«We find our way back to each other. Always have, always will»

 

.Chapter 1

Malia

«Do you know why you are here?» A foreign female voice penetrates the thick fog surrounding my mind. I blink but remain unable to make sense of what I see. My vision is blurry and my brain too numb to catch up.

I want to search for the voice’s owner, but I can’t move, my limbs impossibly heavy. In the back of my mind, a warning rings out, telling me to get ahold of myself and become aware of my surroundings, but the voice of caution is too far away to carry any actual importance.

«Can you hear me?» The voice adds, drawing closer.

Yes, I want to answer, but my mouth won’t follow my command. My body seems incapable of working properly, caught in its dreamlike state. Is this a dream? I’ve never experienced anything similar, and it seems impossible for reality to feel like this.

«Malia?» My head jerks at the sound of my name, my trance shattered. I blink furiously, awareness rushing back into my body and mind as I look up.

A beautiful woman with wavy dark hair and bright blue eyes is sitting across from me. I study her features, and as some recognition trickles over me, my galloping heart stumbles over itself. Instead of the expected paralyzing fear to take hold of me, the sight of this stranger evokes a foreign calmness.

With great effort, I force myself to stay cautious and take a look around. We are in a big, bright room, which is just as new to me as she is. There are no windows, just the fluorescent lights hanging from the ceiling.

There are no indications of where we are, and I know I should be scared of being in a foreign place with a stranger with no recollection of how I got here. Still, I can’t quite bring myself to call out to my parents or look for a way to escape. Not with the woman on the other side of the desk looking so much like an angel.

«Do you remember what happened?» the woman asks patiently. I want to answer, but the words get stuck in my throat. I shake my head. I have no idea where I am or how I got here. It feels like I was in the car with my parents just a moment ago.

As if reading my mind, the woman slowly keeps talking, «You and your family had an accident. I am really sorry.» An accident? That seems highly unlikely. I would remember being in an accident, right? Or maybe not if I hit my head and that would explain my drowsiness, but if the accident had been so bad, I’d be in a hospital, right? Where are my parents? They usually never leave me out of their sight. I take a deep breath and try to find my voice.

«Where are my parents?» The words come out shaky and weak, so different from usual. The strange woman smiles sadly.

«They died in the accident. I am so sorry. I know this must be difficult for you to hear.»

Died? That can’t be true. We were driving to our favorite café just a second ago. My Dad told us a joke and we were all laughing together. I can almost still hear my Mom’s laugh ringing out and see my father’s warm eyes as they look at me through the rear-view mirror.

My voice is gone again, so I shake my head once more, looking away from the woman and back at my knees. My hands are trembling in my lap, but I can barely feel them. Nothing feels real.

A strong hand gives my shoulder a squeeze and I whirl around in my seat. Another person I have never seen before, a man, is standing behind me, looking like a guardian. He’s tall, his face obscured by the blinding lights above, but I can tell he’s looking ahead rather than at me. I turn my attention back to the woman.

«Where am I?» I barely recognize my voice, usually so loud to be heard over the chaotic conversations at family functions. Now, I’m speaking in a broken whisper.

«You are at the Arcane Academy. It is a school for young people like you. I am the headmistress, Adira, and this is Kaz, my right hand and your future trainer,» she explains referring to the man behind me. I don’t turn around again, the questions whirring in my mind much more pressing.

«Young people like you» How like me? Orphans? Because that is what I supposedly am now? «Your future trainer» What is he going to train me in? I have never even heard of this school.

I like my current school. The teachers are nice, and I have friends there. Why would I switch to this one? No one told me about this change. I have to speak to my parents. This woman must have me confused with someone.

I don’t say anything, so Adira goes on.

«I am sure you have a lot of questions, but it’s been a long day. We can talk tomorrow.» Long day?

«But I just got up,» I protest. Nothing this woman says adds up.

«It is past midnight. It was a long flight over here.» I furrow my eyebrows and shake my head again. What flight? I have never been on a plane.

«I know this is a lot to take in, but I promise everything will make sense tomorrow. Goodnight, Malia.» Before I can protest any further, the man behind me gently eases me to my feet and leads me out of the room.

«Where am I?» I whisper into the space ahead as we walk.

«Virginia,» Kaz replies, his voice deep and soothing. Virginia, I’ve heard of that. I try to remember where Virginia is located, but my thoughts are all over the place. «You are in the USA,» the man adds as if he was privy to my inner turmoil.

