Page 48 of Veiled

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Alvor

That morning,after hearing from Remi that Hudson had been trained by Kalen, I quickly contacted Chancellor Jacobs and demanded his contact information, brooking no argument. I called him minutes after stepping out of the cafe that Sunday morning, needing answers.

“Kalen, I see you’re still as difficult as ever to pin down,” I spoke slowly over the phone. I hated these damn devices.

“Yes, and yet, Alvor, you were still able to reach me. I assume you have already met Hudson?” He chuckled. “How is my little minx? She is full of spirit, that one; the best student I have ever had and the strongest,” he said with a loving note in his gruff voice.

I was taken aback by his tone; Kalen was known to be the ruthless warrior not the ruthless loving dad in training. He left our home years ago, never breathing a word as to why and he was never found. Not that anyone who ever tried to find him came back. After a while, we realized it was futile. Kalen didn’t gain his reputation from whispers alone, no, he truly was the best warrior and your worst possible enemy.

I cleared my throat. “I have not had the pleasure directly, no, but Remi has. She seems quite taken with her actually. Remi isn't usually taken with anyone; my niece is a loner.”

He laughed darkly, “She’s a loner because she is as ruthless and as cruel as her family namesake.” His tone became dark, menacing, before he continued, “make no mistake, Alvor, if Hudson is harmed in any way, you wouldn’t live to see the other side. I’ll rip out your entire soul from your being and laugh while I’m tearing you to pieces.”

“Kalen, that is not why we’re here,” I sighed. He was so damn intense. “We’re here to protect her and bring her home, where she belongs. She is the last. She has a role to play, which I’m sure you know since you have been training her all these years.”

He grunted. I smiled. “Tell me, Kalen, how did you know where she was and how did you, the greatest warrior of our time, became the trainer of a young child?”

“I have my ways. Just because I was gone, doesn’t mean I wasn’t keeping my ear to the ground. We all knew of the prophecy, but I knew my role. I felt it. It doesn’t matter how we got to this point. She is here. What is interesting to me, Dean Alvor, is how you were able to locate her.”

“I was sent; it doesn’t matter how. The facts are she must be taken back safely and before her powers manifest.” His knowledge of my position wasn’t worrisome. Kalen was nothing if not thorough and lethal.

“Hmm,” he seemed unperturbed. “Her powers have already manifested. I’m sure you noticed her hair. There is only one thing preventing the early onset of her powers. Speaking of, you realize the wards around your school are not as airtight as you believe. I suggest you remedy that soon; I’ll be visiting my little minx before long. I suggest you prepare.”

“What? You cannot…”

“Do not presume to tell me what I can and cannot do. I’ll be there… in fact… sooner than you think. Goodbye… mate.”

Goodbye, mate. His final words still made my stomach quake in anger, betrayal, disgust, and anticipation. He didn’t even say goodbye the first time he left. I pushed those thoughts away, because I should have realized that with his training and Hudson’s innate abilities that she would be more problematic. However, it wasn’t until she jumped straight into the vortex that I realized just how problematic. The moment she touched that water, I had a strange feeling come over me. A foreboding, if you will. I felt a tap on my shoulder and when I looked back, my eyes widened. A shiver went up my spine as I took in the six foot five, muscular man with eyes so dark blue they looked almost purple, golden tanned skin, and long dyed dark blonde hair.

“Kal…”

“There is no time for questions, Alvor, dismiss the other students immediately,” Kalen demanded, voice and hard eyes brooking no argument. His presence was always mind numbing. From the moment we met, he has always captivated me, even after these many years, he still did. I shook my head to loosen the cobwebs, I knew my duties.

I immediately threw a shield around us and called out to the class, “students, that is all the time we have today. Take your things and have a good night. We will see you tomorrow.” The students, already exhausted, thankfully, hastened out of the room at the dismissal, not noticing the time.

Kalen, the moment the last student was out, had sent a burst of magic to the doors and warded them closed. Ryder, Grayson, Zane, Hunter, and Remi walked past the shield and stared at the vortex that had just stopped spinning, watching as Hudson climbed out. I walked closer and I tried to smile but it quickly slipped, and I stepped back just as quickly. She was glowing, her skin alight in purple, red, and black hues, her eyes bright, her long hair dripping water, and her chest heaving. She would look beautiful, alluring, and dangerous, it wasn't for the fact that her eyes promised destruction.

