by Kayla Maya
Memories. That’s all Bryn had of her father. She sighed. The sky mirrored Bryn’s mood, becoming cloudy and windy. If she kept thinking of her father so much, she no doubt knew she would retreat into depression, something she did hours after his death. She shook her head and stood, wading into the pond as Lilac dove under, coming back up for air with another frog clutched tightly in her fists. Together the sisters caught frogs and even a small little turtle that bit Bryn right on her index finger. After almost two hours of playing, Bryn and Lilac sat underneath a tree, Lilac’s head resting on Bryn’s shoulder, her eyes closed. Bryn reached out, running her hand over her sister’s halo of hair. Something their father used to do for them. It was a sign of affection, practically the only sign that Bryn herself will only use.
“Hey, Bryn?” Lilac yawned.
“Yeah?”
“Will Momma get better soon? I miss her.”
“I do too,” Bryn confessed. She rubbed her sisters’ shoulder, offering a small smile. “I’m sure she’ll be better than ever. We just have to wait, okay? For now, why don’t we head back home? I’m sure Lukas is worried sick.”
Lilac made a face. “I don’t want to. Lukas is no fun. That’s why I love you better than him. Because you’re fun.”
Bryn giggled. “I don’t think he would find that funny. He cares about all of us, Lilac. Even though he is rather harsh at times, or bailing me out when I need it most, Lukas cares for us because he loves us, and we ought to do the same.”
Lilac yawned. “I guess so.”
Bryn stood, helping Lilac up and slipping her sister onto her back for a piggyback ride. “Come on, kiddo. Let’s get you home.”
Bryn shook her head as a steaming plate of a small whole pig was laid out before her. She felt sick to her stomach, even though she did want to eat, she just couldn’t because of what she had just remembered. She couldn’t help but miss Lilac, miss the rest of her siblings even though she had to leave them behind. It was not her fault; none of it was. She sighed and speared a carrot with her fork, watching the grease drip off the vegetable like a fat raindrop falling from a leaf. Placing her fork down, she turned her attention to Sister Grace.
“When is my first assignment? Is it soon?” Bryn asked.
Sister Grace dabbed the ends of her mouth, giving Bryn the slight frown of disapproval at being disturbed. “Not right now, no. Those are reserved for a more advanced disciple. Right now, you will undergo changes, which we will discuss at a later date. Right now, we celebrate you becoming a part of our Order.”
Bryn huffed. That wasn’t the answer she wanted. She gnawed absentmindedly at the grease-covered carrot, feeling it going sour in her mouth. As much as she hated waiting, she couldn’t help but also think it was a small victory because she was still very unsure if she still wanted to go through with whatever plan the Order had, especially not after running into the Psych Ericka. Bryn leaned forward, placing her chin on her knuckles as she watched disciples dance and sing at this celebration. A hand jutted out in her direction, making her blink several times up at the newcomer.
“Care for a dance Bryn?” North’s smile was large, almost contagious.
Bryn accepted his offered hand, smiling as she stood. North led her around the table to the dance floor. She couldn’t help the way her heart fluttered in her chest, or the way her face flamed bright scarlet just by his slight touch. She secretly scolded herself for allowing herself to feel such girly urges, especially at a time like this. She never understood her emotions, nor did she ever have anyone to mentor her. Her father died before he could become a father figure, and her mother was way too sick for her to be a motherly figure. If anything, she was on her own.
“Have you ever danced before?” North asked her.
“I have not, no.” She bit her lower lip. “No one ever taught me.”
“Well, there’s a first time for everything, right?”
