5
Manasi
(About 10 ½ years later)
"Do you think I'll be alright?"
"Of course you will," I smiled, looking sideways into Vi's beautiful eyes. She was going for a job interview today, a prestigious position with a group of local scientists. It wasn't far from our house in the remote corner of India, and that was the most important part.
Making sure the Neverseen couldn't find us. I would not allow them to hurt my family ever again.
Vivian kissed me on the cheek and strode through the front door, looking over her shoulder and waving. I waved back, hesitant with the uncanny feeling that something would go amiss. It'll be alright, I tried to tell myself. Nothing will go wrong. It's only a work meeting. I still couldn't shake the feeling. To calm down a bit, I stood up and walked to Astera's room. I don't know why, but the sight of her sleeping safely always made me feel better. She was a sweet girl, albeit shy and withdrawn. She always reminded me of Jex, except for her eyes. She had Vi's eyes, gray and green brown at the same time. She always asked me when she would manifest, and what she would be. For her own protection, I didn't tell her much, but I personally hoped she would be a Telepath. Astera already showed elvin intelligence, as she had read books at ten other kids her age wouldn't be reading until high school.
I smiled fondly, and trudged back out the door. Maybe I would go for a walk, and lighten my state of mind a little. Slipping on my running shoes, I made it halfway down the street before I felt something terribly amiss. My heart started pounding. The last time I had had a gut feeling like this was… the fire. Snap out of it. I went into auto mode. Vivi and I had practiced this before. She was fine. I would be fine. Everything would be alright. Carefully, I stretched out my concentration, searching for Vivian's thoughts. My mental range was just far enough, and I caught a faint, recognizable whisper. Her thoughts ran slower than most humans, so I knew immediately it was her. I ran faster down the street. It was a word and a phrase, being repeated over and over.
Help.
They've found me.
I tried to pinpoint the location of the thought, and couldn't through the panic. I thought of Astera sleeping back at home. Get yourself together. You have to save her.
This time, I found the thought, and immediately reversed my path, running due west. It was lucky I was a fast runner. The scenery began to blur as I increased my speed, the thoughts getting stronger and stronger until I screeched to a halt in front of a squat gray building. I turned one full circle. Nothing. Then, out of the corner of my eye, I caught the quick flash of a symbol.
A white eye on a black circle.
Out of nowhere, a hand grabbed mine, pulling me farther away from the house. I looked up and saw Vivian grasping my hand. I immediately turned into a convenient alley.
"Are you okay? What happened? How did they find us?!"
"I'm so sorry," she looked close to tears. "He just… appeared, out of nowhere. I never should have come––" I cut her off.
"It's not your fault. Right now, we have to focus on getting back home and making sure Astera is safe––" This time, I was cut off. In the shadows of the alley was Fintan Pyren, sneering at me and looking thoroughly menacing.
"So. Ten years, Manasi. Ten years since you abandoned the order for…" His gaze lingered on Vivian. "Her."
"Leave her out of this," I snarled. Quickly, I transmitted to her. Vi, run. Now! Get Astera out of here!
Her anguished thoughts whispered back, I can't leave you!
Fintan muttered something, and a ball of neon yellow fire formed in his left hand. Everblaze.
Run! NOW! I couldn't think straight. If she didn't get out of here, it would be my fault. Fintan raised his hand, and Vivian turned and darted back out into the sunlight. She was running so fast she was a hazy blur, then, gone. I relaxed a bit. I'm sorry, I thought. I'm sorry I had to leave you like this. It was too late. I could keep fighting, but Fintan was much more experienced. We both knew I wouldn't make it out. I had to work fast if I was going to be able to protect Vivian. Swiftly, I searched for any mental energy I had left and sent it surging towards Fintan like a laser. His fire went out in surprise and he backed up with shock. Now was my chance. I pushed as far as I could until I found Vivian's thoughts, and Astera's sleeping ones. I'm sorry, I thought again. As fast as I could, I gathered any and all memories about the elvin world into a hidden corner, and let the last of my mental energy cover them. I smiled slightly when I felt resistance from Astera. She was a Telepath after all. I'm so sorry for everything, I repeated one last time. Vivian, I'll never forget everything you've done for me. Astera, you are my world and I love you both. No matter where I am, or how far.
Fintan's hand had found his melder. I heard several loud noises and felt a sting, but managed to get the crystal out of my pocket. Raising it to the faint sliver of light like I had done so many years ago, I shifted into the beam. And then the world went dark and quiet.