I once gave someone my heart. I loved them with my whole being. I shaped my life with his own. We were partners, two pieces that came together in a world that sought only discourse. He freed me from a prison that I believed would limit my world. I gave them everything and put all my faith with him.

And then he betrayed me.

When I lost my beloved, I was heartbroken beyond belief. When he returned, my joy knew no bounds. I thought, I had hoped, that we could make our own world, one where we could be happy and unchained. And yet he hid a crucial matter from me. Somehow, without my noticing, he had become someone unrecognizable. I was enraged, but I was also saddened. My heart, pieced together by strings of our love, became shattered once more, this time beyond reconstruction.

Since then, I have wondered if the change was sudden or if it was so gradual that I simply didn’t realize. Or maybe they were never the person I thought they were. No matter the course, it didn’t change the pain that their betrayal caused. I put my trust in them, my heart, and now I know what a mistake that was.

---------------------------------------------------

Five days. It was five days that I remained in a numb fog, the minutes ticking along to the countdown of my final hour. I carried through my routine automatically, my body acting on its own while my mind closed itself off. Sometimes, I could believe that it was a dream, as if it would all vanish if I opened my eyes in the morning. And yet, each day came as crisp as the last. I watched the leaves fall, their many hues no longer drawing a smile from me like they once did.

My sisters taunted me on sight, haunting me with the lingering effects of their Semblances. My father ignored me more than ever as if I was a spirit left unseen to the normal eye. Pemphredo was the one paying me the most attention, but only since it was to make sure I was properly sent away. She took meticulous measurements of my body, judging what colors would look the best on me. She made sure I was clean and as healthy as I could be. She even made sure her daughters kept their hands off of me so that I wouldn’t have bruises when the day came, even if my Aura could heal them.

I didn't have the will to care about Pemphredo’s presence, having resigned myself to my fate. It didn’t matter how little I slept even after I cried myself to slumber. It doesn’t matter that I could no longer attend school since every bit of my time was now devoted to chores and preparations. None of it matters now. Tomorrow, I’ll be married to Keane and off to Atlas, my future permanently sealed.

Today was different, as I would learn.

I was sitting next to a window in the foyer, my mind drifting off to the prospects that would come by the end of tomorrow. The sharp tap made me look down. Obsidian sat on the other side of the glass, red eyes watching me. I hurriedly looked around to make sure no one was watching before I cracked open the window. “What are you doing here?” I whispered loudly. “You can’t come this close to the mansion! What if Pemphredo sees you?”

Obsidian seemed unconcerned. He pecked my nose softly. “I’m almost here, little spark. Just a bit longer.”

I knew it was an empty promise, but I smiled nonetheless. “Thank you, Obsidian. I know I have you, but there’s nothing you can do. Just… I want you to know that I love you.”

Every day since I discovered my fate, Obsidian had been trying to reassure me that he would save me. I know that it’s impossible. There is nothing a little bird can do to save me from tomorrow. Still, I found my heart swelling at how much he cared for me.

Obsidian seemed unaffected by my expression. “Tomorrow.”

“Yeah, buddy. Tomorrow.”

I stroked his feathers, committing their softness to memory. I don’t know when the last time I’ll be able to hold him will be. I don’t believe a Grimm, no matter the size, will be able to enter Atlas without being destroyed. I’ll lose my only friend, but as long as he lives, I can hold what comfort that brings.

I heard a knob start to turn. “Fly, now!” Obsidian took off as the door opened. Pemphredo entered with her usual silver glamor in place. With her hair woven into a simple braid, a mercury dress that was cut to her thighs and a string of a necklace around her neck, Pem still held her silver beauty. Even her eyes, two silver orbs that caught the light like no other color, seemed to shine with a mystic wonder.

Halfway across the room, Pem suddenly paused. Her pupils went wide, which I knew was a sign of her Semblance. Panic erupted in my chest, my heart pounding against my ribs. Pemphredo’s Semblance, Untethered Sight, allows her to see her surroundings in a way no one else can. She sees everything around her no matter where her eyes are looking. She could sense how things moved and predict what the next change will be. It made her an unencumbered fighter, always aware of what was around her, and picking openings no one else would find. It was also why Obsidian couldn’t come close to the mansion. My cabin was out of range of her abilities as long as she was close to the mansion, but any closer would be dangerous.

A tense moment passed. Pem’s eyes returned to normal. I held in a sigh of relief. She hadn’t seen Obsidian. Back on focus, Pemphredo finished striding over to me, her natural grace evident even in her easy steps. She looked down at me and asked “What are you doing?”

It was a moment before I realized that my mind had wondered while I was folding laundry. “Sorry. I had a lot on my mind.”

Pemphredo shrugged. “Understandable. The day is almost here after all. It’ll be over shortly.”

“Yeah, I guess.” I set the clothes aside, the chore seemingly meaningless for now. “Can I… can I ask you something?”

Pem seemed surprised. I had never been this forward with her, and she had never been this docile. Given the circumstances, we had reached some temporary truce. “What is it?”

