Eden Undone (The Dawn Mirror Chronicles Book 2)

by A. R. Meyering

  “You mean sleep here?” Penny eyed his bed.

  “Of course―unless you’d prefer Simon’s room.”

  “Here is good…‘preciate it,” Penny mumbled sleepily, scratching at the back of her head and yawning. She caught the bandage on the back of her head and felt it come loose, and warm liquid touched her fingertips. Hector gasped and rushed to the bathroom, returning with a wet washcloth.

  “Ow, ow. Watch it, that stings,” Penny moaned as he dabbed at the wound.

  “This is a bad cut. When are you going to learn to be more careful with yourself? You could’ve been seriously wounded or even killed. Do you not fully comprehend the danger that you’re always putting yourself in? Why couldn’t you have told someone before you went rushing off?”

  “I don’t know, I was curious. When I want to know something, my feet just carry me away and I forget to think. You should know that, I’ve always been that way,” Penny said and shrugged, her voice meek. Hector soaked up the blood, then got up to find some fresh bandages in the cupboard.

  “Penelope, can I ask something of you?” he mumbled, his back to her as he rummaged through the contents.

  “What is it?” she prompted, but he didn’t speak until he was beside her again and busy unrolling the bandages. At last he swallowed audibly.

  “I would like your word that you’ll stop putting yourself in immediate danger without thinking. You’ve done it countless times since I’ve met you and I’m certain that your luck will not hold out,” he said, wrapping the bandage around her head. She looked up at him in slight confusion.

  He elaborated begrudgingly. “It’s just that, well, I’ve never had…people in my life before. People like you and Annette, Argent, Simon. My family in Nelvirna never really cared for me the way that all of you do, and it was hard enough losing them. I don’t want to lose you. Please don’t put me through that again, not if you can help it. It might be a selfish request, but I wish you’d consider it.” He gave her a bittersweet smile as he fastened the linen, then let his hands fold into his lap.

  “I didn’t think of that. You really worry that much about me getting hurt?”

  “Well, I worry about everyone, of course. It’s just that the others don’t go traipsing off toward certain death every other weekend,” he laughed, then saw her expression. “Why do you look so disappointed?”

  Penny shook her head and forced her frown to perk up, feeling warmth on her cheeks.

  “No, I understand. I wasn’t thinking about what would happen to you if I…well, it doesn’t matter.” She gave a quiet laugh. “Of course. You have my word.”

  “Good.” He smiled and put his hand on her shoulder. “Now go to sleep, and try not to bleed on my pillow.”

  After Hector left, Penny carefully got under the covers, and was finally able to relax. All the while she was falling asleep there was a slight smile on her lips, and the sweet scent of cedar tickled her nose and carried her through dreams of faintly glowing butterflies.

  ARMONIE’S TEARS FINALLY dried up. Gavin took it upon himself to not only look after Annette, but Armonie too, though Penny could tell he was very nervous about going into her room. Four or five times a day he brought her food and drink, darting anxiously in and out. Simon was almost entirely absent, and after a few days Penny confronted him.

  “Simon says: ‘poke your nose into someone else’s business,’” he said with a snicker, then pushed Penny aside. She snorted as she watched him go.

  Despite the many happenings and questions since their return from Umbrie-Alantier, the sole focus of the group was Annette. She had not batted an eyelid since their return, and Penny tried to stay busy so as not to think about the weakening state of her dear friend. Wendy, Millie and Gavin were doing their best to maintain her well-being, but she was growing thin and gray and a tense silence settled over the household.

  Not long after Armonie’s arrival Penny dared to ask Gavin the forbidden question that had nagged at her. She found him laying a cup of tea and some biscuits on a tray on Armonie’s nightstand. Armonie did not seem to be moving, and Penny thought she might be asleep, so she crept up behind Gavin and went over the words once more in her head before she spoke them.

  “Gavin, what’ll we do if she never wakes up?”

  “She’s only napping, dear. She was looking out the window a moment ago,” he reassured her, but his voice trembled slightly.

  “I’m not talking about Armonie, Gavin,” Penny said.

