Galena

On Saturday, Maggie got ready to head into Central Galena. She slipped into a long sleeve dress and pulled out a pair of boots, then grabbed a cloak from her closet. She threw it over her shoulders and realized that she picked the cloak Heath bought her. She had never worn it before, which told her it was meant to be worn. She left the house soon after, satisfied with how she looked and headed into Galena.

In Central Galena, she crossed the market and saw Heath standing near one of the tables she often shopped at. His cowl was pulled up like always and he was watching everyone. He stood straighter than normal and kept his right hand on his sword. She took in a deep breath and walked up to the table.

As she picked up one of the items on display, she asked, “Can we talk?”

“Not right now,” Heath answered, keeping his eyes forward.

“Will you listen then?” she asked and waited for a response. With no answer given, Maggie continued, “A Void came to my house the other day. If I didn’t have help, I wouldn’t be standing here right now. I felt myself losing control of my magic after I heard about Diana… Then when you left me the other night, I couldn’t contain it anymore… The feeling of rejection hurt so much…” Maggie had switched between so many things on the table talking to Heath that she finally ran out of something to look at and turned to him, “I’m sorry if that’s how I’ve made you feel.”

“I can’t keep playing these games, Maggie,” he quietly said from behind his cowl. Their eyes finally met, and Maggie could see how upset he was by what she told him. “I’m grateful you had help with that Void, but please don’t let me be one of the reasons for you to lose yourself,” he told her, turning to her.

“It would be different, you know…” she let out after a moment. “If you weren’t a Knight.”

“I know it would be,” he let out, his gaze softening on her before looking forward again across the market. “But I became a Knight for a reason. Diana’s death reminded me of that.”

“We all have reasons for what we do I guess,” she said and sadly smiled at him. “I’ll see you around then…” she said, moving away from the table to continue to the bookstore.

“Maggie,” Heath called after her, keeping in his form. She quickly turned to him and he winked at her, “Nice cloak.”

Maggie’s lips curved into a grin and she turned from him again. She continued into the bookstore but stayed for only a few moments. Nothing caught her interest and she only came to the market to see Heath. She left Galena and headed home into Kent.

As she shut the door behind her and turned around, both Jace and Emma shouted, “Surprise!”

Maggie leaned against the door and looked over at the two in shock. “What is this all about?” she asked, giving them a look and taking off her cloak.

“Em wanted to give us a birthday,” Jace said, putting his arm around Emma’s shoulder. “She made us a cake and everything.”

Emma slipped out from under Jace’s arm and picked the cake off the table to show Maggie. “Chocolate on chocolate,” Emma said with a big smile.

Maggie let out a laugh, “But it’s not even our birthday.”

“You remember our birthday?” Jace asked, his eyebrows scrunching.

“No, but I’m sure it’s not anywhere near today.”

“Well now it is,” Emma said, placing the cake down and giving Maggie a hug. “You guys have been going through a lot lately and I wanted you to just enjoy everything.”

“We have beer!” Jace said, picking up three bottles and showing Maggie.

Maggie smirked and took a bottle from Jace, popping it open. “Okay,” she swung back the bottle, “Let’s celebrate.”

“I’ll grab us some plates,” Jace said, putting his bottle down.

Emma watched Jace go into the kitchen and leaned towards Maggie. “So?” she began, nudging her arm, “Did you see him?”

“Yes,” Maggie took a seat on the couch. She gave Emma a small smile, “We’re okay.”

“I told you!” Emma happily said, sitting next to Maggie.

“Told her what?” Jace said, coming back into the living room. He handed the girls a plate and began to cut into the cake.

“That I would be a sucker for some chocolate cake,” Maggie quickly said and held her plate out to Jace, “Largest piece please.”

They sat in the living room for hours drinking and eating cake. Jace and Maggie told Emma stories about when they were younger, and Emma shared her memories too. While they settled down, Emma leaned into the couch and stared at the painting above the fireplace.

“It’s Galena,” Maggie said, noticing Emma gazing at the artwork. “It was our mother’s. She had it at the bakery for the longest time then just one day took it home and hung it up there.”

“It’s beautiful,” Emma said, standing up and going to the painting. She looked at the gold frame and read the writing at the top to herself, ”Ho te gebruiken: Zeg “ébren”.” She squinted at the letters. “This language,” Emma said, pointing at the top of the painting, “Some of it is Maji.”

Maggie got up and joined Emma at the fireplace. “You can read it?” she asked. She looked back at Jace, who shrugged.

“Kind of,” Emma said, staring at the words. ”How to use,” she began, pointing to the top, “State- obvious?” Emma shook her head, “That last part isn’t Maji.”

“It’s here too,” Maggie said, pointing at the bottom of the frame.

′Raak de bestemming aan, zeg “gaan”,′ Emma read to herself next. “Something destination,” she said, touching the engraved words, but she shook her head again, “This isn’t Maji either. I have no idea what language that is.”

Maggie pursed her lips looking at the frame, wondering what the rest of it said. “Hold that thought,” she said, thinking about her mother’s journal. She quickly went upstairs and came back down to sit with Emma on the couch. Instantly she felt dizzy and touched her head.

“Are you drunk?” Jace teased, watching the woozy look fill his sister’s face.

Maggie waved her brother away and opened the journal to show Emma. “Can you read any of this?” she asked.

Emma took the book and began to skim through. She held her necklace while she tried to catch words she knew. “Very little in here is Maji,” Emma answered, looking from page to page. “They say nothing of importance.” She looked up at Maggie, “Your mother wrote this?”

Maggie nodded, telling her Vivian left it behind for her.

“And she never taught you?”

“No,” Maggie said, taking the book back. “I’ve been trying to figure it out for years. None of the bookstores have information on it either…” She stared at the ‘V’ on the cover.

“Sorry, Maggie. But she gave it to you for a reason which means you’ll be able to read it.”

“One day, right?” Maggie said, smirking. She looked over at her brother, “Drunk?”

“Headache,” he let out. His head was in his hand and he was leaning on the arm of the couch.

“Are you going to get those checked out?”

“Yeah, maybe this week,” Jace answered. Then looked over at Emma. He was going to ask her to take him to see Marie.

“Good,” Maggie said, standing up. “Well I am going to bed. Thank you, Emma, for this wonderful birthday cake and giving me a hint as to what language mom wrote in. And feel better Jace. I’ll see you in the morning.”

The two watched Maggie retreat upstairs and Emma looked back at Jace. She positioned herself to get ready to heal him. “I feel bad I couldn’t read what your mother wrote…” she let out, streaming her energy into his head.

“Don’t. You gave her enough information for her to obsess more about it,” Jace let out, feeling the pressure release from his temples.

“She’s really been trying to figure it out for that long?”

“Since before I came home.” Jace noticed the look on Emma’s face. She seemed bothered that she couldn’t help Maggie. He took her hands and smiled, “Hey- thanks for tonight. It was really fun.” He brought her hands to his lips and kissed them. “Do you think Marie can get rid of these headaches for good?”

“Of course, she can. But it might bring your memories back… Would you be ready for that?”

“It’s been over two years now. I think I’m ready.”

“Then we’ll set something up this week,” Emma smiled and leaned forward, gently kissing him. When she pulled back, she saw the softness in Jace’s eyes as he looked into hers. She leaned forward and kissed him again, this time keeping her mouth on his longer.

Jace leaned into the kiss as she pulled him to her. His hands went up her back, holding her closer to him as they leaned down into the couch’s cushions.