Page 43 of My Salvation
Priest smiled. “Good. That is good, right?”
She walked in and couldn’t stop looking around. Growing up, the walls had been painted a deep green color with dark wood floors. There had been heavy drapes along the walls of windows that prevented a lot of the natural daylight from coming in, but it was all gone.
“The walls are beautiful.”
Priest made a face at her. “I thought you didn’t like white.”
She gestured to the wall. “Are you color blind?”
“No. Maybe. Wait, what?” He walked over to the wall and stared closer. “It looks white to me.”
“Men!” She joined him at the wall. “It used to be this foreboding dark green, very oppressive. This is a gorgeous, slightly marbled ivory with flecks of gold and silver. See how the light catches? It gives the entire space texture and depth.” She spun and walked over to the windows, which took up most of the wall space. “They used to have heavy jacquard drapes. Look at this!” She gently touched the light, airy fabric. “The sheer panels are fae made. It allows the light to come through but gives you privacy.” Turning, she finally took a closer look at the furniture. “They would have hated this for themselves,” she said, laughing. Her parents' room had always centered around a solid mahogany bedroom set that dominated the space; in its place, a pale oak set seemed to work with the room, leaving it feeling open and spacious.
The headboard reached from floor to ceiling. The section above the mattress looked to be a set of clever modular panels. The one to catch her eye acted as a picture frame of a portrait she had never seen before. She ran over and climbed up on the bed. “Priest! Come here, look!”
Priest hurried to her side and looked at what she was pointing to. “Your parents?”
She kept wiping away tears as she nodded. “They look so happy here.”
Priest’s fingers traced the lips of the infant they were holding. “I can see why. This is you.”
She nodded and kept investigating the headboard. “What on earth is this?” She opened the small wooden door to reveal a storage area. A leather pouch sat on top of an envelope. With shaking hands, she picked them both up. She held up the letter.
“Did you want me to read it?” Priest asked.
She shook her head, then slowly opened it. When the parchment felt supple under her fingers, she knew it had been magicked to last. She slid the letter out and opened it.
To our dearest daughter and most loved treasure,
The house is so quiet with you gone. As much as my heart breaks at our parting, I know it was the right thing to do. When you were born, we were equal parts thrilled and terrified. We knew we were not long for this world and dreaded the day we would fade and leave you on your own.
Know that the emptiness of the void growing in our hearts and minds are the only thing that drives us from you. It is better to say goodbye now than to become someone or something you would abhor.
We have asked two of our most trusted friends to watch over you. First, of course, is Eion. He has promised he will remain and keep the house ready for your return. As our days grow short, we have found great joy in making this room perfect for you. At least, we hope it will be perfect for you. The second person we have asked to keep you safe in our stead is your father’s closest friend and your athair Ilian…
She gasped and crumpled the letter to her chest.
“What?” Priest asked.
She shook her head, sobbing, unable to form words.
“Cas, you need to say something, honey, or I’m going to get Eion or Meryn or someone.”
Laughing through her sobs at his desperation, she simply wrapped her arms around his neck and wept.
After a few minutes, she calmed down enough to sit back.
“He has watched over me all this time,” she was finally able to say once the tears subsided.
“Who, baby?” he asked, rubbing his hands up and down her arms.
“Ilian. He was my father’s closest friend and my athair. He never told me.”
“That makes sense,” he said, nodding sagely.
“How does that make any sense?” she demanded.
He blinked at her. “If I knew for a fact that, for some reason, I wouldn’t be around to protect my baby girl, I’d ask my unit brothers to watch after her in my stead. There’s no better choice in keeping someone safe.”