by K T Quinn
He was well dressed in a designer suit, his sleek black hair had been pulled back into a man bun at the back of his head. And his ass… well… I’m not sure that Captain America has anything on that ass. The man’s shoulders stiffened and he slowly turned around. Don’t make eye contact.. Don’t make eye contact.. Crap! Eye contact.
The dark haired stranger raised a single eyebrow at me. Shrinking lower into my seat I snatched at Bri’s jacket trying to hide. “Seriously Mikki, what are you doing?” Bri asked.
“Shhhhh they have mind readers in here” I whispered dramatically.
“Of course they have mind readers in here if you’re referring to the man candy down on the stage.” Bri rolled her eyes at me exasperated. “Now sit up and stop acting like a dweeb and help find our Mom’s.” Bri continued to look amongst the crowd. I scoured the faces on our side of the auditorium until I could see the familiar faces of Bri’s parents and waved.
The sound of a microphone squealing sounded across the auditorium. It was time. We sat for an hour waiting for our name to be called so that we could Ascend.
“Victoria Shadewing.” Red stood up from behind me and made her way to the stage. She stumbled up the final step to the stage and her cheeks flushed red with embarrassment.
Gabriel stepped towards her and placed one hand on her shoulder, Dante, one of the Shadow King’s henchman placed his hand on her other shoulder. “Dimiserunt internus luceat lux mutat aut detrahit. Potest tantum eligere in sanguinem” both men spoke united. Let her internal light shine or diminish. Only the blood can choose.
Red’s feet began to leave the ground and a bright light exploded from her centre momentarily before she settled back on her feet looking dazed and confused. “Welcome child” Gabriel spoke with a kind smile. He signalled towards the door behind him for Red to go through. Dante looked like he was about to break something. “She was meant to be dark” he spat.
“What is meant to be will always be” Gabriel said. “The choice is with Victoria, she is meant for the light should she choose.” Gabriel gestured to the door behind him with his cane. “It is your choice child, but make it quickly.”
Red nodded at Gabriel before glancing at Dante next to her. The vein in the side of his neck was twitching, his eyes tight with anger. He looked like he could explode at any second.
I felt the urge to giggle. I couldn’t. I shoved my hands over my face trying to hold it in. I couldn’t help it, I always seemed to giggle at the most inappropriate times.
“I think I’d like to go with you” Red whispered to Gabriel edging closer trying to put more distance between herself and Dante.
Gabrielle signalled to Mindreading Blondie to escort Red through the door.
Two things happened at once. Dante made a grab for Red. I giggled. Out loud. In the quiet auditorium. Distracted, Mind Reading Blondie and his friend looked at me amongst the crowd in shock. Dante bopped them on the head and they both fell to the ground comically. Chaos ensued. There were more giggles and small fights began amongst the crowd. Everyone loved a good excuse to get a bit scrappy.
“Enough” roared the Shadow King from his position. “Dante, the girl has made her choice. Let her through. You will see in a moment that we will have what we need” he said cryptically looking into the crowd. He winked at me again before he returned his attention back to the stage.
“But Sir" Dante exclaimed. “She belongs to the dark!”
“Dante I said enough!” the king said quietly in a menacing tone.
Gabriel signalled again for Mind-reading Blondie to escort Red through the doors. “Bri Wakefield” Gabriel called out looking down at his clipboard of names.
“Good luck Bri, see you on the flip side,” I whispered.
Chapter 3
Nerves had gotten the best of Bri. She sat there wide eyed like a rabbit caught in headlights.
“Go Bri! They’re waiting” I shoved her out of her seat.
Bri quickly recovered and began to walk purposefully down the aisle towards the stage ready to Ascend.
I hoped that Bri would Ascend into something wicked amazing. Her Father and brother were both Djinn, so odds were that she would Ascend into a sorcerer like her mother.
The Djinn faction were all male, female Djinn were possible, but rare. The faction hadn’t seen a female Djinn in over a century.
“Go on girl, you’ve got this” I whispered to myself. There was a pit of butterflies in my belly as I watched Bri take to the stage.
