by T R Tells
“Just tell me what you know, and we’ll see what business we have.”
“Well, first, my name is Nobius; I’m sure you know by now that I am a mage—”
“Who can read minds,” Thea interrupted.
Nobius grinned. “Yes, on occasion I can use my magic to read people’s thoughts. Mages and Roma have quite similar magic. I’ve known a few Roma in my time. The only difference is women’s Intuition magic, Mage or Roma, is far stronger because you can develop different kinds of magic.”
“Really? That’s interesting. I suppose I’ve done a few things that were different than my usual Intuition magic, but I don’t know much about what I am,” She paused, slightly distracted, before shaking off the sadness. “But, why don’t we cut to the chase as to why you’re here?”
“It’s simple, Thea. I wish to buy you, and before you react negatively,” Nobius immediately said, tightening his grip on her the moment Thea tried to shrink away. “I think you’ll like what I have to say. You want to learn more about yourself and your magic and I just happen to have the resources to teach you.”
Thea shook her head and pushed him away until she stood, her feet automatically stepping two feet away from him.
“I think you should leave, Nobius. I don’t know how you found me or knew what I was, but Flint doesn’t just hand over his property.” It annoyed her to use Flint’s term to reference herself, but Nobius made her nervous. “I’m not interested.”
Nobius’ grin stretched slightly as his brow raised. “But you didn’t hear the rest of what I had to say, what I think you will truly be interested to hear.”
“I don’t think anything you have to tell me will be interesting. So, you can pay me up front, or give it to Edward, but you’re going to leave.”
Nobius suddenly stood, the movement made Thea back up and hit the back of the couch. She had not expected him to tower over her so much; he could have been just a little over six foot. Thea felt her heart throbbing, her brain shutting down for several seconds. She couldn’t command her feet to move.
“Not even information that regards another Roma? You may believe yourself to be the last of your kind, but I’m here to tell you that you aren’t. For I have a Roma back in the Bastion of Amac and I think you may know who she is.”
Thea felt her heart skip a beat at the words. She knew it was a long shot, but she couldn’t help but think about the one person she so desperately needed.
Dominya?
Nobius didn’t speak. He didn’t have to, the smile on his face grew and he revealed a perfect set of white teeth confirming her answer.
Chapter Thirty-Five
Could it really be Dominya? Hope and shock swirled through Thea’s mind. She hadn’t felt much hope lately, so it took her a moment to recognize the feeling. She felt Hel’s skepticism in the back of her mind. Her demon thought this man was nothing but trouble.
“I… I need a moment to think about this, it’s just too much,” Thea stuttered out. She could feel the back of her head pound as thoughts began spiraling through her head: Dominya was alive, her sister was alive!
Nobius smiled and nodded. “Of course, I’m sure this is a lot to take in. Why don’t I come back mid-day afternoon? My ship is leaving back to Bastion, let me know your decision then. What more reason do you have to stay here?”
Thea didn’t respond to him. She didn’t want to accidentally tell him off or reveal Kadda’s existence. But that was what made her hesitant: Kadda. If it were just her, she would probably go in a heartbeat, but growing up without a mother was something she didn’t want Kadda to have to go through - that thought made her regret even thinking about killing herself, let alone almost following through. Nobius didn’t even bring her proof that Dominya was alive, all she had was his word. No matter how convincing he sounded, if she was going to leave Kadda, she first needed proof.
“Let me see into your mind.”
The smile on his face slightly faltered and Thea thought she had finally caught him but was surprised when he started chortling.
“Your Intuition is stronger than I thought. What other things can you do besides break through barriers?”
“Sorry, but I won’t tell you anything. You sure haven’t told me anything I wanted to know.” Thea shrugged her shoulders and looked him up and down seriously. Nobius nodded in approval as if he liked Thea’s spunk.
“Touché. Alright, whenever you’re ready.”
Thea hadn’t looked through memories of a person who was alive, only those who had already passed, Jiran and Dominya, and she altered most of them. Now, she wondered if that was another side of her Intuition magic: looking into the minds of the deceased, creating images to her will.
