Through the Æther

Gaze deeply through the æther, through space both real and imagined, through the deepest reaches of time. In the vastness of the Dark, see a glimmering blue world warmed by a golden star. Look deeper. See the massive gnarled oak tree sitting atop a green hill, its branches clawing at the low flat grey cloudcover. 

Look deeper. 

Inside the massive tree, hollowed out, squated a child drawing shapes in the ashes of the hearth. The child is thin with copper hair which stood up like frozen fire. The child’s fingers were bone white with ash. A gnarled old hand spattered with age spots, dry and warm, set itself on top of the child’s. The twisted hand was encrusted with jeweled rings. The jewels twinkled in the red light of the fire. The hand belonged to Zazi. The child looked up into Zazi’s face, gold hoops pierced eyebrows and nostrils, the face framed by long wild grey hair, the tips brushed lightly through the ashes of the hearth.

‘Take care with symbols writ, Willa.’ Zazi said. ‘They hold power.’

The child knew Willa meant her. This was her earliest memory.