Chapter 38

38

MENTAL NOTES FROM THE SCHOOL HEALER AT CSA:

Exhale for a count of three, pause, then inhale for a count of three. Repeat as needed until calm. Don’t forget to replenish the lavender once it loses its scent.

T hessa had abandoned her tent for Soren’s days ago. Staying away from him had become increasingly more difficult than she anticipated.

Seated in one corner was Brenneth, and in the other was Soren. Pacing between them, their father spoke. “You two need to work together, find our weaknesses and strengthen them.”

Soren eyed his half-brother, who curtsied for Thessa every time he greeted her now. “Brenneth, formalize combat training. I want protocols and drills established for review by morning.”

Jussal’s eyes darted between the brothers who looked like polar opposites. Brenneth took after his mother with the same pale skin, blue-green eyes, and wheat colored hair.

“Will Thessa be joining combat?” Brenneth asked. “Or does she only serve other purposes here?” His salacious grin was unmistakable.

Soren hissed, “Protocols and drills, Brenneth. Now get out before you choke on those words.”

The tent flaps fluttered in Brenneth’s wake.

“If you can’t get along with the head of our combat unit, you’ll destroy everything I built.”

Soren cleared his throat. “While I appreciate your concern, father, I’ll deal with Brenneth. You and I need to discuss something else.”

On their way back from the flower fields, she and Soren had a long conversation about her powers. She knew she couldn’t hide this part of herself for much longer. If she could help the rebellion by offering a little hope, then she’d do just that.

Jussal’s black eyes lit up. “You’ve found something?”

“Not yet. It’s about Thessa.”

Thessa was perched on the foot of Soren’s bedroll. “Stop talking about me like I’m not here.”

Jussal tilted his head. “What is it?”

Thessa stood. “It’s about my magic.”

“Yes?”

“It’s … different.”

His dark brows narrowed. “Show me.”

Thessa breathed in, conjuring her magic to a single fingertip. She let one dark wisp escape, dancing toward the corner of Soren’s tent. A lone candle sat atop a tree stump there.

The flickering light gave way to her shadow in an instant.

Eyes wide, Jussal ran out of the tent.

“Is he okay?” she asked Soren .

Shaking his head, Soren muttered, “Likely not. I told you he wouldn’t take it well.”

A few minutes later Jussal sprinted back inside with Emiel’s father. The last time she’d seen Francis, chaos unfolded.

Out of breath, Jussal panted, “Francis, go on please, like we discussed.”

Soren stood, facing his father. “What exactly do you think you’re doing?”

“Finding out exactly what Thessa can do. Have you bothered, son ?”

“I’ve seen what she can do. She doesn’t have to prove anything to me.” Balling his fists, Soren huffed one syllable at time, “Do not push her.”

Thessa intervened. “I’m fine.” She eyed Soren to say, we talked about this.

He stepped back while those muscles in his jaw clenched to restrain his mouth.

She ignored him and gave Francis a nod. “Well met, Francis.”

Francis nodded back, holding out his palms and conjuring fireballs atop each. After perfecting his swirling flames, Francis asked, “Now what?”

Jussal cocked his head toward Thessa.

Soren stepped in front of her, facing Francis. “Throw those and they’ll be the last ones you conjure.”

Thessa shoved Soren, unsuccessfully, so she walked around him and said, “No need to throw them Mr. McPorter, I can come to you.”

Hovering her fingers in front of Francis, she couldn’t help but see his russet eyes still plagued with grief. Had he slept at all? She shook off the thought and let her magic go. Not too much, but enough to smother each fireball .

Smoke fizzled in the air between them.

“What are you?” Jussal questioned, shifting closer to her.

Soren side-stepped, blocking his path. “Orphaned, she doesn’t know anything, and just got her powers.”

A partial lie they both agreed to.

Jussal peered around Soren, looking directly at Thessa with a sly grin. “What else can you do?”

“If Mr. McPorter could conjure air, I?—”

Soren spun to face her. “You don’t have to do this.”

“Now, now, son. Let Thessa show us.”

Thessa eyed Soren to say, it’s fine.

He yielded, begrudgingly.

She gave Francis an encouraging nod and he quickly conjured two small spheres of air-magic. The aquamarine color reminded her of Sila’s eyes.

Repeating the same process, Thessa let her magic flow toward him, devouring his air on contact.

Francis snatched his palms back, inspecting them. “I’ve never?—”

“Seen anything like it,” Jussal finished.

Thessa lifted her chin to Jussal. “If hope is what you wish to restore, then you have my permission to restore it.”

Jussal’s lips curved. “You’re remarkable. Thank you.” He shifted his focus to Soren, flattening his features and said, “Train her.”

Then he left, summoning Francis along with him.

