CHAPTER 13

The energy that pulled me into the illusion where my mother spoke to me sent me crashing back into the wooden chair with a BANG. With my head still dizzy, I felt like seeing a dozen stars spinning at the back of my mind. Closing my eyes, I was able to see my mother again and the realization of what my life was before the hospital hit me. It was more painful than being stabbed by a knife.

"You are the Heir of Magio." My mother's voice repeatedly rang in my head.

I bolted right up in the chair and knocked over the black box beside my hand. The memory stone rolled off the table and landed on my foot. I winced.

Salda lifted her curious gaze to meet mine. It didn't take a person who reads minds for me to know that we might be at the very end of our lives. My mother had said enough. My father wasn't going to stop until he'd killed us all.

"You knew, didn't you?" I asked.

"Yes, but you needed to hear it from Maura yourself."

"It's all true, then?"

"I'm sorry, Samael. This isn't the way I'd intended for us to finally get to know each other."

"It's true, though, about my dad?"

Salda nodded.

"He killed her?"

She nodded again.

"Why?"

"Your magic."

"Magic?" This was insane, yet I knew what she was talking about!

"In this world, there are people with powers and those without. Those with magic have always tried to rule Magio with fairness and equality. Isaac had no magic, but wanted the power. When your mother couldn't give it to him, he decided to take it for himself."

"Couldn't?"

"Magic can't be given away." Salda was so serious.

"So, if you're telling me he will do anything to take the magic from . . . my people . . . he has to die."

"Slow down."

"No, I'm going to end this." My hatred burst out of me.

"You are untrained."

"If I am the Heir of Magio, this is between me and my father, and I can do this."

Salda paused and stared at me for a long while. I wondered if she would try to confine me, or order me put back into the jail cell I had woken up in a day earlier. Instead, she took up a massive blade and moved toward me. That's it, I thought, she was going to kill me.

"If you are so determined, at least take your weapon."

My mouth was wedged open. I watched, frozen from shock, as Salda handed me the sword that had been sheathed on her weapons belt.

"What is this?" I took it, worried and wondering why she would ever give me a weapon.

Salda unsheathed the sword in a swift motion and gestured again. "Take it. It's yours."

I held it like a newborn baby. The design on the hilt of the sword was a wyvern, a dragon that stood on two legs, with wings that could blot out the sun. The metal was heavy but in a way that made me feel powerful. "Where did this come from?"

Salda spoke with reverence. "This is the sword of Durendal." As she spoke its name, the sword vibrated in my hand and I swore that it began to glow! All of a sudden, I felt something surge through me. I knew I could take down whoever came after me. Charging out the door with Durendal by my side, I was determined to take revenge.

As I turned into the main corridor, fire in my belly, ready to destroy anything that came at me, I saw a figure standing at the end of it and my energy retreated. I stopped and stared. I swallowed hesitantly. Suddenly, Durendal felt heavier in my hands and I felt like moving through a muddy pond as I took a step towards whomever was waiting.

The silhouette shuddered and held something out. I stepped again. The light was so low. I couldn't tell what the person wanted me to see. Again and again, I stepped until the silhouette was lit up enough that I could see the face of a man smirking.

"Hello, Samael," the man spoke in a warm tone, as if we'd known each other for a lifetime.

I stuttered, trying to respond. No matter if I believed it or not, the man was…

"Hello, father."