Thea took a deep breath and trained her eyes on Nobius’ casual grin. At first, nothing happened, and Thea was left straining, as a vein slowly appeared at the side of her head and a bead of sweat trickled down the side of her head.
Why wasn’t it working!?
“Try to straighten your back. It’s much like conjuring a vision. Think about what you want and then grasp it once you feel a heavy presence surrounding you.”
Thea didn’t ask how Nobius knew this information. She erected her back and moved her neck from side to side, exhaling again. She thought about Dominya, it had been so long, she tightened her eyes and willed thoughts of her sister. She saw Kadda.
Grayish-blue, much like hers and Dominya’s. They were sweet and caring, motherly and warm. A faint face slowly began to outline in Thea’s memory, and she could see her sister appear in her mind's eye.
Thea felt her magic, her Intuition, begin to ignite and felt the tingling sensation course through her body. She knew her eyes had changed, and she immediately delved into Nobius’ mind. When she entered, she saw a manor, large and luxurious, with a red velvet carpet and stone walls. When her mind began to focus on a person sitting on the floor, reading a book, they looked up at her and Thea’s heart slammed into her chest. She stumbled backward and her breath caught in her throat as the person turned to look at her.
Dark brown, motherly eyes.
“Thea?” The voice asked. It sounded watery and unclear, like being at the bottom of the ocean’s waters. Before she could respond, to the memory - or possibly Dominya herself - she couldn’t be sure, she was forced out of the vision and left weak, gripping the side of the couch and heaving irregular breaths.
Was that Dominya? Or was that a part of Nobius’ memory I altered to speak to me?
Thea gripped the side of her head. She couldn’t make heads or tails out of what just happened. She suddenly had a raging headache that felt like knives digging into her skull.
She felt someone touch her shoulder and looked up, not realizing that her eyes were blurry and filled with tears.
“You’re an exceptional and strong girl, Thea, but you lack training and discipline. If you come with me, not only will you be strong as your ancestors were, but you’ll also be reunited with family. What do you say, will you take my offer?”
Thea swallowed. She looked at Nobius for a long moment, debating if she should trust this man, a man who showed that he didn’t think with his dick; at least not as much as most men. There are men like that, she thought to herself. But maybe those are the ones you have to look out for.
She looked down at his outstretched hand. There was no sign of spots or wrinkles, no cracks or any signs of hard labor. Thea looked at her hand, it still looked and felt soft to the touch, but you could tell that there was a rough texture in certain areas. Thea wanted to be stronger and without the need for darkness to make that happen. She wanted power on her own to make those who caused pain and misery to suffer.
Thea licked her lips and reached out her hand, placing it in Nobius’.
But once you let the devil into your house, you allow more demons to lurk in your closet.
***
“What do you mean you’re leaving?” Maggie exclaimed. She was in the room with Thea, who packed her things in a smal
l bag, while she held Kadda in her lap. “Does Eddie know?”
“Eddie’s the one who told me Flint and the Mage Nobius have been negotiating for my trade for some time. I’m worth several gold pounds.”
Maggie frowned. “And suddenly Flint is so eager to sell you of all people off like cattle? All on the suspicion that this Mage has your sister?”
Thea stuffed the last bit of her clothing into the bag and looked at Maggie. She saw the pained expression on her friend’s face and knew that she was taking this hard. Maggie was strong, no question, but she relied on Thea to be her rock when she herself couldn’t.
“I know it seems hard, Maggie, but you don’t know how long I’ve wanted to know if my sister was alive or dead. Now, that someone has found proof that she’s alive, I can . . .” She pressed her lips together. Maggie knew what she wanted to say, “find peace.” She didn’t know the entire story of the mark on Thea’s neck, but she knew enough that Thea was battling and pushing away dark forces she had accepted in her time of weakness.
