Check out Naomi's Gift, Melione's Curse by MikaRauch on Wattpad to see an awesome Original Story I am writing. This one comes with a lot of gods from all sorts of myths.

I am writing another epic story called Heirs to Misfortune on Wattpad as well, so check that out too.

And finally, a Hades/Persephone love story called A Dance Among Equals.

P.S. I just got Grammarly, which is really helping my spelling, grammar, and word choice so I hope you notice improvement...


Bryce's eyes glossed over as he listened to Paige rattle on about witch concoctions. He tried to focus, he really did, but it was hard. She just kept rambling on and on and on...

"... and that's how you take care of dried slugs. Freezing is always your best option." She looked back at him and clearly saw his blank stare. "You really aren't good at this are you?"

"Not at all... I need to study. like sheets with notes not written in my atrocious handwriting. I need flashcards and time... this is a lot. I looked up pharmacology for nursing school a few years ago, this is the same kind of thing. It's all about mixtures, blending things, reactions, and so many other things. Stuff like that sort of goes over my head, I prefer stories and rhyming and the imaginary. I think that's why spells come so easily to me."

Paige laughed. "Phoebe said something similar once. She wasn't as bad as you are, but she had struggles with potions too."

"I also have an issue with patience, it's why cooking is so hard for me. I rush things. I mean I can follow a recipe when I focus, but I can't just make things up or adjust too much besides adding corn to pasta. I love the mix of corn and pasta sauce... anyway, do you think you can make flashcards and study with me? I mean you are a college grad plus you said you wanted to focus on witchcraft, this is going to be great for you to really land home your knowledge since working with me will reinforce it."

Paige smiled. "I never thought of it like that, but your right this really will help me hone my craft. See I am getting paid for this generous deed."

He adored how her teeth showed with her wide smile, the genuineness behind it was so sweet that it made him smile. "So... since we have to wait for the flashcards, wanna work with powers? I wanna see how to use my light powers without panic. Same with teleporting, that was tiring but so cool and very useful."

She laughed. "Orbing is a fear response that I learned to control through focus. You said you teleported to Cole through his Pain, so this time just focus on a place or person. Like... imagine the living room and push yourself there."

Nodding, he closed his eyes and focused. To his shock, the image of the living room was clear to him, almost picturesque. It was an easy thing to imagine himself there, and before he knew it he could actually felt himself move, light searing through his eyelids until he felt light and airy. Then it all went heavy, the light dulling. Opening his eyes, he saw the living room. "Paige, I did it!" He called out, proud of himself.

A minute later the halfbreed walked in an impressed look on her face. "You learn fast, took me a month before I got even a little control over that trick."

"Guess it makes up for potions being completely draining for me... I like learning fast, I rarely do. I always feel so behind, it's nice to matter."

"Honey you matter, even without your powers. There is no one out there that doesn't matter."

Rolling his eyes, Bryce turned his hand up and imagined the light glistening in his palms. He actually saw it expand from his palm, a soft grey light that filled the room. "Not like this. I helped Cole, I saved Mylie a few times... I matter Paige, I can help people and make my name be remembered for something other than screwing up. I've failed out of college three times. I have bipolar disorder and I have been dealing with dysthymia or low-grade depression since I was ten. It's nice to have a sense of purpose, something I haven't had in so long... pretty much ever really."

Paige put a hand on his. "I know that feeling, I dealt with a real depression when my parents died. I was an alcoholic for a while. Anxiety runs in our family from what I gather, Piper has it bad you know."

"Thanks, that oddly does help. So... what next?"

She smiled more. "You said you made some healing spells, I guess we could go over those before I start making the flashcards. Then we can work on seeing the limits of your healing, at least until you and Cole train together." She gave him a strange look. "You like him, I mean romantically don't you?"

"More like I feel like he might be worth my time, that there is a spark of something but it's too early to tell... you know?"

She nodded. "Just be careful, you don't know him much and he has a history that you can't ignore."

"I'm not, but I was abused as a kid... I know how that can affect you and how a single person can open your heart to new choices... it's why I am so open to him, that and I can feel his pain." He shook his head. " Now, back to witchy work!"

