Lovespell

Chapter 6

A/N: I didn't update for a while because for a bit I was unsure about how Kit would react to Nita's statement. Will he return her feelings, or not? Well, after some help from my muses, I have decided what I shall do. What? Well, read on to find out.

Disclaimer: Me own no Young Wizards. Me no-no Diane Duane. Me do owns Atin, though.

A/N2: THIS HAS BEEN UPDATED. Thanks to exocontinual protocols, I have realized that I made a major mistake: in the book, people DO have kernels. Nita goes "within" her mother to fix her mom's kernel. So, I have edited this so the kernel is still the main focus…but it still follows the rules of YW

Key:

This indicates regular words

"This indicates Kit, Nita, Atin, or any human character talking"

This indicates Kit, Nita, Atin, or any human character thinking

This indicates the Lone Power talking privately to Nita, within her mind

Chapter 7: Kernel Talk

(Kit's POV)

I was stunned.

No, more than stunned. I was floored. I seriously could not believe that what had just happened was real, and not some sort of hallucination. If someone had asked me whether I thought it was more likely for me to become President of the United States or for Nita Callahan to say "I love you" to my face, I would have picked the former.

In fact, I'm still not certain I'm not dreaming. See, I can't pinch myself, because the Lone Power is currently holding me in a paralysis spell several feet above what looks like a black-and-white version of the Statue of Liberty's crown. Nita is in front of me, as well as this weird looking Goth whose face I can't see. She looks slightly familiar, but I just can't place her.

Oh, Nita's saying something. I'd better wait to see what happens before I decide what I'm going to do about…her confession.

(Normal POV)

As soon as Nita realized the dirty trick the Power had played, her face went scarlet. "Uh…" she stuttered for a moment, as Atin began to chuckle mockingly, her formerly blank face screwed up in a sarcastic, fake, smile.

Finally, the young wizard found her voice. "Kit, uh, you…heard that." Gosh, that sounded stupid. "Uh…I wasn't meaning to tell you that, but, um…sorry?"

Kit didn't answer, because the Lone Power (the male version) cut him off in a second. His voice, still with the strange tonality that caused it to echo through her skin, began mocking her dryly.

So, Callahan, you've just done what you promised you'd never do. Now…is the truly genius part of my plan. Surely you haven't figured it out?

Nita was then forced to do about the millionth stupid thing she'd done that day. She shook her head, and admitted to her mortal enemy that she had absolutely no clue what he was talking about.

Heh, you're dumber than I thought, girl. Don't you see? Now you've admitted you love Rodriguez, and little Kit here thinks nothing of the sort about you, just as I told you he would. He doesn't love you in return—so your heart is broken. And I've discovered, it's so much easier to take what you want from a broken-hearted wizard than a whole one.

At those words, it felt as though Nita's heart did break. She'd known inside her that Kit didn't love her back, but…she hadn't accepted it until now. Tears welled up in her brown eyes, threatening to spill…but she couldn't show the Lone Power her weakness.

"Well…what DO you want?" she yelled, for lack of better things to say. She was stalling, hoping if maybe she found out her enemy's motives, she'd have a plan of what to do.

An exasperated sigh echoed through her, accompanied by the annoyance she knew the Lone Power must be feeling with her. Your kernel, dimwit!

Nita stopped short. That was not what she'd been expecting to hear. "Stop lying, Father of Lies. If you wanted to mess with my kernel, like infect me with a disease or something, you'd have done it already. Without bribing me."

Atin put her head in her hands, sighing with aggravation. "Most humans, I can," she said to the girl, "but you…you're different. Most people live their lives not even knowing that there's actually a core of energy within them that controls their entire being. You, though…you've been trained to manipulate kernels, to sense their energy. If I tried to take it…you would know. Sense it, really. So I can't take it…without your permission. Which is why I need a deal. You give me your kernel, I put you under the Lovespell and make this fellow hear smitten with you."

This bout of information almost bowled Nita over. It…He…the Power…can't take my kernel without my permission? Now this is something I'd never considered.

Of course, she wouldn't let him have it…would she? She knew it would go against everything being a wizard stood for…but the idea of Kit Rodriguez loving her was tempting.

To stall for time as her insides began to wage an emotional war, Nita asked, "Why do you want it?"

The Power's next words, spoken within her instead of through Atin, shocked her. Because yours is special.

Nita shook her head. "Nah, I don't believe you."

Don't believe me then, but it's true. You, Juanita Callahan, are one of an elite group hand-selected by the Powers that Be, known as the Glowing Ones. Your kernels have almost twice or three times as much strength as the average wizards. And to be a Glowing One means that you have a very special wizardly task set for you, so the Powers gave you a strong kernel that will act almost as an outside energy source when you most need it. I realized long ago—when you participated in the Song of Twelve, in fact—that you were one of these elite. I planned to strike, take your kernel when you weren't looking…but then came the Reconfiguration, and I…had other things to attend to. Then, darn you, you learned how to manipulate kernels, and I realized I'd have to bribe you! So now you know the truth, let me have it!

It took Nita a moment to recover from the shock of realizing what she was. She'd read about Glowing Ones in her manual of course…but she'd never suspected she was among their elite ranks.

This bit of information finally sealed her decision. Tempting as the Lovespell might be, she was a wizard, and her first duty was always to the Powers. Plus…she wanted Kit to be happy, didn't she?

"You think I'll give it to you this easy?" Now Nita was back on familiar territory. This was typical dealing with the enemy of all wizards, something she did almost as often as homework. "No way. Even if I wanted to give it to you, which I don't, I don't know how to access it. Anyone else's kernel, sure, but not my own." This was the truth.

Just call it up from within you, dork! the Isolate spat..

"Okay, I know how to, but it doesn't mean I will," Nita replied, her voice taking on the taunting air she loved using on the Power. It might be risky, but Nita was a Callahan girl. Callahan girls—herself, Dairine, her late mother—were famous for never turning down danger because it was risky.

The Lone One's next words were spoken with an icy chill that sent needles down the girl's spine. I have something that will compel you to.

"Whatever it is, no. Losing my wizardry won't work, neither will death."

She expected him to reply with a caustic barb, but instead he spoke only two words, two dreadful words laden with malicious meaning: Turn around.

She knew before she turned what she was going to see, but it still made her heart start thumping with dread. The Lone Power (male form) had one long arm around Kit's neck, a knife-shaped, glittering black destruction spell held to his neck. Kit's eyes bulged out, and his mouth formed an unspoken plea. Help me, Nita.

Nita took a deep breath, realizing what she had to do. Maybe she could come up with a plan, maybe not, but for now, she had to look as though she was obeying.

She laid a hand on her chest and concentrated on the image of a kernel. Come on kernel. If you really are in me, if I do have one, I need to see it. Now.

The wizard knew she had succeeded when she heard the Power say, smugly, Good. Now give it to me.

Nita opened her eyes, and looked down at what she held—her kernel. It looked similar to the kernels of worlds—a bright, glowing orb about the size of her fist—but it was a deep greenish-copper color, not golden. It was slightly smaller, and it didn't give out a "pulse" so much as a feeling, deep within her soul, that as long as she kept it near her, all would be well. It was as much a part of her as her wizardry—even as much a part of her as her brain, or her lungs, or her stomach. It was amazing…and all these years, she'd never realized it was there.

That's all well and good, now give it to me, the Lone One snapped irritably.

Nita turned and took three steps, carrying her to where he stood with Kit. She slowly reached out her arm, handing her kernel to her worst enemy…

A/n: Cliffie! R&R if you ever want to find out more.