It had been two weeks. Two weeks of Ilya staying in the monastery and he had not seen Beatrice once. He frequently found himself going to the chapel, gazing at the stained glass that Beatrice had loved so much. At first, Ilya thought the glass depicted Beatrice, or at least one of her ancestors. It was only later that he was told it was the sun goddess.
The monastery was very cold. The stone walls only made it colder. It seemed like the only place the sun could shine was in the chapel.
Ilya would often read books in the chapel, basking in the warmth. Sometimes he would take a nap in the pews.
No one ever bothered him. Occasionally a priestess or a bishop would give him a dirty look, but no one ever spoke to him.
Until on the fifteenth day of his stay.
He awoke to Gi standing over him. He blinked at her, processing her presence. For a moment, he thought he might've been dreaming and was annoyed that Gi was the one in his dreams.
"Why are you glaring at me like that?" Gi snapped.
"Ugh," Ilya groaned. "Even in my dreams you're a pain in the ass."
Gi looked disgusted. "You dream about me."
"This is the first. I hope never again."
Gi pinched Ilya's forehead hard. He furrowed his brow. It hurt.
"Thank god," he sighed. "You're not a dream. Looks like I am safe after all."
Gi pursed her lips at the insult, but instead of arguing further like always, she turned her head away and crossed her arms. "Echo is looking for you."
Who the hell is Echo?
"Why?"
Gi shrugged. "I don't question what Echo wants."
"Why not?"
"She's the oracle's mother. No one questions her."
Ilya's curiosity was piqued.
Beatrice had never mentioned her mother before. The only thing he had heard about it was that her mother died before she came to the empire.
"What is she like?"
Gi shot him a very weary look. "Are you coming or not?"
"Yes," he stood immediately. "Yes, I'm coming."
Gi led him from the chapel to the library. He had never gone there before, he felt uncomfortable staying in a place surrounded by people. He knew what would happen to all of them. They would be killed or casted out of their homes. Most of the monastery was killed.
The library was different than any Ilya had ever seen before. The shelves were wrapped around the walls, not lined in rows. At the top of one bookcase sat a woman and a man. The woman waved her hand and Gi pushed him towards her.
Ilya hesitated before approaching the woman. She didn't look at him, even when she did, she didn't.
The woman that was supposedly Beatrice's mother looked nothing like her. She looked exactly like the young man that sat beside her. The man looked Ilya up and down before whispering in the woman's ear.
Ilya realized that the man was describing what he looked like.
Ilya forced a tight smile, twisting his hands in his lap. He could not lose his temper, not in front of Beatrice's mother. Not if he ever wanted her to see him in a positive light.
"I'm Echo," the woman finally spoke. "My son, Beatrice's brother."
She gestured towards her son who supplied the name Torin.
"How can I help you?" Ilya didn't bother to introduce himself. They already knew who he was.
Echo offered him her hand. Ilya stared at it, leaving her waiting awkwardly. She smiled, placing her hand flat on the table.
"I wanted to meet you."
Ilya cut a look at Gi. Had she told Echo? Gi slightly shook her head.
"Why?"
"I've heard things," Echo smiled mysteriously.
"What kind of things."
"That you are my daughter's shadow."
Ilya looked to Gi again, who once again shook her head. Gi was suspicious and she held back information, but she wasn't a liar. "I don't know where you heard that. I haven't seen the oracle since I came here."
"You're supposed to call my sister 'her holiness'," Torin finally spoke up.
Ilya narrowed his eyes. He didn't like the way Torin was looking at him. Like he was an enemy. Ilya clenched his jaw. "My mistake."
"Now, now," Echo patted Torin's shoulder. "We are not here to fight. We're here as friends not foes." She smiled at Ilya. "Aren't we?"
Ilya exhaled. "Yes."
Echo offered her hand once more and this time Ilya took it. She was silent for a moment, before a smile spread across her face. "You love her?"
Ilya stilled. "I haven't met her."
"Oh, is that right?" Echo released his hand, folding it elegantly in her lap. "I see how it is."
Ilya stood. "Is that all?"
"No," Torin said sharply. "Sit down."
Ilya sat.
"My daughter is married," Echo said simply.
"I've heard."
"I just hope you won't do anything that will jeopardize her happiness."
Ilya didn't reply.
"You may go now," Echo nodded to Gi.
Ilya realized the point of the visit. He was barred from seeing Beatrice ever again.
Only, when he opened the doors of the library, Beatrice was standing outside. Her eyes widened to saucers, as if she wasn't expecting to see him. Her eyes narrowed.
"What are you doing here?" she asked.
"Beatrice," Echo called. "My darling, come here."
Beatrice narrowed her eyes at him, but went to her mother without another word.