But you will never say yes!
“Now you are understanding. No, I will not.”
Some black mage I am training you to be. Cassany will not stand for this. She will make you a killer whether you like it or not.
“I have no doubt she will try.”
I have no doubt she will succeed.
Thessa glared at her but kept washing, and then she went to get some fresh clothing.
You are not going back out there to meet that man, are you?
“That is of no consequence to you, servant.”
You are going to get him killed or worse.
“Shut up, you stupid cat. I am the Black Mage, remember. I know what I’m doing. Besides, it’s just a meal. I am not going off to marry him or something.”
That is how it all starts. You have been hideous all this time and now that you have looks and you’re getting attention, you are running off to the first man who said you were pretty.
“I wasn’t hideous.”
You were a gaunt, hideous blood feeder.
“I was getting my strength back after my mother cured me of it. I would have eventually recovered. I have no doubt I will recover even now.” She finished dressing. “You are to stay here. Only come if you call you to me. If you disobey me, I will make sure you never do again.”
Oh, what will you do? Turn me into something else, spank me, yell at me? I know you will talk me to death with kind words and a smile.
“You have not seen my dark side. It’s there. I vowed never to let it surface again once I was cured. I might just let it come back for a good cause, like punishing you!” She exited the room and came face to face with Hana, her mother and Red Mage. She froze. Hana smiled at her and walked around her.
“Excuse me.” She said as she passed. Thessa stepped aside. She turned to watch Hana stroll down the hall. She was flooded with a myriad of emotions. Hana stood there in the corridor searching for the room she had rented from downstairs. She looked at Thessa with a kind smile, and Thessa’s knees went weak.
“Excuse me, miss. Is this the way to room seven?” Hana asked.
Thessa did not comprehend the question at first and she stood there unmoving and silent.
“Miss, are you all right?”
“Hmm? Yes, sorry. What was it you were asking me?”
“I am so sorry to bother you. But this inn is arranged strangely, and I was wondering if this corridor might contain the door to room seven.”
“Yes, this room here is my room, room six. Your room is the door there across from mine. The numbers on these doors are faded and painted over in black, but if you look closely, you can see it still in the dark impression of the door.”
“Thank you, kindly.” Hana said. Thessa moved past her in the corridor and picked up the pace to get away. She had to process this new development. “Um, excuse me. I hate to bother you again.”
Thessa turned at the end of the corridor just above the stairwell to acknowledge her, “Yes?”
“You seem familiar. Have we met before?”
“I was thinking the same thing.” Thessa lied. “Was it possible her mother could see her even through this facade? We must have run into each other somewhere.”
“What is your name, dear?”
“My name?” Thessa suddenly froze again. “What was she going to tell her?”
“Yes, dear. You have a name, don’t you?”
“Yes, it’s… Zarina.” She had a friend named Zarina when she was young. It was the only name she could think of on the spur of the moment.
“That’s a lovely name.” Hana said. “I knew a Zarina when I was younger. She used to hang around the house when…” Her face suddenly became ashen and sad. “Do you have children?”
“Me? No, I don’t.” Thessa said, remembering her guise made her appear close to her mother’s age.
“I do. I am looking for her now.” She squinted at Thessa. “Strange, I am usually tight lipped but I seem to be rambling on with you, forgive me. Thank you for your service.” She genuflected slightly.
“Did you find the room?” Came a booming male voice. “Oh, excuse me.” The man in a grey cloak said as he met Thessa at the top of the stairs.
“It’s not a problem.” Thessa said, moving out of his way. Asleth, the Grey Mage, squeezed past her carrying two cloth bags.
“Yes, this is Zarina. She pointed me in the right direction.”
“Excellent. Thank you.” Asleth said.
“Well, I best be going.” Thessa blurted out.
“Oh, nice to meet you.” Asleth called after her.
“You as well.” Thessa called back as she hastily descended the stairs. She stopped at the bottom and wiped a tear. She knew her mother would find her eventually, but she thought it would be better if she didn’t. It hurt her heart to think Hana blamed herself for Thessa becoming a blood feeder and then worse, the Black Mage, so she thought it might be better for everyone involved if she did not reveal herself. If she was to become the Black Mage against her will, much like Sarren taking matters into her own hands, she couldn’t live with herself if she hurt her mother more. It was odd to her that Asleth was still with her. What was his plan? Thessa vowed she would have to find out to protect her mother. Asleth was known as the protector, but why, and what did it have to do with Hana? She took a deep breath and continued on out of the inn and toward the marketplace.
Thessa tried her best not to appear distraught when she met Gaelyn in the marketplace. She spotted him before he spotted her, and she stopped for a moment to look at him carefully. He had sandy brown
