Eyes of Ember (Imdalind Series #2)(70)

The rippling light hit against the far wall revealing more carvings, more runes, and delicate glass work that revealed the outside where the blizzard still reigned. The light of day that made it through the blizzard filtered into the space, mixing with the magical shimmers.

I stepped around Dramin to walk around the large cavern. The light ran over my face as I traced the rough carvings with my fingers. I didn’t feel any peaks of my magic or strong sensations of what was going to happen, but I felt comfortable. The terror at seeing into the past or future had ebbed, leaving me with a jittery excitement.

I continued to walk, letting my fingers trace the shapes. I had all but forgotten that Dramin still stood behind me until he spoke.

“The Hall of Sight. This was the last one built and one of the only ones that remain. They can only be built in select places on earth where the magic seeps to the surface, the Black Water bubbling up for our use. While we can use the Black Water at any time, because the Water resides within us, the larger, more important queries always require our sight to be used within this hall. And, many times, more than one Drak must be present.”

I barely heard him. My blood seemed to hum the more I was in the room, reminding me of when Ilyan had centered my magic.

“It has been many years since I have used my sight beyond the mundane. I miss the power very much. Someday perhaps I will be able to see with others again.”

“Is it hard to do?” I asked, the question more to myself then to Dramin, my nerves having almost left.

“It is as easy as breathing, Siln?. The magic already resides inside of you. Once you have unlocked the door, the rest of your abilities will open to you.” He said reverently. I could feel his excitement at what was about to happen.

“What abilities?” I turned from the runes to face him. He stood right by the water, the still surface reflecting nothing.

“The ability to recall previous sights, provide yourself with the nourishment you need, and most importantly, to use your sight at will. After you experience your first sight the Black Water will become a part of you.”

I swallowed heavily, my feet moving me toward him. He held his hand out to me, but I did not take it. I stood next to him, looking into the smooth reflection-less surface of the water. I could feel my body pull me toward the surface, willing me to join it somehow. I took a step forward, before moving back again, fighting my need to touch the water.

“Does it hurt?” It was a child’s question, but I needed to know. My life had been full of so much pain, so much loss.

“No, child. But your first sight will be the strongest you will ever experience on your own.” I looked toward the water, my uneasiness growing again.

“As the water moves into you and becomes part of you, you will see the past, present, and future for yourself and those you hold in your heart,” Dramin whispered. “It will come in a web, and likely nothing will make sense. It is only after, when you learn to recall your sight that you will be able to make sense of the confusion.”

My desire for the water was thrumming steadily in my veins, calling me to it. I fought the strong desire to jump in and shuffled my feet.

“Are you ready?” he asked, his eager anticipation bleeding through him.

“Yes.” My answer was instant. I still could not take my eyes off of the water.

“Then place your hand in the water.”

“That’s it?” I asked, turning toward him for the first time.

“Yes. For those who are not among the Drak the water will burn their skin. But to touch the water is essential for the Drak.”

“Will it burn me?” I asked, even though my desire overpowered my worry.

“No, Siln?. You are one of the Drak. Just place your hand in the water.”

I looked away from him, unable to ignore the pull from my blood any longer. The prickling of my skin grew as I fell to my knees, the heavy fur cloak falling off of my shoulders. I reached toward the water, my hand hesitating for a moment before I pushed my hand beyond the surface.

I had barely registered the warmth of the water before my vision faded to black. A bright red ember, like the flame that I had seen in Dramin’s eyes that first day, followed the darkness. My head felt light and airy, like it had been inflated with helium and was trying to fly away. But none of this was uncomfortable, it felt natural.

I looked into the burning red color for a moment before my sight changed again. Shadows twirled and danced before me as an image began to form. I saw an infant placed into my Mother’s arms. The vision changed to a flash of blonde hair running down a hall I had never seen before as screams filled the air. The hair stayed before me for a second before it changed to a flash of me crying in my bed as my parents fought. A moment later, a vision of Edmund choking Talon against a wall came into view, Talon’s face battered.

“Give me what I need, Talon,” Edmund’s voice rang out like an echo in my ears.

“You better make it look good, Edmund,” Talon laughed with a deep chuckle.

I saw Edmund’s hand move back in preparation for a strike before the colors washed away to be replaced by me running through the trees. Ryland’s hand hovered over the ground as he formed a perfect ring of Pansies. The pansies disappeared as soon as they grew, changing into Wyn and my Father running through a dark cave, a man falling to the ground in agony before them.

“Was that really necessary?” my Father asked, his voice tense and scared.