Page 31 of Destined to Fight

“There you are, child. Now give me your hands.” The woman held out her own, and Kelly placed hers in them.

Kelly’s fingers began to tingle and spark, then a purple light began to glow between their palms. She tried to pull her hands back, but something held them in place. Blue and purple wisps came from the light, working its way around them like smoke.

“What’s happening?” she asked in a panic.

“Relax and open your senses. Close your eyes and feel.”

Kelly tried to do as she was told, closing her eyes and trying to feel whatever was going on in her hands. When nothing seemed to change, she tried to pull her hands back again.

“No, close your eyes again and focus. Calm your mind and feel your soul.”

“You make this shit sound so easy. I don’t have the foggiest idea what you’re talking about.”

“Jesus, child, just breathe.”

Kelly looked down at the woman, who was at least seven inches shorter, and encountered the look only a mother could give. She closed her eyes again and took a deep breath, like she did when she was trying to center herself.

“That’s it, there you go.”

A few more deep breaths and Kelly felt her heart rate slow, and her body leveled itself out. A feeling she couldn’t describe, something similar to heat, worked its way up her arms and through her body. It was as if she could feel every individual cell and its link to her soul.

“Now, slowly open your eyes and maintain that level of—well, whatever it is you’re doing.”

Kelly took one more deep breath, picturing the air entering her lungs and feeding her body, then she opened her eyes, looking down at their hands. What she saw almost caused her to lose control, but she caught herself.

Green now mingled with the purple and blue tendrils of magic circulating around their hands.

“Holy shit,” Fabian said from what seemed like a far-off place.

The colors and light suddenly disappeared, and Kelly’s hands fell to her sides. She brought them back up, staring at her palms for answers.

“Well, my dear, you are a potential timekeeper, with an affinity to earth and water.”

Kelly just looked at the woman, unsure what to say. The woman stared back at her, delight in her deep-green eyes.

“I want her,” Kelly said, with absolute conviction.

“Now, hold on just a minute, young lady. This is a big decision, and you need to make sure I’m the one before you say yes.”

Kelly laughed, unable to help it. This woman who appeared to be around sixty had possibly more attitude than she did herself.

“I also have some conditions of my own,” she added.

“Name them!” Kelly couldn’t hide her excitement. What she’d felt and seen was unexpected, but she’d never felt so at home before in her life. It was like she’d just discovered who she really was.

“That fae over there,” she said, pointing to Fabian, “he’s your Guardian?”

“Not yet, I have another day to decide.”

“No, you don’t. If you want me to even consider being your mentor, you’ll accept his offer now. I will not spend my time worrying about your safety. It’s going to be hard enough to teach you what you need to know.”

Kelly winced, suddenly backed into a corner. So much for a little more time to think.

“Also, what is your history in our world? You seem a bit green, to say the least.”

“No history. I just found out about all of this a couple days ago.”

“Seriously?” the woman asked with attitude.

---