Page 7

Amias

She'll ask about last night.

I look anywhere but at Mother, taking in details of furniture instead. Tucked under the long oak wood table are six chairs carved with swirls on the edges of the back. It pairs nicely with the blood red walls adorned with paintings of knights and Grandmother.

Maybe if I pretend like she's not there, she won't bring it up.

“Wasn't it wonderful last night?” Mother croons as she snatches her next baked good to devour.

Great. There it is.

Mother sits across from me, taking a bite of a flos cruentus.

Under the crystal chandelier, the melted sugar-coating glistens.

The blood-like filling drips on her chin as she bites the flower shaped pastry.

She tucks her long wavy hair, in a color between my sandy blonde and white, behind an ear before inspecting her ends that had dabbled in the filling.

I bite my own flos cruentus, savoring the sweet buttery pastry with its strawberry cherry filling. No other breakfast can top its flavor.

“It was fun,” I mutter.

She brushes her pink floral dress down. “Indeed, and those cream cakes were splendid! Did you try some?”

Pastry flakes fall onto my jeans, and I imitate Mother.

“Unfortunately, I didn't have the chance.” I shrug before taking another bite of food.

My eyes sweep over the gratuitous amount of food between us, with bowls of grapes and apples, alongside the platter of cheese and crackers.

A beaker of milk and another of orange juice stand on the side.

I think I'd throw up if I only got a quick bite of everything. “I'm sure it was good, though.”

“I have some left over. You just have to try. The chefs were actually from Lluvia too!”

I didn't have a chance to try a cake last night. Not after letting my date go or trying to help Clara.

Clara. I still have no idea how to help her.

She's still out there in desperate need of stitches and treatment. I can't imagine staying overnight in the streets in such a condition.

My heart pinches. It's my fault. I shouldn't have been distracted with Erasmus. I should've gone after her instead, even if I couldn't keep up with her anyway.

I look up at Mother. Maybe she has answers. “Mother. What do you-”

The double doors open loud enough to announce someone's presence.

I jerk my head to meet the guards holding it open, standing out from the dark room with their white military tunics, and the face of Grandmother.

Her towering body makes her steps creak the wooden floor and her platinum hair flows behind like a flag.

Her long bleached pink dress trails behind her as she plops on her seat at the end of the table.

Her blue eyes are weary and dull today, opposing the eternal twenty year old youth that holds her face.

I offer a smile. Hopefully she won't mention yesterday either. "Good morning, Grandmother. You look tired."

Grandmother takes a lungful of air. "Yes, I've been having nightmares lately."

“Nightmares?” I take one last bite of my flos cruentus.

“They're nightmares of Adoro dying. Everything was crumbling to dust. Even the both of you and all of the Amarians. I was so restless last night. You couldn't imagine.”

“Well at least those dreams weren't real. We're all still here!”

“Yes, but I'm rather worried.” She crosses her arms, rubbing one hand on her elbow. Her eyes become shifty. “It's unusual for me to have nightmares. Gifts aren't supposed to have them unless they're really important.”

Mother gasps. “You think it's Cosmo trying to tell you something?”

My body freezes as I reach for another pastry. If great Grandfather Cosmo is involved, maybe it's a bigger deal than I thought.

“Perhaps. I'm not sure what could cause so much destruction though.” Grandmother reaches for a flos cruentus before her eyes grow twice their size. “Dreamscreechers…”

The name lands a solid punch to my chest. Dreamscreechers. Creatures that don't deserve to exist. They're only made for vengeance and killing every living thing.

The headlines of their gory crimes and faces of their victims I've seen in the news flash in my head. My fists clench. I wouldn't be surprised if those vile monsters terrorized the world. “You think he's warning you about them?”

Grandmother doesn't face me as films of gloss cover her eyes. “It would have to be.”

My blood simmers. They've already done enough to violate our kingdom. I stand from the table and slam both hands on the table. “I want to help this time. Maybe I can join the military.”

“No!” Grandmother snaps. “I refuse to put you there.”

My nose creases. “Why? Erasmus was in the military.”

“He's stronger than you when it comes to military qualities. He's willing to be brutal and kill anyone necessary to protect the kingdom. You, my sweet Valley Lily, are much too forgiving and loving. There's a reason I tell you not to engage with dreamscreecher propagandists.”

