Captured and Freed

Well Studied

Unsure how long I had been in the room, I looked up to the window to see the moon barely visible and daylight creeping in. I have read every book there was to read on the water element and several on magic as a whole. Water was the most fluid of the elements and the easiest to control though emotion. It has natural healing and restorative properties, which is why once I came of age my body returned to the way it should have been if I was correctly cared for.

Bad energies like curses can't be attached to water and are used in most types of purification, but it could still be tainted and corrupted if enough toxins were injected into it. Water may give the illusion of being a simple and useless element, but it is most powerful when in the correct hands.

Magic was a natural talent all Fae have from when they were young children and were usually taught how to wield it from 8 to 10 years old. Since I was left orphaned and a prisoner of war, I was never taught by the Fae community. Lucky for me, the books in the hall of records ranged from simple to advanced in the ways of magic. Since everything I have ever learned has been self-taught from books in the packhouse, it was no problem for me to learn the same way when it came to the ways of Fae.

I have spent the last several, what I can only assume, hours ready and putting my abilities to the test. I was able to draw in water from the falls outside the door to enter the room and maintain an orb-like shape to float in the room above my make shift office for when I needed the liquid for more testing.

I experimented with all forms of control. Water Manipulation allowed me to move the water to my whims in any form I chose. Hydromancy allowed me to gaze through the pools of water and see the current activities of someone I knew, almost like a window into the room. Esoteric Water Generation, which was the technical term for water creation, allowed me to create objects out of water. I also learned how to harness the healing properties. The one ability I am having a hard to mastering was changing the way water gets from its liquid state to a solid state. Each book and journal I read states I must be emotionally grounded in order to change its state. I can only assume that since my state of being is in question, I am not grounded enough in my existence to master that skill. Once I have a new home and am safe from danger, I might be able to form ice. Until then, all I can do is study and maintain the knowledge until I can put the knowledge to use.

I continue to make notes of each skill and lesson as I continue to flip through the pages until I realize I have reached the end of all my stacks. I take a moment to stretch and glance at the table to finally notice how many books I have read through. I began to count the spines, but once I reached 34 and not even half the stacks counted, I gave up.

I looked up at the window and the sun hadn't reached the midday point. I decided to use one of my new abilities to check on the Alpha and see if he has started his day yet to get a current read of the time. I brought my water orb closer to me and focused my energy on the Alpha. Soon the orb reflected the Alpha still in his room and his clock on the side of the table read 6:28am.

I started laughing uncontrollably. I have probably spent days or weeks in this room unknowingly, with the leader of the most powerful pack in the world sleeping the night away. I have been getting smarter and stronger than they would have ever thought possible in a few hours of their time while they slept peacefully. My laughter calmed as I thought to myself what my next step would be.

I sent the water back to the falls as I was feeling much more confident in my abilities than I had just the night before. The Moon Goddess had given me the greatest gift I could have ever asked for. She gave me the chance to be free. "How do I make the statement that I am no longer their slave?" I asked myself as I leaned back in my chair. I began to play with the end of my hair and tried to play out the perfect way to disappear. "I could just leave and let the chaos happen, but the chances of them coming to find me are higher if I flee." I began to lightly braid my hair as I thought through all the possibilities of how to leave, then a memory played in the back of my mind. "Tomorrow we are hosting a Mates ball as part of the pending peace per our Alpha King. The Kings and Queens and all ranked members of each species will be in attendance." My eyes widened, and I jumped up from my seat. "That's it! I will attend the Mates Ball. I will ask the Fae king for Sanctuary or, if luck has me, find my Mate and use them to escape." I hated the idea of using one's Mate to escape capture, but all the Kings and Queens have agreed that if a war prisoner finds their mate, they are to be released to their Mate without need of payment.

I shuffled through the books on the shelves at lightning speed to find one for Mates. Once I found the red and pink leather-bound book, I quickly glided to my seat and riffled through the pages. I quickly read through each passage until I found what I was looking for. "Fae are unique in the way they find their mates. Unlike Werewolves or Dragons who find each other through scent and touch, A Fae can find their mate looking into their eyes. Once seen, the eyes will glow gold and a temporary bond is forged until both Fae state "I accept you" or "I reject you". If the Fae accept each other, they will be unable to reject their mate once claimed. They are bound for life to one another's life force and soul once the bond is forged. If the Fae reject each other, the bond is broken and the chances of finding a mate disappear. Unlike other species, Fae are never given a Second Chance Mate. Fae live and die with their Mates and can not survive while the other dies. If rejected, the Fae may take a Chosen Mate, but they will never be able to reach their full powered potential and may never be able to bare children."

I release the breath I hadn't realized I was holding. I only get one chance to woo my Mate if they are even at the ball. I also have to understand that being with them would make me stronger, but I say goodbye to any life I could have had without them. How will I even know if I am ending up with someone I can trust and won't hurt me? How do I know they will love me even though I am still broken?

A warmth started to radiate from my forehead and a calmness followed. I touched it and remembered that I am blessed by the Moon Goddess. She wouldn't allow me to be paired with someone who would cause me harm and wouldn't help save me from where I am. I stood up and, with as much conviction as I could muster, "I am going to the Mates Ball!"