Tower of Memories

Episode 118: Rolling in Fog


The good part about Mom being early was that the other parents weren't here yet. Which worked out for me because I wanted to talk to the others. Without parents around.

"I'll be back in a bit, don't burn the Tower down while I'm gone," I teased as I went downstairs.

I wasn't sure if she suspected what I was going, but Mom winked at me as I left.

I knew enough about Celica's morning routine that finding her in the bathroom in the midst of braiding her hair was not a surprise. It was, in fact, my plan.

"Hello," I greeted as both Celica and Other Celica didn't bother pausing their braiding or applying the light amount of makeup Celica wore.

"Good morning," Other Celica was as chipper as ever.

"Can you tell the boys something for me?" I asked. I'd worry about being rude, but Other Celica didn't seem to mind and Celica didn't care.

"You couldn't ask Jarec to do it?" Celica asked incredulously.

"I didn't want to in front of Vivian and our Moms," I explained.

"Ooh. Sounds secret. What's up?" Other Celica's enthusiasm was not appreciated right now.

"Mom talked about the possibility of going to the source of the curse for information. For now they aren't planning to do anything, but the possibility was there for a moment."

Other Celica kept braiding while Celica froze the brush still in the midst of lifting to her face. Through the mirror, our eyes met and I couldn't read the look in hers. "Do you think it's possible?"

"I think if Mom starts to think the curse is more dangerous than Merripen's wrath, she might reopen the conversation. I'm against it, but if that happens you guys could be in danger too."

"Maybe. Fethris says thanks for keeping them updated. Russel is excited about the idea of perhaps meeting him in person."

"I hope it never comes to that," I told her.

"I don't think what you want matters," Celica scoffed.

"A girl can try," I mumbled. "Thanks for your help."

"If your curse is going to bring one of the most infamous men of the last generation on our heads, the sooner we can prepare for it the better."

"I suppose it's too much to hope for that it won't be needed."

"If we were destined for an average school experience Stewart, we wouldn't be in Dragon Tower."

I nodded, "Yeah. But being average is over-rated."

Both Celicas laughed. "We're Dragons! We relish the challenge," Other Celica exclaimed.

"Don't forget, we all need to go over the Coven Contest rules and plans together, so just stay in the Tower for a bit," I reminded her.

"Yes boss."

I rolled my eyes. If nothing else, my conscience was clear. There was a danger, I alerted the people likely affected the most. My job was done.

"We're going to kick butt out there today!" Other Celica called out as I left.

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I would just be happy if none of us ended up in the healer wing.

(*********)

Mom had pictures. Why did Mom have pictures? What was she doing now?

Jarec was grinning.

"What are you doing?" I asked.

"Serafina! Look at how cute you were!" Mom held up her favorite photo of me. I couldn't remember when it was taken, but according to Mom I was about two.

Baby me was sitting on a carpet and stacking blocks in order of color with a very serious expression on my face. Blue was on the bottom and red was on top. Because for some reason there wasn't a purple.

"She was so small! Good news is that her cheeks are still pinchable," she reached over but not fast enough. I dodged with a single step backwards.

"This is what I get for leaving you alone for more than a minute," I complained.

"You left me all alone, I had to entertain myself," she pouted.

Vivian's amused smile was probably goading her on. Ruby was staring with her hands folded a very serene look on her face. It made something in my chest twinge.

"Maybe next time, Dad can be with us," I commented. "He'll keep you entertained."

Mom's expression lit up. Small amounts of yellow light seemed to linger around her like a halo. "That would so much fun!"

Vivian sighed, "Okay Lucinda, you've made your point. I'll see what I can do."

Mom's grin was the biggest I had ever seen her have. Massive enough to threaten to split her face and the most genuine expressions she'd had this entire time.

It was nice.

Mom suddenly shifted and started putting her pictures away in her purse. Her movements were quick and sporadic. Just as she was done there was a knock on the door of Dragon Tower.

I took a deep breath, that had to be more parents, Fethris and Russel wouldn't need to knock.

I opened the door to find Celica's parents standing there. "Good morning, I'll go get Celica." I told them before getting out of the way.

Then there was a look between Mom and Ruby before she spoke, "Serafina sweetie, how about you and Jarec both go and enjoy some tea? Us adults want to talk for a bit."

I looked at him.

He shrugged at me.

"Okay…" I had no idea what was going on, and judging by how confused Jarec look, neither did he.

We both left down the stairs and neither of us spoke until we reached the bottom.

"Okay so that was weird, right?" Jarec asked.

"Don't ask me, Mom tells me nothing unless it's last minute."

"Maybe it's about the whole Merripen thing?"

"Maybe? Did Celica tell you that I asked her to tell the others?"

"Yeah, she sent it out group wide."

Ah good, group chats doing the one thing they're actually good for. "Cool."

"Was it really a good idea though?"

"I don't know. Mom changes her mind quickly and often, she might think it's a bad idea today and wake up tomorrow and decide to do it."

"I…I hope she doesn't do that with this."

"I don't think she will either, but still. I'd rather the people most likely to be effected have a warning on the chance things change."

"You're both being paranoid," Celica announced. "But if following your requests makes you feel better."

Maybe. Maybe there was some paranoia to it. But it couldn't be denied that Merripen could be dangerous. Even if I never meet him he could still put myself and everyone around me in danger. "I'd rather be a little extra cautious then not enough."

"Aren't you worried?" Jarec asked her.

"No, he's in prison. A cell in a dark place with no way out and no power to do anything to anyone. Least of all us." Celica was dismissive and unimpressed.

But she was right. "Yeah, okay. You have a point." It didn't feel like it. I just didn't want a fight.

Jarec looked ready to argue.

"We don't have the time for a fight today," I told him. "And I really don't have the energy for it. Once Fethris and Russel come back from wherever they ran off to, we need to go over all the Coven Contest information."

"We probably know more about it than you do," Celica pointed out.

"Yeah, probably but I have a job to do and you're the one who gave it to me so we'll all have to suffer through it."

"Are you still going through with your plan with the Focus?" Jarec asked.

"Are you two still worried about Kelpie and Pegasus?" I countered.

"Yes," Celica scoffed.

"Then yeah. That's still my plan."

"Is messing with the curse like that a good idea?" Jarec asked.

"Probably not, but I'd like to think at this point I know its rules well enough that I can play it safe. I can probably cast one spell without too many problems."

"Just don't push yourself too far," Jarec asked.

"I won't. I'll be okay."

"Do you even know any spells? And not just know of them, but can actually cast them on instinct? You don't want to be bleeding everywhere while struggling to think." Celica's skepticism wasn't helping right now.

"I'll worry about that part," I told them, dodging the fact that I didn't know any spells that way. "You guys worry about whatever you signed up for."

I don't think I convinced Celica. She looked very doubtful.

"Look, I haven't had time to prepare a detailed plan here, okay? Just have a little faith in me and I'll just focus on not panicking in front of the entire school."

I earned a very judgmental silence for my efforts.

"Look, it's not like we have a better idea right now anyway, this is the plan too late to really make changes and I'm sticking to it."

She sighed, "Just don't explode, okay?"

"That's the plan," I gave her my best grin.

Jarec and her shared one of their looks again. "Us Hearths are stubborn, and Serafina can handle this."

I had the best cousin.

I just hoped he was right.

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