  “I know,” Gavin replied soberly. “I just—I don’t want to think about it. Please.”

  “But it’s been more than a week since she fell asleep.”

  “Penny, no. She’ll be fine. Whatever the Empress gave her can’t possibly last much longer, just think about it.” Gavin did not sound as if he himself were convinced of this.

  “What are you speaking of?” Armonie asked, rolling over suddenly.

  “When we were in the Nation of Faeries, Annette was given a strange drink by the Empress. I think that’s why she hasn’t woken up since we’ve been back, and―”

  “This drink,” Armonie interrupted, “was it purple in color? Did it have a strong aroma?”

  “Yes, do you know what it was?” Penny asked as Armonie threw the covers off her body and leapt out of bed.

  “It’s Vernvalo Root, I’m sure of it. Out of my way, move, move!” Armonie pushed her way between them so violently she almost knocked Penny over. She flew across the room in a whirl of skirts and busy hair, grabbed the alchemy case and rushed into the hall. Seconds later she was back.

  “Um, where is Miss Annette?”

  Penny and Gavin led her up the stairs to the third floor where Annette lay under her frilly covers. Armonie took one look at her and went to work.

  “Why didn’t you let me know sooner?” she muttered as a strange smell and hissing sound filled the room. Gavin and Penny watched anxiously from the doorway as Armonie deftly concocted a vial of frothing white liquid. Without hesitation, she opened Annette’s mouth and poured it in.

  “What’ve you given her?!” Gavin cried.

  “Hold on.” Armonie held Gavin at bay with her palm on his shoulder and her eyes fixed on Annette. Penny’s chest seized up when Annette’s methodic breathing slowed and stopped altogether. Armonie’s look of confidence flickered slightly and her jaw dropped an inch.

  “You didn’t just…” Gavin couldn’t seem to finish his sentence.

  Penny wandered over as if in a dream and scooped Annette’s hand into her own, then searched around for a pulse on her slender wrist. The fearful whirling in her head grew unbearable when she couldn’t locate it. She fought back the urge to retch as she let Annette’s wrist drop onto the coverlet and backed away.

  “Armonie. No. You can’t have.”

  Armonie’s face was white. “B-but it was mixed correctly! I would’ve bet my life on it!”

  A hacking cough split the room and there came an explosion of movement all around Annette’s bed. Blankets and pillows were thrown aside and proceeded to knock over several vases of flowers and sweet boxes. Annette sprang back into life, kicking and howling as tears burst from her eyes.

  “I’m free!” she shrieked, standing up in the bed, then immediately falling face forward as her weakened legs gave out.

  Penny, Gavin, and Armonie rushed to her side and helped her back onto the pillows as she wept and laughed maniacally. “Oh, I can move again. I can breathe!”

  “Nettie, oh, Nettie! You’re okay! I thought I’d lost you!” Gavin grabbed Annette up in his arms and held her tightly to his chest.

  “I was awake,” Annette sobbed, hugging her cousin back. “I was awake the whole time, Penny. I heard everything you all said to me. My body felt all the pain. It was terrible, oh, Gavin.” She wiped her eyes with his cravat before turning to Armonie. “You―whoever you are, you wonderful person―how can I ever thank you for this?”

  “Oh, no, Miss. It’s really just my job, I―” Armonie caught herself in midse
ntence and gloom stained her joy.

  Annette extended her arms to Penny next and the two of the held each other for a long time before Gavin flew downstairs to get Wendy and the others. The next few hours were completely comprised of embraces and tears. Mia introduced herself to Annette shyly after Wendy and Hector had thoroughly fussed over her. Gavin practically had to pry Annette from Simon’s grip, and Noct even gave Annette a quick kiss on the cheek, though he was mortified afterward.

  “Oh, you have no idea how awful it was. It was like being a prisoner inside my own bones, I thought I would go insane. Thank you, everyone! It was all your voices that kept me going. Especially—” Annette looked around at all the happy faces, and hers faded. “Where’s…?”

