YOU

"Charmspeaking?" I had an faint idea what she was talking about but I still wanted to make sure.

"What do you mean?" I asked and she heaved a deep sigh.

"Charmspeak, it's a power only a daughter of Aphrodite or a very powerful magician can possess. It is just like hypnotism. A charmspeaker can persuade anyone to follow their command."

"Just by their voice." I knew it would be something like this but even I didn't see it coming.

I remember that what my mom told me once. We were reading about Aphrodite and she told me that the goddess of love has a special power. A power different from any other gods, she could make people to do her bidding. Anything she commanded, the listener couldn't help but do it. Whether they wanted to do it or not.

I had always been scared of that power. Not because I was a scared cat but because this power can make you question yourself. If someone can make you do something against your will and you can't even resist it then in that case, in front of such person you can't even trust yourself.

But now that I know Isabella has the same power, I couldn't help but be a little scared. I mean, she doesn't seem to me like a bad person but with the power of charmspeak...she can be pretty dangerous.

"Yes, Adrian. But I wasn't supposed to have this power. After all I am not her child. But still I have this power and the worst thing is that... I don't even know how to control it." she said and I could sense hopelessness in her voice.

I looked at her and wondered why she didn't want the power.

"Um, do you mind me asking a question?" and she shook her head.

"Why don't you want this power?" I asked. She turned to looked at me and for the first time, I saw the innocence in her eyes, something she was trying to bury deep down. At that time, she seemed to me like a lost child who was desperately searching for a loved one.

" 'Why?' you ask me why. You tell me, will you want anybody else take over your mind? Will you like it if your body and mind are not in your control? Will it be okay if you hurt your family just because someone wicked wanted you to do so?" she had a point. The answer of all the questions she asked me was obviously 'NO'. I understood what she was trying to tell me.

"No." I honestly answered but there was a tinge of happiness within me.

"You see. No one likes it. I feel like a betrayer whenever I use this power even if I didn't mean to use it." she folded her arms and looked away. "This...this power is not a blessing but... but a curse." she said and I heard swear she was holding back tears. I wanted to console her but didn't know how. After all I never did that before. Still I tried my best to tell her what I felt.

"That's why it's you." I said silently and she looked at me, her eyes reflecting anger. I was wondering what I said that made her angry.

"You mean I deserve to be cursed." She asked, leaving me in shock.

"What? No. No, that's not what I mean. Hey, look don't misunderstand my words." I said immediately, trying to explain myself and I saw her expression softening so, I decided to carry on.

"You are thinking about others. You don't want to play with their minds. You are good from within." With my each word, I noticed her anger washing away.

"That's why it's YOU and not anybody else. Because if it had been anyone else, she would have used her powers for her own greed without thinking even once about others." I said and I meant my each word.

If this type of power would have been in someone else, I can't even begin to imagine what that person could have done until now. But I was sure Isabella was different, she was kind and simple. Her selflessness made Me her fan.

"But it's still dangerous because I don't know how to control it." she said and her eyes were totally honest not hiding anything, just like everytime. They reflected worry, not for herself but for others. I was left in a daze with her response. It's hard to find a person, in today's world, who is selfless to this extent. But it made me believe : she truly was a granddaughter of the goddess of love.

Isabella noticed me deep in thoughts and was already staring at me. I came out of my thoughts when I felt her warm gaze trying to penetrate in my thoughts, as if she was trying to know what I was thinking.

"You said that a very powerful magician can also charmspeak, right?" I asked, my mind working up on an idea to help my friend, at least I assumed that we can be friends someday.

"Hm...mm" she nodded.

"Then can't Hecate teach you?"

"No, she can't." she said

"Why? What's the problem?"

"When I asked her to teach me... she said that it's not something that can be taught but it has to be learned with experience." and I understood the problem. It was obvious why she couldn't control her power.

'Ah, silly me. Why I didn't think it earlier?' I mentally scolded myself.

But now I knew how to help her. At least, I hoped so.

"Isabella, I know what your problem is."