Galena

Once inside, Emma shut the door and leaned against it, smiling to herself. She was still surprised at how easy today was and it was all thanks to Yhden. She continued upstairs and walked through her door, entering her hallway in Vorik. Her stomach fluttered with butterflies at the thought of meeting Jace and him walking her home. She didn’t expect him to be so handsome and tall; and if he hadn’t told her, Emma would’ve never guessed him and Maggie were twins. While Jace stood close to six feet, Maggie was about an inch taller than Emma; and their personalities were completely different.

As the weeks carried on, Emma noticed how reserved Maggie was and how playful Jace could be. Emma didn’t see Maggie and Jace interact like normal siblings did, or how Emma presumed siblings should be, as she was an only child. She only saw them speak when their paths crossed and wondered how they were at home. She didn’t know their background, so she figured this was just the relationship they had. But every now and then Emma would find herself chuckling over something they said to each other.

Every day, walking to Galena, Emma felt a little more confident walking past the Knights. And even though she could’ve walked home alone, she always took Jace’s offer to walk with him. She was really beginning to like these daily routines and seeing Jace more and more; and each time she came home she would sit with Marie and tell her the highlights of the day.

One day, Kim was humming a song that Maggie questioned. Kim’s response was that it reminded her of young love like when she looked at Jace and Emma. Maggie didn’t notice this until Kim mentioned it, and as she watched the two interacted more, she was picking up on the subtle courting between them. She waited until one weekend to bring it up to Jace.

“Do you like Emma?” Maggie bluntly asked, going through inventory.

“Yeah, I think she fits in great,” Jace answered, sifting through the paperwork. “She’s already memorized Kim’s recipes.” He leaned back in the chair and looked at his sister, “Kim even said to me the other day that she’s happy we found Em.”

Maggie’s eyebrow raised at the nickname Jace used. “Well that’s good,” she said, “I think she was a great find. Maybe we should invite her over for dinner.” She was trying to tell him that she was okay if they dated, she just didn’t know how to say it.

Jace smirked knowing exactly where Maggie was going with this. “You don’t cook dinner,” he answered her, bouncing the pencil between his index finger and thumb.

“I didn’t say I would cook,” she said then turned her attention to Emma walking through the front door. “Were you going out today?”

Jace leaned forward to look at Emma through the office’s window. “We were, but I’m going to be here for a few more hours,” he tapped the papers and looked up at his sister.

“I have to go to the market; do you want me to bring her with me until you’re done?”

Jace’s eyes lit up at the offer. He hadn’t expected Maggie to say this since she was normally a loner. He got up, stating he’d go tell Emma, while Maggie grabbed her cloak. Emma happily agreed to the idea and the two left.

As they walked, Maggie explained her plans in the market, then asked Emma if she was hungry. They stopped in a small cafe before reaching the market and ordered breakfast and tea. While they waited for their food, Maggie noticed how different Emma was compared to everyone else. She dressed like the other Galena women, but the way she carried herself was not the same. She seemed humbler and more gracious for everything that was happening - and freer.

Once they received their food, Maggie watched as Emma said a short prayer then picked up her fork to begin eating. “I haven’t seen someone pray over their food in a long time,” Maggie commented.

Emma blushed at being caught, “I always thank them when I can. I even go to temple to pray.”

“Temple? Those haven’t been around for years.”

“This one’s well hidden,” Emma gave her a small smile and began to eat.

Maggie’s eyebrow rose. She hadn’t been to a temple since she was a little girl. Her mother used to bring her to the one in Central Galena before it was destroyed. After a statue of Garos was put up in place of Yhden, Vivian kept her family at home to pray. Maggie stopped praying after everyone left, she didn’t see the point anymore.

“Not many people pray to them, but I believe they are still around,” Emma shrugged, seeing the look Maggie had given her. “One day they will heal Galena and-” she paused to lean in and whisper, “maybe restore the High King to the throne.”

Maggie let out a laugh, “I heard he’s a legend. Any proof we might’ve had was burned by Garos when he took rule. Only Valo’s clergy knew the truth and they’re all gone now.”

“Do you really believe that?” Emma gave Maggie a look when she said this. She wanted to tell her about Marie, but she wasn’t sure if she was ready to share this information just yet.

They both enjoyed their conversation and when they got up to leave, Maggie asked for them to do this again. She liked having the company and Emma was more than happy to join her. They paid for their food and left the cafe.

Maggie pointed in the direction she needed to go, and they followed the path to the farmer’s stands. Emma stood closely with Maggie, while Maggie checked egg cartons. A few Knights were stationed around the area and Emma held onto her necklace becoming nervous.

“Are we doing anything wrong?” Emma asked, leaning into Maggie.

Maggie opened another carton, “I’m seeing if they’re cracked.” She looked at Emma from the corner of her eye and asked, “Why?”

