I listened for any movement inside. A soft voice beckoned me to enter. I grasped the gold handle and pushed the door open. I walked in, noting that it looked very similar to my bedroom only accented with different colors. Robin’s was white, contrasted with slate blue. As I closed the door behind me, I caught sight of her sitting near an open window, gazing out at the rising moon. It was so bright it almost looked like sunlight.
“I think my father would be proud that we are standing up against The Dark,” she said, without tearing her eyes from the glorious globe in the starlit heavens. “I’m going to do this for him, Claire. Whatever it takes, we’re going to stop Baal. I know we will.” There was more conviction in her voice then I had ever heard before. Her iron determination spiraled around me like a steel chain, and I knew she’d meant every word.
“He would be proud,” I said, agreeing with her as I took a stand at her side. I cast my eyes out over the city as it soaked up the magnificent luminescence, glowing like flickering fireflies. I would never get tired of Naos’ beauty. There wasn’t anything in the world quite like it.
“It’s so pretty,” Robin sighed blissfully, like the sight of such splendor eased her worries. Maybe it did.
“It is, isn’t it?” I smiled taking in the sight along with the crashing waves in the far distance below us. “I think you’re going to like it here. I mean, I hope you do.” I leaned my knees up against the window frame, knotting my fingers together behind my back.
“I’m sure I will. It’s definitely different, and I think that will be good for me…” she was silent for a moment and as much as I wanted to jump in I held my tongue. I didn’t want to push too hard, she needed to come out of her shell on her own. In her own way.
“Ya know?” she looked up at me expectantly, like she had been waiting for me to say something all along.
“I know.” I reached out, squeezing her shoulder in support. I clamped down on the urge to push out my own emotions toward her. I wanted to fill her with joy and erase her sorrows, but as much as I thought that would help, it wasn’t my place. The only way to truly heal from an injury of the heart was time, not masking it away.
“Naos has a wonderful historical library,” I said nonchalantly, testing to gauge her reaction. Her eyebrows raised and a tiny sparkle of life flickered in her expression.
“Really?” she was feigning disinterest, but I knew her too well to know she wanted to know more.
“Yeah. I’d love to introduce you to a friend of mine. Her name is Leona.”
“I’d love to meet her.” Robin rose from her seat by the window, only to plop onto her bed. The down comforter puffed up around her like a cloud.
“She’s a historian. Did you know they don’t have Blood Mates here? No, they have a totally unique system and I think the Noire region could learn a lot from this society. I mean, anyone can become part of the Guard, that’s what they’re called here. People will be turned just so they can spend eternity perfecting their craft.” My tone rose in excitement as I spewed the information out in a tidal wave.
“Wow.” Robin sat up surprised.
“I know it sounds crazy, but it’s kind of amazing too. I mean, I don’t know what I’d want to spend an eternity studying but it’s… cool. Don’t ya think?” Cool didn’t quite cover it, but that was the first word that came to mind.
Robin giggled lightheartedly, a sound I had missed so much. “Are you trying to sell me on Naos, Claire?” I shrugged, sheepishly. Maybe I was. I wanted her to be happy here. I knew it had to be hard to be away from the Noire region, and away from her mother.
“Maybe.” I walked over to her side of the bed and lifted one of the decorative pillows from off the floor. I flicked the fringe between my fingers. “Is it working?”
“Maybe.” She gave me a cheeky grin as she lifted a pillow of her own and chucked it at me.
“Hey!” I faked offense before chucking my own frilly pillow at her. We fell into fits of laughter before dropping back onto her fluffy bed. As our laughter died, we