Page 55 of Ghost
“The xing, we, oversee everyone with a paranormal ability within our classifications. The roles of the er bashou, jiangjun, and tongun exist to support us. We are also unique, for we don’t earn our positions. We were born into our roles and into our quintet,” Damen explained.
How was someone born into a role? What kind of criteria needed to be met?
“Hunters target the xing specifically,” Julian spoke up. “Without their xing, the abilities of everyone classified in their element weaken. We act as a mediator between nature and the manifestation of abilities in specialized populations. That is one, of many, reasons why we must follow certain rules and restrictions.”
“What does that mean?” I wondered. “Are those who have abilities even human?”
“We are.” Damen nodded. “Even shifters, although they have an animal counterpart, are still human. They fall under Titus’ leadership. Omniyoji and demonic forces answer to me. Anyone who dabbles with the undead submit to Julian. And all manner of magical forces fall under Miles’ domain. Just because we are supernatural, does not make us not human.”
I’d noticed Damen was listing paranormal groups commonly found in fiction. And he hadn’t mentioned anything about me. “What about me? Am I anything… weird?”
“Not weird. But supernatural, yes. Remember, though, that mythology is not an accurate representation of reality,” Damen explained, stalling.
I leveled my best glare at him, demanding an answer.
“Wood elementals have fey blood somewhere in their history.” Damen sighed. “They can see and communicate with spirits who remain on Earth.”
“I’m a fairy?” I was so upset. Titus probably got to transform into something awesome. Damen got a demon bird. But I was only able to continue to see ghosts. It didn’t even sound like I could expect anything cool.
“You’re disappointed?” Damen raised an eyebrow. “Wood elementals can sometimes help spirits move between realms. And the xing could force spirits to obey, if needed, along with a few other tricks.”
“Can Ifly, at least?” That was a potential positive.
“Most likely not,” Miles interrupted. “Don’t test that theory—no jumping off buildings.” He continued, crushing the beginnings of my dreams into dust. “And it’s not actually flying.”
Spoilsport.“You just said that I was the xing.”
“I said that’s whatweare,” Damen interjected. “It is unlikely thatyouare. But since we don’t know the full extent of your abilities, and how long you’ll be affected by your medication, it is safe to assume your abilities are limitless. That way we can keep an eye out for incidents like earlier.”
I shivered, recalling the fear that had rendered me helpless. “What happened?”
“They’ve been hiding—even from Kasai and our technology. From even you, at times. But there are spirits here. But emotions project stronger than presence, and you picked up on it,” Damen explained.
“It’s probably happened before.” Julian frowned, musing. “A lot of your anxieties and fears could be feelings that you’ve picked up from the atmosphere around you. Could you still see spirits while you took your medication?”
“I always had an awareness of them, but not like now.” It seemed far-fetched, but I was hopeful. Perhaps some of my craziness wasn’t from me at all. But then another thought occurred to me. “If that’s the case, won’t it get worse now?”
“Miles and Titus can give you something to carry with you that will help.” Julian was still frowning as he glanced toward Damen. “At the moment, Titus is controlling your ability. But there are more holistic ways for an empath to learn—”
Damen shook his head, an unhappy expression on his face.
Julian narrowed his eyes. “Damen, we don’t have a choice. He is the Wood er bashou, and we can’t speak to Brayden without him. The two of them could teach her more about her abilities than we could. And Titus can’t hold her forever.”
“Why not?” Titus pouted. “This is comfortable.”
“Because you have ajob, and Bianca has classes.” Julian threw his hands into the air.
Titus didn’t seem to approve of Julian’s reasoning, but I still didn’t understand. “What does Titus have to do with anything?”
“In the cycle of abilities, Metal controls Wood,” Damen answered as he put his glasses on and began to write in his notebook. “He can suppress your abilities. Do you feel better now?”
“Yeah…” I felt better, but I could come up with five thousand reasons why remaining in Titus’ lap might be a bad idea. And none of them had anything to do with school.
I chewed on my lip, considering. “Julian is right. You can’t keep holding me.”
Titus shot me a hurt look, and I hurried to explain. “I haven’t bathed since the day before yesterday. I still need to shower tonight—we both won’t fit in there.”
His expression changed, and he almost threw me into Julian’s arms in response.
