MAXINEI shut my eyes, fear gripping me in a way that it had never done before. I had been shot. Never have I been shot before. I looked down at my body, searching for the gun wound.I needed to stop the bleeding. But I realized that I was fine. I looked at Oz, he was unarmed. And then Cinder. She was also unarmed.I heard the thud behind me and turned to see one of the rogues drop to the ground, gripping a gun wound on his chest."Thank you, Zel." Oz exhaled even though she couldn't hear him.Cinder frowned. A few moments later, Zel and Raine ran into the house. "Are all of them gone?" Raine asked.Oz nodded. "Yes." He replied, "Nice save, by the way. That was quick." He told Zel. She smiled."Where did you get the gun?" Cinder asked, her voice firm and authoritative. She did not sound pleased."It doesn't matter, Mom. I know you don't like guns but they're easier than swords and daggers, and even arrows." Zel replied.I wanted to defend her but it wasn't my place. I didn't have a sa
MAXINEI felt my heart drop at what she said. "Would I die?" I asked."It's not death, per se," Zel replied. I was reminded of how much she knew about these types of things. "Your body is going to be here, breathing. But after a long time without its soul, it will eventually die, giving you nowhere to come back to.""That sounds scary," I admitted."It is why we don't play in the realms. But, do not worry, as long as you're with me when it happens, you'll be fine. I won't let you." Cinder assured me with a smile. "Now," she clapped her hands. "Shall we continue?"We spent the rest of the day practicing balance. Cinder wanted me to get the basics down before we moved on to other techniques like channeling energy, focusing my thoughts, and then finally, controlling the transformations.The morning sun filtered through the leaves, casting a gentle light on the forest leaves. I stretched, feeling the familiar ache in my muscles. Zel was already up, meditating with the windows open.Howev
"How is that possible?" I asked, still shocked. I put my empty bowl down."Easy. I called it." Raine said as if that was supposed to explain everything. She handed her bowl to Cinder who poured a spoon of stew into it. Raine smiled in thanks.Zel rolled her eyes. "It's an old tradition of ours. There's this cave with weapons and based on the energy you have, the weapon chooses you. Once you accept it, it's like a part of you." She explained."So, you can call it from anywhere you want?" I asked, wondering how that was possible and if it could truly work."Not quite," Oz replied as he grabbed Magpie when she tried to touch the fire. She pouted, knowing that she had been caught."If you're close enough, yes," Raine replied. They all suddenly glanced at Cinder and I did the same."What?" She asked."Mom," Zel said, a tone to her voice. "Come on.""Fine," Cinder agreed. "But it's not everyone that you guys think is worthy of a weapon that I am going to take. The only reason I'm agreeing i
MAXINE"Why are they after Maxine's blade?" Raine asked. Their mother had told them a little about the blade and why it was special yesterday before bed. I, as well, did not understand why they were attracted to the blade."Get the blade. Come." Cinder told me. I nodded, undoing my apron and going to grab my leather bag. I took out the dagger."What about the rogues?" Raine asked."Zel?" Cinder called. "I'm going to need you to do it now.""I…" she said, hesitation in her voice. Then she nodded, a determined look settling on her face. Zel took off her apron and walked to a spot in the living room. She sat on the center of the rug and crossed her legs.She closed her eyes. A moment later, when she opened them, they were white. She drew a circle in the air, at the same time with both hands."Done. The protection spell is on. They can't come anywhere near this mountain or the decoy house." Zel said, bringing her hands together and clasping them.Her eyes were still open and completely as
MAXINEThe very thought of that was scary. I had heard tales about demons, angels, and guardians. The demons were always the villains. They were as conniving as they were destructive. There was never a good deal with them."How do you know this?" I asked."Setting up protection around the mountain house and decoy house is also similar to seeing how the whole place is. I saw what happened.""Okay…" I nodded. "What do you think the deal was?""I don't know, Maxine. I don't know if she made a deal or the old-fashioned approach where she made an exchange. I don't know what it is, and it scares me. I don't know if she's okay."As we were speaking, there were a couple of knocks on the door. The door automatically opened, hearing the beat of the knock. It was one thing I found out. The house was like it was living.Luna walked into the house, holding up bags and bags. The kids screamed, "Luna!!!!" They surrounded her, jumping around and grabbing her hand."Easy, easy," she told them. "Where'
MAXINEThe first thing that came to my mind was, "So soon?" I had thought about progressing and making a transformation and I had somehow manifested it. The artifact's energy was working in weird ways.I let out a scream as pain rippled through my door. Cinder's expression turned grave. "Maxine, it looks like you're starting to shift. You need to focus on controlling it."Panic surged through me as the pain grew worse, spreading through my limbs. "I... I don't know how! Help me!" I cried with fear."Stay calm," Cinder instructed, her voice steady. "Breathe. Focus on your breathing and try to stay in control.""Come on, Maxine. You can do it." Zel assured me, keeping a safe distance away from me. I could tell she wanted to help me but her hands were tied. This was something I had to go through.I closed my eyes, trying to follow her instructions, but the pain was a lot. It felt like my body was being torn apart from the inside.Just when I thought I couldn't take it anymore, a sudden,
MAXINEMy eyes flew open. What were they trying to put in my drink? What drink were they even talking about? There was no way they would try to drug me, right?I relaxed when I heard Cinder say, "It's supposed to help with the pain but I think just this much is enough."I waited until I heard Zel's footsteps. She opened the door and I sat up slowly. In her hand was a wooden cup."Here. Drink this." She said, offering the cup to me. I sniffed it, feeling the warmth of the vapor on my cheeks.It didn't have a scent so I brought the cup to my lips. I took a sip and gagged. "Ew, what is this? It takes like dirt." I replied, holding the cup away from me.Zel grinned. "If you want to get better, you've got to take this. I'm telling you from experience. I hate the stuff but it works literal magic."I scowled before drinking it quickly, refusing to breathe so I couldn't taste it until the very end. After I had downed everything, the taste hit me."Bleh!" I exclaimed, sticking my tongue out in
MAXINEThe morning light filtered through the window, casting a soft glow over the room. My body still ached but I felt a strange sense of calm.Zel was gone when I woke up, and I had a feeling she was off seeking answers about her mother’s deal with the demons.I slowly got out of bed, my muscles protesting with every movement. I wanted to stay in bed but I wanted to offer support to Zel. Surprisingly, I found Cinder in the kitchen, brewing a pot of tea. But, Zel wasn't with her.She glanced up and smiled at me. "How are you feeling?""Sore," I replied, "but I'll manage. Where's Zel?""She went to meditate," Cinder said. "A lot seems to be going through her mind lately. I wonder if you know what it is."I didn't know if it was my place to tell her what the problem was so, I opted to say nothing. She filled a wooden cup with some tea and passed it to me.I took it, enjoying the delicious warmth on my fingers. "She just needs to talk to you. We should join her."Cinder agreed, and toge