Starlight

Encounter - Maya

I'm crouching.

Mother's working late tonight is very beneficial for me. This way I have time to - I hate to say, "snoop," but that is essentially what I'm doing - in her chamber.

A circle is drawn, the fat white candle I favour above my others - even through Mother forbids me ever to use it - lit before me, the dancing golden flame casting twining shadows on my face. I don't know what I'm searching for - just guidance, I suppose.

Not five minutes after I close my eyes and my breathing settles into a steady rhythm, I feel the power inside me, boiling hot and ready to be released in a great spur of magic. So James was telling the truth; I still have it.

I guess the reason I'm here, doing this now, is because I've lost the trust I once had with Mother - because of yesterday evening.

"You're right."

The voice startles me from my meditation. At first, naturally, I assume it is Mother, but her voice isn't deep like this one. Or the least bit friendly.

I don't know why but, when I open my eyes to find the strange man - the flickering man - standing in front of me, I am not surprised.

"What am I right about?" I ask, choosing my words with care.

The time it takes for him to reply I use to study him. Exactly like last night, he wears his white cloak. Something I didn't notice before, however, is how incredibly gentle his features are - the shape, the expression. His lips are full, his eyes big and open. It gives him an almost feminine appearance that is very appealing. If he weren't my mother's age, I'm sure I'd find him attractive.

"About not trusting your mother."

I blink rapidly. "You can read my mind?"

His lips curve upwards. It's not a full-fledged smile, but it's pretty close. His eyes never waver from mine. "No. But that's why you're doing this," he says, arm sweeping out, over the candle, the circle, "in here - because you don't trust her. Am I right?"

"Yes," I reply without thinking. Why am I telling him this?

"I won't lie to you," he says quietly.

I nod, accepting of this. Somehow, I believe him.

For a moment, there is only silence between us. I dare not drag my gaze from his, though. Suddenly, I feel a strange sensation inside me - an unwelcome probing at the very back of my mind.

"Stop that," I say.

I feel him withdraw. "You felt me?" he says incredulously.

I fold my arms, feeling as if my privacy has been breached. "How could I not?"

"I just thought-." He cuts of abruptly. "You have to protect the boy," the man says out of the blue. His voice is dark, serious. Not to be taken lightly, his words.

"The boy.... James?" I respond after thinking about it.

"Yes." Pause. "I must go."

In an arbitrary fashion, I throw myself at him, only to fall straight through his flickering form, landing hard on the other side of him with a "Hmph!"

"Don't go," I plead, regaining myself. "I need you to tell me more!"

He hesitates, fading slowly. "Tomorrow," he says finally. After a second, his eyes widen and he blurts out, "Your mother!"

The door swings open. Mother stands there, in the archway, framed by the light from the hallway. Her face is heavily made up. She looks very obviously irritated - not angry - to find me in her chamber without permission - and with a white candle. "Go to your room," she says, exasperated. "Now!"

Before leaving, I turn back around - just to see.

He has gone.