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Whit
The entire apartment block is in darkness and the weather is terrible. There’s no way it’s natural. I have the ability to harness the wind and I know straight away that this isn’t a regular storm. It feels...off.
There’s powerful magic at play here.
The storm is far too localized to be anything but supernatural.
I take a deep breath as I climb out of the car, following Lumi along the path to her apartment block, and ready my own power. I try not to fuck with the weather too often but I feel an overwhelming need to protect my new mate, and this storm feels like a danger to her.
Harnessing the power of my ancestors, I call on their spirits to guide me, and draw my magic into my core. I take a few grounding breaths and then push my power out against the storm. I hit a physical barrier and jerk. My concentration slips. Grabbing hold of my power once more, I send it out again. The force of the storm is a solid wall I can’t penetrate. This is so strange.
I try a couple more times and give up, releasing my power back to the sky for good this time and go after the others into the building and to Lumi’s front door.
Is whatever this is really stronger than my power? What is going on here?
Lumi lets herself in with her key and calls out for Ade and Sacha. When there’s no answer the color drains from her face and she races inside. We follow but wait in the lounge when she disappears into what I assume is one of the bedrooms.
While we wait, I stand around awkwardly. I definitely don’t know Lumi well enough to make myself at home, even as the lights suddenly flicker on and the storm appears to dissipate.
The apartment is a decent enough size, it’s probably perfect for the two of them. But with this bond being activated, I don’t want them so far away. They’re right across town and I don’t like it. Especially if they’re in some kind of trouble. I’m pretty sure it’s too soon to demand that they move in with the three of us and the dog though.
“Don’t wipe my tears away, Mama. I want to feel them on my face.”
I look away from a wall of photos depicting Ade through the years and turn my attention to the small girl standing in the doorway to her bedroom. Behind her are Lumi and her friend Sacha. I know Sacha from the odd call out to the rink for an EMT. I quickly say hello.
“Is everything okay?” I ask.
“Sure, sure. Ade had a nightmare and the storm blew the power out,” Lumi replies, cuddling her still sniffing daughter who’s in purple Care Bear pajamas. Her hair is sticking up at all crazy angles but she looks cute.
That has to be the reason why I couldn’t break through the storm. And why it stopped as soon as Ade woke up. But that would mean there’s a strong—and possibly malevolent—power in play here. Ice shivers down my veins.
I have to protect them. I know how to, I just need the opportunity to be able to.
“Didn’t you ring Sacha’s mobile?” Quil frowns.
“Yeah but there’s no signal.”
“So, this is a bit of a houseful,” Sacha says. “I’m going to take off...if you’re not going back out?”
“No, no, of course I’m staying in now,” Lumi hurries to reply. I feel a stab of disappointment even though I knew it was inevitable. “Thank you for watching her for me.”
“Don’t be silly, she’s my goddaughter. It’s never a chore to hang out with her. I’ll see you next week, Ades, okay?”
“Yeah, bye Aunty Ya-Ya.”
“We should probably go too,” I say as soon as she’s gone. But I really don’t want to.
“You could stay?” she offers. Is it my imagination or does she sound hopeful? “We didn’t get a chance to eat so I could rustle us something up now the power’s back on.”
Yeah, that was odd. How quickly the storm blew in, grew to monstrous proportions, and then suddenly vanished again.
I catch the others’ eyes and they nod. They want to stay too.
“Okay. But let’s get pizza.”
“Yay! Pizza!” Ade beams.
“No. You’re going back to bed,” Lumi tells her.
