dimensions | original

Overtaken

Marge paced back and forth. "What do you mean, Ma?"

"I mean that it looked awfully suspicious. Luma's been gone almost a day and a half now. She came from the human dimension, had an incredible magical aura and claimed to have come through a shard storm." said En sternly. "She seems completely oblivious of the magical world, and was looking for Matchitehew, someone who bears the name of the First Werewolf. And then she disappears overnight. Just like that. What is it that you don't understand, sweetie?" En's voice became soft and concerned.

"I don't understand that you're so very interested."

En sighed. "I'm simply worried, and I do admit that this is quite suspicious."

"Well, duh, it's suspicious! But won't it simply be easier to stay out of it? Going to, ya know," Marge paused, her voice lowering to a whisper. "the officials-"

"Oh Marge, you can say it. The Vitae isn't evil."

The taller woman glared at En in rage. "Perchance not, but they've kidnapped children before, so why would they care if a child disappears by one other than themselves? Maryam Witt says that her cousin was snatched, and when her aunt and uncle went to the police, they didn't help, so they turned to the Vitae, and guess what they did?" Marge was on a roll now. "Nothing. They sent them straight back to the street police."

"But it's not like they harmed them."

"No, but it just proves my point! The VItae won't help unless it benefits them! They think they're noble, and they sure act like they'll help the public, but they're still a heartless piece of machinery. They won't care, Ma."

"Even if I didn't go to help, what do you expect me to do?" En frowned at her sternly.

"Stay out of it." Marge was just as stern. "She's just another stray. As far as we know, she's a criminal."

En frowned. Despite her daughter's convincing argument, she couldn't help but worry. There had been something about her... Something that felt like she was much older and much more powerful than she seemed.

***

Asha froze. The machine read Luma's core magic at... absolutely nothing.

"It means that someone has forced magic upon you." Emersyn explained, trying to be helpful to poor Luma, when an idea struck her. "And maybe... But no, it couldn't be..."

"What?" an anxious Kinglyn asked, before a look of realization crossed his face, and he looked at Emersyn funny. "You don't mean..."

Carressa had a distant look on her face. "Luma, clear your mind." Carressa too had come upon the same conclusion that Emersyn and Kinglyn had reached. Finn and Asha were both expressionless, not showing what they were thinking. But all of them, including Luma, were afraid.

"What? Why?" Luma said anxiously.

"Just do it." she answered her voice cold and clear.

Luma took a deep breath, and cleared her mind of emotion and thoughts, a task that is often calming and used in meditation. But not for Luma, at least not this time.

She felt almost as though she couldn't control herself. Her vision swam. Strange thoughts and images kept rising in her head. Pictures she'd never seen, words she'd never spoken, memories she'd never lived. But she had. She must have- they were so vivid and real, and then a cold voice interrupted her inner turmoil, and the words- no, the prophecy- she spoke made her cringe in pain as a new wave of images overcame her.

"Once was a dreamer,

And a magic wannabe." whispered the familiar voice.

"She's a keeper,

All you'll ever need." Luma gasped in response, unable to stop herself from responding. She could feel herself jerking up off the chair, standing up.

"Luma?" Now the voice was worried. "Luma, come back." But she couldn't, and besides, she wasn't even sure the voice was talking to her. Her name wasn't Luma. Or was it? She couldn't remember, her head hurt so bad.

"Luma, come one. Luma. LUMA!"

This voice triggered more memories. A girl with red hair.

A girl knowing not of werelore/Shall take him free/Thus ending his inner war, she mentally and automatically recited. She was young, couldn't be older than 16, not younger than 11. She was familiar, so familiar. And then she remembered- it was that girl. The one that was going to save that werewolf due to a shard storm.

Shard storm... That hurt even more. Wasn't I in a shard storm? I... I was a shard. I pierced someone. I... I am... I am Phoenix. But some small voice in the back of her head whispered otherwise. No, it said. You are Lumara Wish. You are the hero of your own story, and you can't let Phoenix overtake you.

And I will let you know a secret- I am the voice whispering through worlds, reminding our heroine who she really is. But my voice alone isn't strong enough. And so, I implore you, dear reader, whisper to Luma, remind her who she is. Together, our voices will carry.

You are Lumara Wish. You are the hero of our story, and you can't let Phoenix overtake you.

Come now, just a bit louder!

You are Lumara Wish! You are the hero of our story!

YOU ARE LUMA!

And the girl froze, her mind stilling at the realization. She was Luma, not Phoenix. She was just a little girl. I am Luma. I am Luma and not anyone else. I am, I am, I am.

As she regained her sense, Luma felt cold smooth metal against her wrist. Her vision cleared and she became aware that she was locked back up in Cell 17.