by Kelly Oram
We didn’t say anything else until we reached the lighthouse and I sunk down onto the front steps beside Russ. Gabriel joined us on my other side and I reached for his hand again. Russ made a noise of disgust and took my other hand.
The moment Russ’s skin came in contact with mine I rocked in my seat. It was the strangest feeling. My insides were trying to flip out and vice versa. I could feel two distinct supernatural forms coming from somewhere inside me, each trying to reach the surface of my skin and being pushed back by the other. It was nauseating. The next thing I knew Gabriel was laying me down on the path in front of the steps of the lighthouse.
“How long was I out?” I asked when I realized I’d fainted.
“Twenty, maybe thirty seconds,” Russ said. “What happened?”
“I don’t know. I think it was because you both touched me at the same time. It was so weird. It was like my body was trying to be both a seer and a warlock at once but didn’t have the room. I had both forms in me but they couldn’t be on the surface at the same time.”
I sat up and Gabriel plastered his hand to my forehead like my mom always did when she checked me for a fever. “You are very pale,” he said. “Are you all right?”
“I’m fine,” I assured him. “Call me crazy, but I bet with practice I could choose which form I wanted to assume.”
“That would be sweet,” Russ said. “You should try it.”
“How?”
Russ thought for a moment and then said, “Why don’t you start with not changing? You’re a seer right now, right?”
I nodded.
“Can you feel a difference between a seer and a warlock?”
I nodded again.
“Okay, close your eyes and try to hold on to the seer.”
I closed my eyes.
“You got it?” Russ asked.
“Yeah.”
“Okay, here we go. Hang on to it.”
I concentrated on the warm energy that I always felt with Gabriel and then I felt a tiny prickle on the back of my hand as Russ touched me with a single fingertip. Immediately I could feel the tingling of magic rushing to the surface of my skin. Gabriel’s warmth receded and Russ’s magic took its place. I couldn’t stop it, but I felt the transition.
The idea of possibly being able to control myself was a bit thrilling. “Wait a minute! Do that again!”
Russ touched me again and I shook my head. “Not you. I already changed. Gabriel. I need Gabriel.”
“Ugh. Do you have to say it like that?”
“Yes.” I kept my eyes closed and thrust my hand out in Gabriel’s direction. “Lightly, please. Like Russ did.”
I concentrated on the magic as hard as I could and then I felt Gabriel’s finger on the back of my hand. My body fought to match his touch and I fought against the change. I turned my hand palm up and clasped all of Gabriel’s fingers.
“Danielle, you feel different.”
I grinned. “I’m still a warlock.”
But right as I said that the battle for power finally gave way. It was Gabriel who gasped when I changed. I sunk back to the ground with my eyes still closed, and panted for breath. “I can’t hold it,” I said. “My body has some inner need to match whatever’s touching me.”
“You’re like a chameleon,” Russ said. “You’re changing your colors to match your surroundings.”
“Did you really just compare me to a lizard? That’s not exactly going to win you any points in the wooing department.”
“No he is right,” Gabriel said, earning a laugh from Russ. “It is a good name for your class of species. I have been thinking about what to call you ever since I met you. Your aura is very colorful in a manor of speaking, and always changing. Not just with your surroundings, but also with your mood and with the company you keep. Just like the chameleon.”
“A chameleon huh?”
“We will have to call you something,” Gabriel said.
“You have to admit it’s more original than ‘seer’,” Russ added.
The Councilor suddenly appeared in front of us from out of nowhere. “I agree it is a very fitting name. I will have to propose it to the council.”
“Councilor!” Gabriel gasped. He got to his feet and pulled me up with him, clinging to my hand, as if tethering himself to me gave him extra strength that he apparently needed at the moment.
“Hello Gabriel. Danielle,” he greeted. “I am very relieved to see that you are safe.” He then turned his attention to Russ who was either trying to stop himself from wrestling the Councilor to the ground, or preparing to fend off some kind of magic attack. “Relax, young master Devereaux. I am not here to cause any harm.”
