Celine's POV
I tripped over the cart. "So sorry," I screamed, my feet still moving down the streets. People cursed and groaned at me, but I couldn't stop running, the weight of the envelope heavy in my bag.
It had to be some sick twisted joke. My eyes had been deceiving me, and I did not know what I read. All day, I had been jumpy, looking over my shoulder, just in case the guards would storm into the room I was in and drag me out to be punished by the nobles.
The bead maid, frustrated with my work, had finally let me go. Now, I ran straight to the only person who could explain this to me.
"Mother," I cried out as I sighted home. I burst in through the doors, my heart racing.
My mother tried to jump up from where she was lying on the mat. "Celine," she hissed, her voice weak. "You almost sent me to the Gods."
"I am sorry," I said, closing the door. I checked the two small windows we had, and when I was sure I had not been followed, I turned back to her.
"Something happened today, Mother," I began. "I ran into this stranger in front of the council room, and I tried to apologize to him because I thought I offended a noble, but he was so fast. When he left, I noticed an envelope on the ground, so I picked it up, and I opened it, and I am so scared because I shouldn't, but I did, and now, someone knows."
My mother struggled to sit up. "Calm down, Celine. Someone knows what?"
I brought out the letter.
My mother's eyes opened. "No."
"Yes," I answered.
"No," my mother hissed back. "That is not real. That is fake."
I sat down next to her. "Hold it," I cajoled, placing the paper into her weak hands. "Feel it."
My mother, her brows drawn to the middle of her forehead, grudgingly accepted the envelope.
"Oh, child," she breathed. "You already opened it."
"Yes," I said. "But I didn't read it." She nodded. "Good. You do not have to. I would destroy it. It would only bring more harm."
"No," I snatched the letter from her. "I want to read it."
I opened the envelope again, and sure enough, there it was.
Zinara Nightshade,
You have been invited to participate in the Ascension. You can choose to use your alias or your real name. The small pin attached is your gate pass at the Academy.
Someone knew who I was. I got invited to the Academy. To ascend.
"Burn it," my mother hissed. "I would make a small fire, and we would burn it now."
"Why should I?" I turned to her. "This is finally my chance. Our chance to restore honour to our name," I said. "Our only chance to avenge—"
"What use is it of your vengeance if you are dead?" My mother countered. "What honour of our throats are slit? This is a trap, my daughter. All who know who we are have moved on. We are dead to them," she cried.
"I think we should—"
"You want to go?" My mother suddenly sounded stronger. "And waste my years of protection? The magic I use to conceal us eats at my life, but I do it to protect you. And now, you want to go back there and get killed?" Her body shook, tears falling from her face.
I bit my bottom lip. "No, mama," I relented. "I don't know what I was thinking."
My mother stared at me, her expression softening. "I cannot lose you, too, Zinara," she cried. "You are my life. You are all I have."
I wrapped my arms around her bony shoulders. "Tomorrow, I will burn it."
My mother nodded. "Thank you," she whispered.
I took care of her, bathing and preparing her meal. When she finally lay down, and a steady, slow sound escaped from her form, I knew she had fallen asleep.
I stared at my mother, tears filling my eyes. She was so tiny now, her eyes sunken, and no matter what I did, her lips were always dry. All her hair had fallen off, and I remembered, when I was younger, they were as long and thick as my own black curls, coursing down her waist.
She would braid it, and then do mine afterwards. My brother, Darius, would tug at mine later, causing me to scream and chase after him, causing my father's boisterous laughter to echo, my mother's always behind him.
Till one day, my brother screamed at me to hide. I wiped the tears that fell despite my struggles, my hands shaking as the memory of that day shook me.
I can't. I got up from the floor, my jaw tight. My mother's still form was at my feet, so I moved slowly, grabbing the box she kept by the small basket our clothes were in.
The shiny necklace was still there. "Darius," I whispered, tracing it. My father had given it to him when he turned my age.
When he ascended.
I grabbed it, hooking it behind my neck. I wrote a quick letter to my mother, telling her I loved her and apologizing, but I had to do this.
I would never get this chance again.
The town is still as I came out of our small house, cold air filling my lungs. The only sounds I could hear were howls, coming from the east, and the moon shone heavily, almost like it was blessing my course.
"I will restore honour to my mother," I promised. "When I am back, we will be free."
I grabbed my bag and put the envelope into it. It was all I needed, and I left, not looking back.