My other hand grew clammy with anticipation as it took a fistful of my t-shirt. “What?”
She opened her eyes and released my hand.
Was that it? It was over? Had she readallof my magic? I wanted to urge her to take my hand and try again. To tell her not to stop until she understood everything. I would demand her to cancel class and steal all her time if I had to.
She looked at me and her eyes sunk. She glanced at the sweat lining my temples and gave me a half-hearted smile, lacking the sincerity from the joyful look she had mere minutes before. “It’s just a theory because I’ve never actually read anyone who has had this before, but if I’m correct, then you may have something called split magic.”
A name. The unpredictability had a name. Split magic. “What does that mean? Is that bad?”
“Your magic is truly extraordinary, but,” she grinned like she knew the “but” would send me plummeting, “there’s a portion of it that is dark, toxic.”
“What do you mean?”
“I’ve only heard of one person who has had split magic. And he had described it to me as an infection that will one day eat your magic away,” she swallowed hard, “then your heart.”
My stomach flipped.
“But!” she said, sticking her finger in the air. “It looks like your magic is doing a remarkable job at fighting back. Yours and Fletcher’s. Both working in unison to fight this split.” She took my hand again, her magic racing down her arms and mine responding where we made contact. Her ceruleans and my aquasswirling together at our fingertips. She nodded like she was having a conversation with my magic again. “It would appear that your magic is using all its resources to fight the split instead of building a relationship with you. So, when yours or Fletcher’s magic does not answer to you, know that it is because it is protecting you.”
A cloud of questions overwhelmed me. “How did I get a split? How’d this happen? Was I born with this?”
She pressed her thin lips in a straight line. “I’m sorry, darling. I really don’t know any more than what your magic has told me.”
“What about that guy? Would he know?”
She shrugged and leaned in closer. “I assume he would know more than me if he’s still alive.”
I gulped. What had that meant? That the infection had taken over and he had died? “Can you tell me about him?”
“It was when I was very young. And rumor says he had mentioned to a few of his friends that he had split magic before leaving to find a cure. But he never returned. Some say he was captured and killed by the Cidris, others say he went mad and threw himself off awaterfall. Some say the magic ate away at his heart. But it’s all merely speculation.”
My heart pattered then pounded. “Do you think I shouldn’t use my magic then? Anything that could distract it from fighting the split would be bad, right?”
“I have no way of knowing.” She pursed her lips to one side in a look of disappointment. “It would make sense. I wish I knew more, Princess.”
What’s wrong?Fletcher’s voice permeated through my mind with sharp worry.
Should I risk answering him? Yes. It was important that he knew.I have something called split magic. It’s like a dark infection. Have you heard of it?
I haven’t.
I’m not going to be using my magic anymore. It might make the infection worse.
My eyes flitted to Talia as voices of children approaching filtered in on the breeze. “Thank you. You’ve been such a great help.”
Don’t be scared. We’ll figure this out.
The infection can kill me, Fletcher.
I will not allow that to happen.
Class went by in a blur as I claspedThe Wizened Navigatortightly to my chest. I watched as kids demonstrated their skills with Talia’s guidance, but all I could do was sit and absorb what I could. I refused to use my magic in case the split got worse.
Before I knew it, the class was ending and the queen had appeared by my side, gripping my arm tightly and teleporting me to a bedroom I assumed was in the castle.
The cream walls were adorned with dark-wood picture frames and highlighted with gold. The large bed was impeccably made, and with the emotionally draining morning I had had, it looked like a cloudlike invitation. Sheer fabric drooped down in a romantic swoop from the canopy bed posts. Accents of baby pink were spread throughout the room, and there were curtains that covered the glass double doors which led to a cemented, curved balcony.
The large room held little else except for a full-length mirror propped in the corner, a sofa, and a dresser that held an assortment of flowers.
