Chapter Three
1109 Words
Antonette tilted her head to the side and watched with a satisfied smirk as the blade of glass in front of her bent to the side. Eager for more, she squinted her eyes at the blade of grass and tilted her head upwards. She bit back a chuckle when the blade of grass detached itself from the ground at her command. Antonette watched with satisfaction as the blade of grass soared upwards but then she spotted something odd, the green of the grass was turning into something brown and wilted. Alarmed, Antonette rapidly blinked. She shrieked when the blade of grass turned into ashes.
“And that is why you do not practice magic alone Annie.”
Antonette visibly relaxed having heard the voice of Master Abbot. He was the most powerful mage in the East, as he often reminded her. He was also her teacher.
“What is the saying? Practice makes perfect?”
“You call that practice?”
Antonette’s cheeks flushed crimson. Had the old man been watching her all that time? Sighing, Antonette got to her feet and turned to face Master Abbot. Feeling defensive, Antonette crossed her arms and quirked an eyebrow.
“Tell me then oh great one, what did I do wrong? Why did it…die?”
Master Abbot’s lips tilted upwards before he took a step forward.
“On the contrary, it didn’t die, you killed it Annie.”
Antonette felt a burning at the pit of her stomach. It was blindingly painful like someone had lit her insides on fire. Without warning, Antonette lunged her arms forward and sent a ball of fire in Master Abbot’s direction. Realizing what she had done, Antonette screamed for the old man to step out of the way. Luckily for her, Master Abbot had grown used to her sudden bursts of rage that materialized into balls of fire. Not only had he escaped Antonette’s fireball, he had created a large enough bubble of water to put it out before it landed on the beautiful green field.
“Your temper is dangerous Annie. You can’t burn people just because you don’t like what they say.”
Antonette shrugged, it was not as if she could control it. She got angry quickly and when she did, she launched fireballs at the object of her anger. The first incident had occurred when she was eight years old. She had been allowed to play outside for the first time so she had put on her favorite lilac dress and dashed out of her room eager to make new friends. The dress had been caught by the door, however, and tried as she did, she could not dislodge the dress. With no one around, she had been stranded, helpless, and miserable. But these feelings had only lasted for a few seconds before anger appeared in the pit of her stomach. The feeling had been overwhelming, consuming even. The last thing she remembered about that day was the blinding pain that had formed in the pit of her stomach. Later her parents would tell her that she had started a fire and that she had almost died in it.
The next day, her parents solicited the help of Master Abbot and the pair had been trying to control the fire inside of her ever since. Recently she had begun to learn the art of telekinesis but each time she focused on an object, she winded up turning it into ashes.
Antonette let out a defeated sigh before sinking to the ground. It had been years since that first incident and she still had not learned how to control her rage. Lately, she had begun to grapple with the possibility that she never would.
“You can’t give up Annie. I keep telling you, you’re special.”
Antonette scoffed and reached for a blade of grass. She began fiddling with it, a wave of sadness washed over her, what if she had killed this blade of grass’ sibling? Or worse, lover?
“That blade of grass was probably the town thief.”
Antonette snapped her head upwards before a laugh escaped her throat. Although he had denied it multiple times, Antonette had always believed that Master Abbot had mastered the art of telepathy. Antonette’s attention averted back to the blade of grass. She yanked it and placed it on her palm.
“I have to be honest with you Master, I don’t feel very special. I feel…dangerous. Like it is only a matter of time before the fire inside consumes me and everyone around me.”
Antonette felt Master Abott crouch before her.
“Your power is beyond anything I or the rest of the East has ever seen. But Annie it’s something to be revered not something to be feared. What is it I always say?”
“Ladies should not take a piss while standing?”
Master Abbot opened and closed his mouth thrice before his body began to vibrate with laughter. Antonette smiled at the sound. It always pleased her that Master Abbot was generous with his emotions.
“No, you cheeky little thing. Think harder.”
Antonette stroked her chin with her forefinger and squinted her eyes. She then snapped her fingers and said,
“There is a thin line between opposites. Love and hate. Good and bad. But as thin as the line is, we are the ones who choose to cross it.”
Antonette watched as the old man’s lips stretched into a proud smile.
“So you do listen to me after all?”
“Hard not to when you’re always talking.” Antonette shrugged.
The pair laughed before settling into a comfortable silence.
“Your parents wish to see you.”
Antonette’s body went rigid. She licked her upper lip and searched Master Abbot’s face for any indication as to why her parents wanted to see her after a decade.
“Why?”
Master Abbot’s light expression vanished. His features became grim. Had someone died? Were her parents in danger? A sinking feeling enveloped Antonette’s being.
“It’s the Klan isn’t it.”
Master Abbot bobbed his head.
“Did they attack our Kingdom?”
“No, not yours.”
Antonette released a relieved sigh. Confused, she searched Master Abbot’s face once more.
“Then what is it? Why are my parents here? Who is ruling while they are here?”
Antonette watched as Master Abbot rose from the ground. Towering above her, Master Abbot delivered two statements that stunned her into utter silence.
“They are here to take you home. You are to be wed tomorrow to King Simon of Attica.”
- Writer
