Chapter 45

Ava sat down at the long wooden table. She was never going to take for granted how good a pair of jeans felt ever again. She looked around to see all twelve women looking at her. She glanced to see Vex sitting on the counter in the kitchen. She’d never been down here when all of them were before. Everyone would go outside during the times she came down to get out of her room for a few minutes. She looked like a whole different person. Even her red hair was brighter. She smiled at her.

“If I take off, it’s because I can’t do it any longer.”

Ava nodded. “It’s just great to see you down here.”

Vex smiled. “Talk fast.”

Ava understood the urgency in her voice. “Okay.” She puffed out her cheeks and blew it out. “I don’t know where to start.”

“Start by telling us what it was like there.” Em leaned on the table, her eyes rounding behind her glasses.

“Colorful.” Ava nodded. “Strange. I could feel the pulse of everything through the ground I was standing on.” She shook her head. “It was just so much all at once.”

“You passed this test? What was it like?” Tera played with a butterfly on her finger and then reached up and put it on her hair.

“Strange.” It was the only word she couldn’t think of. “I didn’t know I was being tested until after.”

Sparx gave her a ‘huh?’ look.

“Right. So, a tree broke, and I grabbed this little girl so she wouldn’t get squashed.” She shrugged. “That was part of the test.”

“I’d say you passed that part.” Capri’s tone was quiet, her expression watchful.

Ava nodded. “Yeah. Firo was pissed I did that, but—” She shrugged. “And then a rabbit ran across in front of me, and the elders said that was good because it would never run toward danger. So I’m not dangerous.”

“Clearly, they don’t know you when you’re on your bike.” Karma grinned at her.

Ava smiled. She couldn’t argue with that. “Next, it was a red bird. I think she said it was a cardinal, and it meant that a lost loved one was there with me.” She flicked her gaze to Jeri. “My mom.”

Jeri leaned on the table. “That’s tragic but amazing.”

Ava nodded. “I know, but it didn’t even hit me then. There was too much happening.” She looked at Fauna. “A leopard came to me out of the grass and stood there like—” She motioned across the table at her. “—as close as we are right now.”

Fauna’s eyes rounded. “Did you touch it? Was it soft? Did you get a picture?”

Ava shook her head. “No, Firo had my phone, and I was to walk alone.”

“That sucks.”

“And I didn’t touch it, I was too busy trying to not do anything they would feel threatened by.”

Fauna nodded. “Good call.”

“What did the leopard mean?” Capri asked.

Ava scrunched up her face, trying to remember what they had told her. “Death and destruction, but the elders didn’t feel it was in a bad way, but more of an I get shit done kind of way.”

Capri smiled but offered no comment.

“And strength and courage—oh, and royalty.”

“That’s right, you’re the daughter of a princess.”

Espy flipped her long hair back from her face and leaned on the table. “Do we have to bow to you now?” She gave her a lop-sided grin.

“No to that.” Ava looked around. “That was it. The test.”

“That’s almost anti-climatic.” Em mused.

“That’s what I thought.” She started to lean back and then stopped. “There was some other stuff, but the part that didn’t quite sink in there has now.”

“What part is that?” Vex asked from the kitchen. She was hugging her waist, and Ava wondered if she was reaching her limit for being close to them.

“About us.” She looked around at each of the women.

“All of us?” Fade looked skeptical. “I can’t even be visible for longer than fifteen minutes, so how am I involved?”

Ava held up her hand. “Just give me a second to remember what they said.” She looked down at her hands on the table, picturing Florin when they were talking about it. “The firstborn under the time of Gemini—” She looked down the table at Capri, who had her eyes locked on her. “—split one from the other. Um, one was of light and one was dark or was of dark. I can’t remember the exact wording.”

There were gasps around the table.

“Capri, Crissy saw your twin. Do you think that’s what they’re talking about?” Em asked with a lot of movement, making her hair bounce around.

Capri looked at Em for a second, then back to Ava. “What else?”

Ava narrowed her eyes, trying to focus. “Something like all that followed born of that time would have a part to play.”

Vex snorted. “The only part I could have is to suck the life out of someone.” She hopped off the counter. “I need to go back to my room.” She nodded to Ava and then practically ran from the kitchen. No one spoke until they heard her going up the stairs.

“They think all of us are involved?” Tera asked.

“Or will be.” Em nodded and then turned to Ava. “You, Espy, and Jeri already are.”

“I don’t mind.” Flora looked at Karma. “After what they did to us, I will happily make a tree grow through their brain.”

Karma smiled and held her hand up over the table for a high-five.

“That is—” Capri looked around the table. “—the most useful explanation for our existence. I’ve spent decades looking for the why.” She sat back. “I’m sure it will be discussed at the circle meeting.”

“Oh, I almost forgot.” She looked at Espy. “You and I have to be at that.”

Espy raised both brows. “Why?”

“Because Florin—” She looked at Jeri. “—one of the fairies that kept Nova’s soul from Bastian.” Jeri looked shocked. “Says when all those that are needed to end it are gathered at the circle, it will light up brighter than the sun—or something like that.”

“Really?” Capri looked around the table and paused at each woman sitting there for a few seconds. She stopped on Fade. “You need to practice until you can change back and forth with a thought.” She turned to Ava. “Are they going to train you how to use yours?”

Ava nodded. “Yeah.

Crystal raised her hand. “I need training too. If I’m involved, I will have to use magic and not stones.”

“I will speak with Princess Bethany for you,” Capri said, giving her a quick nod.

“Okay.” Crystal looked relieved.

“I need to go outside and have a smoke, or plants are going to start growing.” Flora stood up.

“I think we should discuss Firo kissing Ava when he brought her home.” Sym leaned across the table and smiled at Ava.

“Really?” Karma gave Ava a big smile. “And how was that?”

Ava closed her eyes and shook her head. “You don’t want to know.” She stood up. “He’ll never leave his job guarding the princess, and halflings aren’t welcome in FaTerra. And I won’t leave you guys.” She shrugged. “So it’s never going to be as exciting as you think.” Saying it out loud made her chest feel empty.

Jeri stood up. “I have to go, family meeting.” She stopped and looked around. “Other family.” She laughed and then looked right at Ava. “Things work themselves out, Ava.” She nodded and then walked out of the room.

“It’s still pretty exciting to kiss such a pretty man.” Sym nodded.

“Amen to that.” Karma got up. “I need to go for a ride and process all of this.” She looked at Sparx. “Care to join.”

Sparx stood up. “Count me in.”

“Be careful.” Capri leaned back. “No one goes anywhere alone, and the first sign of anything off, you call all of us if need be.”

Karma pointed at Ava. “First call is to you. So you can do whatever it is you do.” She winked at her. “Our own winged savior.”

Ava rolled her eyes. “Go ride and tell me if it’s still hesitating sometimes. I may need to take her apart and give her a once over.”

Karma nodded and picked up her jacket off the back of the chair. “If that happens, I’ll just borrow yours.”

Ava snorted. “Not in this lifetime.” She could hear Karma laughing all the way to the garage.

“How are you doing?”

She turned to look at Capri. “I don’t know. Everything is different now.”

Capri nodded slowly. “And there will be many more changes coming.”

Ava watched everyone leave and then stood there alone in the empty space. What if she couldn’t handle the changes? Had anyone thought of that?