“Because that Knight keeps watching us,” Emma let out, discreetly pointing at the Knight who stood at the corner of the building. He was only a couple yards away from them, but close enough for Maggie to recognize the eyes.

“Don’t mind him,” she said, rolling her eyes at him which he caught. His eyes thinned as he smiled behind his cowl.

“He’s approaching us…!” Emma announced, clasping her hands under her chin like she was about to start praying.

“Of course, he is,” Maggie said, pushing Emma’s hands down. She gave Emma a small smile, trying to comfort her even though she could hear Emma’s heart beating faster as Heath stepped closer to them. “Heath,” Maggie began, “this is my friend and newest helper at the bakery, Emma.” She glanced up at Heath, “Emma, meet Heath. My personal Knight, so it seems,” she added, giving Heath a look and moving around him to the next table.

Emma followed close behind - as did Heath.

“Nice to meet you,” Heath greeted Emma, who responded with a chirp from her throat. “Surprised to see you working on the weekend,” Heath continued speaking to Maggie. He turned to look back over the market since he was still on duty.

“That makes two of us,” Maggie answered. She stopped what she was doing and looked up at him, “You haven’t been around lately.”

She could tell he was smirking when he said, “You were looking for me?”

“Don’t get too excited,” Maggie said, locking eyes with him then pulled away to ask Emma to get her a few more things.

“How’s your brother doing?” Heath asked, when Emma left their side.

“The same,” Maggie answered, then spun around to him, “Speaking of Jace. He saw your goons snooping around a few weeks ago.” She crossed her arms. “Can you tell them to stop approaching me about the bakery? It’s not for sale.”

“I have no control over that, Maggie. It’s not my jurisdiction. But- Why not just sell to them?”

Her eyes narrowed on him with these words. “You know damn well why I will not sell to them. There’s sentimental value to the bakery. Don't you get that?”

“Of course, I do. But I also know who owned that space before it fell into your hands,” he said, stepping out of his Knightly composure.

“What is that supposed to mean?” Maggie demanded. Her glare on him became piercing and Heath noticed it right away, as he leaned away from her. At this point, all Maggie wanted to do was slap him, but she knew that if she did, she would draw unwanted attention from the surrounding Garzil and would be arrested for assault on a Garzil Knight.

By this time, Emma came back with the items and instantly felt the heat between the two. She tried to break up the intensity by cheerfully saying, “I think that’s everything!”

“All I’m saying is take care of what is hiding in the basement and sell it before they take it,” Heath whispered, leaning to her, “It’s a land mine, Maggie Creed.”

Maggie met his eyes again and she grit her teeth, forcing out, “With all due respect, Captain. Screw you. Come on, Emma.”

“It was nice meeting you!” Emma called back to Heath, as she followed Maggie. “I’m sure she didn’t mean it.”

“I meant every word,” Maggie said, storming to the cashier.

Emma waited until they were out of the market before saying anything about Heath to Maggie. Maggie was still fuming at the thought of what Heath said to her. She knew she couldn’t tell Emma the real reason why she told Heath to go screw himself, so all she said was, “He loves getting under my skin.”

“Seems like you let him,” Emma innocently answered.

“What?”

“There’s only two people who could get under your skin, Maggie. You and the person you’re hiding your feelings from.” She then shrugged, not realizing how blunt she was being with Maggie. “I think you like him.”

Maggie let out a laugh, “That is impossible. Did you not see what he was wearing?”

“So? He seemed human enough to me,” Emma said, then scrunched her nose as she thought about him again. “And familiar…” she added, trying to think why.

“Familiar because he looks like all the other Knights in this city.”

“Not necessarily. The other Knights don’t look at people the way he did to you.”

“I don’t have feelings for Heath.”

“Whatever you say, Mags,” she teased.

Maggie laughed again. “Well I don’t. So, get that out of your head,” she responded.

“Jace says you hold in a lot of stuff,” Emma continued. “I’m sure it’s because he’s your brother.” She shook her head and added, “Anyways, if you don’t mind… I would like to be friends.”

Maggie smirked, “Emma. You don’t ask to be friends, it just happens. But if you’d like an answer then I would like to be friends too. Just promise me you won’t tell Jace about what happened today. He doesn’t know about Heath,” she added.

Emma stuck her pinky out to Maggie, “That is between us girls. Pinky swear.”

Maggie looked at Emma’s hand and took her pinky with hers. “And I don’t like him,” Maggie said, shaking their locked hands.

Emma laughed at Maggie’s defensiveness. “Okay. I believe you,” she lied and laughed again.

When they reached the shop, Maggie asked if she could join Emma the next time she went to temple. Hearing this made Emma’s eyes light up and she happily told Maggie yes.

