Chap. 20
“Wait, what?” Serenity asked, clearly surprised.
“I said—”
“Yes, yes, I know what you said; I just wanted to make sure I heard correctly. What do you mean, as is, you are YoKo?”
Careful, Serenity. She might be lying, warned Esmera.
True, thank you Esmera.
“Serenity, have you ever heard of people being able to turn into an animal?”
“Yes, in fantasy books.”
Behind Serenity, Esmera drew in a sharp breath. Serenity turned around to look at her. What?
Esmera shook her head. Nothing.
Serenity knew that Esmera didn’t mean that, but ignored it and turned back to Islaria. “Are you saying that you are able to turn into an animal?”
“Partly.”
“Tell me,” demanded Serenity.
“It’s a long story.”
“I have time.”
Islaria paused and turned around and stared off into space. Serenity sighed, knowing that she wasn’t going to get any answers from Islaria anytime soon. Exasperated, Serenity lied down next to Esmera and started to think. Abruptly, Serenity’s surroundings disappeared once more like before and she was in a room with Islaria and Jason.
“Wait, so what are you attempting to accomplish?” asked a confused Jason.
Islaria sighed, and then explained again. “I told you, I no longer have any interest in this life of mine, so I am going to create a new one.”
“You aren’t going to kill yourself, are you?”
Islaria looked at her feet. “Ivora wouldn’t have wanted that,” she murmured.
“So the only reason you are doing this is because Ivora is dead, right?” The tone of Jason shocked Serenity, and she realized that it was the same tone that he had used to argue against YoKo so long ago.
Islaria did not respond and Jason started pacing. Then he stopped and looked at Islaria firmly. “Tell me exactly what you are planning to do, Islaria. Now.”
Islaria looked up at him, eyes sad. She shook her head. “You wouldn’t understand.”
“Try me.”
Islaria walked over to Jason and whispered something in his ear. Jason listened intently. Islaria finished in a couple of minutes and stepped back while Jason’s eyes widened and a look of shock was created upon his face.
Serenity snapped back to reality only to find herself beside Esmera with Islaria looking out into the darkness. Did you realize that anything strange happened to me? Serenity asked Esmera.
No, why? Did something happen? And Serenity told her. She told her of the first one, when she was walking to Isabella’s throne room. The vision was of a woman crying over a pile of rocks. Serenity told of the one right after Jason gave her the necklace, with the dragon that was trapped in the fire. Finally, Serenity told Esmera of the one that just happened with the conversation between Jason and Islaria. Esmera listened while Serenity told her of the visions and then fell silent, thinking.
How long ago do you think that conversation was?
Serenity fell silent, trying to answer the question. I think it was pretty long ago, but Jason looked just as he looked today. However, that isn’t surprising, because he told me that he was an elf.
Did Islaria look the same as she does now?
Yes.
Do you realize what this means?
No, Serenity replied slowly. What does it mean?
Think about it Serenity. If it was that long ago, and Jason and Islaria looked the same as they do now, that means that she is an—
Elf! Exclaimed Serenity, finishing Esmera’s sentence.
Exactly.
Nevertheless, how do we know for sure?
Ask her of course.
Serenity nodded, then got up with Esmera close behind her and walked over to where Islaria stood. “Islaria,” spoke Serenity with an authority she never knew she had.
Islaria looked up at her. “Yes?”
“I have to ask you something.”
“Is it about the whole YoKo issue? Because if it is, I can’t tell you, yet.”
Serenity understood; Islaria would tell them when she was ready, although Serenity was deathly curious. “No.”
Islaria looked relieved, and then asked, “Then what is it?”
Serenity paused for a while, not sure how to ask Islaria if she was an elf. Finally—with a little encouragement from Esmera—she came right out and said it. “Islaria, are you an elf?” Serenity blurted out.
Islaria looked shocked, but then a smile slowly spread across her face. She stood up and hugged Serenity. “Oh dear Ilea, however did you remember?”
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