” He grabbed my hand.
"Aster, can you teach me? About magic? I have a feeling I won't be here very long."
"I suppose since I'm ranked number one now, I could take you on as an apprentice."
"All you had to do was die."
"Small price to pay."
"Well, congratulations. You deserve it," I said with a small smile.
"I do, don't I?" He grabbed a plate of food. "Here, you need to eat. But go slowly."
I wasn't hungry but I needed to eat so I didn’t worry Aster. I grabbed a small piece of bread and nibbled on it.
"Eat it."
I took a bigger bite and swallowed.
"Good Noah." I washed the bread down with the remaining water I had.
"Thank you,” Aster said. "Guess what?"
I raised my brow as I ate some more.
"You are very famous here in school," Aster said.
"I was already famous."
"But not compared to this. Everyone knows your name.”
"I'm not sure that’s a good thing." I felt a bigger burden now that the more eyes were on me. It was the last thing I wanted.
"To be honest, I'm not sure either."
The doors to the infirmary swung open and two royal guards entered.
"This is it..." I stuttered.
The guards entered first with the council strolling in behind them. The guards stopped at the foot of my bed. They wore their crimson red tunics and perfectly polished armor. Each carried a sword and a pike.
The elderly councilman showed himself. "How are you my dear?"
"Fine, sir. Thank you for healing me."
"Oh, nonsense. You saved us all."
Then another woman interjected, "Saved us! Have you forgotten she had almost killed us all?"
"Yes. Calm down, Minerva."
She crossed her arms. "You, child have committed some serious crimes."
Aster cleared his throat. “If I may—"
“You’re lucky you are still among us. So, no. You may not,” Minerva said.
I ignored her completely. "Is that why the guards are here?"
"No, they are for your protection. Right now, you have nothing to fear," the elderly man said.
"Right now?" I sat up taller.
"Yes, now,” Minerva said. “As for your future, it’s unknown. If it were up to me, you would have been killed instantly."
"But it isn't," the councilman, Horris said. I remembered him from the opening ceremonies. "We have already decided her fate. That is to be final."
"She killed Jovanni!" Minerva’s scream caused the guards to shift their position. "He was a seven, Horris."
If there was a time to speak up this was it. "Jovanni knew I was a woman."
They all looked to me.
"In the end, I was tricked by him. He detested me. He wanted me to summon the Garnog and fail. He wanted to destroy me for coming here."
The council members looked to one another.
"Can you prove this?" Horris asked.
I looked at Aster and shook my head. "I can't. I just know what he told me and how he attacked me in all the confusion."
The council members stepped away and discussed something among themselves. Then, they walked back over. The elderly man spoke for the group. "Our decision still remains. Are you prepared to hear your fate?"
I took a deep breath. "I am."
"Noah Olsen you are hereby suspended from the Royal Academy. Your spot of number one ranking has been stripped. All pending an investigation into the night three days ago. For the murder of Jovanni, then pretending to be a seven for more than half the school year, and finally, for summoning a low-level demon to gain information on another demon. I must also warn you, the crown will be getting involved due to you being the first female awakened seven. Do you have anything to say in defense?"
I looked at Aster.
"No, I do not. I accept this punishment and investigation."
"Very well, Noah. After you are healed you will be escorted off the premises and are not to return. That is, until we call for you and render a final judgment. Do you understand?"
"I do."
The man smiled at me. "Be careful my dear. I warn you, there are those who would use you."
"Remmer. That's enough," Minerva said.
"Yes, that will do." He grabbed my
hand and gently squeezed. "Take care."
The group of six walked away and just as he said, the royal guard stayed. I took a deep breath. It could have been much worse.
"Aster, are you in trouble at all?"
"First off, I died so I doubt they could punish me worse than that. But no, I wasn't suspended, if that’s what you meant."
"Good. But now I have to figure out where to live now that I’m on my own.”
"If you think I'm leaving you behind, you are crazy like a witch."
"Oh, and where will I be going? Not home, that's for sure."
"No, not home. It’s a surprise."
"Aster, I'm really not in the mood for surprises. I think we’ve all had enough of those."
"Let me give you this last one."
I rolled my eyes. "Fine Number One."
Later, I didn't want to stay any longer than I absolutely had too. I got dressed with Aster’s help and made it to our room. I grabbed everything I might need. I left my wrappings on the top of my bed. No more would I hide. The secret was out.
