A Ward's Tale

Chapter 11

I sit and listen. I've been blindfolded for at least two days now. I listen for anything of importance that I can gather from the voices beyond the room I'm in. So far I haven't heard much. I don't understand why they've kept me blindfolded, we haven't left this building since getting here and they rarely come in to see me, only to bring me food. Nothing they say gives me any clue to where I am or what they are going to do with me other than waiting for their leader to decide.

My stomach growls in protest of the mush they gave me to eat. I don't know what it was but my insides do not like it. I sit on the bed. I don't have any bindings other than the blindfold which must be magically tied to my head because I can't get it off. I have walked around the room trying to picture what it looks like and think I have a good idea in case I get the chance to escape. The door has been enchanted so when I touch it all wanting's of escape disappear. It took me multiple tries before I realized what was going on.

Escape wasn't going to be easy.

"Are you sure this girl is the Chosen One?" I catch someone asking. They must be right outside the door because I can hear them really well. I get up and walk closer making sure to avoid the handle.

"Yes Master." A man says. His tone is respectful and fearful. This "Master" must be the mastermind behind this organization. "She turned a man to ash, then the power she released on us when we caught her was like no other. There is no other explanation for her power."

"We'll see." The Master says. His voice is strange, not because I hear it through the door but more than that, like it is muffled by more than just the door, like there is something wrong with his voice.

The lock clicks open and I jump away making it to the bed just as the door opens. I stretch as if I was just waking up. I stay quiet as I sit on the bed. How many days has it been since I've actually talked? I should have trained blindfolded, that would help me now. For now I just sit, listen, and feel the energy around me. I have started to learn how to sense the objects around me.

"Take that blindfold off. I need to see her eyes." The mysterious man demands. I hear someone rush to my side and mutter something that releases the spell on the blindfold then yanks it off. I gasp as the light reaches my eyes after so long.

Blinking, I watch the mysterious new visitor. He's tall and wears a long midnight black cloak that drags just slightly on the ground as he walks. The hood is still up even though he is inside and he wears a full face mask. That must be what that extra muffling is. I can't make out exactly what is drawn on the mask and I don't get much time to look.

"Stand." The master demands.

I think about not standing, if just to see what he'll do. Suddenly he flicks his wrist up and I rise. I am not in control of my own body any more. No matter how much I try I can't move even a pinky. He must have some strong magic to take over my body like this.

Shock and realization are clearly written on my face. My arms lift so that I stand in a T shape. Then I spin in a circle. When I turn back to face the Master he releases me.

The next second a fireball is coming at my face.

I have a millisecond to respond. I throw my hands up to shield my face and the energy hits them and shatters into a million glittering pieces. They cascade around me as I drop my arms.

I wonder if the Master is shocked. I can't tell anything with his mask on. His accomplice on the other hand is almost jumping with joy.

"See I told you, even without much training she's very strong already."

"Quiet!" The Master demands shoving his hand to the side. The other man slams against the wall by an invisible force and is held there hovering above the floorboards. "There will be more tests. We cannot have another fake."

Another fake. So they have kidnapped others in searching for me. Just thinking about how scared and confused I am, I shutter at the thought of how many others they have done this to. All because they were looking for some prophesied Chosen One. All because they were looking for me.

He releases the man who falls to the ground on his knees. "Yes, Master.", the man coughs. Speckles of blood hit the floor and I can't help but step back. This master just hurt his own man, what will he do with me? Especially if I can't do what he wants me to?

"Bind her again." The Master says turning and leaving. Once he's gone the man gets up and puts the blindfold over my eyes again. I think about running but the Master is strong, stronger than Peter. I wouldn't last a minute.

The man laughing at my training with Peter rings through my head. Just who is Peter after all? He's obviously known but who was the girl that caused him to lose all his power? How does all this magic stuff work?

I sit lost in thought as the hours tick by. There are so many questions that I don't have answers for. The biggest one being, why me?