Chapter 9 - And so the Training Begins

Lilith insisted on starting my training almost straight after our chat. Something that I was both pleased about and dreaded to my bones. I was very conscious of the fact that my birthday was mere days away, and I didn’t want to find out what would happen if I wasn’t prepared. At the same time, the whole idea of being a creature at all, wielding a special gift, scared me. I had grown up believing that I was a human, a hunter. The only special power I ever hoped to gain was that of super strength or to see in the dark.

Our first session did not go well. Lilith instructed that the first step in control was being able to call upon the fire at will. We spent hours in the back garden, focusing on drawing the flame out from my core with out even a spark to make up for my efforts.

I was told over and over again, that all magic stems from emotion. That I had to work out what emotion was my trigger. I had already worked out my trigger was loss. Replicating that though was no easy task.

Lilith tried to recall the memory of my mother’s passing, of loosing Lucas, of Darren’s betrayal. All she succeeded in doing was making me angry. I could feel the power there under the surface, but I just couldn’t reach it.

It wasn’t until 2 days later that I managed to summon the flames and hold them in the palm of my hand.

It was early in the morning. The sun just peaking up from over the horizon. I couldn’t sleep, nightmares had plagued my sleep since the day at the remains of my old home and the earie feeling of being watched from afar kept me from resting. I went outside to get some air.

Since being back here at my childhood home, memories of my childhood came back to me thick and fast. Watching the sun rise I recalled a memory of when Lucas and I sneaked out during the night. We had both agreed the night before that it would be fun to sneak out and spend the night under the stars, only I was too scared to stay out all night, so Lucas agreed that we would only meet up just before sunrise. I had chambered out of my bedroom window, the floorboards in the house being far too squeaky and would have given me away straight away, climbed down the trellis that held up the wisteria. I had remembered to grab a thick fleecy jumper before leaving, but even then my teeth chattered in cold air. I ran through the clearing heading for our meeting place just past the tree line. My welly clad feet falling heavily and the dewy ground making the bottom of my night dress wet in the long grass. Lucas had been there waiting for me, a beautiful smile adorning his face when he saw me appear through the dense trees. He took my had in his and we walked to the top of the hill Lilith’s cottage sat on. Lucas was patient and kind, he would pick me up every time I stumbled, always holding my hand tightly in his. When we finally made it to the top it was still dark, we sat huddled together, Lucas' arms around my shoulders trying to keep the chill away. We didn’t have to wait long before the sun began to glow just above the horizon. It was the most beautiful memory.

I had snapped out of it only to notice the wetness on my cheeks, I embraced the memory and watched in shock as a ball of fire formed in the palm of my hand.

In my excitement I called for Lilith, she emerged from the front door in nothing but a dressing gown and watched in fascination as I showed her what I could do. She looked at me with such pride that I could help be wistful that my own mother wasn’t here to guide me through this. The thought of my mum only made the little ball burn brighter.

That is how I now find myself here. Stood in the middle of Lilith’s kitchen working on lesson number two. How to use the fire to do my bidding.

Standing in Lilith’s kitchen, a single thick pillar candle in front of me. My hand filled with a fire ball, trying to will the fire to light the wick.

So far, two bushels of lavender, a very sorry looking cyclamen plant and Lilith’s cats tail had been ignited. The candle remained untouched and taunting me from its place on the counter.

“Concentrate my dear. Try picturing the candle lighting.” Lilith cooed encouragingly behind me. The cat let out a small hiss of disapproval from where he was hiding under the kitchen table.

Taking a deep breath I closed my eyes. I pictures the candle in my mind, I thought about how it would look when it was lit. The small steam of smoke drifting up from the flame. The smell of the melting wax. I breath in and out keeping my mind calm and not allowing outside noise distract me. Breathing in and out I willed the candle to light.

Lilith let out an excited gasp. I opened one eye and squinted out, excited to see that the candle in front of me was flickering on the counter. I absorbed the fire back into my body and turned to Lilith a look of glee on my face.

“I did it!!” I cheered. I jumped into Lilith’s outstretched arm who gave me a hug in return.

“Well done Avalon, you did well!” she smiled at me.

“What’s next?” I ask in anticipation.

Lilith gave me a knowing smile before she pulled out a dozen more candle of varying sizes and placing them on the counter in front of me.

“Now you light all of these, at once.” Her eyes twinkling. I looked back at her scowling. I was hoping for something more exciting but turned back to the task at hand. Retracing the steps I had taken before. Picturing the display of candles in front of me. I was please to find that this time around the candles were easier to light. I was getting the hang of it.

