The idea of magic still made Rhiannon worried and even, at times, a bit skeptical. She had never seen it for herself before, so trying to believe in something so farfetched was difficult to comprehend. However, the more she learned about it, the more she began to believe and truly embrace the idea. Magic, despite causing certain fears, was exciting.
A loud rumble filled Rhiannon’s stomach and traveled into her chest. She was hungry. Strolling by the other two, she headed over to the kitchen, Kavana and Aidan following behind her. All three were silent, absorbed in their own thoughts.
Reaching the counter next to the refrigerator, Rhiannon pulled three ceramic mugs from the overhead cabinet and placed two on a tray. Still holding one of the mugs, she opened an oversized glass jar on the counter and removed a cookie, quickly shoveling it into her mouth. She glanced back, making sure her aunt was not paying attention, and stuffed a few more cookies into her mug.
Kavana reached the kitchen and filled a stainless-steel kettle with water. A single burner on the stove ticked before igniting. She stared down as the flame flickered, sighing and quickly peeking over at Aidan as he walked over to a small wooden table in the corner, pulling back one of the two chairs. Impatiently, she waited for the water in the kettle to boil. The anticipation revolving around the upcoming conversation made her hands sweat. She was worried. Had they already been tracked? How much time did they have left? If Aidan found them, then the others would not be far behind.
Rhiannon placed the last cookie in her mouth and quickly chewed it up, swallowing and wiping the crumbs from her face. Walking over to the sink, she tapped her foot against the tiled floor as she rinsed out her mug. She returned to the tray on the counter and placed a sugar canister and two spoons on top of it. Her stomach rumbled again, and tightness filled her lower abdomen. She was unsure if it was the hunger sending her lower body into a frenzy or if she needed to use the bathroom. Either way, she ignored it. Nothing was going to distract her and make her miss any part of the pending conversation. She was anxious, but excited. Maybe Aidan would be able to help the four of them get back together and return to Kiluemar.
Aidan longed for this moment for a while, waiting eight years to finally feel a sense of accomplishment. The one favor asked of him was finally fulfilled. Now, all he had left to do was relay a message—one simple message. The years of solitude were about to pay off and come to an end. He smiled at the thought as Kavana and Rhiannon worked their way over to him.
Still single-mindedly stuck on the idea of being tracked, Kavana reached the table, holding the tray of mugs and the kettle, and solemnly asked, “Why are you here?”
Aidan sat up straight and cleared his throat. “Pavian.”
Kavana slammed the tray onto the table, hurrying to catch the mugs as they fell over. What?”
Aidan rushed to help. “Here, let me—”
“I got it!”
He stopped, cowering and lowering back down into the chair.
Rhiannon was not far behind her aunt, holding a container full of various bags of tea. The odd hostility from Kavana and the distress from Aidan filled the room.
Placing the container in the center of the table, Rhiannon tried to break the tension. “Don’t mind her, she’s a bit of a klutz.” She nudged her aunt with her elbow. “And hates asking for help.”
Kavana did not need to look at Rhiannon to know what she was trying to do.
Meeting his troubled gaze, Kavana said sympathetically, “Sorry. I didn’t mean to snap. I’m just—”
“Nah, no worries, lass.” Aidan smiled at her. “It’s forgotten. No need to fret.”
Her cheeks turned a light shade of pink against her fair skin. Smiling back at him, Kavana sat down.
The exchange between the two did not go unnoticed. Those were no ordinary smiles given by just any ordinary friends. Curious about the story of these two, Rhiannon ignored the urge to ask questions not relating to the current subject. She would get to the bottom of this storyline later. With nowhere else to sit, Rhiannon returned to the kitchen, leaned against the counter, and faced the other two.
Uncomfortable with the awkward silence, Rhiannon stammered, “So, uhm, y-you’ve seen my uncle already?”
“Yes. I found him a few days ago.” Aidan placed a tea bag in one of the mugs. “He told me to go find you and tell you somethin’––”
“Well, what is it?” Kavana asked sharply, unable to control herself.
Aidan scowled at her, grabbing the kettle and pouring hot water into his mug. The silence was brief but effective.
“Well,” he announced harshly, “if you’d let me finish.”
Rhiannon chuckled under her breath. Yeah, there’s definitely a story here. She pushed herself from the counter, walked back over to the refrigerator, and pulled out a pitcher of iced tea. She filled her glass and returned to her previous position. Lost in thought, she took a sip and caught the tail end of the conversation.
“—a few days ago, I sensed magic around where they were supposed to be livin’. Afterwards, I was able to track him when he used it again.”
Jerking upright, Rhiannon banged her mug on the counter. “Who? You tracked whose magic?”
“Yer brother,” Aidan answered.
“James has his magic?” Rhiannon exited the kitchen. “I thought we both had it taken away from us?”
Kavana turned her head toward Rhiannon. “You did.”
Aidan shrugged his shoulders and rubbed the stubble along his chin. “I don’t know, lass. Honestly, all I know from the brief banter with Pavian is James, somehow, traveled back to Kiluemar multiple times, in some kind of mind jump—”
“Astral projection,” Kavana interrupted.