“I know, Thea, but didn’t you say this guy was not only charming, but he was powerful? I mean, sure you broke free of his control, but it was the fact that he tried to do it without your knowledge. Who’s to say that he didn’t alter what you saw?”
“I know, Maggie. It was something in that memory. It was like Dominya was there and she was confused to see me. That has to be real, right?”
Maggie twisted her lips into a frown and looked down at Kadda. She bobbed the child up and down on her knee.
“What about Kadda? Are you thinking of taking her with you?”
Thea snorted and shook her head. “No. I was going to leave her with you. It would be stupid bringing her around people like that, not to mention I’ll be on a boat and I can’t risk her catching something when we’re so far from anyone who can give her medical attention.”
Maggie looked at her and raised her brow, the frown still prominent on her face. “And you’re willing to risk your life around those people? Risk getting sick and traveling to another country you know nothing about?”
Thea knew Maggie was right, but she couldn’t pass up the opportunity — no matter the danger it permitted if she had a chance to see her sister and possibly truly learn more about her Intuition magic — she had to take it. Seeing Dominya was worth any risk.
“I can’t keep living in darkness, Mags,” Thea said and walked over to Maggie, sitting next to her on the side of the bed, wrapping her arm around her shoulder. She began massaging Kadda’s earlobe, making her blow bubbles in delight. It broke Thea’s heart and soul to leave her baby, but she needed answers; answers that could help her be a better mother. “If I do this, I can learn more about myself and Kadda. She might be a Roma too by blood and how can I give her answers when she’s older if I don’t know myself?”
“This is more about shutting out the demons and voices, right?”
She’s always been a conscious one, Hel commented. Had she called for me, I would have come to her.
“More or less,” Thea sighed. She didn’t like to talk about Hel or the voices, she felt it made them more real. “I dream of the darkness at night, it invites me, and I accept the lingering cold hand of sin. It’s hard to keep fighting it off.” She didn’t want to tell Maggie that she had nearly killed herself a couple of hours ago. “And one day I might do it to someone who I care about. I won’t put you or Kadda in harm's way. You two are the closest thing I have to a real family and now that I may know where Dominya is? I want to complete my family and rid the demons in my closet.”
Maggie didn’t say anything for the longest time and Thea began to think she shut her out, that Maggie was angry with her for leaving at such short notice. Thea felt her heart in her throat as she prayed Maggie wouldn’t turn away from her. Thea needed both Kadda and Maggie to keep her surviving and staying sane. She couldn’t think of losing either of them; it would kill her and make it easier for the demons to invade her body.
But she only nodded and turned to Thea. A tear peeked from the corner of her eye, but Thea reached over and wiped it, kissing her cheek.
“I love you, Mags. Thank you for being my family, my sister.” Thea hugged her tightly, pressing her face into Maggie’s hair, who gripped her in a one arm hug.
“Oh, just shut up and come back. You know I can’t take on Eddie by myself.”
Thea pulled away and snorted playfully. “Well, now I know you’re lying.”
Maggie playfully stuck up her middle finger and grinned. “Okay, well, I should get back to work then. I’m sure you want to have your time with Kadda before you leave.” She handed Kadda back to Thea and leaned down to kiss the little girl on her cheeks.
“How long do you think you’ll be gone?” Maggie asked, pausing at the door and watching Thea, who was idly playing with Kadda’s feet.
“I don’t know. I don’t want to be gone any longer than I need to . . .”
Maggie slowly nodded and twisted her lips to the side, thinking about what Thea said. Even Thea thought the idea of being away for a year wasn’t the best.
“Okay, I guess we’ll talk about it later. Love you, Sis.”
Thea grinned. “Love you too, Sis.”
Chapter Thirty-Six
“I just need to make a stop real quick, and then we can go,” Thea told Nobius on the morning of their departure. Thea had to admit that saying goodbye to Kadda was one of the worst things that she had experienced, and she had been through too many hellish things in her short life.
“You know mommy loves you, right?” Thea whispered to the little girl. Kadda tilted her head to the side, feeling the tension in her mother’s words. “I’m going to after my sister, your aunt, and to learn more about my – our culture as Roma.”
