Darkness Rises

Chapter 8

To my surprise I found a weeping willow. I pushed through the leaves and curled up in a small hollow next to the trunk, not stopping my sobs.

I let my power run rampant, mother always told me that I could never let all of my power out because it would kill me but that was what I wanted, then I could be with her again.

"Jasmine!" I heard someone yelling.

I tried to pull my power back in, but I wasn't in control anymore.

There was a knock on my mental shields.

'Are you in control?' Rhys asked.

'No,' I replied, sounding scared even in my mind.

'I'm going to knock you out, it will cut off the tether to your power, is that ok?' He asked softly.

'Yes,' I replied, and he stole my consciousness.

I have a vague memory of feeling the wind rushing past my face and then being tucked into bed before nothingness.

I woke to soft sunlight streaming through a window. I sat up and the events of yesterday came rushing back. I hoped I hadn't hurt Cassian too badly.

I sighed before getting up, wondering what to do. I looked around the room for a bit before there was a knock on the door. I walked over to it and cracked it open.

A beautiful woman shrouded in shadow was stood there.

"Hello, my name is Nuala, can I come in?" She asked gently.

I opened the door a little more and she followed me back inside. She gestured for me to sit at the vanity, so I did.

She came over and began to tease out the knots in my mess of hair. She was very gentle. By the time she was done I didn't recognise myself. My hair was still crazy, but it looked tamed.

It hit me just how much like my mother I looked now. Nuala braided the top part of my hair before gathering it all up behind my head and tying it off. I beamed at her.

"Thank you," I said as she produced a simple dress.

She gave me a smile before walking through the wall to leave. I gaped at where she had just been for a minute before changing into the dress.

I looked at myself in the mirror. I almost didn't recognise myself, I actually looked pretty.

"Jasmine, are you coming down for breakfast?" Mor's voice called.

"Coming," I called back, and I opened my door.

I realised I had no idea where I was going. After five minutes of getting lost Rhys appeared in front of me.

"I keep forgetting how much of a maze this place is," he chuckled as he offered me his hand.

I took it and we disappeared into darkness. When the darkness cleared, I saw that we were in a dining room. Almost everyone was here, appart from Amren.

I looked at the floor. I hated people staring.

"Come and sit next to me," Mor said with a grin and I did as she said.

This was the first time I was going to eat something without making it myself first.

"I'm sorry I scared you yesterday," Cassian said as I took a couple of apple slices.

"Sorry I attacked you," I replied, blushing.

He stared at me in shock for a bit before shaking his head.

"Jasmine, do you know how much power you have?" Rhys asked.

"No, I have to let it out at least every other day, so I don't feel like I'm going to explode but I've never bothered to check, I was more focused on keeping it hidden." I told him.

"You have a similar amount of power as me." he said slowly, everyone stared at me in shock.

"Is that a lot?" I asked.

"Yes, I'm the most powerful High Lord in Prythian's history for reference." He told me.

"And I am the same?" I asked, he nodded

"I can train you if you want," he offered.

"Really?" I asked, a little shocked.

"Yes, it's dangerous for your power to run rampant," he told me.

"Ok, I would love to," I said with a small smile.

A letter appeared on the table.

"We are going today Nyx," Rhys said once he had read the letter.

"Where?" Cassian asked, frowning.

"To the Autumn Court." Rhys smoothly replied.

"You're going to the manor, aren't you?" I said, meeting his gaze.

"Yes, would you like to come?" He asked.

"Yes please," I replied, then I could tell mother why I couldn't come and visit anymore and see Amelia and cook again.

"Ok, we leave after breakfast." He said and we ate the rest of the meal in silence.

I was stood with Nyx in the foyer while Rhys told the rest of them what to do.

"So, we're cousins," Nyx said to me with a small smile.

"I guess we are," I replied, returning his smile.

"Has Mor already shown you everything in the city or can we have a day out together?" He asked with a grin.

"Mor took me on a tour of the city but we didn't actually do anything." I replied.

"Well then, I hope you will let me take you to do some of the best things in the city." He said with a wink.

"I would love to." I replied.

"What do you like to do?" He asked after a short pause.

"I like to sing, I used to sing for the other servants while we worked, I also like baking, cook said I was good at it, so I made all of the baked goods in the manor. What do you like to do?" I said, blushing a little.

"Now that sounds cool, you would get on well with my Aunt Elain, she loves to bake. And I know your cakes are good, I had some at the High Lords meeting you so gracefully interrupted. I like training with Uncle Cassian, I love flying around the city, I don't really have many hobbies although my mother tried to get me into painting I am more of a warrior like my father." He replied.

"How old are you?" I asked.

"Eighteen, so I'm only older than you by five years," he said as Rhys appeared.

"It's nice to see you to getting along." He said with a smile.

"I'm going to take Jasmine to see all of the best parts of the city," Nyx told his father who looked delighted.

"Come on, let's go," he said as he offered me his hand.

I took it and darkness gathered us up.