Page 79 of Unbound

I step into his office, immediately struck by how different it is from what I'd expected. No oppressive darkness, no instruments of torture, no intimidating displays of power. Instead, the circular room is filled with warm light from dozens of candles. Bookshelves line the walls, interspersed with maps of Empire and curious artifacts displayed in glass cases. A massive desk of polished wood dominates the center, its surface neat and organized.

Voss himself looks just as he did during the tethering ceremony—tall, imposing, yet somehow approachable in his perfectly tailored black robes. His hair is still that striking black with distinctive silver streaks framing his face, and his eyes—a light, nearly colorless gray—study me with unsettling intensity.

"Please, sit," he says, gesturing to a chair across from his desk.

I take the admittedly comfortable chair, lowering myself slowly in case there are hidden spikes or spears in the cushions.

There aren't.

His lips flick to the side with the faintest smile. "You're right to be cautious. Caution is good here. And I know your survival as an offering depended on it. But I assure you, you're safe here."

The simple words feel surprisingly true to me. It helps to know Typhon is right beside me—to know he would do anything to protect me. "Okay," I say.

"Good," Voss threads his fingers together, leaning toward me on the desk. "Now… I think the best way to handle this is to come out and say it. You're unbound—" he raises a hand, eyes calm and unthreatening. "No need to run. No need to panic. I meant it when I said you're safe here. I only intend to help you."

My mouth has gone dry and my heartbeat thunders in my ears like a thousand tiny needles pricking at my consciousness. My fingertips dig into the armrests of the chair so hard I hear the leather creak.

"For one who knows the signs, it's quite obvious, Nessa. Nobody betrayed you. Nobody shared your secret with me, assuming some knew."

I blink. "Signs?" it's the only word I manage as my words crystallize into frost on my tongue.

"If he tries anything, I will end him,"Typhon promises.

"People and elementals aren't so different, you know…"

"How so?" I ask when it's clear he's waiting for me to continue—gently forcing me to participate in whatever this is.

"Paranoia. Fear. Distrust. It runs deep in both races. They both feared what your kind could become. See… there was once a powerful unbound who discovered the true potential of your affinity. When they saw what he was capable of, they lashed out. They hunted your kind down to the last. Elementals and humans worked together to exterminate the unbound. There was no mercy. No quarter. And as far as we know, they succeeded. But I’ve been searching for your kind for quite some time now. Fruitlessly, until today."

I lick my lips tasting fear and curiosity in equal measure. "Why would you still be looking for unbound if they were supposed to be gone?”

"Because the proven bloodlines were destroyed, yes. But the nature of affinity is a natural thing. An evolution, if you like. It was only a matter of time before it manifested again. A phoenix from the ashes." he gestures with both hands toward me, his smile warm. "And look how you rise, Nessa Thorn."

"I'm not sure I understand…"

"That's alright. I only wanted you to come today to introduce myself and establish a line of trust. I know what you are, and I have no intentions of speaking with anyone about it. There are, as you've clearly intuited on your own, many who would see you dead if they knew. I don't want you dead. I want you to flourish, Nessa. I have access to texts that Empire itself doesn't know still exist. Call it a perk of my position. Since I was a young boy, I've taken a special interest in unbound. You could even say my fascination with your kind led me to taking this position at Confluence. And now, I'm happy to offer you all the help you could want in understanding your powers.”

Iick my lips, trying not to let it show, even as I feel hunger. Longing. The answers he’s promising. I want them so badly it hurts. Not just for my own survival, but to become strong enough to protect myself and the people I care about. “What can you tell me?” I ask, tone carefully neutral. I’m still not sure if this is some kind of trap. Some elaborate scheme to get me to admit more than I should.

He smiles, pleased to hear me asking questions, I assume. “Your manifestation. I could help you unlock it. I’m guessing you don’t know what that means.”

Thanks to Bastian’s book, I actually do, but I shake my head all the same. I’m not going to offer up more information than necessary. I’m also not going to implicate Bastian if this is all a trick.

“Unbound develop one or more special, unique abilities. These powers came in so many varieties it was truly remarkable. One of my favorite subjects was simply reading and learning about the special powers they held. Prophetic visions. Minor time reversal. Levitation, flight, the ability to shapeshift. And, of course… there were even some quite special powers that drew more than their fair share of misunderstanding. I dare say a few unbound are responsible for many of our myths and legends."

After a moment, he stands suddenly, gesturing for me to do the same.

"In any case, I deeply appreciate your time, Nessa. I know your schedule here is unforgiving. If you haven't gathered as much already, I am extending a formal offer to mentor you," Voss says, his voice somehow closer though he hasn't moved. "To help you discover your unique gift safely, where others can't witness and misconstrue."

"Why would you help me?" I ask.

"Because talent should be nurtured, not feared." His eyes catch the candlelight, reflecting it back like twin flames. "Because I believe you could become something extraordinary."

I want to believe him, with a yearning that hollows me from the inside out. He's offering me power and understanding. Here at Confluence, both of those things mean survival.

"I’ll make one suggestion," Voss adds, leaning closer. "Tell no one what you are. Not your friends, and especially not the fire affinity who watches you so closely."

Raith's face flashes in my mind, eyes burning with that intensity that makes my pulse flutter, and something inside me rebels against the command. He already knows. And some part of me also knows out of everybody here at Confluence, Raith might be the one I trust most—the one I'm most likely to confide in. "I?—"

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