Alexandra
42nd Day of Spring, 997th Year of Grace
I found him standing barefooted in the void, dressed in a milk-white robe that fluttered without wind.
I saw his face--pale like the first winter snow--and his hair--the colour of ash that remain after the last embers fade.
It was as if the words 'perfect' and 'beautiful' were made just for him.
At last, I found his golden eyes--not the gold of coins or crowns, but the gold of a star burning in the cosmos.
Those orbs pulled me toward them. It felt as if I was meant to be one with them. With him.
"You have returned, *******," he said, his voice smooth and enchanting. "I have been waiting for you."
I couldn't say a word. I just stared at him.
"Come. Come to me, ****," he said, opening his arms to welcome me.
I couldn't see my arms or legs but I found myself slowly drifting towards the man.
Wings burst out of his black--feathers darker than a shadow--that stretched impossibly vast.
"Let us be together again," he said and I realized something.
This man was going to devour me.
I tried to run. I tried to stop moving towards him. But it was all futile. I was being pulled like the tides by the moon.
"Do not be afraid," he said, smiling.
But I knew I would cease to exist if he got his hands on me. And so I struggled.
Before I knew it, I found myself falling.
And I kept falling until I hit the bed.
***
I jolted awake with a gasp, sitting upright on the bed as my lungs struggled to draw air. My heart drummed within my ribs and sweat clung to my skin in a layer. My hair stood on end at the back of my neck.
But I couldn't understand why I was afraid.
I couldn't even remember what I had dreamt of--only vague fragments resembling gold, ash and black.
"C-Calm down, Alexandra," I said to myself as I scanned the room, trying to ground myself. "I-It was just a d-dream."
I found myself in the room that me and Adam shared. I shifted in the quilt, clutching it firmly, and turned to the window beside the bed.
Moonlight streamed in through the slightly open window, painting the floor grey.
And on the floor, I found him.
Adam was curled up on the floor like a cat with a blanket barely covering him. He had one arm tucked under his head, his mouth open as he snored loudly and drooled all over the floor.
The sight of him brought a wave of relief over me and I sank into the bed again. Whatever fear dwelled within me had dissipated into thin air and soon, I drifted into a peaceful dream.
Adam
42nd Day of Spring, 997th Year of Grace
I awoke to the warm touch of sunlight on my face that poured into the room through the slight gap in the windows--kept ajar at night to keep the room ventilated and cool.
Groaning, I dragged myself out of the blanket draped over me and rose from the floor.
Despite being used to sleeping on the hard floor, my neck and back still ached slightly.
I yawned, stretched and rubbed my eyes before crouching beside the bed.
Alexandra was still tangled in her quilt, with a subtle smile on her lips.
I brushed away strands of black hair and planted a kiss on her forehead. It had become a daily ritual of mine now.
The clatter of dishes and bowls echoed from the kitchen as I got out of our room and walked down the hall.
The scent of boiling tea wafted in the air and I found Ma humming to a familiar tune as she did her chores when I entered the kitchen.
Either she heard my footsteps or the Law had told her of my presence because she said to me without turning, "There's no bread in the house, Adam. Be a darling and fetch some before breakfast, will you?"
"Okay," I replied and washed my face with water from a tub before heading back to my room to get dressed.
When I entered the room, I found Alex sitting upright on the bed. A few strands of her hair swirled out of their intended path and her eyes still seemed a bit infected by sleep.
"Good morning..." she said lazily, placing round glasses on the bridge of her nose. "When did you wake up?"
"Just a bit ago," I answered and grabbed a tunic and loose trousers from where I had left them yesterday after I came back from work.
"Are you going somewhere?" she asked, pushing away the quilt to reveal the chemise she wore.
"Ma asked me to buy some bread from the bakery," I answered, pulling the tunic over my head. "Is there anything you want me to bring for you?"
"Are you going to Agnes' place?"
"Yes."
"I want a pie!" She jumped off the bed and grabbed my shoulder. "You know how much I love her pie."
"I know, I know." I gently pushed her away. "I'll get you one. Just don't eat too much at once, okay?"
She beamed at the words and nodded. I messed up her hair before grabbing my cloak and leaving the room.
At the foyer, I put on my boots and reached for the door when I heard her again.
"Wait," she called and I turned to her. "You do remember that tomorrow's our birthday, right?"
"Of course, I do remember." I raised an eyebrow.
"So..." She averted her gaze, curling a strand of her hair in her hand. "Did you get me anything?"
"I got you a doll last year. Why do you want something new?"
"I'll be an adult tomorrow onwards!" She frowned. "I can't be playing with dolls anymore."
"I suppose that's true." I sighed. "What aboht my gift? Do you have one for me?"
"That's a secret." She stuck out her tongue and I messed up her hair again.
"Fine. I won't tell you what I got for you either," I said and turned to leave. "I'll be back soon."
She nodded witha pout and waved at me until I was out the door.
***
I got out of the bakery with a bag of bread and a pie wrapped in cloth--the feeling of the crackling crust, the sweet smell of the pie, and the beaming smile I could already imagine on Alex's face, brought a smile to my own face.
I walked down St. Paul Street and toward my own.
Suddenly, I caught a mass of black shift in the corner of my vision. I turned and saw black cloaks, and the silver sunburst emblem glinting in the sunlight.
Inquisitors! I snarled within my head. What are they doing here?
It was a group of four in dark cloaks with silver armour peeking from underneath. With a sword at their side, they moved through the street while questioning people.
I wanted to go home--avoid being seen and interrogated. But an awful sense of dread crept under my skin.
Do they know? I asked myself as if I already knew the answer. No, no, no... they can't know. Pa never used it in front of others. Except... he did use it to treat some of his patients. Could they have tattled on us?