  “Argent? Probably lurking in his secret hideout or something. Should I go get him?” Penny offered.

  “No, no, it’s fine. Just tell him he should come by later. If you run into him, that is.” Annette stared into space for a moment, then blinked and smiled at them. “Now, everyone, I’d like some time alone with Gavin, if you don’t mind.” Gavin looked shocked and stared at her, and she explained with a smile, “All I could think of this whole time was that I might die never having told you the truth and I promised myself that the first thing I’d do if I ever got out of that state was to fix that.”

  “Oh, Nettie, please forgive me. I never meant for my behavior to―” Gavin tried to inject, but Annette shook her head with resolve and he fell silent. One by one they milled out of the room and left Gavin and Annette alone to talk. Penny couldn’t remember the last time her heart had felt so light.

  OUTSIDE THE GARDENS began to glow with the radiance of mid-spring and the air was filled with the humming of busy insects. The sky was dotted with cotton-ball clouds and a fresh, alluring scent tickled everyone’s noses. The anteloos grew restless as the weather grew warmer and Penny spent a great deal of time letting them loose or taking them out to the grassy knolls outside of town so that they could properly stretch their legs. While she was out, Hector attempted to give Noct and Mia a basic education in everything from mathematics to Elydrian history. While Mia took to it with excitement and vigor, Noct fought Hector tooth and nail. Often times Penny came home from wandering the streets or playing with Humphrey to find the two of them in the middle of a snarling argument.

  The following week was filled with an overflow of emotion. Armonie was the heroine of the house and went from an enigmatic figure of mystery and perhaps some concern, to full acceptance as a friend and companion. The affection and praise that came to her did more than just brighten her mood; it brought her out of the room and back into the world. The first thing Annette did, after tearing her way through the countless get-well presents and calling many friends on the Sophotri Stone, was to sew Armonie a brand-new wardrobe of clothing. The first few dresses were a bit too gaudy for Armonie, and after some delicate suggestions, Annette proceeded to create a lovely, modest collection of clothes. Armonie was emphatically grateful.

  Though timid at first, Armonie seemed to be fitting in quite well at the manor. Nightly she helped Wendy and Millie with the washing and cleaning without being asked and spent countless hours visiting with Annette and Penny in the Sun Garden, admiring the well-tended blooms and enjoying the peaceful haven the manor offered. The three girls spent hours together, helping Annette strengthen her legs and body again, chatting, and indulging in every sweet that Wendy cooked up for them. On one afternoon as Penny was walking to her room to retrieve a novel she was enjoying, she saw someone sitting beside Armonie in the Sun Garden and crept up to get a closer look.

  It turned out to be Gavin, and Penny could not help but laugh when she observed his uncharacteristically jumpy nature; he drummed his fingers anxiously on his knee as he spoke without making eye contact. After a moment longer, Penny felt she would be intruding if she watched any longer, and tore herself away to go and find her book.

  It took a while for Armonie’s nerves around Annette to wear off, but once they made it through conversations and began to laugh together, their friendship became a comfortable, natural thing.

  One particularly hot day, the girls traipsed down to the Sun Garden together, feeling particularly light-hearted and silly. They jeered back at Simon’s lecherous comments as they passed him in the hall, then called to Millie for a pot of lavender tea as they sat in the warmth of the glass-walled enclosure.

  “Everything seems new again,” Annette said dreamily as she sat at the white tea table, fiddling with the ends of her hair absentmindedly. “It’s incredible how your point of view can just change so drastically when you go through something difficult. I guess I have you to thank again for that, Armonie. I might still be asleep if it weren’t for you.”

  “No, Miss Annette, it is I who should be thanking you. You let me stay here, though I was one of your enemies, and you treated me with such kindness, and I was able to learn something more,” Armonie breathed. “The first few days here I was as hopeless as I’d ever been. I’d lost my purpose for living, and the dream and future for which I’d been working so hard ever since childhood was destroyed. In addition, the only people who I’d ever known love from wanted me to suffer through a sentence that made death seem merciful. It was too much to handle. It still is sometimes, to be truthful.”

