Natalya: Wizards of White Haven

by Frances Howitt

  ‘I’m not running from you, but your thoughts have become very loud,’ she warned him.

  ‘You can hear what I’m thinking?’ he asked appalled.

  ‘Some.’

  ‘It’s my wolf confusing me,’ Freddie growled in realisation.

  She nodded, realising it was clouding her ability to think too. They both changed back into their human forms. They stared at each other mutely trying to comprehend the enormity of what their wolves had just done to their relationship.

  The way she was staring at him pulled him to her side.

  ‘Clothes,’ Natalya told him weakly. He felt more predatory now as a man than he had as a wolf! Her gaze travelled over his bare skin again; he was unbearably attractive. Unfortunately he seemed to know she felt that way.

  ‘Are you sure you want clothes?’ he asked softly, taking the dress she held up before her like a shield. Her wide eyed innocent stare and breathlessness called to him. He wrapped his arms around her pulling her against his body. She felt exceedingly good skin to skin and he closed his eyes for a moment to savour the feeling. Her head was tilted back to watch him and he couldn’t resist kissing her. Her body melted against him as eager to match itself to his as his was to explore hers.

  ‘Freddie, no more. Please stop,’ she whispered breathlessly and pressed a hand to his chest parting them.

  ‘Why? I would feel better for you in this form,’ he whispered.

  ‘I know,’ she couldn’t help admitting. She closed her eyes to his raw need and desire. ‘But it would be too much too soon,’ she told him particularly since she now knew from her wolf that she was in season and already running a high risk of pregnancy. She resolutely picked up her dress from the chair and dragged it on. She could see his disappointment and reluctance, but he was slowly following suit and dressing. He clearly had no intention of forcing her to do anything against her will and her estimation of him rose even further. She escaped upstairs into the bathroom, away from him and temptation.

  ‘Are you ready to go?’ Freddie called up the stairs a few minutes later, having calmed down somewhat. ‘We need to leave now to be there in time to get a seat.’

  She opened her door and trotted down. His gaze swept her and she was glad she’d had a quick wash and dressed properly. It almost felt like a shield against his tempting sexuality. She’d put on his shirt under the dress knowing it would be cool this evening and letting the long sleeves and collar show only. Thus the man’s shirt was disguised under the feminine dress enough not to look too peculiar.

  They jogged quickly across the grass taking a short cut. They were wolves; even in human form, they could run swiftly without effort.

  Freddie guided her through the crowds that were milling to chat with friends before taking their seats. She was aware of being stared at, but she expected that, she was a stranger here. Freddie took her to a table near the back wall, far from the head table. Glancing at the head table, she met the deputy’s eyes. Max smiled a welcome to her so she relaxed enough to sit.

  ‘Hello Freddie, haven’t seen you up here for a while. Who’s your friend?’

  ‘Kathy meet Natalya,’ Freddie introduced. ‘You’re both wolves.’

  ‘Pleased to meet you,’ Natalya said rising to take the other young woman’s hand. She’d thought there weren’t any female wolves here.

  ‘Was that you howling the other day?’ Kathy asked her, immediately sitting opposite.

  ‘Well, he started it and then the others joined in and I couldn’t resist,’ Natalya admitted glancing sidelong at Freddie. So much had happened since then.

  ‘It was wonderful to hear,’ Kathy said warmly. ‘This is Laurence,’ she added as a young man approached, dragged out a seat and sat beside her.

  ‘Welcome,’ Laurence said. ‘Is it true you are like Amelie?’

  ‘I haven’t met Amelie, but I’ve been told we have some similarities,’ Natalya admitted with a shrug.

  ‘We went scouting the forest with Amelie once,’ Laurence said. ‘She was in panther form and damned scary.’

  ‘And that was before you saw her change into a dragon,’ Kathy teased. They shared a laugh and both eyed Natalya speculatively. ‘So you can be any animal?’

  ‘No, my ability is different. I stick to four legged carnivores.’

  ‘Freddie said you were a wolf, how do you know that, if you can be anything?’

  ‘Jim told me that was what I was. He had me change into a number of animals and said my character was wolf.’

