Chp 2 Pt. 2 The Connection

                                                                 Maliyah

I am not happy with mom and dad wanting me to basically abandon my sister but Aspen has a point. I don’t want to give Enzo the chance to control me and my powers. That would be bad. I really hope he can find this flower so I can talk to her again. Even if it’s only one more time. Dad leaves to get some work done in his office and mom goes to check on the twins. Leaving me alone with my guards, uncle Mark and Aspen.

“You still up for a little ass kicking,” uncle Mark teases me.

“Bring it on,” I giggle.

“I’ll just be observing today Maliyah. I want to see how you fight. It’ll give me a better idea on how to teach you,” says Aspen.

“You are very use to using your powers when you are training. This training will also teach you better control of your emotions when you get angry so you don’t lose control of your powers. We will also be hitting gym every morning together. You need some muscle on those little arms of yours.”

“My arms are not little.” Uncle Mark looks at me with his eyebrows raised. “Fine you’re right, but I’m stronger than you think. I could’ve stopped Malayah and kicked Enzo’s butt.”

“Oh really,” says uncle Mark. He rushes towards me, tackling me to the ground. He knocks the wind out of me and has me pinned. I can’t get him off of me. I react and use vines to grow from the ground, wrapping them around my uncle Mark’s body to throw him off of me.

“I’m so sorry uncle Mark. I just reacted.”

“Damn girl,” he chuckles as he gets up, brushing the dirt off. A small cut on his arm quickly heals. “That is exactly what I am talking about. I had you pinned and you panicked, relying on your dragon powers but what if you didn’t have them?”

“But you surprised me when you attacked. I wasn’t ready.”

“And you think the rogues will give you time to be ready for an attack?”

“No.” He has a point there.

“They will attack and kill you without a second thought. I am going to teach you how to defend yourself so they don’t get that chance. Remember they have warlocks and witches too. They could easily find a way to weaken you or create a boundary spell that eliminates all magic. Actually that’s not a bad idea.”

“What?” Uncle Mark ignores my question and calls my uncle Gabriel. Uncle Gabriel appears in the field quickly.

“How can I help you Mark. Hello Maliyah dear.”

“Gabriel I want you to create a boundary spell that eliminates all magic so I can’t shift and Maliyah can’t use her powers.”

“Whatever for?”

“I want to train her to be able to defend herself without her powers. She relies on them too much and I want her to be able to physically defend herself in case she find’s herself in a situation where she is unable to use her magic. Like when Davina trained with Michael when her powers were sealed.”

“I see. This is a very simple spell to recreate for anyone with magic. It would definitely leave her vulnerable if the rogues used it against her,” says uncle Gabriel. He starts chanting something and part of the field catches fire. Once he finishes his spell the fire extinguishes leaving a huge symbol burned in the ground. It looks as big and round like a silo left an imprint in the ground.

“Thank you Gabriel,” says uncle Mark.

“You are welcome. The moment you step onto that symbol Maliyah, you will be unable to use your powers. Listen to Mark. You never know when you may need to protect yourself in a situation like this. I must go now, I am meeting the search party in Peru to help find you sister. I’ll come check on you later.”

I hug uncle Gabriel and he vanishes. I step onto the symbol and try to use my powers. Nothing is happening. I try to shift but I can’t. It definitely works.

“Alright Maliyah, now the real training begins,” says uncle Mark with a grin.

He does not go easy on me. He shows me the way to throw a proper punch and how to get out of a choke hold. I don’t know how many times I fall from him attacking me. I have yet to be able to dodge or wrestle out of his grasp. I am just not strong enough yet. I learned a lot but I still can’t best him. After four hours of being tackled and pinned on the ground, I lay down refusing to get up. I am exhausted.

“Damn it.”

“Language young lady,” scolds uncle Mark but also smiles at me.

“Sorry.” I smile back.

“Maliyah, it’s day one. I really didn’t expect you to easily pin me down. Not without your dragon abilities anyway. You are strong but I’ll take time to build up the strength to take on those that are bigger than you. Let’s call it a day. Tomorrow we work on your building up your strength. Do you still want to go to the stables?”

“Yes please. Let me shower and change real quick.” I race upstairs, shower and grab my riding boots. Mark and Aspen are waiting for me in the foyer.

“Ready to go kiddo,” asks uncle Mark.

“Yep.”

We get into uncle Mark’s truck and drive to the stables. I feel bad I have neglected Beauty for so long. I promised dad I would properly care for her and I broke that promise. As soon as we arrive I jump out of the truck and race to Beauty. As soon as Beauty sees me she nickers and rushes to her gate. I give her a kiss and stroke her neck.

