Chapter 37

When Ava got back, she went right up to her room. She didn’t want to discuss anything that had happened with anyone. Not yet. How could she when she didn’t know exactly what she had done? Aside from the fact that she was with four others—who all had wings—she was struggling with why someone would do something like that. She got that society was full of sick, selfish people and delusional ones too, but why her?

Getting up off the bed, she stepped over the pile of bike magazines and went over to the window. It was quiet outside, no one in sight. Perching on the windowsill, she turned her back to the glass. She needed to go down and make sure that Aireese contacted Capri about putting some sort of protection spell on the building, but to do that, she would have to talk about what happened.

She looked at her hand. It was dumb, but she thought she could still feel Firo’s touch. How ridiculous was that? She snorted quietly. She was annoyed that she couldn’t be mad at him for marking her, or whatever, when she was born. It wasn’t his fault, but also because if he hadn’t, then he wouldn’t have come when she needed him. Rubbing her thumb over her other palm, she tried to erase the sensation that she still felt. At least he knew what was classified as ‘needed’ and wasn’t a nuisance. Blowing up your home and some evil magic idiot trying to hijack your power were pretty needy times.

A knock on the door made her stiffen. “Yeah?

The door opened a few inches. Capri looked in. “Do you have a minute?”

Ava snorted. “I have lots of minutes. Come in.” It didn’t matter what was happening, she would always say yes to her. If it weren’t for her, who knew where she would be now? Or if she would be at all.

Capri came in and closed the door behind her. For a moment, she looked around the room. Yes, it was a little cluttered and could be cleaner, but Ava only slept in it, so the rest didn’t matter to her.

“How are you doing?”

Ava wanted to say fine, but she ended up shrugging. “I have no idea.” She exhaled slowly. “Did the princess reach out to you?”

Capri nodded. “She was light on the details of what happened, but we’re still going to get something up to protect everyone.”

Ava felt relief move through her. “I don’t think anyone should go out alone right now either.” She glanced at the hand again and then put it in her pocket. “If someone did that to one of the others, I don’t know what would happen.”

“What did happen?” She went over and sat on the very edge of the bed.

Ava sighed. “Someone tried to take my power.” She scoffed. “I may not know how to use it, but I’m not about to let anyone take it.”

“Was it like when Karma and Flora were with you?”

Ava nodded and then leaned back against the window. “It was so strong.” She shook her head. “They had to boost my power kind of so I could smack that idiot down.” It hit her then. “I was with four fae who all have wings.” Despite the confusion inside her head, she gave Capri a lopsided grin. “Never thought I’d say that.”

Capri smiled. “That must have been something to see.”

Ava nodded. “It was—or would have been if I wasn’t trying to smack someone with magic.” She sighed and looked at her hands. “I have to go to Fa Terra and see some elders so they can test my heart or magic or—” She looked at her. “—something.”

Capri hugged the book she held against her chest. “I’ve always wondered what it would look like there.” She wiggled the book. “I’ve read so many fables and stories about fairies and their magic, it would be interesting to see if any of it was true.”

Ava hadn’t even thought of that. “Is that what that book is about?”

Capri looked at it and shook her head. “No. This one is about the law of attraction.” She shrugged. “Some day, I’ll find one that explains myself to me.”

Ava wouldn’t want to be her mentor. It was hard enough being what she was, but Capri had so many types of DNA mushed up together inside her that she had no hope of ever finding answers. “Firo says the elders may have known my father. An angel that worked with some of the fae and other realms to set up the—” She made quotes in the air. “—fix it for all that’s been happening.” She inhaled slowly. “His name was Izel.” Her heart felt like it was going to explode. It was beating that hard.

Capri set the book on her lap and opened it. “That might explain this.” She held up a fancy envelope. “I found it outside the door this morning and didn’t have a chance to speak to you about it.” She held it out. “Strange, none of the perimeter alarms went off when whoever had this put it on the step.”