“It’s a little late for that,” Russ hissed. “You almost killed Dani!”
“I do not expect you to understand, but know that I would never have let her die. She is safe with me.”
“I won’t let you take her back.”
The Councilor looked again at Gabriel and me, taking obvious note of the way we held on to each other. “I’m afraid she is not yours to keep anymore. She belongs with her mate. The consulate is her home now.”
“Sure,” Russ said sarcastically. “Which is why she left it the first chance she got.”
The Councilor’s eyes narrowed and Gabriel suddenly blurted, “I am sorry for leaving, sir. We—” He stopped and pulled me more securely to him before continuing. “We were afraid you wanted to separate us.”
The Councilor frowned. “Dear boy, I have no desire to separate you from your mate.”
“I do,” Russ said.
The Councilor smiled with cruelty at Russ and said, “In fact I am pleased to see that young master Devereaux has not managed to regain Danielle’s favor.”
“My name’s Russ, jerk.”
“But you were so angry with Danielle,” Gabriel said timidly. He felt horrible for disappointing the Councilor. Seeing his guilt made me hate the Councilor more than I already did.
“I was frustrated, Gabriel, that is all. We are in very trying times. The Chosen One is vital to the survival of our people and she was refusing to listen to reason. But I do not regret your match. There is much Danielle needs to learn and there is no one better to teach her than you.”
“Thank you, sir. Please forgive us.”
“Forgive him,” I corrected. “I’m not sorry. Somebody had to stop my vision.”
The Councilor startled. “You contacted the human family?”
“No sir,” Gabriel said quickly. “Of course not.”
Gabriel started to explain but then Duncan came around the corner of the lighthouse. “There is no sign of Devereaux, Councilor,” he said. “I believe they are alone.”
“Curious.” The Councilor looked the three of us over again and then addressed Russ specifically. “Your father did not care to join us this afternoon?”
“He was busy.”
“Helping me,” I added. It was impossible to keep the ice out of my tone.
“Helping you how?”
“Wouldn’t you like to know?” I muttered.
Next to me Gabriel sighed. “Do not be counterproductive Danielle.”
I glared at Gabriel but said, “Fine, whatever,” and the Councilor laughed.
“I’m glad someone, at least, is able to get through to you, Danielle. Shall we all get out of this dreary weather? My limo is parked just—”
Russ stepped in front of me, blocking the hand the Councilor was holding out. “Nice try dude, but we’re not morons. Nobody’s getting in a car with you. If you want to talk, we’re going to do it out in the open.”
The Councilor forced back a scowl. Apparently Russ rubbed him the same wrong way I did. He gritted his teeth and nodded. “If you insist.”
“Perhaps we could walk back down to the shore, Councilor?” Gabriel suggested. “Danielle and Russ both seem to find the water strangely comforting. It may help ease some of their anxiety.” Gabriel smirked and squeezed me playfully. “Danielle can be so sensible when
she is calm.”
I don’t think the Councilor believed it would work, but he still headed toward the water. Gabriel walked with him dragging me along for the ride while Duncan and Russ brought up the rear of our little party.
After a minute the Councilor decided to get back on topic. “I believe you were telling me that you attempted to stop your vision from happening? But you said you did not contact the human family?”
“No, sir.”
“No,” I added. “We decided to go after the bad guy. The supernatural bad guy. Because the humans in my vision were in fact decent, innocent people and the monster was—wait for it—a warlock. Just like you.”
“You found the one responsible?”
“We found the man being mind controlled and Russ was able to see through the spell.”
The Councilor stopped walking and turned to face Russ. Surprise and skepticism washed across his face. “You intruded on a mind control spell?”
“Intrude?” Russ scoffed. “I was about to reverse it. When the warlock holding the spell realized what I was doing he sacrificed the human in order to break our connection before I could get a good look at him.”
