Page 30 of Group Studies

I blinked. “I wasn’t aware the spell was that inefficient.”

Director Flemmings covered a cough which sounded suspiciously like a laugh. The screen on the cuff charger came to life, saving me from whatever I’d said wrong.

The MA agent studied the screen.

“You’ve used magic with the clasps on,” he said. “Six times, including tonight.”

I dropped my gaze again. “I have.”

“The first one was small, maybe a single spell,” the MA agent said. “The evening of the day you woke up. The next three were also small in the evenings. Your fourth was much bigger just a few days ago. And then tonight, the biggest one yet.”

Heat radiated off my face. “I didn’t know you could track it.”

“Are you feeling ok, Aphrodite?” Director Flemmings asked.

I squirmed.

The MA agent set the box onto the table. “If it was important to you that we know about the clasps, why did it take you over an hour to turn yourself in?”

I squirmed again. “It’s not me using magic, and it wasn’t a nightmare,” I managed to squeak out. “I leak power when I, um, have sexual relations.”

Director Flemmings and the MA agent stilled. The buzzing of the lights and the hum of electronics sounded loud in the silence.

“It was part of my conditioning with Damon, I think,” I said, praying I was blending enough truth and lies with awkwardness that they’d drop the topic of conversation.

The MA agent cleared his throat. “I’m assuming these relations are not self-induced. Is there someone who can corroborate your story?”

I thought fast. “Beryl.”

Director Flemmings gave me a disappointed look.

“Can we get Beryl in here?” The MA agent said.

The Director picked up her phone and pressed a button before holding it up to her ear.

The MA agent waved to get my attention gain. “Did you just leak power, or did you force your magic into him?”

I bit my lip, a tear sliding down my cheek. “I honestly don’t know.”

Director Flemmings handed me a tissue, before speaking into her phone. “Yes, I need Beryl woken and brought to me immediately.” She moved the phone away from her mouth. “Officer Keres, do you want your agents to go with my assistant?”

Officer Keres nodded curtly. “Yes.”

My heart sank. I studied the MA officer, desperate to see something friendly in him that would save me.

Beyond the dark red and blue camo of his uniform, he didn’t look as imposing as I feared. A few inches shorter than the Director, hard lines creased his weathered face. His features held a hint of Asian descent which didn’t match his dark brown hair, threaded with white.

Director Flemmings hung up her call and stood between me and Officer Keres. “I think some strong tea while we wait is in order.”

Time ticked down slowly. My stomach knotted and I couldn't even look at the tea. Too soon and not soon enough, a blurry-eyed sleep disheveled Beryl, dressed in cream pajamas, stumbled into the room. His dark skin glowed under the lights. Even slightly stooped, he stood a head taller than the Director. He ran his hand up his face and through his mussed, black curly hair. Bright sapphire-rimmed blue eyes scanned the room with much more alertness than his body language spoke.

“He was asleep in his room,” Director Flemming's assistant said, poking her head in the door behind him. She quickly closed it, leaving the four of us alone.

Officer Keres motioned to the seat next to mine. “I’ll get right to it, son.”

Beryl sat heavily; his gaze flicked to the clasps and then to my wrists before he yawned and rubbed his eyes again.

“Are you and Aphrodite in a sexual relationship?” Officer Keres asked.

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