The USA. That can’t be true. The last thing I remember is being in Sicily with my family, and now, I’m supposed to be on another continent? How could I possibly forget about a car accident and such a long flight? This must be a dream. My parents will wake me any moment now and everything will be all right.

I pinch my elbow subtly as we move and shut my eyes. When I open them back up, I’m still here, walking through these clean, foreign halls.

«There is a single room prepared for you with clothes you can wear and a bed. I will fetch you in the morning and you can talk to Adira again. She’ll fill you in on why you’re here and tell you what’s necessary about the school. For any further questions that may come up, you can turn to the older student who will show you around later tomorrow.” Before I can comprehend even that, Kaz goes on.

“Students here share rooms, but it is best if you calm down alone and get some sleep tonight. You’ll be assigned to your room and meet your roommate tomorrow.» All I can do is nod. I am a nine-year-old stranded alone with a grown man in a country I don’t know a single person in. Hang on…

«What date is it?» I ask.

«January 15th.» A ten-year-old, then. Happy birthday to me… There is silence for a moment, but my stomach interrupts it with a loud growl.

«I haven’t had breakfast,» I mumble. I’d normally be embarrassed, but I can’t find it in me to care now. My mind continues to spin, whether it’s due to the lack of food in my stomach or the mess my reality is becoming, I’m not sure.

«Let’s change that, then.» With a firm hand on my shoulder, he leads me to take a right turn into another corridor framed by white marble walls with no windows in sight. I don’t know how I’m supposed to distinguish the different halls if they all look the same. How will I find my way around?

Do I really have to stay here?

I hear voices getting louder as we continue our walk, and we soon reach a room full of kids. Most of them look a lot older than me, although I catch a few exceptions in the short glimpse I allow myself to take. It’s a small relief, seeing confirmation of Adira’s words that this is a real school with real kids.

The chatting dies down as I enter, people turning to look at who arrived so late, and my gaze zeroes in on my feet, feeling the heat of stares on my back. Kaz, undoubtedly noticing my discomfort at being on display, gives my shoulder another encouraging squeeze and steers me into an adjoining room. As soon as the heavy door closes behind us, it blocks the curious whispers that had started up, and I release a quiet sigh.

There are no kids and no burning looks in this room, so I allow my gaze to rise off the floor. We’re in a massive kitchen hosting a single hearty woman wearing an apron and the biggest smile possible. “Oh, hello, darling.” She turns from me and looks at the mountain of a man behind me. “Kaz, I didn’t know you were coming by this late, or I would have made sure there were leftovers. What can I get you two?”

She exudes warmth in such a chipper way, my nerves settle just a tad. It’s a stark contrast to Adira’s professional distance or Kaz’ silence, and I find myself ready to reply to her with a steady voice. “I’ll take whatever you have on hand, please.”

She beams as if thoroughly delighted at my reply and starts bustling around in search of my dinner. The way she navigates the kitchens, opening a few drawers and picking out things without sparing them a glance before she’s on the way to another counter reminds me of a bee. She’s surprisingly light on her feet, barely making a sound in the process. I realize I’ve been watching her, transfixed, when she presents me with a plate filled with a bit of cold meat, cheese, and crackers.

“Just nibble at this while I whip up something fit for a growing child, will you? So you don’t starve in the meantime. If Kaz had given me a bit of a heads-up, I would have had something steaming ready for you the second you stepped through the door,” she tuts, shooting my future trainer a pointed look. When she turns her attention back to me, any scorn has left her features and she smiles. “But where are my manners. I haven’t even introduced myself. I’m Bertha.” She holds out a weathered hand, crouching down slightly to be closer to my height. I shake it, trying to hold firm in the way my father taught me, and her smile seems to brighten just a smidge further.

“I’m Malia,” I explain.

By the time Bertha reacts to my words, she’s already halfway across the kitchen, whipping out ingredients from left and right. “Beautiful name, my dear. I don’t think I’ve heard it around here before.”

My mouth waters at the thought of a warm meal, but I send a searching look over my shoulder at Kaz, trying to figure out if we have time for that. When I see him already sitting down in a chair he got who-knows-where, I relax a little, glad he’s not pissed I haven’t declined the offer of a proper meal. When he catches me looking, he gestures to another chair close to him, but not close enough that it would be uncomfortable. I smile weakly and mumble a thanks as I sit down. Then, I watch Bertha prepare my dinner to distract myself from the many questions and worries still circling my mind.