Shielded - The Marilla Chronicles

Chapter 23

I could not meditate the next day, nor could I the day after. I sat on the edge of the shore, trying to focus on my breathing, tried to let my mind sink into that nothingless that eventually swept me into my past, but nothing came.

I sat for two hours, before I eventually gave up.

I opened my eyes, and could hear the sounds of Maxwell and Malaki sparing somewhere behind me.

It was not their fault I could not meditate. I had tried under the water, I had tried on the rock, and now I tried my usual spot at the edge of the beach.

Unfortunately, nothing was happening. It was like I was trying to down a black wall that was now blocking my path to the past I so frantically wanted to learn about.

"Just keep practicing on shifting just your hand." Malaki ordered gently.

I looked over my shoulder to see Maxwell staring at his arm, focusing on it.

"Same way Marilla Meditates." Malaki added, "I want you to practice that, for two hours, every day."

Maxwell dropped his arm and nodded at Malaki. I turned my body to face them. Malaki was shirtless, and so was Maxwell. I am sure if any other girl was here, she would think this was heaven, this was more like torture for me.

On my right, someone very willing to sleep with me, but would end up falling in love with me, and I would hurt him. And on my left, the one who would probably also love to sleep with me, but would hurt me.

"Do you know anything about your father Max?" Malaki asked under a hooded gaze.

Max. Malaki just called my best friend Max. Were they that close?

"Nope, nothing." Maxwell answered. I was almost even more shuttered at the fact that Maxwell brushed off such a personal question. "Why?" He asked back at the Dark Prince.

"You said your mom was human," Malaki shrugged, "Would interesting to find out where you got the shifting ability from."

When did Maxwell talk about his mom? I was clearly missing out on some of the conversations between these two.

"Come on." Malaki gestured for me to enter the ring.

Malaki had began training our seperatly, stating we needed to focus on different fighting styles. Maxwell did not need weapons, while I was given... The fucken rod.

I picked up the rod that lay on my side and walked into the ring.

"I will catch you guys later." Maxwell waved us off as he walked into the house.

Malaki stretched out his neck. "What did you see today?" He asked gently.

I hadn't told him, that I couldn't see anything, that I had accidentally blocked being able to go back there. That I did not know how to unlock that door.

"Same place." I lied. "You crashed onto the balcony, stepped towards my mother," I looked down as I thought about it. "Then I told you to stop."

I looked up to see his eyes. His silver storm was tracing over my features. "And that is all?" He looked worried. Whatever lay beyond that point was enough to put the Dark Prince on edge.

I looked at the rod in my hands, "Could I not try daggers?" I asked changing the topic.

"I want you to master this." He said picking up his sword. He swung the sword around stretching his wrist. I looked at his sword and my eyes widened.

"Are we using swords today?" Not just any sword, his terrifying, dark sword. One touch from it and I am pretty dead.

He nodded, "You will be allowed to use your powers in this training session, but you cannot drop the rod." He said pointing with his sword to the rod.

"No more balancing tests?" I asked feeling uneasy.

"This is still a balancing test." He shrugged. He began stepping towards me and I panicked. I began stepping back.

I stepped back feeling the water solidify as I walked backwards, Malaki saw where I was moving to and brought out his wings. He brought his sword out and came rushing at me through the air. I brought my hands up creating a wall of water stopping him. He stood flying but was looking at my feet. I looked down to notice the rod was sinking to the ocean floor. I let out a sigh of frustration, this is going to be difficult.

After collecting the rod, I stood on the water again watching as Malaki flew slowly around me.

"Use one hand for your powers." He ordered.

"I do better with two." I said shaking my head.

"You are more comfortable with two, but one hand holds just as much power as two." He said with a strong voice.

"Which is your dominant hand?" He asked flying down closer.

"Right."

"Hold the rod in that hand, and use the left for your powers." I widened my eyes at him, was he mad. Now he was really trying to weaken me.

"Just try Princess." He said seeing my face.

I readied myself holding the rod with both hands for now waiting for Malaki's attack.

He flew at me but I managed to dodse his attack using a few of the foot maneuvers he had taught me. Using my left hand, I shot a ball of water at Malaki, but he dodged it. He circled above me.

"Good." He stated softly.

"I missed!" I shouted out.

He just smiled as he made a turn towards me again. He flew down with inhumane speed his sword crashing against the rod as I defended myself. He kicked me off, making me stagger backwards, but I held onto the rod and I managed to keep up using other foot work he had taught us. I used my left hand to create a laser sprout of water that pushed Malaki in the air and away from me.

He let out a laugh as the water stopped and then came diving back towards me. I ran towards him watching his face look puzzled, as he came to grab me, I slid under the water jumping up from behind him and landing on his back.

I took the rod and wrapped it around his neck. He grabbed me by my shoulders and threw me into the water. I twirled my left hand letting the water catch me and swallow me in. I sat under the water tracking Malaki's dark figure as he flew above me. Once feeling happy that I had tracked his trajectory, I shot out the water at an incredible speed. He looked shocked as I flew towards him, and eventually into him.

Instead of fighting me he grabbed my hips and dove towards the shore, crashing us into the sand with me in his arms. His wings vanished as he rolled himself over me, bringing the sword to my throat.

He kicked my rod away and held my hands above my head, stopping me from using them. "Dead." He breathed.

I wiggled under him, his hands still securely wrapped in his large hand. He just smiled down at me.

"You did good though." He eventually stated.

I traced his bare chest on top of me admiring his form. He traced over my face as I lay in silence.

He brought his face closer to mine, as if to whisper something. My heart began to race. But soon his lips were lightly brushing against mine, I couldn't move with how he had pinned me, but I didn't want to move. He lowered his sword from my neck as I felt a breath hit my lips. I tilted my head upwards to catch his lips.

"May I?" He asked so gently.

My lips curved up. "It's just a kiss."