@blue_topaz
My eyes widened in shock. "Sorry, where did that come from?"
"Something's wrong," Scylla told me urgently.
"I realized, yeah." Had I done this to him? Or had something else? Someone else?
My eyes widened in shock. "Sorry, where did that come from?"
"Something's wrong," Scylla told me urgently.
"I realized, yeah." Had I done this to him? Or had something else? Someone else?
”Here’s what I don’t get,” I sighed, running a hand through my hair, knowing I was messing up. What the hell was wrong with me? ”What do you want from me? I think we’ve established that we both want nothing to do with each other. You made that clear the last time we spoke. And I’m trying to be civil, hence the ‘mood changes.’ I don’t know how to react around you. I’m trying, but I don’t know. At any rate, you came here for Scylla, not for me, and we both know you’d never have come if it wasn’t for your bondmate. So let’s just release her of her pain, and you can leave.”
That sounded more like Colton—the Colton suffering from pain. The heartbroken Colton.
I’m afraid she can see through me, Mistress. What should we do with her?
You came for Scylla, not for me.
Only because I was afraid. I still am.
We both want nothing to do with each other.
I know for certain that my half of that sentence is false. Is yours? Probably not.
And you can leave.
No. Goddammit, I don't want to walk away from you again.
"I–We need you to train us," I suddenly blurted, a faint note of unintentional Windsong mingling between the words before blowing away as if it had never existed. The small puddle on the floor from Colton's overturned glass began to slither towards me, fuelled by my rapidly mounting anxiety. "You're the only other Type A. Please. I don't know what could happen if you don't."
Perfect. Crisis diverted. She believed me. Thank you, Colton, for letting me use your emotions. I guess you can be of use.
“And what can I do to train you?” I turned away, sighing as if I was bothered. ”I’m not really sure what other things you need help with.”
Yet another mood change……..If Andreas were here, he'd probably ask if Colton was on his period to lighten the mood. Well, not out loud, whispered into my ear.
I was desperate by now, so I just kept talking. "More evolution stuff—anything. Scylla's different from most bondmates—and I need help with my control. And with sparring. Plus the fact that your father expects us to be working together."
After the little outburst, I let a half-lie slip. "I'm afraid of being found out. And of slipping up. And as much as I hate it, I need your help."
Meanwhile….
The woman laughed, her harsh laugh reverberating through his head. "Yes, this is perfect…. Agree, Colton. Bring your precious friend closer to me…. We need two Type As for this."
The control almost broke. The desperation in her voice made me almost crack, but the darkness pulled me in again. I was in control.
Yes, Mistress… As you command…
”… Okay…” I agreed begrudgingly, fisting my hair. ”I’ll help, so just get on with it already and start transferring energy.”
He agreed. He actually agreed. Relief flooded me, but I forced myself to keep calm. Scylla. Focus on Scylla.
"Alright. How do I do this?"
I slowly directed her, telling her to take the ring in her hand and focus on it. Make a path, let the energy flow like a small stream. Keep it steady, keep it simple.
I was horrified to admit I felt proud when she finally did it.
(Wait did he mention the ring before?)
(Wait did he mention the ring before?)
(Yeah xD)
(Wait, he did? Sorry my bad)
I was shaking the whole way through, battling back a mountain of stress and worries. The energy flower through me and into the ring like a clean stream, almost purifying in a way, and when I was finally finished, Scylla let out a whisper of relief.
I nodded in approval, pleased that she finally managed to do it. Almost immediately, Scylla got to her feet. Her eyes twinkled, as if she was free from the shackles. When I told Elle to keep the ring, I felt a familiar tug in my head.
No… you can’t give it away. Not that. Anything but that. That’s important to me…
I immediately shut the voice down.
Shut up, you worthless scum.
I felt like I was drowning in eternal darkness, shadows eating at me, not even a speck of light to be seen. It felt horrifying. It was terrifying. I didn’t want to be here, but I didn’t have the strength to pull myself out of here. I didn’t want to leave the terrifyingly pleasant darkness.
