Dark Turn (Book One In War Of The Magi)

Chapter 5 - The Flow of two hearts

I was nervous... Extremely nervous...

I have kept this secret for over four years... Not even Josh knew about it... But Emma... She found out... Moving in into a dorm was a bad idea... But there was no choice. Now I had to go face my fear...

I know it doesn't sound like much, the simple fact of me having nightmares, but it's so much more than a simple nightmare. All of them are the recollections of the death of my older sister. All of them are a guilt trip to the past. A reminder of my failure. I don't want that to be used against me, nor do I want to have that ruin my friendship with Emma and Joshua. I can't bear losing them. Not now when we are at the brink of war...

I heard the door click, signaling that it was unlocked. It was time to face my fears.

She walked in, her footsteps getting close to the couch where I was seated. I was nervous and afraid of what she would say.

"Damien..." Her soft and melodic voice ringed in my hears.

Slowly turning my head, I saw the worry etched in her face. Although her posture was one of an intimidating interrogator, her face let to much emotion seep through. I, on the other hand, kept my face emotionless, like always. The face of a soldier.

"Yes?" I kept my voice neutral, never wavering from my act.

"For how long?" She said as she sat down on the armchair.

"It doesn't concern you." I said, looking into the nothing in front of me.

"It does. We're partners. We can trust each other." Her voice was calm, like she had done this before.

"We are partners, yes. But we are rivals also. Don't forget where we are." I glanced at her, seeing her face, analysing it. She was hurt, I saw it. But she wouldn't back down, I knew it.

"Let's ignore that for now Damien. Let's talk, partner to partner. Friend to friend."

She was stubborn, I'd give her that. But could I release one of my most well kept secrets, until now, to her? Looking at her, I knew I could. She knew it to. She wouldn't use this against me.

"My sister died when I was twelve." Her eyes were glued on me, showing that she was paying full attention to my words. "She was killed during the attack of Descendant."

"Oh..." Was all she said at first. After a few seconds she asked "Then why do you have the nightmares?"

"Because I saw her killed in front of me..." I answered, remembering that painful day. "They wanted to get to my father through me and her.  Even when he said he would comply to their demands, they still killed her. Shot, right through the head."

A single tear fell from my eye. It was always terrible reliving that moment. Her blood splattered across my face and my clothes. The wide eyes on her tear stricken face. She was sixteen when it happened.

"How old was she?" She said, taking a hold of my clenched fist. I was crying, fully now.

"Sixteen... She was about to enlist into the Academy..." My voice was filled with sadness and regret. "I knew I could have done something, anything to save her. If only I had a bit more power... A bit more courage... But I was scared... Terribly scared... I was so pathetic..."

"You couldn't do anything..." Her voice was calm and filled with confidence. "You were only twelve, it was only normal for you to be scared..."

"The human mind as two primal instincts, fight or flight... And that day I chose flight... Me! The kid who always fought his battles, who never ran away from his obstacles..." My eyes stared at the wooded floor, tears falling and staining it. "What a prodigy I was... I was paralyzed with fear... And I just watched her die in front of me... I'm-"