She quirked her head and crouched down to the floor, like an animal waiting to spring on its prey.Don’t run pretty rabbit, echoed in my head and when I heard everyone gasp, I knew they must have heard it too. Her smile looked feral and this did not bode well. I knew she was powerful; I would have to be oblivious not to, however, having not reached her 21st year, even with her spilling her virginal blood, the amount of power, focus, and strength to absorb the magic from the vortex should have been impossible. In fact, only the strongest could possibly that much within themselves and not burst from the strain alone. Although consumed by the force and free will of pure magic, she showed no signs of destruction of her person. However, the more pressing concern was that those consumed with magic are almost impossible to deter once they set their goal on someone or something, and that someone was me. And I had to wonder if it was her magic that knew who I was.Fuck.

Kalen

I hadno idea what the hell I walked into, but I’m glad I had chosen that time to hide in the shadows and observe. I had cloaked my presence from the room, having gotten there shortly after Hudson had begun her time on the course. She moved and fought with a speed and focus that far outshined any of the other students. It was clear her talents were wasted in a place such as this, she needed to thrive and be with her people. However, until she reached her 21st birthday, it just wasn’t a good idea. She was excelling when she was with me, that much was clear. I taught her things way beyond her years that she took to with an innate ability. She was unmatched by her peers, if you can even call them that. She wasn’t their peer, she wasn’t their anything. Genetically, they may be similar. However, Hudson was much more. When I saw the calculated look on her face when she peered into the vortex of magic and water, meant to make the other students use other means to avoid it, I felt and saw her split decision to jump into it instead. I cursed.

It was at that moment I realized that her potential far surpassed my initial observations. She took everything I taught her and wielded her knowledge as one would wield a sword; it was a weapon. I was proud of her, yet I knew at that moment as strong and as old as Alvor was, Hudson was coming into herself a lot faster than anyone could have expected. She would destroy him. Although, that part may not be a bad thing; considering the purest part of her, her magic, considered him prey. That was an interesting tidbit for later.

I quickly stepped up and stood in front of Alvor, Hudson’s eyes followed him until her attention snapped to me instead.

“Hudson,” my voice strong and my hands up in front of me showing her I was no threat. “Hudson, listen to me. You’re too smart to let yourself be controlled by magic. You control power, not the other way around.”

She stood up from her crouched position, and raised her hands, stepping forward slightly, bending her knees. The movements were the only indication of her thought process as she exhibited no energy spike before she let loose a storm of magic that arced towards me. In those few seconds, I had braced myself and opened myself to absorb rather than deflect the attack, hoping to get a feel for the magic she had absorbed. It hit me and I grunted and took in a sharp intake of breath as I was inundated with a feeling of pure magic; a combination of all elements and energies. It was as if I was back home.Fuck. I felt the magic from the top of my head to the tips of my toes and released it.

“You took my rabbit,” her voice deep, almost unrecognizable, with the excess power coursing through her system. Her words took me by surprise, and I laughed, she was the only one to have ever made me laugh since I left my home. Even then, my smiles were few and far between. Somewhere between the past seven years of training, I fell in love with this sassy little girl with the fire in her eyes, who blossomed into a woman right before my eyes. I could not have imagined a better daughter of my heart; she gave everything she had and learned the same way. Her father was a spiteful man, who loved her in his own way despite the circumstances that brought me to her. I wanted to protect her, but I knew that if I taught her well and guided her path, she would grow into the best version of herself she could ever be. I was right, and despite her being thrust into a situation where her magic was quickly growing, I knew she would rise to the challenge just like she always had. I would make sure of it.

“Your rabbit is not the problem here. Hudson, take a deep breath and snap out of this shit. Release the magic through your pores, feel it leave through the soles of your feet, the crown of your head, and release it back into the environment around you. That magic is not yours to keep. Release it.” She frowned and her eyes began to glow redder, she was pissed. I suppressed a chuckle. I was familiar with the stare, albeit her eyes weren’t typically red when she gave it.

“No, I don’t want to. All of it is mine.” She started to pace back and forth, her eyes never truly leaving mine. “Nah, you can’t have it,” she started to sing. I rolled my eyes. She had more control than I thought if she was still able to be a smart ass, even if she was pissed. One of the guys, Ryder I think, started to laugh behind me and her attention snapped to him, her eyes softening slightly the glow receding just a small amount.

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