I don’t know what made me open my eyes, but I did. Darkness welcomed me, but I could hear the voice of someone I held dear. Someone who turned her back on me. Someone I couldn’t hold.
And then I felt something being snatched away from me.
”No…” I murmured in protest. *You can’t give it away. Not that. Anything but that. That’s important to me.
Shut up, you worthless scum.
And then the darkness swallowed me again.
“Keep it?” I stared down at the golden band in my palm, which pulsed softly with heat. “Are you… sure?”
When had this ring even come into his ownership? It was clearly a feminine ring, I recognized the trademark stamp on the inside, but…..
Oddly exhilarated from the new use of my power, I leaned back against my chair. His sister’s, maybe?
”Keep it,” I repeated. It was just a stupid ring. It was worthless to me. One thing I couldn’t get rid of. But something he held dear? Well, that was something I couldn’t not do. ”You’ll end up needing it, anyway.”
I let my eyes trace it for a moment before I slipped it onto the middle finger of my left hand—the only digit it fit.
“Thank you,” I answered cautiously, still guarded.
My heart skipped a beat when she slid the ring on her finger. God, I was controlling this body, so why was it reacting to something I didn’t feel? Why was it still wired to his brain? Why?
”Rest,” I finally ordered him. ”We can start your training tomorrow.”
For the millionth time, confusion flickered across my features. Were we back at square one, now? Like we’d been for the first few weeks? He was just going to pretend that he didn’t absolutely hate me? But I nodded and wrapped Scylla up in a tight hug, leading her from the room.
The second she left, I bent over, breathing harshly, taking deep breaths. What was that? Why was my body reacting this way? It was mine now. Why was it still reacting this way? That girl meant nothing to me!
[TIME SKIP - Elle’s POV, one day later]
Scylla was doing so much better after Colton’s treatment I’d sorts. No more windstorms, no more burning fever. She was safe, which meant that I was happy.
But despite the fortunate circumstances, I was also incredibly anxious. Ten minutes left until I had to meet Colton down at the armoury… What would it be like? Would we just be falsely polite, skirting around our previous interactions? Or would he assign me drills until I fainted (again)? Would he cut the bullshit and be straightforward about how he felt? There was no way to know except to wait.
When I finally arrived down at the armoury, I couldn’t see the Projce in question anywhere. Maybe he was late….? Or in a storage room..? Or maybe he’d forgotten.
I made my way down to the armory, Key nowhere to be seen. To be quiet honest, he was never with me. That ungrateful bondmate. I suppose I didn’t have any use for him. Yet.
Shaking my head, I entered the armory until my eyes landed on Elle. My expression hardened. She wanted to train? I’d give her that, then.
”Show me what you’ve learned,” I said, staring at her intently.
That was it. No greeting, no emotion. Just a hard, flat tone and an order. What else had I been expecting.
I carried a bucket of water over to were he stood and demonstrated each skill I’d learnt or taught myself since he had stopped training me, beginning with the easier tasks and working my way up.
”You’ve improved,” I commented. ”Your concentration has gotten better, too. Can you keep up a task through stress?”
And all of a sudden…. Colton was complimenting me? My head spun from the sudden change in demeanour, but I gathered the wits to seesaw a hand. “I’m better at it, but still not good. According to my teacher, my powers are linked directly to my emotions, for some reason. Same with Andreas.”
I nodded in understanding.
”Then perhaps that doesn’t exactly link to your losing control…” I murmured, mostly to myself. Interesting… Mistress would definitely love this bit of information. ”Do your abilities get stronger if you feel a powerful, positive emotion?”
Nodding in response, I stretched an arm for Scylla to perch on. “But again, it gets out of control. Too strong. I’m like…. a cracked vessel. Or one two small for the power. If that makes sense.”
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