Yasny glanced back at the dresser and rose silently. After several long minutes of fumbling on the dresser she glanced back at Zoelyn and shook her head softly. “I don’t see a bag here and I don’t follow what you mean about stones or how that would make you pale,” she said with confusion clear in her voice.
“Mage stones. My hair and eyes take on the color of the magic I absorb. Seth usually gives me mostly Shadow magic. He says the black hair makes it impossible for others to know what power I have at my disposal,” Zoelyn explained with a frown. It wasn’t like Seth to forget something as important as the stones.
“Well that is simple enough. I can craft stones for you if you need the energy. I’m afraid I can’t do shadow magic, but I can fashion others,” Yasny replied with a smile and moved back to the bed once more. “I think it would do you good to get out of bed for a while and if a bit of magic is all it takes I’m happy to help,” she murmured as she began crafting stones and dropping them in front of Zoelyn.
“Thank you, Yasny. I’m lucky to have you to help,” Zoelyn grinned and picked up the first stone eyeing the deep red color. She had never absorbed much in the way of fire magic. Jala generally crafted stones of pure arcane magic, and Seth’s stones were always dark in color.
Yasny gazed up at her hesitation and smiled widely. “I know it isn’t dark like you are used to, but fire is the easiest for me. Besides you will make a stunning redhead and what man doesn’t love a girl with red hair?” Her tone held a note of teasing to it and Zoelyn blushed in response. No matter how hard she had tried to hide her affection for Seth, Yasny had seen through it easily on her first visit.
“He doesn’t see me that way,” Zoelyn muttered as she absorbed the first stone and savored the rush of power through her weakened body.
“Then we need to open his eyes,” Yasny announced with a playful grin. “And I am just the one to help you with that,” she added with a wink and rose from the bed as Zoelyn lifted the next stone. “Let’s see if Seth left you any other clothing in here aside from the leather armor. Something a bit more feminine would work nicely.”
“I don’t know Yasny,” Zoelyn began hesitantly but the dragon waved a hand in dismissal before she could continue.
“Nonsense. Seth should be grateful that someone like you cares what he thinks and he is my friend after all. If he is too blind to realize you care for him, it is my solemn duty to open his eyes to the fact,” Yasny informed her sweetly as she began pulling the dresser drawers open one by one. “Ahh, ha!” she called happily as she pulled a long green dress from the dresser and turned to face Zoelyn with triumph written clearly on her beautiful face. “It’s a bit old fashioned in cut, but beggars can’t be choosers and this color will look wonderful with the red hair.”
Zoelyn stared at the dress for a long moment and then smiled widely at Yasny. “I never even bothered looking inside the dresser. I always just assumed it was empty. I can’t believe Seth left dresses for me.” She rose unsteadily from the bed and took the garment from Yasny. The soft velvet of the dress slid through her fingers as she held it up before her and gazed into the mirror. Yasny was right. The emerald color of the dress did look splendid next to her red hair and she couldn’t help but keep the smile from her face. “It is so beautiful,” she breathed as she ran a hand down the front of the dress, admiring the delicate stitching that lined the bodice and skirts.
“You are so beautiful,” Yasny corrected softly and smiled at her once more. “Well, get changed, girl. With luck, I can get your hair fixed and have you perfect by the time Seth returns, and won’t he be surprised to see you looking so beautiful. There is no way he will be able to ignore you after this,” she promised.
*
Seth slumped against the door as the last of the visions in the room faded. Anger and grief warred in his mind as he waited for the seal on the door to release. He wasn’t sure how much more of his past he could face, but Finn had been adamant about the penance. Considering his actions, though, Seth supposed it was the most lenient punishment the Lord of Death could give, and despite the pain of remembering, he was grateful. Relief washed through him as the door gave behind him and he stumbled into the hallway. Quickly, he rubbed his face and did his best to erase all signs of anguish from his features. Zoey would be awake by now and he didn’t want her to see him looking so pathetic.
“Are you OK, Seth?” Her voice brought his head up sharply and he stared in stunned silence at her form in the doorway of his rooms. It was like looking at a ghost and after the time in penance it was a fresh wound that he couldn’t ignore. The dress she wore had been Dashara’s and her hair was the same deep red. He had never seen Zoelyn’s hair any color but black or white, and she had never fixed it as she wore it now. His gaze trailed across the delicate braids and then down to her face and his shock gave away to anger. There was no way she could have done this by accident. There were just too many details for it to be unintentional.
“What are you doing, Zoey?” Seth asked coldly as he met her eyes and held her gaze.
“I came to find you.” Her voice was hesitant and a wave of confusion crossed her features.
Uncertainty rose in his mind and his anger wavered. “Why are you dressed like that?” he asked cautiously. He tried to keep the desperation from his voice. He needed her to answer in innocence. He didn’t want to believe she was intentionally trying to cause him more pain, not after everything he had put aside to keep her happy. It had taken all of his will to stay rational when facing Neph, but he had done it for her. Despite what he thought of the man, he knew Zoelyn cared for everyone she had lived with in Merro.