“Call on your power.”
It took a second for Scarlett to register his words. She felt for the strings and pulled them forward. The tendrils left her palms and slowly filled the air.
“Faster. You would’ve been slaughtered by nightmares.” Cain calmly corrected. “They show no mercy and do not know of it. Therefore, don’t show them any in return. Again.”
She heard the silent snap in his voice and ignored it. She called forth her power and it raged from her palm to surround not only her but Cain as well. Scarlett gave him a face of innocence as she enthralled him with her black tendrils. Cain opened his palm and in less than a second pushed hers back with his grey power.
“Don’t mess with me, this is training,” Cain said as he pushed his power out and encircled them both. “In which, every time you do something correctly, I will allow you to ask one question.”
Scarlett froze and brightened the next second determined to get some answers. ‘Let’s do this.’
“Give me a burst of darts all targeted towards one direction.”
“Here goes nothing,” Scarlett muttered under her breath as she turned towards the wall Cain put up. She closed her eyes and planted the instruction in her mind as she released her power. She opened her eyes to a single blackened spot on the wall. She smirked as Cain pleasantly nodded.
“First Question?” He asked.
Scarlett racked her brain and asked the first one that came to mind. “How old are you?”
She realized the question she blurted out and blushed red. ‘Seriously Scarlett?’
Cain raised a perfectly arched brow. “Older.”
“Oh come on.” Scarlett scoffed. “At least answer it correctly.”
“I don’t know my exact age.”
Scarlett scrunched her face. “You’re joking. You only look a few years older than me. How do you not know?”
“You had your one question, next exercise.”
Scarlett opened her mouth to retort but instead got ready for his next request. She was going to get her answers.
“Same attack, but with your eyes open.”
‘Crap.’ It’s harder for Dreammares to perform certain attacks with their eyes open as they can’t focus all their attention on it. It takes more will and restraint.
“Alright, I can do this.”
She stared at the spot beside her first target. Right there. Scarlett released her power.
“HA! I got it!” Scarlett clapped her hands and smiled. Cain’s expression didn’t share the excitement. “Oh come on, you’ve got to admit that was impressive.”
“Next question.” His brush of her moment made Scarlett roll her eyes.
“Why can’t you tell me how old you are?”
“I was born in Ever Realm. I’m sure you’ve noticed that time is different here.”
Scarlett’s mouth formed an ‘O’ as a whole new set of questions filled her. She knew she wouldn’t be able to get to them all and picked the most immediate and important ones.
“Next exercise.” This time it was she who said it. Cain nodded.
“A whip with a spread of circling darts as you strike.”
Scarlett got in position and glanced at Cain out of the corner of her eye.
“If you’re worried about hurting me, you best drop those worries. They’re pointless.”
Scarlett swallowed the insults that wanted to spill out and performed the task. She failed. Her whip was more of a noodle and her darts were weak. Cain clasped his hands behind his back and urged her on.
“Again.” She failed another two times.
“Our power is strong and more robust than that of the Dreamer’s bracelet. They share their power from one source, therefore theirs is more calmed and easier to manipulate. Our power comes solely from within – our minds. To control it smoothly you must be able to focus on the specific strings to pull to execute moves perfectly. With time, it will flow and before you know it, you no longer will need to think about it. Take a breath and do it again.”
As much of an ass Cain could be, he was a well-spoken teacher and knew exactly what to say. Scarlett loosened her shoulders, inhaled, and exhaled as she executed the move with ease. She beamed before straightening and asking her next question.
“What is going on with the nightmare situation?”
Cain stilled and narrowed his eyes. “How do you know of that?”
“I asked my question, you answer it.” Scarlett shook her head at him, attempting to brush her question aside.
He stared at her for a second before answering. “Their activity is increasing and instead of isolating themselves like normal, they’re pairing and working in groups.”
Scarlett was about to ask another question when she paused and resumed to her spot on the wall. “Next exercise.”
The hint of a smile graced Cain’s face and Scarlett bit the inside of her lip to contain hers.
They went back and forth and Scarlett asked him new questions. She learned that nightmares usually traveled alone and that communicating could result in them rising against the Dreamers, much like they did in the war with Edgar. Except now, there are too few Dreamers to even think of fighting in another war.
Her parents were keeping the situation under wraps as to not alert the people since there’s no big need for any panic. No obvious signs of threats – yet. Cain kept his answers vague and Scarlett pressed for more.
A question popped into her head and she bit her lip, hesitant to ask.
Cain’s arms were loose at his sides and she knew he would close up the second she asked. Still, she needed – wanted – to try.
“A shield that encases not only you but, me as well.”
Scarlett blinked and exhaled through her teeth. This one was going to be difficult, but she wanted this next question and she was going to get it.
She opened her palms at her sides and yanked on the string inside her mind and let the gate of her power flood open. The black tendrils formed a sheet that rapidly made a dome over herself and Cain. Scarlett left it up as she stepped towards him. His face stayed passive, but she noticed the slight lift of his brows. He was impressed.
“My next question,” Scarlett started as she stayed a few inches from Cain. She bit the inside of her cheek as the intensity of his eyes struck her. “We’re… partners aren’t we?”
Scarlett kept her eyes trained on Cain and caught the change in his demeanor. He went rigid and his eyes hardened.
Scarlett took another step forward. “Tell me the truth, are we or are we not?”
“We are.” Cain roughed out as he clenched his jaw. “But nothing is going to come out of it. Partners aren’t needed.”
A stab pierced Scarlett’s heart at his words and her nose flared. She should’ve known this was coming – No, she knew it was coming. It hurt all the same. Instead of dwelling on the pain, Scarlett closed her parted mouth and returned Cain’s hard stare. “And nothing will come of it. It’s just a stupid bond.”
They locked on each other’s gaze and were breathing hard. Scarlett tried to contain the heavy rise of her chest but failed. Her mind pounded as she finished saying the words and wondered if he felt the pain that was tearing through her. The ball in her chest darkened.