  “Armonie, if it’s hard to talk about it―”

  “But then you showed me something else. When I rescued you from the Vernvalo root’s sleep, I saw that I could still be of use to others, somehow. Maybe all my hoping and praying to be of help to this world isn’t all in vain. Though I’m still not sure whether you’re here to rescue or condemn our world, I might find happiness again if I could be permitted to aid you,” Armonie said.

  “No need to be so serious, Armonie. It’s sweet of you to offer. I’m sure with all the extreme situations we find ourselves in, having an alchemist around will be more than useful.”

  “Your tea, ladies.” Gavin swept in from the hall, hold a pot of aromatic liquid and some fancy china cups for each of them.

  “Oh, Gavin. I don’t pay you to be my maid, do I?” Annette teased.

  “No, but you should,” he replied smartly. Annette gave him a look and he laughed as he distributed the cups to each of them. “Here’s one for you, Armonie.”

  Armonie mumbled a thank-you, and as Penny poured her a cup she noticed Gavin’s eyes lingering on the girl. He hesitated briefly, then hurried away. Annette frowned after him.

  “If I didn’t know any better,” she said slowly, still staring at the spot where he’d been. “I’d say someone’s taken quite a liking to you, Armonie.”

  Armonie choked on her tea and almost spat it out. “Oh no, Miss Annette, don’t be silly! That’s impossible! Gavin’s, well, he’s…I don’t think he would be interested in someone like… Oh, you know.”

  “No, I don’t know. What are you talking about?” Annette asked and Armonie turned away, blushing deep scarlet. From somewhere behind the garden door there was a sudden shuffling and Penny suspected that Gavin had taken his time leaving.

  “N-never mind. Please forget I spoke at all.”

  “WHEN WILL YOU stop fooling around and get to the guild? We’ve been waiting on you,” Annette said.

  “I’ll go when I damn well feel like it,” Argent returned. “I saw the Sophotri Stone on the way in. Still nothing of interest. I think they’re trying to keep the public calm by hiding all the bad news now, but it’s only making people more worried. Their imaginations do the work for them―especially after the disaster on Trinity Islands.”

  “If only we knew why it happened and what was going on, then perhaps we could do something,” Hector growled.

  Armonie looked up hopefully. “I can tell you why. And more than just that, too. I was able to learn more than most girls in the Cathedral since I was next in line to become High Priestess of the Nation of Men. We had meetings with Rhea and—what is everyone staring at?”

  “You don’t know how important it is that w
e know! You must tell us!” Argent breathed, but Simon cut in.

  “But she may not want to give away all that information. Don’t forget that they were her family. It would be wrong of us to ask her to compromise her loyalty,” Simon said timidly, and the acute rise of excitement dulled slightly until Armonie shook her head.

  “No. I’ve made my choice―I chose this side. They cast me out of their world, and though I’ll always love the people that they once were, their wickedness must be put to an end. I will tell you everything I know on the condition that you never harm them unless your very life depends on it.”

  Penny felt a bittersweet surge of admiration for her. Armonie took a moment to register the nods of agreement and gratitude from everyone, then spoke again.

  “This is all happening—the bodies in the lake, Rhea’s belligerence, the wraiths—because Nestor is ordering it to happen. That night when you drove him from the goblin capital, he sought refuge in his castle on Trinity Islands, the place where his most devout followers and servants live, beside the twelve High Priestesses and Cardinal, of course. When he returned, he closed off the borders with a seal of deep magic, and no one was allowed in or out.

  “That night in Hulver, Nestor attempted to make an army of wraiths out of the people of the Nation of Goblins so that he could use them to search for something he’s been after for a long time. And that’s what he’s still doing now. He commanded Phobos and Deimos to work their way through the islands, transforming anyone who they could force the names out of into wraiths. They even pillaged the Hall of Names to steal the ones who would not give them up. When they realized what was happening, the people of Trinity Islands became terrified and Nestor unleashed his army upon them, killing all who opposed them and casting them into the sea. Those were the bodies seen in Lake Olveria that night. His loyal followers.