Page 15 of The Lies of Lena (The Otacian Chronicles #1)

Chapter Fourteen

“ U gh!” I cried out in frustration, holding my hand over the concoction on our stove. It was a simple stamina elixir, yet I couldn’t get anything out.

Three weeks had passed, and the Summer Solstice Festival was tomorrow. While I had healing down pat, stamina was driving me mad. I couldn’t seem to grasp it.

It had also been three agonizing weeks of being alone with Quill and not being on top of him. He kept his composure most of the time, insisting on training me like I wanted. But towards the end of our sessions, he would cave, and we would make out in the grass for as long as we could. I would grind on him, and he would grasp my breasts, but it never went further than that.

I did appreciate that he had started being more open with me. He told me about his best friends Hendry and Edmund, two guys around our age who were also soldiers in training. I wondered when I would meet them.

“Don’t try to force it,” Mother commented. “Stamina comes from the lungs. Focus on pulling the power from there.”

“What does that even mean?” I groaned.

“Just try.”

I huffed, then closed my eyes. Another few moments went by, and still nothing. My hand slumped down.

“Maybe I’m just not cut out for this,” I complained. “What power do I have? Suppressing it all this time has probably ruined any potential.”

Sure, healing was easy for me, but that was essentially effortless for every Mage.

“Come, sit down.” Mother grabbed my hand as we moved to sit on the sofa in our living room. “You said you are in love with Quill, yes?”

I frowned. “I don’t understand what that—”

“Just yes, right?”

Still scowling, I nodded.

“Think of him and feel where that comes from in your body. The warm fuzzy feelings—before you get the wrong idea.”

I grimaced and then decided to think of everything about him that made me love him.

“Now, hold out your hand and concentrate.”

I did as she said and closed my eyes.

I thought of my first encounter with him, my silly nickname, and his lazy smile. I thought of our first kiss and our banter .

I thought of his kindness and how he teased me. How his hair curled against his forehead, how he smelled.

Suddenly, I felt a familiar tingling in my fingertips. My eyes flew open, and I gaped at the sight. Tiny bolts of electricity were emitting from them.

“I knew it,” Mother said with a smug smile.

“H-how do I make it stop?” I panicked.

“Those feelings, imagine putting them away into a box. Imagine closing your chest. That is where that power resides.”

I did just that, visualizing a box, smothering my feelings until they were a distant thought. I inhaled, and the electricity faded after a few moments of concentration.

“I…I can wield electricity.” I whispered, my whole body shaking with a mixture of relief and fear.

“It seems so. I could wield it after a few months of knowing your father.” She held my hand, and I met her warm, brown eyes. “It can only be unlocked after being truly in love. Some people think they are in love with someone, but you know it is real when electricity is your new power. You’re very young to have it. To have something so real.”

My brows creased, and I looked at my hands.

“To wield it in battle, or in general, you must be in tune with that part of your body. It is how you can turn it off and on.”

“I’m supposed to access lovey-dovey feelings when my life is potentially endangered?”

She laughed through her nose. “Not after you get used to the sensation. Once you know what part of you is connected to it, it will be second nature. ”

We were startled by a knock on our door. Even after all these years, the idea of somehow being caught was always a fear.

Mother opened the door to find a rotund gentleman with a handlebar mustache holding a large package.

“Delivery for Lena Daelyra,” he stated.

Mother gave me a perplexed look, then signed for the package. When she finished, the man waltzed away with a smile.

“For…me? From whom?”

“It’s anonymous,” Mother said, turning the package all around.

We both shrugged, and Mother placed the package on our kitchen table as I closed our door. I just glared at it.

“Well, are you going to open it or me?” Mother asked, barely holding in her excitement.

Hesitantly, I grabbed a knife, slowly opening the package. When I flipped open the lids, Mother gasped, and my mouth popped open. I held the fabric and pulled up, revealing a stunning navy-blue gown. My mouth was still open as I placed the dress on the bare table and picked up the small note that lay inside the box.

I cannot wait to see you dancing in this.

All my love,

- Quill

My face flushed, and I pulled the note close.

“From Quill?” Mother asked.

I nodded, placed the note in my pocket, and grasped the dress once more.

“It’s beautiful,” I breathed.

It was a halter-style gown made of tulle and pongee. It plunged down the front, and the back was open. Navy and silver flowers spilled down one side of the front, delicately spreading out as they traveled down the dress.

“That had to have cost a fortune, the detail…” She shook her head. “That boy is head over heels.”

