Illusions of the Mist by E.S. Barrison

Author:E.S. Barrison
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: E.S. Barrison
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Julietta led Caroline to the suite Alojzy had prepared on the first floor of the Library. It connected to a tunnel that led to the Rosadian Sea, overlooking a miasma of color and awe. Fishing nets and rods hung on the wall, intermingling with the bookshelves and desk. Two large sofas filled the room, while a door on the far wall led her own private quarters to a canopy bed.

As soon as Caroline sat on the bed, she collapsed, unaware of how much of a toll the escape from Hell had on her body. She slept for days surrounded by nightmares, only to be awoken when Julietta brought her food or when Aelia, the Healer, returned with an elixir for her consistent headache.

After a week went by, Caroline finally climbed out of bed. Julietta waited in Caroline’s office, painting a mural of the sea on the wall.

“Oh, you have awoken, I see.” Julietta smiled in Caroline’s direction. Paints smudged her skin. As she spoke, the mural on the wall moved.

Caroline blinked, then asked, “What are you doing here?”

“Oh, I thought your room needed to be prettier. It was so bland. Al never considers personal touches. All work, no play.” Julietta placed her paintbrush in a large pocket in her dress. She continued, “But we have to work, as it seems. That is really why I’m here.”

“Where is Alojzy, though? Should he not be helping?”

“He has completed what he must with you, and I volunteered to instruct you in the rest. Now what was I going to say? One moment…” She wrung her hands together, glanced at the painting, then nodded. “Ah yes. Your paths.”

“My paths?”

“As in… your routine. What you need to get done each day.”

“You mean releasing souls?”

“Yes. That is what I mean, yes.” Julietta’s brow furrowed, and she brushed back a strand of hair from her pink cheeks. “You know about that?”

Caroline nodded. Alojzy had told her how she would need to release a certain number of souls each day to keep the world at peace. She could develop her own routes and find the best option available for her. None of what Julietta said was new.

“Right. Of course you do,” Julietta said. “Well…Malaika sewed a cloak for you, and there is some other clothing in your room. I expect you to know what you like to wear; I would hate to put you in something you’d hate.”

“Yes, thank you.”

“Once you’re ready, I’ll be here. Al asked me to help you these first few days. Said it would be good…” Julietta kept fidgeting, moving her fingers from her hair to her nose, then to tug at the loose thread on her sleeve.

Caroline thanked Julietta one last time before returning to her sleeping quarters. In the closet, a beautiful cloak hung, knitted with a pattern of waves and sea. In a certain light, the threads glimmered blue, but otherwise, it hung like the dark night sky with no Firefraught Lights. She removed it, as well as a simple white and red dress.

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