38

After Seraphina left, Regan locked the door and she grabbed the ancient book that her mentor left. Its cover was captivating, with gothic letters and dark frames. Regan flipped through the pages and there were drawings of flowers and other herbs. She didn't know what to use that for.During her practice with Seraphina, Regan could use telekinesis but only with Seraphina's help. That made her confused and skeptical, wondering if this was just a hoax and she didn't have any kind of ability. The thought itself made her feel sad. While it'll be extraordinary for her to have supernatural powers, some things didn't suit right.She was also hungry. She couldn't talk to anyone, couldn't get out of that isolated room. She wondered what her aunt was doing and this tormented her even more. Her aunt's thoughts would never reach the extent into thinking that her niece was abducted by aliens.Taking a deep breath, she thought to give these powers a try. She didn't believe it though. Her eyes lingered on the book and she tried to focus the way that Seraphina did. Regan moved her hands thinking that the book would move, but it didn't. Then, she snapped her hand on her forehead and and threw herself on the bed, frustrated."Oh God....This is so strange," she said, not noticing the book flew apart.As she opened her eyes and got up, she saw the book on the ground, confusion twisting her face."How did it fall there?" Regan asked herself, considering that its position was far from the table.She couldn't shake off the disbelief etched on her face as she stared at the fallen book and at her hands. A mix of astonishment and uncertainty filled her thoughts. "Did I do it?" she whispered.Driven by curiosity, Regan approached the book cautiously. She extended her hand, her fingers trembling slightly, and focused on the object before her. She moved her hands in weird position and saw the book raising slightly. She tried it a couple of times and she could levitate the book without the need to touch it.A rush of exhilaration and disbelief surged through Regan. "I did it!" she exclaimed, a mixture of excitement and realization lighting up her eyes. She smiled at herself after such a long time. She didn't remember the last time she had felt happy and had genuinely smiled.Then, Regan tried to get the book to her by using her newfound abilities. The book moved and Regan couldn't believe it was really true. She wondered how she didn't know about this before, how these abilities never crossed her mind on Earth.Her excitement was cut off when a knock was heard. She heard Althea's voice and rushed to open the door.Althea stood there was a tray in her hands, her face white as ever, as if she had seen a monster. Her hands trembled on her hold and Regan couldn't help but ask."Is there any problem, Althea?" she asked confused."Nothing, I brought you food." Althea said, her brown locks covering her face. She gave the tray to Regan and left abruptly.Regan was confused by the maid's behavior but she was grateful that she was being given food at least. As a captive, she could have been left to starve.As she started to eat, her mind wandered back to the sorcerer; his mysterious but true words and his hidden intentions.However she knew that his intentions were to steal her powers. That was why he brought a mentor, so then he could get the powers for himself. But Regan vowed to not let that happen. She decided to not let anyone order her again. However, when she knew that he could easily threaten her around, she felt powerless.After she ate, she started singing. She had been doing that a lot lately. It helped her calm down and escape from the loneliness and the weight of her situation. It was a random song she had heard. Then, she felt a presence. The same she felt on Earth. The same she felt when she would do her homework in her own house. Her voice faded away and she was left with the feeling of being watched."Damnit," she cursed under her breath. A few moments later, she wasn't feeling it anymore. She waited and then sighed, starting to sing again.But then, her singing was interrupted once more. The doors swung open and he was standing there, the sorcerer. She was bewildered. Hadn't she locked the door? Did he hear her singing? How embarrassing.He stepped in, his long robe flowing elegantly around him. His signature smirk was plastered across his face, making Regan scowl."You have a lovely voice, you know?" he said, his own voice husky, almost hypnotic. He closed the door behind him, and leaned against it, watching her carefully.Regan's scowl deepened, her heart hammering in her chest as she glared at the sorcerer. "What do you want?" she demanded, her voice sharp and cold. She was still sitting on the bed