Soren plopped on his bedroll, palming his face.

“Is it that obvious?” Thessa asked.

“That my father is spiraling?”

She let out a small laugh. “No. That I’m untrained.”

He slapped his hands on the bed. “ Train her was code to exploit you. He’ll want to know more and more until you exhaust your magic. How can you not see that? I won’t allow it.”

Thessa sat beside him. “He said you, you’re to train me. Not him. Not Brenneth. You.”

Soren breathed, clenching his sheets. “You’re right.”

“Have you ever exhausted your magic before?” she asked.

“Once, during the war.”

“How long did it take you to recover?”

“It was three days of sickness, and not something I can ever forget, but unless you deliberately do it, it’s preventable. How’d you learn how to control your magic so well?”

“I suppose I owe it to the healer at CSA, he taught me how to breathe when I forgot a few years ago.”

Soren’s face warped with confusion.

“I know you don’t usually forget to breathe, but when the air is ripped from your lungs you’d be surprised.”

He nodded, listening.

“Well, I learned to use my breath to steady my thoughts, which in turn steadies my heart. So I applied the same method with my magic.”

“It works well.”

She toyed with the necklace she wore, realizing it’d been a while since she needed it. “The goddess said something about how the energy may overcome me at times. I’m not sure what she meant, but I feel the magic inside me, it's endless.”

“You may be powerful, but all powers give way … eventually.”

Thessa exhaled. “I just hope it’s enough.”

He tapped his forehead against hers. “It will be.”

“You can’t promise me that,” she whispered.

“I know.”

Thessa sighed and stood. “We should get to it.”

Across the room, beside the now flameless candle, sat her grimoire. Well, the rebellion’s grimoire, she supposed. She paced over and sat down.

“I have a better idea,” Soren crooned from the bedroll.

“No, absolutely not.” She glanced over her shoulder to witness the pitiful look on his beautiful face. “Come sit. And bring your tinderbox.” Thessa patted the rug beside her after crossing her legs.

Opening the book, her fingers tabbed worn parchment until arriving on Illusion Spells.

Soren lit the candle, illuminating the text.

They’d been going page by page over the week. Three-quarters of the way in, these were the first set of spells worth saving.

Thessa asked, “These are impossible, was she able to get them to work?”

“Of course, she was a master of spellcrafting. Well, forbidden spells.”

“She must’ve loved you, a Multiplicity Spell interwoven with your magic is …”

“Is what?”

She eyed him. “Captivating.”

“That is the first compliment you’ve given me without my mouth on your?—”

Thessa put her finger over his lips. “Don’t.”

Soren removed it, grinning.

“Are you truly unable to think of anything else?”

“Is it such a bad thing?” he countered.

Undoubtedly, yes.

Her body was molten around him. And worse, her heart was becoming the same. Thessa scratched the thought and said, “We have work to do.” Flipping the page, there it was. The dark feminine figure with raven-like wings she’d seen with Leora. “Who is that? ”

“The goddess of night, of course.”

Thessa leaned in close, inspecting the image. “How do you know it’s her?”

“ They may obsess over Hekate in this realm, but we were raised to worship Nyx. Eiliana drew this, she always drew her.”

“You mean to say our goddess had wings?”

“Some think she flew. Others say she drove a horse-led chariot. You know how legends go.”

Thessa stared at the drawing of her make-shift mother for a little longer before flipping the page. “Another Communication Spell,” she murmured.

Soren flipped the next page. “Another Enchantment Spell.”

Thessa groaned, gesturing for him to flip.

Soren paused, tapping the page. “This Protection Spell could be useful. Especially for the Botanical and Celestial witches with us.”

She worried about Leora every single day. Sure, she had distractions , but every sighting of the McPorter family had reminded her of the others. “I should write them.”

“You can’t, they’re moving soon. They rotate locations the morning after every Blood Moon, just like this one.”

That’s a couple days away. “Where are they going next? I’ll write them there.”

“A location was scouted closer to Gravenport, that’s all I know. We keep our messenger service vague—in case of interception.”

“So we’ve sent them north, just for them to hike back south?”

His eyes narrowed. “How else would we have warned the northern half of the rebellion about what happened down here? About the possibility of war? ”

Her heartbeats rang in her ear. “War? Soren, they’re trusting us. Trusting me . With everything.”

“What did you think all of this would lead to?”

She shook her head in denial.She’d been led into a web of lies. “Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”

He stood with haste, pacing the room. “I’ve been force-fed command and combat training since before you were born. I know how to mediate delicate circumstances, and not everyone has to like how I do it. Keeping our kind hidden, this secret, is my only priority. The less anyone knows, until they need to know it, the better.”

