Sorrow's Promise

Chapter 22

"Okay, so in order to use any kind of dark power, you have to tap into the darkness in your heart," Riku explained once we were out in the training arena. "Once you get used to doing it, using darkness will be second nature and you won't even have to think about it. But until then..." He paused, as if trying to think of how it actually worked. "You'll have to get in touch with a dark emotion somehow. Anger, fear, sadness...any of those will work. Just try to think of a memory that invokes one or more of those feelings."

"That shouldn't be a problem," I mumbled. Obviously the first thing that came to mind was the events of the night before. I was a bit reluctant to keep dwelling on those thoughts, but since it was fresh it would be the most certain to get me to the place I needed to be.

"Now if it starts to be too much, just tell me," Riku warned quietly. "Don't let yourself get into those dark feelings too deeply." I nodded solemnly, but kept my concentration on recreating the emotions in my heart. "When you're ready, you can try making a corridor," Riku continued. "It's just like light magic – use that feeling in your heart to reach out and make it happen."

Inhaling sharply, I lifted my right arm and slowly opened my hand. The first smoke that appeared reminded me of opening a portal, but this quickly grew into a large, black hole, swirling with purple. I dropped my hand and smiled at it proudly, letting the dark thoughts dissipate.

"Nice!" Riku exclaimed. "Now let's go on through and see if you can make one back out."

We stepped into the In Between, and I glanced up at Riku. "Where should we go?"

"Wherever you want," he shrugged. "You're in charge here."

Hmm, wherever I wanted to go. We had been to so many different places over the last few weeks, there was a lot to choose from. But there was one spot that immediately stuck out in my mind, a place that we had only been one time. Reaching my hand out again, I focused my thoughts on that place until I saw an opening appear and start to grow.

I sucked in a deep breath through my nose as we walked out onto the beach. It smelled just as good as I remembered. The sun was not as high in the sky as it had been the last time, but it was sparkling off of the water to create a dazzling display of lights.

"I should have known you'd choose here," Riku remarked with a smirk. I couldn't quite tell if he was amused or annoyed, or maybe a combination of both.

"Sorry. We don't have to stay long."

Riku smiled down at me. "There you go apologizing again. You've gotta stop that."

"Sorry." As soon as the word had left my mouth, I realized my mistake and cringed. "I mean...okay?"

Riku just laughed. "Well done on the corridor making. Once again, you aced a new magic spell on the first try. Keep this up and I'll have to start calling you Meli the Mage."

I scrunched my face up. "Um, I don't think so. How about...Meli the Magical?"

"Meli the Marvelous?"

"Meli the Magnificent!" I shook my head. "Actually, no, don't call me that. That makes me sound like a circus performer, and circuses always kinda creeped me out."

"Okay, well I guess I'll just stick with Meli for now," Riku chuckled.

"And I'll stick with Grim," I joked, poking his arm.

"Are you ever going to stop calling me that?" Riku asked with a smile, shaking his head.

"Nope." I crossed my arms. "I like it, and secretly you do, too."

We stood in silence for a few minutes, gazing out at the ocean with the wind blowing through our hair. The constant motion of the waves was mesmerizing, especially as it lapped the sand at my feet. A few small shells tumbled about in the water, rushing up onto the shore but quickly getting swept away by the next wave.