Chapter 53 #4
“That's part of the truth, Kyller. He doesn't use it because he'd rather be a petulant child.
He's proud enough to deny my gift and his mother's.
His empathic gift is formidable, and if he learned to control it, he could manipulate feelings—soothe them or intensify them at will.
He could even manipulate people's minds to make them accept his ideas more easily. If you replace distrust with complete trust, you can get whatever you want from someone.”
“Then I'd be like you,” Zion hissed at Serguei.
“Then you'd be almost like me,” the psychic said, practically ecstatic, as if it were the best idea in the world. The two fell silent for a long moment, and the air grew heavy with tension. I cleared my throat to get their attention.
“Well, then. I don't know what this second gift would be, since it's never manifested.”
“And have you tried looking for it?” Zion turned to me, his voice returning to its calm tone.
“I don't know what to look for. When I tap into my power, I only feel the healing. How did you discover yours?”
“I was the one who discovered Zion's power,” Serguei answered. “I knew he was empathic when I started seeing my feelings through his mind.”
“And how do you know you're drawing on one type of power and not the other?”
“There are two reservoirs. It's like wanting to move your right hand or choosing to wave with your left.
You just think about wanting it and it happens.
But you can only use one at a time, so if you feel like you're using a power and it's not your healing, it's because you're tapping into the other one without realizing it.”
Once again I searched for the power within me, something I sometimes did secretly while taking a bath, but nothing happened.
“I don't think I've ever used the second one. If I had, I would have noticed.”
“Keep trying, Kyller. If the Sonar said it exists, then it's there. Maybe it never appeared because you never needed to use it.” He seemed more excited than I was.
“Maybe.” I shrugged, but it bothered me. I stared at Zion and the table in front of us; it was strange talking to both of them but only seeing Zion.
“Serguei? Why don't you come in person to have breakfast with us?”
I shifted in my chair to compose myself.
“Is that an invitation?”
“Yes. You're Zion's father and now a friend to me. Come whenever you want—you'll always be welcome.”
Serguei was quiet for a while, probably suspicious of the invitation. I felt the subtle touch of his claws on my mental block and lowered it so he could read my thoughts. Across the table, Zion looked like he'd swallowed a lemon.
“Thank you for the invitation, Kyller. I'm glad to know it's sincere.” His tone returned to its usual excitement. “Rest assured, I'll show up one of these days.”
I smiled, feeling satisfied while Zion remained sulking in his chair. I reached out toward him, tracing his jaw with my fingertips. I felt such a need to touch him, even if it was just a gentle caress.
“I'll leave you two now. The king awaits me.
But I ask that you don't do anything reckless again.
And Zion, don't fool yourself into thinking you'll be able to hold back your instincts, because once a Drutes starts, she swallows you whole and there's nothing you wouldn't do to keep going. So don't risk it.”
I wished I had the shadow power to disappear from there. If I were Zion, I would have done exactly that.
“We get it, Serguei,” Zion murmured, annoyed.
“By the gods. When you were younger, I thought that when the time came, I'd have to warn you about contraceptive tonics or even condoms. Normal things that parents do, you know?
I never thought I'd have to constantly remind you to keep it in your pants.
I don't think any father is prepared for this.”
I crossed my arms on the table and lowered my head, trying to hide. I was so embarrassed I couldn't even hold back my laughter while my cheeks burned. For the first time, Zion also seemed at a loss for words.
“And Kyller?” Serguei called, and I lifted my face just to show I was listening, even though it didn't matter in our mental conversation. “When this agreement is canceled, the tonics and condoms apply to you too. I'm too young to be a grandfather.”
I wanted to die. Zion looked at me, holding back his laughter. It was the first time I'd seen him amused by something Serguei said.
“Serguei, I'm a doctor. You don't need to worry.” I lowered my head to hide my blush.
“I don't care, a teenage doctor is still a teenager.” Finally, I felt Serguei's presence leaving.
I looked at Zion and his face was red, holding back laughter. At the same moment, we both burst out laughing—at ourselves, at the embarrassment, and at Serguei reminding us of obvious things. Zion opened his mouth to say something, but I cut him off.
“For the love of the gods. Don't say anything. I don't think I can handle another conversation like that.”
I got up and collected the plates from the table, still reeling from everything I'd heard.
Then Zion took me to work. When I entered the hospital, I was still thinking about the supposed prophecy of Serguei's lineage.
If the power increased with each descendant, would Zion's children be even more powerful than him?
Maybe one day I'd know. But what did all this mean?
What would be the purpose of the Gods descending to have children with faerics? Nothing made sense.