by Weil, J. L.
The next time he came at me, I was ready.
It was like flexing a muscle. Suddenly a dizzying rush of power whipped through me and a part of me liked it – really liked it. That scared the crap out of me. I didn’t want to give into that kind of darkness, but it was right there within my fingers grasp, just a flick of a finger. It teased me with its potency, and I found myself unable to stop. Even the part of me that knew this kind of magic was bad wasn’t able to break through.
The goal had been a protective barrier. Somewhere along the way I forgot the plan. The magic I conjured had other ideas. No longer did I know what I was doing, only what I was feeling.
Rejuvenated.
Exhilarated.
Supreme power.
Above all things there was this utmost intoxicating feeling filling my veins. I lavished in the sensation and closed my eyes. It was a better high than the fountain of youth. Better than sex. Well, what I thought sex would be like.
The best part was, I finally didn’t get struck by Gavin’s spell. Success. Truthfully I had been worried that I would never be faster than him. I couldn’t wait to see the look on his face. I’d blown the roof off this spell.
With each second that ticked by, my strength grew, not weaken. Was that normal? When I didn’t hear his voice, I became alarmed. Opening my eyes, the world evaporated around me. What I expected to find was Gavin smiling and telling me that I had done it, not him on the floor, grasping and in evident pain. It seared straight through my heart. I immediately dropped the spell I wove, breaking the connection it had on him.
He was kneeled on the ground, face contorted in pain, and sapphire eyes gleaming. My stomach seized up, coiling in tight knots. And all I could think was, I had done that to him. I had almost killed my boyfriend, the boy I loved.
Oh my God.
Dropping beside him, his face was ghostly white and a line of sweat covered his brow. “I – I almost killed you,” I said in mortified shock. Shame and outrage swarmed through me. I should be burned at the stake. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry,” I cried.
“You didn’t Bri,” he gasped, struggling to speak. “I swear.” His voice was rough and gravely which made what he was saying hard to believe.
“Really?” I replied sarcastically hysterical.
“What you did wouldn’t have killed me.” He ran a hand through his messy dark hair, leaning against the nearest wall. Those eyes I loved glimmered with incredulity or fear. I couldn’t decide. “You were absorbing my powers.”
“What?” I was beyond totally freaked out.
His head rested on the wall. “Well more than just absorbing them, you were stealing them, draining them from within me.” There was a charred hole in his shirt were my magic had hit him, sucked his essence, the soul of his magic.
I was going to pass out. Luckily I was already sitting, there wouldn’t be far to fall. Instead I sunk against the wall beside him, careful not to touch him. Dropping my face into my hands, I asked, “What’s wrong with me?”
He turned his head, staring at me. “There was probably a reason you never were told you were a witch… to protect you. Witches will kill for your kind of power, or kill to protect themselves from your power. Either way it ends with your death. If others knew, you would be hunted nonstop.”
Okay. I think I got it.
I was dead meat.
He looked at me gravely, meeting my frightened gaze. “You’re a clàr silte.”
I gulped. Why did that sound like a death sentence? “That doesn’t mean anything to me,” I whispered, barely audible.
“It’s the rarest and oldest form of craft.”
This wasn’t making me feel any better. I thought I was going to be sick. Pushing to my feet, he followed me. “This is bad isn’t it?”
His hands spanned on either side of my waist and I winced. When I went to back away, he held steady and pulled me closer. “Don’t.” There was hurt in his voice. “Don’t cringe from me.”
Tears gathered in my eyes and coated my voice. “How can you be near me after I did that to you?”
“We didn’t know Bri.” He cupped both hands around my face, and like a contented cat, I leaned into his touch. “I won’t let this come between us. Not when I just got you. We will figure this out together. I promise.” Softly and sweetly he brushed kisses over my face before pressing them to my lips.
What did I do deserve such a guy? Wonderful. Understanding. Hot as hell.
I vowed then that I would never take him for granted. Not. One. Single. Day. For as long as he was mine.
Chapter 29
THERE WERE NO WORDS TO describe how I felt that night, the night I almost stole every ounce of magic from my boyfriend. Just what kind of girlfriend does that? Magic was such a huge part of Gavin that I couldn’t imagine stripping him of his abilities.
But that was just what I had started to do.
