When morning came, Era's mat was empty, Mason was still wheezing in his sleep, and Devlin found he could not make audible sounds. He thanked the nurturers for the soup they brought him with little more than a sigh. Despite the fire crackling in a hastily made pit in the room's center, it was cold enough to see their breaths.
“Most of the food supplies survived,” Mason said from beside him, startling Devlin. The librarian yawned loudly as he rolled onto his side.
Devlin nodded in acknowledgment.
“We dragged them out of a burning building, like idiots,” Mason continued, offering him a half-shrug. “Or maybe that was foresight. Who knows? You never can guess what the rest of winter will bring. Die now or die later, I suppose.”
The winters will be far less harsh for you now. I won't be brewing anymore blizzards.
“Everybody's alive,” Mason said, sitting up. “I'm more or less fine. Era's managing. Apparently some mutant turkey dragged us out of the burning library.”
It was too soon to smile. Still, Devlin mouthed the word “dragon.”
Mason rewarded him with a lopsided grin. “Something like that.” The librarian shifted his legs, sitting cross-legged beneath his blanket. A walking stick lay beside him.
Devlin frowned. Clearly, Mason hadn't gotten out unscathed.
“I saw him, you know,” Mason said after a long pause. “Your father, he—transformed. I saw what he was. Era did, too. The thing is, I'm not sure anyone would believe us if we told them.” Again, Mason hesitated, releasing a cloud of breath. “I saw you, too.”
Devlin's entire body tensed while Mason's words dissolved into a coughing fit, more aftereffects of the fire.
“As you were flying away, I thought I was hallucinating. You looked just like him, but white and blue. And for some reason, I didn't even question it was you. I guess because he was your dad, I made that logical jump. Except it's not logical.” Mason drew himself up. “Devlin, what are you?”
Devlin answered without delay, mouthing the word “phoenix.”
“Phoenix,” Mason repeated, pausing to cough raggedly. “Did you really mean phoenix?”
Devlin nodded.
“Well, I'll be.” The librarian dragged a hand back over his braids. “I always wished there was magic in the world. But not like that. No, not like this at all.” His teeth dented his lower lip. “You have to tell Era. She deserves to know.”
Why? Devlin mouthed.
“Because it's not every day she makes friends. Because she cares about you. Because she couldn't move last night, but she wouldn't give up on sending somebody to find you. And as much as I hoped the flame we saw was more space junk falling out of the atmosphere, I found you instead.” Mason scratched at the stubble on his jaw. “Your father… will he come back to finish what he started?”
Devlin shook his head, his vision blurring.
“I guess that's something, at least.” Mason glanced at the cloudy sky. “We'll figure something out. We always do. Just promise me you'll talk to Era as soon as you can.”
It wasn't a promise Devlin wanted to make. He wished he and Era could go on as they had before, as if he were a regular human. He didn't know if she'd be confused, or scared, or hate him for the calamity he and his father had brought to the Habitats. He did it anyway, sealing the vow with a bob of his head. Because he was sick of lying.
Because, for once, he wanted to get to know a human, and for that human to get to know the real him, too.
“I have some other good news,” Mason said, reaching under his mat. “Look what survived.”
Devlin's face lit up as he saw the familiar pattern of white creases on a paper book cover. Romeo and Juliet. Part of him wanted to kiss it. If not for this play, how much longer would it have taken Devlin to remember who he was supposed to be? Who else would he have hurt before his heart had thawed? Would Mason still be here? Would Era?
A dusty sob tore up Devlin’s throat, then caught there like a downy feather. For once, he didn’t try to shove his sadness and fear away. He let it remain there, burning as only the cold could.
“Thank you, Devlin,” Mason said, patting his hand. There was so much emotion in the librarian's face, Devlin couldn’t meet his eye. “Thank you for saving us. For saving Era, especially. I don't know what I'd do without her.”
A bit of ice touched Devlin's cheek. He raised his fingers to it, surprised when they came away wet.