Embers & Spells

25 – High Table

I felt a sense of relief knowing I could be accepted for who I was. As much as I wanted to deny it, being liked by someone was something I longed for. Maybe that was the reason I let Agatha into my life. Her friendship made me feel I belonged to the human world, that I was no longer an outcast.

I just hoped that everything that was happening now was when things was good, back when I still had my soul intact. Back when Erin was around, so I could introduce my new friends to her, and see her face light up. But some things could not be undone, as much as I wanted it to.

Inigo and I went to the Park Ali after school hours, strolling around the jogging area. The sky was dark, the stars hidden by the clouds, November air was just around the corner.

“Is that possible?” I asked, my voice came out a bit pitchy. “That your fate will be someone of the other race? Shouldn’t it be the same as you?”

He smirked, shaking his head. “Our destined mate only comes once. I am not a believer of that at first, by the way. I mean, why believe and wait for someone you are not sure is real? So I tried to go around the norm, doing what I like, disobeying orders and you now, the usual rebel. Then I met a human girl. I knew I like her so I pursue her. My packed banned me, ousting me out, saying I was a disgrace. When the High Table learned that a beast was fraternizing with humans, they threatened to kill us both. So, I had to let go.”

My brows furrowed. “High Table? Why would they threaten you if you don’t do anything wrong?”

Inigo’s smile looked soft and sad, his eyes looked lost in a memory. “Apparently, we can’t be with other races. It’s against the rules. Against the balance. You know what’s the High Table like.”

I shook my head, confused. “Who are they?” I asked, rocking my brain, trying to remember if Erin had mentioned it before. But I was sure it was the first time I heard of them.

He stared at me, giving me a curious look. “You seriously don’t know them, Tana?”

“Never heard of them until now.” I shrugged my shoulder.

He motioned for us to sit on the wooden bench, just beneath the lamp post. Only a few were jogging on the track. I waved my hand, building an invisible bubble around us, giving us more privacy.

“The High Table basically call the shots about what is right or what is wrong. They make sure the balance between supernaturals and humans are maintained.”

I felt my chest sunk, my cheeks getting warm despite the cold air blowing our way. “You mean, if I made a mistake, they will be the one to decide what to do with me?”

Inigo nodded, clicking his tongue. “Right. It all depends on the weight of your mistake, though. You’d think harming humans are the top offense, but it’s not. Top offense it breeding with another race.”

Something hit me, then. I was tricked, fooled into thinking that harming humans was a grave sin, that it warranted my soul in the underworld. I was angry. I felt like getting out of breath from the madness that suddenly swarmed inside me, inflicting chaos and turmoil.

“Why is it that they don’t want the other races to be with others?” I asked instead.

“They’re afraid of the gift the offspring will have. Or maybe the curse of having mixed bloodline.” He sighed, gently holding my hand. “Only a few are not allowed to mate, though. Some are okay. Like werewolves and witches. Humans and witches.”

“That’s the only reason? They are afraid of the curse? Aren’t they being too petty for that?”

Inigo laughed, scooting closer to me. “They are. That’s why I rebel. I don’t like how they run things.”

Maybe that was the same reason why my mother took risk being with my father. She wanted to rebel. Part of me wanted to. Part of me believed I didn’t deserve what happened to me, especially to Erin. But how would I know how to appeal to the High Table? I didn’t even know their faces, if they even had one.

“I feel like I learned a lot today, about, you know, our world.” A bitter smiled curved my lips as I tried to keep my calm.

“It feels heaven when you can be yourself, right? No pretentions.”

“Thank you, Inigo,” I whispered, tightening my hold on his hand.

He then leaned closer, his nose touching mine, his breath warm and sent butterflies to my stomach. He then reached for my forehead, planting a gentle kiss. Air seemed to thicken, my fingertips tickled, welcoming the sensation of the feeling of his closeness in me.

****

Weekends arrived, my Saturday evening quiet, only the ticking of the clock was the noise inside my room. No books gave me reference about the High Table and I was beginning to think if it was just a made up government by some race wanting to be superior on the others.

I was lying on my stomach in bed, wearing my pajamas - a tank top and shorts, reading the book Dragon Lords that I had borrowed in the bookshop over a month ago. I had no idea why Arawn pointed this one, out of the hundreds of books in that shop. Suddenly, a phrase caught my attention.

She is a black butterfly, roaming free around the fields, shadowing me on my walks. If only she will show me her true form.

Scanning the rest of the paragraph, my eyes seeking any information about the black butterfly.

How will I summon her? I need a witch’s matchstick to call the butterfly.

My eyebrow raised at that. A witch’s matchstick? What was that? Getting to my feet and rummaging through Erin’s drawers and things, I found a red box of match, the stick’s tip was silver instead of red. Without thinking, I got one and lighted it, closed my eyes and whispered, “Arawn Rhys.”

The tip burning smelled sulfur and burnt ash, similar to the thick air in the underworld. I opened my eyes, seeing no shadow of Arawn. Disappointed, I returned the matchbox in Erin’s drawer and exited her room. Going back to mine, my steps faltered, my heart beat hundred rate per second, shocked to see a man in my room.

His pensive eyes were on me, leaning against the wall beside the opened window. He looked bored.

“What are you doing here?” I asked, clutching my chest, suddenly feeling vulnerable.

Arawn shook his head slowly. “Please don’t act surprise. You summon me, hybrid. This better be worth my time.”

My eyes grew wide, my smile turning into grin. “So it works!” I giggled, hugging myself, mentally taking note of that new information.

“Yes, of course it will work.” He sighed, heading toward my bed and lie down with his eyes closed, arms spread wide. “Why did you call me here in your room? Did you get lonely or what?”

“It doesn’t matter,” I muttered. I sat at the edge of my bed, watching him carefully.

Arawn Rhys looked young and carefree, his sharp grey eyes were mesmerizing. I smiled at the contrast, his skin being so fair and pale he could be an elf, but he turned to be a black butterfly.

I cleared out my throat, looking away from him. “Do you know anything about the High Table?” I asked.

His eyes popped open. “Why?”

“I just want to know if they’re the ones who decide that my soul deserves hell, that they punished me for a mistake I didn’t intend to make.”

“There is no trial, only judgement,” he answered.

“Isn’t that unfair?”

Arawn smiled. “It is. Life always is.”

“I tried to be the hero, only to end up in this mess.” My voice came out like a whisper.

Silence dawned on us. After a moment, I felt the bed shifted, Arawn sat up and knelt before me, his hands lifting my chin up.

“I don’t meddle with things,” he muttered, his stare soft, as if he could see the tornado of chaos in my head. “But, yes, they f**k you up. I don’t know why, Tana. But we’ll save your soul and your godmother’s.”

His words sparked hope inside me, a swell of joy and strength built up instantly. “Are you really going to help me?”

Arawn smiled, tilting his head to the side, as if trying to get a better look on me. “I give you my word.”