“Yes, that,” Aidan continued. “Pavian thinks James’s magic somehow called him . . . or somethin’ like that.”
The shock was not only evident with Rhiannon, but with Kavana as well. The silence made the room tense and uncomfortable, both staring wide-eyed and blankly at each other. Finding out James astral projected more than once was surprising, especially since Rhiannon had only done it once. Was he more powerful than her? Did his magic somehow find him?
Kavana faced Aidan. “How’s this possible? Does Pavian know what’s going on?”
“How many times has James astral projected?” Rhiannon asked, placing her hands on the table and leaning forward.
Aidan bounced his head back and forth between the two as they continued asking questions.
“Does Pavian think he is being tracked?”
“Can you sense my magic now?”
Aidan slammed his hand on the table and his deep voice rang out. “Listen! If you two would just stop for a minute, I can explain everythin’ I know.”
He tossed his eyes between Kavana and Rhiannon, waiting for a sign he could continue.
Kavana started, “But—”
“No! Just stop, Aunt K!” Rhiannon lowered her voice, removing her hands from the table. “Let him talk.”
Kavana leaned back and sighed, folding her arms.
Aidan smiled, standing up and gesturing for Rhiannon to sit down. “Yer just like yer mother.”
***
Eight years ago, before Kavana and Pavian took the twins and left Kiluemar, Will asked Aidan for a huge favor. Knowing he could not follow his children into the non-magical realm––and he would never know if they were truly safe––Will requested the help of his best friend. Without a doubt, he trusted Aidan with his life and the lives of his children. Forced to stay behind, Will had to ensure his children’s safety and the secret surrounding them. No one in the realm could know the twins were still alive, and the story about Karramis and their deaths was all a lie. Sealing the portals fast was vital to this plan. So, Will asked Aidan to travel through the portals a few hours before they were to be sealed shut to keep an eye on Rhiannon and James. Will was the only one who knew where his children were headed, so he gave Aidan a general location of where
both were planning on living. If James and Rhiannon somehow got their magic back and used it, Aidan would be able to sense their magic and track them if he were nearby.
Aidan agreed to the favor and vowed to protect Will’s children and keep them safe until he could bring them home to him. The favor was not one for the faint of heart, though. This task was not an easy one. Will asked Aidan never to draw attention to himself by using his magic. Lucas was still in the non-magical realm and was determined to find Will’s children and bring them to Merrick. So, Aidan spent the last eight years locked out of Kiluemar, unable to use his magic again, and alone. He spent the whole time silent and unaccompanied, traveling back and forth between the two locations. He was never able to track or sense them—not until just a few days ago and, again, earlier today.
When James astral projected on the first night, Aidan was not nearby. He was traveling between the two of them. It was not until the second night, when James astral projected again, that he could sense the magic. It was strong. Thankfully, Pavian and James were on a small island, and Aidan was able to pinpoint their location easily.
Pavian spotted Aidan right away and sent him immediately to find Kavana and Rhiannon—though they were both unsure how he would go about finding them exactly. However, Pavian was hopeful. If James could tap into his magic, maybe Rhiannon could as well. By the time Aidan returned to the mountains where Kavana and Rhiannon lived, he could not sense any magic—until last night. The magic was faint, but present. It was much harder for Aidan to locate them, though. He traveled for hours through a heavy storm, trying to find their location. Luckily, there were not many houses around the area, just a few deserted cabins and a small town far down south. When he circled around the house, the magic was gone, but he was certain this was the right place. He confirmed his suspicions the following afternoon when he noticed Rhiannon in the window—she was a spitting image of her mother. He was even more positive he found the correct place, but he needed to make sure before shifting, so he peeked in the window.
***
“May I talk now?” Kavana asked.
Aidan gestured with his hand, telling her she had the floor.
Unfolding her arms and leaning forward, Kavana placed her arms on the table. “So, you’ve known where we were this whole time?”
“No. Not exactly. Like I said, Will only told me yer general location—within a few hundred miles. He didn’t want me to know any more, just in case I was caught or . . .”
He pulled away from the conversation, turning his eyes to the ground.
Rhiannon signaled with her hands for him to continue. “Or?”
Aidan glanced up, meeting Kavana’s eyes. “Or in case I wanted to contact you.”
Both of their faces were soft, and their eyes were watery. Kavana pulled away from the intense eye contact and stormed off. Taking a step after her, Aidan was pulled back as Rhiannon took his arm, shaking her head at him. He sat back down.
“Okay. So, I have a question,” Rhiannon ventured, attempting to lighten the mood. “Let me get this straight, you’re the hawk I saw outside?”
Aidan smiled, chuckling under his breath. “Eagle actually. A golden one, to be more specific. But yeah, I’m a shapeshifter. My born ability is to morph into it as often, and for however long I want.”
Rhiannon nodded. “Awesome.” Aidan laughed again. “So, can you turn into anything you want?”
“No. Shapeshifters are only born with one natural ability. This allows them to shapeshift into one animal only. They can, however, turn into other things, but they first have to absorb the life of that individual.”
“Huh? Absorb the life—so, you mean kill it?”