and she didn't know what to do. Her arms were crossed over her chest, her shoulders hunched defensively."I see you're enjoying your little prison," he mocked, his eyes filled with a hint of amusement.Regan gritted her teeth. "So what? What is it to you? You can't keep me here forever." She glared at him, her hatred for him burning brightly in her eyes.He chuckled, noticing her change of clothes. "Ah, a wardrobe update. Getting used already, aren't we?""I'm not getting used to anything," Regan retorted. "Now, you better get out of my sight.""Feisty, I see," he drawled, pushing himself off the door, his expression unreadable, "but you forget I'm the one in charge here."Regan had no words to say. She didn't want to embarrass herself and she didn't had any better comebacks. After all, she knew that he was trying to pick on her rage and it'd be better to ignore him. But she couldn't just ignore him. She was too prideful. She felt her anger boil. He stepped closer and then she stood up, her jaw clenching."Get out of here," she snapped.He was undeterred, ignoring that. "I knew you were going to adapt fast, girl. Soon enough, you'll forget about your so-called aunt Monica and your pathetic mediocre life. You never belonged to Earth anyway." He said, his gaze distant out of the window, as if he looked through the untold mysteries. "You've always been.... conspicuous.""Conspicuous? You know nothing about me. You have no right to decide where I belong. I don't belong here either!" Regan retorted, her hands clenched into fists. He wasn't standing much far from her. One widow was open, but it still made her suffocate."You may not belong here," he mused, turning to look at her, his hands clasped behind his back, "but you don't belong where you think you do either."Regan took a deep breath, her temper flaring. "You decide where I belong?" she asked, her voice filled with sarcasm. "I'll leave from there, you want or not. I'll go wherever the hell I want and no one will stop me. Not even you."His expression darkened and for a moment she thought he was going to strike her. But then, his expression became unreadable, blank. "You really want so much to leave? Leave then, the door is open. Go." With a snap of his fingers, the doors swung open, swirling the air from the hallway.Regan stared at the door, thinking that he was luring her into a trap. She didn't shift from her place, because she knew that even if it were to leave, she couldn't get back on earth easily. She didn't even know where to go. What was his plan?He shook his head, smirking again, "Oh, Regan, you can't deceive me. I know so much about you. And I know how bad it is when your enemy knows you more than yourself does. You're afraid to go past that door, you know you're not meant to be ordinary."His words made her more angry and confused. She had no idea, why was he even here? What was she even doing here? The thought of him having a whole harem of girls, struck her mind. It wasn't the right time to think about that now. She didn't know why the hell she was even thinking about that.She glanced at the door, her heart thumping wildly against her chest. He was leaning against the window, his gaze fixed on her."You're immoral, you know that?" she suddenly spat, unable to contain her anger anymore. "Why are you here? Why am I here? What do you want from me?"He was caught off guard by her words, as if not expecting her to call him immoral. His expression darkened further, and he stepped closer to her, his fingers reaching to run through her red hair. Regan flinched away, her eyes widening in anger and surprise. Her heart raced for a moment. Why did he touch her hair? She didn't know."Really, Regan? Is that all you've got? I'm immoral?" he drawled, his eyes filled with a sense of amusement now, "Ah, but you see, my dear....once you get to know me, I'm not that bad."She couldn't get it. Was all this twisted thing about powers? What if he had something more sinister in mind? What if he was planning....the thought made her shiver. What if he was planning to use her as his plaything? Ew, she wasn't like that."Get the hell away from me, you...." she trailed off, walking further away from him. "I know enough," she growled.His expression was cold, undecipherable. He leaned against the window, his gaze distant, far away."Seraphina did speak to you about the eternal ember," he said, his voice blank."For God's sake. Stop saying things so cryptically. If you want this damned power, you can absorb it and then get out of my life!" Regan snapped, her voice filled with frustration. She didn't know what else to say. She didn't know what the hell he wanted.The sorcerer's expression remained unfazed first, but then was replaced by his familiar