“I plan on it,” Cass said, smiling at her son. Wren seemed down, or troubled. “You OK, sweetheart?”
“Fine,” Wick answered. “Thanks, honey.”
Cass gave a Wick a look, and he just smiled back.
“I’m fine,” Wren said. “Just tired.”
“I was going to see if I could find something to eat. You want to come?”
“No thanks.” He still wouldn’t look at her. Which usually meant he was either upset about something, or that he was wishing she’d leave. Cass motioned with her hands at Wick to see if he needed her to have Wren come with her, but Wick waved her off.
“OK,” she said. “Wick, want me to bring you anything?”
“No, ma’am,” he said. “Thank you though.”
“Alright then.” Cass hovered at the door for a moment. “A few more minutes, and then we’ll let Wick rest, OK, baby?”
“OK,” Wren said. There was a brief silence, but then Wren looked over and asked, “Can Lil teach me that thing now?”
It took a second before Cass remembered what he was talking about, and when she did, she didn’t like the thought of it. Seeing her son like that. And Lil had said it was difficult to learn. But there was no doubt they’d be facing the Weir again. Worse. Asher in the Weir.
“If she has time,” Cass said.
Wren’s eyes glinted in either excitement or surprise. Maybe he’d been expecting her to say no. He got to his feet.
“Thanks, Wick. I hope you feel better.” Wren offered his hand. Wick shook it with kind sobriety.
“Thanks for keeping me company, Governor.”
Wren came over and stood next to Cass.
“Open or closed?” she asked.
“You can close it, thanks,” Wick said. “Gonna rack out for a bit.”
Cass chuckled and shook her head. Wick just flashed his grin. She should’ve known better than to think he’d ever ask Wren to leave, no matter how tired Wick was. Cass pulled the door closed, and then she and Wren turned and went down the hall. It was disconcerting how unstable Cass felt on her feet. They walked together in silence.
They found Lil in one of the common rooms on the top floor, talking with Finn and another woman that Cass didn’t recognize. Everyone stood when they saw her.
“Miss Cass,” Finn said. “How’re you feeling?”
“Well enough, Finn. Thanks,” Cass said. “Are we interrupting?”
“No, not at all,” Lil said. “Please, join us.” She introduced Cass to the other woman there with them. “Cass, this is Mei. Mei, Cass.”
They shook hands. Mei was a couple of inches taller than Cass and willow thin. Her hands were surprisingly strong.
“Mei,” Cass said. “You came with Lil to rescue us.”
Mei nodded.
“Thank you.”
“Of course.”
“What brings you out and about?” Lil asked, as they all took seats.
“Wren had something he wanted to ask you,” Cass answered. Lil looked at him.
“I was wondering if you had time to teach me your trick,” he said. “The broadcasting.”
Lil looked back at Cass for confirmation, and Cass nodded.
“Sure, Wren,” Lil said. “We can try. Here, come sit next to me.” She stood up to grab another chair, but Finn got up and slid his closer to her, and then went and found another for himself. Lil scooted the chair right next to hers and then sat back down and patted it. Wren crawled up into the chair. It was oversized anyway, and seemed even moreso with his small frame in it. Lil angled her body towards him, and Wren mirrored her.
“Now,” she said, “I’ll try to teach you, but you should know that it can be very challenging. Not everyone can do it. So, you have to promise you won’t be upset with yourself if you don’t get it right away.”
“OK,” Wren said. “I promise.”
“OK. Take a deep breath, and try to relax.”
Lil walked Wren through some early steps and explained what Chapel had taught her about boosting her own signal. Wren listened patiently, soaking it all in. As she watched silently, Cass could sense a gradual change between them and could almost imagine the relationship they must have had years ago. Wren seemed more open and comfortable with her than Cass had seen him in days. Weeks, maybe.
After several minutes, Wren gave it his first try. He closed his eyes and scrunched up his face. Cass could tell he was really concentrating. But there was no sign of anything happening.
“Will I be able to tell if I’m doing it?” Wren asked.
“You will. You’ll feel it,” Lil said. “It’s hard to explain, but I think you’ll know.”
Cass almost mentioned that she’d be able to see it, but felt like any comment from her might seem like an intrusion. She remained quiet, as Lil gave Wren some further suggestions. He tried again, with little discernible difference. They worked together for nearly half an hour. Wren became increasingly frustrated, with himself, not with Lil, but Lil picked up on it.
“Why don’t we take a little break,” Lil said. “We can try again later if you like.”
“Can we try one more time?” Wren said. Lil nodded.
“One more.”
Again, Wren closed his eyes, though this time not as tightly. His lips moved slightly, pursing as he focused. Several seconds passed without any noticeable change. And then, there, just at the outer edge of his body, Cass saw it. A thin aura, faint and shimmering.
“There,” Cass said. “You’re doing it!”
Immediately it stopped as Wren opened his eyes.
“Am I?” he asked.
“You were,” she said. “A little bit. I could just see it.”
His shoulders slumped, and he looked dejected. “I was trying really hard.”
Lil put her hand on his shoulder. “That you can do it at all is amazing, Wren. I’ve never seen anyone your age do it before. Not even twice your age. You should feel proud.” She gave his shoulder a little squeeze. “And you promised not to be upset with yourself.”
Wren nodded and sat back in his chair. Lil stood up.
“I should probably make the rounds anyway,” she said. “We’ll try again tomorrow if you like, OK?”
“OK,” Wren said. “Thanks, Lil.” Lil nodded and started towards the door. The others stood as well.
“Guess I’ll go check on Wick,” Finn said. “But maybe next time I’ll try it too, huh?” Finn knocked Wren on the shoulder as he said it, and Wren gave him a little smile in return.
“I could work with you,” Mei said. “If you think it’d help.”
Finn smiled at her. “I’d appreciate it. Whether it helped or not.”
Mei actually blushed a little. If Cass hadn’t known better, she might’ve suspected there was something brewing between the two of them. Finn held out his hand to let Mei exit first, and then followed her out. As he passed Cass, he winked at her.
“Glad to see you up, ma’am.”
Cass nodded back. “Thanks, Finn.”
She watched them as they went out. From behind her, Wren made a little noise like he’d found something.
“Oh,” he said aloud, but almost to himself. “I wonder…” And then to Cass, “Mama, am I doing it now?”
Cass turned, and as she did, she had to squint against the radiance emanating from her son. But he didn’t appear to be her son anymore. Gone was her little boy, replaced instead by an otherworldly being, blazing like a star. The room behind him seemed dim in comparison to his brilliance. Where Lil had retained her general form and size, Wren seemed to grow. And his face changed; it seemed to be constantly shifting like a reflection on waves, his eyes and mouth distorted. If Lil’s eyes had been burning coals, Wren’s now were molten ore. Translucent orange fire seemed to gutter from the eye sockets and issue from his gaping mouth.
“Mama?” the demon said. Cass felt herself taking steps backwards without having meant to.