Page 6 of Emergence of Fire
“I’m sorry, Aunt Twyla. I am finding this hard to believe, even though I know what I saw and experienced at my apartment.” She stops and shakes her head in disbelief. “Not possible. Can you start from the beginning?” She scrubs her face with her hands before they disappear under the table. I can hear the swishing sound of her hands rubbing her thighs. She only does it when she’s nervous. As much as I want to reach out and reassure her, the best thing I can do for her right now is to tell her the truth.
“This world is divided into five Realms.” Cordelia’s mouth hangs open, I can see she is about to speak. I put my hand up to indicate for her to stop. “This is a quick history lesson, Delia. I know you have questions but to understand what all of this is I am doing as you asked. I am starting at the beginning.”
“OK, five Realms.” She says with a nod. She settles into her chair and grabs her coffee as I continue. I jump up out of my chair, grab a notepad with a pen and pencil from the kitchen drawer. Cordelia watches me closely as I bring it back to the table, sitting down again I begin to draw.
“Think of the world we live in like an onion with the top layer of this world being what humans consider Earth. The next layer is the Realm of Bestia, the Realm of shifters. The—”
“Wait, the Realm of Shifters?” Cordelia jumps in quickly, eyebrow raised. “Do you mean like werewolves?” I can’t help but smile at her curiosity and the look of awe on her face.
“I mean all kinds, not just wolves. I’m talking lions, tigers, bears, even birds. Although, I want to add that Bestia no longer exists. It was destroyed hundreds of years ago, before I was born. I remember asking my father how this could happen but he told me the reasons were lost with most of the Realms leaders. Any shifters who survived were forced to seek refuge in other Realms and almost all of them chose Earth.” I watch as Cordelia’s eyes grow big like saucers and I pause for questions.
“So, you’re saying Shifters live amongst humans, and we have no idea they are here,” she asks slowly. Processing all of this new information can’t be easy. She tilts her head, before asking, “Wait, you said your father? So, I have a grandfather somewhere?” I swallow and look away. I’m not ready to broach the subject of my family just yet so, I continue without answering.
“Yes, they live among us. Mostly, in packs and secret communities. Their powers are limited to just shifting here on Earth during a full moon but for some that was enough. Considering what they lost, to lose your beast, would be a fate worse than death for them,” I say solemnly. I can relate, losing my magic almost felt the same way. The only thing that kept me going was taking care of Cordelia. That was enough, it is still enough. Cordelia picks up the diagram and holds it in her hands, studying every detail. I’m not the best artist but it’s the best I can do.
“The next Realm is Celestia,the Realm of Druids and Mages. Spellcasters, Witches, and Warlocks, all of the ideas for Druidism, Paganism, Wicca, and Witchcraft originate from there. The fourth Realm, and the most mysterious is Incantatia, the Realm of Fae. That’s where the stories of Elves and Fairies come from. Last, and certainly not least, is the fifth Realm, Arcadia, the Realm of Dragons. Your home, Delia, where you were born.” Cordelia places the diagram on the table and I point down at the third layer towards my home. “This is where I am from.” I lock eyes with her and I wait for her to catch up. I watch as her hands trace the circles on the diagram, her head is down, she’s lost in thought. After a few minutes a tear falls on the paper, distorting the picture slightly, she finally looks at me again, wiping away her stray tears.
“Why am I here and not in Arcadia? If you’re from Celestia then you’re not my actual aunt?” She exhales and wipes away another tear. “You are all I know. You are the only family I have. I am not negating that at all. I never will. I want you to know that now before you tell me the rest of this fucked up story, because I am sure it only goes downhill from here. Am I right?” She asks and I nod my head slowly.
She looks so much like her mother. Although Thana put her in my care, Cordelia is more my child than hers now. The last thing I want to do is put my child in harm’s way. I don’t care how old she is, I would die in her place if it ever came down to it.
“Is it too early in the morning to start drinking because this is the kind of shit you need a stiff drink for.” She laughs through her tears as she stands and walks to the refrigerator.
“All I have is red wine. You’re right, tea and coffee won’t cut it for the rest of this.” My laugh is hollow and I barely manage it as I hear her grab the bottle and glasses. Sitting everything on the table she begins to pour a glass for each of us. A half of glass is all I can manage at this time of morning, but she fills her glass to the top. She looks at me with a smile and shrugs.
“After everything I have just heard, I deserve this. It’s eleven o'clock somewhere in the world, or Realms? Right?” She has a short laugh before she has a sip. The last thing I want to do is recall what happened to her mother but I wonder if I can show her. With my magic returned maybe I can let her see it through my eyes. I wait for her to put her glass down, and I place my elbows on the table and hold out my hands out for her to take. "I lost my magic when I brought you here to Earth. This Realm lessens our magic, and in my case, it took away everything. I don’t know how it’s possible, but it has returned.” I smile softly as she places her hands in mine. “For thirty years I’ve been deprived of my own magic until tonight. I adopted the Wiccan practice because it loosely follows the tradition of my own Realm. I accepted my fate a long time ago. I don’t know how it’s happening; I can only assume it has something to do with my closeness to you, Delia. I felt my magic wash over me like a warm blanket and settle deep within my bones, making me whole again. I accepted it with a smile and unshed tears for a part of me I never thought I would get back. I accepted with a steely determination to protect what’s mine, thinking I would never feel it again. I know I have you to thank. I want to see if I can show you what happened the night I fled with you to this Realm. I want you to see what I saw. I have to warn you now that you will see the death of your mother, and the faces of those who betrayed her. Would you like to see it?” Cordelia squeezes my hands tight and locks eyes with me.
