Talent

  Chapter 9

  After initial training where everyone was learning to centre themselves, build power within, and get used to their particular strengths, before trying to use other ones, some had gone home and collapsed with exhaustion from being up all night, others had decided to keep going. In the early hours of the morning, Lily and Micala were two of those who had kept running on the adrenaline of what was happening.

  Micala’s room on Campus wasn’t like Rebecca’s. She didn’t need to share, and it was more like a box than anything else. The bed collapsed into an alcove in the wall, and Micala had done a good job of making the space comfortable. As Lily and Micala sat on the floor in a meditational stance, they basked in the flickering glow of twenty or so candles, and incense burned in the corner. Heavy curtains, one of Micala’s best investments for the room, prevented daylight from disturbing the two. They had been practicing in turns since breaking from the group and it had been paying off, so neither felt like stopping for sleep just yet. They both tested themselves across the areas Keterlyn had spoken of – telekinesis, transportation, wish fulfillment, location of things and people across time, harnessing energy and illusion.

  Lily concentrated, eyes closed. “So mote it be!” she announced as her eyes flickered open, her pupils dilating. About them, the room transformed into a bayou type setting. Looking around, the two were delighted.

  “That’s fantastic!” Micala encouraged. Keen to show off herself, Micala gave a cheeky grin. “You want to see something else?” Lily nodded eagerly. “Hide something. Anything.” Micala asked of Lily. Lily took a ring off, placed it in her palm and encircled it with her fist before closing her eyes once more. Opening her palm Micala saw it was gone.

  “Ah a challenge.” Micala said, expecting Lily was going to hide it in the apartment itself. Micala picked up a pen and paper from under her desk and started to sketch.

  At first she sketched a door with a sign above it ‘Duffy’s’ – a bar.

  Sketching harder over the top, Micala’s eyes flickered between half closed and open; her breathing became harder. It was of a layout of the inside of the bar, a rough approximation of the bar areas itself, the stage, the seating area and the bathrooms and kitchen. Next Micala took off the pendant necklace she had around her throat, and hovered it over the sketch. Holding it delicately, the pendant oscillated over the bar, at first fast, then more slowly and in ever constricting circles until it dropped like a lead weight over a table in the far corner.

  “No way!” Lily cried out clearly impressed. She closed her fist again and the ring discretely disappeared from where she had transported it – the now closed for business Duffy’s. “Teach me.” She said bouncing on the spot and slipping the ring back on her finger.

  “Sure,” Micala granted before looking down at her lap. “But Lily, what’s your take on all of this?”

  Eyes wide, lily didn’t even bother hide being ecstatic. “It’s the best thing that ever happened to me. And my Mom. For the first time, I can think about doing whatever I want. I’m not stressing all the time.”

  “You aren’t worried about this guy Lor?” Micala asked peering up through her dark lashes.

  Lily shook her head very definitely. “I worried about everything for so long. I don’t care anymore. There’s nothing he or anything else can do to me that compares to the last few years.”

  Micala nodded slowly before agreeing. “It is incredible. I didn’t really think that going to that meeting would really change anything, but it changed everything.”

  Lily was confused about why Micala looked so despondent about something so incredible. It was overwhelming though Lily validated. “So, you going to show me how to find things or what?” she said to detract Micala from the sudden change in mood. “We can keep the deep and meaningful for another time.”

  Micala smiled again. “Yeah, but then I have to sleep. Are you ready?” Micala took one of Lily’s hands and pressed the pen in to it.

  A couple of hours later, Keterlyn was walking the campus corridors holding four large library books as though nothing had happened. She was feeling rather good about everything though. It had all come to a head, and it made her feel light on her feet. She could do as she wished now, and as soon as she had the coven properly set up and trained, they could decide who would live where, the details of when and where they would meet.

  Daniel dashed up behind her tapping her on the shoulder, but when she spun around, he had ducked to the other side. Daniel seemed in a particularly jovial mood, and that was to be expected. The rush of experiencing the magic, and seeing everything it could bring, played havoc with the brain chemistry. The adrenaline surge, the need to accept the fantastic. Some people near spun out of control with excitement, others collided with depression as they came to terms with the new information. .

  “Now you’re the one appearing out of nowhere.” Keterlyn joked as she resumed walking again, Daniel keeping pace beside her.

  “I needed the element of surprise.” He started.

  Keterlyn raised an eyebrow. “Oh oh.” she said half serious. From the glint in his eye, she knew what he was going to say next.

