I hope it's not too OOC... I need to reread these books BADLY. This is chapter Fee Finds Her Own Power... yay!
The magic is fading rapidly. I lie on my bed, soaking in the last delicious minutes of power. I can't imagine what it would be like to feel like this always. If it was really mine, I would never let the magic leave me. I would change everything. Including myself.
I am happy right now, absolutely happy, too happy. The magic is leaving me, and I know it, but I can't mourn its loss while it is still inside me. Every cell in my body is wrapped around the last bit of magic, begging it not to go. It does anyway, and the wind blowing in the open window is suddenly cold on my bare skin.
I get up to close the window. I am white as an angel in this darkness. The breeze catches my chemise and pulls it away from my body, making it an angel's garment, a soft, white cloud. My pale hair hangs to my waist. I need only the wings from a childhood ballet recital to make the costume complete. I need only the magic to make the change real.
I stand at the window, staring at the stars. This is a night when anything feels possible, but I am filled with an unconquerable sadness, a void, that is the absence of any sense of power. The wind sends a chill down my spine, and I step away from the window to bury myself under blankets and sleep.
"Felicity!" The voice is no more than a whisper, and it comes from far below, but I recognize it anyway. I move wordlessly from the window and take the old rope from under my bed. I throw it over the windowsill. The other end is attached to my ridiculously heavy bureau, as always.
A few minutes later, Simon is standing next to me. He looks rather delighted by my apparel, and he moves to grab my waist, but I step back and just stare at him. He grins and produces the white gloves instead, which he presents to me like he would a diamond ring. "Fee."
"Good evening, Simon." I curtsy to him, then take the gloves and lay them on my bedside table. I am the perfect hostess. Mrs. Nightwing would be proud.
He sits down on my bed, flustered by my behavior. When I notice he is still wearing his coat, I remember the window is open and move to close it, effectively locking him in. Then I sit down next to him. I refuse to be the one to talk first.
After looking around my room in an almost nervous way that is uncharacteristic of the Simon I know, he bursts, "I had to see you."
He's pleading with his eyes. I give him a half smile, nothing else.
"I have to see you," he tries. I raise my eyebrows. He looks slightly puzzled, like he's trying to solve a difficult puzzle. Then the look in his eyes becomes more determined, and he leans forward to kiss me. For once, I don't let him. He frowns.
"Gemma," I remind him cheerfully.
"But Fee!" he exclaims. "I love you!"
I don't believe him for an instant. But I do feel almost... powerful.
By the way, I do know that the whole Simon-Fee thing is completely OOC in itself, but I started writing this before the 3rd book and I couldn't have known that... and whatever... I like them together... (review?)