Gabriel and Dante both placed a hand onto her shoulders and began whispering the incantation. A dark billowing cloud of smoke tinged with blue engulfed the stage. The air felt heavy and the acrid scent of electricity and Sulfur filled my nose making it difficult to breathe.
The crowd had calmed some but as the smoke began to fill the auditorium excited hushed whispers spread amongst the crowd in shock and awe.
“Djinn… Djinn!” The black smoke dissipated as rapidly as it appeared leaving a smiling Bri standing on the stage. She bore the marks of the Djinn on one side of her face. Electric blue Runes swirled around the edge of her eyes and across her cheekbones, her once brown eyes were a matching blue.
Bri has been reborn into a badass! I mean she had always been a badass brawler, but now she was a badass that didn’t have to shank you first to prove the point that she was a total badass. I only hoped that her soul would not be tainted by the dark too much.
“Welcome to the dark" Dante said with a wicked grin on his face. He was pleased. A female Djinn would be a powerful weapon to have in the arsenal of the Dark Army. The Shadow King wore a triumphant smile. He looked like the cat who had just gotten the cream.
Gabriel tsked clearly displeased. He did not enjoy helping a powerful being Ascend into the dark army. “As you said before, Ms Wakefield still needs to make the choice for herself. You know, free will and all that Jazz” Gabriel smirked waving his arm in Bri’s direction.
Dante just glared at Gabriel. It hadn’t occurred to him that Bri may not want to remain in the dark. Bri smiled gently, placing her hand on Dante’s shoulder as if they were old friends. “It’s alright Dante, I know where I belong. Where my heart calls to.”
Bri stood a little taller and squared her shoulders, her cheeks were still flushed with excitement. “ I choose the Nightrealm. My heart calls to the dark and now we are finally home. I belong with my brother, my family, my faction." Bri nodded once to Gabriel before turning on her heel and walking towards the exit.
The Djinn faction began to holler and cheer, pounding on their chests and stomping their feet on the ground in approval.
I hadn’t felt so conflicted before. I was both happy and sad. Happy that my best friend had turned into a badass. Sad for myself because we wouldn’t be able to live and train in the same faction.
Deep down I had always hoped Bri would turn into a Fury like I should. The odds of me being able to join the same faction were slim to none. At least I would still get to go to the Academy with Bri.
"Mikah Harper." I gulped nervously. Showtime.
I walked slowly down the aisle towards the stage. I took care not to trip up the steps in usual Mikah-fashion and tried not to stare at Mind-reading Blondie as I walked past. His handsome but sullen friend just watched me with an annoyed look on his face - like my existence was bothering him.
Jackass! Oh crap I hope that Blondie wasn't reading my mind right now.
I was going to be sick from nerves. I was going to be the only one who fainted on the stage on their Ascension Day. Way to go Mikki.
I patted my back pocket looking for my mint tin. I had a spelled mint in there somewhere that would stop me from feeling sick. The mint tin was empty.
Don’t throw up… don’t throw up.. I chanted internally as I walked past Blondie. He grabbed my wrist for a moment before smiling and handing me a stick of his gum. I smiled at him gratefully and quickly shovelled it into my mouth. My stomach began to settle.
“Mikki .. I mean Mikah Harpe
r reporting for duty sir yes sir” I said raising my hand in a mock salute. I facepalmed myself internally. My nerves had gotten the best of me.
Gabriel smiled knowingly at me and I wondered if he could read minds too. I knew that he could feel my emotions, but I wasn’t convinced that was all he could do. Wily old man. Tricky business being in the same place as an empath and a mindreader.
Dante placed his hand on my shoulder first. His breath was pungent and smelled of vinegar and garbage. He smiled with a mouth of yellowing shark teeth, his grip on my shoulder was firm.
I glanced behind me where the Shadow King was seated feeling his eyes boring into my back. He leaned forward in anticipation, excitement written all over his face. Our eyes briefly met and I felt a jolt of electricity. Of … something dangerous.
I spun back around, determined to stay as far away from the stupid sexy Shadow King with his stupid sexy eyes and stupid shimmery hair as possible. I could still feel his liquid silver eyes on my back urging me to turn back around. I refused to give in. I didn’t even know what he was capable of. No one did.
