Six Read Free

understand things that never mattered weighs heavily on me.
    “We aren’t the same, sugar cakes. Look at you. Look at us. If your mother was human, I want to know who your dark daddy was. Your eyes are light, your hair is blond…you look like something from the old world.” I stop walking, her words holding me to this spot.
    “We are not the same then. I do not belong.” Lana and Bec gaze off in the distance and then back to me. They are deciding if I should know something.
    “We are more human than witch. We’ve learned to suppress our magic for so long just to survive, that it isn’t a part of us anymore. While we were born with the ability to use and abuse the stuff, it wasn’t taught and we never needed to use it. If you haven’t noticed, we’re kind of badass.” Lana smiles. “It’s how we have survived out here since the end of the old world. You have to be able to feel to make rational decisions. Follow your heart and all that bullshit. Our emotions are our greatest weapon. It’s why I didn’t kill you like other darklings I’ve found. You still feel things…right?” she asks, her smile faltering a touch.
    I want to tell her I feel all the things I used to. When I was a child I could feel everything , though I cannot remember any of it. Not a single memory that contains even a clue about what I used to feel—about the person I used to be. My stomach drops with the realization. I could have been similar to Lana and Bec and I would not even know it.
    I take a long deep breath. “I feel fear…and now anger,” I tell her honestly.
    Bec rolls her eyes. “She’s as good as dead,” she says.
    “I am not! I need the correction,” I say, even though I know the correction means my death. They both roll their eyes again. Lana looks forlorn, like she made a grave mistake in taking me from nothingness.
    “Go ahead, Lana. Correct her now. Save us all a lot of time and energy. You know it’s what he’ll do anyways. Fear and anger is what she feels. What’s next? She thinks something’s wrong with her…it’s too late. How old are you Emma?” Bec asks after she finishes saying horrible things that make my stomach hurt.
    “I just had my birthday. I am eighteen.” I hold my chin higher. At my declaration, Lana raises her bow and aims at my heart—a heart that is pumping rapidly in fear…in confusion. Bec raises her sword from her side and targets my neck. I feel the cold metal against my skin and my eyes glow white. The terror is too much. I no longer control my own body. It is as if magic takes over ever cell in my body, urging me to do as it pleases, promising camaraderie, friendship…power.
    “No!” A burst of hot magic explodes out of my body, shaking the air that surrounds me. The magic is fiery and grey and electrified with undercurrents of wrath. It is the first time I have fully used dark magic and it feels…right.
    Lana and Bec are sprawled on the ground several paces away, blasted from the backlash of my outburst. Their faces are dirty, angry, and hold more darkness than even my magic. They stand in unison and stalk toward me, a perfect balance of skill and feral talent. I did not want to hurt them, nor did I mean to. I am suddenly angry at myself—at the fact that I have control over nothing.
    “I do not want to die. I do not want to die like her,” I say as I sit on the ground, weary. Lana puts an arm across Bec’s chest to stop her approach. They lower their weapons at the same time.
    “Strike one, darkling,” Lana hisses. Bec’s gaze is furious. “The dark witches will know where you’re at now that you’ve used magic. My bow won’t kill you tonight, but I can’t say what they’ll do to you.”
    “What dark witches?” Bec asks, looking at Lana with confusion etched on her face.
    “She escaped them. They came for her today and she ran,” Lana explains.
    My eyes are blue again. I tell them, “I do not want that fate. My mother did not want that fate for me. Please