Authors: Kelly Varesio
Insperatus (31 page)
Her voice was becoming hoarse in her fury of what she couldn’t understand. Then she saw that Traith was there for the first time. She murmured his name. He walked over and knelt beside her, lifting up her head and touching her face.
She grasped his hands. “Did you see what I just did? God, I don’t know what is happening!” Her eyes searched his for a moment, and then she became nearly inaudible. “You didn’t see what I did earlier, Traith,” she whispered.
He returned her stare for a moment, and then looked up at Mistress, letting Rein hold onto his hand and put her face in it. “Mistress, can you stop this prolonging of an explanation? Stop speaking in blasted riddles and just explain what is going on to her!”
Mistress gave him a sharp glare. “All of Rein’s abilities are functional.”
He felt a near faintness come over himself. “What are you talking about? That isn’t possible; it doesn’t even make sense.”
“
But she has gained them nonetheless,” Mistress countered. “Rein Pierson is a mental giant. You felt her, Traith, didn’t you?”
But she has gained them nonetheless,” Mistress countered. “Rein Pierson is a mental giant. You felt her, Traith, didn’t you?”
He gave a sharp stare to the old lady. “Yes.”
“
My point should be taken, then. Rein can do nearly anything she wants with her mind, but she must learn to harness those capabilities. She is
telepathic
—able to communicate in a mind,
empathic
—able to both render and sense feelings in a mind,
telekinetic
—able to move physical things with her mind, and various other techniques such as a form of healing, levitation (although that is already exclusive to the vampire), shape-shifting,
and
she can cut into the time barrier, with a good deal of discomfort.”
My point should be taken, then. Rein can do nearly anything she wants with her mind, but she must learn to harness those capabilities. She is
telepathic
—able to communicate in a mind,
empathic
—able to both render and sense feelings in a mind,
telekinetic
—able to move physical things with her mind, and various other techniques such as a form of healing, levitation (although that is already exclusive to the vampire), shape-shifting,
and
she can cut into the time barrier, with a good deal of discomfort.”
He narrowed his eyes. “Cut into the time barrier?”
“
Stop time. As we all just witnessed, Rein has just learned to
use
her telekinetic ability. At least, for the first time since she had accidentally used it on the ship. The nails?”
Stop time. As we all just witnessed, Rein has just learned to
use
her telekinetic ability. At least, for the first time since she had accidentally used it on the ship. The nails?”
Traith gazed at Rein, who was staring in disbelief herself. She suddenly took a breath and closed her eyes. He took her in his arms and held her tight.
Her fingers were grasping him. “I love you,” she whispered.
He turned his head to Mistress for only a moment before holding her tighter to him.
“
And…the werewolf…it didn’t work,” Rein murmured.
And…the werewolf…it didn’t work,” Rein murmured.
“
What?” He receded and looked back and forth into each of her eyes, and as Mistress sighed, he instantly glared at her. “What is she talking about?”
What?” He receded and looked back and forth into each of her eyes, and as Mistress sighed, he instantly glared at her. “What is she talking about?”
The woman held an ornate cane between her hands and looked back at him wearily. “I sent Magellan to persuade him to come—it resulted appallingly. Campbell didn’t consent; not at all.”
“
So what does that mean?” he asked.
So what does that mean?” he asked.
“
You must go. He must concede.”
You must go. He must concede.”
“
You—”
You—”
“
Traith, you cannot say I didn’t
attempt
to make you happy. I found this out momentarily ago, and you must go. I can keep Rein here.”
Traith, you cannot say I didn’t
attempt
to make you happy. I found this out momentarily ago, and you must go. I can keep Rein here.”
“
I’m not staying,” Rein protested from beside him, now standing.
I’m not staying,” Rein protested from beside him, now standing.
He didn’t know what to say. Fury was nearly spilling over the surface. “I am supposed to take Rein to see her sister.”
“
It must wait,” she said austerely. “This man may, at any time, be taken by the Mardinial Council, and there are many, many unfathomable things that they can do to him, and we need to replenish the numbers of our council. The Mardinial Council uses force. We shall not. You are the best persuader I can use.”
It must wait,” she said austerely. “This man may, at any time, be taken by the Mardinial Council, and there are many, many unfathomable things that they can do to him, and we need to replenish the numbers of our council. The Mardinial Council uses force. We shall not. You are the best persuader I can use.”
He laughed. “Me, the best persuader? Mistress, you’ve got to be—”
“
Traith, I give you no less than a day. Take Rein. Use a few hours to go over her abilities with her. Then you had better go.”
Traith, I give you no less than a day. Take Rein. Use a few hours to go over her abilities with her. Then you had better go.”
“
Go over her power with her? I hardly know what she can do; that’s what you’re supposed to be for! I have no mental powers, I can’t explain them!”
