Later in the evening, Zira, Isaiah, Arias, Lana, Clary and Councilman Faulkner sat around a circular table. The room itself felt like they had stepped into another world. The air felt warm and moist like a tropical forest. Greenery covered almost every surface except the door they walked in. The floral scents tickled their noses, and the sound of nature came from deep within. Zira watched Lana and Councilman Faulkner having a very private conversation. It didn't look so amicable from Lana's body language.
“Wow, Momma Essie, this layout is impressive,” Zira said, taking in the whole view.
“Oh, thank you, dear,” she said, walking to the table and placing a tea set in the middle. “Young man Ezekiel grew all of my favorite flowers in here. Reminds me of home.”
“So, you were there when…everything happened,” Zira asked, cautiously.
Mother Essie didn’t speak. Just stared out into the distance for a few moments. Zira gave a worried look to Isaiah. Maybe I said the wrong thing, Zira thought.
“You think,” Nina scoffed. “It takes you to make things awkward.”
“I was,” Mother Essie finally answered. “Though it's been so long, and I’ve worked hard to block out those memories. Leaving room for only the good.”
Zira smiled. “Maybe when we have time, we can talk about those instead.”
Mother Essie smiled as she looked at Zira. Imagining the one person who puts everyone's happiness over her own. Niamh. The silence spread between them as Lana cleared her throat.
“Thank you, Mother Essie, for seeing us,” Lana started. “I know that doing this could be a strain on…”
“Oh, hush now, child,” Mother Essie said dismissively. “I would do anything for Niamh.”
Everyone looked at Zira, who in return, looked at everyone.
“What?”
“Mother Essie,” Lana started, “this is Zira, not Niamh.”
“I know what I know, child,” she said, giving Lana a stern look. “Now let’s get started. The moon is in the best position for this.”
Momma Essie filled two cups with what Zira thought was tea until she saw smoke rising and spilling over the side. She placed one cup in front of her and one in front of Zira. Zira looked at her confused, then at Isaiah and everyone else.
“Woah, you want me to drink this,” Zira asked hesitantly. “You do know I'm not the one who needs healing, right?”
Momma Essie smiled. “Would you like me to give it to Arias instead?” Zira didn’t respond right away.
“Well, his dad is right here. Besides, he looks more like him than me. So…” Isaiah couldn’t help but laugh. “What? You can take one for the team,” Zira offered.
“If you want, I can-”
“No,” Mother Essie interrupted. “This disruption I sense is between you and your son. So, drink up.”
Mother Essie drank from her cup while Zira hesitated before drinking hers. The liquid was thick and sweet, almost like warm honey. She sat the cup down and looked around. Nothing happened as she looked around the table.
“Well, that wasn’t so bad,” Zira said. “This was actually pretty good. Reminds me of pixie dust. I could drink this all…”
Zira’s mind warped in a split second. She felt herself fall in slow motion before her feet touched solid ground. Everyone was gone. All she could see was white.
“Hello?”
She didn’t like this. She hated being alone. Memories of the first few months of her journey started to flood in. Many sleepless nights missing her family, her son, Isaiah, everything that made her happy. The guilt was eating her alive for leaving. There were days she wanted to turn tail and run back home but she didn’t. Still, it was lonely.
“Hey,” Nina interrupted her thoughts. “You had me.”
“You ragged on me the entire time for leaving.”
“No, I was just a daily reminder of what we had waiting for us when we got back,” Nina countered.
Zira shook her head and at the same time felt a hand on her shoulder. She turned and noticed Mother Essie standing with Arias.
“Are you alright, dear?”
“Yes, I am fine.”
“Good. Let’s move ahead. Zacharias is not sick as you thought, though it may seem that way. His powers are bound, but it is not him who is binding them.”
“I don’t understand. Who could do that,” Zira asked.
“You, Zira. Indirectly, of course.”
Zira looked at Mother Essie with a shocked expression. “What are you talking about? How can I…I can’t…what are you talking about?”
“Zacharias, show your mother what you showed me.”
Arias looked up at Mother Essie before looking at Zira. He seemed nervous. Almost scared. Zira bent down towards him.
“It’s okay, Bugga. Nothing is going to hurt you here,” Zira said, looking at Mother Essie for confirmation.
“Don’t worry dear. These are just memories in a safe space.”
“See, Bugga. Nothing is going to hurt you while I’m here. What do you want to show me?”
Arias looked down as an image formed behind him. Zira stood and walked around him. She knew this memory. She knew what happened that day. After all, she was there. Outside the diner, Zira was on the ground, her hands protruding out in front of her as if she was blocking herself from him. Her mother was holding Arias, staring at her with a horrified expression.
“What happened here,” Mother Essie asked. Zira swallowed hard, trying to find the words through the knot forming in her chest.