  ‘Unless you’re feeling defensive, in which case your tiger comes out,’ Freddie commented.

  ‘So your power animal is a tiger,’ Laurence mused, ‘interesting.’

  Natalya looked round, feeling a heavy presence; Jim was entering the room. She put her head down and brought a shield up.

  Jim paused in the doorway feeling the massed wizard presences and the occasional animus people. An odd space humming with power caught his attention. Curious he turned, weaving through the tables to the source of the odd feeling. He noticed Freddie first, which considering Natalya was a tall striking woman with cascades of white blonde hair, that was unexpected. She was the source, as he’d suspected. She was seated with her back to him, but turned to face him, clearly fully aware of his approach before he had a chance to speak.

  ‘Interesting shield, Natalya,’ he commented. ‘Come see me after dinner,’ he asked, saw her nod in acknowledgement and moved off to the head table.

  Natalya sourly watched him go. ‘We should have stayed at yours,’ she told Freddie.

  ‘If he has something to say he’ll seek you out wherever you are,’ Freddie responded. ‘Besides, I could do with a good cooked meal and you’re skin and bones.’

  ‘Thanks!’ Natalya responded drolly. Then their attention was fully diverted by the platters arriving on the tables before them.

  While their first course was taken away, the young man on Natalya’s other side turned to her.

  ‘Hello, I’m Jasper,’ he introduced himself. ‘I’m sorry but I couldn’t help hearing Wizard Jim mention you were shielding yourself. What kind of shield?’ he asked curiously. He’d shaken her hand so it clearly wasn’t a physical boundary.

  Natalya considered him for a moment; he was harmless looking and shy, but a wizard. ‘A mental shield. He knows I don’t like people snooping. I’m still learning to control my magic. I thought it better to lock people out rather than risk hurting them by throwing them out.’

  ‘You threw Jim out of your mind?’ Jasper asked in astonishment.

  ‘So he told me,’ she admitted with a shrug. ‘He was being annoying. I thought after the run-in’s we’ve had so far he’d get the message and avoid me,’ she added to Freddie quietly.

  ‘He hasn’t managed to best you and bring you to heel,’ Freddie told her.

  ‘That’s an odd thing to say,’ Kathy commented. ‘Why do you think that?’

  ‘Because he keeps provoking her to anger. It’s quite deliberate. I’ve never seen him act that way,’ Freddie explained.

  ‘He’ll be testing and pushing you to reveal your character and limits,’ Jasper suggested. ‘He does that to a certain degree with everyone.’

  ‘I’m fed up with being poked and prodded,’ Natalya complained. ‘I’m tired.’

  ‘I know,’ Freddie pacified gently.

  ‘You must have a lot of power for him to take such an interest,’ Jasper suggested. ‘Unless,’ he mused, his gaze drifting over a very attractive young woman with piercing eyes.

  ‘Unless what?’ Natalya asked.

  ‘You are like him, an animus wizard. You’re also an attractive woman,’ Jasper observed. ‘Of course he would show interest,’ Jasper noticed Freddie’s sharp glance and clenched jaw and tried to hide his smile.

  ‘Whatever his reasons, I daresay I’ll deal with them as they arise,’ she said with a shrug of disinterest. But she took Freddie’s clenched fist and stroked it. His unease vanished and no one was in any doubt their fee
lings were mutual. She continued her meal as though Jasper’s observation was of no relevance to her and Freddie took his cue from her.

  Everyone else within earshot did too, guessing this was a touchy subject, best dropped in her presence. The talk quickly turned to innocuous gossip instead. One of the new women had turned out to be troublesome, taunting one of the men into fighting with someone else over her.

  Natalya was very glad the fight between Jim and Freddie had been kept secret. That would certainly be food for avid gossip. Jim was the headmaster; he couldn’t be seen to be fighting. That a wolf animus would even attempt to fight a lion animus was foolhardy, but knowing that lion had wizard abilities to call on too would be considered desperately one sided.

  ‘Do you want to stay here while I go talk to Jim?’ Natalya asked Freddie softly under cover of the students dragging their chairs out and departing.

  ‘Why?’

  ‘I don’t want you two scrapping again.’

