The Keep (The Secret of Spellshadow Manor #4)(52)

“I can see several,” said Alex confidently.

“You can?” Demeter sounded surprised.

“Like lots of stars, pulsing in your mind,” Alex explained.

“Impressive—not many people can see them, only feel them,” said Demeter, the astonishment still clear in his voice. “So, now you need to pick one. Choose whichever one burns brightest and let your anti-magic flow into it—this should create something that resembles a ribbon. Grasp the ribbon, and focus your thoughts upon it, manipulating it to make me feel and do something different than what I might do of my own free will. Think of me like a puppet,” he instructed, his tone tinged with amusement.

Alex did so, concentrating hard as he reached for a particularly bright orb of light that flashed over his invisible head. Carefully, he fed his anti-magic into the glow, watching as a ribbon of pure energy poured out toward him. Touching the edge of the ribbon, he knew instantly the emotion he had picked. A sudden wave of sadness coursed through him. It was frustrating not to be able to see the thoughts that came with the feeling, but the emotion was strong, wherever it had come from.

Holding the glowing strand tightly, Alex pushed his own thoughts into it, flowing his energy along the line into the glowing center of the orb, augmenting the feeling projected through him. Steadily, the sadness gave way to a feeling of bubbling elation. Alex, on instinct, began to feed false memories and thoughts into the strand, alongside the pure waves of emotion, wanting to take away the sad sensation. He did not stop until there wasn’t a trace of the grief left.

Demeter had gone silent.

“Demeter, you there?”

There was no response.

Worried, Alex slowly coiled the strand of emotion back up, returning it to its former state, and removed himself from the starry mind of his former teacher, extricating himself with care. As Alex opened his eyes and took his hands away, he saw that Demeter was staring at him with tears in his eyes and a smile upon his lips, his shoulders shaking slightly.

“Are you okay?” Alex asked, panicked.

For a moment, Demeter said and did nothing, his body seemingly frozen to the spot. Alex didn’t know what to do to help, whether to shake him or nudge him or go and find someone who might be able to assist. And so, he waited. Gradually, the auburn-haired man came out of the trance he appeared to be in, thawing like ice.

“I wasn’t expecting your strength,” he gasped, shaking off the last of it. “I could fight off most of your anti-magic collateral, but then you started feeding in new thoughts and visions, and my mind didn’t know what was going on. I think you gave me a Spellbreaker-induced brain freeze.” He laughed, but Alex could see a glint of fear in the man’s eyes.

“I’m so sorry—I didn’t know what I was doing,” Alex said, feeling awful.

Demeter shook his head. “No, don’t apologize. I should have prepared for it. Your instincts are faultless. There aren’t many who would have started by feeding in new memories to manipulate the mind, changing the one already there. I wonder if…” He trailed off, apparently thinking better of whatever he was about to say.

“You wonder if what?”

Demeter flashed an uncertain look at Alex. “Well, I was just… I thought perhaps it might have something to do with who you are. I mean, you’re incredibly strong—strong enough to take me by surprise, and there aren’t many who can do that, believe me.”

“You mean my heritage?” Alex asked.

“Well, yes… I wondered if… Do you happen to know anything about your forefathers?” Demeter asked shyly, clearly trying to hold back the academic excitement in his voice.

Alex nodded. “Some.”

“Oh, really? That’s excellent news! I might be able to help—do you have a name at all? There aren’t many Spellbreaker families I don’t know about, and I could probably give you some information on them if you know their surname—or their House name, as it was referred to back then.” He beamed, visibly thrilled at the prospect of hearing about Alex’s ancestors.

Alex smiled. “I know who they are already. You might want to sit down or something—I hear he’s a pretty big deal,” he said wryly.

Demeter frowned. “Who is it?”

“My several times great-grandfather was Leander of the House of Wyvern,” Alex said quietly, awaiting Demeter’s reaction.

The ex-teacher did not disappoint. “No! This is a joke, isn’t it? Somebody’s put you up to this? Have they? No—you’re telling the truth? I can’t tell. Are you playing a trick?” he gasped, his eyes as wide as saucers.

“It’s not a lie or a trick. Leander Wyvern was my ancestor,” Alex repeated, marveling at the way it sounded, out in the open air. With it came a whole world of family he had never known, and though none of them were still living, he felt their presence around him, crowding the room, bringing him a strange sense of peace as he thought of them. Throughout his life, it had been just him and his mom, with a few beautiful years with his grandparents—it felt odd to know there were so many more, whom he might have known had it not been for the powers that be. In his heart, he felt the familiar prickle of hatred, another layer of loss.

“Well, good heavens! I wish I’d known sooner—I’ve read more stories about Leander Wyvern than you’ve had hot meals. I could have told you some,” Demeter enthused. “Oh, what a turn up for the books! Honestly, I can’t believe it. This is wonderful! Of all the Spellbreakers, it makes sense it would be his progeny that made it. That man was a walking, talking legend, in every sense of the word!”