Chosen Legacy (Book Five of the Chosen Universe)

Chapter Fifteen

CALLIE

When she'd arrived on Earth, Zizi and Katherine had set her up in her room. It was reasonably large and very comfortable. She was told to rest and that she could meet the Great Zell later. She hadn't been able to sleep at first, but then the Alchemist had appeared. Callie knew the Alchemist and the Warlock. Neither was shy about visiting Onyx for ingredients, and no one dared cross them. Their reputation was too infamous. Even Gwodizan had not dared to get on their bad side. Luckily, they had seemingly respected him enough that they never caused trouble in the bar.

The Alchemist had offered Callie a brew she'd made. It had calmed her enough that she was finally able to fall asleep. She woke up with Zolo curled up beside her, which was comforting. The bathroom attached to her room was fully stocked with supplies. The strawberry-scented bath products were quite different from what Callie was used to on Onyx, and the shower she took was much more luxurious than she'd ever known showering could be. She'd never eaten or even seen a strawberry before, but they apparently smelled amazing.

She was about to leave the bathroom when the second door to the room opened. It connected to another bedroom, and a girl with pale skin turned bright pink as she realized Callie was already in the bathroom.

"Oh! I'm so sorry... I didn't know anyone was in here," she said, awkwardly staring at her feet.

"It's fine. I was done anyway," Callie replied. She studied the girl. Her long blonde hair was pulled into a very messy ponytail. Her glasses were slightly crooked, and she watched the girl nervously adjust them. On Onyx, this girl would have been easy prey for anyone. Since she was clearly no threat to her, Callie decided to be nice. "I'm Callie."

The girl smiled awkwardly, oddly excited that Callie had continued to address her. "Oh! I'm Sharon. It's very nice to meet you, Callie. Is that your room over there? I guess we're neighbors."

"Yeah, I guess so... Have you been here long?" Callie asked, wondering what the nervous girl was doing in a place like this.

"I'm not sure... Felina gave me something to cleanse my system of all the medication and I passed out... My head's much clearer now, though."

"Felina? The Eltarian Sorceress?"

"I... I guess? I didn't ask her a lot of questions, but she does have magic..."

Callie nodded. "Felina's powerful. My guardian knew her before he fled to Onyx. They were in the Rebellion together. He mentioned her often."

"Rebellion?" Sharon asked.

Callie shook her head. "Sharon... Why are you here? You don't seem to be involved in any of this."

"Felina took me from St. Dymphna's. She said I belonged here."

"Is that a church or something?"

"No... It's a hospital."

"Are you sick?" She recalled Sharon saying Felina had detoxed her from medication.

"I thought I was... It's a place for mad people... But Felina showed me real magic, and told me I have a gift... This is the first time I've been out of there in nine years."

"How old are you?"

"I'm nineteen."

"They locked you up in a loony bin at ten? Harsh."

"I killed my parents... The ones who raised me." She looked ashamed.

Suddenly, Sharon had become a lot more interesting. "Really? How?"

"My Ma... She was an accident," Sharon said softly. "I'd always had powers, but I was growing and they were getting stronger... I was still little. I have terrible allergies, and I had a sneezing fit... I lost control and this energy blast burst out of me. It hit her, and she flew through the air into a car... I never would have hurt her. I loved her... It was an accident."