Inside, Emma went to the office to see if Jace was ready while Maggie went into the kitchen. She was going to make some cakes – two for the shop and one to go. But she didn’t want to use normal baking tools - she wanted to use her magic, and in order to do that, she had to wait for Jace and Emma to leave.

It didn’t take long before Jace popped his head in the kitchen, telling Maggie that they were leaving. “Did you want me to come back for you later?” he asked.

Maggie shook her head, “I’m going to go out after this. I’ll be home before curfew though.”

“You got it,” he said and left the doorway.

Emma called out a good night and they locked the doors behind them, leaving Maggie alone. She grabbed the rest of what she needed from the cabinets and pulled her gloves off. She folded them nicely on the counter and laid the ingredients out before her. After a deep breath, she moved her hands up and she watched the items lift off the counter. They pulled out of their wrappers and waited for the next command. When she swiped her hands down, she expected them to fuse together and make a cake, but they just slammed into each other creating a mess of broken eggs and flour.

After the third time she gave up. She hit the counter, angry at how she couldn’t even control her magic for cake. She put her head in her hands, cursing under her breath. She swung away from the counter and went to grab the garbage, but when she turned back around - three perfect cakes sat on the counter.

Maggie looked around, wondering if someone was hiding and did this for her. She laughed at herself and quickly moved the two for the shop into the fridge. She put the last one into a box to take with her to Diana’s. Before leaving, she glanced at the clock and was relieved to see it was only seven. She had three hours before Galena’s curfew. She made her way out of the bakery, locking it after her and hurried down the main road out of the gates. She continued through Kent, heading towards Picco and stopped at Diana’s door right before the road became dirt. She knocked gently and waited.

After a moment, Diana opened the door and greeted her with a tired smile. A month earlier, her nephew had been arrested by the Garzil, leaving his two girls to run away and go straight to Diana’s for safety. They were five and seven and a lot of work to take care of them for Diana, who was already in her sixties.

“I brought this for the girls,” Maggie said, walking in and handing Diana the box. She could see how tired Diana was and added, “Or maybe not, it’s cake.”

“You know you didn’t have to,” Diana told her as they walked to the kitchen. Diana opened the box and her eyes grew wide. She crinkled her nose and smiled at Maggie, “I’m sure it was lovely, dear.”

Maggie looked over the box lid to find that the cake had become a liquified mess. Her lip rose in disgust at the thought of the other two dripping down the shelves in the refrigerator at the bakery. Maggie let out an annoyed sigh and leaned against the counter, shaking her head and crossing her arms.

Diana chuckled, knowing Maggie attempted to use her magic. “Have you tried the old fashion way, dear? A bowl, an oven, and some love?” she asked, smiling sweetly at her.

“I should be able to do it with my magic.”

“Your magic is not for this, Maggie. Maybe a long time ago when magic was alive, but your powers are for something far greater than a cake.” She took a moment to look Maggie over, then asked, “When are we going to work on your magic again?”

Diana had helped Maggie for years on how to control her magic, but when Jace came home, Maggie put her training on hold. She went to answer Diana, but the two girls screaming in the other room caught their attention. Maggie followed Diana into the living room and watched the two girls pulling a doll from opposite ends, screaming that it was theirs.

“Enough!” Diana yelled at them, forcing them to stop fighting and look up at her. “Give me the doll,” she asked, holding her hand out. The oldest gave Diana the doll and pouted. “Now run along.”

“But Auntie Dee!” the girls cried.

“It’s time for bed!” Diana told them, pointing up the stairs, “Go!” She sighed watching them bicker and blame each other for losing the doll all the way up the stairs. Diana turned back to Maggie and dropped her shoulders. “I love those girls, but I can’t wait for their mother’s aunt to get them,” she said, placing the doll on the couch.

Maggie gave her a tight smile. “Diana, you have more things to worry about than me and my magic right now,” she told the shaman, as they returned to the kitchen. She took a seat at the table and Diana made a tea for them. “Did I tell you those Knights came by again about the bakery?” Maggie began, thanking Diana for her cup. “Jace saw them this time.”

“He was bound to at some point,” Diana answered, sipping her tea. “How has he been doing? Any memories return?”

“Just about mom. He won’t tell me about Vanessa, which is fine. I don’t expect him to. We also found Kim’s replacement. She’s very nice and I think Jace has a bit of a crush on her,” she let out a laugh thinking about it. She looked back up at Diana, adding, “She’s very different though. She prays to Yhden.”

“What’s her name?”

“Emma Hart,” she answered, then noticed that Diana recognized the name. “You know her?” she asked.

“When she was a child. She’s very gifted.”

“Gifted how?”

“Yhden smiles down on her,” Diana answered, patting Maggie’s hand. “She’s a lovely girl. What do your instincts say about her?”

Maggie looked down at her hand and thought about what happened today. She looked back up at Diana and answered, “Trust her.”