Page 64 of Living Legend

“We like to celebrate how far we’ve come every now and then. This place used to hold grand parties when my mother was around. I thought you might enjoy something other than Heaven's Gate,” Natalia offered, her voice genuine.

It was odd to me that these people had lost so much but acted like they still had it all. This building didn’t seem so run down like the others; large tree trunks decorated it like columns. Fairy lights wrapped around the trunks as leaves fell to the floor, crunching under our feet. I moved towards one, letting my eyes roam around the bark. It looked like any other tree until I saw it, small and pink, then another. I reached out my hand to touch it, lightly running my fingers over the tiny petals.

It was a flower. It was budding and there would be more, but right now, it was all I needed to see. I started to turn around when I ran right into Natalia. She eyed me knowingly, looking over my shoulder. I thought she would say something, but she didn’t. She was waiting for me to speak. “This place isn’t glamoured is it?”

“No.”

“But everywhere else is?”

Natalia nodded. “Yes.”

“Why?”

“I get the feeling you don’t trust me, Soul Seether.” She touched the tiny flower buds, and I didn’t say anything. I just watched her. “Maybe I wanted you to see a bit behind the illusion. You’re the one who noticed it in the first place.”

“You brought me here to prove I was right? That’s hardly a reason.”

Natalia’s dark skin seemed to glow. “We met under imperfect circumstances. As you can tell, my people remember that, even though I have insisted you and your friends pose no threat.I like to acknowledge the past for what it is and move on. It hurts everyone to dwell on it. I’m aware I have the trust of your angels, but I’m also aware that I lack yours.”

“And my trust is so important?” I tapped my foot on the ground.

She tucked a piece of her dark hair behind her ear, revealing a hoop on the shell of her ear. “If I’m to be of any help, I’ll need everyone on the same page. Divided trust won’t help anyone. The information I provide will always be questioned. You’ve made it clear that my people are a part of this. Therefore, I’m part of it as well.”

“Your people—the ones who chose to side with Lilith?”

She nodded again. “Regardless of their decision, they are still my people.”

I glanced over at the tables of food. Elise had two plates in her hands almost filled to the brim, and I had a feeling neither of them were for me. “You think bringing us here for free food will somehow make me like you more?”

Natalia looked down at her hands, a nervous gesture. “I haven’t interacted with demons much and you are quite a conundrum.”

“I don’t dislike you,” I confessed. “I don’t exactly know you, but you have been a necessary resource for us, so I guess this—” I motioned around us, “is a good start.”

Natalia clasped her hands in front of her, smiling. “Wonderful. Please enjoy the food—"

“I’m not hungry, actually,” I admitted. The food smelled good, and my stomach would have thanked me for it, but there were other things on my mind.

“Not hungry?” I heard Elise say behind me. I turned around just as she was stuffing a piece of toast into her mouth. “You can’t look at this and say you aren’t hungry. Fuck off.”

I laughed. “You enjoy it. I’ll be outside.”

Elise rolled her eyes. “I guess I can bring my food with me.”

I waved her off. “No, you stay here and eat. Come find me when you’re done.”

Her gray eyes searched my face for a moment, but eventually, she shrugged. “Fine. I’ll just stuff my face by myself then.”

I shook my head, heading towards the doorway and bumping shoulders with a few Enchanters who gave me confused looks as I passed. I felt my shoes sink into the soft dirt as I walked towards some rocks farther from the building. I decided to follow my ears towards where the running water flowed. The sharp sound of it against my eardrums told me that it wasn’t too far away. I grazed my hand along trees as I passed and took tentative steps when the path got a bit steep, but eventually, I found the stream. The water was clear and rippled where it hit rocks. Plants cascaded over the water, glistening from the morning dew. I bent down and wiggled my fingers in the water, watching my reflection as it looked back at me.

“It’s pleasant, isn’t it?” Natalia said from behind me.“I used to come here and watch myself in the water when my mother would have meetings in the hall.”

“She didn’t worry you’d gone missing?” I asked, drawing circles in the water.

“She always knew where to find me. I was a predictable child,” she laughed.

I stood and wiped my hands on my leggings. “Do you remember much about her?”

She moved her mouth around, poking her lips out. “A lot and not much. I remember all the things that made her a great mother and I know much about her leadership. You can ask anyone, especially the older generations, but I suppose I never really knew her as a person.”

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