  ‘Don’t try to protect me,’ Freddie told her, annoyed now that she thought him a liability. He was an Alpha wolf, damn it! ‘I need to know he’s not mistreating you.’

  ‘I know. I was only giving you the option. You know how irritating he can be and some of it was directly aimed at you. He’s jealous of you,’ she told him with a small smile. They rose and together went over to the head table.

  ‘Hello deputy Max,’ Natalya said and put out her hand.

  Max rose and took the offered hand rather surprised she was choosing to touch him.

  ‘I apologise if I was a little rude at our first meeting,’ she continued. ‘It was not intentional.’

  ‘I understand you had reservations learning I was an owl. Well founded distrust given the nature of the one hunting you. I hope you don’t hold my form against me?’

  ‘Not at all,’ she assured although she had. She released his strong hand hastily. His gaze was direct and assessing but friendly. He felt like someone you could count on. She found she wasn’t surprised Jim had chosen him as a deputy for a place as big as this.

  ‘This is Bruno, he teaches physical combat,’ Max introduced the man beside him.

  ‘Pleased to meet you,’ Natalya said assessing the burly man and easily accepting his hand.

  ‘And this is Vako, also a teacher,’ Jim said, smoothly coming in to the conversation. They all noted she regarded Vako for a moment but did not take his proffered hand.

  ‘Will you be joining our classes?’ Vako asked her smiling at her reticence.

  ‘I haven’t decided,’ Natalya responded unnerved by the old man’s sharp gaze; he was obviously another wizard.

  ‘You probably should. It’s difficult to tell how your magic manifests itself most strongly though when you are so shielded. But the impenetrable nature and strength of your shield is an indication you have plenty of magic. You should learn how to use it before it gets out of control and hurts someone.’

  ‘You’ve been trying to get past my shield?’ she asked angrily.

  ‘No!’ Jim assured her hastily. ‘You would feel it if anyone tried that, you know you would. What he means is that we can see your shield like a wall. We don’t have to try and breach it to know it’s there. And just like an actual wall we can see yours is tall, seamless and strong. Normally a wizard would only construct and hold such a shield under concerted attack. You must be exhausted.’ He glanced at Freddie, hearing his mix of concern at her health and anger that she should feel so threatened.

  ‘Why do you feel so threatened here?’ Vako asked proving he’d also heard Freddie’s angst.

  Natalya glanced round at Freddie for a moment. ‘You’re snooping on Freddie now,’ she complained drawing him protectively behind her. ‘You wonder why I don’t trust you wizards when I can see you using everyone around you without their permission or knowledge.’

  ‘We weren’t snooping,’ Jim denied. ‘He was broadcasting, very loudly. We couldn’t help hearing him, just like you did.’

  Natalya scowled, knowing that was correct but not hearing any denial of her claim they were using those around them.

  ‘Natalya we don’t use people like you’re suggesting,’ Jim hastily added, noticing her expression. ‘This is a school with a whole range of gifted people. To teach effectively we need to find out what each pupil is capable of. This is not only to tailor our teaching but also so we are aware of anyone with potentially dangerous abilities or indeed inclinations. We are obligated to safeguard all our pupils, even from each other. Freddie has never been a pupil. He hasn’t been taught how to contain strong emotions and not broadcast them. Since he is generally a calm responsible character we’ve never thought it necessary to teach him. You on the other hand make us all very nervous. We know you’ve been hunted by a wizard with not only inquisitor assistance but also by a particularly savage and twisted owl animus. How you evaded them we still don’t know. You can multi shape shift but only into very capable predators. That inclination would not normally be a problem but does not help calm us when you are so secretive. When I tried to contact you mentally your first reaction was to treat it as an attack. You knew it was me yet you retaliated in a most unexpected way. Not only did you throw me out of your mind, but somehow you were able to physically throw my body back too. I still don’t know how you did that and from half a mile away. You healed me and then Freddie whilst holding on to that shield. I don’t know how that’s possible, yet you’ve done it. Really Natalya, I don’t think you have anything to fear from us. You are very strong and resourceful. I doubt anyone could force you to anything against your will. Please, we promise we will not attempt to snoop, but we need you to drop that shield so we can see your aura and discover what you are. We cannot help you if you refuse to trust us to such a degree.’

