Through slivered eyes, Celeste tried to look around. She was someplace she didn't know. It was still the same room she had been in before, but now the light was brighter, with a red hue to it. She tried to swallow, almost coughing through her parched throat.

Arabella. Her head swam, as her eyes flashed open. Where was she? Celeste tried to pull herself up, and somewhat succeeded. She was able to readjust herself higher onto a pillow, gaining a vantage of the room. At her movement, Gardinal, Kriss, and Valleresa all turned to her. Kriss had the beginning of a beard now, and Gardinal's wounds had somewhat healed. How long had she been asleep? She needed to find out what was going on. She needed to know if Arabella was alright.

“Ara... Arabella.” She croaked. “Where is she?” Celeste looked at them and saw as Gardinal and Kriss both visibly deflate. Neither met her eyes.

“Your Radiance.” Gardinal said, a tremble in his voice. “Thank the Mother you're awake.”

“W... where are we?” It was a struggle to talk, but Celeste had too many questions. “Where are Arabella and Vallerian? What happened at Rekiak’s…” She was cut off by a dry cough. So thirsty. Gardinal reached over and handed her a small clay cup of water. Celeste downed it all quickly, and he quickly set to refilling it.

“We're in the Red Curtains Celeste.” Kriss answered her first question. “The Cult, they... They burned Gardinal's home down. All your belongings were lost. I'm sorry.” Kriss seemed hollow, his cheeks uncharacteristically gaunt. As though he had neither eaten nor slept in several days.

“I’m sorry Prophetess, this is no place for you.” Gardinal began, handing her another cup of water. “The Korek offered a home for you as well, but they sleep in the dirt you see. I didn't think you'd be wanting that.”

Celeste wiped the water from her mouth and furrowed her brow in confusion. What about Gardinal’s home? Why weren’t they there? “Th... thank you. But what of...”

“Why Celeste?” Valleresa asked from next to her, her voice barely more than a trembling whisper. Celeste turned, and saw her sister clenching the bed tightly with white knuckles. “Wh... What were you thinking?” She asked again through gritted teeth, a fire to her words.

“I... I don't...”

“Why couldn't you just stay put and do what you were told?” Valleresa snapped, not giving Celeste a moment to respond. “Just for once. Why couldn’t you just… not.”

Celeste stared at her friend, stunned. Valleresa had never talked to her this way before. Why weren’t they telling her about Arabella? Celeste’s breath grew short and shallow. No, Arabella couldn’t be... Her hands began to quiver. No, not Arabella, please not Arabella.

“Valleresa come on, that’s enough.” Kriss stepped over, grabbing Valleresa by the arm. “Don’t you think…” Kriss was cut off by Valleresa shrugging him off.

“She’s the one who doesn’t think, Kriss.” She bit back, pushing him away with a hand to his chest. “And don’t go thinking you’re innocent here either. Ever since you showed up and enabled every one of her little fancies this has all gotten worse.” Valleresa lashed, and Kriss stepped back down.

“Where is Arabella?” Celeste asked, feeling her chest grow tight. “Please…” Tears began to form in her eyes.

“You always do this Celeste.” Valleresa shouted. “Always running about like there is no risk. Not thinking twice to run headfirst into every dangerous situation.” Valleresa grabbed one of Celeste’s pillows and threw it across the room. Celeste only shook, hugging her covers. Why weren’t they answering her? Where was Arabella? “But you don’t think do you? That maybe everyone else in your life isn’t blessed by the Mother like you are? We can’t all just work miracles whenever we want!”

Celeste’s chest rose and fell in short, shallow rhythms.

“I… I… I didn’t… I didn’t mean…” Celeste tried to force the words out, looking up at her friend who now stood above her. Valleresa’s face was contorted with rage, a deep crimson with a vein pulsing in her neck. “Where… Where are they? Where are Arabella and Vallerian?” Celeste trembled at the prospect of the answer.

“Sister Valleresa, that’s enough just tell her that...” Gardinal stood up with some obvious effort. Valleresa pointed a finger accusingly at him.

“Don’t even think about it, Gardinal. Some shield you turned out to be. How come every time she’s been in danger lately, you haven’t been there to help?” Valleresa shook her head. “I don’t want to hear a single excuse out of you.”

Gardinal fell back into his seat. Her words had struck him hard, and he was already injured.

Valleresa refocused on Celeste. “You want to know where they are? They’re at the temple, still recovering from that disaster four days ago. Arabella hasn’t even woken up.”

Celeste felt a weight off her chest, they were alive. But injured? She would need to…

“Oh? You’re relieved? Is that it? You never learn, do you? Every time you run in healing every bloody bastard that tries to kill us, you put us at risk Celeste. Gardinal, Arabella, Vallerian, me, everyone who cares about you. And because nobody died this time, you’ll do it again. And you’ll keep doing it until it’s too late. So which one of us is it going to be, Celeste? Which one of us are you willing to let die for your crusade?”

“I’m sorry.” Celeste sobbed. “Please... I’m sorry…”

“Valleresa come on that’s…” Kriss grabbed Valleresa’s arm but she just shrugged him off.

“Don’t you coddle her.” She snapped, punching him in the chest and turning back to Celeste. “No one else dares say this to you Celeste. Because you’re the Prophetess, and the lost heir, and everything else that you are. But you need to hear it. You are throwing all of our lives away in your reckless crusade to redeem every criminal and scumbag that this city spits out. If you had just done what you were told, had stayed at Gardinal’s home, the cult would never have found you. Now you’ve gone too far, and you… you...” Valleresa began to break down, falling back into her chair, covering her tear-stained eyes with her bandaged hands.