Chapter 139 Glamour 1
Alessia's POv
I step into the western chamber first with the others following closely behind .It is a round room with no windows ,bookshelves line one length of the room the other is occupied with a half dozen tables and desks which have been cleared to the side to make way for the lesson. A protective circle has been drawn in the middle with white chalk and it has some sigils carved into the stone floor similar to the ones in the magic room .
Frederic is already here ,dressed in grey slacks and a matching grey top with the first two buttons undone and a sprinkling of hair showing I try not to focus too closely on that . He is leaning casually against the bookshelf leafing through a book.
His eyes move to me then he notices the others trickling and a slow smile appears on his face
"Wow , he says with mild amusement I did not realise I was so popular ."
"Dont get it twisted" luca answers straightforwardly "We are here to protect Alessia."
Frederic's mouth twitches with amusement “Aww I am hurt , You do not trust me ?” His eyes move to mine as I roll my eyes at him not in the mood for all this word play.
"You crossed boundaries" Angelica replies smoothly "How can we trust you?"
Alex doesn't say a word but his shoulders are tense as he looks around the room like a caged animal wanting to be let out.
Frederic tilts his head in acknowledgement “I will try not to take offense ,lets begin." he gestures to me to step into the protection circle.
I step forward, entering the circle before I lose my courage. My pulse is surprisingly steady. Which will have never been possible if I had been here with only him and Enya . I watch the rest as they settle into the available seats.
"Today" frederic says dropping the book back on the shelf “I will be teaching you how to Glamour / change into someone.Pick someone in your mind”
My stomach twists in knots
He watches me carefully as if I am under a microscope.
"To be able to glamour ,you must be able to pay attention to the persons features, muscles, you must memorize their attributes."
Who do I know that well that can glamour into ? Angelica? No
Lucy- no
Oh I know My Mother!
Margo Molano
The accompanying usual pang of pain hits me as usual but I surpress it now is not the time I must remain focued . I imagine her in my mind the last time she was healthy and well , her features .
Frederick looks at me for a few minutes and I stare back.
"You have picked"
He is good I give him that
"Yes I have."
"Thats good" he says quietly all the charm and jokes gone . This is him in his element
Cool
Calm
Controlled and I must say Inwish he could be like this all the time he is much more tolerable.
"Now Alessia close your eyes" he instructs
I puase for a moment my eyes wondering to my friends to once more make sure they are still here .
Alex gives me an encouraging smile
Luca gives me a wink
Angelica gives me a-thumb up whispering "You have got this!"
Slowly I take a deep breath and shut my eyes.
"Dont focus on her appearance first he instructs calmly think of her posture, how she breathed , how she moved."
My throat closes up
I remember my mothers hands
Always warm
Always comforting
Always protecting
Always healing
I remember how she tilts her head just so when she is listening.The way her eyes crinkled at the edges when she was laughing.
The way her eyes slowly turned lifeless when she passed away
In just three days
72 hrs
I have to focus on her alive!
Frederic unaware of my inner turmoil carries on "Since you have the exact image on your mind" Frederics says his voice dipping low “Draw out your magic the way Enya taught you . Focus because Calm is needed."
I inhale slowly as my fire starts to stir in my belly
Exhalling it starts to spread,I open my inner eye
as It spreads across my limbs ,my spine , my fingers.. Then I focus on my mother's image communicating with my power through my inner eye.
I focous on her intently and I feel a ripple pass over my skin like a pond disturbed by a small pebble.
I hear Angelica's gasp of surprise
I feel my face changing
My cheekbones re aligning
My nose narrowing
My posture becoming straighter more defined.
Magic is strange as well as amzing sometimes, I did not realise the glamour is so through.
It is weird But also painful ,When its done my face is not rippling anymore I slowly open my eyes and turn to my friends.
Luca curses as his face pales
Alex hand freezes mid air.
Angelica lets out a surprised squeal her hand flying to her mouth! Frederick watches from the side carefully
Turn around he says
I turn and I am face to face with a full lenth mirror I didnt notice there before.
I stare at myself in My mothers body..
"You got the eyes its usually the hardest to glamour" frederic adds
I wonder if my voice when I speak will be mine or ?
"My name is Alessia" I say softly.
And I sound exactly like my mother!
Heart wrenching pain wracks my heart as the magic wavers.
I see my face ripple in the mirror!
Frederic takes a step forward "Control your emotions he says firmly you are stull constructing her you could lose it"
I gulp hard
Taking deep breaths
Steadying my pulse
My face smothes out once more
I turn to my friends
Angelica looks like she is wiping tears of joy from her face
Lucas color is gradually returning
Alex studies me intently
After a few minutes frederic whispers "You have held it long enough release."
I take a deep breath shutting my eyes ,and bring up the image of my face.
Pain crosses my skin as it tried to recontrust ,I feel like I am peeling off the layer surgically. I stagger slightly before I can say presto- Alex is in the protective circle holding me.
"The change back is always more painful" Frederick says quietly " But you will get used to it"
Couldn't he have warned me?
I step away from Alex gently
"I dont like the switch back."
"You don't have to like it" He replies "Just master it."
He looks at me for a few seconds
"You did very well ,but you let grief almost destabilize you .Don't let that happen at la geneva."
His words sound cold
But he is right
I straighten my shoulders ."Whar next ? I ask twisting my neck from side to side to free up some tension there.
His eyes gleam with excitement
Oh-oh what is he up to now?
"You will be turning into someone you do not know -"