They were back at the secret large room. Emmett walked stretching his arms and neck. He even yawned at one point making Emerelda wonder if he had slept. His pale face carried bags underneath his eyes. However, he didn't look any less energetic then she was.
She followed him to the center once again just as last night. He was much taller than she was. In fact she was way smaller than he was. He only did reach to his shoulders. Either way, Emerelda was small compared to most women around her age, she appeared vulnerable to most people. Perhaps that was why Emmett was surprised she knew how to fight well.
He sat down. Emerelda looked down, confusion on her face. He pats the spot in front of her, right bellow her feet. "Do please join me,"
She sighs and sat down, crossing her own legs. Emmett nods looking please, "Good. Now tell me all the gifts given to man, from physical ability first."
She frowns, "I didn't realize you and my tutor were friends."
He chuckles, "Your tutor and I have different motives while asking this question."
She sighed again, "Physical gifts given to men," she said as if she was replying back to her tutor, "They are speed, durability, strength, regenerative, and lastly mediumship. One of the rarest of this group."
Emmett made a face, "And chilling. I've never met one, and I pray I wouldn't."
Emerelda smiled a little, "I haven't either. The king has. He said it wasn't a pleasing conversation."
"I could only agree."
She wiped away her smile, "The gifts of mind are impeccable senses, removing senses, manipulative, mind reading, and one of the rarest of them all, foreseeing the future."
Something passed in his eyes when she mentioned the last part. He looked as if he remembered an unpleasant memory. Another real raw emotion that lasted only a split second.
He nods, looking as if nothing had happen to him, "Good. It was only a few years ago that mind reading has been confirmed. To foresee the future hasn't been yet, most think it's all simply a myth."
"The ones who claim and get some of the future correct would argue."
He shrugs, "It's all being smart and knowing exactly who the person you're looking at the 'future' is. They are all cons of course. And besides, to expose your power for money outside of Garlin is a sin."
"An offense to the law." She corrects.
He waves a hand, "Same thing."
"Are you going to explain to me why you questioned me the gifts as if I was your student?"
He raised a finger, "Ah, but you are. My dear, Princess. You have the most powerful, extraordinary, incredible gift."
She crossed her arms, "Speed is marvelous as well."
He snorts, shaking his head, "All gifts are marvelous. Its' the unusual ones that make them unique and the highest of them all."
She tilts her head, "Are you saying I am not embracing myself?"
"I'm saying you're stopping yourself to embrace it."
She felt as if he had slapped her. Suddenly she wasn't sitting on cold wood staring face to face at Emmett. She was standing in front of a throne, the king bearing down at her with a bitter glare. She held her head high, however her eyes weren't able to look more then the robes of the King.
"No." he said in a calm voice.
She swallows, "Your majesty-"
"I said no Emerelda!"
She blinks back tears, "I'm simply asking if I would be able to train along side with the Prince."
She watched the robes moved. Boots of the king appeared in front of her. He grabbed her jaw and made her look up at him. His blue eyes held hate as he stared down at her. Her cheeks in pain as his thumb and fingers dig in her skin.
"You would not fight. You would not do the skills of men. You would not dishonor the pride, the regulation, the obligation of a Princess. You would follow the way all princesses have done before you, and you would not disobey me,"
Emerelda was breathing hard, however she heard, 'I can't lose you,'
"Are we clear?"
She nods as much as she could.
He smiles and lets her go, "Good. I don't want to hear this again. End of discussion." He went to sit back on his throne.
Emerelda bows and slowly walks away from the Throne hall. As soon as the large doors slammed shut behind her, tears started to fall. She chocked on a sob, her hand covering her mouth as if it would silent the chocking sound of her crying.
She closed her eyes to compose herself. After a few breathing she was back sitting in front of Emmett. His eyes were troubled, staring at her with concern. She moved her eyes away from his face unable to see the pettiness.
"I do embrace it."
Emmett reached out, a hand towards her, but she flinched and so did he. He pulled it back blinking. He cleared his throat, "You're…you are crying."
Her eyes grew large. She now felt the tears on her cheeks, sliding gracefully and slowly down onto her lap. She used her sleeves to wipe her eyes and cheeks harshly.
"I'm fine." She said, almost to herself.
Emmett still had a concern look on his face, but he nods, "There's something that's in your way from truly having control over your power."
Still not looking at him she asks in a weak voice, "Were you trained?"
"No, I trained myself. You could have trained yourself as well. But you didn't."
She looked back at him with a glare, "I'm not that person anymore. Besides, how do you know such things?"
He looked grim, "It's written all over your face. You're an open book, Princess. A non-gifter could see right through you."