He took her hand in his, using his free hand to place her other hand on his shoulder before placing his own free hand on her hip. Bryn couldn’t help but shiver feeling his touch, couldn’t help but want to feel more of his skin on her own. Bones! Bryn growled. Stop thinking of him! I barely even know him! She was startled to know that she could keep up with North’s dancing, and he too seemed to be rather excited at her dancing. Bryn rested her head on his shoulder, glancing at Sister Grace as the leader of the crows raised her glass with a grimace on her face.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
The next day went by in a blur for Bryn. She was outfitted for her new robes and several other garments. Olga hadn’t returned since Bryn’s ceremony, and she secretly wished she could see the plump woman again. She hated to admit liking the older woman’s company, or any for that matter. Having friends was not something Bryn was accustomed to. Bryn had haggled Sister Grace every chance she saw the leader of the Crows to ask for her first mission to Serena. And Grace’s answers were always the same. “No.” Eventually, Grace hid in her office with the rest of the Order that Bryn had yet to meet. Well, other than Brother Oliver that was. Speak of the devil, Bryn thought to herself as Brother Oliver rounded the corner to where Bryn sat at the many pews that lined the church.
“Good afternoon Sister Bryn.” Brother Oliver smiled, gesturing to the vacant seat beside her. “May I sit?”
“Of course.” She smiled and scooted over just a tad bit to allow him more room. “How are you today?”
“As well as to be expected, of course.”
“Of course.”
They remained quiet for some time. Neither knew the other well enough to start up a real conversation. However, they did have one thing in common. Magic. Bryn cleared her throat, offering Brother Oliver another warm smile.
“When shall we learn the ways of being a Cyclone?” Bryn asked.
“Whenever you are ready,” he told her.
“Well, didn’t Sister Grace say that she wanted me to wait because I hadn’t met with the Order or the Council I mean.”
“We can wait, or I can just train you. I’m only in Baltimore for another day or two before I need to head back. I have a young princess to attend to, so she can one day rule to be a great queen. We can start now if you wish.”
Bryn couldn’t hold her excitement as she squealed, “I’m all in!”
Oliver grinned. “Wonderful.” He stood and rubbed his hands together as if to create friction. “First thing first, tell me what you know.”
She wrinkled up her nose, trying to rack her brain. She knew hardly anything of her own kind of magic wielders. In fact, the only knowledge she had was what Sister Grace had explained during their first encounter. So, really, Bryn knew nothing, and it seemed to her that without Oliver’s guidance, she wouldn’t get very far. Even with what little breadcrumbs Grace had given Bryn, she still needed help.
“I don’t know much to be honest. All I know is what Gr—Sister Grace told me back in her office. Just small snippets of what we are and what we control. I do know that our emotions play a really big factor in our magic.”
“Correct. Our emotions is what causes the storms. It takes some getting used to for us to learn how to control our moods. Sometimes, even the strongest Cyclone’s struggle with trying to keep control over their emotions. Especially when something traumatic happens, such as a death or falling in love. Emotions take us off guard day in, and day out, it’s what makes us human.” He stood and began to pace. “I can teach you how to control your emotions better, but it seems you have mastered that art already.”
“Hardly,” Bryn snorted. “Why else do you think Serena was always flooded? My emotions were always haywire. Especially when my older brother Lukas died and when my younger sister almost lost her hand for being stupid. I struggle a lot with my emotions; it’s something I promised my father I would try and do. To better my emotions. I failed.”
“No. Emotions make us human, Bryn. I think I don’t have to teach you anything about controlling your emotions, so we’ll go to another basic lesson. Control.
Follow me and watch this.”
He gestured for Bryn to follow. Sliding from her seat, she followed Brother Oliver outside to a bright and sunny afternoon. There wasn’t a cloud in the sky, and the bright blue sky was a beautiful color that mesmerized Bryn with its beauty. Bryn was always enthralled with the sky, especially since the day she found out she could control the storms. She watched as Oliver closed his eyes and lifted his arms in the air above his head. She glanced at the sky as ominous clouds rolled in, thunder rumbling in the distance as lightning struck the ground a few feet away. Bryn jumped when rain pelted only half of the city, the other half still as dry as the Alkali desert.
“Wow,” Bryn whistled. “You did all that with your hands?”
“Wrong. I did that with control, something that I will teach you.”
“How?”
“Close your eyes.”
She did.