The Councilor’s look changed to one of intrigue. “That is very impressive son, even for a Devereaux.”
“He was using Danielle’s magic,” Gabriel grumbled.
“All the more impressive I’m afraid, Gabriel.” The Councilor chuckled. “To be able to control borrowed power is very impressive indeed.” The Councilor heaved a wistful sigh. “So much potential. Shame it will only go to waste. Just like your father.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Russ asked while I yelled, “Russ is not wasted potential!”
“Tis a story for another time I’m afraid.” The Councilor began walking again. “You were not able to figure out who was behind the spell then?”
“Adult warlock,” Russ grumbled. “Very powerful. Tall. Thin. But no, I didn’t get a clear look before he dropped the spell.”
“Doesn’t matter though,” I said. “He knew me—called me by name when he saw me. Kind of narrows down our suspects.”
The Supreme High Councilor’s face paled and he gave Duncan a knowing look. “It is as I feared. Danielle, Gabriel, we must get you back to the consulate immediately.”
“Sir? What is it?” Gabriel asked worried.
I had a different reaction. “Hello! Did you hear what I just said? The creep knew me. That means it was either you or Robert. I’m not going back to the consulate.”
The Councilor and Duncan exchanged another look and then Duncan grabbed Russ and the Councilor cast a spell that brought me to the ground. It wasn’t painful, but I couldn’t move.
Duncan cuffed Russ’s hands behind his back with a strange pair of handcuffs which, judging by the look of fear on Russ’s face, I’m guessing were enchanted to prevent him from using magic.
“Dani?”
“I’m okay,” I assured him. “It’s not painful, I just can’t move.”
Gabriel was watching the two of us with horror. “Councilor, this is not necessary!” He knelt down and pulled me into his arms, brushing the sand off my face and out of my hair as best he could.
“It is just a precaution. I do not trust Danielle or young master Devereaux not to act foolishly, and I need all of you to hear what I have to say.”
“If you think this is going to make us listen to anything you have to say you’re an even bigger idiot that I thought!” I shouted.
The Councilor ignored my outburst. “Think, Danielle. There is one other extremely powerful warlock with whom you are associated.”
Russ, Gabriel and I were silent. I knew we were all stumped; we had no idea who he was talking about. At our confused faces, the Councilor shook his head. “I believe the resistance is trying to start a war between humans and supernaturals,” he said. “The great and final battle prophesied by the Oracle.”
“Yeah, that’s what Duncan said, but who—”
“I have wondered for some time if there was a spy within the council. The resistance is too clever. After what you told me of your visions, Danielle, I was sure of it. But to use a mind control spell in order to avoid being seen by Gabriel could only mean Robert or Constance.”
“That is what we too believed,” Gabriel said.
“Yeah, them and you,” I added. “And guess what? It’s not Constance.”
“No,” the Councilor agreed. “It is not Constance. Nor is it Robert. When Robert found the human raiding party from your vision he learned that a supernatural gave them the location of the village. There were only a handful of us who even knew of the village’s existence, none of whom were Robert or Constance.”
“Wow,” Russ said. “That narrows things down quite nicely, doesn’t it? Did you want to sign a written confession for us, or should I go find a video camera?”
“The Councilor would never compromise so many innocent people!” Gabriel exploded. “Danielle!” he said to me desperately. “I know what you believe, but I am sure of it! The Councilor is not our enemy!”
“I appreciate your faith Gabriel, but do try to keep calm. For what I am about to say will be just as insulting to Russell as him accusing me is to you.”
“Why?” I asked.
“Because I believe the leader of the resistance is Alexander Devereaux.”
Gabriel and I fell silent. Even Russ was too stunned to have a comeback.
“What could possibly ever give you that idea?” I asked once I could finally speak again.
“Years ago Alexander was on the council with me.”
“He was what?” Russ asked.
