I stood outside the council chamber, heart pounding in my chest as I listened to the muffled voices of the council members inside. My mom was talking—again, always the calm, measured voice of reason. But tonight, I could hear the edge in her tone, the frustration creeping through.
"They can't just take her away like that," I overheard one of the council members say, their voice strained. "But if we don't act quickly, we risk undermining the entire council's authority."
"Authority?" my mother retorted, sharp and disappointed. "What about the lives at stake? We're not just dealing with an incident—we're dealing with a person. And she's barely more than a child."
"Your daughter made a mistake," another voice chimed in, one that sounded colder, less willing to bend. "And we all allowed it."
I winced, feeling the weight of those words like a physical blow. I had made a mistake. And I wasn't the only one who knew it.
The door swung open, and I jumped back, hoping none of them had noticed I was eavesdropping. My mother stepped out, her face a tight mask of emotions she was trying to hold back. She didn't say a word to me at first, just motioned for me to follow her down the long corridor.
As we walked, the air felt heavy with unspoken words, the kind that linger just beneath the surface, threatening to spill over at any moment. The cold stone walls seemed to echo our silence, amplifying the tension. I could practically feel her disappointment, radiating off her in waves, mixed with a tinge of fear.
Finally, we reached her private office. The door clicked shut behind us, creating a small sanctuary away from the storm of voices. She turned to me, arms crossed tightly across her chest. "What were you thinking, Gwen?" she demanded, her voice barely controlled. "Do you even understand what you've done?"
"I just—I thought I could help," I stammered, my words tumbling out in a rush. "Sera didn't do anything wrong, Mom! They're blaming her for something she didn't do, and I had to—"
"Had to what?" she interrupted, her eyes flashing. "You had to rush in without thinking? You had to make promises I couldn't possibly keep? Gwen, there are consequences. Do you realize the council can't just erase an arrest warrant once it's issued?"
I stared at the floor, unable to meet her gaze. "I didn't think it would go this far."
She let out a sigh, long and heavy, as if the weight of the world was pressing down on her. "Neither did I," she admitted, her voice softer now, tinged with a sadness I had rarely heard. "And that's on me too. I should've been stronger. I should've stopped this before it spiraled out of control. But now... now I can't fix it."
I looked up at her, panic creeping into my voice. "So what do we do? We can't just let them take Sera. They'll lock her up, Mom. She doesn't deserve that."
My mom rubbed her temples, looking more tired than I'd ever seen her. "The council's furious. And with Dragonir hurt, there's no turning back. They're seeing Sera as a threat, whether it's justified or not. The warrant is out, and they expect me to uphold the decision."
I felt my stomach churn. "So you're just going to let them take her?"
"I don't have a choice," she said quietly, her voice barely a whisper. "I'm trying to delay the arrest, to buy you some time. But Gwen, you need to be prepared for the worst."
The room felt like it was closing in on me, the weight of her words suffocating. "But... I promised her."
My mom reached out, placing a hand on my shoulder. "I know you did. But sometimes, even the best intentions can lead to disaster."
I nodded, swallowing hard as the truth sank in. I had messed up. And Sera was going to pay the price.
---
When I finally made it back to my room, I found Sera sitting on the edge of the bed, staring out the window. The soft glow of twilight framed her silhouette, and for a moment, she looked like a fragile dream I was terrified to shatter. She turned when I walked in, her eyes wide and filled with hope. My heart clenched in my chest.
"Well?" she asked, voice trembling. "Did you talk to your mom? What's going to happen?"
I bit my lip, struggling to find the right words. "It's not looking good, Sera. They've issued the arrest warrant."
Her face paled, the light in her eyes flickering like a candle about to be snuffed out. "What? But... I didn't do anything, Gwen. You know that. Why are they doing this?"
"I know," I said quickly, rushing to her side. "But the council thinks you're dangerous because of what happened with Dragonir. They're not seeing the whole picture, and my mom—she's trying, but there's only so much she can do."
Tears glistened in her eyes, and I felt my heart shatter for her. "But I trusted you," she whispered, her voice cracking under the weight of betrayal. "I thought you would help me."
"I am! I swear, I'm trying," I said, desperation seeping into my voice. "You have to believe me. My mom is doing everything she can to stall, but time is running out."
Sera stood up, her fists clenched at her sides, and I could see the anger and frustration swirling within her. "How can I believe that? It feels like everyone has turned against me, like I'm some monster. I thought you understood."
"I do!" I insisted, taking a step closer. "But we have to be smart about this. We can't let our emotions control us. If we do, they'll just use it against you."
The room fell silent, the weight of the situation hanging heavily between us. I could see Sera's shoulders tremble as she fought against the tide of her emotions, and I wished more than anything that I could fix this.
"What if they don't listen?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper. "What if I'm taken away?"
A knot tightened in my throat, the fear of losing her threatening to consume me. "I won't let that happen. We just need a plan. We need to think."
I watched as her expression shifted from despair to determination. "I won't go down without a fight, Gwen. I refuse to let them make me a prisoner for something I didn't do."
The fire in her eyes reignited a spark within me, and I took her hands in mine. "Then let's make sure they know that. We will fight this together."
As we stood there, hand in hand, I felt a surge of hope wash over me. Maybe we could turn the tide. Maybe we could make them see Sera for who she truly was—not a monster, but a girl fighting for her life, for her freedom. Together, we would find a way to make our voices heard, even if the odds were stacked against us.