And so this is how the afternoon went on. Each time I would light the candles Lilith would add more and make me do it again. By nightfall, the whole kitchen was illuminated with the soft glow of candle light. Every room in the house had a merrily roaring fire, and Lilith and I sat eating our dinner laughing about the problems that Lucas and I would find ourselves in when we were younger.

My memories were coming back easier now. It seemed the more time I spent away from Darren and the headquarters, the clearer everything became. There were even flickers of times spent with my Dad, although they were few, and they were still very muddled at the moment.

It was the eve of my Birthday. I felt no joy at the prospect, only unease at what it would mean. I had no idea what I would face come tomorrow. Would I feel different, will it be painful, will the darkness take over me or am I strong enough to fight it.

I knew one thing, I was going to try with everything I had to fight against the darkness. It would not take me easily.

I decided that I would take a walk, needing to clear my mind of the worry that clouded it.

Pulling on a pair of comfy shoes and thick coat hanging by the door I step out into the autumn chill. Breathing in heavily I let my mind clear of all the racing thoughts. Not really paying much attention to where I was going.

It was until an owl hooted through the night that I realised that I had walked too far from Lilith’s cottage. I had no idea where I was, the moon casting shadows over everything. Not sure which direction to go.

Something caught my eyes in the distance, a flickering light, thinking maybe it was a light from Lilith’s cottage I head in the direction of the flickering. It was until I got closer that I realised it was not a cottage, but a fire. There was a small lean to built against a tree just outside the ring of light cast by the flames. Built with branches and shrubbery foraged from the within the woods. A makeshift spit was built over the fire , the smell of roasting meat fragrant in the air. It didn’t take much to realise that someone was camped out here.

Dread filled my stomach. I had no idea if this person was friend or foe, but the fact their meal was cooking away over the fire, I knew that whoever it was, they weren’t far away.

I turned to go back in the direction I came from, eager to get back to the safety of Lilith’s cottage. Only as soon as I turned I ran smack bang into a hard object. Falling onto my bottom with a thud. I look up into the eyes of the biggest man I have ever seen.

His size easily towered Ben or Darren. His broad shoulders blocking out most of the moon light that was sat just behind him, casting his face into shadows. I shuffled backwards in the dirt. My heart race picking up as I felt the adrenaline spike in my blood.

“Oh God, please don’t let me die tonight.” I plead in my head. My eyes locked on the dark silhouette in front of me.

“You should not be out here Princess.” The man’s voice spoke out into the quite night. His words billowing out puffy white clouds in the cool night air making it look like he was breathing smoke.

“Who, who are you" I ask, trying to sound strong, yet I knew I achieved the very opposite.

“My name is Lysander. You are in danger, return before you are found.” His voice was the perfect mix between dark and dangerous and mysterious and sexy. I stood up on shaky legs and take a step to move around him. His body followed me as I move. My eyes never leaving his face. He seemed familiar too me, yet I knew we had never met.

“Why are you here Lysander?” His name rolled off my tongue. It felt foreign in my mouth. By now I had moved far enough around for the moon to illuminate his face.

He wore a heavy black cape, its hood pulled up over his face. His body was clad in black leather and metal chest plate. Heavy boots on his feet. At his waist dangled a sword, easily bigger than me in length. His skin was a deep tan, his eyes two burning orbs of Amber. He watched me with a steady gaze, never blinking. He looked like he had just stepped out of the crusades, a warrior that belonged to a different time completely. My breath caught in my throat as I took him in. He was beautiful in his own way.

“To protect you, Princess.” His answer came. His voice caressing my ears. I almost forgot what I had asked him.

“I don’t need your protection. I can protect myself.” I retorted , still not able to pull my eyes away from him. His mouth turned up in a smirk.

The cockiness of his posture made me feel giddy inside. Something I had never felt before, for any man. Lysander intrigued me in a way I could not explain.

“I have no doubt about it Princess, but if its all the same, I will remain here, where I can be certain.” His words left me in confusion. Why would I need protection from this complete stranger. Who even is this man. All I had was a name. Before I could say anything more a rustling from the direction of his camp sounded.

“GO NOW!” he shouted at me, his voice was a command and left no negotiation. With one last look I watch as the mysterious man turned away from me, drawing his sword and holding it up at arms height. The moon bright in sky, I watched as dozens of dark shadows raced between the trees. Turning on my heels, I ran as fast as my legs could carry me in the direction I had come. The sound of metal against metal, and the cries of pain sounded behind me. I dare not turn back or even catch a glimpse at what was going on. I just kept running and running until Lilith’s cottage came into view.