“I'm not going to end up like Lydia.” My teeth grind. I’d never be manipulated into loving a monster, like she had. “I'm no dreamscreecher lover! Dreamscreechers don't deserve my remorse.”

“They all say that until they end up in her shoes.” Grandmother sighs. “The tender hearted don't belong fighting against dreamscreechers. It's been proven time and time again to be a terrible idea. They're easy targets. Liabilities.”

“I'm not a liability!” I hit the table with one hand. “What? Are you saying that the rumors are true?”

Grandmother looks at her flos cruentus, her tone softening. “No, but it doesn't make you less of a liability.”

“It's not like I have some type of monster fetish or something. Why would I be a liability?”

“The thing is that it has nothing to do with having a fetish or a thing for dreamscreechers. It's all about manipulation and abuse, which anyone can be a victim of.” Grandmother’s gaze returns to mine.

“And you know, they love the tender ones. They love the listeners. They’ll take advantage of your kindness and then eat you alive. ”

“But my kindness doesn't make me weak!”

“It doesn’t.”A weak smile tugs her lips. “It just brings a severe disadvantage when it comes to the military. Your tender heart belongs where it's safe and given to those who need it. Not in the bloody battlefields of war. It would be a waste.”

My body keeps tightening. “But I'm an adult. I'll be twenty-one in two months. I should be defending our kingdom!”

“Hey, um…” Mother’s murmurs suddenly. “How about we settle down and talk about this later? You know, I've been wanting you guys to settle your differences and have a normal grandmother and grandson relationship?”

I squint at Grandmother as she stands from her seat. “You know I love you, sweet Valley Lily, right?”

My fingers grasp onto the edge of the table. My glance goes elsewhere. “I know. I just want to help. I feel like-”

“I just want to keep you safe. That's all dear.” She walks over to me and holds my face in her hands, forcing me to look up. “You've already been through so much. You almost died when you were a newborn…”

Her words sting my chest. All the pain and anxiety I put Grandmother through by just existing.

She whispers. “We found out that you were soulmateless…”

I swallow hard. Why does she have to bring that up?

“I just want to protect my sweet Valley Lily.

You need to be in a place that's safe. Besides, fighting isn't your purpose.” She guides my head to rest on her chest as she starts to stroke my short barely strokable hair.

I never really liked it when she did this.

Before, I'd instinctively pull away. It makes me feel childish every time she does it, but she's my grandmother, so I’ve learned to let her. “I only do this out of love for you.”

“Then why did you let Erasmus go into the military?” I whisper, my heart sinking to my stomach. “Why does he get a soulmate, and I don't?”

Why does it seem like I'm getting left behind?

“Erasmus just has the qualities meant for those things.

It doesn't make him better than you.” Grandmother pulls my head away for our eyes to meet.

“You have great qualities for other things.

You work at the orphanage, and help the community.

You're perfect at those things. Do what you are needed for.”

I nod slowly, my shoulders starting to ease. I guess I'm overreacting a little. She’s doing what she thinks is best. Maybe this is the best way I can help my kingdom. “I'm sorry. I just want to help.”

My Cosmos wish.

The thought jumps into my head. I had forgotten. “I can use my Cosmo's wish to help with the dreamscreechers.”

Grandmother cocks her head. “You think?”

“Yeah! The point of having the wish is to protect the people of Adoro, right? If I can wish to rid us of these creatures, I would be doing the world a favor.”

I'd fulfill my duty. Thousands of years ago, when all people gathered to celebrate Cosmo's creations, through prayer, music and art, Cosmo gifted humans Grandmother and her six sisters to show his gratitude.

As Gifts, it's their purpose to help and guide humans, and that responsibility gets passed down to each descendant.

Grandmother squints at me, removing her hands from my face. “You'll have to be more specific. You know your mother tried to get rid of the problem, but it failed.”

Right. Mother wanted to avoid death and wished for all children to be protected from dreamscreechers. It only worked for that generation and has since worn off. Erasmus had wished for the protection barrier for the kingdom, which doesn't seem to be holding up enough as attacks have started again.

Which means I need to think of something impactful. “I don't have an exact plan yet, but I'll think of something.”

Grandmother sighs. “I'm sure you can. You have a good amount of wit.”

I let out a titter before Grandmother croons. “I love you.”

“I love you too…”