Her blood was boiling. “Okay General Whitfield, the lying and conniving rebellion leader.”

“What’s gotten into you?” His voice was laced with anger.

Thessa stood on wobbly legs. “They deserve the truth. Everyone does.”

“I instructed Wayland to share the necessary details before we left. Your friends are likely taking it better than you .”

Thessa huffed. “So they know it’s a rebellion, and not just an encampment? About the possibility of war?”

He nodded. “Can you please sit back down now?”

“How long until the capital retaliates?”

“Considering a new carriage of soldiers arrives at my property and the McPorter’s every third day, they’re bound to suspect an uprising.”

“Is that where you’ve been sneaking off to? You said you had meetings.”

“Only to hear the reports from our spies. You didn’t think the capital would just give up?”

She was unnerved. “So we’re moving north, is it?”

Another nod .

“But what if we didn’t have to fight? What if the Supremes were open to a negotiation?”

Soren let out a small laugh. “The Supremes don’t want to talk, and I do not want to talk to them. I want to kill them.”

“You wouldn’t try? If they’re expecting an uprising, then what’s the difference?”

“I would be too busy killing them to talk, is the difference.”

She rolled her eyes. “Then what about all the innocents in the capital? Will you at least warn them?”

Soren stood, towering over her. “No one is innocent in Gravenport.”

“You can’t possibly mean that. I’m from Gravenport.”

“That’s different.”

Thessa crossed her arms. “It’s entirely not different,” she snapped. “There are Celestial and Botanical witches living there. Witchlings, Soren. What about the Elementals that are forced to stay and don’t want to? Think about the McPorters.”

He lifted his chin. “With every battle comes casualties.”

Thessa scrunched her brows. “That’s not good enough.”

He tilted his head to the side and asked, “Are you sure you don’t want to lead this army?”

“If it means being anything like you, then I’m positive I don’t.”

“Then you’ll sit back down and do as I say.”

She wondered who was standing across from her? All the warmth was drained from his face, his tone ... everything. She’d put trust into someone she barely knew. Too much trust.

Again.

She did this to herself, again.

Her lips trembled .

What have I done ?

Without another thought her legs were moving. She was tearing through the tent flaps and pounding dirt beneath her bare feet. She flew through the center of camp, sprinted through an alleyway of canvas, and stopped short before the group of horses.

Hades was grazing beside Ares, as usual. Grabbing her leathers from a stump, she rushed over, threw the saddle on her and mounted. There was no time for a bridle.

Thessa grabbed the mane and roared, “Go.”

Hades bucked into a canter, bypassing a walk. Thessa’s mind buzzed while they flossed through trees and into the never-ending fields of Wilcrest. She knew this land well by now. The ground shifted from blades of green to a honeybee’s dream as she neared the sea.

The sound of strong hoofbeats thundered from behind her. A peek over her shoulder revealed Ares closing in. Thessa cursed the setting sun.

Reaching the cliff’s edge, she dismounted, tied Hades as quickly as she could, and started scaling the rocks. She needed to be alone. Soren was controlling and arrogant, and most of all, a liar.

“Thessa, stop,” Soren shouted down, seated astride a restless Ares.

“Why are you following me?”

“Why are you running away?” he countered.

“Just leave me alone. I need space,” she yelled as her feet landed on the smooth sand. “And don’t follow me.” He needed to let her have this.

Soren yelled back, “You shouldn’t go in there this late.”

“Just go away,” she bellowed from the shoreline.

He went silent.

Good .

Ducking into the sea cave Soren had taken her to when she first came to Wilcrest, Thessa crashed to her knees. Tears welled in eyes, but she’d be damned if they fell. Setting her forehead down, she formed a shell with her body and breathed. The cool, damp air soothed her, but the smell of salt air and fresh moss were too strong.

It reminded her too much of him .

She lifted her head, regretting her choice to come here. But it wasn’t like she had many places to go. She eyed the back of the cave, where the walls tapered into darkness. Desperate for a distraction, escape, or whatever it was she needed, Thessa stood.

One step at a time, she crossed the threshold she was told not to, entering a cavernous tunnel. The farther she walked, the less light there was. Even the air was heavier as water dripped down from the walls.

She was careful, avoiding the sharp, stony deposits scattered above and below her. Bending with the cave, she followed the path into … nothingness. Curiosity be damned, she kept going, running her fingers across the wet stone and dodging rocks along the way.

Eventually, the tight space led to steps.

Steps?

She ascended slowly.

They led to a chamber, but it was too dark to see anything. Thessa squinted, letting her eyes adjust.

Hundreds of thousands of tiny pearl-like eggs filled the space, and the largest serpent she’d ever seen—bigger than her—was curled atop them. Its forked tongue flicked once.

Then twice.

It launched.