Soul of Shadows

Tatiana

After months in the Manor, Jane had been returned, one day after Destiny had hit Immortality, the Fae warrior resting in the bathroom, Myr and Ash tending to her.

An examination from Jason had revealed significant injuries, most of which had healed on their own over the course of the months she had been away, a lot of them bones that would need to be rebroken in order to heal correctly. She was malnourished, too weak to stand on her own, and her wings had tears in them, the edges ragged and dirty with blood and filth from the floor of whatever cell they kept her in. Thankfully, she showed no signs of being violated in the same ways Destiny had been.

The skin around her wrists, ankles and throat was a different shade to the rest of her, the shackles having never been removed, and while there were a few cuts and scrapes across her body, they hadn’t tortured her like they had Sellan.

Sellan… The Eclipsian had not left Jane’s side since her return, not even to sleep. He had just curled up on the floor beside the tub, using a towel for a blanket.

When Jane had requested food, Jason had recommended a small amount, since we didn’t want to send her body into shock. She was used to small amounts. Eating anything larger than that, at least for now, would only serve to finish what the Manor had started. Sellan had ordered a servant to bring a small bowl of fruit from the party leftovers downstairs, and had watched while Jane, her hand shaking with effort, had eaten. When she had paused, too exhausted to keep eating, he had taken over for her.

Whatever bond they had from shared experiences was the only thing keeping Sellan in the room when, later, Jane had panicked and ordered for everybody except him to leave, the Fae warrior lifting Jane out of the tub and rocking her back and forth while she sobbed. They spoke for hours, their conversation so quiet even Nihila, who was spying for us, could not hear. Now, Ash and Myr were laying out cards for a yet another game of Forte, although nobody seemed to be keeping track of who won or lost. Tiskial paced back and forth in front of the fireplace, his wings flared slightly, while Poddux chewed his lip in silence. At my side, Lucifer was reading a book, his face calm while we waited, Nihila reading her own book in the rafters of the room, her foot swinging in time to a tune only she could hear. None of us had any idea what kind of mental state Jane would be in; if she would enter the sitting room to speak with us, or withdraw like Sellan had when he’d first returned.

Footsteps made themselves known down the hall, as well as the ‘CLICK!’, ‘CLICK!’, ‘CLICK!’ of Sellan’s cane against the floor. There was a hollow knock at the door, Sellan tapping his cane against it, all of us rising.

The door opened, Tiskial joining his wife’s side, Ash slipping her hand into his, the two of them shaking. Jane stood there, Sellan’s arm around her for support, wearing one of Sellan’s shirts and a pair of underwear, her legs covered in scars, the bones of her hips jutting out awkwardly.

Swallowing thickly, wincing in pain, she murmured, “Hi, everyone.” The words seemed uncertain, like she wasn’t sure if she was actually here or just dreaming, the idea breaking my heart. Had the Manor miraged her like they had Sellan? Had she believed herself free before, only to be dragged back into an even worse nightmare?

Myr rose, rushing to her friend, wrapping her arms around her tightly, the two of them folding to the floor. Ash joined the hug, Tiskial and Poddux sniffling in the corner, awaiting their turn. When the girls were done, they swept in, all three males holding her close, breathing in her scent, murmuring prayers of thanks.

Peeling away minutes later, Jane turned to face Lucifer and I, dipping her chin, mumbling, “I don’t have any information that is useful, nor do I have the strength to fight right now, but my loyalty still lies with you. I will make myself useful in any way I can.” She was trembling, silently begging us for a reaction we did not yet know of, Sellan standing behind her, looking equally pained. Lucifer and I had spoken, and decided that while we would name Jane an Eclipsian, she did not have to return to the war efforts. She had done enough- more than enough. Unless she outright stated she wanted to fight, she could return to the Sun Palace in Tarvenia, or remain here, in Cain’s Palace.

“You don’t have to return to the war, Jane,” Lucifer said, the girl’s face crumpling in relief. How scared had she been that she would return, only to be sent straight back out again?