“I’m so sorry girl. Wanna go for a ride?” Her ears perk up and she is trying to reach her bridal hanging next to her stall. “Alright, alright. Let’s get you saddled up,” I laugh. I put on her halter and lead her out of her stall and tie her to a post. I pull out a brush and begin brushing her coat.

“She’s beautiful Maliyah,” says Aspen as he pats her on her neck.

“Thank you. Hannah can you show prince Aspen how to brush and saddle Argo please?”

“Of course Maliyah.”

Aspen follows Hannah, she’s in charge of the stables, and instructs him while he brushes and  saddles Argo. Mark is getting his horse Bandit saddled and the guards are saddling spare horses that could use some exercise. Mark looks at his father’s horse Beau and pats him on his neck. Beau is getting old so he’s retired from riding.

“Hannah will you put Beau out in the pasture with Lady,” asks uncle Mark.

“Of course. He’s been looking a bit down lately and not eating as much. I’ve called the vet to come check him out, I’m getting worried about him.”

“Thank you Hannah.” Uncle Mark looks sad. I know Beau is grandpa Thierry’s horse and Beau hasn’t been doing well since he passed away. Beau misses his friend.

“You okay uncle Mark?”

“I’ll be fine. I am not sure how much longer Beau will be with us.”

“I think when the time comes you should cremate Beau and put him with grandpa Thierry. That way they are together.” Uncle Mark looks at me, walks over and gives me a hug.

“I think that is a great idea princess.” Hannah has given Aspen instructions for riding and he appears to be a quick study. You would never know he’s never ridden a horse before. I mount up on Beauty and head for the trail.

“Are you sure you’ve never ridden before Aspen? You look like a natural.”

“I am fast learner. Argo is a beautiful horse, very unique name.”

“My sister named her. Argo is the name of a horse off of a tv show called Xena: Warrior Princess. Malayah loved that show. My sister doesn’t particularly like to ride but if she does, she rides Argo.”

“I can ride another horse if you wish,” says Aspen.

“What? No. Argo is great. I was just missing my sister is all. She would pretend to hate riding Argo but I know she secretly loved it. She became very bonded with Argo.”

Aspen smiles at me. I smile back and ride past him. We head down the trail that I know like the back of my hand. The guards are talking about some football game at the local college. I don’t care for football but my sister would love to be a part of that kind of conversation. I bet the guards miss having her around since they got to go to games for free when my sister wanted to go.

“Maliyah? Maliyah are there?”

“Malayah? Is that you?”

I discreetly look around and make sure no one has noticed my expression. I am startled at hearing Malayah’s voice. I know I shouldn’t be talking to her but I can’t just ignore her. She needs me but I don’t want them knowing I’m talking to my sister again.

“Maliyah I’ve been trying to reach you all morning. Where have you been?”

“I’m sorry. I was training all morning with uncle Mark. Mom and dad want me trained like mom was and like how Michael was training you. They’re concerned the rogues will find a way to make me powerless and attack me. Uncle Mark really kicked my butt today.”  I miss being able to talk to her like this.

“It’s fine. Listen, I think we’re going to be moving locations. They’ve begun packing things. Y’all need to hurry if you want to find me. Are you even looking for me?”

“Of course we are, dad ordered many shifters to spread out looking for you in South America. Dimitri has members from the coven to search in South America. Even prince Aspen sent some of his trackers. How do you know you are going to be moved?”

“Maliyah is everything okay?” I look up startled and find Aspen looking at me with worry. I can’t let me notice I am communicating with Malayah.

“Maliyah are you still there,” asks my sister, though it sounds distorted like another person’s voice is meshed with hers. I ignore her question. I need to answer Aspen before he gets suspicious and he tells my parents.

“Everything is fine Aspen why?” As soon as I ask him the question I scream in pain holding my head. It feels like my head is being stabbed my a thousand needles.

“Mark!”

“Aspen what happened?”

“I think she has been communicating with Malayah again. Get Dimitri quickly. Her eyes are turning black and she’s bleeding from her eyes and nose. If they don’t take control of her they are definitely going to kill her.” The guards jump off their horses and tie them to the nearest tree before taking me off Beauty, setting me on the ground. I am still screaming in pain, I just want it to end.

“Dimitri we need you out at the stables now. We are on the trail,” I hear uncle Mark say.

“Maliyah, try and focus. Sever the connection, you must sever it,” Aspen is trying to help but I am not able to focus over the pain. “Dimitri hurry her eyes are almost pure black.” I see Dimitri walk over to me and place his hands on my head while saying some chant.

“Her eyes are returning to normal. Keep fighting Maliyah,” says uncle Mark.

“Maliyah you are going to be okay.” That is the last thing I hear before drifting off into the darkness.