A Court of Heritance and Destiny

Chapter 2 Amaya

The summer sun was different from the spring one, it burned over her making her sweat before training had even started. House of Winds, that was what they called the large estate on the mountain, the place she now stood and waited. Nyx and Azriel had taken her there for training, and now stood before her. Their eyes wandered up and down over and over.

"Shall we start?" She asked, hoping to stop the evaluation.

"Orion worked on your magic." Nyx started, breaking his frozen stand. "Show us."

She lifted her hand in response, letting the black sand spread out, first in shapes and patterns, then in more concentrated lines. To her surprise, shadows, not the same as Orion's darkness, broke off from around Azriel and started to join the sand. Almost like they played around with it.

"You have amazing control." The Illyrian commented, calling back his shadows. "Orion did well." Amaya nodded, seeing how Azriels hazel eyes darted between her and Nyx at his side.

"We will work on something else today." Nyx then said, just as Azriel spread out his wings and left them there.

"Why is he leaving?" Amaya asked following the shrinking silhouette of the Illyrian.

"Sit down." Nyx gestured to the mat covered ground. "This will take some explanation." Amaya did as he said, still nervous about what she was about to face.

"Yes?"

"Daemati." Nyx started, "A power over ones and others minds."

"I know." She had read about that one. "Few exist."

"Most of them are within this family, not all, but most." Nyx added. "It is the power granted to our blood, I have it, mom, dad, Ikarad is the worst, you." He shrugged. "It can be used to control others, read their minds, and destroy them."

"I have never done that." She said, "I have the sand, not that."

"One can have more than one power, sister." Nyx lifted his own hand, a night covered darkness filled with embers hovered above his hand. "Our mother has a seed from all the High Lords, meaning that she has some of everyones powers, and I got a few drops from it. Not much, but some." Amaya nodded seeing how the powers above his hand faded out. "A Daemati can easily enter someone else's mind, so the first thing to learn is to keep others out." Her stomach twisted at the words, and she looked down. The question burned at the tip of her tongue.

"Has... Has anyone done that to me?" She didn't dare to look up.

"No." Nyx said with a certain tone. "But, I will tell you that for a moment when we found you, you did show us what you were feeling." Now she did look up. That final chaotic moment.

Mother, take my body and soul back to your arms. End this suffering. I beg you. She remembered the words well, "it was a strange moment."

"Trust me, most people in this house have faced a similar feeling." Nyx held back a laugh. "Now, try to visualise a wall around your mind."

"How?"

"How ever you like."

Amaya closed her eyes, trying to figure out how to protect her mind. She had lived behind walls, closed off from the outside world. Isolated and alone.

"Think of it as a safe thing, something you can have at the back of your mind at all times."

When had she felt safe? Truly safe? The memories of the black sand swirling around her, and then Orion's face.

"Let it protect you..."

She saw the sand swirl around her, creating an ever moving, but still protecting barrier between her and anyone who wanted to come closer. Just as she started to feel comfortable with it, a cold feeling came closer to her walls, she let the sand harden, creating even more protection.