The Wanderer: The Story of James the Gray

Chapter 6

White sighed and took a step back. I grinned at her with fangs bared. A voice rang through my mind quietly, and I recognized it from back at the hotel. "Come on James, do you really think I would be defeated by you? Where do you think your new power came from?

Don't tell me that you actually think it's yours? No, I gave you a temporary boost to snap you out of your condition. However, if you'd like to remain my champion, we could make this permanent." I looked into White's eyes, and saw that they had become pools of crystalline white.

I responded telepathically. "So, if that's the case, then you'd be weaker now. And even if you took it back, that would stabilize my energy. But I know this feeling from somewhere. I can't remember where, but I know this power. I've felt it before, it's so familiar that it must be my own."

White narrowed her eyes, and I vaguely understood some thought that she attempted to keep to herself. "I don't believe you James. If you want to do this so badly that you would blatantly lie to me, then I won't stop you, but you're not ready yet. Let me help you. I can prepare you for what surely comes next."

It was the truth, but she didn't believe me for some reason. I know I'd felt this before, I just can't remember from where. White appeared on my left side and swung her blade toward my neck impressively fast. "White," I said aloud, "You should no better than to attack me without at least taking back 'your power'."

I caught her blade in my left hand, feeling the blood run down my arm. I snarled with a concerning amount of ferality, and shoved her backward. "James, if this is really your power, then you're not ready to use it. Haphazardly utilizing a tool you don't know how to wield is dangerous. Look at yourself, this isn't you, this isn't the James I know!"

A hand grabbed my shoulder from behind, and I swirled around to grab whoever's arm it was attached to. I saw a look of terror in Vin's eyes, and she didn't move once I caught her arm. "James," she said quietly, barely able to speak through tears, "You don't need to do this on your own. I'm here, and I'll do anything to help you. Just let me, please, James."

I let go of her arm and wrapped mine around her. I hugged her gently, trying not to hurt her. Arcai, the word I had heard before, once again rang through my mind. I looked into her eyes again, and saw that my reflection was calmer now, more refined than my previous, monstrous, self had been.

"White," I yelled, "What is Arcai?" Vin looked at me with confusion on her face. "I keep hearing that word, but I don't know what it means."

"That's her name James." Vin said.

I looked at her stupidly. "It's not White?" She shook her head. "Wow, well, I'm dumb huh?"

She smiled and nodded, hugging me tightly.

"Where did you hear my real name James?" White asked from behind me.

"It was when I passed out, back at the hotel. I woke up to you holding me to the wall, right after I heard it. I heard it again just now, when I looked at Divinity."

"But she wasn't saying it to you, is that what you're saying?"

I nodded. "Hey," I said to Vin, "How is it exactly that you plan to help me?"

She smiled at me, the last of her tears fading now. "I have already, haven't I? Don't you notice being more relaxed? Whatever was happening to you, it's gone now."

I looked down at myself, noting that nothing seemed any different, but then I looked into Vin's eyes. My reflection was normal now. My fangs were the usual size, and my pupils had returned to their normal shape. "Thanks Vin," I said with a smile, "I didn't realize how different I really was. I guess that means I'm really not ready for this then."