Hidden Magic

Chapter Thirty-Six

It was strange to have so many people in my bedroom, I mean it was more than big enough, everyone was perched on the seating around the fireplace, it still felt strange to have what ten people in here including me, my pixie seemed none too pleased, he, or she, it? I wasn't sure what gender it was, but it had been ready to attack the intruders up until I invited them, then it seemed to huff in annoyance like I was ruining its fun and flew up to the door to its home near the top of my wall by the ceiling, no doubt to watch us.

"I brought you all here so we could properly discuss this in private, to my friends and Seth, this will be nothing new, they've heard it before, but for the four of you, this will be new to you, and I hope this makes sense as to why I am so certain I will be in a relationship with six men." Thane looked at me with slight skepticism as if he wasn't sure I could say anything that could justify that, but I suppose he would just have to listen and make his own decision.

"I can see the doubt on your faces, even though you said you trusted her enough to have a good reason, trust me, what you are hearing is very true, and will happen. Don't doubt her." I tilt my head and smile up at Seth, who was standing behind me with his arms loosely wrapped around me. "I think it's best to start at the beginning, love." He gently kisses the top of my head and I turn back to the very men who may well be responsible for saving my life in the future.

"When I arrived here, I knew nothing of this world, while I may be part of the prestigious Valdis bloodline, I was told nothing of this world or what magic lies in my blood. My grandmother raised me this way because she thought that my mother's arrogance about the strength of her family led to her not being able to defend herself and ending up in a coma with my father, I know this seems like it has nothing to do with any of this, but it does, it's all connected, I just never realized that before I came here. The first week I was here, after I was chosen for Sira branch I mean, I had horrible nightmares, terrible painful dreams, where I was tied to a pole, my wrists were slashed, and I was forced to drink something that burned like acid, and then I was lit on fire." Their faces were horrified, no doubt this was not what they were expecting, even my friends who had heard this before looked uncomfortable, Seth's arms had tightened around me.

But I didn't stop, no matter their reactions, I wasn't done telling them everything yet, and if I stopped, I wasn't sure I would be able to push past the memories as easily, my focus and determination about telling them helped me push past the painful memories at least. "When I arrived in Sira branch, we had a choosing ceremony where the goddess was supposed to guide us to our mentor's, supposedly when I touched someone the lights would turn back on, but I was guided to a man that looked surprised I could touch him, that was the most attractive man I had ever seen, otherworldly looking even, that did not make the lights turn back on, he guided my hands to the person beside him and disappeared into the shadows. I know it seems like I am getting off topic but there is a reason I am telling you about him, just be patient." I stopped Thane from interrupting, he looked jealous at the thought of me touching another man, though for all he knew it could have been Seth.

"I was then plagued with the nightmares that I mentioned before, horrible nightmares, but whenever I tried to speak to someone about them, I found myself unable to talk, like something was making it so I had to suffer through them completely alone. And then a day or so later another man showed up, just as otherworldly as the man I had seen before, but he was in my bedroom this time, uninvited and my pixie wasn't attacking him. He spoke of being surprised of how the other man had been surprised I could see him, that none of them had believed it to be true and he had come to check whether it was true or not. Then he disappeared in a puff of shadow, in broad daylight, something I had been told wasn't possible, that those in Sira branch can only travel through mirrors. Meanwhile the nightmares continued and a few days later I found him again in my bedroom, except this time there were four others with him, including the one I had seen during my mentor ceremony. All of them otherworldly in looks, and seeming to radiate a powerful energy, they bickered like brothers, though none of them looked alike, they spoke about me like I was a child, and they were so far above me, even though they didn't look to be much older than me. Suffice to say I got angry at them." Ryker gives me this big smile, like he was proud I had got angry, but they all seemed content to let me explain this story at my own pace without interruptions.