Page 40 of Luna Ascending

Despite Tavey's welcoming chatter he's obviously distressed. His worry, and need to find Liz is at odds with the happiness of having a brand new family member. I need to find her too – she's my best friend, and I owe her. Without her, I'd never have found myself, I'd have stayed under Marc's spell and fuck knows what would have happened. So long as we find her, she can tell me 'I told you so' about Marc until she's blue in the face, I won't care. I just need her here, safe.

Theories around what happened fly around the room, and plans for counter attacks form. I have to prompt the council to let me go get cleaned up and to find some clothes. It amuses me when they look at me a little askance, as if they can't understand why it might matter.

Aaron asks apologetically if he can leave me in his sister's care so he can stay a part of the council plans. I can see he's torn between the council and keeping me close. A bloody far cry from being abandoned by Marciel, I think to myself wryly.

I peer at Aaron's sister Aurora. I can't really put my finger on it but something seems off. After ignoring my instincts for so long I'm determined not to again. Before Aaron leaves us alone I hiss at him.

“What's wrong with her?! She feels... wrong”

He takes a deep sigh “Long story Freya, she's lost her wolf”

My eyebrows shoot up... that's even a thing?! Aaron continues, looking pensively at the floor. “The Coven separated them somehow, and we've maybe not given it the attention it deserves with everything else going on... I... don't know how to help her. Or even talk to her any more.”

I nod, seeing how troubled he is, before encouraging him back to the council rooms.

I take a deep breath before turning to the girl “Well that must be bloody awkward having him talk like you don't have ears either?!”

It earns me a slow smile. Good enough to start with I guess. Aurora shows me to Aaron's rooms, and points me in the direction of the bathroom before vanishing. I'm a little disappointed, I'd hoped to talk with the lithe young girl who moves like a shadow. It can't be easy living in a pack, and not having your wolf I muse, stripping down to climb into the shower.

I don't get far – as I walk towards the shower my blood streaked reflection catches my eye in the mirror. I'm still staring at myself when Aurora marches back in startling me. I grab a towel from her to try and cover myself, which earns me a disapproving glare.

“Most people take a shower and clean the blood off before using the towels” Aurora says quietly.

I burst out laughing, grinning at the young woman

“I think I like you already!” I declare.

Auroras eyes widen a little “thanks, I think. Now... shower!” She leaves me alone in the bathroom after squeezing my hand.

I stand, frozen on the spot as the door clicks shut. I can't be sure, but just for an instant, before the girl dropped my hand I was sure I could sense a wolf.

Once I'm showered and dressed in some of Aurora's clothes I feel more like myself. Like myself, but better than my old self. Oh it's confusing. What is not confusing, but very very obvious is that I'm half starved and somewhere in this house I can smell cooking. My nose leads me to the kitchen.

I'm just tucking into a pile of pancakes and slurping down a steaming mug of coffee while giggling with Aurora when Aaron finally tracks me down. I'm aware of his presence in the doorway, watching, before he announces himself but Aurora seems oblivious and jumps as he starts to speak.

“Happiest I've seen you in a while sis” he grins, stealing her last bite of pancake.

I laugh watching his little sister lay into him for the theft. Aurora chases him around the bunker flailing a tea-towel and howling obscenities. After the hilarity settles, Aaron turns to me.

“How refreshed do you feel beautiful? If, and only if, you feel ready... the council have a plan” he murmurs in my ear, stroking my hair and teasing my ear lobe.

“If you keep doing that Aaron... we're not going anywhere but the bedroom, but … I owe Liz. We have to find her” I grin at him with a wicked smile, and see him swallow hard before pulling his hand away reluctantly.

“Later beautiful, it's a promise.. and a threat” His eye gleam and I feel my lady-bits tingle. This man! He's undoing me with just his words.

“We both owe Liz,” Aaron seems able to distract himself while I'm still tingling all over. Damn him!

“Tavey's been able to sense her, but even his well-honed witching powers have been too weak to mind-link her.” Aaron rushes his words, seeming uncharacteristically nervous “Tavey wants to use your twin connection to strengthen his link with Liz. He wants to use you as some kind of living battery pack” he grumbles, charmingly uncomfortable with the idea.

I'm more than game. I'm definitely not at full strength but if I can help find my best friend in anyway, then I'll damn well give it a shot.

“Can I do anything?” a mournful voice asks at my shoulder, and I look up into the suddenly sad face of Aurora “I feel so bloody useless!” the teenager stomps out the room without waiting for a reply.

After a few false starts I get the hang of what Tavey and I need to do to boost his mind-link. We accidentally boost my powers instead of Tavey's initially. There's now a hole burned in the board room floor, a partially exploded mirror and a temporarily deafened Aaron to testify that we got it a little wonky. It's a bloody steep learning curve, but by reversing what we did to boost me, I think we've come as close as we're going to.

We take a little break, coming back to it after a short meditation. I hold Tavey's head gently on either side and pour as much of my energy into him as I can, and it fucking works!

Tavey manages to reach Liz, but the communication is jumbled somehow – like they're trying to talk through a filter or a thick pane of glass. I can observe, but not interact. Liz manages to show Tavey where she's being held – no thoughts, no words, just images, but it's a start.

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