Eric and I trained for weeks on end at the King's palace. I now knew how to direct my powers, take aim, and control the amount. The power would race through my veins, energy bursting through every vessel in me. That's how I felt now, as I threw numerous bursts of fire through the air, hitting different targets. I like to mix it up, through a target and smash it to pieces and I'd here Eric chuckle behind me.
"Lets take a break," he said, noting my heavy breathing, but I turned to him with a smile, "What?"
"I love this." I grinned, "My entire life I've been suppressing this, but the feeling is just." I couldn't explain it, and I knew I never would.
"Magic, lover." He told me, pulling me to him, "It tends to be great when you can control it." He was staring at me, and I leaned to kiss him when someone shouted his name. His head jerked up, and I looked the same way and spotted Sookie and Bill running towards us. "What is it?" He demanded, pulling me up straight, and walking towards them.
"It started." Bill said, nearing them, "Nevada was invaded, the King didn't make it. Utah is fighting. Texas is about to start invading other territories, but right now I'm not sure that is for our side." I froze, it was really happening, we were about to be in a full magical war. "We need to leave by tomorrow, there's talk that Louisiana knows where Riya is. Sookie had to leave." For the first time I noticed the usual chatty waitress was completely silent. The queen might know where I am, meaning I could become a slave to a vampire again. My heart raced, and Eric's hand instantly grabbed mine even though his eyes never left Bill's.
"We will leave at midnight, notify the camp and all who can join us. Has anyone spoke to the shifter?" Eric asked.
"Hotshot is completely evacuated, nobody knows where they went or why, " Sookie said softly, sadly we all knew that meant either they ran from trouble or, most likely, they were rounded up for the queens use.
"What about Sam?" I asked softly. "Alcide?"
"Sam went to get his family, he's going to the camp." Bill reassured, "The Were Packs, should be following."
"Riya, you should go get something to eat before we leave." Eric said.
I stood for a minute, and the wind blew through my hair, rustling the leaves around me. I looked to the woods, "Is it okay if I take a walk?" I asked.
"Do you want me to come?" He asked, giving me a questioning look. I shook my head, "Just don't go too far." He told me, looking around the premises.
I nodded, before turning towards the direction of the wind, following it along the tree lines. I don't know what pulled me to the small alcove of trees, but it became clear as I approached a small whirlwind of leaves. Before my eyes, a woman appeared in a flowing white gown and flowing black hair, with white feathers in her hair. I knew what she was, a nymph like me. I felt the magic in the air.
"Hello, Riya," She smiled, "I'm Anya."
"Hi." I greeted, still staring in awe at her beauty, "What are you doing here?"
She chuckled, "We've all been watching you, Riya. We've seen everything." Everything? Even my father and Ray? Suddenly I was filled with anger.
"You knew where I was? That the man I thought was my father-" My voice hitched, "Why didn't you do something?"
Anya's eyes filled with remorse, "We couldn't. There were other forces watching, darker forces. If they knew what you were…If we had shown ourselves…You would have died." Anya came closer, "We knew you would be saved, we knew you would have to fight." She pulled out a sleek silver headband, decorated with green, red, white, and blue stones.
"What is this?" I asked, absorbing the detail and tribal etchings that lined the headband.
"Think of it as a helmet," She smiled, "You won't need one with it." She placed it on my head, and pulled out an amulet and a small dagger. The amulet stone was black with flecks of red and white, wrapped in the same silver, with similar etchings. "Promethium, can't harm you when you wear this." Holding up the dagger, "And the race of nymphs stand with you when you hold this. You will know how to use it when the time is right." I stared at the dagger as she set it down in my hand. "I will be watching you daughter." Then she was gone. Nothing more nothing less. The encounter lasted no longer than five minutes, and I stood in the alcove, looking for any sight of her again.
Eric was standing at the door, and I saw his eyes flick to the headband, amulet, and dagger. "Something you want to tell me?" He asked, with an eyebrow quirked.
"I think I met my mother."