“I…I...went to the diner in our pack with Arias and my mom. It was some months after…” This part was still hard for her to say. “...after James died and I was still grieving at the time. My mom thought it would be a good idea to get out of the house and she was right, of course. During the meal, people kept looking and whispering, and I thought they were talking about Arias. No one really knew what he could do, and I didn’t want people to know. So, when we left the diner, I fell and cut my leg really badly. Arias came to me to heal me, and I freaked out. Everything that happened during that battle with Alaia just came back and I…I screamed. I was afraid of him using his power like he did before. Afraid it might attract unwanted attention. I was scared, but I didn’t mean to scare him. I didn’t…”
Zira felt Mother Essie’s hand on her back as she sobbed.
“That day, Zira, your fear became his fear. He is afraid to use his gifts, thinking it would only hurt you.”
“I am so sorry, Bugga,” Zira said, picking him up. “What can I do? How do I…unbind his powers or whatever?”
“By being his mother, who loves him no matter what. Powers and all. He needs to know you’re not afraid of what he is or what he can do.”
“Of course,” Zira said immediately. “Bugga, you know I love you, right? Every part, OK?”
Arias gave a slight nod that didn’t feel very convincing. Mother Essie laughed.
“I think it’s going to take much more than words.”
Arias wiggled from her embrace and Zira helped him to the ground. “Right. Not an overnight cure, but at least we know he’s fine and I’m going to work every day to make sure.”
Mother Essie clapped her hands in delight. “That’s great news because you’re going to need it on the road ahead.”
“What do you mean?”
“Look,” Mother Essie said, pointing behind Zira.
She turned around and the person standing in front of her was…her. Dressed in a long white dress with blue accent designs along the side. Her hair was pulled backed into a bushy ponytail with a flower circlet on top. Around her neck was the necklace Arias was wearing. The woman smiled and Zira couldn’t help but smile back.
“Niamh?” The woman nodded. “Cool,” Zira said, looking around for Arias or even Mother Essie. “Where did…wait, is this part of it? Are you connected to my son somehow?”
Niamh didn’t speak. Instead, she furrowed her brow and turned away. She started to walk and, with nowhere else to go, Zira followed. In front of them the fountain materialized, and Niamh sat on the edge. The runes around the fountain were illuminated. Zira stood there, not sure what to do or say. When Niamh finally spoke, her voice was soft and sullen.
“Everything happened here,” Niamh said. Her hand dipped and played in the water. “I poured everything into creating a safe place for my people and it all crumbled right before my eyes. It was all my fault.”
Zira could see the tears rolling down her eyes. The guilt Niamh felt was a feeling Zira was all too familiar with. She wished there was something she could say to ease her pain. Niamh looked at Zira with her tear-stained face and she smiled.
“But you, Zira. You can help me finish it. Save the white wolves, save your son,” Niamh said, grabbing Zira’s hands.
Zira quickly pulled away. “I…I cant. I don’t know how, Niamh. I can barely save m-”
"You, Zira.” Niamh took off her necklace and placed it around Zira’s neck. Niamh placed her hand over it and Zira felt a breath of fresh air travel through her. “You're the only one who could do this. You have my blood.” Niamh pointed to the fountain behind her. “Everything needs to end here.”
The space around them suddenly darkened with the fountain being the only light source. The demon from before emerged from the fountain, reaching for them.
“Niamh!” Zira reached out to grab Niamh, but it was too late. The demon had her in its paws, pulling her back into the fountain. Zira tried to get to her, but something was keeping her back. She noticed Niamh’s hand reaching out to her and knew she was the reason.
“Please,” Zira screamed. “Let me help you.”
“The book.” It was the last thing Zira heard before she felt someone’s hand on her shoulder. Zira sat up and almost ran into Isaiah.
“Hey, hey. You’re okay, Zi. Everything is fine,” Isaiah whispered as she looked around. Arias was standing behind Isaiah with a worried expression. Zira held her hands for him and he hesitated for a moment.
“It’s okay, Bugga. Everything is fine, see? I'm ok.”
Arias slowly but surely walked into her arms and Zira held him for a minute. “What happened?”
Everyone around the room looked at each other. Some faces were shocked while others were amused. Even Mother Essie was smiling at her. Zira’s gaze landed on Isaiah.
“Well, you all came back but then you took the necklace from Arias and your eyes started shimmering...”
“...like a white wolf’s,” Lana finished, looking at Zira in a new light. “Who are you,” she asked in a whisper.
“Niamh,” Mother Essie said. “She’s back and she’s going to save us all.”
Zira looked down at the necklace glowing around her neck and she knew what she needed to do. I have to steal that book and keep it away from them, Zira thought as she glanced at Councilman Faulkner and Lana. Both seemed to be sharing the same curious look.