Ava narrowed her eyes as she looked at it. Going over, she took it and looked at it. ‘For the child of Fa Terra Princess Avaline.’ The writing was fancier than any she’d ever seen before. She looked at Capri. “I guess it’s for me.”

“That’s what I thought.” She stood up. “Are you going over to Fa Terra to see the elders?

Ava looked at the envelope again and then at her. “I said I would.”

“The elders may have answers to questions you have.”

“I have a lot of those, but to say them—even think them hurts my head.”

Capri nodded. “I know. Have you thought of asking Aireese to remove the magic blocking your memories?”

Ava shook her head. “I don’t want to.” She shrugged. “I’m good with who I am now. I don’t need to know who I was or if something bad happened.”

“You’re stronger than I am,” Capri sighed. “All I have are questions.”

Ava felt bad. Capri had been around a lot longer than her, and she still had no answers to anything. The fact that she still sought out others who had been born with mixed-up genetic soup and helped them made her a hero, in Ava’s opinion. “I want to learn how to control whatever it is I can do.” She nodded slowly. “If I’m going to be some kind of superhero, I should know what I’m doing, right?”

Capri nodded and then offered her an understanding smile. “You were born to do this.” She put her hand against her chest. “I feel it.”

Ava blew out a breath. “Yeah, well, let’s hope someone didn’t make a huge mistake.”

Capri laughed. “Many mistakes have been made. That’s why we’re going to correct them.” She went over to the door. “The others are worried about you, so come down and put their minds at ease when you’re finished up here.”

“Yeah. Sure.” She waited until she left to look at the envelope again. Going over, she sat on the bed and stared at it. Opening it might change everything—again. She didn’t know if she could handle any more changes.

Her hand shook as she carefully opened it. She didn’t want to rip the fancy paper. When she pulled it out, she set the envelope beside her and looked at it. “It’s just words.” She whispered as she unfolded it.

The handwriting was fancy, like on the envelope. She had to really focus on it to read it.

Little one, I entrusted a friend to get this note to you.

I am certain you have many questions. I wish I could be there to answer them for you. My centuries of scheming and resetting the course of existence have landed me grounded indefinitely. I am no longer allowed to go to your plain. I am sorry for this.

I recently learned that your mother, Avaline, did not survive, and for that, I felt things I was not meant to. I am deeply distressed that you did not know her but know that we had a great fondness for each other. Avaline knew of the things to come and stepped forward to create one of the forces that were necessary to correct the wickedness that was being plotted. I do know that she grew to love you very much while you were formed inside her. I, too, had become anxious to meet you. I am sorry that never came to be.

I wish I could write all of it for you. Tell you of the things that you will need to know, but I cannot. I have been forbidden to interfere any further. I can only hope that the time invested in finding the solutions to each aspect of the evilness was enough to end it.

I am told you are with the women born in the time of the Gemini, and for that, I feel great relief. The sign of two is both the cause and the solution to the plight of all creation.

I hold great faith in you and know that all of you will prevail.

Perhaps in the future, the chance will occur that I may see you with my own eyes.

Have peace, little one.

Your father, Izel Ava folded it up carefully and placed it back in the envelope. She didn’t want her eyes to leak all over it and ruin the ink. Setting it aside, she stared at the window. Her father had written to her. She would process what it said later. For right now, she was an emotional stew by the fact that her father had sent that for her. Wiping her eyes, she blew out a breath and then looked at it. It didn’t say much, but she knew that Aireese would want to see it. Capri would as well.

Getting up, she turned and looked down at it again. Did it mean all her friends were born to be part of this? She rolled her neck back and forth, trying to regain her focus. It was going to be impossible now that she knew her father hadn’t abandoned her either. Some god—or whatever was in charge of him had basically imprisoned him to wherever it was they lived. This changed everything.

Picking up the envelope, she looked at it for a moment. It had to be shared.