What the Night kept
The Festival
gs best before the worl
sang through the narrow window, fluttering the white lace curtain like a sigh. She wrapped her shawl around her shoulders,
ill asleep. Even th
iff's edge, turning the stained-glass windows into walls of
by pane. Her fingers brushed the wooden seat out of habit,
S
d like a flower.
-
here to sketch. Not praye
an in a mask. Trees with faces. And beneath it all, a phrase
omnis
at it for
her heart slow... like
-
, the school
d fabric. Sister Calvera scolded two of them for trying to hang lanterns on th
orwen's most sacred tradition, celebrating the spring solstic
she just never felt like she q
rling a pale pink flower crown between her finge
y just my old white dress. Th
ce you were fifteen. One day you're going to die a mys
d. "At least I'll
"You ever feel like thi
inked. "What
here. All the time." Nora's voice dropped to a whisper. "Like t
ed around Ser
y no. To laugh. T
he cou
-
Seraphina d
time, she
-
Uncertain Time
like torn silk. Above her, the moon pulsed -
name. Not "Seraphi
ior
tur
ree, cloaked in shadows, face obscu
was velvet.
aid you
r heart twis
. When their fingers brush
eets damp, her fingers marked w
e looked, th
e her bed flicker
No seal. Only an envelope of pale ivory, tied with red string
d parchment, scrawl
lly invited to the
ath where all m
d. And c
D.V
t the letter until
r heard of Ca
d y
her already