Go over her power with her? I hardly know what she can do; that’s what you’re supposed to be for! I have no mental powers, I can’t explain them!”
“
I cannot teach her, Traith. She must learn herself. You can assist. That is all.”
I cannot teach her, Traith. She must learn herself. You can assist. That is all.”
“
But—”
But—”
“
Traith, I
said
that is all.”
Traith, I
said
that is all.”
He groaned and took Rein’s hand. In an instant he was back at the castle.
Chapter 41
He cursed the old woman as he took a seat in the library, holding his head. “This is ridiculous,” he said quietly. Then his voice rose. “Rein, come here.”
She swallowed her emotion, taking a seat on a sofa close to the unlit fireplace. The stone and dimness of the castle made it cool inside, which was a nice reprieve from the outside heat.
“
I cannot believe I have to converse with a werewolf,” he said. “I hate them more than anything I have ever come in contact with.”
Rein’s anger was beginning to cool in the shadows of the castle. “When are we going?” she asked, taking a breath of release.
He lifted his head up and looked at her in return. “Tomorrow. Evening. Tomorrow evening.” He smiled halfheartedly. “Consider this your beginning taste of Mistress’s thoughtfulness.”
When she saw him so solemn, she thought about how hard Mistress had said it had been for him. At least she had someone to help her through it. He hadn’t. For some reason, each time she gazed at Traith, her own sorrows shrunk completely.
She heard him thinking deep thoughts. Thoughts about her. About how much she was capable of doing.
“
I know,” she said.
I know,” she said.
His eyes widened. “What, Rein?” He was staring at her.
Her heart dropped. “I’m sorry,” she said, numbness engulfing her. “I read your mind. I’m sorry…I don’t know how I…I won’t do it again, I swear it!”
His eyes were still large. “All right,” he replied.
She was shuddering with her head in her hands. “Traith, I didn’t even mean to.”
His voice was quiet in response. “I know you’re just learning how to use this…mental
power
you have, but make me a promise, or as best of one as you can.”
power
you have, but make me a promise, or as best of one as you can.”
She looked at him apologetically and felt horrible.
“Don’t go into my mind without my consent,” he said, fiddling with his waistcoat chain. After a moment he smiled. “That would not only be unfair, but it would take the fun out of everything.”
“Of course,” she said quickly. “I’m s—”
“Don’t say it. You don’t ever have to say it again, Rein.”
She felt his original peculiarity return with that and sighed with a slight shake of her head. A sort of chill came over her when she thought about what she had done. She had read his mind. She wouldn’t do it again. She wouldn’t.
“
I can turn things into whatever I want?” she asked, or rather affirmed. “I can pause time, I can read minds, be in minds, switch minds. Take pain, take life, control people, move things without touching them. God, I must be going mad. Or I
will
be going mad.”
I can turn things into whatever I want?” she asked, or rather affirmed. “I can pause time, I can read minds, be in minds, switch minds. Take pain, take life, control people, move things without touching them. God, I must be going mad. Or I
will
be going mad.”
“
You aren’t going
mad
,” he murmured from the other chair, laughing a little.
You aren’t going
mad
,” he murmured from the other chair, laughing a little.
“
But think about all I have to memorize,” she said, rubbing her forehead. “When I have to use what, what all I can do…Traith, how
can’t
I go mad with all this? I got the impression from Mistress that I could—”
But think about all I have to memorize,” she said, rubbing her forehead. “When I have to use what, what all I can do…Traith, how
can’t
I go mad with all this? I got the impression from Mistress that I could—”
“
No, Rein, you won’t,” he replied. “I promise you. Just don’t let go. Don’t ever, ever lose your grasp on these mental capabilities, whatever they entail. I will help you as much as I can, but I can’t think for you. I don’t have any sort of mental power over anything. What I can do is strictly physical. But you…” he sighed, stopped, and chuckled lightly
.
“Everything will be fine.”
No, Rein, you won’t,” he replied. “I promise you. Just don’t let go. Don’t ever, ever lose your grasp on these mental capabilities, whatever they entail. I will help you as much as I can, but I can’t think for you. I don’t have any sort of mental power over anything. What I can do is strictly physical. But you…” he sighed, stopped, and chuckled lightly
.
“Everything will be fine.”
She finally gave up and accepted his answer to her ranting—the one she had wanted. She softly leant on her palm with her elbow resting on the side of her seat. She glanced down at the large and stunning ring on her left hand. She managed to smile. “So what does this ring actually have attached to it, Traith?”
“
Hmm?”
Hmm?”
“
You know, what comes with it?” She grinned when she noticed him perk up to the seductive tone in her voice. “Does it have anything to do with ‘the fun in everything’ you mentioned?”
