Aeryn awoke before dawn, the faint glow of Lumirith's streetlights seeping through the cracks in the boarded-up windows. The safe house was silent, save for the occasional creak of wood as it settled into the morning chill. She lay still for a moment, staring at the ceiling, her thoughts a tangled mess of unease and determination.
The pendant beneath her shirt thrummed faintly against her skin, its warmth subtle but persistent. It had been quiet the night before, but now it seemed almost… alive, as if responding to her thoughts. She sat up, brushing stray strands of hair from her face, and glanced across the room. Selene and Liran were both asleep, their forms barely visible in the dim light.
Aeryn slipped from the cot, her movements slow and deliberate. The pendant's warmth intensified as she stood, like a heartbeat she could feel but not hear. Her curiosity burned brighter than her fear. Whatever this thing was, it had saved her life once. Maybe it could do more.
She padded to the door, avoiding the loose floorboards she'd noted the night before. The cold metal of the handle bit into her palm as she turned it, and the door creaked softly as it opened. She winced, glancing back at the others. Neither stirred. She slipped out into the predawn gloom, pulling the door shut behind her.
The Old Canal was eerily quiet at this hour, the water's surface smooth and dark as polished obsidian. Aeryn walked along the crumbling edge, her breath forming faint clouds in the chilly air. She stopped at a small clearing, the ground littered with broken stones and scraps of metal—the detritus of a city that had long since forgotten this place.
She pulled the pendant from beneath her shirt, holding it up to the faint light. Its surface was etched with intricate patterns that seemed to shift and shimmer as she moved. The warmth it emitted was stronger now, almost urgent. Aeryn's pulse quickened.
"Alright," she muttered to herself. "Let's see what you can do."
She closed her eyes and focused on the pendant's warmth, letting it flow through her like a river of light. At first, nothing happened. Frustration pricked at her, but she pushed it aside, focusing harder. She pictured the fire from before, the way it had surged from the pendant to shield her, the way it had felt—wild and untamed, but undeniably hers.
Heat bloomed in her chest, and she opened her eyes just in time to see a faint flicker of flame dance across her palm. She gasped, nearly dropping the pendant. The flame vanished, leaving only the faint scent of smoke in the air. Aeryn stared at her hand, her heart pounding.
"Again," she whispered, clutching the pendant tighter. This time, the flame came quicker, flickering to life in her palm and holding steady. It was small and unsteady, but it was real. She waved her hand experimentally, and the flame followed, trailing faint sparks in its wake.
A grin spread across her face, and she laughed softly. The sound was almost foreign to her, a burst of joy she hadn't felt in years. She let the flame dance between her fingers, marveling at the way it obeyed her thoughts. For a moment, she forgot the danger, the uncertainty, and the weight of the secrets she carried. For a moment, there was only the fire.
But moments never lasted.
"Interesting."
The voice was sharp and cold, cutting through the stillness like a blade. Aeryn whirled, the flame sputtering out as her concentration broke. Selene stood a few paces away, her arms crossed and her expression unreadable. Her eyes, however, gleamed with something that made Aeryn's stomach twist.
"Selene," Aeryn stammered, hiding the pendant behind her back. "I was just…"
"Practicing?" Selene finished for her, her tone dry. She stepped closer, her boots crunching softly against the rubble. "Not bad for a stray."
Aeryn bristled at the word but said nothing. She could feel the heat of the pendant against her skin, its pulse quickening as if responding to her unease.
"How long have you known?" Selene asked, tilting her head. "About… that." She gestured vaguely toward Aeryn's hidden hand.
"I don't know," Aeryn admitted. "It just… happened. I didn't mean to—"
"Save it," Selene interrupted, her voice cutting. She studied Aeryn for a long moment, her gaze calculating. Finally, she sighed. "You're lucky it's me who found you and not someone else. If the Council knew about this…"
Aeryn's heart sank. "What do you mean?"
"Let's just say they don't take kindly to unsanctioned power," Selene said, her tone sharp. "Especially not in someone like you."
Aeryn's fists clenched. "Someone like me?"
"Don't get offended," Selene said with a faint smirk. "It's a compliment, believe it or not. You've got potential. More than I expected."
Aeryn didn't know how to respond. The words felt like both praise and an insult, wrapped in the same biting package. She met Selene's gaze, her own resolve hardening. "What happens now?"
"Now?" Selene's smirk faded, replaced by something colder. "Now you go back inside, keep your head down, and don't do anything stupid. We'll talk later."
Aeryn hesitated, but Selene's expression left no room for argument. She nodded and started toward the safe house, the pendant's warmth fading to a faint hum. Selene watched her go, her thoughts hidden behind a mask of indifference.
As Aeryn slipped inside, Selene turned her gaze to the canal, her mind racing. The girl was a wild card, unpredictable and dangerous. But she was also powerful, more than Selene had anticipated. And if there was one thing Selene understood, it was the value of a hidden gem.
For now, she would keep Aeryn close. But she wouldn't let her guard down. Not for a second.