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I am inclined to believe you. Stand up. He had a commanding tone, but it was far from condescending. She followed the request and stood up to face him. He handed her the wand. She held onto one end, and he the other. What do you remember about your power? Where did it come from?
It had been so long since she accessed that part of her. She honestly forgot. She closed herself off. I just always had it. She shrugged.
Where were you when you felt the most full of power? He amended his previous question and watched as she pondered for the answer.
Where did she feel the most powerful? At home with her family? Stealing documents? I really dont remember.
Im sure itll come to you. He smiled unbothered by her lack of memories. What was the first magic you remember performing. Real magic. Intentional?
Intentional? What did he mean by real? Like fireworks?
He coughed on a laugh. Fireworks? Dare I even ask how old you were?
Five. Right before the Regime took power. She tried not to lose herself in those thoughts again, but they came anyway. She had been suppressing those feelings of a real life for so long. It was like a box had opened and they poured out. She let go of the magic wand. She needed to gain back control. Fast. Can I ask you something?
The man mustve seen her sadness and gave her a kind smile. You can ask me anything.
Before you were caught.. How.. How close were the Retaliators to winning this war? It would be nice to live in a world Regime free again. Granted, her memories were vague, and she was just a child, but the future generations deserved that too.
He nodded as if he understood the intent behind the question. That is hard to determine. Ive always believed we have the upper hand. But others arent so quick to jump to optimism. But I firmly believe that when we get you out, it will bring us so much closer.
She wasnt sure why she was taken back by that statement, but she was. Why are you so bent on believing me so powerful? Youve only known me for mere minutes.. inside this box.. without displaying any bits of magic what-so-ever.
He laughed again. That cocky sexy laugh. Damn those tingles. One of us must believe in your magic. Obviously right now you do not. But I seem to be able to convince you pretty easily. So grab this. He took her hand and put the metal handle into it. The feeling of his hand on hers definitely awakened something inside her. She hadnt felt anyone touch her hand in a decade. She never let anyone get that close. Not only did those tingles magnify, but a choking lump appeared in her throat. When he saw this, he immediately let go and stepped back. Forgive me. I can be forceful.
She drew in a breath to center herself and shook her head. Its alright. Im just being.. She didnt know how to finish that statement. Her hand where he touched her still felt hot.
Human. He laughed. Youve been locked up for almost half your life. Of course you are jumpy. He slowly stepped forward and took a hold of the other end. Do you remember the focus you had to maintain when learning your alleged fireworks? She let out a laugh then and nodded. She spent hours concentrating on making those sparks appear. You need to find that again. He looked in her eyes. The seriousness in his face jumped her brain into learning mode remembering her new determination to escape. He still carried a smile though. How did he do that? I can help you. You just have to trust me. Theres that word again. Trust. It was odd. She had no idea who he was, but for some reason she did trust him. Was that smart? When she broke eye contact, he seemed to loosen again. Tell me what is troubling you. Get it out now because it will break your concentration later.
She wasnt sure how to go about with her questions. She hated prying into others lives. She decided just to be blunt. How can I trust you when I know nothing about you?
The smile on his face grew. It was so cocky. So arrogant. But so handsome. What do you want to know?
Anything? She held onto the wand tightly. He wanted her to. She concentrated on sending her feelings through the metal to him. I dont even know your name.
You havent asked. She opened her mouth to retort, but he shot her a teasing look. Conley. My name is Conley. The metal became increasingly hot in her hand. Was this her doing or his? He closed his eyes for a moment. You did an excellent job in suppressing your feelings all these years.
What are you doing? The heat was almost burning her, but again, it had been ten years since she felt a hot temperature. She was afraid to let it go.
Not me. He shook his head. You. Youre trying to tell me something. But it is quite garbled. Its alright. Well work on that later. For now, why dont you just use spoken words?
She wasnt sure if she was annoyed or amused. All she wanted was answers and he kept talking around them. The metal felt like fire. Why is it doing that?
Conley laughed again. That arrogant sexy happy laugh. Conley. She realized she finally knew his name. He looked like a Conley too. The metal gets hot when its power is being used. The power you are using.
When those words sunk in, a smile appeared on her face. Im using power? She couldnt believe it. Was she really? Was it that easy? After ten years she was using power again. Oh how she missed it.
Yes. His grin grew at the sight of hers. Its a pretty basic energy manipulator, but you are using it. Youre trying to send me your energy. What you are feeling. But I dont think you even know what that is. Maybe we should start with that instead of fireworks.
Well.. You come into my life and completely change everything Ive believed in the last decade. Forgive me for being uncertain of my current feelings. The metal was glowing red, but did not feel hot enough to drop. She took in a deep breath and centered herself. Like she used to when attempting her fireworks. If relearning her focused concentration was the first step in getting them out, then she had no problem doing so. The metal began to cool.
