The Power Within [Narry]

--Chapter 10--

Psssst...look at the picture on the side. LOOK AT IT ;)

Dedication to disc0ntinue for making this incredible cover <3 .x

I have to read the letter three times before I'm able to process the words.

How could this academy keep me safe from “potential harm”? A bigger question is, what “recent occurrence” are they talking about? The only thing that I can think of is the situation with an almost dead Jay, but that took place less than an hour ago, they can't possibly know about that....unless they're psychics. Oh my god, is this “Brigid's Academy for the Gifted” a school for wizards, like Hugwarts? I would totally be in Gryffindor, mainly because that's the only House I know.

What in the name of sweet Jesus am I doing, god damn I need to learn how to focus. Shaking my head to prevent any more weird digressions, I think back to the even weirder letter in my hands. This letter, it's ridiculous, this is completely insane.... Wait, is this a stupid prank? Am I on one of those stupid American reality prank shows?

“Nialler? Niall, hey, HEY!” Ryan snaps his fingers not an inch away from my face. “What does the letter say?”

Handing him the damned piece of paper, I sit down on a kitchen stool before my phone goes off. I'm both terrified and confused when the words “Home, Sweet Home” appear on the screen.

“Mum, dad?” I try to stay as calm as possible but I can't ignore the gut feeling that this isn't just a simple “I miss you, how was your day” type of conversation.

“Oh thank god you're alright, dear. Everything just happened so quickly and I didn't know whattodoeventhoughweknewthatitwouldbeinevita-”

“Whoa whoa whoa, calm down mum. You're talking too fast.” I press the phone closer to my ear. Some shuffling can be heard from the other side before a dignified, warm voice sounds. “Niall, son, we're glad to hear your voice. Listen, did you by chance receive a letter today?” My dad's voice is casual but there's a slight undertone of anxious concern that he's trying to hide. Knowing my dad, it has to be something serious to get him nervous, and this in turn makes me nervous...and everyone knows that a nervous Niall isn't a Niall you'd want to be near.

“Uh, I didn't check my mailbox today, dad, because for the past two weeks, it's been filled with flyers saying that I should do one of 'em free trials for penis growth. It's been bugging me a lot, I mean little Niall isn't exactly litt-”

“Son, please don't finish that sentence. We have you on speaker and the last thing we need is your grandmother overhearing.” I can picture my dad rubbing his temples at my rambling.

“Too late, dear! But I must say, it beats watching this dull television program.” I blush at the sound of my grandmum's mirthful chuckle.

“Did you get anything today that's, for a lack of better words, out of the ordinary?” He swiftly directs the conversation back, his assertive nature coming to the forefront. His voice is very urgent and it seems like he already knows the answer to his question but is just trying to get me up to speed with him.

“What's going on? Is there something wrong, dad?”