Destiny's Blood by Marie Bilodeau (superbooks4u txt) 📕

“Why would you ever leave a place like this?” Layela whispered.

Josmere furrowed her brow, as though she might be trying to remember the reason, herself.

“Come,” she finally said, pulling off her boots. Her long legs glided through the uncut grass. “It’s time I show you my home.” The darkness in her face rivalled the beauty of the surrounding blooms.

i

The home of the Berganda rested in the forest, the wooden structure matching the surrounding trees. Layela couldn’t help but wonder if the trees had formed it themselves. She wanted to ask Josmere a thousand questions, but her friend’s sombre mood stilled her anxious tongue.

There was no door to the house, only an oval entryway, which Josmere crossed without announcing herself. Layela felt uncomfortable simply barging into Josmere’s family home and hesitated before entering.

“It’s all right, Layela,” Josmere said, noticing her friend’s hesitation. Layela crossed the threshold and found the inside of the house simple, but elegant. Grass formed the carpet, but no flowers bloomed, nor did any insects skip about. Other walls and corridors led to other rooms, and Layela realized the house might be much bigger than she had originally thought.

This room had no roof, only the leaves of the trees reaching above them, but other rooms seemed to have ceilings, as well as floors.

“Are you hungry?” Josmere asked, as though obliged to.

Layela shook her head slowly. Something else had struck her about this house: the silence. “Josmere, where is your family?”

The Berganda looked away for a moment, toward the back rooms, as though expecting some of them to walk out at any moment — or, perhaps, remembering laughter that no longer resonated down these halls.

“It’s been a long time, Layela,” Josmere said slowly. “But when I left, only two of my aunts lived, both very old. Their names were Milkata and Klomar. I have felt them pass, since.”

“I’m so sorry, Josmere,” Layela whispered.

Josmere shrugged. “It happens, sooner to Bergandas than to humans,” she said, taking Layela by surprise. She had always believed Bergandas lived longer than humans. But now did not seem like a good time to ask more, as Josmere seemed faced with a part of her mortality she had hoped to leave behind. Layela understood all too well. She had left more of her mortality on Thalos IV than anywhere else, and firmly believed she would never lose more of it, not even at the place of her death.

“I’m exhausted,” Josmere said, offering a small, apologetic smile to Layela, as though the Berganda realized she had so many answers Layela sought, but could not give her any. “I’ll show you to your room.”

Two corridors later, Layela decided the mansion was definitely bigger than she had originally anticipated, and built more like a maze than a dwelling. Layela was beginning to understand why Berganda were gifted with an easy sense of place, and a “ten-second” gift.

Five more turns, and after Layela knew she had no hope of ever finding her way out again, Josmere showed her a small, comfortable room, complete with a bed and small desk. The bedding was already on the bed, looking as fresh as if just laid out. She looked inquiringly at Josmere.

Her friend gave her another wry smile. “It’s best you think of this place like the Berganda. It doesn’t change, doesn’t grow old.” In a whisper, she added, “All but the important parts.”

She was gone before Layela could ask another question. She dared not try to follow, for fear of spending all night wandering lost in the house.

The sun was setting, and the forest cast large, eerie shadows around the mansion. Layela could see them clearly through the large, glassless window in her room.

With little to do, Layela laid down on the soft bed. The smell of lilac surrounded her as her mind wandered from blooms to Berganda, ships to pirates, sisters to assassins.

She wondered how powerful the Berganda must have once been, to create this perfectly controlled natural space. The perfect home for plant people.

She sighed, feeling the first webs of sleep creeping upon her. Her last waking thought was the wish that she remember her vision upon waking, or that it not visit her at all.

i

Layela woke up with a start, sweat drenching her body even though the air felt cool. Her hands were shaking, and her tongue felt thick and dry. Had she cried out in her sleep? Had Yoma left because she knew Layela had seen the same vision, but wouldn’t remember it with her waking mind?

“Enough!” Layela uttered, slipping on her boots and walking out of the room as the last threads of darkness slipped from her mind. They were as silken as any intricate spider web, and just as transparent.

She turned in the direction Josmere had taken, hoping her instincts would guide her. She took a few twists and turns, not entering any of the few side rooms, simply following the path the corridors seemed to place at her feet. Thankfully she didn’t have to rely on instincts: the corridor took many turns, but never split off.

Another turn led her into a hallway fully made of stone. Vines crept along the stone, snuggling comfortably where the sunlight would stream through the nonexistent roof. Before her was not another door, nor another corridor, but open space. It looked like a wide courtyard, wild with plants. Layela entered it cautiously.

Noticing that she was beginning to crouch defensively, Layela straightened and continued walking slowly. She was a guest here, and did not intend to sneak around rudely.

This is Josmere’s home, she reminded herself firmly as the urge to blend in with her surroundings struck again.

Trees towered over the courtyard, their leafless branches like spider legs thrusting in all directions, casting sparse yet eerie night shadows around her, though she could see neither of Thalos IV’s two moons in the sky above. The ground was covered with plants, all wild and overgrown; most of them, Layela guessed, weeds. The green of the weeds and the brown