It was a question I never thought I would have the nerve to ask, but I had nothing left to lose. “Did you know my mother?”

If Pem was startled or caught off-guard, so made sure it didn’t show. “Auburn? No. I knew of her, but we never met.”

“What was she like?”

“I can’t tell you from personal experience, but I was told she had a big heart and a bigger weapon. Everyone who knew her seems to have liked her. Why do you ask?”

I dropped my eyes to her necklace. “I keep thinking about what she would think about this. What she would do if she was still here. I miss her.”

Pem shifted her weight. “I can’t tell you.”

I clenched my fists. This next bit was like vile, and I had to be rid of it before it was too late. “I hate you,” I said bluntly, still not meeting her eyes. “Everything changed because of you. My father hates me because of you. I’m getting married because of you. It’s all your fault.”

Pem was silent. I guess I must have struck something in her. I wanted to free myself from just a fraction of the muck that filled my lungs, but the relief was less than expected. To my shock, Pemphredo knelt. Her silver eyes were so clear that I saw myself reflected in them like polished mirrors. “I know you don’t like me. I don’t like you either. But you shouldn’t blame me. This isn’t my fault. While I don’t want you here, it’s not my cause. If you want to blame someone, blame your mother.”

“My mother? What does she have to do with this? She’s been dead since I was little.”

“I’m well aware. But your problems started long before I came around. I’m part of your situation, but not as large as you picture it to be.”

“I don’t understand,” I told her, locked on my own reflection.

Pem let out an irritated sigh. “Check your mother’s room. Her old Scroll should still be in there. Check her messages and take a look for yourself.” Pem stood and walked back to the door. Before she grabbed the knob, my stepmother turned back. “We’re going to meet up with the Chartreuse family and take the girls to get their dresses for tomorrow. That’s what I came to tell you. We’ll be back in a few hours.” She took a breath and continued. “I don’t care what happens after tomorrow, but I won’t take all of your blame. In two days, I’ll probably never have to see you again. Just sort out your story with the right information.” She opened the door and left.

A breeze from the open window whistled in my ear. Pem’s message circled in my thoughts, looping over and over. What does my mother have to do with this? Pem has to be lying about something, but I can’t figure out why she would care enough to do so. She certainly doesn’t care what I think. So...why?

I gathered up the laundry and returned it to the laundry room. I’ll come back to it. A while later, I watched my family file out the door and drive away. For the next few hours, I’ll be all alone. The thought of running away crossed my mind, but I quickly dismissed it. My father and stepmother have close ties with every Huntsman and Huntress in town. Plus, the Chartreuse family would certainly search with them if I disappeared. With Pem’s Semblance and experience, it would be easy to find me.

That left one thing. I opened another window and Obsidian instantly swooped in. He perched on my right shoulder and nuzzled my temple. “Hey, buddy. We’re going to look for something in my mother’s room. Want to have one last adventure?” He nipped my ear, which was yes enough for me.

I walked the halls with the expert precision that only came from living here my whole life. I found my mother’s door, running a hand over the autumn tree emblem for the first time in so many years. Obsidian cooed, and I was ready. I placed my hand on the doorknob, hesitated, then turned it and pushed before I could change my mind.

It was exactly as I had remembered. The walls were painted gold with orange streaks shaped into vines and branches. The trim was cream with flower designs sticking out. Windows reaching from the floor to the ceiling normally let sunlight stream in, but pale curtains blocked them. Between the windows, my mother’s enormous bed was placed, a divider wrapped around so that I couldn’t see it. Along the right wall were a dresser, vanity table, and a rack where her weapons once hung. To the left were bookshelves covering several subjects and a desk in the back corner. To each side of the door were tables that held several pots of dirt. Larger pots were interspersed between the furniture and by the windows.

Those once held plants that my mother diligently cared for with her green thumb and Semblance. After so long, the plants had withered and crumbled to nothing. A thick layer of dust covered every surface, left untouched for years.

Even though it was dark and lacked the life my mother brought, the room brought a wave of nostalgia over me. I could almost hear my mother singing to me and guiding me through tending to her plants. I skimmed so many of those books with her, fascinated by the pictures or the stories my mother would bring to life. She loved fairy tales, so an entire shelf was dedicated to those whimsical fables.

I wish that I could bring this room back to life. With a wave of my hand, I could make flowers bloom as my mother could. Petals would dance and stems would shake, following a tune only she could hear. Some would remain normal, others would become larger than me and sturdy enough to hold us both. We would read stories tucked between the petals of a hyacinth. I wish that I could inherit her Semblance and bring to life the wonders that she could, carrying around a joy that she cherished so much.

Obsidian nudged my neck. “Are you alright?”

I hadn’t realized that I had been crying. I wiped my tears away and said, “Yeah. I just… miss my mom.” I shook off the memories with difficulty. “She could never keep track of her Scroll, but Pemphredo said it was in here somewhere. Let’s find it.”