by Kade Cook
Not wanting to lie in bed feeling sorry for herself, she dresses for the morning and heads out into the hall, exhaling deeply. Through all the pain, all the misery, and all the ghosts it may upheave, the holidays are going to happen whether she likes it or not so she might as well embrace it. She forces a smile to replace the placid look she had worn.
The house is quiet, even Thomas is still in bed, and she tries to step lightly down the stairs to put on the coffee and start the day. Staring at the festive decorations strung about, she feels something is missing. Wandering to the basement, Gabrian digs out all her mother’s boxes and sets them in front of her. Tears start to well in her eyes. Everything becomes overwhelming, and she feels like it is just too much to handle in her coffee-depleted state.
Coffee first. Finish decorating after the caffeine kicks in.
Somewhere between the three cups of coffee, and the touching up of the mantle decorations, she realizes she had forgotten to send out the invites. Hurrying past a sleepy-eyed, messy hair Thomas, she rushes up the stairs to her phone and texts out her invites right away, not sure of who will be able to make it since it is such short notice. Even if it is just her and Thomas, it is better than sitting in an empty house, eating junk food and watching sappy holiday movies that are supposed to bring her a miraculous epiphany to her life. And so, she decides to throw the pebble into the pond and see what happens.
After becoming fully caffeinated, she wanders back to the basement to dig out her mother’s centerpiece for the table. Now, everything is perfect. Well, almost. Now, all she needs is food. After convincing her Uncle Ty that nothing is going to happen to her, she grabs the keys to her car, giddy to be actually let loose from her captivity, and takes off for Bar Harbor with Thomas in tow.
It is Magikal for her—a little taste of freedom without having to be deceitful—and the company is more than awesome. They spend the morning picking up everything on the list, even making a special stop at her favourite place for a Turtle Mocha Latte that CK insisted be on the house with it being the holidays and all. So, without much fight, she humbly accepts, repaying him with a hug and sweet kiss on the cheek.
Placing the car in park, they gather the groceries from the trunk. Gabrian’s hair stands up on the back of her neck at the sight of large footprints around the side of her cottage in the layer of newly fallen snow. Not only footprints but door ornaments knocked to the side and markings that look like there may have been a struggle.
Dropping the groceries, her senses flare into overload, and she leaves Thomas behind, rushing toward the door, an unsettling feeling that whatever did this is still inside her home. All she can think of is her Uncle Ty home alone. “Sweet Mother of Pearl, what now?” she curses under her breath. “Can’t evil take a break for one day?”
Shielding herself, she slowly unlatches the kitchen door, pushing it open just enough to peek inside. Her heart pounds loudly in her ears. Searching the kitchen for energy, she finds nothing. Something is going on, she can feel it. Pushing the door a little wider, she slides the rest of her body inside.
A loud voice calls out to her, nearly making her jump out of her skin. “Hey, it is about time you two got back. What do you think?” Tynan bellows out from the living room below.
She leans up against the wall, clutching the cloth above the racing pulse in her chest. “Seriously, Uncle Ty, you nearly gave me a heart attack.”
“No, I didn’t, don’t be so dramatic. You are from the Realm, we don’t get heart attacks.”
Gabrian picks up a shoe and biffs it at him over the counter, rolling her eyes. “You know what I mean.”
“Oh, Tynan, you shouldn’t tease the poor girl,” Vaeda hums, rising from the living room into view. “She might very well take you down one of these days.”
Tynan waves his hand at the two girls standing side by side in the kitchen above and goes back to decorating the biggest tree Gabrian has ever seen inside a house.
Vaeda leans in and gives Gabrian a hug. “Happy Holidays, Gabrian.”
“Thanks, Vaeda. Same to you.”
“I hope you don’t mind, we brought you a tree and used the decorations that were in the boxes in the basement. Tynan thought it would be a nice surprise for you.”
Gabrian’s heart tugs at her. The memory of youth flashes before her, standing around the tree while her mom and dad handed her the delicate ornaments to be hung. She smiles, wiping a tear from her eyes. “Not at all, Vaeda, it is lovely. Thank you.”
Noise from behind crashes through the kitchen as Thomas erupts from the other side of the door, carrying the bags of groceries that Gabrian had dropped on the ground. “Don’t worry, I’ve got the bags.”
Gabrian laughs, turning to help unload them from his arms. “Sorry, Thomas, I—”
“No worries, little one. It’s all good.”
Yes, it is, isn’t? she thinks. Maybe things will be alright.
Chapter Seventy-Two
Holiday Blues
As the day goes on, Gabrian’s house becomes filled with laughter and talk of joyous events to accompany the beautiful tree and decorations. One by one, each invitee she had reached out to had reached back. Every knock on the door proves to be inviting and full of love. Each one lends a hand with dinner and preparations. Once they are all seated at the table, Gabrian, who had been too busy to feel sad anymore about missing her family, looks around to see she is already surrounded by a new family.
Matthias sits to her right, smiling at her. Thomas, on her left, exchanges interesting glances Ethan’s way, those of which do not go unnoticed by her. Orroryn and Rachael sit snuggly together, lost in conversation of long-ago holidays past while Tynan hangs on to the edge of the table listening, even sporting a smile as he and Vaeda retell stories of some holiday follies they have endured.
