Moonlight's Deception (Eclipse of Hiestora, Book 1)

Chapter 26 | To Search the Sun

"I guess so?" she answered with uncertainty. "Who knows." Clara shrugged. "How would I know what the future brings? Maybe if I need to, then I will... for someone... important to me."

The fire laughed heartily. "Then I hope that clears your doubt for your friend. If there are things she doesn't tell you yet, there's probably a reason. And my question is a matter of yes or no, but still"— she placed a hand over Clara's chest — "you speak what's in your heart."

Clara's tensed muscles loosened up a bit. Squinting her eyes, she said, "You seem to know a lot. Who are you?"

The fire shrugged. "It's not important for you to know who I am."

"It is." Clara attempted to stand but the fire pulled her back. Her eyes were pleading. "This is the second time you called for me and it happens whenever I am in danger or I feel scared. Don't tell me those are just random and baseless encounters. You gave this" — she held the necklace for the fire to see — "and knew me as Clara. Who are you?"

The fire's head perked up. Clara detected a hint of amusement in her command.

"Meara," the fire finally said.

"Oh." Clara blinked, suddenly feeling conscious of her words. "Alright. So, Meara, are you really fire?"

Meara's laugh echoed around the quiet garden, making Clara blush.

"I-Is it wrong to ask?"

Something liquid in the form of a flame fell from Meara's face. The woman wiped it as she continued to laugh. "This is just one of my many forms. But the real me is only known to a few, and all of them are gone at this age."

"So... how old are you?"

"Older than you think I am."

"By how much?"

Meara tilted her head. "You want to know more about me, that I am sure of. But you will at the right time." She stretched her hand to pat Clara's cheek.

"Meaning this is not the last time we'll be seeing each other?"

Meara shook her head. "Certainly not, dear."

Clara's lips curled and inched closer to Meara. "Am I such a bother? There's another thing I'd like to ask. I never had the chance before. You... surprised me."

"Who knows when will be the next time you'll see me? Ask away."

Clara took a deep breath. "How did you know who I was? Not as Anneliese but... as me."

The birds around them twittered. The others even sighed and looked at her as if she had lost her brain.

"She still doesn't know? Go tell her, Meara," the turtle said.

"Here I thought the girl was smart enough," the rabbit said as he adjusted the blue and white ribbon around his neck.

A hedgehog came rolling from a bush and said, "And she's got so many questions! She's annoying."

Gasping, Clara threw them a sharp look. "I can hear you, you know."

"We'll go grab a mirror!" a pair of lovebirds said in unison.

"Here, here! Look here!" said the fish in the pond.

Meara nodded. "Do look at yourself first in the water. That should answer your question."

Confused, Clara crouched at the bank and peered down at the water. Her mind froze for a second as if someone had put her head in a block of ice. She didn't realize how much she missed seeing her face until now.