Tales of a Shifter (P5) The White Mountain

Chapter 42 - His Potential

Chapter 42 – His Potential

Oh God! Oh my fucking God! What do I do? What do I do? Where do I go? Where can I go!? Eric teleported us in here. Oh God he locked me in here...!

"Do not run from Us Child. There is nowhere for you to go...!" Came the unholy stacked voices of the Bane chasing behind Brandon in the dimness.

Holy fuck. This thing is....evil. Unnatural. And the Alchemists serve it? Why? It's a monster. It's as vile and mean as Hovel is. But it's old. Powerful. NO! I can't think about that right now! I just...I can't let it get me. I've got to get away, but the fucking door is locked....and Eric had the key.

Eric....

Shuddering Brandon glanced down the long stone-ways that were dusted with candle light, and far at the end he could see the shadow of the Bane dancing, across the walls as it feasted on Eric's bloody body.

Ok....I'm not going back that way. But I've got to find a way......God! I'm supposed to be a Druid. I'm supposed to the son of a great Alchemist. I have an all-powerful stone beating in me CHEST! Eric was right. I'm acting like I'm helpless and pathetic. But there is power inside of me. Even if I hate it. Even if it Burns my Soul. There is something there....Just......JUST USE IT! Do something or your going to die here...and so will Ezekiel

With pure fear and a smidge of determination, pumping in his veins Brandon closed his eyes and somehow he pushed away the hunger, he pushed away the blissful burn of the Acris. He pushed all of it away...and Brandon cut down deep into his soul, he scrambled, he prodded, he clawed for something that would help him. Protect him.

The cold, unpleasant tingle from before....it beckoned to him now for some odd reason. And as much as Brandon wanted to never reach from that coldness ever again. Just then he wanted to do anything to get away from the Bane, which was viscously devouring a man on the other side of the room.

With every piece of his soul. Every part of his heart. He WILLED that power in him to rise up once more.

And that's....when the Druid felt it. Deep in his core, there was a sharp strum, then a flash of ice cool power flared up inside of his body. Inducing a numb cold tingle that prickled up his spine, and bit into his hands, and brain.

With tears in his eyes, Brandon gaffed and slipped to his knees, eyes closed and body trembling with unknown feelings and cold, Brandon choked. "God what is this....?" He whispered, lifting his arms and hand out before himself and trembling with the desire to vomit or scream.

But....then Brandon opened his eyes and with tears streaking his cheeks, he froze. Because he was glowing.

And not the soft glow that always lifted off of his skin when he was suffering under the Hunger of the Ether....no this was a bold, sharp, aggressive, soothing glow, which, seemed to shimmer like a second suit all around his body. Brandon shook as he watched tendrils of light curl and dance around his hands, chest and legs....A pulsing cold numb permeated as Brandon gazed upon the lights in fascination. Noting the squiggly ugly little symbols and bits of letters that were swirling at the apex of his palms like feathers

Then something clicked.

Brandon remembered the horrible, ugly smoggy light that had engulfed his father like a storm...and Brandon also recalled the smaller black curtain of lights that had danced around Brother Eric and around Nora. Protecting them from harm. Glowing bright and black. Mana. Alchemy.

I can't believe it...

Brandon shook his head, then swallowed as bile danced along his wind pipe.