119

Esme

When Bellamy told me that he had a vision of my brother Alex racing to my rescue after arguing with father, I didn't believe him at first. Thankfully, he convinced me to allow Maryanne to scry for him, and lo and behold, there he was, racing through the wastelands between the resistance's current outpost and Alistair's estate.

We tracked his progress while working with Galina to learn more about her new abilities and memories. So many things were unlocked in her mind that we're still sorting through, and we've all been overwhelmed by the influx of information.

Seeing Alex in person makes much of the worry melt away, though. I feel like a child again, huddled in my big brother's arms, only this time, I'm comforting him instead of him me.

I send Bellamy to escort him to his room and help him feel more comfortable in our home while my mind rushes back to the last couple of days. Galina bound herself to the circle two days ago, unlocking her memories and awakening her latent abilities as well as those she gained from the deity essence gifted to her. She said that she has so much to tell us, but when she tries to articulate those things, it comes out a jumbled mess. Things that make sense to her in her mind are confusing to us, since we're missing so much of the picture.

We're working to puzzle things together, but the more we learn about what's going on, the less likely it's looking that we can stand against this threat alone.

Alistair has doubled down on summoning allies, and while at first it looked like we were unable to contact anyone, slowly, messages have been trickling in. There's definitely something trying to keep everyone apart, while forces gather against us, but whatever it is hasn't been as successful as we had feared.

Alistair has been worried, since we received word that his younger siblings would be paying us a visit. They should have arrived yesterday, but his sister, Mercy, sent word that they would be in town for a couple of days. You'd think that such news would be a relief, but it only made him more tense.

Alistair is lifting his ban on magic tomorrow, thankfully. I don't know why he's been so adamant on avoiding it to contact people, but whatever had him so wary has proven to either be a non issue or something that is worth facing to have the additional firepower at our disposal.

I run my hands through my hair as the sporadic thoughts and worries swirl around in my mind. I know there's nothing I can do now, so rather than dwell on what's coming, or what needs doing, I crawl into bed, tucking myself against Novak's back and leaving space for Bellamy behind me. Tomorrow will come soon enough.

~

Emmanuel

The day after she merged with the circle, Galina came downstairs in a flurry of feathers, and I immediately knew who she was. I was shocked, at first, and then appalled as I put the pieces together. Galina Heavensbreath was the only child of Amelie Heavensbreath, Archangel and advisor to my father. Amelie disappeared when I was young, almost too young to really remember. Her daughter was about my age, and after her mother disappeared, I never saw her again.

It was around that time that father changed from an actual parent to, whatever it is he's become now.

Somewhere, in the back of my mind, I always believed him responsible for the missing females, but when Galina mentioned Therian, everything came rushing back.

Therian was always a jealous man. He was of the opinion that females were weak, and only to be used as tools and broodmares. When father repeatedly took Amelie's advise over his own, he'd fly into jealous rages behind closed doors. I was young, of course, so he didn't bother hiding it from me like he did the adults. After all, who would believe a spoiled child prince over the calm, collected, and respected advisor of one of the most powerful men in the world. No one. And they didn't, so I stopped trying to make them believe.

When Amelie disappeared, Therian took her place at father's right hand side, becoming one of his chief advisors. He'd frequently encourage violence and strong-arming when there were better paths towards the goals. Father became nearly as cruel as he was in public as well as behind closed doors.

It was around this time that Christine came to Heaven, often spending time with me while her parents dealt with father and his advisors. As time went on, I all but forgot about little Galina, the sweet, helpful girl who would play in the gardens with me.

I'm almost embarrassed to have not recognized her, but when she tells me of what Therian did to her, I'm enraged at myself for not having done more to find her. She assures me that she's fine, and I was just a child, but those words don't alleviate the guilt.

She's the spitting image of Amelie, with her nearly translucent hair and powerful wings, struck through with gold and silver. I've taken to teaching her to fly, something she never quite mastered before being locked away and maimed.

When her wings beat through the air, they shimmer, leaving a rainbow of magic in their wake. She's not yet able to control the shimmering colors, but when she can manipulate that latent magic, she'll be nearly unstoppable in flight.

Therian disappeared a few years ago, which no doubt is the only reason Galina could escape. At least, that's my thought. She's hinted that there were other factors, but hasn't been ready to share them with me just yet. Every time she looks at me, there's a slight frown on her face, like there's a memory that she can't quite reach, and itch of recognition. She says she remembers us as children, but it's not that which has he eyes glinting suspiciously when I maneuver around her. She looks at me almost like she believes I'm responsible for her escape, but other than ferrying her out of Heaven, I had nothing to do with it.

"So when I bank like this, the sparkles seem to condense around me... why is that?"

Her words snap me from my reverie, drawing me back towards the lesson at hand.

"You're really going to call this amazing, powerful, latent magic sparkles, aren't you?"

"It seems appropriate, since they shimmer and shine like sparkles. Besides, it makes me happy."

"Then that's all the reason you need, I suppose. We all deserve a little happiness."

She smiles softly and nods, awaiting my answer to her original question.