"Aster?"
"Yes, love?"
"Can you take me to buy a dress?"
"Nothing would make me happier. That and the rumors might stop that I'm courting a male."
He laughed at his own joke.
* * *
Aster and I walked down the cobbled streets. The homes here were spread farther apart, and grass appeared all along them. We were in the upper district of Era. There were no peddlers here just men and women in fancy clothing. Carriages came up and down the street. Hand in hand we walked up to a house surrounded by flowers.
"This is my house," Aster said as he tried to block the sun out of his eyes.
"Wow... It's beautiful."
"I enjoy my view much better.”
I caught him staring at me and I kissed him. "Do you really like it?" I spun around again in my new bright yellow dress.
"I wouldn't fight in it, but I’d definitely love to take it off of you." He smiled at me.
"Oh, being naughty, are we?"
After I left the castle, I felt like a weight was lifted off my shoulders. I could finally be me. The true me. An awakened seven female. All that remained was the attention that would be attuned to me. But that was another problem for another time.
"Of course. It's not every day I get to have a beautiful young woman on my arm," Aster said.
"Well, if you play your cards right, I might be here for a long time. That, and I can't really leave the kingdom."
"Oh, so you are staying out of obligation?"
"Why else do you think I'm here? I'm much too pretty for you."
He smiled and grabbed my hand. We ran up to the house, leaving our bags by the door. He walked right in.
"Ah, Master. Nice to see you again." An elderly man with a face full of wrinkles greeted us. He bowed low at the waist in a black and white attire.
"You too, Kinzler. Are my parents about?"
"They are. I believe they on the terrace. Do you need me to announce you?"
"No, Kinzler. Thank you."
He gave a deep bow and walked in the other direction. Aster led me up a flight of stairs and into a welcoming room with double doors that opened to a terrace.
"Mother. Father," Aster said without any joy in his voice.
"Ah, Aster!" His mother got up and came over to embrace him. His father also came over and shook his hand.
"I hear you are ranked number one. Congratulations."
"We both know I don’t need to be number one. I could have easily attended next year without it."
The situation just became intense. His parents looked at one another unsure what to say. His father placed his hands in his pockets.
"Aster, now is not the time. You have a guest. Who is...?" His mother asked.
"Ah, this is Noah. She will be staying with us for the unforeseen future."
"What?" His father and I asked at the same time.
"She is a seven and will be treated as such." He looked at his father challenging him to say no. There was a history here that I needed to figure out if I was going to navigate these halls.
"So, it is her," he mumbled. "It is an honor to meet you, Noah. Of course, you may stay as long as you need. My home is your home."
I curtsied for the first time and I was sure I looked a mess. " Thank you for your hospitality. I just found out as well."
Aster grinned. "I told you I had a surprise."
I shook my head and elbowed him.
He frowned. "One day, that’s going to hurt."
"It might be today," I said under my breath.
"Well, I'll leave you to it, then. I assume you can show her everything, Aster."
"I can."
We walked off without saying anything else. There were definitely some secrets I wanted to know about. After the tour of the house, we ended up in his room. He led me out to the balcony. "Well? what do you think?"
"It’s marvelous. Thank you. If not for you, I’d have no place to go."
"You would have. You are a seven remember. But, be careful. I warn you of my father. If he can use you for profit, he will."
"What’s with you and him?" I pried.
"Not now. Tonight, over dinner?"
"I would enjoy that very much. But you know... even after all the proceedings and investigations, we will still have unanswered questions.”
“I heard a voice Aster. When I was trying to get you back.” I turned to face him.
"Like, you are going insane voice or…" He rose his brow.
"When I was in that magical state, a voice guided me to help you, Aster. Then the same oracle we visited came to me and said I had a specific role in all of this. I'm scared Aster."
Aster wrapped his arms around me. I edged into him to feel his warmth.
"Even with a thousand unanswered questions. You have to remember the one answer we have."
I put my head against his chest. "What's that?"
"Stronger together. Always."
END OF BOOK ONE
About: Jacob L. White
Jacob currently resides in the great state of Texas. He has two noisy children whom he loves very much. He started writing in 2005 but never really got past the first outline of a book. Over the years it had remained in the back of his mind of these worlds he wanted to create and share. Not all of you will like them. Some might love them but he hopes for each group, we can use it as a glance into another place.
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The Prisoner of Fate Page 20
