Momo's Arc

Chapter 3 of 3

The forest opened, and Elmyra's home rose ahead. It stood tall as three houses stacked together, with wooden beams and stone walls and shutters painted red. Momo stopped and stared. Vina gripped his arm. "That's one giant house," she whispered. Her tail twitched behind her. Momo could feel her nerves. His own stomach knotted, but he grinned to hide it. Elmyra climbed the steps and pushed open the heavy doors. "Come," she said. "Meet my daughters." Three girls waited inside. The first wore a black robe and held a thick book to her chest. Her silver hair fell past her waist. "Mother, you're late," she said, eyeing the strangers. This was Rikku, Elmyra's own daughter, a magick master in training. The second girl wore a pink kimono with a flower in her hair. The third had dark hair, red eyes, and a tail tipped with real fire. Momo saw Vina freeze when she spotted it. "Everyone," Elmyra said. "This is Momo and Vina. They will live here now. As family." The girl with the fire tail stepped forward first. "You're half-demon," she said to Vina. It was not a question. Vina's hands balled up. She waited for the fear, the cruel words she always got. Instead the girl smiled. "Me too. I'm Lillith. Watch this." Her shape blurred, and for a second she stood as a copy of Vina, horns and all. Then she snapped back. Vina laughed, shocked. "How did you do that?!" The girl in the kimono with the flower took Momo's hand before he could speak. "I'm Mitzu," she said. She looked at his dragon tattoo, then at his tail. "You're warm. Like a little fire." Momo chuckled. "You have no idea." Mitzu tugged him toward a long table. "Mother cooks the best food in the land. Sit. You look hungry." Momo's stomach growled loud, and all three girls burst out laughing. Rikku closed her book last. She studied Momo with her green eyes. "Two powers in one body," she said quietly. "Mother told us. Light and heat." Momo nodded. "They were tearing me apart. She built a wall between them." Rikku's eyes sharpened with interest. "A barrier spell. I've read about those." She opened her book and showed him a page covered in symbols. "If you want to control both, you'll need more than a wall. You'll need practice." She tapped the page. "I can help you train." That night they all ate together. No one flinched at Vina's horns or Momo's tail. For the first time Momo felt he belonged somewhere. Elmyra set a hand on his shoulder. "Tomorrow we begin your lessons," she said. "Rikku will join us. If you mean to master both your powers, you must start now." Momo looked at the book in Rikku's hands and the fire on Lillith's tail. He was not alone anymore. He had a family, and he had work to do.