Page 2 of Becoming D'Vaire
“I think I like it.”
“Do you like it here with Ms. Simmons?”
Delaney shrugged. “I don’t know.”
“Would you like to leave?”
“Could I?”
“Yes. Do you know about magic?”
“People talk about it a lot. I know I have some.”
“You have a great deal. I’d like you to begin learning how to use it. Other children live at the school I’d like to bring you to—would you like to join them?” Vadimas didn’t mention that the normal age for residency was twelve. Delaney needed to have a place where he could embrace the power within him, and there wasn’t an orphanage on this planet where he’d be comfortable.
It was going to take some time for the people of the Spectra Wizardry to accept him, but Delaney could be a wonderful asset, given the right resources. He had a vibrancy that hadn’t been dimmed by the world around him, and there was plenty of curiosity lurking in those unique eyes.
“Are there vampires at the school?”
“I’m afraid not. We only have wizards. Have you met any vampires?”
Delaney nodded emphatically. “Vamress Irina was here yesterday and she read us stories from a big book.”
“Vampyress,” Vadimas automatically corrected.
“She has fangs. Can I have fangs?”
“Wizards don’t have fangs.”
Delaney thought it over as he reached across and scratched his elbow. “One story had dragons.”
“Beautiful creatures.”
“Can I have one?”
“When you get older, you’ll get the chance to summon a familiar. You could choose to make yours a dragon.”
“I can really have a dragon?”
“Absolutely.”
Delaney cocked his head to the side. He had straight black hair that was sorely in need of a cut, Vadimas noticed as it fell into his dark eyes. “Will my dragon have fangs?”
“Dragons do have fangs…so yes.”
“I’m going to feed my dragon cookies.”
“Do you like cookies?”
“The big kids take mine.”
“We’ll make sure you get plenty at school.”
“I peed in my pants yesterday.”
Vadimas did his best not to smile as the child hopped from one subject to another. “I’m sorry to hear that.”
“Ms. Simmons was mad. I forgot to tell her I had to pee.”
