The Innocent

Magic

"Close, your eyes. Imagine the sun, feel its warmth shining through you." Jon spoke quietly as Melanie screwed her eyes shut. He watched for a few moments as her brow grew more furrowed. "Relax," he whispered.

Barely noticeable at first Melanie's skin began to glow. Quickly though Jon was forced to close his eyes to the glare. "That's enough Melanie." The girl didn't respond, "Melanie? Melanie stop now." He yelled her name but Melanie was so deep in her trance that she didn't hear. The glow in the room was becoming to bright for Jon even when he had his eyes closed. He backed towards the door. Feeling behind him his hand found the handle. He wrenched the door open and spun out slamming the door behind him. Melanie's reaction had been far stronger than he had expected, even Aunties magic wasn't that strong.

He had to find Auntie. Melanie had encased herself in a bubble of magic. He'd heard Auntie warn of it, people could get lost in magic when they pushed it too far. Where she was now only Auntie could help.

"Mum!" Jon ran outside into the trees searching for his mother, "Mum?"

"Jon? What's wrong?" Auntie's voice echoed out of the trees

"Where are you? Mum?" Jon cried, "It's Melanie, I don't know what's happening."

"What do you mean? Just wait, I'm coming." there was a crashing as Auntie appeared from between to old gum trees.

"Something's happened..." Jon stammered, "I... I tried to show her how to glow, and..."

"Ah." Auntie's voice was tight and sharp

Nothing else was said as Auntie led Jon in a brisk walk back to their home. Jon was troubled. Had he done something wrong, it was exactly the same thing as what Auntie had said to him when he was first learning to use his magic. But then he was nowhere near as powerful as Melanie appeared to be. But she shouldn't have closed up like that, as if she was protecting something, keeping it to herself. Her power unchecked ought to have blinded Jon, as it was he had been unable to look at her. But somehow she had held it back, showed some control over what she was doing.

While Jon thought, Auntie had led him back. As Auntie stopped he was torn from his reverie. They stood outside the kitchen door; the light shining from the crack under the door was too bright to look at. He stood behind his mother as she took a deep breath shut her eyes and swung the door wide open. Jon was caught unprepared, the glare shining directly into his eyes. He gasped and bent over. The next few seconds were all a blur as Auntie moved swiftly to Melanie and but a hand on each of Melanie's shoulders and held her. Whispering quietly into Melanie's ear. Jon couldn't hear what was said but as she talked the glare dimmed and disappeared. Finally Jon could see Auntie in the kitchen holding a slumped Melanie up.

Jon knew of the energy that magic could take out of you for he had felt it every time he used his. But he couldn't imagine what it would take if you were to expend like Melanie had just done. He was awed at the magnitude of it all and stood back as Auntie carried Melanie past and into her bedroom. There was a groan as Auntie lowered Melanie on to the bed, and then Auntie tiptoed out leaving Melanie to her sleep.

As she came back out Auntie held up her hands, "Shh! She will probably sleep, in to tomorrow. Do you remember how tired you were after your first used magic?"

"She will be all right though," Jon's voice betrayed his worry

"Of course, what do you expect? But next time make sure I'm around when you first get someone to practice magic." Auntie chided

"I'm sorry." As he said it Auntie could see just how deeply he meant it

"What are you sorry about," She shook her head, "It's done now so we may as well leave it."