Tynan even proposes the motions that her training subside for a few days until the turn of the year has come, which after some sideways glances and some shrugging of shoulders, is passed by those present. Gabrian watches as all the auras mix and mingle throughout the room, creating a prism effect over the table. She isn’t sure if anyone else noticed, but she is pleased, honoured to have them all at her table. For the first holiday spent without her mom and dad, overall it is quite wonderful.
Feeling the room swell with the heat of numerous bodies, the air grows stuffy. Grabbing a warm cider from the cupboard, she quietly slips outside and stands on her front step, hands around her cup, and watches the steam rise and float into the cool approaching night.
Seeing Gabrian’s cheery demeanor fade from across the room, Rachael excuses herself and slips across the kitchen to check on her friend. She opens the door and peeks outside. Cuddling up beside her friend, she wraps a warm arm around her. “You okay, Gabe?”
“Yeah, I am fine.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah.” She nods and looks away. “It’s just that I miss them so much.” Pulling her tighter, Rachael leans her crimson curls against Gabrian’s shoulder and rubs her arms. “And, I miss him.” Gabrian’s voice trembles as the truth of her sadness unfolds.
“Oh, Gabe. I wish I could make the pain go, but he will be back. You’ll see. He loves you too much to be gone too long.”
“Cera loved me too, and she has been gone my entire life.”
Rachael turns and looks her in the eyes. “He’ll be back. He will. Give him some time to recover. He is not super woman like you.”
Gabrian laughs and pulls Rachael into a bear hug. “I have missed you more than you will ever know.”
“I have missed you too, Gabe,” she says, pulling away and rubbing her arms from the cold.
“Go back inside before you catch a cold. I will not have you getting ill on my account.”
“Are you sure you don’t need company?”
“I am sure. I will be in in a minute. Now go, before you catch your death.”
Rachael smiles and gives Gabrian a kiss on the cheek. “It will be alright, trust me.”
With a sharp caw, he culls his feathers, fluffing them. Taking a sip of her cider, she exhales, traces of crystals forming on her breath in front of her. In the silence, the thought of her parents once again enters her mind. “I don’t know exactly how this works, but wherever you are, I miss you.” She sighs. “I wish you were here to see everyone.”
She stands there a little while longer as the sun begins to set. Theo rustles at her side, but then he shrieks, jumping up and down, and calls out in to the night, searching the direction of the garden gate. His wings flutter, and he continues warning of an intruding force that Gabrian cannot see. Pushing her senses out into the fading light of day, she finds nothing. Theo is highly agitated, and from past experiences, it is best to listen to him when he is talking.
Something shifts in the oncoming darkness, and a cold chill climbs up her spine. She steps out into the night. Theo flutters the sky, shrieking out his last warning as he flies off to take cover. She tilts her head and follows the shoveled path that leads to the gate—the same path she had journeyed so many times as a child. A dark figure emerges from the side of the gate and greets her with a smile.
“What are you doing? You shouldn’t be here,” Gabrian hushes, glancing around the invisible wall of Guardians she knows is not far away.
Adrinn transforms as clearly as his vaporish form will allow, eyeing the house behind her. “I know, but I just wanted to check in on you and wish you a blessed holiday.”
“Oh,” Gabrian gasps. The familiarity of speaking to him here is overwhelming, clinging to her like she had been a child only yesterday. But she is not a child any longer, nor is she naïve or ignorant in the way the world works.
“I know things between us are rocky at best, but in the season of forgiveness, I come in hopes that we can start anew.”
She sucks in a small breath. Somehow, in all the misery over the last year, things seem to be turning around again. “I would like that, thank you.”
“You are welcome,” Adrinn hums, looking deep into her eyes, then looks back to the houseful of Elders behind her. “You have guests, and you should get back to them before they come looking for you.”
She nods and turns to leave, but stops, turning to him over her shoulder. “Happy holidays Adrinn.”
He smiles and starts to fade. “Happy holidays, my dear.”
She watches him vanish then turns back to the house, rushing to the front door. Reaching the bottom steps of the porch, Matthias opens the door, and stands in the entryway, leaning against the frame. “Hey there, what are you doing? I was just coming to find you.”
“Oh, sorry,” she says, reaching him. “I was just taking a breather. I’m good now.” She gives him a smile as she slips under his outstretched arm and back into the house.
Matthias senses an elevate surge in her energy as she passes him and turns back to glance quickly over the darkness where she had come from. A strange shift in the shadows down by the gate catches his attention. Not noticing the quick flutter of black wings, Theo makes one last fly by the doorway, cawing his dislike for the Borrower.
“Get lost.” He snickers, frowns, and gives the bird a menacing glare, partly from the fact he is not a big animal lover, and partly due to the fact the bird is a busybody who seems to always be in his way.
Turning his back, he rejoins the party, shutting the door on the annoying bird, and hears the cheer in Gabrian’s voice. “Happy Holidays, everyone. Who is ready for a drink?”
