Empress Uprising

Chapter 3

*Thea*

As Zane and I run down the well-beaten path in the wood toward the lake I can not help but reminisce about all the times we have done this over the years. Zane always challenges me to a race in one way or the other. He likes competition a little too much I think. I am naturally faster than he is, but sometimes he will use his magik to help slow me down and get the edge. Rainy days or after the rain are when he likes to play with his magik the most. He likes to freeze the water and make me slip and slide. He uses it to catch up and pass me. Today is not his day though. Clear skies and dry land. I make it to the lakefront first and bent over to catch my breath as he shows up. He pulls out two bottles of water from his bookbag, uses his magik to make them ice-cold, and hands me one. I drink it all in just a few gulps.

" Thank you", I tell him., " I really needed that."

" I figured you would.", he responds as he takes his shirt, shoes, and socks off and heads for the lake. I am just now noticing that he wore his swimming trunks. I go through my own bag and bring out my dress, clean underwear, and bra. Set them on a flat clean rock near the forest edge. I will use the forest as cover to change once I am clean again. I go back to my back and pull out my soap bar. I use my sports bra to hold it and take off my shoes, socks, and shorts. I place them back in my backpack and start toward the lake myself. Zane is already splashing around and playing with his magik in the water. When I get close he shoots a tiny stream of water at me. Nothing more than what would come out of a toy water gun kids play with. He never hurts me with his magik. He only uses it in playful ways. In fact, I don't even think he uses it much in front of anyone but me, and sometimes Hilda. Hilda will join us rarely when Kora is away on coven business. The two of them get along just fine. Unlike her mom, Hilda is compassionate and really just looks out of the people around her as best she can without crossing Kora.

I shake off thoughts of Hilda not being here and wade into the water. Once I get to the water reached my hips I drive under to get my hair wet. When I come back up Zane is just looking at me. " Why are you being creepy, Zane?", I ask him.

" I am not being creepy. I am thinking about how this is the last time we will swim in this lake. This is the last morning we will have fun together. I am also thinking of how Hilddie is not here with us.", he says with a frown on his face.

" I know, I was thinking the same thing right before I got in the lake.", I respond. Everyone thinks that Zane has a crush on me. We are like siblings though. We know everything about each other. Have been each other sole companion on more than one occasion. We never had the chemistry even if either of us ever thought about it. Sometimes I do think he is the only one who really loves me though. He however has been deeply in love with Hilda since we were children. Of course, Hilda could never accept or even acknowledge him. Even if she wanted to. Which I am honestly not sure if she does return his feelings. It is a subject we all avoid. " That's ok we will see her later at the ceremony and again at the party. Maybe you can ask her to dance?".

" Kora would flip out.", he retorts as he splashes water at me with his hand.

"Won't know unless you try. Now stop playing around I need to wash.". I pull out my bar of soap and see Zane roll his eyes.

" You know we have running water back in the village?", he asks me with a smirk on his face. " I never understood why you always bathe in the lake.

I start washing my hair as I respond, " Yes, I know this. Kora likes to turn the water heater off when she knows I am in the shower. I usually don't have the time to bathe before she gets home, so during spring and summer it's just more convenient to bathe here after my run in the morning."

Zane starts swimming around after that while I finished washing my hair and body. I wonder who will be going with me tomorrow. I fear Zane will be sent just due to his association with me. He also does not show his full magik range around the coven. I have noticed no witch or warlock that has significant magik is ever sent. It is mostly the ones who either have weak magik or show no signs of being able to control their magik. Also a few with moderate use of magik. I do not understand how Kora picks who she will send as recruits. If I was to guess it has something to do with keeping power. Everyone knows those that are chosen as recruits never return. Even if we don't hear of their deaths. They still never show face back in the coven again.

As I dip back to rinse out my hair Zane makes the water act as a mini waterfall over my head. I think he may have been trying to annoy me, but it helped instead. Zane laughs and shoves an undercurrent toward my feet. I release my feet and float for a minute till I feel the water stop flowing under me and return to normal. " You know that is cheating? You know I can not use mine.", I pout at him.

" Ah, don't whine. I'll stop and play fair. Human rules only. I swear. No magik.", he tells me with a smile on his face.

We make our way over to the lake edge and get out. We both head toward a rock to sit and dry out on.

" So what did Kora buy you this time. Did she finally just go a by a normal box this time?"

" Basically. I wonder how itchy it will be this time."

" Have you ever tried washing them before putting them on? You know how she is. She could have put anything on them, Thea."

I do not know why I had not thought about that. I do not believe in coincidences. Every time I get a dress that is meant for making me presentable I itch though. The only thing in common with all the articles of clothing is Kora. I get up and go over to the stack of clean clothing I have near the forest and pick up the dress. I also pick up the underwear as it has been in close contact with the dress. I carry it all over to the Lake and start to wash it all with my bar of soap. Zane comes over and helps me scrub and rinse it all. The dress has a milky-colored flow of water running out of it. My underwear does not. SO I was right she is running my special event clothing in something before giving them to me. But what? and why? Well, the why is easy actually. She takes pleasure in making me uncomfortable. Being born was my sin against Kora.

Sometimes I found myself feeling pity for Kora. It is not like I choose to be born. I am sure I am a constant reminder that her husband was not faithful to her. In truth, I am not sure how I would act if I was betrayed like she was. She is a full-blooded witch and it makes sense that she would not accept a mate bond as reasoning for infidelity. Again though, I did not choose any of this. Shouldn't Theo be the one punished for my existence, not me? I tank Zane for helping me and take the clothing back to the rock by the lake to dry off as it is in the sun's light more than the rock near the forest. I have the time to wait for it to dry.

As Zane and I wait for my clothing to dry we lay on the grass and talk about who we think will be going with me to the training camp. As well as rumors we have heard growing up about what happens at the training camp. They are only rumors though as the only ones who have gone to the camp and made it back are the leaders of each community. Zane believes he will be sent as well. That makes me happy because I may have someone I know and trust there. It also makes me sad too though. I do not like the thought of Zane on a battlefield. His competitive nature usually tends to bring out his impulsive side as well. I want him to stay alive and have a family and kids. A full happy life.

I stare at the bracelet knowing today is the last day I have to wear it and then tell Zane about the conversation with Theo this morning. Zane finds it odd as well. He tells me not to worry he will make sure I have support at the time. He believes that we should not take Theo's warning lightly. I agree. Theo has had these moments in the past. Times where he seems to be trying to help me. Some I have listened to. Others I ignored. It is getting closer to time for the announcement ceremony and if we are late there will be hell to pay. I get up and go to my clothing. It is mostly dry. I take it to the woods to change and see Zane going to the far side with his backpack. I assume to do the same thing I am doing. We will get through the rest of this day together, and maybe he is right. Maybe he will be going to the training camp with me. I know Kora thinks he is weak. It feels wrong but the thought does make me happy.