smug."And why would I want a power I have myself?" He raised an eyebrow."What the hell do you want then?" Regan retorted.He straightened up, and shoved his hands inside his pockets, "I want revenge. I seek retribution for a past that intertwines with yours in more ways than you can fathom."Regan frowned, perplexed by his cryptic words. "What are you talking about? What past? I have nothing to do with your past." What was he saying now? She didn't even know him. Yes, he felt always familiar, but it made no sense."The answers lie within the depths of your own memories. Seek the truth."Regan scoffed, growing impatient. "I'm not playing your mind games. You're ridiculous.""You'll see who's ridiculous," he warned, leaning closer and Regan took a step back. "I want the satisfaction of watching the world crumble at the hands of those who wronged me. I want to see chaos reign, and I want those who dared to cross me to suffer.""And?!" Regan snapped, "why should I care? I don't have anything to do with your feud and vengeance. I haven't done anything to you!""Ah, Regan. There are so many things you don't know. So so many things. You don't know whose blood runs in your veins." He said as he slowly vanished behind the doors, his words filled with a mystery which hid the untold truths."And why don't you tell these 'things'?" Regan called behind him."Not yet."The door slowly closed, the sorcerer's silhouette disappearing behind it. Regan was left alone in the room, her heart racing, her anger burning hot. She knew that he was mocking her but she couldn't help the intrigue of the mysterious words he had spoken. What did he mean by his last sentence?Meanwhile, he returned inside his dull chamber and slammed the door shut. Then, he trailed his hand over a tall bookshelf, searching for any book worth to read. His hand landed on an old ancient tome. As he grabbed it, its old cover filled with dust, he threw it on the table.Then, he flipped through the yellow brown torn pages and started to read. However he couldn't help but get distracted.Regan's face and voice ran around on his mind and everytime he wanted to focus, his mind kept betraying him. Her voice was beautiful, he had to admit. He wondered why she didn't know that.He knew that his endless thoughts about her were because of the shared power she held. It infuriated and angered him even more. He was regretful, regretful that he failed to entirely destroy Avalon. But at the same time the thought that he couldn't bring himself to kill Regan either, tormented him even more. She was meant to be his enemy, a threat to his reign, to everything. Yet, he couldn't decide what he really wanted.Obviously, he was going to reveal her true identity and he knew very well what her reaction would be. She'd vow to finish off his reign. He had to admit, he had always longed for challenging and tough enemies, but it didn't had to be her. He couldn't help but feel admiration about her persistence and purity.On a blank rough paper, he found himself sketching some eyes, her eyes. As soon as he realized what he was doing, he burnt the paper on his hand, the ashes falling on the table."Damnit all!" He cursed as he slammed the book as well, frustrated that he couldn't focus on any other matter except her's.As he gazed out of the window, he thought about his ridiculous witches, the least he wanted was to see them again, lingering near him. He couldn't stand that, he hated their invading, not only theirs. He loathed when anyone would get really close to him. He hated them all.A sudden knock was heard on the door and he prayed that it wasn't Vesper or Allegra. Instead it was general Vlad, one of the few persons that he found logical and trusting."Sirius, my lord, there are revelations about Finn." Vlad said, his expression stoic."What is it?" Sirius said indifferently."He has spied to Magnus about our plans of conquering Evergreen. Magnus has sent an army there, guarding it. But if you want, we'll send reinforcements."Sirius didn't want to fight over a small territory so decided to take the matter himself."There's no need for reinforcements. We're going to pay a visit to Magnus and show him his place. Assemble a group of our most skilled agents. We're going to Evergreen to handle this situation personally. Magnus won't interfere with our plans. And, if it escalates, make sure the army is on standby."Vlad nodded, his expression unwavering. "As you command, my lord." He said and left the room to carry out Sirius's orders. As he departed, Sirius still couldn't shake off the thoughts of Regan lingering in his mind. The conflicting emotions within him intensified, a mix of frustration and an odd fascination.Torn between his thoughts, he started to meditate.