“Let me see.” She nods her head, determined, readying herself for what I am about to show her.
“Close your eyes.” I tell her as I close my own. Opening my mind to hers the connection is instant. The last thing I hear is her surprised gasp as we are both plunged into events of the past.
CHAPTERFIVE
CORDELIA
Ithought I was all cried out. I thought the wine would help me relax so that I was ready to face whatever my aunt has to say but now she is showing me. As soon as our hands touch, I feel a spark of something. It feels familiar but foreign at the same time and it takes me a minute to realize that the low thrumming inside my chest is her magic. Without opening my eyes, I begin to see distorted shapes and images, until eventually it is as if I am standing right in the middle of the action. I want to fight against the urge to keep my eyes closed in order to see. I sway in my seat, a little dizzy from the sensation. Aunt Twyla gives my hand a squeeze, grounding me.
“I’m a little rusty.” Her chuckle sounds a bit nervous. “Give yourself a minute. This can be disorienting at first. Remember that these are my memories and you will only see and hear what I experienced. I wish I could give you more memories than those you’re about to see, but I was only in Arcadia for a short time, the day my father sent me to your mother.” She doesn’t say anymore after that. All I can hear is her soft inhalations of breath as she continues to hold my hand.
I am standing in what looks to be a gigantic atrium of a cathedral. The ceiling is high with a curve, as tall and wide as a sports arena, my aunt tilts her head back and I still can’t see the top. This place was obviously meant to hold large gatherings for what I can only assume were Dragons. I move forward up a wide white and gold marble staircase only for the door to open at the top to reveal a beautiful woman in a long white dress. I try to move up the steps but instead bow on my knees in front of the woman. It is only then I remember this isn’t me moving but Aunt Twyla. I’m just a passenger and watching through her eyes.
“Rise, Twyla, daughter of Maddox, King of Celestia.” Aunt Twyla stands and continues to walk up the steps until we are in front of the woman. I know she is my mother; her eyes are so like my own, they stare back at me with worry and concern. I see my lips and nose are like hers too. My face is heart-shaped, where hers is more oval. She was beautiful, and I instantly feel an ache in my chest and have a faint recollection of her warm dark brown eyes staring down at me. My mommy. My own brief memory of the woman who gave me life saddens me as I gaze through my aunt's eyes. Even though my eyes are still closed I can feel my tears slide down my cheeks. I don’t think I have ever cried so much in my life. In just a few short hours the flood gates have opened, and I don’t know when I will be ok enough for them to close.
“Queen Thana it is my honor and duty to do my father’s will. I only hope that I can fulfill your wishes and take—”
“Not here, Twyla, I will take you to my daughter first and we can talk in private.” My mother cuts her off, clearly concerned about someone overhearing their conversation. I watch as the queen turns and walks back the way she came and my aunt follows. The queen says nothing as we pass through corridor after corridor of an opulent palace. I don’t know what I expected when we went through the main doors but I didn’t expect it to feel so much like Earth. Some rooms even had televisions. I can’t tell what the people were watching but it had all signs of a modern society. I wonder if all the Realms are similar to Earth? I definitely have more questions for my aunt when this is over.
With a wave of her hand in front of a black panel a door slides away revealing an elevator that looks like a gilded gold cage. The elevator goes up several floors until it stops with a ding. It opens to reveal even more ornate corridors. Geez, this place is huge. Eventually we stop in front of a white door inlaid with gold geometric panels and a large golden letter C on top it. Well, Dragons do love treasure, right? Maybe that is where my need to hoard the things I hold dear to me came from. Or am I just extremely possessive of what belongs to me? Isn’t that the same thing?
Focus, Cordelia. My mother opens the door and my aunt follows behind her a few steps into the most extravagant baby nursery I’ve ever seen. Why people go through such extremes for a child who will outgrow it all in a matter of months is beyond my understanding. I have to remember that this was my nursery, and this is a palace with gold everywhere. Of course, my room would be over the top. In the center of the room is a gilded crib draped with heavy pink, white, and dare I say, gold frilly blankets.
I take a quick look around before Aunt Twyla makes it to the bed. There are four ornately carved wooden rocking chairs in the room. Why four? I think to myself as a large wooden rocking horse came into view. Large stuffed teddy bears and other toys are strategically placed around the room, it’s a child's dreamland. It is mine, even if it’s just for a moment, I smile. Imagining what growing up here would have been like. There are several wardrobes along the walls; walls that have colorful Dragons flying amongst white fluffy clouds painted on them. Standing next to the bed is another woman holding the hand of a little boy who is standing on his tiptoes so he can see into the crib.
“Torin, don’t overcrowd her.” The woman whispers as she moves the little boy aside as we approach. As we pass the woman and child my aunt looks down and meets the child's eyes, and my heart skips a beat. I feel an overwhelming sense of joy and love. My knees feel weak from the force of emotions washing over me. His little black curls and light bronze-gold eyes stare up at her, and just for a moment I feel a connection. A deep, penetrating, connection that I can feel even through this vision. He smiles and waves, then he is behind us. If I could have turned around and walked back to him, I would have. Who was this little boy? Was he my brother?
“Delilah, I am so sorry to cut your visit short but I think you should take Torin and leave Saphir as soon as possible. It is no longer safe for you, and especially your son.” My mother says to the woman. So, he’s not my brother.
“Yes, Thana. I can’t believe it has come to this. Everything we’ve built. You trusted—”
