Talentless

The Heist

          A probe? What could possibly cause a probe? I had only heard of what they were, but, from what I could tell, they weren't taken lightly. So what could have possibly happened for them to demand one? Did they catch me eavesdropping? Was it something dangerous? I made my way down the staircase, the Councillors' expressions telling nothing. The best I could do was plead.

          "I don't know anything! You know I'm not lying---"

          "You're not in trouble," Bronte assured me, though his face did not show it. "There are some things we ourselves are not able to control. Sit down."

          I took a seat on the edge of the couch, ready to make a run for it if necessary. What would they do? I looked at Mother, who was looking at...nothing? Her eyes seemed to be fixed on a dot that wasn't on any of the Councillors, but very far away. They flashed ice blue again. Councillor Emery sat down next to me. He's rumored to be a Telepath. One of the best. He noticed my nervousness, and smiled.

          "This works better if you stay still. You're not in trouble, and you won't be. We simply need to...sort a few things out." He grabbed my wrist and put them on my lap. "Trust me?" 

          I nodded, without anything else to do. "This will all be over quick. Do I have your permission to enter you mind?"

          "What?" 

          "All Telepaths need to ask permission. For privacy reasons, of course. Even the Councillors. It's best for your privacy."

          "Then...yeah. You have my permission."

          He smiled again, and raised his hands for my forehead. I liked it when he smiled. It felt good. "Remember: this will be over quick." His fingers touch my temples, and he closes his eyes. I felt nothing but a slight cold breeze passing by. I counted the seconds. Thirty. Forty. At two hundred, he took off his fingers. "You're okay. See? Nothing wrong." Then he turns towards Mother.

         "We want to do a probe on you too, Lady Vacker. Just in case." 

          "You can try," she said. More of a challenge, though not suspicious. Minutes passed, and Emery lifted his fingers and returned to his seat. "Well, we didn't see anything suspicious. You should be free to go, but not before Councillor Kenric washes your memories."

          I nearly stood up in protest. Wash away? Of course this meeting was confidential, but at least we were supposed to remember it? Does he not trust us? I looked at Mother, who remained composed. Maybe she was shocked as well. If anything, she was even more satisfied.

          Councillor Kenric stood up. He was taller than the others, with a strong build, light skin and a flash of fiery red hair. He smiled, and I could tell he was the best out of all of them. Councillor Oralie smirked as he made his way. 

          "Now, Anadil. Just like Emery said, this won't hurt. You won't remember a single bit of this meeting once this is over." You can't resist, they seemed to say. We can keep you here forever. Or we could wipe your memories and make you think you were someone else. And I didn't. I gave him permission, to put his fingers on my temples and watch the world disappear.

          "Welcome back," a familiar voice greeted me. She sat at my desk, organizing my bracelets, polishing them under her soft fingers. Her braided green hair had white flowers woven into them, and her eyes, under the bright morning light, shone like emeralds. I helped myself up.  I remembered nothing, just that Mother took me to Eternalia and I somehow got here. Nothing but a slight tingle of dread.