The Fate Weaver

Chapter 7

Chapter 7

I looked out the window seat of the aero plane forlornly, full in the stomach but empty in the heart, my hair 're-dyed', like Anna, Terrence, Magnus and Mr.Owens.

'You have the ability to read minds and more importantly, your second ability has been erased from everyone's minds. The chimeras' leader called Kirk had done it. He is a formidable leader who cannot be underestimated. You have to get back your powers and save us.'

Magnus was seated right beside me, and next to him, Mr.Owens. Behind me were Anna and Terrence. I was told that the thing about chimeras was that they had the ability to mould into any shape- as a human, a girl, a boy, any living being, so we had to be very careful. Mr. Owens and Magnus were taking turns to watch over me, and I found it quite disturbing, especially Magnus.

"Can we talk for a moment, Jac- I mean, Magnus?" I whispered after the plane had risen to the sky.

Magnus looked at Mr. Owens and back at the couple as if for permission. Apparently reluctant, they allowed us five minutes. Magnus fell a few steps behind me, and I saw that he was struggling not to bow his head and put his hands at his back like he was used to.

When we were at an empty corridor, I leaned against a wall, crossing my arms across my chest. "Are you cross with me about something? You weren't speaking to me at all- and I hate that you call me...like that."

"Like...that?" he asked, looking quizzical. "How, miss?"

I snapped my fingers at his face, and he blinked, flinching.

"Ha, caught ya! See? 'Ma'am', 'miss', 'princess', 'my lady', etc. Magnus, I thought we were best friends? Or were you pretending that too?"

"I was...foolish," he said softly, almost for the first time looking at me in the eye after the more-than-mental-shocking discoveries. "At first I thought it wouldn't hurt, to friend you, but later, I realized that it was a mistake."

"Mistake," I repeated, tears stinging my eyes.

Where had my carefree, laughing Jack had gone to? This Jack, whatever his name- was not the boy I knew, confident and sharing every secret with me. His hair with silver streaks had turned paler, closer to white- I had learnt from Anna- it happened when someone was distressed, or overwhelmed, unable to control the 'dye'.

"You're just brutal," I said, lower than a whisper, covering my face with my hands.

When I bent my head, all my hair had turned snow-white, every streak of them.

"Miss, are you in pain or distress? Your hair-"

When he said that, a clever but crafty idea struck my head, like a brainwave. I nodded, feigning distress and sadness as I bent down, covering my face. Magnus was completely on his guard now, alarm written on his face. "Shall I call Physician Anna?"

"Promise you'll call me Athena and treat me like before when we are alone at least, or I will march out and let every passenger see my hair," i threatened.

Realizing what he had gotten himself into, Magnus groaned, shaking his head forlornly, his white hair disappearing gradually- his distress replaced by being torn. "Oh, no- fine. Athena. But only when we are alone."

"Thanks. Whether I'm a beggar or a princess, I'm your friend, at your beck. O.K buddy?"

His mouth formed his usual impish, crooked smile, and that mere smile brought a ray of sunshine to my presently gray world off chaos.

"Clever of you to do that, threatening me," he sighed but smiling, as we walked slowly back, to find Mr. Owens', Terrence and Anna's seats unoccupied.

If I had been in a 'normal' situation, I would have merely sat on my seat, but a sick feeling twisted my intestines, and I was pretty sure that Magnus shared the same thought, judging from his pale face.

The only thing that's make them all leave was my safety at risk. Chimeras could transform into any creature, or even duplicate existing forms. Magnus taking off his jacket, his jaw tense confirmed my fear: there had been a chimera on board, and it had transformed into me, and then feigned being in danger.

Both of us ran, despite an air stewardess' warning not to. If something happened to them, I couldn't forgive myself.