What would have happened had I not stopped, had I been unable to stop? Because I’d felt that addictive pull. I still don’t know why I stopped. That intense mind-altering, heady feeling was still beating inside me. It felt like I had a piece of him living, pulsing alive in me, which was sort of cool and pretty freaky at the same time. I didn’t like that I had stolen it from him without permission, but I loved the idea of a part of him would always be in me.
Pretty messed up, I know.
Maybe seeing him withering in pain had snapped me out of it. Whatever it was, I was eternally grateful.
A clàr silte was a witch with the capabilities to strip powers from another witch, but there was a huge cost for such abilities…my soul. The more I tapped into that kind of magic, the more of my soul I lost. That’s pretty much how these things work.
As far as I was concerned, I should never need to use that kind of power. My soul should be safe as long as I keep it under lock and key. Then throw that key into the vast ocean, safe from my temptation.
Okay I knew that wasn’t really an option, but the principal remained the same. I could never use that kind of magic again. Ever.
Fine by me.
My head hit the pillow like a brick of lead.
Of course I couldn’t actually expect an undisturbed slumber. That would be just too much to ask for. My eyes had barely closed when I felt the familiar prickles and weightlessness. There wasn’t a scrap of restraint in me. I was exhausted mentally and physical. I couldn’t have fought it even if I had found the strength.
Letting the floating feeling take me away, I waited for the transition to complete. Before I felt solid ground, I was blasted with an icy wind and cool crisp air. Snow topped mountains stretched as far as the eye could see, and of course I was on the tiptop of the highest one. I shivered as another round of wind blew through my chilled bones. Snuggling deeper into the parka I was wearing, I turned looking for my target.
I pounced on her the second I was grounded in the dream like a wild panther. “Why didn’t you tell me?” I screamed above the howling winds. That I can suck a witch dry, I mentally added.
She moved with liquid grace, flowing over the rocky ground, and I envied her for it. “Well someone is feisty this evening. Do tell what I failed to inform you of dear granddaughter? Though I think I am getting the message loud and clear.”
“You know what I am talking about. That I’m a – a clàr silte.” I was spitting fire. Not literally, though I was surprised the ice didn’t melt.
She eyed me with an almost approval as if she a proud grandparent. “Would you believe that I hoped I never would have to?”
I gave her dry look.
Her fur boots crunched under packed snow. “There was always the chance that the gift wouldn’t be yours. I didn’t know for sure, and I wasn’t going to trust a hunch.”
A gift. I wasn’t sure I would call stealing another witches powers a gift.
Her purple eyes sobered. “I didn’t wish this for you, or the consequences that come with it. I’ve grown fond of our little dreams. I will miss them, miss you.”
Wow granny was having a heart-to-heart. I wasn’t sure she was capable of such feelings. Inside I was flooded with dread. I took a step toward her. “You’re leaving me? You can’t. You just can’t. I need you.” There was no disguising the pure panic in my voice.
She shook her head. “No, not yet love, but there will be a time when our connection is severed. Until then I will help when I can.”
I looked out into the distance with a heavy heart. Mixed feelings circled inside me. “I don’t think I can do this,” I whispered.
She turned me to face her and looked me straight in the eye. Gone was her usual supremacy. “You can. Do you hear me? There is no other choice for a witch like you. You must master your skills. It will be the only way for you to live, to defend yourself.”
I couldn’t move or say anything for a moment. I just stared into an identical pair of eyes to mine. Finally I nodded. “You’re right.”
She tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. It was the first act affection she had ever really shown me. “I do have some words of wisdom before you wake young granddaughter. Two boys. One destined to be your true love, bound by more than just magic and love. The other,” she tsked her tongue. “Well he isn’t so lucky. He will destroy all the good you possess. Squash your pureness, which is also your strength. He will poison you with darkness, blacken your soul. And make you turn from all you love. The choice is yours great granddaughter. Choose wisely. For it can’t be undone.”
I hate cryptic messages. “Can’t you just tell me which one to choose?”
This time her smirk was sad. “If it was only that easy. I can do many things from beyond, but the choice will always be yours.”
To be continued…
Look for the conclusion Moondust coming soon.
~*~
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Acknowledgements
First I wanted to thank Amber Bungo for working her magic on my many, many typos. Those who have read my work know that I am a sucky editor and I claim nothing less. You did an amazing job and gave this book the finishing touch it lacked. And for that I’m grateful. Finally, I want to give a huge THANK YOU to the readers. None of this would’ve been possible without you. Trust me. The feedback and responses I have gotten gave me the courage to continue. It still amazes me that anyone reads my books. You guys rock!