She dropped into a wobbling curtsey, her bottom lip shaking as she began, “Thank you… I…” Her voice tapered away, fear flooding over her. She would have been punished for speaking out of line in the Manor. We had to be patient with her.

Sellan stepped forward, brushing his thumb over her hand, quietly encouraging her, and in that moment, I could have kissed the Fae Eclipsian, Jane stammering, “I wish to return to Tarvenia, if that is alright with you. I’ve had enough of the war efforts.”

“You will need a carer for the first six months,” I said gently, Sellan bowing and saying, “I already offered. I have a home in Tarvenia, on the edge of the Sun Palace territory. I would like to take Jane there and care for her.” Nobody in the room seemed surprised by this, not by Jane wanting to leave, or that Sellan was offering to go with her. They needed time to recover, far away from the war and any mention of it, and moreso, they needed time with each other. Exchanging a glance with Lucifer, who shrugged, leaving the choice up to me, I said, “Very well. Before you leave, however, I want to give you the title of Eclipsian. Is that alright?” Jane nodded, her face paling.

“With being named Eclipsian,” I said, my hand on her shoulder, “There are benefits. You receive property, like Sellan has, a larger pay, paid retirement from the Sun Palace army. There will be a weapon, of your choice, crafted especially for you that you will get to name. As an Eclipsian, you can join the Royal Guard for the Sun Palace if you so desire, or you can provide training to new recruits, or lessons if you do not wish to fight.”

“Can I retire now?”

“Yes, of course,” Lucifer piped up from behind me, “So can Sellan. Your pay will be sent to you every month. It is… a substantial amount.”

“How much?” Sellan questioned, Lucifer and I looking to each other once more, grinning.

“Nine hundred gold per Eclipsian. If the two of you live together, you will receive one-thousand-eight-hundred every month. Your property is paid for in full, and there’s no taxes on it, so the money really is for whatever you want. Congratulations. You are now Eclipsian Jane of the Sun Palace.” The other Fae in the room cheered, bowing or curtseying to Sellan and Jane, the Fae woman beginning to cry once more.

“We will depart at midday, if that is alright,” Sellan said, “We want to say goodbye to Destiny first.”

“And… Thank her,” Jane added shakily, “I know she would have risked her life to come back and save me. I owe her.”

“No, you don’t,” Nihila said from the rafters, sounding strangely guilty, “She wanted to save you.” Lifting her head, Jane shrugged, murmuring, “I owe her my life. When can I see her?”

“She’s currently asleep… But I can wake her if the two of you wish?”

They looked to each other, conveying something in their gaze to each other, making me wonder if they were Connected. Sellan had offered himself up in the Manor in order to save Jane. That could, technically, constitute as saving her life, which was more than enough for a connection to snap into place. Watching them again, I chewed the inside of my cheek. On second thought, they weren’t Connected, but they did love each other.

Nihila disappeared once Sellan nodded, the two Eclipsians taking a seat on a nearby couch, pinned in by Ash, Myr, Poddux and Tiskial, who all leaned into them, refusing to let them go.

With a laugh, Sellan said, “You’re all welcome to join us at the house! I’m sure Tatiana and Lucifer would let you all go if you desired!” We would. It would be a massive loss of potential to the war camp, but if they wanted to go home, I would understand. It had been a long two years. If they needed some peace and quiet… “Go back with Sellan,” I told the group, the lot of them gaping at me, “At the very least take a break. Come back when, or if, you are ready to join the war again. If not, remain there. Heaven knows you’ve all earnt it.” It was guilt that made me say it, the knowledge that not all of them would be surviving the war flashing through my head once more, the dates given to me by Reni’s books. Bowing her head, Ash said, “Thank you, Tatiana, but we have a war to finish, and I’m sure Sellan and Jane want time to themselves.”

Looking to the remaining Fae, I arched an eyebrow.

“Do you all feel the same way?”

They nodded, beaming at each other, still clinging to Sellan and Jane when they said, “We’ll finish the war, and then we will go home.”

Taking a seat once more, I leaned back, waiting for Destiny and Nihila to return.

Today, for once, there was hope sparkling in the air…