Things That Should Stay Buried - Casey L. Bond Page 0,131
there. She added a layer of mascara and a dusting of taupe shadow. With a swipe of sheer gloss, she was ready.
“Now,” Helena said, “it’s your turn.” She grabbed a gown off the rack and ordered me into the library. “It’s backless,” she whispered. “For your wings.”
“You are literally the best.”
She grinned. “I miss you.”
“I miss you, too.” I truly did. We had become fast friends under some very strange and dire conditions, but weren’t the best and strongest friendships forged in fire?
She helped me step into the gown and secured it so it wouldn’t budge. Even though it looked like it wouldn’t, it held its shape and never drooped. The fabric was sheer, bright gold with small stars embroidered throughout. While there were no sleeves, two tiny swaths of thin silk tied over my biceps and fell to my wrists, a star attached to the end of each string.
She hustled out of the room and grabbed a pair of flats and placed them in front of me. “I know you’d heal fast if you turned an ankle, but why risk it when you finally get to enjoy yourself for a night?” Her logic was as sound as her fashion prowess.
My hair had changed a little over the past few days. The dark colorant she’d applied had gradually leached away and every strand was a varying shade of brown to match my feathers. I used the texturizer she’d given me before and mussed it so the strands were separated but still looked styled. She applied foundation, peach blush dotted with gold highlighter, and a dramatic, dark brown eyeshadow.
“Do you want to go a step bolder with your makeup?”
My brows kissed in confusion. “What do you mean?”
“Do you trust me?”
“Of course I do.”
“Shut your eyes.”
As soon as she began to draw the marks, a slash through each eye, I knew what she meant.
“His pledge to you was apparent, and now, perhaps it’s time you made a pledge to him and claim him as yours in front of some of the others. The Zodia can be quite territorial.”
“I’m a Lark; not exactly a bird of prey.”
She shook her head and laughed. “You are exactly that. They’ve all seen what you’re capable of. Don’t forget it, either.”
Mom gasped when she took in the crimson marks. “Larken….” I was about to explain the significance because I couldn’t remember if I’d mentioned them before or not. “Those will definitely make a statement to Aries tonight.” She smiled and tears shimmered in her eyes. “You aren’t a child anymore.”
“I wasn’t a child for a long time, Mom.”
“But you were mine,” she cried, “and now you’re eighteen. I can’t believe it.”
Helena gave me a sad look and handed me a few tissues. She grabbed her cart and wiggled her fingers to wave goodbye. I mouthed the words thank you from over Mom’s shoulder before Helena disappeared.
My family met under Kestrel’s tree.
Knowing I’d be worried about leaving without someone I trusted to watch over things, Aries asked Helena to guard my territory for the night. I left her on the balcony reclined in one of the white plastic chairs, a glass of wine in her hand. I knew she would alert me if there was trouble, so my heart was a little lighter as I walked across the lawn with Mom.
“Did I ever tell you how I picked your names?” she asked out of the blue.
“No. I guess I just assumed you had a thing for birds.”
She laughed. “I’ve always liked them, but they seemed fitting. A kestrel is one of the smallest birds of prey. When Kestrel was born, he was tiny and clawing for life.”
“Why Larken?” I asked, looking over at her. Silver strands coursed through her hair now. Though we looked a lot alike, I could see the effects of time on her body in the crow’s feet at the corners of her eyes and wrinkles on the skin of her hands, no longer supple.
“Larks were always my favorite. When your father and I bought the house after we got married, he built a bird feeder for me as a housewarming gift. I used to love to sit on the porch and sip my coffee in the mornings and stay very still while the birds came up. A little brown lark visited me every day, and she sang the prettiest song. She was so delicate and tiny, but her voice was powerful. When we were thinking about what to name you both, yours came easily.