Chapter 12

DG pulled her jacket more tightly around her as she watched the night sky fade to inky black out towards the horizon. She had found a balcony off a less trafficked area of the castle. The stillness and solitude seemed to calm her ragged nerves that prevented her from sleeping. This new power, being connected to all of the OZ, was starting to feel overwhelming.

She was learning that everyone in the OZ seemed to have their own 'frequency', so to speak, an aura they projected around them. Glitch felt like sunshine, Az the bittersweet solo of a violin, and Raw the soothing scent of mint. Ahamo was like the feeling of laughter without the sound but her mother was a complex emotional aurora, constantly in flux between the bold and the delicate.

She didn't know how to explain these impressions but it seemed very personal and she figured if others could experience it, it would be as varied as the nuances in people's souls.

She felt Cain's approach before she heard him, his 'song' resonating against her senses. It both soothed and excited her, making her knees weak and her breath come up short.

This is so weird. She thought, gripping her jacket tighter as the sensation washed over her. What the hell am I going to do if I feel this everytime he's near?

She kept her eyes forward as he joined her at the railing.

"Would it kill you to stay put where you're supposed to for one night?" He asked, no real venom in his voice.

She managed a small laugh but remained silent.

"Didn't see you much around today," he commented.

"I spent most of my day in the courtyard," she replied, frowning at the nervous waiver in her voice. She saw him nod in her peripheral vision.

"I saw your handiwork. I would have found you sooner but the Consort and I have been planning the trip to the encampment. It took some time to coordinate with a nearby regiment but they are going to join them as they march through."

DG gritted her teeth. His voice, spoken in a low rumble seemed to reach out, brushing against the base of her spine and she trembled.

"You alright?" He asked, concern ghosting on his features.

"Yea," she laughed setting her hands on the railing to steady herself, "Look Cain, I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable either last night or any time before that... I just..."

She paused trying to screw up her courage.

"You're my friend but I just don't feel the same way about Raw or Glitch as I do about you. And you probably don't or never will feel the same. I may be crazy but-"

Her voice caught in throat as she felt the warm weight his hand cover hers on the railing. She chanced a looked at him, expecting to see either pity or patronizing sympathy. Instead she'd almost say he looked slightly ...nervous.

"You're not crazy," he started, a faint smile appearing on his face, "I don't feel the same about Raw and Glitch as I do about you either."

DG let out a startled laugh and watched a little stunned as his large calloused fingers threaded into hers and the intensity of the aura he projected swirled around her. She was starting to feel flush and lightheaded.

"I don't know if it's a good idea but I left for a year to sort that out and I'm no closer to an answer."

"So that's why you left..." she whispered mostly to herself; it was all she could force out at the moment.

"It wasn't the only reason but it played it's part. "

DG swayed on her feet as the edges of her vision started to black. Cain's eyes snapped to her and he reached out just as she started to fall, holding her shoulders.

DG felt like her insides were burning and she could see her hands were starting to glow. Her head began to pound and she wrapped her arms around herself tightly as if trying to contain all magic that threatened to explode from her.

It's too much. Ozma was right...she tried to tell me.

"DG!" shouted Cain as he eased her to the ground, propping her hunched over form against the railing.

She tried to respond but feared what would happen if she lapsed in her concentration for even a moment.

But then she felt it... Cain's calloused palm on her cheek as his thumb traced over her cheekbone.

DG's eyes opened to see his glacier blue ones, full of worry staring right back. Like before in the courtyard, she focused on the color, calm and soothing as it was to her. Again she imagined it surrounding her and soon her breathing slowed and the glow in her hands dimmed . Exhausted she fell forward slightly, eyes closed, forehead resting against his. Cain's hand slid from her face to the back of her neck.

They remained that way until her shaking stopped.

"What the hell was that?" Cain finally spoke. When she didn't answer he pulled back, ducking his head to get a better look at her.

"You're not telling me something," he stated flatly. DG winced against the accusation and swallowed the dryness in her throat.

"When Ozma offered me her power, she warned me that I already had more magic then a single body was supposed to contain: both mine and my mother's. She warned me that giving me her power may be more than I can control...that it...it could kill me. But I still told her to do it. She said it was the only way the Gales would survive."

She felt Cain's hand tighten the back of her neck. She chanced a look at him. His free hand was pinching the bridge of his nose and his mouth was opening as if to start speaking only to shut again.

"Is there anything else?" He finally settled on.

"No," she replied, adding "I swear", when he gave her a skeptical look.

"DG, if I am to see this through with you, you have got to talk to me. No more hiding."

"Are you talking about Ozma or us?"

"Both. Now can you stand?"

DG nodded, bracing her hands on his arms and he slid his around her waist to help her stand. She lost her balance slightly and his hands gripped tightly at her waist as her fingers dug into his biceps. He frowned.

"We're going to see Tutor."

"No! Look, he doesn't know anymore about this than you or I... I just want to lie down. I'll be ok. It has passed."

"And the next time?"

"I think I'm figuring out how to manage it"

He opened his mouth to protest.

"Please. I can walk, I promise."

He sighed and stepped to her side, keeping one arm hovering at her back should she falter.

They walked silently until they reached her quarters, his hand pressing into the small of her back to guide her into the room.

Her heart thudded, rejoicing in the little gesture of affection along with the others throughout the night. He had never initiated so much contact between them before. He scanned the room before stepping back into the door frame.

"Sure you're alright?"

She nodded and gave a weak smile.

He hesitated briefly before exiting the room, pulling the door shut.

DG curled up in her bed, so exhausted she never realized that she never heard any footsteps leave her doorway.