Tidal Vortex-Book One

Chapter Twenty

Teal:

I stare at the black box Bianca holds close to her chest on the table's surface. Curiosity has me wondering what's in it, but I don't ask.

"Okay, I'm open to Connor teaching me how to fight. I have fought other inmates over the last five years. So at least I know how to handle myself in fights, but I have no formal training," I explain before biting my lower lip nervously.

"That's fine, we will start easy and work our way up to more advanced levels of fighting," Connor says as he leans back in his chair.

I look across the table at Bianca.

"What's in the box?"

"These belonged to your mother. It's only right that they become yours now."

Bianca opens the lid of the box and Connor and I both lean forward to look.

Inside, laid out on soft red velvet, are two double-edged daggers. The handles have a rubber grip and gold along the hilts, while the blades themselves are a silver steel. I gasp at the beauty of them, noticing that they look just as sharp as a Samurai sword. Engraved on the blades are symbols in some unfamiliar language.

"These are blood bonded daggers. The symbols stand for humility, strength, unity, diversity, power, love, and spiritual power. Your mother bonded with them, and now it's only natural that they become yours," Bianca informs me.

"Blood bonded? You mean to say the daggers somehow become a part of me?" I ask while clasping my hands tight enough that my knuckles turn white. It occurs to me that, I feel completely out of my element. Can I even trust this weird new magical technology? A mix of fascination and trepidation war within me as I stare at the beautiful daggers that used to belong to my mother. The mother I never got the chance to know.

"Well, not exactly. Blood bonded means that the dagger once fused with your blood will have your powers. They will be on you always where you can call on them when you need them. It's advanced technology paired with magic," Bianca explains.

"So, they will be attached to my body, then? Will it hurt to become bonded to them?" I ask while my brow creases in worry, and I bite my lower lip. Suddenly I notice Connor staring at my lips, my face flushes, before I turn my full attention back to Bianca.

"Technically, they will be invisible at the base of your wrists. Anytime that you need them, you can call on them and they will appear in your hands. Becoming blood bonded will hurt slightly, but only temporarily," Bianca explains.

"Okay, definitely sounds like enchanted daggers from out of a movie," I say, while smiling back at Bianca and Connor.

Both simultaneously rolled their eyes at me calling them that. I laugh at their reaction to my quirky human-like ways.

"Well, shall we get this done and bond them to you, then?" Bianca asks.

"It's best that you have weapons within your reach, even if you don't know how to use them yet," Connor says.

"Dude, they are daggers. You just stab at threats. It's not that complicated," I say while grinning back. My remark earns me another eye roll that makes me grin wider.

"Both of you quit it," Bianca remarks, as she shakes her head at our playful banter.

Picking up one of the daggers, Bianca hands me the other matching weapon. Taking it in my hand, I'm surprised that it's not nearly as heavy as I would've expected. Turning it over in my palm, I notice the intricate engravings upon the silver blades.

"The process is fairly simple to bond them to you. Take one of the blades and cut the palm of your hand lightly. Not much pressure is needed, the blades are very sharp," Bianca explains.