""""

Cole's heart was oddly light as he went through his day, the heaviness that he had been living with was still present but nowhere near as potent. He felt warmer, the sun brighter, his head clearer. It was amazing what a single talk could do, especially with the magical Prozac that was Bryce's powers. It was an almost addicting feeling, even better than when he first felt that Muse's touch. He felt rawer, more hyped on life, and invigorated with a passion for existence. He no longer dreaded his eternal life.

He really owed the boy and he would deliver in due time.

Everything was different, it was easier to concentrate, easier to resist the pull to abuse his powers, easier to resist his temper. He hadn't realized how addicted he had been to his own powers until the feeling started to lift. It was remarkable really.

Before he knew it, his day was over and so he readied himself to shimmer to the Manor, choosing to appear in the hall by the door to be respectful to the sisters. However, it was here that he heard Bryce's voice and he stopped to listen as the first word he heard was his own name.

"Cole and you, your not my business. I am sorry for interfering like that... but I can't help how I react to the pain. Before this, I had trouble just looking at someone at reading their emotions period but now, now I can feel pain just by being near people. I can feel Cole's pain from across the city and the weight of it, it's intense and overwhelming and I am not sure how to stop my reactions to it. I am not sorry about what I said, just how I went about it. "

Leaning in, Cole realized he sensed Phoebe's presence. A moment later he heard her voice. "It's okay... I hate to admit it, I really do, but it was easier to blame Cole than to accept that I was more wrong than he was. That I never helped him, that I never trusted him despite his sacrifices, that I never sought to at least help him out of the Wasteland... that's on me. I have to live with my choices. I think you'll be good for Cole, your sweet and nice and you can ease pain, I think you will be a good friend for him."

"Speaking of, hey Cole," Bryce called out and Cole stepped out, seeing the two Witches hugging on the couch. Bryce was facing him, smiling. "How long have you been standing there?" From the look on the boy's face, it was clear he knew the entire time Cole had been there and all he heard.

Smiling with some guilt, Cole shrugged. "Not long.. want to go, get some training in?"

"Sounds great. Let's go so you can kick my ass. I have no coordination, so good luck in trying to train me." They shared a laugh as Bryce reached him. Before Cole could say a word, Bryce grabbed onto him and they moved across planes in a flash of light until finally settling in his apartment. "Cool, right? Paige taught me how to control it. She says I am learning fast."

"You are, took me a month to master Shimmering when I first came into my demonic powers. Well, I mean I could do it as a baby but long distance and with extreme accuracy took time."

The boy smiled at him, utterly enraptured with his story. "Awesome. Would have been cool to have my powers as a baby, but my dad might have actually killed me instead of just trying to."

Cole's heart sank. "He was abusive, your dad?"

"Very, he hospitalized me but that was years ago. I was a foster kid for a while, got out when I turned eighteen. Sucked but I made it. Feel free to kill him if you want, I won't even judge you... speaking of my family, why aren't my siblings like me? I have a sister and two brothers, why aren't they witches like me?"

Cole tipped his head to each side. "Destiny, you all have the witch gene but only you were born with powers. I imagine they and whomever your witch blood comes from could cast spells and scry and make potions if they were taught, but not with any real power behind it. You just happened to inherit power, your magical blood woke up when theirs didn't. I imagine you have a real powerful destiny to wake it up when your entire family hasn't."

The boy smiled again, this time with a sense of melancholy. "That's... sort of a relief. My sister with powers... that would be scary. My dad with magic would be even worse. My whole family... either they are dumb as rocks or are really smart and uber unstable. I am the only one I know of that is just smart and mostly sane."

"I know that feeling, remember my mother killed my father and forced me to work for the Source of All Evil."

"Fair point... so, where do we start?"

Cole smirked. " The basics. How to throw a punch, how to take a hit and how to fall properly. That is the basics for all form of combat and you need to learn it. Then we are working on a weight loss program for you. I am not being mean but you will need more stamina and strength if you want to fight demons."

The boy looked down at his belly. "I wanted to lose weight since forever, literally. You're not telling me something I haven't thought a million times before. Whip me into shape drill master, I am but your willing servant."

Cole's laughter filled the room and both men smiled, a sense of peace washing over them both. Neither noticed it, but both of them were glowing with a soft grey light, not unlike Bryce's magical healing touch...


Chapter end, tell me what you think in the reviews.

This was so much fun to write. I am loving writing my own scenes!

Love, your Ninja Overlord,

Mika.