“I won’t apologize for being selfish.” Azrael tugs my hand, urging me forward.
Ignoring the way I drag my feet, he pulls me to the door. Maybe he’s right to leave time frozen. Should I be mad about that? Am I upset for the wrong reasons? A deep sense of regret settles in my bones. And as if sensing my unease, Azrael’s thumb swipes over my hand in reassurance.
“Why are you hesitating?” he asks as we stand on the doorstep.
Embarrassed, I stare at the ground. “I’m not ready to say goodbye to Miriam. And I’m terrified of what he’ll do when he finds out my mother and I have both abandoned him. Azrael, what if he tries to take us back?”
“Don’t worry, Mercy. You’re mine now. You belong to me. And he’ll never be able to take you back. I won’t let him.” Azrael’s voice rasps against my ear. “Look at me. ”
I drag my gaze up to meet his reluctantly. All the while, my heart threatens to pound its way out of my chest. He cups my face in his warm, rough hands, the calluses grazing my cheeks. “I promise no one will ever take you from me. Do you understand?”
I nod, silently comprehending the depth of his promise. He’s already told me once tonight he can’t break a promise. This promise feels heavier. The weight of his words makes my heart beat even faster. Shadows embrace me, wrapping their way around my body, filling me with the courage I need to twist the door handle open.
“Come in,” I say, inviting both Zora and Azrael inside.
I lead them through the small entryway, deeper into the house, allowing the tension to hang between us as we step into the kitchen where my parents remain exactly the way I left them hours ago.
My father’s face contorts with hatred as he stares at the spot where I should be. His fists remain clenched. My muscles remember what my mind is trying to forget—how quickly his rage can flicker into violence. Even now, frozen and powerless, my hands shake as I pass by him. Once more, shadows snake around my body, soothing me with their touch. I can’t bring myself to glance at my mother, too afraid of what I might see, and the fear in her eyes.
The room hums with energy as Zora waves her hand through the air. I can sense her pushing at the magic I created. She leans over to whisper in Azrael’s ear.
They whisper back and forth, moving around the room and sweeping their hands across surfaces as they discuss a solution.
“The magic is strong, but not permanent,” Zora finally declares. “We can fix this easily.”
Azrael nods in agreement. “Yes, I can hear the whispers of the counter spell. I could undo it, but I think it’s best if you practice using your magic—so you’re ready next time something unexpected happens.”
He slides an arm around me. “Close your eyes and listen to the magic, Mercy. Can you hear it whispering?”
I close my eyes and lean against him for support. “I feel energy, but I can’t hear anything, I confess.”
“That’s okay,” Azrael breathes. “You can sense it, and that’s a start.”
“Have her touch one of them and try again,” Zora encourages, studying me carefully.
I flinch but tug Azrael with me to lay a hand on my mother’s arm and close my eyes. Straining my ears for anything, I’m able to make out a whisper of something after a few seconds. “I don’t know what it’s saying. The sound is so faint, almost like it’s far away.”
Azrael beams at me proudly. “I knew you could do it. The more you practice, the easier it will be.”
“Your connections are impressive,” Zora adds with a smile.
“This will take a lot out of you because of earlier. We don’t know how close you are to burning out after freezing the town.” Azrael pauses.
I gulp nervously, hanging on to everything he’s explaining. “What will happen to me?”
“Zora will hold your hand while you work. Hopefully that keeps you from burning out.”
I interrupt him, alarmed. “Burning out? Are you sure this is safe?”
“Yes. I would never endanger you, Mercy.” he quietly declares.
“What do I need to do?”
“No magic yet,” Zora cuts in. “First, we need to clean up dinner. If your parents wake up to this mess and you’re asleep in bed, it’ll raise questions.”
I look at the meager dinner. Wasting food makes my stomach ache just thinking about it, but I know I don’t have a choice. I begin clearing the table of the dinner we never ate.
“Where should we leave them?” Azrael asks, motioning to my frozen parents.