  Natalya turned to Freddie, evidently to his surprise. But he was still her anchor and the only one she actually trusted. She waited for Freddie’s advice; he knew these people. Freddie nodded but took her hand squeezing it gently for reassurance.

  Natalya watched Jim closely as she lowered her shield. He flinched and breathed deeply. Vako more obviously reacted by sitting bolt upright in his chair, his eyes wide.

  ‘I see why you needed to develop such a strong shield while you were on the run,’ Jim told her. ‘Your power signature glows. You must have had some kind of shield up the entire time you’ve been here? I’d have felt such a presence from miles away.’ He glanced at Vako helplessly.

  ‘She is a true warrior wizard,’ Vako announced.

  ‘She’s not an animus warrior wizard then?’ Jim asked a little confused.

  ‘No, that’s what Amelie is. Natalya’s animus ability is rooted from her survival instinct which also governs her warrior. But her gift is wizard. Amelie is biased on the opposite side being animus first and wizard second. Both of you are astonishingly strong and equally rare.’

  Natalya felt Jim’s emotions were raw with longing hearing Amelie’s name. But for the first time Natalya saw a few images of the woman before Jim got control of himself and closed off. It had been enough of an eye opener though. Natalya abruptly slid to the floor as her mind once again was swamped in images. More fragments linked up and short scenes floated past. She was vaguely aware Freddie was lifting her into his arms and settling her across his lap instead of leaving her on the cold stone floor. She could feel his concern and rush of anger, wondering if one of them had caused her collapse.

  ‘Jim, I think I may have seen your lady before. Show her to me,’ Natalya asked holding out her hand.

  Jim was deeply concerned at the way she’d collapsed into herself so suddenly. She’d also never sought to touch him before. Obviously she was aware it was easier to share minds doing that. He took her hand, keeping his shield up but letting many memories of Amelie surface into his more public upper thoughts. Suddenly images began to be passed his way in return. Natalya was showing him memories of two little girls playing on a beach. One was blonde, the other girl dark haired, but both with vivid blue eyes. T
heir parents called and he saw a blonde father and black haired mother. He focussed more intently on the dark little girl; Amelie!

  ‘Amelie is your sister,’ Jim exclaimed. ‘No wonder there are so many similarities between you. You’re the older one?’

  ‘I think so. Why would my mother hide these memories from me?’ Natalya whispered, suddenly knowing that was who had done it.

  ‘Perhaps so you wouldn’t give her away if you were questioned. Or maybe it was to keep your magic from surfacing fully and revealing itself unwisely. I suspect such power as yours could not be hidden entirely. The duress you suffered as a child brought your survival instincts to the fore but appeared to everyone as animus ability only. That’s what would have been of most use to you. You have changed though in the last few days. When I found you in that town I didn’t feel such power in you. You were obviously a strong animus but that was all I sensed at the time. Normally I’m pretty sensitive to things like that. I think that as your memories have begun to surface, so too has the ability to use your magic, together with the magic itself. I think your mother has done a remarkably successful job of hiding your ability from notice.’

  Natalya considered that. Yes, her mother would have tried to protect her.

  ‘Mother was the wizard and father animus. I know that yet I still can’t remember their names,’ she cried in frustration.

  ‘I cannot release another block just yet,’ Jim told her gently. ‘It’s too soon and will be more than you’ll be able to deal with in one go. You’ve already had a huge breakthrough. You need time to sleep on it and learn to handle it. You’re exhausted. I suggest you call it a night and turn in now.’ Jim said in dismissal and watched Freddie take her hand and lead her out.

  ‘She is Amelie’s older sister? Well that explains a great many things. Her power rather puts you in the shade,’ Vako added to Jim.

  ‘I know. I just hope she doesn’t realise too quickly. I’d rather get her on side first,’ Jim admitted. ‘You might remember I told you I knew that I wasn’t especially strong. Well, not unless I’m borrowing strength from other people. It stands to reason we’d come across stronger talents running a school as we do.’ He then dismissed everyone and returned to his doubly empty quarters having been reminded his family were off somewhere without him.