You know, what comes with it?” She grinned when she noticed him perk up to the seductive tone in her voice. “Does it have anything to do with ‘the fun in everything’ you mentioned?”
He cocked his head. “Why, what kind did you have in mind?”
He suddenly disappeared in his seat, the image of his hands folded with his chin resting upon them, gone. Then he was beside her. “Something like…”
He leaned over and nudged her chin up with his, kissing her neck. She laughed, and in a single moment she felt a bed beneath her; he’d taken them to the bedroom. She fell back onto it, lifting her arms up around him and running her fingers through his hair. His head turned, and her lips tasted his. His tough, strapping body became instantly soft and gentle as if he was a god holding a mere person in his palm. She pushed him up a moment and began to unbutton her vest, then her bodice. He peeled the blouse off of her shoulders and down her body, until her dress was off. Next thing she knew, she only had her tiny corset and chemise on against his bare, muscular chest, and she could feel the bristles on his face tickling her, making tingles run from her neck, down. She was burning for him, and his skin was hot to the touch…
Chapter 42
The shore breeze tossed Rein’s dark hair around her face. She grasped the reins tightly as she rode her horse through the marshy, muddy fields of Gravesend. The wind whistled as it curled around the sporadic growth of trees and cattails that surrounded her. The sky was clouded, and it was nearing evening. Her surroundings looked rather like a desert with steep hills, but not quite as vast.
“
Are you with me?” Traith asked as he rode next to her.
Are you with me?” Traith asked as he rode next to her.
“
Hmm?” She turned and looked at him.
Hmm?” She turned and looked at him.
He pulled and twisted the reins of his horse a little to get it to slow down.
He brought the horses only because he didn’t know exactly where Dr. Campbell was. He had had time to get over the initial anger he felt toward the entire situation. A werewolf. Something about the way Traith spoke about werewolves gave Rein the impression that he was almost scared of them. That made her
twice
as scared.
twice
as scared.
Traith slowly halted his horse, and Rein did likewise.
“
I think his home is right up there,” he said, but his manner was detached. It was wholly focused on her. “Something’s wrong isn’t it?”
I think his home is right up there,” he said, but his manner was detached. It was wholly focused on her. “Something’s wrong isn’t it?”
Her mind clouded with voices she didn’t understand. They flooded together as if trying to tell her something…then stopped. Her mind became clear. “Oh God,” she murmured.
“
What?”
What?”
She winced, shaking her head. “I can’t…”
He stared at her. “What? You can’t what?”
Throbbing began to overtake her. She stared down at her horse. “My head is aching, Traith, it’s starting,” she murmured. “I’m sorry. I won’t say anything—”
“
Won’t say anything? Rein, this…” His eyes flicked around uncomfortably. “This isn’t even possible,” she heard him whisper to himself. “I don’t know what to do, Rein, I’m sorry.”
Won’t say anything? Rein, this…” His eyes flicked around uncomfortably. “This isn’t even possible,” she heard him whisper to himself. “I don’t know what to do, Rein, I’m sorry.”
She shook her head and squinted momentarily. “I love you,” she said.
He stared at her for a moment, his face to her, so intent.
She felt something wrong. A chill ran down her spine. Something was skewed. A sharpness pierced inside her head in a rush, and things grew quiet. She glared at Traith. He was watching her in shock.
“
You told me Ana looks like you, right?” she said.
You told me Ana looks like you, right?” she said.
“
What?”
What?”
He had told her one night about his younger sister. Her average stature, dark blonde, short hair, brown eyes; he said that they had looked alike.
Rein could see it.
“
Go,” she murmured.
Go,” she murmured.
His eyes were narrowed as if annoyed. “
What
, Rein?”
What
, Rein?”
She waved him on. “Go!”
He didn’t listen. He watched her in bewilderment.
She jumped off the horse and ran to a tree.
“
Rein! What are you—?”
Rein! What are you—?”
“
Stakes
, Traith!” she yelled. “Your
sister
put
stakes
on a—”
Stakes
, Traith!” she yelled. “Your
sister
put
stakes
on a—”
Sparking—popping triggered from the huge bundle of sharp wood set on the tree branch. She tried to get back to the horse, but instead she jumped forward, into a pile of high grass and behind a tree. She didn’t have time to say anything more to Traith but to call his name.
She had heard him get off his horse to reach her, but suddenly a boom sounded. She could hear the pointed pieces of wood driving through the air only a meter or so above her. She heard the horses screeching, and it sent terrified chills down her body. She held her ears.
Then it was over as fast as it had begun.
She dropped her hands to the ground as silence ensued. She grasped grass between her fingers and, with a breath, slowly inched her way up to look out to the trail they had been on. Both horses were dead.
She immediately searched for Traith, calling his name in panic.
She heard movement.
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