Page 37 of Tricky Magic
He had left her there and walked into his cabin without another word. The crackling came before the roaring as she’d stood motionless, and when she’d looked down at her hands, her powers were visible. Sparking currents of magic moved around her knuckles and fingers like live electricity. She’d balled her hands into fists and ran.
Now, she stood in front of her back door—it was locked. Quickly running to the front, she found herself still unable to get in. The home had closed all the curtains as if to say,no, come back when you figure your shit out.The roaring became louder as she panicked.
The greenhouse.
She ran to the large glass structure and thankfully was let inside. Closing the door, she leaned against it, panting, and covered her ears. She crumpled to the floor, and a wave of fear washed over her. Her parents, her uncle, every magical mistake she’d made flashed before her eyes as she took short, erratic breaths. Minutes passed, and the only change was that Ros consumed her thoughts—how it felt to be so close to him, remembering the night in the woods. It had her magic screaming to be set free. It was begging again to destroy, to play, to be liberated. This was all his fault; he made her feel so many things, and she didn’t know how to deal with it. Coming here was supposed to be an escape, a way to figure her shit out.
You can do this.
Ellea reached for the flowerbed to pull herself up off of the floor.
I will get through this.
As her hand touched the weathered wood, it exploded into a thousand pieces, bouncing off the glass walls and coming back at her. She reached her hands out to try and shield herself, but more things exploded in the process. The ringing in her ears was replaced with the splintering of wood and the impact of it on the structure around her. Wood and old dirt rained down and exploded around her, and it felt as though it would never end. A banging came from outside, and Ellea’s heart raced even quicker as she pictured Ros coming through that door.
She didn’t trust how she or her magic would respond. Could handle his brutish attitude? What did he want with her? Her thoughts stopped as an unfamiliar face poked around the greenhouse door. He was pale with dark eyes that matched his inky black hair.
“I’m sorry, I was up the hill and heard a commotion, and…” His eyes went wide. “Duck!”
Ellea ducked, and the stranger swung out a hand. Everything around her went silent. She braved a look over her shoulder from where she lay on the ground to see wood and dirt frozen around her. With another swipe of his hand, it all fell down around her as though she were in a bubble.
“May I ask what you were trying to accomplish here?”
Ellea eyed the stranger warily. Who was he? Where had he come from, and why had he felt the need to barge in?
“Yes, but I am not going to answer,” she said, crossing her arms. “Thank you for the help, but I don’t know you, and I am a little concerned as to why you are on my property.”
His smile only grew. He didn’t look the least bit uncomfortable. “I was touring the house up the hill. When I was walking the property to check it out, I heard whatever you were trying to do in here, and I was concerned.” He reached out a hand. “My name is Elias.”
Ellea looked at his outstretched hand. His long fingers were pale and delicate. He wasn’t a large guy, but still taller than her. She reached out her own and took it.
“I’m Ellea,” she said and hid the shiver that came when she touched his cold skin. It was the end of August and still warm during the day. She noticed his outfit: black slacks, a long sleeve button-down, also in black, and shiny black shoes. “How did you keep those clean walking over here?”
“I’ll tell you one of my secrets if you tell me one of yours.”
“Your shoes and my secrets are not on the same level,” Ellea said with a cock of her head. She was growing suspicious of him. “It doesn’t seem like an even trade.”
“Oh, but you are wrong there,” he said, sweeping his hands down at his shoes. “I use a special kind of magic for many aspects of my life.”
“And what kind of magic is that?”
“You tell me first,” he said. “I think you owe that much since I helped you.”
“Look,Elias,I didn’t ask you to help. I do appreciate it, but I don’t owe you jack shit,” she said with a raised chin. “I don’t have to tell you anything, and neither do you.”
“Fine. You keep your secrets, and I will keep mine,” he said with a bow of his head. “I will tell you this for free: Whatever you were doing, it wasn’t good. I have experience with power growing restless and taking control like that.”
How could he hit it directly on the nose?
“I had everything under control.” Her words came out quickly. “I would have reined it in eventually.”
“Right,” he said, clearly not buying it. “Look, I will be in the area for a bit looking at properties. It would be my pleasure to help you in any way I can; it’s one of my specialties.”
“Thanks for the offer, and thanks again for swooping in and helping,” she said sarcastically. “Let me walk you out.”
Ellea directed him toward the open door. He went out ahead of her, and as they stood outside, he gave her a bow and headed toward the treeline. He paused and turned to her, a small smile on his face.
“Don’t be afraid to ask for help, Ellea. It was a pleasure seeing you again.” He turned back to the woods and headed on his way.
