A Walk Amongst Shadows (Book 2)

From the moment I woke up that morning, I knew exactly what I had to do. Sparing no time dawdling at home, I marched myself directly into the apothecary to seek out Simon. Evangeline caught me before I could move past the medicine room.

“Wait a minute Rose,” she said, grabbing my arm lightly, “we need to talk.”

I nodded and knew immediately that she had been made aware of what had happened the day before. We sat down in an empty room.

“Before you start,” I began, “I just want to apologize, to Simon of course, but also to you. I feel I betrayed your trust and the last thing I want is for you to think I am dangerous.”

Evangeline looked slightly taken aback by my forwardness. “That’s very kind of you to say. Simon came to us yesterday very much out of sorts after you attacked him.”

I hung my head and sighed. “I can imagine…”

“If you don’t mind my asking, what exactly happened between the two of you?”

I looked back up at her. “Simon had asked me to join him on a walk after work yesterday.”

“Was he taking you somewhere?” she asked.

“I’m not sure,” I shrugged, “he just said he needed some fresh air.” She pursed her lips, looking stern.

I continued, “anyway he made mention of a goddess and when I heard him say L-Loeva…” I looked up at her concerned face and decided I might as well come clean. “The village I am from worships Loeva, when they found out I was a mage they ran me out…” I felt my heart pounding in my chest, unsure of how Evangeline would take this news.

“It’s alright dear,” she placed her hand on top of mine and gave it a light squeeze, “you can tell me.”

I took a deep breath. “They tried to kill me.” The words hung heavy in the air between us. “That’s how I came to know Aris, he helped me escape. He brought me here knowing I would be able to live as a mage safely.”

She smiled and nodded, finally fitting the pieces together.

“So, I guess hearing Simon talk about the goddess like that… I don’t know, suddenly I was back in the village all over again. I panicked. I know that doesn’t excuse-”

“You’re perfectly alright, dear,” Evangeline reassured. “I’m just glad everyone is okay.”

“Does Simon hate me now?” I asked.

“I wouldn’t say hate…” she hesitated, “but I do think it would be good for the two of you to clear the air.”

I nodded in agreement.

“Why don’t you wait here and I’ll go find him for you.”

I nodded again and watched her stand and leave the room. That wasn’t so bad. I thought and hoped that it would be the same way with Simon. I tapped my fingers on the table and was suddenly struck with the memory of waiting for the Elders while I was bound up in the temple. I’m not in Windsle anymore. I told myself. Desperate to avoid another breakdown. My arms and legs are free. I stretched my arms out beside me and wiggled my feet. See? I can leave anytime. I began to feel the looming panic subside. Suddenly I heard footsteps approach the door. I am safe, I am safe, I am safe. I kept repeating the thought until the door swung open and Simon stepped in.

“Evangeline told me you wanted to see me,” he regarded me coldly, as if I were a stranger.

“Yes,” I kept my voice level, “I wanted to apologize for yesterday.” I held his gaze as he sat down in front of me. “And maybe offer you an explanation if you’re open to it.”

He sighed heavily. “Alright.” he made a motion with his hand beckoning me to continue.

“Simon in all the time we’ve spent together, I don’t think I’ve ever told you about where I’m from.”

“You’ve certainly alluded to being from a small village, but no, nothing more than that.” He sounded annoyed but I continued.

“The village I grew up in are servants of Loeva,” I explained, feeling brave after confiding in Evangeline. “I imagine I don’t have to tell you why being a mage would be problematic in a place like that.”

I saw his expression soften slightly. “That’s why you left, they ran you out.”

“They tried to purify me.”

Simon looked utterly mortified. “Impossible! Servants of Loeva haven’t practiced purification in centuries.”

“To be honest, I didn’t think my village did either…”

“You’re lucky to be alive!” He suddenly looked awestruck at me.

“Aris is the primary reason for that…”

Simon suddenly looked uneasy. “I think I may owe you an apology as well…” he hesitated.

“For?”

“Aris… See the whole reason I wanted to talk to you yesterday was about him.”

“Oh?”

He nodded, a pained expression on his face. “Please don’t hate me for this, but I thought if we could speak privately in a place he couldn’t go.”

“You were taking me to a temple,” I concluded.

He nodded. “Listen Rose, ever since I have met you, I have been at odds with everything the Goddess has ever taught me. You’ve shown me that magic isn’t all bad. I was hoping maybe you could’ve helped me make sense of it all…”

“Of Aris? Or of magic?” I asked.

“Of all of it. There’s been talk of a prophecy,”

I felt my heart sink.

“Some great shift in power is about to happen and so much focus has been put on abstaining from use of magic of any kind. Then I meet you and see you in the company of a shadow walker…”

“You thought I was working with the enemy,” I supplied.

He cringed as he answered. “More or less. But then I got to know you and see all the good you’re doing for this city. It just didn’t make sense.”

“Aris helped me escape my village so I could be safe here. He isn’t trying to get me to do anything. Certainly not take part in any sort of prophecy.” Yet…

“I believe that now. But yesterday, I’m not sure what exactly you did to me but-”

“I drained your life energy,” I admitted, “I believe that is why Loeva and her servants take such issue with magic. It’s not about being all good or all evil. Magic by itself is neither. It’s the wielder who determines that.”

He nodded. “I understand.”

“Please know that I never ever meant to hurt you. I was just so caught off guard when you mentioned Loeva, I panicked.”

“Please, spare me the apology. If I had any inkling of what you’d been through I would’ve never put you in that position to begin with.”

I smiled and nodded at him.

“One last question,” he started, “do I need to be worried about a certain shadow walker coming after me?”

I chuckled. “Not at all. I told him everything that happened. He knows you weren’t trying to hurt me.”

Simon laughed. “Well thank the heavens for that. I don’t think I’ve ever been so scared in my life.”

“Yeah…” I said sheepishly, “again, sorry about that. Are you okay now at least?”

“A little banged up from where I fell,” he touched the side of his head gingerly.

“Here, let me fix that,” I said, reaching out to touch the place he had gestured to. “It’s the least I can do.”

He let me proceed. I quickly healed the bump that had formed, hearing Simon sigh in relief as I did so.

“See now that,” he mused, “is a much better way to experience magic.”

We both laughed. I felt relieved. Everyone knows the truth now. I thought. Everyone knows and I am okay.

After our conversation, Simon and I were able to slip right back into our routine. Only now, there were no more suspicious looks or frivolous note taking. He was a proper partner to me and together we ran the apothecary. All was well.