Chapter 39
Kollis slowly blinks his eyes open. He groans from the pain that hits him immediately. His whole body feels like it's been flayed alive. The sounds of his agony echoed in the chamber. If it wasn't for the chains holding him to the wall, he would have surely collapsed in a heap on the cold, stone floor.
"She almost unmaked me, Kollis. If I did not have to clean up your initial mess, she would have never gotten that close to me" The High Mage hisses out between his thin lips. "She grows stronger. This I do not like and cannot afford. It should not be THIS hard to kill her. She never should have lived this long" the High Mage says, striking his hand in the air. Kollis flinches and sinks backward away from him.
"Master, please. I have only tried to serve you" he says between clenched teeth. Trying to ignore the pain and his fear.
"Yes, you have Kollis, and you have done a poor job of it thus far. If it was not for that particular enchanting talent you have, I would have already killed you. You live, but because Axe is now on borrowed time, we must accelerate the plan. I will take care of his mate. You, Kollis, will enchant his sister. I want Alessandra to be nothing more than a puppet on a marionette string. I want there to be no question or objection from her when I take over this kingdom"
"Yes, master. Thank you, High Mage. I will not let you down. I swear it"
"Yes, you said that last time. Yet, here we are. Finish it Kollis" The High Mage gives Kollis one more withering look before he leaves the chamber. Kollis sags back against the wall, exhaling loudly. Realizing how closely he was on the knife's edge of death. Straightening up at the sound of one of the servants coming in to release him, he rubs his red, swollen wrists as the shackles fall away. If he wanted Alessandra to be putty in his hands, he had better start working fast.
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"Where did you find these papers?" I ask, pulling them closer to me.
"I had gone to our archive to pull the news articles and birth records from that year, and I noticed that quite a few pages were missing. Whoever took the papers, though, did not understand that we, as historians and record keepers, always make copies and send them to another part of the building, in case they become destroyed. When I searched there, I found all of the missing documents. Whoever took the originals was obviously not a record keeper"
I pick up the marriage certificate with shaky hands. This is the moment I've been waiting for. I scan the document to find their names, right there on the lines for parents are Erevan and Aeloria Silverleaf. I say their names aloud, testing the syllables on my tongue. I can feel the tears gathering in my eyes. So many years wasted. If what this article says is true, then my parents never wanted to give me up. The breath locks in my throat at the implications.
*Velvet, do you need me?*
*I think I do. I can't handle these feelings on my own* call me weak, but the matebond is demanding that I share my sorrows with my other half. I sit down in the seat and put my face in my hands. I feel the light touch of Ingrid's hands on my shoulder. "I will leave you for now. You know where to find me" and with that, she leaves me alone in the library. I become lost in time and my own thoughts. I sense him before I see him. Axe gently picks me up and sits in the other chair across from Jinx, who's been sitting up and staring at me the whole time.
"They never gave me up. Someone took me and deprived me of a loving family. But why me? How can an infant be guilty of anything"
"You were not guilty of anything. They were punishing you for what you were surely meant to become. The magic inside of you is akin to a blazing hot fire. I have seen it and felt the raw power behind it. It is like a vast well of untapped power. They could have possibly consulted a heath witch who would have foretold your link to me"
"It doesn't make me any less angry, or sad, for that matter. I want to rip them limb from limb. Does that make me a bad person?"
"Never, because when I finally catch them, I will rip them limb from limb. I do promise you, though, that we will find your parents. I have arranged for training today if that would help ease your pain?"
He's piqued my interest now. Even though my heart feels heavy, learning to help myself has a certain pull too. "I would like that very much" I say softly. He stands up and sets me on my feet. "Come, moonling" He grabs my hand and leads me outside the castle. He brings me out to the battlegrounds, stepping around a myriad of different men and women busy training with both magic and sword, and further back to a large tent set up bordering the forest. I look up at him questioningly.
"Our masters enjoy training outside near the battlegrounds. Most of the magic you learn will not be from a book" He pulls the flap back and ushers me inside. I stop just inside the tent. Axe introduces me to an older gentleman with a crown of gray, thinning hair and a long, heavy red robe.
"Velvet, this Zephyrus. He is our master of fire"
Zephyrus bows low, almost scraping the floor "Welcome my queen. It is an honor to train you"
"Thank you, but please call me Velvet!" Zephryus looks to Axe, who inclines his head.
*I feel nervous*
*Do not worry, I will take the chair in the corner and watch over you* With that, he kisses me on the lips and settles himself against the far wall of the tent.
I give the wizard a bright smile and say, "Okay, where do we start!"
"Stand here while we begin our training" I take the spot to his right, watching in awe as he raised his hands and conjured a dazzling display of magic. The air around them crackled with energy as he deftly manipulated the elements with his fingers, molding them into intricate shapes and patterns.
"Watch carefully," the master wizard instructed, his voice deep and commanding. "This is the art of magic."
With a flick of his wrist, a small flame sprang to life in his palm. He then began to weave his fingers in a complex dance, and the flame grew in size and intensity until it filled the room with a warm glow.
"Now, it's your turn," the master wizard said, turning to me, he bows and sweeps his hand out for me to step up onto the platform.
Trembling with excitement and nervousness,I carefully raised my hands and tried to mimic the master's movements. I struggled at first; my fingers were clumsy and uncoordinated. But with each passing moment, I grow more confident, and soon I'm able to conjure a small flame of my own.
Zephyrus watches my progress with a keen eye, offering gentle guidance and corrections where needed. And as I continue to practice, I feel a sense of exhilaration and wonder wash over me, knowing that I am learning the ancient and powerful art of magic. I was controlling it, not it controlling me. Or my emotions being the only thing to draw the raw talent out of me.
As the training session draws to a close, Zephyrus smiles warmly at me. "You have a natural talent for magic," he said. "With time and practice, you will become a true master of the art." If only he knew the true extent of what's flowing inside me, always waiting to erupt like a volcano.
I beam with pride and gratitude. And with a renewed sense of purpose and determination, I vow to devote myself to the study of magic, so that I can defend myself against the ominous presence that's stalking me. I refuse to be a victim. When he strikes next, and he will, I will be ready.
*You are a natural Velvet, and you will not be alone next time he strikes* I love the confidence that Axe has, but knowing our cowardly enemy, he likes to separate us before he makes his move.
Zepyrus asks me if I'm ready for my next lesson. "If our training was not too much, Lirien, our air master, would like to continue teaching you"
Axe comes behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist. I beam with excitement at the prospect of more knowledge. "Of course! If he's ready for me, lead the way!" My training with Lirien goes much the same as it did with Zephyrus. Air seems easier for me to control and handle, though. Fire has a way of running away from you. Much like anger, if you can't control it, it becomes out of control, consuming everything in its path. By the end of our training, I'm exhausted, but in a good way. Much of what I was feeling has cooled for the moment, and I'm not keen to revisit it.
"Would you like to walk along the cliffs with me?" Axe asks me suddenly. I nod my head and take his hand.