Mystical (Sequel to Magical)

Chapter 8

It's here. Someone requested Mystical, so I worked very hard to get this to you all. Grad school is very hard and time consuming so finding time to write is very difficult, but doing it is soothing so hopefully I'll have more time to do it.

I hope you like this chapter. It's a start of the storyline starting to move along again. Enjoy! <3

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I had decided that we would only stay one more night before heading to Acratia. Both Caius and Septa urged me to be sure that I was well before we continued, but I felt I had rested long enough. The village decided to throw us a farewell feast fit for a king (though I suppose that saying was fitting seeing as Caius was present).

Caius...he loved me. It had been only that morning that we had confessed to one another and my heart was fluttering nonstop. I was currently sitting beside the fire to keep warm from the chill of the approaching dusk, and I looked over at Caius sitting with my father. They now seemed a lot more civil toward one another, which was a relief. "You're expression is all smiles." I heard a voice beside me and I jumped in shock from the sudden sound. I turned to see a young man who couldn't be more than sixteen in my opinion with a tanned complexion and bright white teeth in contrast spread in a wide smile. His chestnut colored hair fell around his face and into his eyes. His voice was the biggest contrast of all though. His features were soft, but his voice was deep, with an edge to it, and slightly frightening. It felt scarily familiar, and sent a fearful shiver down my spine.

"I suppose so." I replied in a short tone, wondering what this stranger wanted, and why he gave me such a feeling of unease.

"I don't know why." He said, the smile not faltering as he looked into the fire, playing with his fingernails. I watched his actions suspiciously, a frown now present on my face.

"What do you mean?" I pressed.

He gave a low chuckle that made me shiver and turned back to me, his eyes blazing red. I suppressed the urge to scream, to run, to do anything. I continued sitting, watching him, my expression impassive with a slight frown on my lips. The atmosphere around us was lively and loud, but I felt as if he and I were in our own bubble of disquiet. "How?" I asked, simply. I knew Hiruk was powerful, but possessing humans? What else could he do that I wasn't aware of?

"I'm very close from breaking free, Carina. Temporarily taking charge of the mind of a brainless child is really no problem for me. What was most difficult was figuring out where you were, but it didn't take me too long. So...your father is a seer then, Carina? How...useful."

"To what do I owe this honor?" I hissed sarcastically. What was he up to? Why did he contact me?

"I'm simply checking up on you, little witch. Seeing what you're up to. I can see everything this little idiot has seen and, though he's not the sharpest, he's heard enough. Going for the Eri, then? Want to go the same route as Lekila then?" He turned to look back into the fire.

"You know nothing of what I plan on doing." I retorted and he shrugged.

"Perhaps not. This is a wooly source, but it's not as easy to take over the mind of smarter, more experienced individuals such as your king over there. This boy, Kiefer I believe his name is...he saw you and your king friend being quite friendly under some trees earlier. He was watching...enjoying...quite a sick boy." An equally sick smile took over his face.

"What do you want?" I snapped, at the verge of losing my façade.

"To study you, my dear. One must always know as much as possible about their opponent. You're not that difficult to figure out though, I'm afraid. A silly little girl, with a romantically distracted brain. You really think that king feels for you? Please. He's only with you because you're powerful. Powerful...yes, but far too thick and fearful to really access it." He chuckled again and locked gazes with me. "I will crush you like the little insect you are. And I will enjoy it."