- K A L I - A L I -

     I open my eyes to the clinking of a glass. I immediately squint, the bright light of the room nearly blinding me as if I stared at the sun. I try to move my arm to block out the light, but I quietly yelp as pain shoots through my body. 

     "Careful," I hear faintly, slowly adjusting my eyes. I finally get to see my surroundings: I'm in my room, lying on my bed. The overhead lights had been the culprit for my vision problems, and I managed to turn my head. That hurt too, but not as much as I expected. I see a glass of water on my nightstand, and... oh, good. It's Klen.

     "Klen?" I mutter, barely audible. "Am I in my room?"

     "Yes," he answers, walking to the corner and pulling my desk chair towards the side of my bed. I strain my neck up, trying my best to sit up at least a little bit. While it hurts, I manage. I pull my arms out from under the covers, and... 

     Memories start coming back to me as I see the burns on my arms. I look at Klen, and I see a look of... something on his face. I can't quite decipher it. Is it sorrow? Disappointment? Guilt? "Klen? How long have I been out?"

     "Two days," he answers, handing me the glass. "Drink up. The IV can only do so much."

     Now that he mentions it, I notice the thin tube running up my right arm. There was an IV stand and a life monitor to the right of my bed, checking all of my vitals. I take the glass, only realizing how parched I am when the glass raises to my lips.

     "Thank you," I sigh, gulping it down. He cracks a smile, taking the glass when I'm done.

     "I'll grab you some more," he says, going to stand up.

     "Wait!" I exclaim, and he freezes to look back. "Klen, what... what the hell happened?"

     He exhales, looking out the window, which overlooks the inner courtyard. "I probably shouldn't be the one to tell you," he says quietly. "I think your dad wanted to catch you up to speed."

     I lay my head back, banging softly against the headboard. "Can you give me anything, Klen?"

     He looks back, not quite meeting my eyes. "What do you remember?"

     That's... a great question. Bits and pieces come rushing back. "Just... pain. A ton of it. Mom and Dad were talking to each other. Lots of steam. Chaos."

     "Yes," he confirms. "I'm going to get you water and find your father. Try to remember while I'm gone."

     He turns to leave, and I look at my left arm. The worst of the burn ran as a band along the underside of my wrist... oh no. I was in agony all over my body... but I was so close. I felt the energy go through my whole body, I felt like I had contained it, I felt...

     My head begins spinning as I rush to sit up, making me fall back down into my bed. I finally get a view of my legs, also with burns running down the length. They're everywhere, and they're all screaming at me not to move a muscle. But I can't. I manage to stand, yelping as I rush to grab my phone.

     My phone... isn't there, though. Not on my desk. Not anywhere. Just then, I hear a knock on the door. I jump, looking that way. Luckily, I still had a medical gown on. The door opens, with Klen holding it for my dad, Shuma. His concern melts into relief as he rushes over to me and hugs me.

     I yelp as he touches the burns, and he jumps back. "I'm sorry, I wasn't thinking."

     "Dad, what happened?" I ask, watching Klen set a refilled glass down on the desk before shuffling out of the room quietly. Shuma goes to sit down, and I sit back down on my bed. I watch as the relief then melts into sorrow. I don't know if I'd ever seen Dad so dejected before. Not even when the council was giving him and Mom hell. 

     "The Kamar," he begins, clearly struggling to hold it together. "It... didn't accept you."

     I look down at the burns, my eyes widening at what I think I already knew. "But why?" I ask, slightly in shock as I look back at Shuma with distress.

     He looks down at his lap, shaking his head. "I... I don't know, Kali."

     "You don't?" I ask, a bit incredulous, as he continues shaking his head. 

     "I've been in the library the past two days while you've been passed out," he states, fidgeting. "Consulting the scrolls. Trying to find a reason it may have rejected you."

     "I thought it was only about blood?" I ask, and I see him tense up at the mention of it.

     "If you're not related to me, then there are bigger problems here," he states flatly, still looking at the floor. "The Kamar is an artifact we don't fully understand. I'm sure there is a much more reasonable reason."

     "Where's Mom?" I ask, my voice shaking. "Alebi?"

     "Your mother has," he starts, exhaling loudly. "She's been inconsolable. She essentially locked herself in our bedroom. She won't talk to anyone."

     My heart drops, and I feel a tear welling up in my eye. "Does she know I'm awake?"

     "Not yet," he answers. "I'll have Klen send for her soon."

     I sigh, laying my head back on my pillow. I've been awake maybe five minutes, and I'm already exhausted. "I'm sure the outside world hasn't overreacted at all."

     I hear Shuma let out a pained chuckle. "Of course not," he sighs sarcastically.

     "I want my phone," I state flatly. "I need to see what the news is saying."

     "I don't think you want to see that," Dad sighs. "It's all the world has been talking about. I don't think you want to watch yourself burning alive."

     "I do," I state, looking at him with determination plastered on my face. 

     He looks at me with concern, sighing. "I warned you."

     He takes my phone out of the desk drawer, handing it to me. "Listen, there are some rules you need to follow right now," he states, looking at me.

     I look at him, taking the device. "First, you are not to leave the palace. It's not safe outside right now. Second, listen to your doctor. You're badly burned, and unless you want those marks permanent, you'll listen to them."

     "Yes," I agree, and he nods. "Thank you, Dad."

     "I love you," he smiles, walking towards the door. "I'll be in the keep. I'll also send for your mother."

     The door opens as quickly as it closes, and I'm left alone with my thoughts again. I stand up, wandering around my room. I pull out my phone and look up the news. 

- ~ -

     "Note to self," I mutter alone, sitting on my bed again. "Watching yourself burn alive is traumatizing." Dad may have been right on that one. 

     So, I may be responsible for an upcoming civil war. Everyone in the world now knows my name, and I'm famous for failure. What a fantastic week so far. Why couldn't I do it? Had I just not been strong enough? Is there some reason I don't know yet? Or is it...

     I shudder at the thought, feeling more tears well up. I reach over, opening my nightstand drawer and pulling out my necklace - the one Suri gifted me. He may have tried to kidnap me, but maybe he would've been able to offer me some advice. Some comfort. Anything.

     He's family, right? Or, was, I guess.