“He held the warlock seat on the council for years. Robert was his replacement after he left.”
The look on Russ’s face suggested he was trying to cast a spell that would send the Councilor to the deepest part of Hell. “That can’t be possible! He would have said something to me!”
“Not necessarily,” Duncan argued. “He didn’t exactly part with the council on the best of terms.”
“Considering his love for humans, that’s not all that surprising,” I grumbled.
“Unfortunately, you are not far off, Danielle,” the Councilor replied. “It is because of a human that Alexander now hates the council, and, more importantly, believes that humans should know about supernaturals.”
“He knew the location of the school?” Gabriel asked.
The Councilor nodded. “If I am right and Alexander is leading the resistance, then we will not be able to stop him. He knows all of the council’s secrets. He will eventually succeed in starting this war.”
The Councilor threw his hand over his eyes and rubbed his temples, looking more tired than I’d ever seen him. “And he’s been manipulating the Chosen One from the start,” he muttered. “I only hope I’ve been able to repair the damage enough that all is not lost.” He lowered his hand to meet my eyes with a solemn gaze. “I pray to the Creator, Danielle, that you will make the right choice.”
“She will,” I heard Gabriel whisper under his breath. He’d said it to himself so quietly that I wasn’t sure he even realized he’d said it.
I looked up at Gabriel and he stared back with a look of pity. He believed every word the Councilor said without question. What made this so hard was that as much as I wanted to believe the Councilor guilty, and knew Alex was innocent, more than anything I wanted to believe in Gabriel. It killed me to have to doubt the Councilor when Gabriel was so sure.
“I’m sorry,” I said to the Councilor, and for Gabriel’s sake I actually meant it. “I just don’t know what the right choice is. Of course I don’t want Evil to win, but I don’t know who Evil is.”
“This is so much bull!” Russ yelled. “How can you not know? He’s talking about my dad! My father is not the leader of the freaking resistance! Dani, Evil is right here. He’s the head of the council, he’s got the Seer eating out of the palm of his hands, and now he’s got the Chosen One so confused there’s no one left to
stop him. It’s brilliant actually.”
“Don’t be so naïve boy,” the Councilor said, his temper flaring again. “Do you not see that your father has done the same to Danielle her whole life? And to you as well? His own son?”
“He has not!”
“Let me ask you this—have you ever in your life desired the company of someone other than Danielle? Have you ever had a girlfriend? Thought another girl was attractive?”
“No,” Russ said then looked at me and said it again. “Never Dani. It’s always been you.”
“Have you ever even had any other friends besides Danielle? Other boys your own age perhaps?”
Russ raised his chin defiantly. “I didn’t need any.”
“And you feel that is normal? To be surrounded by an entire town of people and think only of each other? Care only for each other?”
Russ shrugged beneath Duncan’s grip. “We love each other.”
“No,” I whispered, startling everyone. “It wasn’t normal. I always knew it wasn’t normal.”
Russ looked at me like I’d just betrayed him but I shook my head firmly. “It wasn’t. That’s why I went out with Conor.”
“Alexander knew exactly what he was doing with you two from the start,” the Councilor said.
“He had to have known,” Gabriel agreed. “Or at least suspected, Danielle, that you were pure—living in that small town all alone with not one supernatural in your presence? He surely knew the strength of your aura.”
Gabriel was right. Alex had already admitted to always knowing what I was. Of course he would have suspected I was pure. What other explanation was there? And he never chose to say anything to me, or Russ, or the council? Why keep it a secret?
The Councilor nodded. “There is no doubt that you were the reason Alexander forced his son to grow up in a small town with no other supernatural influence. Danielle, he has manipulated you far worse than I because you admitted to your destiny with Gabriel before I broke your bond with Russell. I knew you were the Chosen One. I knew you were meant to be with the Seer. I acted in the best interest of the prophecy. Alexander acted purely in self-interest. He wanted your power. He wanted influence over you.”
