Page 10 of Obsidian Dream

The physical wounds weren’t what concerned Talik.No—it was what he couldn’t see.Sypha’s ability to see countless possibilities and futures would take a toll on their mind.And the more they used their powers, the longer the recovery and return to reality.But that wasn’t why their ability was a curse.It was the other part—the ability to touch another’s mind with their own—some warped version of one-way telepathy that threatened Sypha’s hold on their sanity.Every time they used the ability, a small part of them was replaced by the mind they had touched.Not all scars were physical.The deeper ones often left invisible marks on the mind and the heart.And the soul.

Sometimes the monsters trapped in their minds could be far more dangerous than the monsters out in the world.

The silence grew between them, comfortable, in a way that spoke to their deep friendship.

“Sypha,” Khalida said as she silently walked into the room before she turned and nodded at him.“Talik.”

The latter was said with the haughtiness of an aristocrat who had been bred to rule.

Khalida stood in a defensive position, her hand touching the hilt of one of her swords as she tapped on it.The movement was subtle enough that he would have missed it if he hadn’t been looking for it.Khalida only ever fidgeted when she was unsure of her place or role within a new situation.It was a tell that she hadn’t gotten rid of, and one that would annoy her if she realized that he still noticed.It was amusing that she still carried her dual swords—that they remained her weapon of choice.Old world weaponry but still highly effective in close combat.

She had re-braided her hair, pinning it to her head.Her black hood was raised, covering most of it.He didn’t blame her.The color was hard to hide, and the hood gave the appearance of blending in as one of the guards.

“Talik, Khalida.You came.”Sypha’s voice was soft and lyrical.“Together.”

Sypha’s words set off internal alarm bells.

“As you requested,” Khalida reminded them.“Unless there was a misunderstanding.”

He was slightly taken aback.Khalida and diplomacy were not something that went together.She was all beauty and brute force.

Sypha settled back against the pillows, their gaze impenetrable as they looked him and Khalida over.It was like being at an auction, and he was the prize.It did not bode well.

“No misunderstanding.”A dark look passed over Sypha’s features as they held out their hand.“It is all I could find.”

A scroll?It was the same size as a letter.Where had Sypha hidden it?When Sypha had been found, they had barely been breathing, alone, bruised, and battered.Everything had been left behind to get them to the infirmary as quickly as possible.

Khalida glanced at him, and he shook his head at the unasked question.She moved toward Sypha and gently took the scroll away, careful not to touch them.

The scroll was translucent white, the edges a musty yellow.It looked old.Khalida delicately unfolded it and held it up to the light, frowning.There was nothing on it.No marks.No writing.

Just an entirely blank scroll.

Deep in a trance, Sypha’s attention was on something that clearly was not in the room.They tilted their heads as if they were listening to another conversation.Talik glanced behind him, but it was just him and Khalida.

For the umpteenth time in his life, Talik was grateful he did not have any powers.The price of the so-called gifts and abilities sporadically appearing within their species were not worth the cost.Or the prison sentence, for those unable to control their abilities.

“What is it?”Khalida gently asked.

Far more gently than he would have expected possible from her.

“Can you see it?”Sypha asked.

Both of them stared at the scroll.

Lines materialized.Straight.Curved.Sharp angles to soft curves, followed by dots.Too quick to decipher.

His heart thundered, and he heard Khalida’s do the same.

She gasped next to him, and her grip tightened on the scroll as she trembled.He automatically reached out to touch her, but snatched his hand back before he crossed another boundary.

Sypha stared at them.A blood tear rolled down their face.

***

KHALIDA

Khalida dug her nailsinto her palm to ensure she was not hallucinating and relished the temporary pain.