Anyone who got too close went missing. The last girlfriend he had gotten too close to disappeared. Rumour had it that they were going to elope in secret. On the night that they were to run away and wed the girl disappeared. Never to be seen or heard from again. There were too many rumours to sort fact from fiction. No one even dared to even try in case they went missing. That seemed to be a recurring theme on this side of town. If you caused problems or asked too many questions your voice would be silenced. Forever.
I turned my attention back to Gabriel. His touch was soft and gentle. Kind. It reminded me of a warm summer's day. I felt warm and safe, and I wondered why I needed to even stay on this side of town. The only thing keeping me here was my family and best friend. What if I couldn’t be in Mom’s faction? I would be left with no reason to stay. I wouldn’t get to see my family as often as now unless we moved to the commons in one of the sharehouses. The commons were no place for a family. It was no-man’s land there. Would living with the Brights be so bad? I mean they were a little snobby, but it was cleaner with no crime. After all, I am sure that the constant battle between sides could be stopped if everybody decided to grow up and compromise instead of posting people on either side to choose loyalties and suffer the consequences of the leaders poor choices. Shaking my head I snapped myself out of my daydream. I glared at Gabriel. That would have to have been his influence. What a dirty trickster! That’s not allowed!
It’s MY CHOICE I shouted to Gabriel in my mind. He smiled sadly at me, and nodded his head once acknowledging my thoughts.
"Gabriel I think I should do this one" – the dark haired stranger that had been sitting next to mind reading Blondie said. He looked at me with disdain, as if he didn't want to touch me, he might catch my darkness. Gabriel nodded and stepped aside.
The dark-haired stranger put his hand on my shoulder. He felt nothing like Gabriel. His touch was as cold as his eyes.
He smelled delicious. Like oranges and chocolate.
Don't be creepy don't be creepy. Note to self, no sniffing random strangers.
I could hear mind-reading Blondie suppress a chuckle. I kept forgetting about the mind reader.
The stranger and Dante began the incantation. I was suddenly enveloped in a blinding white light weight of black smoke weaved in and out of the light I could feel my feet lift off the ground and the burning sensation began in the pit of my stomach.
I felt like I was on fire.
The pain was excruciating and never-ending.
My skin became itchy, luminescent rainbow scales appearing. They shimmered in the light briefly before disappearing.
I felt a sudden wave of emotion in the Room. At that moment I gained a healthy respect for all empaths. My head was buzzing with people's thoughts and emotions. I could feel every intention, every thought and every idea in this room.
I could tell you what little Jimmy down in the front row three seats down at for breakfast. I felt like I could see for the first time, but at the same time it felt as if I was looking through thick fog. One moment I could clearly see everything in the realm, and the next moment I felt that I was drowning in a sea of strangers voices.
My skin began to burn, the beginnings of something ancient was stirring from deep in my soul. It felt like an animal claw at my skin. One word whispered in my mind. Dragon.
It felt like the dragon was separate to me and at the same time she was me. The that Dragon and I, where one and the same. I could feel her confusion and fear. It was like she had just woken up from a long sleep startled into existence.
The Dragon was so close to the surface of my skin I felt like she would escape at any moment. A sharp pain pierced my back. I could hear my skin ripping and tearing open. Two large black wings broke free and flames engulfed my body.
Hello. A voice whispered inside my mind.
Hello? I must be going crazy. I’m bat shit crazy and on fire. They’re going to commit me. I’m going to die. I’ll be one of the crazy ones who have to get put down. I wondered who would do it. Would they send the hell hounds after me? My poor Mom.
Quiet! The voice rung out inside my head. You are not crazy. The hounds will not come for you. We are Dragon.
If I’m not crazy then why is there a voice inside my head that calls itself Dragon? I felt her then, pacing backwards and forwards. It was like a second spirit had taken up residence inside of me.
No silly girl, I did not suddenly take up residence in here or I would have chosen a more warrior-like physique to live inside of. I have always been here…
Hang on wait, did my Dragon just insult me? What do you mean a more warrior-like physique? I’m plenty warriorish like. How insulting!
