Selene

Matias jumps off the windowsill, a tiny thump sounds before he runs out of the room. I go to follow him, but my knees give out. The table meets my hand as the room spins around me. 

That spell took a lot out of me. I'm also afraid it took something from me that I can't ever get back. 

With a deep breath I take another step forward. This time my knee stays strong under me. Slowly but surely I make my way out of the study. Another knock rings throughout the cottage. If it's Eve at the door why hasn't she just walked in? Maybe it isn't Eve then. Maybe it's...

My heart stops at the thought. I freeze in the hall, my hand on the wall to keep me steady. What if it's the town? Or even Mama? Would they really know so soon about me using magic? 

"Is girl okay?" Calchas flaps his wings beside me, just at eye level.

"Is it Eve at the door?" I ask, hoping for once he'll give a straight answer.

"I will fly beside you," he says.

I sigh and shake my head. "Why did I expect you to answer?" With a chuckle I push off the wall and make my way down the hall to the door. The crow keeping pace beside me. When I finally reach the door I'm surprised to see it still closed. With the little light I can just barely make out Matias' form sitting in front of it. "What are you doing?" I ask him.

"What if it isn't Eve?"

So he has the same fear as me. "Why don't we open it together then?" Once I'm standing directly behind him, I bend down to be closer to him. Reaching out, I smooth the hair on his head and scratch just behind his ear. 

A purr fills the silent hallway. "And if it's not her, we'll facing this together, right?" He tilts his head to look back at me, leaning into my hand.

I smile. "Of course."

"Will you do the honors?" He stands up and steps to the side.

"Are you sure?"

He nods, his gaze already settled on the door.

With a deep breath I stand up. Taking a step forward, I grab the cold doorknob and twist it to the side. The door swings open, revealing a girl on the other side. The first thing I notice is her silver hair. It hangs loosely around her shoulders. Which then brings me to her eyes, they are the bluest eyes I've ever seen. Freckles dot her face like stars.

She stares at me, something like surprise, and excitement, and something else, dancing in her eyes. 

I'm finding it hard to catch my breath again. Finding it hard to remember that something in me feels different. That something in me has changed and can never be reversed. That something within me has disappeared, and I can never get it back. 

"You're hair is different," Matias says. 

I tear my gaze away from this beautiful girl to Matias. He's standing on all four paws, gazing up at this other worldly girl. 

"Do you like it?" she asks, picking up a strand and twirling it between her fingers. "I think the moon gifted it to me as a parting gift, and maybe as a way to say sorry."

The cat walks closer to her, he stands up and places his forepaws on her leg. "It looks beautiful." He nuzzles her leg. "I'm so glad you're back," he whispers. 

She bends down and scoops him in her arms. Nuzzling him right back. "I'm glad to be back too." Her gaze snaps up to me. "I have you to thank for that, don't I?"

"Yes!" caws Calchas.

The girls eyes light up even more. "Calchas! My little seer! You knew the whole time, right?"

He flies up and lands on her shoulder. "Of course."

"And Matias was nice to you?" she asks, with a glance at the cat in question.

"Of course I was," he says, with an offended tone.

"More or less," answers the crow.

She smiles before turning back to me again. "I guess I have to thank you, don't I?"

"You don't have to thank me." My face gets hot, and for once I'm glad it's dark. 

"I think I do. You helped them find me. And you got me out of the moon. So, thank you. Is there anything I can do to thank you further?"

I shake my head. "I didn't do this for some sort of reward. But... I'm glad you're home safe." I smile.

She smiles with her teeth. It's the cutest thing I've ever seen. "Are you sure?" She looks over her shoulder, and when she turns back to me any joy that she had, has been wiped from her face. "The townsfolk won't ever treat you the same way again if they found out you helped me."

I look down at Matias, who's already looking at me. "I know." I take a deep breath. "Maybe there is something you can help me with."

***

The streets are quiet and deserted as we make our way through town. There's still a few hours before the early risers wake. But with the windows on houses all closed and dark, and the wind and animals the only ones stirring this late, it's hard to not think this is a ghost town.

If only it was though. This would all be so much simpler if it was only me, Matias, Calchas and Eve who haunted this town. I wouldn't have to worry about what anyone else thought, or about being outcasted. 

"Are you going to be okay?" Matias asks. I look down to find him walking steady with me. I'm surprised to see he's left Eve's side at all. When she tried to put him down early he refused to even touch the ground. It took a couple of minutes to even get him agree to walk beside her. 

"I really hope so." I reach up and grab a strand of my hair before twirling it around my finger.

"You remember what I said?"

I shake my head. "You've said a lot this past hour."

"That's true. But I said, that if you're mom can't accept you after finding out you helped us and used magic, that says more about her then it does you."

I take a deep breath. "I know... But... it'll be hard."

"I know."

"Wait." I turn around to see Eve has stopped. Her blue eyes are wide, and her silver hair shines under the moon. "Are we going and seeing your mom?"

I nod.

She starts shaking her head. "I can't come with you." She picks up speed. "Your mom hates me."

I take a tentative step forward. "She only hates you because she doesn't know you," I say, and hope it'll convince her. In this moment I don't even know if I believe the words.

She stops shaking her head. "I'm sorry, but I can't. Your mom believes I killed your dad."

I reach out and grab her hands. "No. She doesn't." But the look on her face tells me she doesn't believe me. "I know this, because if she did think you killed my pa, she would have told me and blamed you. But she didn't. So, I know deep down, she does believe you."

"You were just the one who had to deliver the message," Matias says from beside me. 

"Please come with me? We'll be able to sort it out, together." I take a deep breath, as the one thought I'm too scared to voice swirls in my mind. I don't want to be alone if the worst happens.

Her gaze searches mine for a long moment, before she sighs. "Alright. Let's go see your mom."

Chapter word count: 1,272

Total word count: 20,481