“Imagine your emotions having their own voice. Like they’re a person. Someone like you and me,” Oliver instructed.
Bryn’s eyebrows furrowed; her mouth twisted into a frown as she tried to envision her emotions into people. She tried to picture herself talking to her emotions like an old friend, trying to welcome them into her heart. The only thing that happened was a light thunderclap in the distance and a slight wind. Nothing else. Bryn opened her eyes and glanced up at the sky.
Nothing.
“Try this,” Oliver said with his hands in the air. “Try to envision something…horrible? When did you discover you help your magic?”
“When my father died,” Bryn choked. “The day he was sent home in a wagon after the mining accident. The day I let my emotions out.”
“Tell me about that day, Bryn.”
“I was six when it happened. I was in the kitchen with my mom before she was sick. I was helping her peel potatoes for dinner when we…we heard the bells in the city. My family and I waited for what felt like forever when the wagon finally came into view. The wagon was empty save for my father and the guy who brought him to us. I don’t think I could ever not hear my mother’s screaming, nor the night she took ill right after seeing my father dead at our doorstep.
“That was the first night I ran away. I don’t remember much really, just that my older brother Lukas chased after me. I…I cried. My emotions went haywire, my anger mixing with my grief until I couldn’t handle it anymore, and I…snapped. I fell to my knees, the earth pulsating beneath me as I screamed. That’s when the rain happened. It rained for nearly ten days before I had no more energy or the tears to shed. On day nine, the tornado happened. I guess with it being summer that day, and the constant rain, I created a tornado that ripped across Skeg and tore half the city up with it.
“Lukas found me after I had fallen to the ground with the disaster of the city and our town. Hundreds were injured and most killed…I—I scolded myself since then. I never shed a tear since, not until Lukas died of Black Lung, but even then, I had to force myself not to cry because I knew that if I did, I would create another disaster. The last day of my despair lasted for hours. The rain had stopped, but there were a lot of bodies, both torn apart from the tornado and drowning from the constant rain. It was then that King Frederick of Serena put the law into place about anyone who held magic. Told us to leave…but I didn’t listen. I am the only person in all of Serena to hold magic.”
“The only one to have magic in Skeg you mean,” Oliver clarified. “Because there are plenty of others who have magic in Serena, just not in your hometown of Skeg.” He pointed at Bryn’s thunderbolt necklace. “I assume that was a gift? I see you haven’t put on your crow pendant yet.”
Bryn’s fingers curled around her necklace, letting her emotions take the better of her as memories flooded her mind. Memories that she forced herself to never think about ever again. Brother Oliver must have noticed her turmoil because he placed a hand on her shoulder, giving her a gentle squeeze.
“I’ll be leaving the day after tomorrow. I want to continue our sessions because I believe that you are meant for something great, and to do that, we need you to focus both your mind and soul into this. I’m an instructor at the Academy in Stonehenge. Find me there when you are ready to continue.”
“But North told me to say clear of the Academy.”
“As he should,” Oliver said. “That school is not a place for someone like you, especially given how powerful you are. But you are only going to come for me to teach you, and that is all, nothing more and nothing less from that Academy. Do you understand?”
“I do.” Bryn nodded. “I guess this is goodbye, then?”
“Until the next time we meet, I hope it’ll be under different circumstances. Maybe we won’t be watched next time.”
Bryn opened her mouth to ask why he would say that, but a swift shake of his head made her mouth clamp shut. Brother Oliver replaced his hood, his eyes quickly zoning in on something behind her. Bryn watched him leave before she turned around to see a black crow sitting on the arch, beady eyes watching her every movement. It cawed before it took flight, one long flight feather floating down to the green grass. Bryn bent down and picked up, letting her fingers stroke the soft down. Can I trust Sister Grace? Bryn asked herself. Or am I in way over my head?