  “I’m going to ask you out, on another date, but I think you’re going to come up with some kind of excuse.” Keterlyn gave him a woeful look, but undeterred Daniel continued. “I don’t know if you just kissed me to get me to come to the circle – I don't care, but I think we could be good together.”

  Keterlyn let a smile escape. “It is a recruitment strategy I hadn’t considered.”

  “So that wasn’t why you kissed me?” Daniel pounced upon her phrase and it dug under her skin that she was so easy to read. Keterlyn was tired of playing it aloof, batting back chances to be with people, to connect, rather than just co-exist in a mutually beneficial co-dependency that mirrored a parasitic relationship.

  Trying to save herself, Keterlyn pressed her lips together before correcting him. “No, but I need to be clear, we can’t have any kind of relationship.”

  “Because I’m your student?” Daniel enquired. “Because it would be complicated? I can do complicated.”

  “Because I’m going to keep living long after you’re dead.” Keterlyn bluntly stated. The reality check worked. Daniel stiffened and looked more serious.

  “You really know how to put things into perspective.” he said.

  “It’s a gift.” Keterlyn said lightly.

  Thoughtful, Daniel walked ahead of Keterlyn slightly and turned into her path. She stopped finally and looked back at him. “What if you do die? I mean, what if Lormorian finds you, or something else. Anytime anyone thinks they are untouchable, something proves them wrong.”

  Pausing before responding Keterlyn simply regarded Daniel back neutrally. “Karma.” She said eventually and brushed past Daniel to continue to class, though she walked more slowly.

  “I know it well.” Daniel played along as he caught up with Keterlyn again. “Anytime I ever tried to sneak a peak in the girls dressing room in high school, I would get pummeled.”

  “The guys were that protective huh?”

  “No – the girls, once they caught me, it got nasty. Never did learn though.”

  Finally, to Daniel’s pleasure Keterlyn smiled fully. If nothing else, he was determined to get a yes from Keterlyn, now or tomorrow, or the next day. Whenever he managed to wear down her pretences. He knew, at the end of the day, she liked him as much as he liked her.

  About the same time, Anise and Rebecca were having coffee together at the café on campus. Anise had organized the get together and Rebecca had very suspiciously accepted. Given her recent experience with her flatmate, Rebecca was more apprehensive than usual about trusting others, however recognized the need to band together with the group she now had something forcibly in common with.

  Anise cut to the chase. “So I thought we might be useful to each other.”

  “I was surprised when you asked me here. Knew there had to be someth
ing.”

  Suddenly Anise sounded hurt. “What do you mean?”

  “As if someone like you would want to spend time with a social pariah like me.” Rebecca bit back.

  Anise pushed on past the scathing accusations and self depreciation. Anise was a woman of reason after all. “The way I see it, we are all bonded, like family. We have to work together like family. Find ways of making and keeping the peace.”

  “I’m interested.” Said Rebecca, fast becoming aware she needed to find a way to make the extra rent now she was living on her own, and wish fulfillment was something she was yet to even be able to play with.

  “You are good at the reading minds, sensing energies from objects and things. I’m good at transporting, wish mongering.”

  “And?” Rebecca encouraged, leaning forward to embrace her coffee.

  “So I thought I could help you practice, you help me, we get better together.” Just as Rebecca was contemplating the arrangement, Rebecca’s chair was knocked by another girl, a tall, lean and over made up girl with heels higher that her IQ was likely to be given the smart tongue in cheek look she shot Rebecca.

  Clearly the knock was on purpose because as soon as the girl and her friend sat down, the comments started flowing.

  The girl coughed into her menu, and as she did the word “Freak.” Came from her mouth. Anise frowned. Rebecca stewed.

  The friend who sat in the chair which had it’s back to Rebecca used a high pitch mocking tone to produce her jibe. “I see dead people!” she mocked. Rebecca’s fists clenched and Anise gave her a warning look.

  “Becca!” cautioned Anise, but it was too late.

  Rebecca was going to make wish fulfillment work for her. She was sick of it. The taunting, the lack of insight, the stupidity and ignorance. She ground her teeth together, closed her eyes like they had been taught to help focus. “Ugly within, is ugly without, why don’t you blemish and sprout.” Rebecca hissed under her breath.

  The tall girl at the next table screamed and jumped up from her chair. Rebecca gave a smug smile, but the girl had shrieked at Rebecca. Anise stood slowly, alarm spelt clearly on her face as she rose, staring at Rebecca across the table.

