The following is an original work of fiction. Unless otherwise indicated, all the names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents in this book/story are either the product of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental. The following is intended for mature audiences only.
Chapter 11
As Dagus and Khayin huddled like two dark conspirators in the corner, I leaned over my desk attempting to get closer. As if leaning those few inches would miraculously give me access to their every word. Those inches couldn’t hurt though. Right?
Closing my eyes, straining to hear anything at all, I felt my body in a way I hadn’t before. Power still thrumming through me. The same sensation that had been healing my hand was now being pushed beyond the confines my own skin. Snaking its way across the room. The heat of the fireplace growing colder as I, it, got farther away.
When whatever this was reached the two men, I couldn’t hear them any better than I had a moment ago, but I could feel them. Detected their presence the same as a river blindly feels the boulders in its path.
More so, I felt their emotions.
Master Dagus, not surprisingly, was nervous with a hint of excitement and annoyance. The annoyance I understood. Many people who had to deal with Minister Khayin were very familiar with that particular frustration.
Khayin, however, was skeptical with a spark of inspiration.
Clasping my hands tightly in my lap to help control the shaking. Or was it my entire body? I really couldn’t tell. Shock or overwhelmed disbelief from the last thirty minutes of my life – it was hard to tell. Everything seemed a bit fuzzy around the edges at the moment. Either way, the sensation of sitting at my desk but having my presence elsewhere at the same time wasn’t sitting right with me. Among other things.
What was the reason behind the onslaught of magic? Was this what was supposed to happen when I gained my magic?
No one had ever openly talked to me about this but then treated me as if I were stupid for not knowing these answers inherently. I was told in no official capacity when I was younger that I wouldn’t come into my full magical potential until I turned eighteen. When I was around seven, I pictured myself getting struck my some intense beam of light from one of the moons. My skin would glow with power and I would be invincible.
Clearly, I was wrong.
I spent my eighteenth birthday being tortured by Clerics for hours as they laid the tattoo on my skin. Tortured may have been a bit dramatic. If there was ever a time for dramatics, this was it. Even if I kept my personal crisis to myself.
Throw her in and see if she floats. That seemed to be the philosophy my father garnered for so many of my milestones in life this far. No surprise that this time in my life was no different.
It was times such as these felt the motherly void. Being human, Herra could only tell me what others have told her.
Maybe there was something wrong with me?
Panic began to settle in my chest. My control over the outreach of power began to waver. Khayin and Dagus simultaneously turned toward me, still deep in conversation. Were they able to detect what I was doing? Since I had no idea what I was doing, I was clueless on how to stop doing it.
Hastily fighting to gain control of the flow. A surge of power pulsed through the current before I could wrangle it in. Voices carried over to me as if they were standing right beside me.
“No, her ability to wield magic has grown as you can plainly see,” insisted Master Dagus. There was that annoyance I detected. Definitely a result to dealing with the king’s adviser.
“But it is not at the level it should be,” argued Khayin.
“She is newly eighteen. You surely didn’t expect it would happen in the blink of an eye? These things take time.”
There goes any hope to my moonbeam fantasy.
“Or maybe she is not what he had hoped.”
The disappointment on both their faces had finalized half a decision I hadn’t even considered until now. The fact that I was still being deliberately excluded from so many things and now that included my own development.
Or maybe she is not what we hoped.
Khayin’s words were loaded. Bringing so many more questions to my mind. My past has taught me Khayin was not someone with whom to confide in. In any capacity.
Solidifying my decision. I was to remain silent about whatever was happening to me. Let them use me as some sort of experiment. It wouldn’t be the first time. The direction things were headed it was most certainly not the last either.
