Coveted

Denial

I woke up to swollen eyes and a pounding head. The images from my vision flooding back. I tried to make sense of what I saw. Did all that really happen? James came in carry a tray of food. I glared at him, but his face never showed any sign that he even noticed. He sat the tray down and said eat. "Like I would eat something you fixed. You trying to finish the job?". He just shrugged and sat the tray aside. "If I wanted you dead then you would be dead. Now are you ready to hear the truth?". I thought about spewing some sarcastic comment, but I needed to understand what the images I saw meant. So for once I held my tongue.

"There are beings that are magical like strigoi and lychan. Then there are those that manipulate the magic within them. The last are called sorcerers. Each sorcerer has a limited amount of magicsl energy. Once it's used up that's it."

"Your mother is a sorceress and your father was a sorcerer. It's forbidden for two sorcerers to mate. The resulting offspring is too powerful. In rare instances the child is born a Bandraoi. You are one of those rare cases."

My face is blank. I'm still processing the fact that there are magical beings and now he's telling me I'm one of them. "Hold up. Wouldn't I know if I had magical powers? What is a Bandraoi anyway? Next you're going to tell me to believe in Bigfoot.". His eyes flash with anger. I seemed to have hit a nerve.

"A Bandraoi is a sorceress who is able to channel the magic around them. Giving them unlimited power. Your father cast a powerful love spell on your mother. He was only using her to get you. He planned on controlling you and therefore your power. The love spell he cast was so strong it weakened him. Your mother's love for you broke the spell. She destroyed your father and bound your powers so no one could find you. She's been maintaining this spell your entire life. In so doing she used up her magic. Now she can no longer maintain her youth. She will soon die."

'No!", I scream. "There has to be something I can do. I have to go help her.". James pushes me back on the bed and says, "calm down. You can't even help yourself yet. That love spell your dad used is the same one that Mason is using on you.". I shake my head no. "We are in love. We were made for each other. You're just jealous. You're not half the man Mason is.". James just rolls his eyes and says, "when exactly did you fall in love? You just met him. You've barely spoken to each other. Use your brain Carra. It doesn't matter. There is only three ways to break a spell that powerful. Either you fall in love for real, you die, or he dies. Since the first option is not likely to happen and the second one defeats the purpose, let's go for third.". "I will never kill Mason", I vow. "I love him. If he wants me to share my magic I'm sure he has a good reason. I'll never betray him."

"I can see we have a long way to go. I can break the binding spell and I can teach you to fight, but you will have to learn to control your emotions. If you don't they will be your downfall.". "Is that what you do? Just shut your emotions off whenever it's convenient", I accuse. "That's pretty pathetic", I taunt. "Save your sympathy for someone who wants it." He throws some clothes at me and tells me to dress. "Training starts in ten minutes.". I realize if I ever want to escape I need to get stronger, so I'll play along for now.