"What's going on?" Ezra asked as Skulduggery tucked her in. He finished tucking the sheet in and sat in the side of the bed. She seemed so small. Skulduggery took her hand and held it, considering what to say.
"Nothing makes sense. Who are these people? Where are we? Where was I? Women tried to burn me at the stake I mean that doesn't just happen, Nate. I don't remember how I got there. And then we were at an airport then suddenly we were here, I just don't understand." She said, her grip on his hand tightening.
"Try to sleep. Get some rest. I'll explain everything soon, but you've had a hard time. Okay?" He asked quietly. She hesitated then nodded. Skulduggery leaned over and kissed her forehead before leaving. Ezra laid there in the dark, relaying the last couple days, the tall woman who had a letter that Ezra had sent but had no recollection of, the walk through the jungle, her brother standing with two strangers. She didn't understand. She closed her eyes and began counting until she fell asleep.
When Skulduggery got back to the mirror room, it was chaos. China was raising her voice to Zafaria and Ghastly, Kaden and Dexter sat in silence, watching everyone else. Valkyrie and Milo were arguing with Lila. Skulduggery loudly cleared his throat and everyone looked at him.
"What's going on?" Skulduggery asked.
"We can't give Ezra her memories back." Zafaria said, evenly. Skulduggery ignored the gnawing feeling in his chest.
"Why not?" He asked. He needed the facts.
"She's too damaged, too broken. If we form a barrier or break another barrier down it could destroy her." Zafaria replied evenly. "This isn't one someone put in place; this is her coping mechanism. Her own mind did this. To undo that could unravel her." She continued.
"Who agrees with this?" Skulduggery asked. Ghastly and Lila raised their hands. China scoffed.
"We need Ezra. We have too much to deal with to not have Ezra. We can't afford to be a man down." China spoke with absolute certainty she was right.
"We have to get her back, whatever the cost. Ezra is our friend!" Valkyrie chided.
"It might cost Ezra herself and that's not worth it." Lila countered.
"Maybe we should leave her alone." Dexter whispered. Every pair of eyes was on him.
"What?" Milo asked incredulously. "She's your fian-"
"Yes, I know who she is. I know what this means. But maybe... maybe we can protect her this way. She wouldn't have to get involved. She wouldn't have to be a part of this mess. This could save her. This is all my fault. If anything happens to her I wouldn't forgive myself. Maybe this is the only way." Dexter replied.
"No, Dexter. No. That's not how it would work. What if Macon goes for her? She has no memory of her magic. Of her kills. She's mortal now, an easy target." Valkyrie argued.
"She's right. Besides, Ezra said herself that not having her memories back was like torture-"
"This could break her! She could cause damage that no one can fix! No magic or holistic or western medicine could bring her back." Zafaria erupted, cutting China off.
"I think she would want us to try." Skulduggery said softly.
"What if there's another way?" Kaden asked tentatively.
"What do you mean?" Asked Ghastly.
"I don't mean to overstep. But what if we... taught her. Teach her magic. Become her friends all over again. It'll be a long process, yes, but it could work. Start from scratch. Back to the beginning, back to basics. Maybe something will take the block down naturally, maybe it won't. I don't know. But this way she can still be a part of your life, and you're not putting her at risk." Kaden finished.
"That... could work." Ghastly said slowly.
"Skulduggery? Dexter?" Valkyrie queried. The two men locked eyes. Dexter nodded.
"Yes. Yes- that could work." Skulduggery confirmed.
Zafaria smiled and opened her mouth to say something but Tipstaff burst through the door.
"Something is wrong with Ezra." He said, his face flushed. He turned on his heel and left, Dexter and Skulduggery running to catch up, Zafaria followed closely behind.
"We can't all go. We'll upset her." Valkyrie said sadly, sitting down beside Ghastly.
They heard the screams before they got to the door. Skulduggery flung the door open and switched the light on. Ezra was wailing, writhing between the sheets, bleeding.
"Ezra!" Skulduggery yelled, grabbing his sister and shaking her. "Ezra, wake up!" He roared, giving her one hard shake. She gasped, her blue eyes snapping open. She sat bold up right, scooting up to the headboard. She assessed herself, saw the deep cuts and burns on her skin. She shook her head, her mouth opening and closing, trying to find words.
"It was just a dream- it was just a dream!" She whispered. Zafaria tapped Ezra, her eyes closed. The cuts stitched themselves back up, slowly disappearing until her skin was back to normal, unblemished, unscathed.
"Someone explain to me what the fuck is going on right now! I've rested. You said you'd tell me after I rested!" She yelled, her fear turning into anger.
"You live in a world. We live in another. One with... magic." Zafaria said. Ezra stared at her for a moment then barked out a laugh. She looked at her brother, expecting him to laugh too. Her smile fell when he didn't.
"What?" Ezra asked. "This is some kind of a sick joke, right? A prank. Are you being stupid again?" She asked Skulduggery. He solemnly shook his head.
"That's impossible. It's just myths and legends and stories, fantasy. That's all it is." Ezra sounded like she was trying to convince herself.
"You've experienced it, little one. I have healed you, twice now. With just the touch of my hand. Fletcher teleported you here. The dreams- a very dangerous man, can invade people's dreams. Hurt them in their dreams and when they wake up they have the same injuries. It's magic, my dear." Zafaria cooed, so soft and gently spoken.
Ezra couldn't deny her odd experiences. It made sense. It was logical to explain what she had been through.
"What, are you magic? Nathanial, are you magic?" She asked desperately, staring at her brother. He nodded once more. He held his hand out flat, palm up, and started a flame. A tiny little light that licked his palm. Ezra gasped, sitting up, moving towards Skulduggery, her eyes transfixed on the small fire. She reached her hand out and touched it, hissing and pulling her hand away once she was burned.
"It's real." She said slowly. She grabbed Skulduggery's wrist, pulling his shirt sleeve up. She turned and twisted his hand, looking for something to confirm it was fake, a trick. But there was nothing there. Skulduggery closed his hand into a fist and when he opened it once more the flame was gone.
"Are you magic too?" Ezra asked, looking at Dexter for the first time since she had got there.
"Yes." He said simply, his voice quiet.
"Show me!" Ezra said, excitement taking over. She was grinning now. Dexter smiled and held his hand out like Skulduggery did and formed an energy ball, a silver little sphere the size of a marble. It floated above his hand. He moved it back and forth before throwing the small energy at a wall, where it sparked then went out.
"It's all different magic. Does everyone else have magic? Do I!?" She asked, sitting upright now, looking between the three sorcerers.
"We don't know yet." Skulduggery said firmly. "But we can find out if you'd like." He finished.
"Is it safe?" Ezra asked, her eyes wide.
"Not always." Dexter admitted.