Chapter Seventy-Three
Pandora’s Box
After waving goodbye, and wishing the last of her guests a fond farewell, Gabrian looks up into the clear wintery sky. Orion the Hunter greets her heavenly gaze with a shimmery twinkle. A sullen shift in her mood takes her far away, back to the night she laid beneath the stars with someone who had not been with her tonight. All the light happy moments move into the shadows of her mind as she touches the Azurite stone, quiet on her wrist.
“I miss you so much.” She sighs. Stepping in from the chill, Gabrian turns off all the lights and heads for bed. There is no one left to tend to. Ethan had invited Thomas to take some festivities in town so it is just her and her ghosts tonight.
With slow heavy steps, she creeps up the stairs and runs a finger along the edge of each of her mother’s paintings, saying goodnight to each and every one. Maybe it is the business of her day or the loss of so much this past year, but Gabrian is empty. Riffling through her things, she finds a grey cotton T-shirt and pulls it to her nose. The scent of him still lingers on the cloth, and she holds it close, feeling the loss of his presence sink in, and longs to be close to him.
Her lips purse, and she gazes at the wall, watching it fade into a doorway filled with light and choices. She sets the shirt down and hurriedly enters the room. The flickering orbs dance around her as she enters. Gabrian reaches out and pulls open the drawer that holds the Window of Souls and retrieves the amulet. Stringing it over her neck, she prepares to turn the eye, but her constant companion who always greets her flutters in her face before she can.
Gabrian’s eyes draw to the little light and follows it to the chair. A small wooden chest sits on the seat, engraved with markings that remind her of those etched along the wall in the Covenant of Shadows. Stepping toward the box, the little orb moves out of the way. She purses her lips again, tapping her finger on them, then bites their edges. Knowing that these things, these incredibly wondrous things, are not hers, she should probably leave well enough alone. But hey, she already walked into a wall filled with Magik. What could opening a simple box do?
Her conscience jests, Ever hear of a little thing called Pandora’s box? “Yes, I have, but this is highly unlikely to be hers. And if you recall, I have already been to Erebus and back. They don’t want me. I think I can handle whatever is waiting inside this box.”
Sliding the tips of her fingers gently under the lip of the cover, she lifts the top off and peers inside. Silvery charcoal scales shimmer back at her, catching her breath. Slipping her fingers into the box, Gabrian runs her fingers along the edges of the smooth and delicate folds. A soft supple texture meets her touch, igniting a gentle burn in her fingertips as it makes contact. “And I probably shouldn’t reach in and take this out of the box, either,” she whispers. Her hands slip under the cloth and slowly lift it out. “Ah, hell, Gabrian, live a little. What is the worst thing that could happen? Besides, the little orb obviously wants me to, so who am I to disappoint?”
Gabrian glances up for a minute and laughs, realizing that she is engaging herself into conversational back up, but she doesn’t care. The cloth drapes down, unfolding in her hands. She holds it out in front of her. The markings unveil a majestic pattern, caught between what she would imagine a dragon’s scale would look like and feathers, all meticulously interwoven to create this masterful creation of wardrobe. It is some kind of suit.
Holding it out in front of her, the colours meld together like the sheen of an oil spill—prismatic and slick. Turning it around, a small rectangular piece of parchment comes loose and falls to the wooden floor. Gabrian hurries to scoop it up and flips it over to read an inscription.
My child,
A gift to help assist you along your journey. Wear this in health and may it serve you well.
Her heart warms. This is a gift from her mother, and she wonders if she had actually been here. She had to, Gabrian decides. This special space must be some kind of pocket where Gabrian’s dimension and hers can connect. Gabrian’s thoughts slow. Or maybe this is something that had been left for her long ago before Cera left. Either way, it does not matter. This is perfect, and she will use it well. Folding it, and placing the gift bac
k within its box, Gabrian closes the top and pats it, knowing she will have to try this out on her next practice.
Tonight, she has other plans.
Chapter Seventy-Four
Can you See the Stars?
Flipping the eye of the Window of Souls inward, Gabrian’s form erases from the secret room and reappears somewhere cold. The bite of the night’s chill stings her bare arms, but she does not care. Careful footsteps take her across the snowy lane to stand in front of a rustic-looking cabin, tucked snuggly into the woods.
A soft light beckons to her from inside and the smell of smoke tells her there is warmth that awaits her inside. Climbing the stairs, her heart pounds in her chest, getting louder with each step she takes. Pulling the latch on the door, the heat from inside swims around her, knowing Manny must have been here not long ago to put the fire on to keep the pipes from freezing while Shane is gone.
Slipping off her boots, and carrying them across the floor, she peeks inside the fridge, hoping for a beer to grab and then continues her trek into the living room. Replacing her boots, Gabrian grabs the patchwork duvet folded just on the back of the couch and pulls it across her shoulders.
Her heart twists as the summery scent clinging to the blanket triggers the replay of the night Shane had whisked her away. The night he devoted his heart to her and she accepted. The night they laid quiet under the stars within their own little world, watching the heavens roll past while they held each other close. Her mouth trembles as she wipes a tear free. Spying the large familiar book sitting neatly on the end table, she gathers it under her arm and climbs the ladder to the hobbit-like hatchet door.