“Yes. Shapeshifters can use their powers to absorb the actual essence of another livin’ individual. This would allow them to change into them for a short time. But, if a shapeshifter absorbs all the life of an individual or animal, they kill it and can shift into them whenever they want and for however long.”
“Wow,” Rhiannon said as she fell into the chair across from him.
The clock along the wall ticked loudly and the awkward silence was deafening. Aidan fell deeper into his thoughts as he gazed over at Kavana, who stood in the kitchen, leaning against the doorframe on the far side of the room. Her arms were crossed, and her body slouched. She rested her head against the frame with her eyes closed, trying to hold back tears.
Rhiannon wanted to help. The need to comfort others was part of her instinctive nature. However, this kind of situation was new to her. She never experienced loss or a separation so painful before. Well, she did, but she could not remember. All she remembered was being told stories about those she lost. She was forced to feel the emotions linked to those stories, but she never remembered feeling them for herself. Now, she did not have to. She was going to meet her long-lost brother, an uncle she never knew about, and a father she longed to meet. Rhiannon did not want to wait any longer.
Rhiannon approached Kavana and flung her arms around her. “Can we please deal with this later?” She squeezed before letting go. “We really need to get moving.”
Kavana slowly nodded in agreement.
Turning to face Aidan, Rhiannon inquired, “What did Pavian want to tell us? What are we supposed to do now?”
“Well, first things first, we need to get the hell out of here before we are tracked. Shiftin’ back into my human form, twice now, probably alerted someone. Second thing is, we need to get to where Pavian and James are expectin’ us.”
Kavana exited the kitchen and stood in front of Aidan. “Where to then?”
Aidan pushed himself out of the chair. “Arizona.”
Rhiannon shrieked, rushing from the kitchen and up the stairs. The excitement was not about going back to Kiluemar or having her magic returned to her, it was more centered around meeting her brother again and getting her memories back. She wanted to remember everything she could about her family, especially her mother. Having her memories back would help fill in some of the blanks, but many of her questions would remain unanswered unless she asked. The trip would be long, but Rhiannon was excited about the lengthy journey. Now, she could finally get some answers about her mother, how her parents met, and maybe even what happened to her.
Chapter 8
Broken Promise
Most people would jump at the chance to have magical powers. Rejoice in the opportunity to control abilities beyond the average individual. Some might even kill for it. Magic was rare. It was a gift to those who retained it—given to few but desired by many. Despite being a gift, magic was also an artform, demanding practice and care. Practice was the key to truly experiencing the full potential of one’s gift. Care was essential for those wanting to pass it down to future generations. Magic was never promised to anyone, but certain families would be blessed with generations of magic and power. No one knew who, or why even, magic chose a certain being to carry it, but the divine essence wove in and out of all living things––never slowing down, never stopping, and never dying. Moving from one being to another, constantly growing and moving, magic stopped at nothing to survive.
Magic had always been highly desirable to those who knew it existed. Death and destruction surrounded many cases throughout history where one wanted magic for themselves or feared it. However, not all who had it wanted it. Possessing a power given by magic was not always fully accepted by some. Many magical beings, who were given magic and not created or cursed by it, were vexed and conflicted about possessing a power. And for one girl, her magic had been the bane of her existence.
Karramis Ward always felt out-of-place. Different. As far back as she could remember, she was treated differently from her older brother and sister. She always assumed it was because they were only half-siblings––separated by different mothers. But this was not the case, not even close. It was much more complex.
Her life was a mystery from the very beginning. Karramis was always sheltered, guarded, and monitored. The
powers within her were growing. Why was she so different? Why did she have powers Pavian and Kavana, or even her father, did not possess? All she ever wanted was to be normal, a relative term around these parts. Nonetheless, she needed answers. Living two decades in the dark was long enough. Karramis needed—no, she demanded––to know the truth about her family, her powers, and the lost link between her and her magic, her mother. Could her mother be the reason she was not like the others? Finding out was vital to Karramis, for her unique powers were getting stronger by the day.
***
It happened again. For the third time this week, Karramis woke up to a fire on her bed. The flames burned on top of a blanket draped across her body. The intense heat roared across her midsection and down her legs. Tossing the blanket onto the floor, she patted herself down as billowing smoke and flames erupted from the comforter. She turned her attention to the fire, stomping down and extinguishing the blaze.
The deeply charred pile of cloth lay smoldering at her bare feet as she stood, panting and examining her body. The bottom half of her long night shirt was scorched, but there were no discernable injuries. She was lucky yet again. The blanket seemed to have taken the brunt of the damage. She questioned why the flames never seemed to burn her as she kicked the ruined comforter into the far corner of her room and examined her hands. They were warm and slightly red. The lack of pain was appreciated at first. However, she wondered what was causing the fires as warmth radiated along the bottom of her feet and her blackened soles were covered in ashes.
A knock came from the closed door as it started to open. “Talking to yourself again?”
The door swung open and the source of the high-pitch voice came into view. A young lady of average height with a jet-black ponytail, bouncing side to side, entered the room. Dropping down on the bed, she blinked energetically, grinning from ear to ear.
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