Chapter 204 Hope
Trixie's POV
The sun was dipping low, casting a soft golden hue over the grounds as we approached the shelter outside the palace walls. My boots crunched over the gravel path, but I barely noticed. My focus was on the women waiting inside, each of them tense and uncertain, and the children scattered among them, fidgeting or clutching their mothers.
I took a deep breath, centering myself. I have to know their intent. That’s what I always used first. I could feel it pulsing beneath my skin, the subtle vibration of truth and lies. It wasn’t magic in the flashy sense. It was more like reading a room, but on a deeper, sharper wavelength.
“Trinity, Roxie, I need you both to stay close,” I murmured, and they fell in step beside me. Roxie’s eyes scanned the building like she expected danger around every corner, while Trinity’s posture was relaxed, almost playful, though I knew she was watching too.
As soon as we stepped inside, the atmosphere shifted. The women froze mid-motion, their expressions flickering between hope and fear. Some glanced at me with wary recognition, others barely dared look. My gaze swept over them, and I could feel the hesitance, the questions burning in their minds. Who was coming today? What would we want?
I forced a soft smile and gestured to the seating area. “Please, sit. We’re here to talk. No one is in trouble.”
The moment they relaxed, even slightly, I extended my senses. I could feel the sincerity or the lack of it, threading through their words even before they spoke. Some of the women tried to mask it with polite smiles and careful phrases. A few couldn’t hide the raw honesty of their worry.
“Thank you for coming,” one of the older women said, her voice trembling. “We we weren’t sure anyone would come today.”
I inclined my head. “I’m here. That’s enough for now.” My eyes softened as I scanned the room. “I know this is hard. Being pulled out of your homes, waiting, not knowing.” I let the words hang, letting my aura reinforce them. I could feel her relief, just a little, ripple back at me. She wasn’t lying.
Another woman, younger, crossed her arms defensively. I caught the flicker of deception. Not malicious, just protective. She didn’t want to appear scared. I moved closer, deliberately lowering myself to make her feel less threatened. “It’s okay,” I said gently. “You don’t have to hide it. I can see it. You’re doing what you think is right, and that’s enough.”
Her eyes widened slightly, a crack forming in the wall she’d built around herself. I smiled just a fraction, feeling the subtle heat of recognition. She trusted me, at least a little, even if she didn’t realize it.
Trinity leaned slightly toward me, whispering, “They’re holding back a lot. You want me to prod a little?”
I shook my head. “Not yet. Let them settle. They will tell us what we need to know. Patience, Trinity.”
Roxie, meanwhile, was standing near the entrance, alert but calm, scanning for anyone who might have been following us. Her presence alone seemed to make the women relax a little more. I appreciated her subtle reassurance.
I took a deep breath and allowed my power to extend, not invasively, but as a gentle wave. “If anyone wants to speak freely, now is the time,” I said. “No judgment. We’re here to understand.”
Slowly, one woman either brave or desperate, I wasn’t sure which, she spoke. Her words were hesitant at first, but I could feel the honesty in each one. I didn’t need to push, They way she spoke already told me she was telling the truth. As she spoke, a few others followed, opening up about small struggles, fears, and worries.
I stayed quiet, listening, letting my presence hold the room. Trinity and Roxie flanked me subtly, protective without being overbearing. I could feel the tension in the room slowly melting into cautious trust. The golden light from the low sun poured through the windows, painting the space in warmth, and for the first time in days, I felt a little of that warmth echoing back at me from the women.
When the session finally ended, I stood and stretched slightly, letting my gaze sweep over everyone. “We’ll return soon,” I said. “And we will keep you informed. You are not forgotten.”
As we walked back outside, Trinity nudged me. “You were incredible.” She smiled big and wide at me.
I smirked, shrugging lightly. “It’s just reading them. Nothing fancy. But yes, they needed that.”
Roxie gave a rare smile. “You always know exactly what to do, don’t you?” She cocked her brow up.
“I’ve had practice,” I said, feeling the weight of responsibility settle on my shoulders again. But it wasn’t heavy, it was the kind of responsibility that reminded me why I did this.
Outside, the air was cool, and the last rays of sun gilded the path. I glanced back at the shelter. Golden light inside, warmth seeping through the walls, a small spark of hope. That was enough, for now.