I sagged down on the mat of the living room after the intense magic lesson with James. The sky outside had been yellowing, indicating we were well into the afternoon. Exhaustion filled every muscle in my body. I leaned my head back against a chair and close my eyes.

Natalia came in a while later, carrying a bowl of fruit. She placed it next to me, and sat down so she could face me.

We stared at each other for what felt like hours before she spoke. “A peace offering,” she said gesturing to the fruit. “It helps bring your energy back up after lessons.”

I eyes the bowl filled with apples, bananas, grapes and even a stray mango, half-expecting it to be poisoned. I grabbed an apple and hesitantly took a bite. “Thank you,” I said, after swallowing.

Natalia fidgeted with the hem of her dress, her gaze scouring the room and resting everywhere but on me. I waited. Clearly she had something she wanted to say.

“I’m not used to having a sister, in case you haven’t noticed. It’s hard for me to except that I have one now after growing up my whole life believing I was alone in the world.”

“That doesn’t explain why you treated me like crap.”

“Please, let me finish. I have to say this now or I’ll lose my nerve.”

I nodded and she continued talking. “I was daddy’s little girl, you know? The only person that ever received his affection. At first the prospect of a sister excited me. Finally I would no longer be alone… but the more I saw you, and the way my father looked at you, the more jealous I grew. I quickly realized that you are everything I’ll never be.”

“It’s funny you mention that, because that’s exactly how I felt when we first met. Natalia, don’t you see? We are different people, and there is always going to be something that one of us has that the other doesn’t.”

She bit her bottom lip. “I know, I have come to realize that, and that’s why I’m trying to make amends. Please, Lana, could we perhaps start over?”

I smiled. “Of course.”

Natalia was just about to hug me when James walked into the room, his face set into a stern scowl. “We have guests, again.”

Natalia and I got from the floor and walk follow him to where the guests were congregated. I froze in my tracks as the familiar faces get into few. I recognized every single one of them, except one. My eyes rested on him as I tried to size him up. Who was he?

His hair was dark blond with a slight curl at the tips, his eyes a curious shade of grey, with tiny flecks of purple in them, and they were regarding me with a sort of fascination I couldn’t place. He was tall, but shorter than Andreas. His stance was confident, and built a lean muscular, and he smiled as he walked toward me, one hand extended in greeting.

I took it hesitantly. “So you are the girl that has my very dear friend completely infatuated. It’s an honor to finally meet you.”

My mouth gaped open and I stared at him completely dumbfounded. “I’m sorry, what?”

“You are Lana Eleanor, correct?”

“Just Lana.”

He grinned even brighter, his eyes scrutinizing every details of my body. I felt self-conscious under his intense gaze. “I’m Casian Terra, a very close friend of Andreas.”

“I wasn’t aware he had any of those. He didn’t mention you while I was living with him.”

“I’m not surprised given the fact that I was dead until a couple of days ago.”

Whatever else I could’ve said fell dead on my lips. I stared at the strange man, his words so unbelievable that I shouldn’t have believed him. But wasn’t I supposed to be dead as well?

“How?” I asked, almost tempted to put more distance between us, but something about him was strangely compelling. And for that fact alone I remained where I was.

“That is a very long and complicated story that we simply don’t have time for right now. You need to come with us.”

James stepped in between me and the stranger, a protective stance that slightly puzzled me. Perhaps there was a chance that I could learn to call him my father. “That is not happening. My daughter has been through nothing but hardships connected to every single person in this room. I think it’s about time we give her a break, wouldn’t you agree?”

“With all due respect,” Casian answered, “Your daughter has been through hardships with everyone in this room except me.”

As much as it pained me to admit that, he was correct. He’s the only one I share a blank slate with. “But you are a friend of Andreas,” I replied, my voice considerably smaller.

“Yes, that I am. And as his friend, I am concerned about him. He needs you.”

I scoffed at that. “Yes, he needs me alright. That’s exactly why he left me to die!” Raphael stiffened behind Casian, the movement so slight that had I not been paying attention I would’ve missed it.

“Is that really what you believe?” Casian asked, his voice gentle and sad. He stepped closer to me. “While it may be true that Andreas is faulted and has made considerable mistakes when it comes to you, I can assure you that if it depended on him, you would never have made it to that stake in the first place.”

“How would you even know this?”

Natalia came to stand at my side, her eyes narrowed at Casian as if she was daring him to lie to me. It was strange to see her shift into the role of a protective sister so suddenly. “Where is he now then, if he cares for her as you claim?”

“He believes she’s dead.”

My eyes darted to Raphael who was trying everything in his power to avoid looking at me. Casian noted my gaze and turned to Raphael as well. “Fuck. Do not tell me you have made this situation even more complicated,” he accused, his eyes hard as he glared at the sorcerer of light.

“I did what needed to be done.”

My hand went up to my mouth, stifling the gasp that was about to escape. No. No. Had I believed him too easily? “You lied to me?”

Everyone looked at Raphael expectantly. “Lana, I can explain—“

“What possible reason could you have for playing with people’s lives?! I was right to escape your house when I had the chance! You are supposed to be the sorcerer of light here, why does it seem that you are more evil than even the dark sorcerers we know?”

“It’s more complicated than that!”

“No it’s not,” Mallory chimed in, moving into view from her position behind Kalen. “It’s not that complicated. Being a good person is never complicated. You didn’t have to lie to her or Andreas yet you did both! It wasn’t good enough for you to let him believe she is dead, you had to prevent her from ever seeking him out again as well!”

“Mallory, I…” Raphael seemed at a genuine loss for words. It suddenly clicked into place, he loved her. And he lost her, if not before, in that moment.

“Lana, please. Andreas blames himself for what he thinks was your death. There is no telling what he’d do now.” Casian’s eyes pleaded with me. He was ignoring everyone else and the conversations they might have been having at that time.

“I don’t see how I can help.” So maybe Andreas believed I was dead. That didn’t change anything. The way he treated me still didn’t suggest that he cared for me at all.

“He was seconds too late to save you, Lana. Just like he was too late to save Dylan. He lost you, as he’s lost everyone he’s allowed himself to care about. A man that has been through all that pain is dangerous. He needs to know you are still alive or there is no telling what he might do.”

I dragged my hand through my hair in frustration. “But he doesn’t care about me! Everything he has done has proven the contrary!” Everything except the sapphire pendant I had forgotten was still hanging from my neck. Instinctively my hand went to it, rubbing over the smooth surface. How had I forgotten I was still wearing it? Miraculously, it hadn’t been damaged in the fire, and even now it hung proudly from my neck. The anger faded.

“He was trying to push you away to prevent something like this from happening. Please, you have to help me save him from himself.”

My eyes darted over everyone in the room, finally coming back to rest on Casian. His greyish purple eyes begged me to trust him, to help him. Was this what true friendship looked like? “How do I know if I can trust you?”

“You don’t, but I have given you no reason to doubt me, Lana. I’m merely concerned about the well-being of my friend, and the only way that is possible is with you. Frankly, I’m not even opposed to leaving everyone else here behind in order to accomplish that goal.” Everyone turned to him with wide eyes. “I don’t want to deceive you, and I will give you my word as dragon lord, swear an unbreakable oath to you, that I will let no harm come your way.”

He knelt down before me. “If this is what it takes to get you to trust me, then I will do it. But please, make haste in your decision.”

I had no reason to distrust him, other than past experiences with other people. But, then again, what was the worst that could happen from choosing to trust him with this? I’d get to see Andreas again, whether he truly wanted to see me or not. At least this way I’d get to know for sure. And with that, I made my decision.