See. You can do this. He gave her a reassuring grin. Trust me. Pretty soon youll be helping me with escape portals.
That word trust again. He seemed to like using it. How do I know youre not just using me to escape?
He seemed to like laughing a lot too. I am. I thought we established that I cant do this alone. So yes. There is a selfish motive to wanting you to unbind your power. But once we escape, I plan on continuing to work with the Retaliators to bring the Regime down. You would be free to do whatever you wish, but from what you have told me about the things you have done, we could probably use your help.
I would love to help. Bringing the Regime down. It was her inner most desire for most her life.
See. That I felt. That cocky smile of his turned sympathetic. It was almost like she could feel his sympathy too. And his desire to escape. And his excitement. And his.. physical attraction? She looked down at the wand to find it glowing again. He was sending her energy? She always blocked out others energies. Her mother taught her how to shield right before she was caught. But she hadnt had to use it in a long while. Other peoples feelings were their own business. But he wanted her to feel this. Did he mean for her to know his physical feelings?
She found herself blushing again. Those tingles began to whelm her. She had to control this, but she had never had a male cellmate she was attracted to. The last guy she had slept with was Soren right before she left to protest that day. They were both teenagers using each other to get their angst out. It was something they did often. She had a habit of sneaking through his window at night and staying until morning. She mostly used him for comfort and he was willing to give it in any way possible, but he gave it to any girl that was open to him. Emotionally and physically. Wont you stay longer? He yawned as she was jumping up to get dressed. She had already slept until past noon.
I cant. Im late. I shouldve been there an hour ago. She searched around frantically for her shirt. He just sat there in bed watching her topless body with hungry eyes. There was a mischievous smile forming. She stopped and place both hands on her hips. Give it.
Earn it. He chuckled as he pulled it from under the covers and held it away from her. She knew what he wanted her to do to earn it. Maybe other time. She was in no mood.
She groaned in a way every teenage girl groaned in those days. Soren. I really have no time for this. He just continued to eye her. Keep it. She rolled her eyes and grabbed one if his blue shirts from the top of a clothes pile. She smelled it first before putting it on. No scent of sweat or anything else disgusting. She pulled it over her head. Ill be back in a couple hours. She quickly climbed out the window and down the tree.
Conley let go of the stick and stepped back. There seemed to be a redness in his cheeks, but his eyes were full of amusement. Maybe we should work on fireworks.
She pulled herself away from memories and realized what just happened. He saw that. He saw inside her head. Did he reach in or did she give it out? I uh.. didnt mean for you to see that. She was shocked at how vividly the images were portrayed. As if she were there again reliving it.
Its alright. He seemed to be shaking himself back to reality as well. Did he just experience what she did? How did that happen? I didnt know Soren was such a man whore.
The shock of that statement made her let out a laugh. You knew him? Man whore may have been an overstatement, but he did have plenty of girls. She didnt care that she was just one of many. He was a friend if anything else. Maybe someone who didnt know them would call it an odd definition of friendship, but he was there for her in a strange way.
Conley smiled at the memory he seemed to be reminiscing. His family took me in when I ran from mine. He was finally opening up. This was good. She didnt have to pry. She hated prying. Maybe he did feel her desire to know more about him. Like you, my parents disappeared to the Regime early on. I went to stay with my uncles family for a few years, but they supported the Regimes beliefs. He closed his eyes and shook his head. I left at seventeen and joined a Retaliation group. Soren at that time was new as well. He heard my story and took me into his house. His mother made excellent breakfast cakes.
Ody giggled. With strawberry flavored syrup.
Conleys smile grew brighter. Yes. Amazing we know the same sorts.
How is Soren? She hadnt thought about him too much for a while. She hadnt thought of anyone really. If she did, she would begin to worry and that would solve nothing. It was war. Everyones fate hung close to death on a daily basis.
His smile shrunk a bit as he shrugged. Caught or dead. Odys heart sank slightly. He was a good guy. Very dedicated to the Retaliation. We held an underground classroom together to help kids develop their power. That would explain his persistence to teach her. The Regime stormed it one day when he stayed late to practice a few solo spells. Ody swallowed back a small lump. This was ridiculous. She shouldnt be grieving for someone she had already lost. He did mention a few times of a friend he lost. He said it was what changed him. Never gave me a name, but implied it was an attractive girl. I have to assume now it was you.
Was she supposed to be feeling honored? Perhaps proud of him maybe. He never did show much interest in the war. But at that time he had never lost anyone. She had showed him how to stay magically invisible in order to not be caught by the Regime. Well, more like forced if she had to admit to herself. That took about a week of practice before he finally mastered it. He shouldve been using it that day. But there was no point in mentally scolding him. She wasnt there to see his side of the story.
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