Page 89 of The Incendiary

Was he capable of wielding magic, Simeon?

Seconds passed, and then, No.

My hope sputtered out and died like a weak flame caught in a windstorm.

Why not?

Let’s focus on you, he answered.

I groaned in frustration but obliged, writing back, My powers first came to me in Tovick. Why didn’t my powers show until then?

He was quicker to answer: You were weak.

Did you want me to be weak? I scribbled.

I didn’t want you to suffer alone.

A nonanswer, and one I didn’t believe. How could you take away someone’s identity while claiming you never wanted them to suffer?

He told me you kept me locked up back then, too. You couldn’t control my powers. And you’ve tried to do the same to me in this life. Why? Was leaving me cold and starving done with the intent to protect me? Was keeping me weak done for my benefit?

The longer I waited, the more I accepted he was going to dance around the truth.

As I said, I never wanted you to suffer alone. Elowen disobeyed my direct orders, even after I demanded she return to you. She’s been dealt with. You won’t need to worry about her for quite some time.

My stomach soured. What the hell did that mean? Simeon was capable of intricately dangerous lies, but I had yet to discover what else he was capable of. Despite my resentment toward Elowen, I didn’t want her harmed. How cruel was he, really, in the way of punishments?

Is Elowen all right?

His reply was quick: You’re exactly like your mother.

My throat constricted at the mention of her. I longed for a single piece of her. I could have sworn I heard a faint, lighthearted rumble from Simeon’s end of whatever this was. I found none of this particularly funny, but I’d be lying to say I wasn’t pleased to witness some humanity.

What does that mean? I wrote back.

Overly concerned for others, to your own detriment.

My eyes burned. From what little I’d read about Christabel, I knew she’d been good.

I wouldn’t know. You took her from me, too.

What felt like an eternity passed, and I knew I’d struck him somewhere soft. From what little I knew of Simeon, he’d adored his younger sister. I couldn’t help but wonder why that adoration and love hadn’t translated to me. I had an instinctual feeling that she would disapprove of what Simeon had done to me.

Meet me at the Caves, and I’ll tell you about her, he answered.

My heart ached with the desire to know, so for a moment, I was tempted to agree, but Simeon resorting to bribery was deplorable. I deserved to know, so I pushed.

Did my mother agree to this plan of yours?

While waiting, I closed my eyes and steadied my breathing. Thinking of Christabel’s suffering made me want to weep.

She wanted me to protect you. Some things should be discussed in person. She is one of them.

I read his note three times and sat down. I had so many questions about her. She couldn’t have been complicit in all of this. She wouldn’t have wanted me suppressed.

If you wanted to control me so badly, why did you keep me in Warrich for six months? Why didn’t you keep me with you?

You cannot go where I have been.