  While Anise and Rebecca were having coffee, and Keterlyn and Daniel were dawdling towards a lecture she was already late for, Ashleigh and Abel were sitting through an economics lecture. Everywhere students, who had to take the course as a compulsory unit, were drifting off to sleep, or doodling pictures of plants. Molly was in the same lecture, but across the room, and distracted by watching Ashleigh and Abel, and their casual manner. She wasn’t used to common, casual relationships, and the new dynamic of this ongoing bond between all of them was taking Molly into unknown territory. She may have been a member of a coven before, but this was different. They would always be relying on eachother and they didn’t even know how trustworthy eachother was. It troubled her, and it occurred to her she should make more of an effort to fit in, to be close. She nodded to herself, oblivious to the lecture content.

  Meanwhile, Ashleigh and Abel attempted to keep their eyelids prized open. Neither were concerned about Molly, or Molly’s concerns about everyone else’s trustworthiness, needing to bond, or what it meant about changing their lives, because the two of them had been team players for a very long time. Ashleigh had helped on the property she lived on, had been playing sports for years, and had always been involved with groups. Abel had always had his family as his tight knit team. He lied for them, with them, he had created impenetrable bonds with his brothers to keep them safe, and then been playing as part of a team which taught him a lot about accepting people for who they were, but trusting, when it came down to it that they would all pull together. As such, neither of them shared any of Molly’s concerns.

  “My brain is going to fall out if he keeps talking like that.” Abel mumbled staring forward on automatic pilot.

  “You mean in that monotone, blood curdling way that only a statistics lecturer can pull off?” Ashleigh added as she stared at the front of the lecture hall equally unenthused.

  Just then, Will snuck through the door and sat behind them, unnoticed by the lecturer who was as dispassionate about attendance rates as he appeared to be about the content.

  Will looked keyed up as Ashleigh gave him a sly look. “You were supposed to meet us before class to study.” Ashleigh scolded.

  “I was studying.” Will stated, an untrustworthy tone in his voice. He pulled out a bag of herbs and white powder mixed together.

  Abel turned to face Will, his interest tweaked. “What is that?” he asked of Will.

  Suddenly interested, the lecturer turned from his whiteboard to shout at Will and Abel. Ashleigh slid deeper into her chair. “People, please try and stay on track. One of the things wrong in this world is that no one can do basic math anymore. Help me help you.”

  Abel made a face and Will gave a smug smile as the lecturer turned back to his material. Producing a granulated dust from the bag he held, Will palmed some, then held his palm out towards the lecturer. Abel and Ashleigh gave an alarmed expression, Abel looking about to see who was looking. Only Molly looked on, bolt upright in her chair, and wide accusing eyes meeting Abel’s. Will blew the dust from his palm towards the lecturer.

  Dusting his hands off as the herbal mix floated through the air, Will sat back confident. “This guy needs to cut loose.” Was all Will said.

  “What did you do?" Ashleigh asked trying not to sound accusing.

  Will just shrugged.

  The lecturer breathed in some of the powder, and braced himself on the table. He appeared to be having trouble with the temperature, fanning himself and sweating.

  The few students paying attention looked concerned for him. Molly was the only one who spoke up though. “Are you alright sir?”

  “Fine, fine.” dismissed the lecturer as he loosened his tie. He took a sip of water, and leaned back against the desk, instead of bracing himself on it. He seemed much more relaxed. “Anyone have an I-pod on them?” he asked, almost indifferently.

  Outside the same lecture hall Ashleigh, Abel, Will and Molly were in, a teacher walked by surprised by the music blasting through the usually tame doors to the economics lecture. Having a double take, the teacher went to the door and cracked it open to peak inside.

  The economics lecturer had the floor, dancing to “Move it” as the students sang the chorus in astonished amusement to spur him on. The bell rings out and the students left including Will and Ashleigh who were laughing, and Abel following more solemn behind them. A stoic Molly appeared standing in front of them. Will and Ashleigh stopped laughing and became grim.

  “That was seriously…awesome!” Molly said, and snickered along with Will and Ashleigh. Abel pushed past, pausing to speak with them before walking away.

  “That was risky. No public displays she said. Nothing obvious. I just got my game back, I don’t want to lose it over game playing in class.” With that, Abel disappeared in to the crowd, giving Will, Ashleigh and Molly something to think about.

  “We should find Keterlyn before he does and tell her.” Ashleigh reasoned.

