Bones of Faerie - Janni Lee Simner [22]
“It was just a shadow!” Kimi whimpered, as if she didn't know the danger shadows could hold. I knelt by her side.
Allie looked up. Relief flooded her features, as if somehow I could make everything all right.
I rubbed Kimi's hands, trying to get warmth into her, and realized those hands weren't even cold. Yet she kept shivering.
“Not f-f-f-fair,” Kimi chattered. “Didn't kn-n-n-n-ow!”
“Know what?”
“The shadow,” Allie said. “I tried to warn Kimi it was magic, but she didn't listen. She couldn't feel it the way I could, because she doesn't have her own magic yet. So she touched it. Put her hand right through.” Allie scowled, but she looked more scared than when she'd seen me clutching my knife.
“Thought you were making it up,” Kimi said. “Ab-b-b-out the magic. But it was so c-c-c-cold.”
I helped Kimi to her feet, guilt washing over me. That shadow wanted me—had followed me. When I reached a hand out, it was drawn to me.
Kimi shivered harder. “Come on,” I said, urging her back toward the Wall. Allie moved to the girl's other side even as Kimi stumbled. Kimi fell to her knees and hunched over, rocking back and forth, refusing to stand when Allie tugged her arm. I picked up the girl instead, staggering a little under her weight, and carried her to the Wall. Vines and branches parted for us once more.
Alan met us on the other side, panting as if he'd been running. He took his daughter from my arms. Samuel was there, too. Allie ran to him, sobbing. “Don't blame Kimi, she didn't know, it's not her fault—”
Samuel drew her close. “You're all right?” he said.
“Yes, I'm fine, but Kimi—”
“Get Caleb,” Samuel told her. “We'll discuss blame later.” As Allie ran for help, he shook his head. “I told her she wasn't allowed Outside.” He seemed more scared than angry. Alan rocked his daughter, telling her over and over again that everything was all right, even though he couldn't possibly know that. Allie returned several paces behind Caleb, who strode to Alan's side. Caleb took Kimi in his arms and lowered her to the ground while Alan looked on anxiously. The girl's eyes were squeezed shut, and she'd drawn her arms around herself as if for warmth. Caleb slowly moved his hands from her head to her toes, his own expression unreadable.
“I tried to heal her,” Allie said, kneeling beside him.
Panic edged her words. “I tried, but I couldn't find what was wrong!”
“That's because this isn't a matter of skin or blood or bone,” Caleb said soberly. “It's on the level of essence. Soul, you might say.”
Allie swallowed. “That sounds bad.”
“Not so bad as it could be. Just… tricky to find. Here, I'll show you.” He laid one hand over Kimi's head, the other over her heart. Allie placed her small hands on top of his large ones. They both closed their eyes. Silver light bloomed beneath Caleb's palms.
“Oh!” Allie said. “But that's easy! Why didn't I see?”
The light sank down and disappeared. Kimi stopped shivering and opened her eyes. Alan knelt beside her; she threw her arms around his neck, clinging hard, as if seeking warmth still.
“Stay with her tonight,” Caleb said. “Keep her warm. Send for me if anything happens. I don't care how late. You know that.”
“I know, and—thank you.” Alan glanced at me. “And thank you, too, for bringing her home.” He carried his daughter away, holding her as if she were a much younger child.
Caleb looked at Allie and me. He drew his hands together and rested his forehead on them. “You'd best tell me exactly what happened.”
I looked down, ashamed, leaving Allie to tell the story.
“I didn't know what to do,” she said at last. “If Liza hadn't come …” The words trailed off.
“You did well,” Caleb assured her. He turned to Samuel. “Take her home. She's had a long couple of days.”
Allie started to protest, but at a glance from Samuel merely sighed. “Are you coming, too, Liza?”
“Liza will be along shortly.” The ice in Caleb's voice startled me.
Allie