Page 51 of Beneath the Flames
“And do all of them have golden death rays like yours?”she teased, the amusement in her voice catching me off guard.My stone heart dared to utter an extra beat.
I huffed a breath at her continued description of my magic, trying to shove away the strange feeling her taunt had elicited.“They’re notgolden death rays.”
“Well, they’re gold and you killed with them, so therefore my assessment is not wrong.”
I bit the inside of my cheek to keep from saying something I couldn’t take back.
“My magic does what I will it to, whether that’s taking someone’s life or something else that I desire.”
“It can do more than kill kidnappers?”she deadpanned.
I reluctantly said, “I’ll admit it’s not what it used to be, most of it has been stolen by the curse, but yes, it does more thankill kidnappers.”
A slight smirk curled her lips, and I was surprised that this human could do more than scowl.I was even more surprised at the strange sensation it ignited.
“What about the other kingdoms?”
“We all can do the same basic magic—Simple Magic—though each kingdom has a different specialty.Every Fae has a colored ring around their eyes, which tells you their type of magic.”
“What exactly is yours then?”
“My magic is golden in nature, and I have the ability to feel another’s emotions which gives me a glimpse into their mind.”
“So youcanread my mind then.”
“Like I’ve said before, it’s notreadingyour mind.More so…guessing based on how you’re feeling.”
“Then how do you keep knowing what I’m thinking if youcan’t hear my thoughts?”she asked, cocking her head.
“Your face gives it away,” I said in a bored voice.“You can try to hide it, but between your expression and the emotions you’re feeling, it’s not difficult to guess the direction of your thoughts.”
That slight smirk from earlier disappeared into a deep frown, like I had greatly insulted her.
“I hate you,” she whispered again, and I felt the sharp stab in my gut, the piercing of the balloon of hope that had slowly been inflating in my heart.
She would never love me.
I swallowed, forcing myself to continue explaining as if I hadn’t heard her.“Nefaroth’s magic is violet in color.Their specialty is death.”
Her throat bobbed as she gulped.
Carrow’s threat about severing her spine and stealing the breath from her lungs replayed in my mind, and I fought back a shiver.The Fae of Nefaroth might have shared in being Dark Fae, but they were another type of monster.Not like those that used to reside in Eroth.
“Death?”Maren said, voice dropping in volume.
“There is more than one way to die, Maren.I think it’s better that you don’t know the details.Some things are too terrifying for human minds.Consider yourself lucky thatIwas the one to bring you to Avalea and not Carrow.”
She looked like she wanted to argue but after a moment thought better of it.
“What about the magic of the Pure Fae?Is theirs as…nefarious?”
I shook my head.“They can still do plenty of damage, but their magic wasn’t built to destroy.It was meant to give life.”
“I told you yours was golden death rays,” she said smugly,crossing her arms.
My eyes rolled of their own accord.“All magic can destroy, Maren.It’s the heart behind it that makes it dangerous.The hearts of the Dark Fae tend to be more…”
“Dark?”
