When Two Worlds Meet

Overwhelmed

Virgil's POV

I gaped at the spot where my parents had been crouching just a moment ago. The light was fading as the colors blew away, leaving impressions on my eyes. Heart had frozen beside me, seeming just as stunned as I was.

I was about to step forward to see what had happened when the pendant lit up again. At least, I thought it was the pendant; as I shielded my eyes from the brilliant purple light, I saw that there was something much bigger than the crystal key sticking out of it. But I didn't get a good look at it before the light erupted out of the pendant like a gigantic serpent. Heart and I both jumped, startled. The magic hovered in the air near the ceiling, growing larger and thicker as more and more light poured out from the little pendant. For a wild moment, I though this was another message. But then, which abrupt speed, it leapt at me, pouncing like a coiled cat.

I screamed and fell back, shielding my face with my arms. Heart jumped in front of me, it's thin shape outlined in the light. But the magic warped its path around the little broom and slammed into my chest. My back arched and I howled with pain as it rushed through my body; it felt as though someone had poured magma into my veins.

I fell to the floor, curling into a fetal position. I was howling to the sky, begging for the pain to end. Heart was hovering over me, patting me desperately, probably wishing it could help. I was in so much pain I hit the broom away. Everything touching me hurt, from my clothes to the floor; Heart's patting felt like a cattle brand.

My senses had cut off and all I could see, taste, and smell was the pain. All my human thoughts had left, leaving only animalistic instincts: pain and terror and a desire to run. But I couldn't even breathe, let alone move, and as a fresh wave of fire seared across my body, my back arched again. My voice was growing hoarse from the screaming.

Then, mercifully, the pain began to recede. I gasped and let grateful tears pour down my face as the fire began going out. First my toes and fingers, then my limbs, and finally my chest cooled. But it didn't leave me unscathed; wherever the burning had seared through, I felt bruised and battered. My body no longer felt like my own. I twitched my fingers limply, exhausted. The darkness of my hut seemed to help my eyes feel better, but my stomach was roiling. I was breathing heavily on the floor when a new sensation arose. I instinctively tensed, afraid that the pain was coming back. But it wasn't pain. It was something else.

Pure quintessence was making itself apparent in my body; it was as though there had been magic lying dormant in every cell of my body and was now revealing itself. I marveled as energy and power seemed to fill my veins. Adrenaline tore through me and I shot to my feet, a manic grin on my face. Sparks flew from my fingers, spraying like water droplets. 

I felt as though I do anything! I could climb a mountain or destroy it. I could move the sun from its axis or crush the entire coven under my boot. The world would bow before me! No longer was I going to be discriminated against or seen as an outcast! The world would have to love me or die! 

I was about to do something rash (like punch a wall or something) when I saw something that gave me pause. Heart was cowering away from me, trembling in the corner as though it were trying to be invisible. When I turned my gaze on it, it startled and tried to fly away, but was too big to get out the window properly. It slammed against the window sill and fell to the floor with a CRACK.

For a moment, I had clarity of mind. I stood there, breathing heavily and trying to take control of myself. 'I am Virgil.' I told myself in my head. 'My mother said that I am a protector. This power is not really mine. I have a responsibility to the world. GET A HOLD OF YOURSELF.' I closed my eyes and tried to hold the magic in me at bay.

My newfound magic didn't want to be restrained; it wanted to fly free and destroy everything. A moment ago we had been united in purpose and mentality, but now that we disagreed, it felt as though I had unleashed the power of a volcano in my brain. I mustered every bit of confidence and self control I had and roared in my head 'I AM YOUR MASTER! YOU WILL OBEY ME!' For another second, there was a battling of wills; my magic was fierce and wild, but I was determined not to let it out. Finally, it relented and fell back, docile and ready to obey my commands.

I opened my eyes with a deep sigh as my body released its tension and the magic seemed to die down. But though I may not have been as powerful as I'd been a moment ago, I still felt more potent than I ever had before tonight. I took some deep breaths with my eyes closed, controlling my breathing and heart. I almost had myself under control when I looked down at my arms and saw that they were glowing faintly. Before I could completely panic, however, the light faded and my arms were back to normal, scrawny and pale and weak. 

I slowly walked over to Heart, who had stopped trying to escape and seemed to be eyeing me warily. As I reached out to stroke it, it flinched away from my touch. I stopped and looked at the floor. I signed, as slowly as I had patience for, 'That must have pretty scary'. Heart dipped in an affirmative gesture. It finally touched my hand gently.

I sucked in a breath as Heart's quintessence flowed into me, and I sensed what it was feeling. My heart shriveled as I realized it was remembering what I had looked like a moment ago. Heart had felt terrified for me when I was writhing on the floor, helpless to do anything. It didn't blame me for striking it, but that didn't ease my terrible guilt as I felt my hand slam into its side.

But the fear it had felt when I had stood was overwhelming. Every vein in my body had lit up like a lantern, creating frightening purple patterns under my skin. My irises had also lit up, illuminating the room brightly. My feet had lifted off of the ground, making me loom over Heart like a malevolent phantom. But the scariest thing was my expression. I looked like a psychopath, someone who could easily stab someone and laugh as I did it. I looked eager for the destruction and pain of those around me. I looked scary. There was no other word for it.

I blinked as the vision passed from in front of my eyes and looked down at Heart. 'I'm sorry' I signed weakly. I didn't know what to say. Heart studied my face for a moment, then it seemed to relax just slightly as it rubbed against my hand again. I felt more emotions coming from it that basically said "I forgive you". After petting Heart for a moment, I stood back up unsteadily; the last five minutes had really drained me. As I walked back to the table to retrieve my pendant, I froze.

In the center of the table was what was left of my crystal pendant. It lay in pieces, shattered and jagged. The little key was no longer recognizable as such; it looked more like a glittering pile of splinters. And in the center of the pendant, pierced through the crystal and deep into the wood of my table was a knife.