Chapter 10:
After dinner that night, Stone approached Olive shadowed by a woman wearing a long grey hooded robe. "Sonny needs to do some more training, but I thought Mave here could keep you company."
Olive looked skeptical, "I don't think I need any company. Thanks though."
He smiled, "She is an elder. One of the wisest in the Silver world. We have an extensive collection of literature and Mave is willing to show you and answer any questions you might have."
Olive's face lit up as she glanced at Sonny. He smirked, "Have fun Olive."
She hopped up, "That sounds good. Where do we begin?" And the two of them took off toward what Sonny assumed would be the library.
"So who am I training with tonight? You?"
"No. You're training today will not be typical. We have you with Bridge--"
"Hey Hun! You ready."
Sonny spun around as Bridgette zoomed in to sit next to him. "Bridgette? Why would she train me?"
Bridgett looked sarcastically hurt. "I have a different way of training. Now let's go." She reached down, pulling him up by his arm, dragging him towards the dormitory.
They reached a door at the very end of a long, narrow hallway. Bridgette put a key in and motioned Sonny through. The room they entered seemed dim compared to the bright hallway, one bed sat in the corner and only a long dresser with elegant trim along the mirror and drawers graced the rest of the room.
Sonny stood awkwardly in the center of the room, no chairs available for sitting. Bridgette plopped down on the bed, "C'mon sit."
He shook his head. "I'm ok standing. Thanks though."
Her face scrunched. "Seriously Sonny, sit. We can't do this lesson if we aren't close to each other."
Ugh Sonny thought, "Ok. What are we even training on?"
"Mind altering Silver powers….or better, the defense against it."
"You have mind control powers?" Sonny thought she possessed a defensive power like a forcefield.
She shook her head, "I don't just use my hands to make shields, I can also use my mind to shield against mind powers."
"Hmm. And why don't they just have Quinn train me?" After all, she could use and defend against mind control.
She smiled, an actual genuine smile that gave Sonny a warm feeling, "You really want an eight year old as your teacher?"
Sonny laughed, yeah that would be weird, even for this place. "Ok ok so where do we start?"
"Meditation."
"Medi-what?"
"Meditation. You are going to learn how to free your mind. The less you have on it, the less they can infiltrate. Got it?"
He giggled. "I always thought mediation was for hippies."
Bridgette slapped his arm, "For real Sonny, we have to take this seriously." She held out her hands, palms up, an invitation for Sonny to put his on top. "It'll be easier to meditate if my aura is helping you."
He did as she told, his hands colliding with Bridgette's. He felt nothing, but the smooth, soft skin underneath his. She closed her eyes, while Sonny left his open. His eyes traced her face, noting her light features, her long eyelashes fluttering slightly on her cheeks. Her beauty seemed overshadowed by her arrogance, which seemed to be paused for this training
She took a deep breath, "Okay now I want your thoughts to focus on your mind."
"Use my mind to focus on my mind….right that makes tons of sense."
Bridgette smirked, "You need to have full awareness of your thoughts otherwise some talented Silvers will be able to focus your mind for you."
Mind control did not sound fun to Sonny so he closed his eyes and tried to breathe and think about his thoughts. What is he thinking right now? His question was a thought. No wait, his thought was about meditation about his thoughts. Wait what was the point of this again?
He opened his eyes as Bridgette stared shaking her head, "I would've bet my life you weren't going to master it the first try. No one does. That's why you have me though, to practice with."
"Master what? How do I know when I'm doing it right….whatever it is I'm supposed to be doing."
Bridgette shifted on the bed until she she was so close to Sonny their knees touched sitting crisscross. "So the point of this is that you will become so in tune with what's happening in your head that you will know if there are thoughts in there that weren't put there by you and you'll be able to push them out."
That actually sounded pretty cool. "Ok Sonny so close your eyes again, steady your breathing, listen to my voice and I'm going to tell you what to think about and try to focus in on that."
"Ok that sounds easy enough." Sonny closed his eyes and took a deep breath to calm himself fully.
Bridgette quieted her voice and spoke softly, "think of an ocean wave crashing into the beach."
He had been to the actual beach at the ocean twice in his life. He imagined it was dusk and the sun was setting, a glare coming off the calm ocean. The waves, tranquil and low washing up on the warm white sand and the echo of birds in the distance singing to him. Sonny attempted to focus on just the waves. Over and over the waves crashed into the sand and then retreated into the ocean until he thought Bridgette's voice called to him, but he couldn't make out words.
He opened his eyes, Bridgette's smooth hands still grasping his own as she opened hers as well saying, "Sonny that was pretty good."
Sonny was skeptical, "How do you know?"
"I was focusing on your thoughts and felt some of your ocean waves. I tried to talk to you, but it didn't work so well."
"We can communicate with our minds?!" Was there anything Silver's couldn't do?
A bright smile crossed her face, "no not necessarily communicate, but in certain circumstances one could be able to speak through another's mind. Normally we cannot just talk to each other in our minds." She laughed as though that would be crazy. "You're doing great though, I'd say another couple of sessions and your mind will be harder to breach than our base."
"Maybe I'll even be able to infiltrate your mind." Sonny teased, slightly wondering what he might find in that arrogant head of hers.
Bridgette slapped his shoulder, "You wish!" She winked as the lesson continued.