Previous | Chapter Index | Next

A/N: As promised I have started posting Shattered on Gumroad. It’s PWYW (and £0 is acceptable so there’s no risk) so subscribe today. If you want to sample it first then you can read the first chapter on my facebook page. If you like my stuff you’ll love Shattered.

—

“Okay,” Ophelia sipped her drink as she considered how to describe what had happened. Then she stopped and stared at the glass. “This tastes freshly squeezed!”

“It is,” Tilaran said.

“How are you getting fresh oranges?” Sera said. “There’s still none in the shops. Mum says it’s going to be a month or so before imports finally get back to normal.”

“We have our sources,” he said.

“Obviously,” Ophelia said. “It’s good though.” She took a breath and began to describe the events of earlier to them.

“Your ability to sense things is certainly improving quickly,” Tilaran interrupted at one point. Ophelia glared at him and he apologised quickly. “I’m sorry, please carry on.” She nodded to him before continuing with her tale until she reached the point where she lost consciousness. Tilaran scowled thoughtfully andd taped his tongue against his teeth. “That’s pretty much what Silver said. But it’s odd that a psychic of Sophie Ash-”

“Wait, mum is a psychic?” Sera exclaimed,

“Yes, your mother is a very powerful psychic, Sera,” he said. “That’s how she got het job and it’s also why she should have sensed more of what happened.” He looked over at his mother. “What do you think?”

“There’s no accounting for what a self-trained psychic will or won’t sense,” she said a little too quickly. “And the loyalists are good at concealment.”

“Both true,” he agreed. “And yet I still can’t shake the feeling she should have sensed it.”

“We’ll talk about it later,” Halia said.

He hesitated before nodding and turning back to Sera. “And what did you see?” he asked. “As the only one who wasn’t knocked out, so you might have sensed something they missed.

“I don’t think I did.” Sera repeated the story she had told Ophelia and Silver earlier. When she finished his frown had only deepened.

“So you didn’t sense the oppressive presence that Ophelia and Silver mentioned?” he asked and she shook her head.

“I felt fine,” she said. “A little scared because of what was happening but that was all me.”

“And you didn’t feel cold? Not even when the Kithreia was all around you?”

“Not at all,” she said. “Should I have done?”

“Yes,” he said. “If it had attacked you, it would have frozen you solid unless you have better defenses than you seem to – but even just touching you should have chilled you to the bone. But somehow it didn’t.”

“She might be cryokinetic,” Silver said. “That would give her some resistance.”

“That’s possible,” her grandmother said. “But I would still expect her to have felt something.” She smiled warmly. “I suspect that the real reason she felt nothing is obvious. Alsia didn’t want her to.”

Tilaran nodded thoughtfully. “Yes, Alsia-ida’s reputation does suggest that she would want to avoid collateral damage.”

Halia chuckled. “Yes, that too. That’s why she had it put the fire out,”

“So is this Alsia an enemy or an ally?” Ophelia asked.

“That’s complicated,” she replied. “Under normal circumstances I’d say ally but there’s a problem. Alsia has very strong feelings about the Lost One’s prison. She likely to try and stop you sending them back.”

—

A/N: As promised I have started posting Shattered on Gumroad. It’s PWYW (and £0 is acceptable so there’s no risk) so subscribe today. If you want to sample it first then you can read the first chapter on my facebook page. If you like my stuff you”ll love Shattered.

Previous | Chapter Index | Next