Dread
The shadows retreat when I open my eyes. The full power of my magic rests just under my skin.
I look at the vampire brothers.
One I know. One I just met.
Another heartbeat.
The Warrior knows enough to bury me already.
Peace will only last for so long.
I need to trust my allies.
And my magic deserves to breathe.
I exhale.
And I release my magic.
It rolls out of me in a wave of tiny gold orbs of light. Like a million fireflies.
Like bees.
I smile as my magic spreads across the forest floor, attaching to blades of grass, clinging to branches.
The sparks pulsate as they float through the air. Twinkling. Fanning out like the solar system. Climbing above the trees and out of sight in every direction. With me as the barycenter.
The brothers stare with wide eyes.
Surprised. Curious. Enthralled.
Not scared.
Not in pain.
The Vadas vampires have been around for centuries. But it’s clear they haven’t seen anything like this.
Volik reaches out first.
If a human was caught under this blanket of magic, it would be… excruciating.
And fatal.
For Alts, it’s different. But there’s usually a level of discomfort.
But these two… They’re acting like it feels good.
They might appear a little insane. But they’re incredibly powerful.
Maybe that’s what my magic needs. Power and insanity.
Volik closes his fist around a glowing speck of magic. And he smiles.
Vameer swipes his big palm through the air and catches many.
Then the giant oaf slaps his hand to his chest, above where his mate sleeps, like he’s trying to push the magic into himself.
The gold sizzles against his skin. Shooting off in sparks. Until there’s nothing left under his palm.
Volik squeezes his orb between his fingers. Not hard like he’s trying to break it. More like he’s trying to study it.
Vameer grabs another handful, and Volik lifts his piece of magic closer to his face.
I put a specific thought into my mind. I blink. And the orbs turn into flying golden bees.
Volik lets out a bark of laughter.
Vameer loosely closes his fist, letting them buzz around in his hand. Then he looks at me, holding my bright gaze. “Can I eat one?”
I stare at him. “Are you serious?”
He lifts a shoulder. “I’m curious.”
This is the type of question I get for hanging out with drunk vampires.
“I have no idea,” I tell him. “No one has ever asked to do that.”
“The rum has magic.” He argues.
I slowly nod. “Specific magic. Combined with intention.”
Volik moves.
We both turn and watch a faint glow slide down inside Volik’s throat.
Vameer starts to chuckle.
Volik makes a face. Then he burps out a golden cloud.
Vameer’s chuckle turns into a laugh.
And it doesn’t stop.
He hugs his mate as he moves so he’s lying flat on his back with Rune lying on top of him, releasing his handful of bees in the process.
The remaining bees shift back into orbs, and I rest my head back against my tree.
Flexing my magic always feels so good.
A smile pulls on my lips as I admit to myself that it feels good to have friends too.