I smiled, hugging the dress.

“Well, are you going to try it on?” she added.

“Yes!” I squealed.

I ran to my room, stripped off my clothes, stepped into the gown, and hoisted it up, tying the tulle top around my neck. I called Mother in after that to zip what little fabric was on my back.

When she finished, I turned to my mirror and reddened when I saw myself.

“Completely stunning,” Mother said with silver in her eyes. She quickly went to wipe at them.

I had never felt beautiful before, but in this dress, I certainly felt special. The plunging neckline ended just below my sternum, and my breasts lay nicely.

I twirled, the skirt flowing around me.

“You’ll have to help me with my hair and makeup on Saturday,” I beamed.

“Like you’ll need it!” she giggled. “But, yes, of course, I will!”

After taking my time and enjoying being in the gown, I hung it up carefully in my closet. I grimaced when I slipped back on my cream sweater and leggings, but as drab as they were, they were comfortable .

After dinner and washing up, Mother turned in early, and I decided to give it a go at the contraceptive elixir.

Wild carrot seed, pennyroyal, wormwood.

I knew these were ones I grew in the garden after I learned that Mother made herself this brew every month. While I didn’t think she was in relations with anyone, it’s said that this concoction also eliminates the monthly cycle.

I wish I had known about this sooner!

I snuck outside, the summer sun still providing enough light despite it nearly being set. I clipped away at what I needed, then quietly returned.

I got to work, mashing the herbs in a mortar and pestle and adding them to a small pot of boiling water, allowing it to infuse. Once I removed it from the heat, I poured it into a bowl and stared.

Slowly, I reached my hands over and focused on the burning that had begun in my palms.

I can do this.

My palms began to glow, and I concentrated on what the text said: to visualize the magic stemming from your lower palms.

Suddenly, the glow went out, and I cursed under my breath. I tried repeatedly. Eventually, I thought it may have worked, but like hell I’d risk it.

I sighed and tossed my mixture out in the back. So much for that.

I felt tense…and that now familiar sensation began to take hold. I was paralyzed once more. I wanted to thrash out, to fumble out of bed, hell, even scream. But any effort proved futile.

“Do not be scared, child.” The woman's voice was clear and soft … almost gentle.

Whose voice is that?

“You will know in time. I am just testing our connection for when destiny takes hold.”

What…? Can she read my thoughts?

I could swear I heard a chuckle. “I can in this state, yes.”

Why can’t I move?

“Our connection is too faint; I can only reach you when you are in deep sleep. Eventually, I should be able to speak to you when you are wide awake.”

I wanted so badly to move my body. The woman’s tone was kind. But could I trust her?

Who are you?

She hesitated. “My name is Kayin.”

What do you want from me?

“Even I don’t know that yet. Just that our connection must be stronger. Drift back to sleep, Lena.”

And for once, I didn’t wake up in a cold sweat. Instead, I peacefully slumbered once more.

I never mentioned my dream to Mother. It was too strange and probably not real. Those with sleep paralysis see hallucinations. Perhaps I was just hearing them. Though Kayin…I am surprised I remembered her name.

Mother was dusting blush on my cheeks after finishing my eye makeup and hair on the evening of the Summer Solstice Festival. It was twisted up in a high ponytail, pieces in the front pulled loose to curl around my face.

“I wish I had jewelry,” I murmured as Mother put on my lip gloss. Though both of my ears were adorned with two steel hoops, I wished for something more glamorous to pair with the stunning gown Quill gifted me.

“This dress would steal the attention of it, anyway,” she grinned, then pulled the makeup brush away from my face. “There!”

After, she helped me into my dress. The stunning floral decals still caught my breath, and when I glanced into my mirror again, now fully dolled up, I felt my eyes burning.

“Don’t ruin my masterpiece!” Mother squealed, then lightly dabbed around her eyes to avoid smudging her makeup. “Or this one,” she laughed.

I wished she had a fancy gown, too, but she wore a green satin dress she had worn the past few years, and it fit her beautifully. Her hair was pulled into a low pony, her bangs laying softly on her forehead.

It was close to 9:00 p.m., and the sun was nearly set .

“What plans do you have?” I asked.

“I am hanging with a couple of my girlfriends,” she responded. I was always jealous that Mother had friends. I so desperately wanted that, too. But the joy I felt for her always overpowered any feelings of sadness for myself.

“And then,” she smirked, “we are playing cards and having a sleepover.”

I blinked.