"And how would you know I'm not embracing myself?" she demands.
He scoffs, "Look at yourself, you should be able to read my mind despite the fact I keep my thoughts hidden. You should hear exactly what I'm thinking even while speaking with you. You should have full access through my mind, as if one was reading through a book with no barrier. Our gifts have no barrier. Physical gifters should never have the strength towards the mind gifters. Mind gifters always win."
She clenched her hands into a tight fist, "Don't tell me what I know, Emmett Jackson. Don't sit and insult me. I know where I stand, and I assure you, being reminded isn't going to help."
He raised his eyebrow, "If it's insulting then please tell me the reason why you didn't explore your power?"
"No."
He looked up at the ceiling upset, "Damn it, Emerelda! I'm trying to help you. I need you to have access with his power. You know how frustrating this is? If we were to work with each other you need to be able to use your gift correctly."
It was the first time they said their names to one another.
She didn't say a word.
"Whoever decided to not train you is a fool. Not able to train yourself is a fool move. Keeping this powerful gift guarded is a fool move. You are a fool, Princess. I rather work alone then-"
"I can't!" she yells.
Emmett stops surprised. She pushed the tears back, "I don't know why, I don't understand how. But I can't go deeply into my gift. It felt wrong at first, but afterwards…I wanted to use my gift to find the Midnight Assassin. I trained myself hard, however each time I'd do it, each time I practice, there was something stopping me. And…and I don't know what it is."
He lick his lips, he seemed excited she finally gave a reason.
He stood up pulling her hand with him. She stumble upwards being dragged with him, "What…what are you doing?" she questioned in a fear voice.
He loosens the grip on her hand, but still held tight, "Come along." He said softly.
They stumbled up the stairs, her almost tripping. He pulled her to the bedroom, the door flying open. He went towards the bed, turns, and holding her shoulders he pushed her on the bed.
"Lay down," he instructs.
"Excuse me?"
He went towards the desk, "Lay. Down." He instructs quite rude. He lifts the chair from the desk and brought it to the side of the bed.
She scowls, "What on earth do you think you're doing?"
He sat crossed legs. He nods to the pillows, "Lie down and close your eyes."
"What are you going to do?"
"Would you please listen to me?"
She huffed but lifts her legs on top of the covers. She rests her head on the pillows and looks upwards. She crossed her hands on her stomach and closed her eyes. It felt very uncomfortable.
"Good. Now tell me, what had stopped you from exploring your powers?"
She opens her eyes, "That's personal."
"And yet it would help us a great deal for our little plan. Close your eyes again."
She sighs and closed her eyes once again.
"What was stopping you exploring your gift?"
She thought of the Prince. His smile, the callus texture of his hands, and his soft gentle eyes, it was as if she could see him.
"My…brother." She said in a soft voice.
"Why?"
She saw her brother laughing, "He didn't have any gift. He was normal. And yet…it didn't stop him."
"From what?"
She didn't see him laughing any more. She saw a figure of a person in the darkness, her brother shouting for her to leave. She didn't want too, she couldn't. She stood in horror and watches the long sword pierce through him.
"Emerelda…?" she distantly heard.
Her breathing shudders. She was cold all over. She tried to push away the hurtful image, though it didn't want to disappear. She opened her eyes, the image vanishing as the sun from outside soaked through the room.
"You did it again." Emmett said next to her.
She turns her head, "Did what?"
"You weren't here. Your mind took you somewhere else, a memory you hate."
She rubs her hands all over her face, "A side effect." She murmured, remembering what she read of gifts.
"Exactly, your brother and trauma are tightly connected."
She slowly moved her hands from her face, strands of her hair falling before her eyes. She didn't bother to push them away. She turns her head, "Almost everything you say triggers it."
"I don't mean it, although this is very unfortunate, and disturbing. It gets in the way of things."
She almost laughed, "How disappointing." She said in sarcasm.
"I'm also no therapist. Sadly, either way, we would still have to make this side effect disappear."
"How exactly?"
"You need to start to let it go."
She chuckles, "As if I haven't thought of that!"
"Don't be hasty." He said in a disapproving voice.
"Close your eyes again," she did, "Their close? Perfect. Now, I want you to think of your brother."
She grimaces. She didn't have to think twice, and her brother appeared before her eye lids. He was smiling at her. She almost lifts her hand to reach out to him, he was alive and right in front of her in the darkness.
She smiled back at him. He opens his mouth and blood started to gush out, the center of his chest opening into a huge wound. He was still looking please and proud. His smile was large with blood tinted on his lips and teeth. He reaches his hand out, the Prince's white shirt crimson and wet.