The Traisa

Chapter twelve

Note : this is still ( can you believe it?! )a collaboration with Chloe_cat123 go check out her page!

Vivir

          I glance over at Ayla and Noah, neither of them speaking up, so I answer the girl for them. "Thank you so much. We'd love to join you for the festival."

          Noah shoots me a look, but I ignore him. Probably worried the Traisa he's hunting are getting away. If only he knew. Ayla, on the other hand, nods along with me. She understands that if these people really are the Traisa, then we really should join them. It's the safest option.

          "Wonderful!" She says, and I feel my necklace grow hotter, burning against my skin as she steps closer, with her arm outstretched "I'm Lucy."

          Hesitantly, I take her hand. Lucy doesn't look to much older then me, if I had to guess I'd say she's only one or two years more then my 17. Her long blonde hair comes midway down her back, and she's quite beautiful. "Vivir," I say "he's Noah, and this is Ayla."

          "Nice to meet you all." I watch as she moves over to shake Noah's hand, and then Ayla's. "Now, if you guys will just follow me, I'll lead the way to the food!"

          She spins around, hair flying out behind her, and begins walking towards the village, in the direction of the castle, but as I try to follow her, an arm catches my sleeve. "Are you two crazy?" Noah has a incredulous look on his face, and he talks in a hurried whisper. "We don't know if we can trust these people, and what's more, staying here is giving those witches more time to escape." He pauses, and looks at at us questioningly "I thought you said you're names we 'Alya' and 'Riviv'?"

          "Did that girl really look that threatening to you?" I pull my sleeve out of his grasp as Ayla speaks, and notice that she, on the other hand, makes no move to do so. I fight the urge to roll my eyes. "And besides. We can't keep walking around aimlessly without any food, can we? Also, we kind of gave you fake names before, haha, we didn't really trust you at first." I still don't trust him now.

Ahead of us, Lucy stops to look back. "Are you guys coming?"

          I turn my back on Noah and Ayla, and walk up to where Lucy is standing waiting. I don't look back at them, as their decisions won't effect wether I stay here or not, but can't help but feel a bit relieved when I hear their footsteps as they follow after me. Wether these people in the village are other Traisa or not, it will be nice to have a familiar face among them.

          I walk along beside her as she leads us down a gravel path, winding between houses, each one unique in their own way, and though I try not to gape, I am amazed by this small village. I can see signs of magic everywhere. Things that wouldn't be noticed by the untrained eye. While it wasn't the obvious; people openly displaying their powers, it was the little things. The fact that, though none of these people could have much contact with bigger villages, everything was well kept. The gardens thrived, though they had no access to sunlight in the constant shadows of the trees. I was finally home.

"You're a Traisa." I turn my head to see Lucy watching me, and follow her eyes to see she's staring at my necklace. It must've fallen out from where I'd kept it hidden beneath my shirt, and I bring up my hand, closing the stone away in my fist.

Though I know it was more of a statement then a question, I answer her anyway. "I am."

For a moment, we walk in silence, each lost in our own thoughts, before she speaks again. "What's your power? Mines fire." She smiles as she brings up her hand, and a small wisp of flame appears, and just as quickly as it came, a breeze blows by us, blowing it out. I glance back at Noah, to make sure he hadn't seen, and to my relief him and Ayla are engrossed in their own conversation, not paying us much attention.

I turn back to see the girl staring at me expectantly. "Oh, right." I put my hand out in front of me, releasing the hold I'd had on my necklace, and letting it fall back down against me. "Electricity." A few sparks jump around on my palm, and I grin, before once again making a fist, making my power disappear.

          She stares in awe. "That's so pretty... We used to have someone here who had a similar power. Name was Elara." Her smile fell. "Well, that was until..." she shook her head, as if to banish the thought. "Anyway, what're their powers?"

          I follow her gaze back to Ayla and Noah. "Well, I actually only met them recently. I'm not sure about everything that Ayla went through..but I know her parents don't love the Traisa. She hasn't even discovered what her power is yet." I reach up to touch my necklace. "I only figured out what she is because of the stone."

          Lucy shudders "I can't even imagine a life without my power, poor girl. If she chooses to stay here, we can help teach her." She grins at me "I'd offer the same for you, but I have a feeling you don't need it. Although, feel free to join me on the training field."

          I smile back "Thanks."

          "So, what's his power? I'm gonna guess... manipulation of metals."

          I pause. "Oh, um, Noah isn't-"

          I was interpreted by a new voice. "Hey Luce!" A boy runs up to us, and Lucy stops in her tracks to beam at him.

          "Hey Aiden!" She gestures over to me. "This is Vivir. And they," she turns to the other two as they catch up to us "are Ayla and Noah. I've invited them to eat with us at the festival."

          "Well then, C'mon, everyone's waiting for you."

          The five of us wind our way through the rest of the houses, until we reach the stone castle, and the huge courtyard laid out before it. On normal days it was probably mostly empty, save for maybe a few people chatting as they walk through, but not today. Near the center, a huge table is out, surrounded by mismatched chairs, most of which are already occupied by people, eating and laughing with their friends.

         Lucy and Aiden lead us over to the end furthest from the castle, and sit down atop onsite ends from each other, before Lucy calls back to us. "You guys can grab a seat, if you want."

          I end up sandwiched between Ayla and Aiden, with Noah and Lucy siting across from me. Wonderful.

          It is at this moment when I notice the spread of food displayed before us. It looked better then anything I'd ever eaten before, and though it was no doubt made with magic, that didn't make it look any less appetizing.

          Aiden reaches out with his hand, and without any apparent effort, a piece of corn lifts itself off the table, and lands in front of Lucy. "M'lady."

          She laughs and picks it up, taking a bite, while Noah stares in shock. It takes me only a few seconds to realize what's going through his mind.

          Ayla realizes this too, and tries to speak. "Noah-"

          But its too late, and he doesn't listen. He jumps up, the stool he'd been sitting in skittering out across the stone ground behind him, knife already in his hand. "Traisa" he spits, words full of venom. "You're a filthy Traisa."