Mythic (NaNoWriMo14)

Chapter 10 - Thrall

---

Chapter 10 - Thrall

---

Kitsune. 

The word slotted into a piece of Rena she hadn't realised was missing. 

She'd known of them before, obviously. A fox like Mythic from the beast family with strong influence from the energy and elemental families, allowing them control over illusions, pure ley attacks and fire. More importantly, their secondary source of ley came from the life force of those around them. Primarily those with emotions...romantically inclined. 

But Unbound? Was it even possible to suppress your human without realising you'd done so? 

Well apparently it is, because I managed to be completely oblivious to it. Rena's tail flicked behind her. It felt strong. Or this djinn could be wrong. 

The djinn offered Rena a smile. "There is no need for such hostility, kitsune. We are kin, you and I." He gestured to the space beside him. "Please, take your place beside me."

Wary, Rena let her fingertips leave the ground. She brought her back foot level with the one that she'd kept between Cayden and the spectre, thickening the barrier between them. She let her eyes linger on the spectre's, holding its gaze until she forced it into the ground, and then, only then, did she step forward to Qariinn's waiting hand. 

"Brothers and sisters, a true wonder has graced our halls, walked among us, all without our knowledge. A sister who, without the support and strength of her pure kin was able to shatter the shackles that bound her with naught but the strength of her will!" 

Cayden never left the corner of Rena's eye. Though she lifted her chin to the crowd, their faces were unfocused smudges of colour as she kept her attention on the long-haired ley guard still kneeling on the ground, watching, waiting, assessing. 

"Her accomplishment marks her strength! Alone, she survived, alone she found the truths and embraced them!" Qariinn turned to her, taking up one of Rena's hands and forcing her to face him, to turn her back on Cayden. "What is the name of our newest kitsune sister?"

She took a deep breath, forcing her voice to steady. "Rena."

The djinn raised an eyebrow. "Is there no second name?" 

There wasn't, of course. Mythics didn't earn their second name from the Order until they learned the nature of their Mythic, but she was beginning to realise that it might be best to not let Qariinn know about her ignorance to her Mythic until two seconds ago. 

Kitsunes are tricksters, after all.

Rena tilted her chin up, proclaiming an arrogance she knew the djinn would understand, praying that the Mythics at her table would understand, that they wouldn't hate her for this later. "I denounced the name the Order gave me when I reclaimed what is rightfully mine."

Qariinn looked even more awed than before, only recovering himself after a moment he disguised with a gentle kiss placed on the back of her hands. 

"My sister, you are truly a light, a beacon for us to follow in the darkest night," he said, the words quieter than those that followed. The djinn turned, holding her right hand and presented her to the waiting crowd. "My brothers and sisters, my bretheren! I present to you Rena Emberheart, the fire that humanity could not extinguish!" 

Rena was forced to stand there, heart hammering away in her chest at a pace she feared it would explode as the Unbounds erupted around the room. They chanted her name as the Djinn held her hand high, timing the syllables with the stamp of their feet and the bang of their fists as a flurry of wings and hooves and horns and tails carried their ecstasy away.