  Keterlyn, who had abandoned interest in making the next class ignored the bell as she walked with Daniel. She strolled, almost enamored by Daniel’s continuous efforts to get her to agree to going out with him.

  “So I should date you in case I die? That’s your argument?” Keterlyn asked of his last comment that she may die in spite of her immortality.

  “Yeah. Why not?” he teased as Anise rushed up, interrupting them with her fearful stare. She towed Rebecca behind her, but she had a shirt over her head. Daniel and Keterlyn both gave a surprised look. Partially pulling back the material, Rebecca revealed her face. It was covered in peeling skin and her eyebrows were missing, with large sores and heavy hair growth down the sides of her usually porcelain skin. Micala turned up then, eyes bulging from lack of sleep, and a tall energy drink in her hand. Seeing Rebecca
, she had to cast her eyes in another direction.

  “See –“ Keterlyn accused. “Karma strikes again. Didn’t I say, don’t misuse the power or it comes back on you.”

  “Speaking of,” Micala started, I had a few questions. Micala reached out for Keterlyn and took her hand as though pleading for her attention. Keterlyn looked back at Micala. “I have a few questions.” Micala urged.

  “I can’t now, I have to sort this out.” Turning back to Rebecca, Keterlyn scolded her with every inch of her silent communication. “Let’s get you out of sight and fixed up.”

  Keterlyn took Rebecca by the arm and escorted her away, leaving Anise, Micala and Will to stand watching them walk away as Abel arrived behind them.

  Later that night at the park where they now practiced, the group, a well healed Rebecca included all waited. Most knew they were in trouble and the rest scornfully milled about waiting for Keterlyn.

  “There are not a lot of rules.” Keterlyn’s voice sounded out, but she was yet to be seen. As people looked for her, the tree shook, leaves falling to the ground about them. Slowly, imperceptibly slowly, Keterlyn emerged from the tree, her figure recognizable at first, then her features, then finally, she pulled free from the trunk and stepped into the midst of the group, holding a dark bag.

  “Do not be seen. Be inconspicuous. Don’t actively aim to hurt someone unless in self defense. That’s it. Was there anything left unclear in that department?”

  Surprisingly, Zara, who had been most compliant, most accommodating stepped forward. “What if only a couple of people see something? How does that work?”

  “If it is not enough to ripple the essential fabric of understanding for the mass group, if it isn’t enough for people to doubt what they know to be true, it won’t cause a problem. It’s only when people start doing ridiculous things that cannot be explained away that there exists a risk.” Keterlyn shot Will a blaming glance. “Any more questions?” she barked. After a silent pause, Keterlyn threw the bag on to the ground. “OK, question time is over. It’s time to start practicing properly.”

  Tempest, who was nearest the bag knelt and opened it up, appearing surprised to pull out a notebook.

  “No good without these.” Keterlyn added, tossing him a box of pens.

  “Ah, magical pens.” Lily said in mock assuredness.

  Keterlyn looked over towards her unresponsive. Lily squirmed, the humour suddenly seeming particularly childish. “Not quite.” Keterlyn indicated. “You will have to study, practice. These notebooks are the first tool you will need to memorise every herb, every phase of the moon, record potions, spells and talents you might possess and want to grow.”

  “Yay, study…” Anise uttered sarcastically. Tempest passed her a pen and notebook.

  Keterlyn was unphased. “We start with safety, with protection.”

  Will fought from groaning. “Why do I get the feeling this is going to be tougher than finals?”

  “Somehow,” Micala added quietly. “I get the feeling that if you don’t study it could be your finals…”

  Keterlyn turned towards Daniel who watched her unquestioning and patient, as though he completely understood. “So let’s get down to it.” Keterlyn insisted. “You have a bank of skills that you can harness. Some are more natural to you than others, which will need more practice. Most will involve manipulating the elements around you…of all of these skills and experiences, it is vital you meet it with maturity, or you are going to lose the gifts I have given you.” Keterlyn raised a hand and the tree near her bends toward her, vines on its trunk entwining around her arm. “Harness them and you can do as you will….but harm none.” Everyone looked at her attentively. “Write it down.” She instructed, and everyone turned to their books and made notes. “Living energy, plants, the sun, the moon, and phases are where we will start, and their link with personal protection of course.” Looking over at Daniel, he didn’t take notes. He just looked at her, content, and she didn’t correct him. He knew, she got it, and anything she said, he wouldn’t have to take notes.