A white cloud of foam like substance engulfed me extinguishing the flames that had become my second skin. I leapt back from the source of foam and crouched in a fighting stance readying myself for the next blow. My skin suddenly felt like it was too small, I felt the overwhelming urge to fly, to run, to escape! My eyes darted around the room looking for an exit. My mind was in such a feral state I barely recognised Gabriel or the others on stage. Dragon wanted out. I could feel her anger and surprise at being sprayed with what she was calling ‘the devil’s magic”.
Fly! Escape! Up!
My wings began to flap involuntarily as Dragon and I battled for control. Stop Dragon! Stop! Out of the corner of my eye I saw Dante creeping forward with titanium chains.
Escape! They intend to chain us - we belong to no one!
Stop struggling Dragon, we belong to the dark - we have no choice. Be calm so they won’t chain us!
We belong to no side girl! We are Dragonkin, we are the truthseekers. We are neither dark nor light. Now FLY!
Time began to slow as Dante had begun to swing the chain readying to loop it around us, behind him the Shadow King was chuckling to himself like this was all part of the show. Mind-reading blondie was still holding the fire extinguisher ready to douse me again, his eyes darting between Dante, myself and Gabriel who looked like he was having a heated argument with the stranger. The stranger looked angry and kept gesturing to me and shaking his head. My feet began to lift off the ground slowly, my wings pushing me off the stage and into the sky. It felt so surreal like it was happening to a stranger, not to me. I didn’t think my Ascension would go so bad. I was supposed to be a Fury, tucked away in my Mom’s faction enjoying the after-party.
Instead I am levitating on a stage while a maniac tries to lasso me with a chain just because I have turned into a human fireball they can fly. Considering the vast range of things I could have turned into, you would think that it wouldn't be such a big deal. Apparently I was wrong, and it was a big deal.
What are you waiting for girl! They mean to cage us! They will use us to wage their wars, they care not about you only about what power is inside of you. What they can take from you. Fly now, before it's too late!
The chain flew from Dante
's hand into the air, narrowly missing us and knocking into the back wall. Dante growled and stalked towards the back wall to collect his heavy chain. I tried to think clearly and process the situation and the best course of action. I tried to ignore Dragon urging me to escape, there was no escape. I just have to show these guys that I was not a threat. I could barely use these wings that I had suddenly grown, and I had no idea how to set myself on fire like I had moments ago. I was still just as awkward as I was before I stood on the stage and ascended into … this, whatever it was.
Dante began to swing the heavy chain in the air ready to strike. I tried to look as passive as possible which was a little tricky when I had no idea how to put these giant wings away.
"It's okay, I am okay! Not a threat, you can put those chains away" I called out to Dante. My skin began to ripple and change again. Dragon scales began to shimmer and appear then disappear. And in human growl reverberated from my throat echoing around the hall.
"Clearly". Dante smiled showing rows of sharp and pointed teeth. He pulled his arm back and let the chain loose in the air. I wasn't quick enough as I tried to roll out of the way. The chain tangled around my legs tripping me over and I landed ungracefully on my arse. I cried out in pain, my fall had crashed one of my wings now hung limply from my back. Dante pulled on a chain hard pulling me across the stage.
"Stop!" The dark haired stranger shouted out. Blue flames licked the long blade that was now in his hands.
The sword was solid, but not. It flickered like a flame in the wind and glowed as if it was made of energy. Usually only the divine, or their descendants were able to wield weapons made of pure energy. Usually, the divine wouldn’t lower themselves to attend an Ascension day unless a family member was Ascending. But here one seemed to be, and intervening in a matter belonging to the dark.
"Make me" Dante hissed as he kept pulling the chain with me along with it across the floor. My fingers bled and my nails broke as I clawed at the floor trying to slow my descent across the stage, moving my body so my wings wouldn’t be damaged further. I was slowly beginning to panic as I looked around the room and felt the pulse of fear from the crowds. My Mom was pushing through the people that had come to watch shoving them out of the way.