Chapter 9

I continued staring at them, openmouthed and speechless. (Sember would never believe I was speechless, but there it was.) “Niralessa,” I repeated. Niralessa? The woman who raised Fen? The woman he said I resembled? The woman he thought was my mother? How could he have left out the fact that she was green? “Has Fenrook told you anything about us?” Niralessa seemed to hold her breath, as if anxious about my answer. And there was that familiar voice again, coming out of a stranger’s mouth. How could I possibly know that voice? “Only that I looked like you,” I answered. “He also hinted that . . .” I briefly thought about keeping quiet about the rest. Fen couldn’t really have thought I was this woman’s daughter, could he? But keeping quiet just wasn’t my style. “Fen also said—I hope you don’t mind me calling him Fen, I just like the sound of it. He also said—well, it was more of a suggestion, really—that you might be my mother.” The gravity of that statement staggered me a little. This could be my mother. My breath ran shallow, my thoughts spinning out of control. I pressed on before it could turn into a full panic attack. “But, I mean, look at me.” I held out an arm. “Not even a little bit green. Fen must have been joking, right? He must have. I’m going to have a stern talk with him about appropriate jokes when he gets back. You don’t joke about parents to an orphan.” I ended with a weak laugh that didn’t convince anyone. My words hung in the air like wet laundry. I was about to spew even more words when Fen finally appeared, looking just as I remembered him. I hadn’t realized how tense I was until my body practically slumped with relief. “Took you long enough!” His eyes lit up briefly before he schooled his features and approached. “You’re awake.” I decided I wanted to stand, so I pushed myself up. My head swam a little, but the water I drank seemed to have helped with the dizziness, and I stayed on my feet. “Yeah, about that. What did you do to me?” He looked to Niralessa, like he needed permission to talk. Annoyed, I stepped between them. “Fen, I asked you. I came with you to find some answers, but all I’m getting is more confused. Please tell me what’s going on here. You said—” “It’s all right, son.” Niralessa edged up next to Fen and placed a comforting hand on his arm. “I’ll talk to her.” Son. She called him son. I mean, he did tell me she raised him, but I was somehow unprepared for the actuality of it. It just made even less sense that she could be my mother. I mean, why raise him and not me? He stepped aside. “Nirrin, you need to calm down,” she told me. Didn’t she know that telling someone to calm down had the opposite effect? My pulse increased in tempo. “Calm down? I freed a possibly dangerous—” I glanced around me and realized I was surrounded by possibly dangerous people. “I mean, I left Foresthome without supplies, took a nap, and magically ended up here. Wherever here is. I somehow thought I’d find my mother here, but I don’t see how I could be related to any of you.” I paused as my words crystallized the reality of my situation. “What have I done?” I mumbled and covered my face with my hands. “I’m so stupid. Bren’s always telling me to think. Think, Nirrin! But I never do. And now . . .” I dropped my hands. “What happens now?” “Dear child.” She reached for my hand and held it in both of hers. “You’re safe among us.” “Then why won’t any of you answer my questions?” I wailed. “I don’t know anyone here.” My eyes landed on Fen, but he looked away. “And you’re all acting so fishy.” “It’s all right.” Niralessa’s voice remained calm as she held my hand. “Everything will be just fine.” My eyes grew heavy, and my thoughts slowed. “What . . . ?” That was the last thing I said before my knees buckled. *** The next time I awoke, I found myself lying on a pile of furs, inside what looked like a tent. A young girl sat on the ground nearby, knees pulled up to her chest under her dress. She looked to be about fifteen, and was completely bald. Not just bald. A noticeable ridge traveled from her forehead to the back of her head. She stared at me with curious gray eyes. Good morning. I blinked at the disembodied voice. Who said that? It’s just me. I pushed myself up on one elbow and looked around the tent, but the girl and I were the only ones in it. Did her mouth move? I didn’t see her mouth move. This is the only way I can speak. Niralessa says my vocal cords don’t work. I shook my head against the voice inside my skull and looked at the girl. “You’re doing this?” She nodded. “How?” I’m an Aberration, like everyone else here. Aberration? These people still used that word? Yes. It’s what we are. I sat up straight. “Wait, are you reading my mind?” I’m sorry. I’m told it’s rude, but I can’t help it. I hear thoughts like voices. It helps me to know people’s true thoughts, though, so maybe it’s not bad? “I don’t lie,” I told her, meaning it. Some people didn’t like it, but I found honesty to be much easier to deal with. The girl smiled. I like that. “You have a lovely smile. What’s your name?” Tessia. “Tessia, I’m Nirrin.” I know. “Do you know because they told you? Or because you plucked it out of my head?” I plucked it out of their heads. I laughed, realizing how amazing this girl was. She grinned and scooted closer. Niralessa says I should never let Normals know I can do this. That it’s dangerous. But you don’t seem dangerous. “That’s because I have no talents. The only one I’m dangerous to is myself.” My thoughts strayed to what kind of danger I might have gotten myself into this time. It was pretty foolish of me to take off with someone I hardly knew. Now I had no idea where I was, who these people were, or what was going to happen next. I sighed and dropped my head into my hands, which prompted a dizzy spell. Tessia jumped to her feet, fetched a bowl of water from a bucket in the corner, and gave it to me. “Thank you.” I gratefully took it and drank all of it. The girl sat even closer, watching my every move, as if fascinated. I set the bowl down. “Tessia, you seem like an honest person, like me.” She nodded. Lies are stupid. Encouraged, I went on. “Did they send you in here to get information from me?” She shook her head. They don’t know I’m here. The movement of her head made me notice the bluish veins that spidered across the smooth surface of her scalp on either side of the ridge. She ran a hand along one side of her head, a vulnerable expression crossing her face. You think I look funny. “No!” I was quick to answer. “Just different. You have the most amazing eyes.” I peered into each one unabashedly. “Like clouds on a rainy day.” Her mouth curved into a shy smile, and she ducked her head. I think you’re beautiful. I wish I had your hair. “Trust me. I know all about wishing I was more like someone else.” She raised her surprised eyes at me. How is that possible? “You’re sweet. I think I would’ve liked having you as a friend when I was a kid.” Can I be your friend now? “Of course!” I smiled and touched her arm. “A girl can never have too many friends.” Her arm twitched where I touched her, and a shudder rippled through her body before she carefully moved herself out of reach. My eyes widened. “Are you okay? Did I hurt you?” She shook her head, but couldn’t meet my eyes. I’m a strange Aberration. I’m sorry. With that, she took off, leaving me alone in the tent.