Chapter 16
1287 Words
16
“Exceptional,” Var breathed, both excitement and terror flickering in his eyes. “Magnificent.”
His voice brought me back to the situation at hand and away from the pride welling in my chest. I could marvel in that later.
He tapped his chin. “So much better than I expected.”
“How dare you.”
He laughed out loud. “Oh, Ylva. You’re everything I hoped you would be and more.”
Anger raged through me. “Why are you still talking?”
The old man smoothed his cape and shot me a look of pity. “Don’t be so pissy. I wasn’t actually going to hurt your wolf. I only did it to help. This.” He gestured to me. “You found your inner wings.”
“Shut up,” I growled.
“Now, now. Is that really how you’re going to thank me?”
My anger hissed. “Thank you? You stole my wolf. You flogged me. You threatened to hurt Hyde! I should kill you.”
He shook his head and rolled his eyes. “But I’ve helped you unlock your powers. Even if you’re a Shadow Walker, I hadn’t expected to see your true colours so soon. You’re truly exceptional.”
My heart froze. “What did you just say?”
“Aha. You didn’t think you could hide what you are from me, did you?”
“How did you know?”
“Why do you think I have wings?” He shot me a conspiratorial smile. “I’m just like you.”
Curiosity warred with my anger, battling for dominance. I should rip his head off for what he did to me, but then I couldn’t ask him all the questions I had about this. Me.
He walked around me, his voice low. “I can teach you all about it. How to use it, how to control it.”
“I don’t need your help.” I stretched my wings as broad as they would go, making sure Hyde was behind me. “I got what I came for.”
“Are you scared? Scared to discover just how special you are?” he whispered.
“I’m not scared.”
“Yes, you are. I can see it in your eyes. You know how rare we are, how desirable this Shadow magic is.”
“My teacher said it was cursed magic.”
He shook his head. “Of course she said that. You have a power within you, one they can only dream of. This isn’t a curse. It’s a gift. They tell you not to use it because they fear you. They make you hide it like a dirty secret, but deep down, they just want to steal it. They want it for their own.”
The silver eyes of Ryuga’s obsessive rage flashed through my memory.
As if he read my thoughts, Var clicked his tongue. “Ah. Someone has already tried to take it from you. I can see it.”
“Perhaps.”
“You and I, we could do great things. Let me teach you, Ylva. Let me show you the secrets of the Shadow magic.”
I bit my lip. “I don’t know…”
“Are you a coward?”
“No!”
“It seems to me like you are.” Disappointment flitted through his eyes as he fastened his cape. “I don’t have time for cowards.”
“Wait!” The words left my mouth before I could stop them. Traitorous mouth.
“Yes?”
“I’ll let you teach me.”
A Cheshire grin stretched across his features, but before he could speak, I cut him off.
“But. There’s a but. You’ll let the stolen wolves leave with me. Now.”
He took a moment to consider my offer and then extended his hand. “Deal.”
Triumph curled through me. That was easy. Maybe too easy…
“Wait, why are you giving in so easily? How do you know I’ll come back?” I challenged.
His dark eyes twinkled knowingly. “The wolves are of no use to me if I have you as a disciple. And you’re too curious for your own good. You won’t be able to resist.”
He had a point. Even without the wolves as hostages, I wanted to learn more about the Shadow magic. And from someone who didn’t want to keep me hidden from the world or tried to take my power for themselves.
Despite my dislike for him, I reached out to shake his hand. “Then we have a new deal.”
“Splendid.” He reached into his coat and handed me a small silver key. “Your wolves.”
“What am I supposed to do with that?” The metal was cold on my palm, but the weight was reassuring.
“Go to the Veil. The key will bring you to the right place.”
I snorted. “And how do you expect me to go there?”
He shot me a sceptical look. “You have wings. Use them.”
“I don’t know how,” I admitted. To hide the blushes on my cheek, I crouched down next to Hyde and scratched him between his ears. I missed him so much.
The small pup growled happily and pushed his head against my palm, desperate for more fuss. His red eyes beamed in contentment now that he was safe with me. This was how it was meant to be.
Var sighed. “Are you going to the Veil or not?”
“I told you, I don’t know how.”
“Fine. You’re clueless for a Valkyrie student. I guess this is lesson one then. The Veil is everywhere, you just have to know how to find it. How to connect to it. Use your Shadow magic and your natural affinity. You’ll feel the draw, you’ll see it. Concentrate on the world around you.”
I peered around me, trying to locate the signature grey smoke of the Veil. Where was I supposed to see this? In the trees? In the grass?
“Yeah, I see nothing,” I admitted begrudgingly.
“Then look at your wolf.”
“Hyde?” Surprised that he dared mention my dusk, I turned my attention back to him. “What about him?”
“Don’t you see anything different?”
I raised an eyebrow and glared at Var. “He’s bigger than when I saw him last.”
“Besides that.”
“Ummm…” I dangled my fingers above Hyde’s head and scratched him behind his ear. He was just so cute, I could smoosh his little face. In fact, I wanted to boop him on the nose. “Boop.”
Var sighed. “Focus, Ylva.”
“It’s your fault I missed out on time with him.”
“And you’ll have plenty more time for that, but your wings are retracting.”
“Fine.” I ruffled Hyde’s fur and pressed a kiss on his belly. “So what am I supposed to be seeing?”
“The Veil. That’s why shadow animals are so convenient as a companion. They have a natural connection to the Veil and you can see it around their paws or their tail.”
“Huh.” Now that he said it, I noticed the tiniest curl of smoke swirling around Hyde’s left paw. It was barely a whisper, but it was most certainly there. Did he always have that? “I can see it.”
“Focus on it, connect with it. Your dusk is young, but he’ll know what to do. He’ll be your guide.”
Intrigued, I brushed my fingers through the smoke. The familiar sensation of the Veil came over me, even if I was standing in the middle of the forest. Slowly, the colours leaked out of my surroundings until everything was grey. When all the colour was gone, the shapes began to blur and the shadows danced.
“Wait.” This was all going to fast. “What do I do when I’m in the Veil?”
“Use the key!” Var gestured to my hand, reminding me I had it.
“How do I get out?”
“Just—”
Before he could reply, the Veil swallowed the world and the darkness consumed the light. Var, Lick, the forest, they were all gone. Instead, the smoke of the Veil engulfed me, welcoming me in her cool embrace.
It was just me, Hyde, and a small silver key that was supposed to lead me to the other stolen wolves. Unless my new ‘mentor’ played another dirty trick on me and this was the beginning of my end.
I brushed my hand through Hyde’s fur, finding reassurance in his company. At least I wasn’t alone. I had him and together, we could do anything.
“Are you ready?” I asked, staring in his red eyes. “I thought so. Let’s do this.”
- Writer
