Orange Shadow Magic: Awaken. Book 1

Chapter 14: Perhaps it was Just a Dream

The stars twinkled dimly in the night sky as Avery strolled the city streets, loss and pain at her mind. When she had turned back to her normal self, she hadn't realized she would still have the bloody gash on her neck. It looked almost like a lightning bolt, but it was swiftly healing anyway. However, Avery knew, she would have this scar all of her life. The death of King Werepaw weighed heavily on her mind, like a stone that couldn't be removed from her already suffering mind. Avery heard the sound of pattering footsteps behind her, and when she looked behind herself, Mattzew was slipping quietly and cautiously out of his mansion's front door and into the bright moonlight, constellations dotting the sky. He was obviously in awe, but Avery could tell he was freezing.

"Mattzew, what are you doing out here?" Avery asked. "You know humans can freeze to death out in this weather, right?"

"I just needed some fresh air." Avery glared at him and he pouted. "Fine, I'll tell you the truth. I just thought that we should start training to use our powers. I mean, this boy wants to fight! Besides, I kinda felt bad about earlier." Mattzew laughed.

Avery's eyes widened but then drooped back down to their normal death stare. "I hope you realize that you don't have any powers," Avery said as if it was common knowledge.

"Well, look," Mattzew said seriously, and lightning sparks danced in his cupped hands. Only seconds later, they disappeared, and the two were left in the dark. "I'm kind of scared, and besides, I thought you saw me using them earlier today. And don't you remember that we skipped classes just so that we could 'train'." he whispered, looking up to see what Avery would say. Avery pulled down her orange hood to see Mattzew better, then said,

"I thought it was one of your fancy illusions or something. Besides, when we skipped classes, we didn't really train. I just kept going back to Exeria so that I could get rid of the remains of my father's kingdom." Avery scolded. After an awkward moment passed, Mattzew let a few more sparks come out of his fingertips.

"Does it look like I'm joking?" he said then watched as Avery's eyes enlarged.

"When did it begin to happen like this? Even when we did train, it wasn't as controlled as this." She pressed, watching as Mattzew's sparks began to fade. There wasn't even a burn on his delicate little hands.

"Last night. I was going to my room, but then I heard a strange noise coming from your room. So, I went to investigate. I opened your door, and you were sleeping peacefully, but then this big white ball flew out of your body, and into my soul," Mattzew shuddered, then continued talking. "As soon as it flew into me, the sparks that you saw right now came out of my fingers, and thinking it was a dream, I fell asleep. I've been trying to hide it all day," Mattzew whispered, looking gently into Avery's eyes. She saw his big, warm brown eyes, and shaggy black hair. He looked back at her and saw the lights of the sun itself shining brightly below the depths of her beautiful golden eyes, and her light silver hair that fell straight down her back. She didn't even look the same, but he wouldn't complain. She looked fairer now, and it was hard for Mattzew to keep looking at her without blushing. He didn't deserve her now. He never did. They looked at each other and Avery held Mattzew close as he hugged her. "Please, please help me, Avery," he whispered, "you're the only person that knows how, and besides, I got these powers from you anyways." His chest pounded up and down and he bit his lip, refusing to let the tears go down his face. "Please, I need help. I need help from you."

Avery struggled with the decision. How could she help him when she could barely help herself? A stone kept weighing her thoughts down, and all she could see was her father's big round face as he died in her arms. The death of her father was all too fresh to her. She had to slowly let the deaths of all of her family finally stop weighing her down. Then she could help.