Mother frowned at my interruption, but leaned close to my ear to speak. “Lady Lilith. She is the Queen of the Elementum. Stay quiet and behave.”
Mother didn’t sound happy. She must be mad at me for going to the forest, but we didn’t go deep into the woods.
“As I have stressed before, we must stay together,” Lilith continued. “It’s the only way to keep all of you safe. Please enjoy your meal, drink, and dance.”
Everyone clapped and cheered, but not Mother. When Father placed an arm around her shoulder, she blinked and then clapped too. Something troubled her. Did Mother not like this Lady Lilith?
The crowd split and everyone went back to talking or dancing.
Mother whispered in Father’s ear and then lowered to me. “Go with Papa. I’ll be right there.”
I peered at Father. He smiled like nothing was wrong. He took my hand and led me away from the party.
“Where are we going?” I said, matching his hurried steps.
Father ran a hand down his beard. “Mother doesn’t feel well so we’re going home early.”
I had forgotten about overhearing Father telling Mother they would leave early when I went back home to get my doll.
“I didn’t get to listen to the story, or dance. And I didn’t get to say goodbye to my friends.” I tried to release my hand, but Father only squeezed it tighter. “Ouch, Papa.”
He loosened his grip, but still held firm. “You can see your friends tomorrow.”
I looked over my shoulder as Father practically dragged me across the grass. No sight of my friends, but I spotted Mother talking to Lilith, stroking her hair.
Lilith’s expression was cold as she spoke to Mother. But Mother looked worried or scared. The closer we got to our wagon, the harder it was to see anything.
“Mama said Lilith is mother of Ele …” But Mother told me not to tell Father that I knew what she was. This was too confusing. So I tried again. “Why is Lilith upset with Mama?”
“Lilith? How do you know her name?”
“Mama told me.”
Father frowned. “Lilith isn’t mad. They’re just talking.”
Father’s steps were long and fast. It took three of my steps to match his one. When we finally reached our wagon, he helped me inside and tucked a blanket over me.
“It’s cold, sweetheart. This should help.”
“Thanks, Papa, but I’m not cold.” I shoved the blanket away but Father covered me again. It was no use fighting him.
“Mother is fine. Don’t worry. And … if Lilith ever speaks to you, don’t answer her. You come and find us. Do you understand?” Father’s voice was stern and even frightening.
They didn’t want me talking to Lilith but she was the Mother of Elementum, so this didn’t make sense to me.
I spread my body lower and crossed my arm. “Why? Does she not like me?”
“No. It’s complicated. I’ll tell you when you get older.” Father sounded annoyed.
Always older. Why not now? I didn’t like it when they treated me like a child. Okay, so I was a child, but I was smart and I knew more than they thought.
While Father stood in front of the wagon, I counted the stars. They looked like tiny snowflakes drifting in the darkness. The stars had always comforted me, like I was never alone. I reached out my hand and pretended to touch one.
“What are you doing? Put your hand down,” Father barked.
Startled, I blinked and sat back up again to face him. “I-I’m sorry, Papa.” My voice came out in a whimper.
Father dipped his head and pinched the bridge of his nose. “I’m sorry, sweetheart. I’m just tired.”
No you’re not. You rarely yell at me.
Something wasn’t right. I felt it way down to … what my mother would say…felt it to my core.
Chapter Five
Not a Safe Road
Ikelia
Mother finally came to the wagon. We rode in silence toward home, the lantern our only light. I was still mad that I didn’t get to say goodbye to my friends, but that feeling went away once we were the only ones on the road and the clopping of the horses was the only sound.
It didn’t help that the bright moonlight earlier had been swallowed up by the dark clouds. Goosebumps formed along my arms.
Sometimes our wagon would shift and sway on the bumpy road, but it always smoothed out soon after. After we crossed the stream, we would be home. I held on to that thought.
The branches on either side of the road looked like thin arms, reaching out for me. Countless crimson lights flickered in pairs from the same area. I imagined them to be monsters’ eyes and any second, they would jump out and try to eat us.
I sank lower into the blanket Father had tossed over me earlier. Then Mother took out something from her satchel and held it up. My jaw fell open. The crystal she held glowed brighter than the lantern.
“Mama? What is that?”
Mother turned to me and put her finger on her lips. “Shhh. Keep the blanket on you and don’t make a sound. We must ride in the quiet.”
I didn’t say anything and pulled the fabric up to my neck, not because I was cold, but something in Mother’s tone told me she was scared. But mostly, I was confused. Mother told me not to talk to Father about anything but yet she was using her magic in front of him. So that meant he knew about Mother having magic, as I’d already guessed.
“Are we in danger?” I asked.
Mother turned to me again with a serious face. “Ikelia, lay down and cover the blanket over your head and don’t come out until I tell you. Do you understand?”
“Yes, but why?”
“I don’t have time to explain. Please do as I say, right now.” She spoke with urgency so I listened.
Maybe Mother didn’t think I could hear her, because she spoke openly to Father after that.
“You know what to do, right?” she asked.
“We’re almost home. It’ll be fine. We shouldn’t have brought the wagon. What were we thinking?”
“We didn’t know Lilith was going to be there.” Mother sighed resignedly. “She didn’t come all these years. Why now?”
“What did she say?”
“I’ll tell you later, Henry. Let’s just get home safely first.”
“Do any of your friends know about me?” Father asked.
“No, nobody knows.”
“But they must suspect, Sybil.”
“Impossible. You’re wearing the necklace I gave you, right?”
“Yes. Always. So then we have nothing to—”
“Henry… Henry… don’t stop. Just keep going. I’ll take care of it.”
My heart thumped faster at the fear in Mother’s voice and I wanted to look.
“Can I come up now?” I shouted.
“No!” both of my parents spat.
The wagon moved faster, my body bouncing from the ride. When the wagon lurched to the side suddenly, my blanket tugged free, and what I saw sent chills raking down my back. At the same time, I was fascinated.
A sizzling blue glow arched over the wagon, but over and around that protective barrier hovered ribbons of black mist. In a blink, they were skeletal bodies and red beaming eyes with long knife-like teeth. Their true forms, I knew somehow. Then I screamed from deep within.