The Mark of Ilman

Chapter 6 - An Explanation

I stood in the entryway, the house strangely silent. I swallowed and moved forward, sliding my backpack off and placing it on the floor. My heartbeat quickened as I felt a strong power huver in the air. It hummed and clashed with another power, sending a vibration throughout the house.

Lutah came down the stairs, her body seeming to hover. Not a sound was made as she appeared as herself instead of as my mother. Her eyes gave no emotion but the power that came off her naturally sent shivers through my body. I came closer to her, the feel of my own natural power flowing off me in gentle waves. I tried to stop the flow but it came more fiercely, my body betraying me as it sensed a danger.

She came closer and my body tensed.

One look at my face and she stopped. She gave a quick sweeping look at my body and smiled.

“At least you are not harmed. I am glad,” she said. “I was worried that you would be in danger. It seems my presence in this form is causing you to lose control over your own.”

“What do you mean?” I asked.

She was silent for a moment, a weary look crossing her beautiful face. “I mean that you now have no control over your emotions which will trigger a defensiveness in you, though I am not your enemy. It will cause a bit of chaos but I am sure you will not hurt anyone.”

I gritted my teeth a little as I considered how I’d lost control. How I could possibly posses such a power and how she was not my enemy.

“You have made me forget,” I snapped, the reasons for my resentment towards her rising to the surface of my mind. “You have deceived me. I know you have blocked some of my memories and that you have tried to keep me from the truth. The truth of who I am and where I am from. Why are trying to keep me ignorant?”

Our gazes locked. “Because you would be hated and resented. You would be a freak here and I did not wish for you to have such a life. If you knew nothing of the strange things that have happened to you since your seventh birthday you would become rebellious and you’re fate would catch up to you. You’d die by the hands of those demons or worse! You could go to the Realm, but do you think they would except you for who you are? No! Every Lagerian hates Ilmen. They abandoned us to the rauko and never have answered us. You would be made a warrior and sent into a war you couldn't possibly hope to win. Do you wish I had let you remember? Have them take you to the realm and die?”

“No,” I replied, my voice starting to rise. “I just want to the truth of why you’ve kept so much from me. What happened to my dad on my seventh birthday? Where is my mother? How come I am hearing these voices again? I don’t even understand how I am suppose to control this power. I don’t understand anything!”

She sighed and walked over the the living room where she sat on the couch. She motioned for me to sit too. I cautiously did and sat on the edge of the recliner.

Lutah leaned her head on her propped up arm. She looked beautiful and enchanting. I felt as if I was looking at a painting. She closed her eyes for a moment and breathed in deeply.

“I will start from the beginning,” she said. “I did not come till you were almost eight. Your mother was devastated when your father left. I am not sure what has happened to him. All I know is he is either dead or in the Realm. Both hold likely in my mind. When the Mark appeared on you Melda became aware of your growing powers but your mother did not hold much magic, only minor healing. She felt as you grew that year when little rauko began to attack you and you started hearing the voices of the Yarra you became impulsive, temperament, and you would not listen to anyone but the Yarra. Your mother felt helpless so she called on me and I blocked them out. I tried to keep you safe from the rauko as well but they were constantly after you. I casted a spell on you to suppress the pull your power radiates but lately that spell is being broken. It was only a matter of time before that happened but I still hoped it never would.