My heart pounded in my chest and I picked up the pace, rushing back home.
***
I burst through the door and found my parents in the kitchen.
Pa sat at the dining table, sipping on some hot tea while he browsed the newspaper. Ma was peeling some apples and plating them up.
Alex was nowhere to be seen.
"I saw Inquisitors on my way back," I said, putting down the pie and bread on the table. "They were looking for something, or someone."
Pa looked up from the article he had been reading and asked, "So what? We see them plenty of times."
"I mean... could they know about--"
"About us?" Pa cut me off. He set down the newspaper and held the cup of tea with both hands. "It's not possible. I've done my best to keep suspicions away from us."
"You're worried for nothing, sweetheart," Ma said, placing the plate of apples on the table before taking a seat.
"But what if someone reported us to the Church?" I looked at Pa. "You've used sorcery plenty of time to treat your patients. What if one of them--"
"I said it's not possible," Pa said. "I never asked the Law to do my job. I never use sorcery to miraculously treat people. I've asked the Lord to guide me sometimes only in extreme cases. No one could've known."
The door creaked open and all our gazes shot to it. Alex entered, closing the door behind her.
"Did something happen?" she asked with furrowed brows. "I heard some arguing from outside."
I rushed to her, grabbing her shoulders. "Where were you?"
"I-I just went out for a bit." She shrieked. "What happened? Why are you so tense?"
"He saw some Inquisitors out on the street." Pa snorted. "He thinks they're coming for us."
"Oh, I saw them just now too," Alex said and the mocking smile on Pa's face vanished. "They are looking for someone, I think. I saw them questioning many people."
"They must be looking for someone else." Pa said but the grim expression on his face showed that he might have begun doubting it himself.
"Yes. We must all calm down," Ma said, clasping her hands. "The Lord won't forsake his believers."
She began chanting prayers to the Lord to bless us and protect us. That was when the sound of boots on cobblestone entered the house and we all fell silent.
"They're here," I said, clutching Alex's hand in mine. "We need to leave."
"I-It can't be--"
"Why do you keep insisting otherwise?" I yelled. "There's no reason for Inquisitors to be so close to our house except that they either want you to take a look at someone ill or they know that we are sorcerers! And as people of the Church, why would they seek out a local physician?"
"What should we do?" Alex asked and the footsteps kept growing louder.
"Amantha, give them a bag of coin," Pa turned to Ma, and then back to us. "Go into your room, grab some clothes and other essentials. Then take the window in our room into the back alley and flee."
Ma got up to fulfill his request and I tried to take Alex to our room but she remained rooted to her spot. "What about you and Ma?"
"We must remain here to keep them from chasing you," he answered, taking another sip from his tea cup--now cold. "If we all flee, they'll chase us to the end of the world and we would never be able to live in peace."
"B-But..." Tears trickled down her cheeks and she began whimpering. "How can I-I abandon you? I c-can't do that. I-I can't--"
"You must, Alexandra." Pa got up and approached us. "As long as you both survive..."
Tears welled up in his eyes as well, and he embraced Alex tight.
I didn't know how to act. I never got along with Pa, and Ma never gave me enough time. The only person I truly cared about was my twin.
But as I stood there, contemplating about what we could do after we escaped, Pa reached out his hand to me.
I took it and he pulled me into the hug too. "Please take care of your sister, Adam."
I almost forgave him at that. I almost forgot how he had forced me to work while I was only twelve. I almost forgave him for beating me over every small mistake I did.
But in the end, I still couldn't come to terms with him.
"Go to Belmire and find Taylor Bodkins in the Artisan Quarters," he said, pulling away. "He's an old friend of mine. He'll surely help you."
"Take this." Ma arrived and handed a clinking bag to Alex. "It's not much but it'll last you the journey and a few weeks if you are frugal."
She planted a kiss on both Alex and my forehead. "Be safe, okay?"
Alex hugged Ma tightly for a moment and then we both turned to head into our room.
The last thing I heard Pa say was: "Forgive me, Lord... for I must sin."
Alexandra
42nd Day of Spring, 997th Year of Grace
Our feet slapped against the stone, the wind tearing at our clothes, but we didn't stop--not until we reached the marketplace on the edge of Orrinwick, the southern gate just past it.
We slowed down to steady stride but didn't stop.
There was a sea of people flooding the market square: merchants hawking wares, an urchin darting through the crowd, acolytes in milk-white robes, and the ever-watchful guards.
I scanned every face that we passed, trying to identify anyv who might recognize us--the Inquisitors might have pursued and caught up with us, and they might lay in ambush somewhere around here.
There was a freezing claw slowly tightening its grasp over my heart and an endless stream of tears down my cheeks as we approached the gates.
I had abandoned my parents. I had left Ma and Pa to die.
I would've drowned in the ocean of guilt and regret that overwhelmed my conscience, but Adam's grip on my hand kept me grounded.
He was still here.
He walked in front of me, and I followed behind, as we navigated through the crowded square and out the southern gate.
The sun was still high and blazing down us mortals when we boarded a wagon bound for Belmire.
We clung to each other and leaned against the rocking wall of the wagon, my head on Adam's shoulder and his head over mine.
I could hear him breathing in heaves, his chest rising and falling under me.
At first, I wanted to blame him for dragging me away. I thought he didn't care about Pa and Ma because they didn't treat him right.
But the pulse racing underneath his skin proved me wrong. He was devastated by the loss of our parents as much as I was, if not more.
I was sure of it.
I wanted to comfort him too. But I couldn't stop the whimpers that escaped my clenched teeth. I still couldn't stop the tears that welled up in my eyes and spilled.
"It's just you and me now," I managed to say, my voice sore and broken. "Just you and me."
We held each other tight and didn't let go.