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
As much as Bryn wanted to say goodbye to Brother Oliver the next day before he departed, she couldn’t help but remember the crow that had watched them like a hawk. It almost seemed like to Bryn, that Sister Grace didn’t fully trust the young girl, nor her intentions for joining the Order of the Crow. For all Bryn knew, she could be a pawn in a much larger game of chess, something she hadn’t considered up until this point. North was distant as well, no matter how many times she tried to talk with him. Both about the Academy and about her role in this so-called-heist that she was charged with doing. So, Bryn paced and paced, her mind wandering back and forth, back and forth as she tried to weigh her options. Out of habit, she stopped, glancing at her dresser where the crow pendant was laid. She reached up to finger her own necklace before carefully unclipping it from her neck.
“I’m sorry,” Bryn whispered as she placed her father’s necklace on the dresser, grabbing the crow pendant in the process. “It’s just for now. I promise.”
The crow pendant weighted heavily along her neck, resting to her collarbone with its wings outstretched on either side. Bryn marveled at the beauty of the pendant and how alike it resembled that of an actual crow. Still, she was far beyond weary of the Order of the Crow, at least until she got more answers than questions. Bryn heard a knock at her door, making her jump. Regaining her composure, she stepped to the door and flung it open to see North’s bright eyes underneath his hood. Her heart fluttered in her chest, her cheeks already starting to turn bright red at seeing him.
“Sister Grace has need of you.” North’s voice was finale, almost cruel as he spoke. “It is of utmost importance.”
North’s words were like ice encasing her heart, almost shattering on impact as he turned on his heel to walk away from her. Bryn reached out, gripping his tunic. He turned to her as she said, “What’s wrong?”
North blinked. “I’ve not a clue what you mean.”
“You’re…you’re being rather cruel to me.”
North shrugged, Bryn’s hand falling to her side. “I am only doing my duty as a Disciple of the Crow. I’m only your friend, Sister Bronwyn.”
North’s use of her full name was a stab to Bryn’s heart. Her chest felt constricted, her heart dropping into her stomach as the weight of his words struck her like a lightning bolt. What had happened to the sweet, caring North? What happened to the young man that she couldn’t wait to see every day to cherish every moment with? Bryn hung her head and allowed herself to build a wall over her to protect her heart. She wouldn’t let a mere boy get her down or in the way of something far greater. North led her down several halls, each one similar to the last. She knew she should have memorized the halls; of each step she took just in case. But she was too
deflated to do much of anything except hang her head in shame. Finally, they made it to a huge wrought iron door with the crow insignia carved in gold.
North caught her arm before she entered. “Meet me at midnight. There are some things we need to talk about.” He glanced about before his eyes landed on Bryn’s. “In private.”
Bryn wanted to object, but her eager mind told her otherwise. He was so cold before, and then he was back to his normal self. Could it be that someone in the Order is pulling all the strings to make North become a cold disciple like the rest Bryn had encountered, or was there something bigger going on that she still had yet to know about? Instead of arguing, she simply nodded and watched North leave down the hall, leaving her alone in front of the huge door without a clue as to what awaited her beyond it. Bryn raised her knuckles to knock when Sister Grace’s voice boomed from the other end of the door. Bryn gulped and pushed open the door to a black room.
At first, she thought it was a bad joke, being led to nothing but a dark room. The room almost resembled the one she had her ceremony in except there were no lights anywhere save for the distant crackle of a fire nearby that she could not see. She heard a snap, and then the entire room was lit from every corner. Bryn was standing in the middle of a nicely polished tile floor, with the image of the crow watching her from below. There were five people in hoods, all faces covered except for their mouths and nose. They were all seated on a rather large dais, their pendants all in view. Sister Grace was in the middle of the group; her hood pulled back to expose her features. Bryn gulped, what on earth had I gotten myself into?
“Welcome, Sister Bryn.” Grace gestured to the other hooded leaders. “This, is the Council of the Crow.”
Bryn opened her mouth, but it was a man who spoke. “You are the Cyclone?” his voice was gruff if not had a hint of amusement as he sized up Bryn. “More importantly, you are the Raven Thief?”