Thea didn’t know when she had started crying, but she felt her eyes sting as fat tears ran under her chin. She couldn’t help but feel a sense of Deja vu, as she was transported back in time to when Dominya was taken from her. Her sister was only protecting her, and, in some way, Thea was doing the same thing too.
“Look at us Frey women, we’re always protecting and looking out for others but not ourselves. I’m more my sister than I thought.”
Thea smiled at the thought before she hugged Kadda to her chest.
When she pulled away, she saw that the little girl’s eyes were filled with tears. She didn’t understand the words that came from her mother’s mouth but seeing her crying, feeling that she was leaving made little tears come out of her eyes.
“Kadence . . .” Thea whispered and kissed the top of her head. Thea didn’t know what else to say, so she hummed the same tune that Dominya had sung to her. The same tune she had sung the first night she was alone, but there was a difference between then and now, “. . . No matter what, Kadda, I’ll be back. I promise you.”
***
“Hurry up, we have fifteen minutes to get to the ship,” Nobius told her. They stopped at Pepper’s farmhouse down the hill from Kingsland. There was a stable near the house that Thea was going to.
When she knocked on the door, an older man answered. He had a broad smile on his face that seemed fatherly and painstakingly remind her of Jiran.
“What can I do for you, little miss?”
“I came to see a horse. His name is Hapy, he belonged to –”
“Jiran. Yes, of course,” the man interrupted with a nod of his head with a frown on his lips. “I thought I remembered you, the little girl that was with Jiran that one time . . . I’m sorry for his loss, I heard about the fire.”
Thea’s throat tightened. She promised herself she wouldn’t cry. She knew that if she started again, she would never stop.
“T-Thank you, is . . . Is Hapy still here?”
The man nodded. “He is,” he walked out of the house and gestured for Thea to follow him next door to the stable. The smell of poop and wet hay wafted up to her nose, she had to be careful where she stepped. “Jiran always paid up front for me to take care of him and in case of
an unfortunate accident. He’s a pretty old horse now, he’s on his last leg. He’s also been sourly depressed for the last couple of years. I think he knows of Jiran’s passing.”
“Yeah, animals are smart that way,” Thea told him as she followed him down the sizeable stable hallway. There were horses of different breeds inside their stalls, but when they stopped at one stall, Thea felt her heart leap with joy.
The old horse had indeed seen better days. His legs were stout and shaky, his mane was losing its sheen and he looked as if he could collapse at any moment. But the minute Thea called out his name, the horse's ears picked up at the sound of Thea’s voice. It was as if hearing her breathed the life back into him.
Hapy walked over to Thea, with a slight struggle, of course, and nuzzled Thea’s cheek with his snout. Thea grinned and pressed her cheek to the horse. She knew it was crazy, but she could feel Jiran right now.
“I knew he would jump back into it if he saw a familiar face,” the man said from behind Thea, a smile evident in his voice.
Thea pulled away from Hapy but continued to stroke his muzzle. “Can I . . . take him?” There was never any room at the brothel for a horse, but if she were going to Bastion of Amac at least they would be together for a time.
“I wouldn’t have charged you even if I didn’t know you. I’m not a cruel person, and it’s evident that horse loves you. I’m sure Jiran would have wanted you to have him. He’s all yours, let me get you his saddle and reigns.”
Thea nodded and said her gratitude. She led Hapy to the carriage where Nobius was waiting. He arched an eyebrow when Thea and Hapy got to him.
“You left with nothing and came back with a horse, you’re full of surprises.”
Thea gripped his reigns. “Please, Nobius. His master died and I’m the last thing that he knows.”
Nobius shrugged. “Doesn’t matter to me, but I’m pretty sure that horse, especially as old as he is, won’t survive the trip.”
Thea’s throat tightened, she nodded. Incidentally, she didn’t expect Hapy to live long either, but if he could be with someone, he knew that would allow him to die in peace, feeling loved.