The Council (Darkness #5)(9)

He had failed to tell me that little nugget of information.

“So, not exactly a gift, then. A time-bomb,” a woman with long blonde hair stated.

“Are you sure of this, Toa?” Mage June asked in a tight voice.

“Yes, Mage June, I am quite sure. And in some, yes, it is a time-bomb,” Toa stated in his lecturing monotone. “However, she has learned a primal, rough control of her magic, learning more control every day. She has had some close calls in the past, but at present, she is sustainable. It is her strength of character that creates this one-in-a-million magical situation. Otherwise, she would’ve been dead shortly after puberty when the trait manifested fully.”

Another nugget that he had not bothered to share.

“But you said others use it until they are overcome,” Mage Marius clarified.

“Many begin training at puberty, which is when the trait is discovered. Precautions are made at that time. But, eventually, most magic workers are overcome, yes. Sasha has only recently had training. She has been surviving since age five, and this trait is no different than any other extensive and life-threatening trials she has faced in her life. She has scaled all obstacles, figuring out how to stay alive in any given situation with what is available at that moment in time. She creates some spectacular spells and chants completely randomly for this reason. Predictability is not her strength, however. She is not someone for a line crew. She cannot be counted on for uniform work. She is the head of a link and not the body. A commander, not a soldier. One must take the good with the bad in her case, and if they do, they will be vastly rewarded. If not, she is impossible to control. This is coming from someone who has tried to control her on numerous occasions.”

I blinked back tears. I had no idea Toa had figured out the real me, internalized it, and found it a positive trait rather than a drawback. It meant a lot that he’d taken the time to understand me, and learn about me, so he could better teach me. I wanted to hug the guy.

“Intriguing,” Mage June reflected from within her box. “Let it be known that I have tried to unravel this spell, and have yet been unsuccessful. It is an extremely simple concoction, as we are all aware, but powerful and tight in the construction. Well done, Toa, for your teaching. It is showing through. Now, Sasha, deconstruct this spell and show us some others.”

I went through my gamut of spells I knew wouldn’t backfire, and then went through some that I hoped wouldn’t. All went off successfully within a roomful of contemplative stares until, finally, Mage June said, “That is enough. You still have much learning to do, but you are entitled to your post. You may go.”

“Oh. Thanks.” I glanced at Toa, waiting for him to walk with me to the door.

“Toa, please hang on a moment. I have some things to discuss with you,” Mage June said.

Toa stared at me silently for a beat, before he said, “Go check in with Tim and his people. They arrived this evening. Stay with them until Dominicous, I, or Stefan comes for you.”

“It almost sounds like you don’t think this facility is safe.” The woman with long blonde hair laughed as she whisked her mane off her shoulder.

Toa’s intense blue glance held mine. The seriousness of that look and the haunted quality of it created tingles up my spine. I stepped closer to Charles and Jonas as I nodded. I defied him as often as I listened to him, but in this place I’d follow his instructions to the letter. If I didn’t know better, I’d say my life depended on it.

Jonas led me out of the room, wanting to be the first in the hallway. Charles followed directly behind, his hand on my back.

“You have your magic all over this bitch?” Jonas asked in a low tone as we started down the hall. “I don’t need anyone sneaking up on me.”

“I’ve got it.” And I did. I wasn’t taking any chances.

After a few feet I asked, “Why was Toa so paranoid, do you think?”

“Because you just showed, without a doubt, your value,” Jonas growled, eyes always on the move. “He tried to lessen your worth, saying you didn’t follow orders, and wouldn’t conform, but the big power players won’t care about that. They’ll think they can bring you to heel.”

“They’ll try, anyway,” Charles added, his bearing tense, his thick cords of muscle flexed from head to foot. “Trying without success would probably be worse than trying with success. The Boss needs to find a backer soon. Sasha just painted a damn target on her back.”

“Does everyone find a backer here?” I asked, feeling my magic mingle with another. I slowed as we turned into an empty corridor.

“No. Not many do,” Jonas answered, slowing with me. He felt it too. Fire danced in his eyes, a sure sign he was ready to rip someone’s face off. “Which usually doesn’t matter because most leaders aren’t powerful enough to pose a threat. The Boss is, though.”

“So, then, won’t finding a backer be easy?” I whispered, feeling Charles’ hand on my shoulder. My warning tingle started crawling up my back. I wanted to turn around and start sprinting. Where would I go, though? This was a big hotel surrounded by nothingness. I had nowhere to hide.

“He either finds a backer, or he finds the afterlife. The next two weeks will decide.”

“Isn’t it weird that when Toa is all jumpy, Dominicous is calm and jokey, but when Dominicous gets riled up, Toa gets crazy calm,” I wondered aloud. I needed to take my mind off of that magic approaching. Panic and fear were not where my head needed to be right now. It would work against me.