Capítulo 2: Chapter Two
I was placed in a small square room, a 'waiting room for pick-ups', as Davey said. It was a quirky space but only big enough for a lounge under the window. My feet didn't touch the ground, but my chains did.
The sun through the window was warm on my back as I stared at my shadow on the ground. My shadow seemed very light in colour, as if the sun were partly going through me. Even the sun wants me to disappear…
I thought back to the man who had bought me, the one with ruby eyes and a large shadow. He had a solid looking shadow, one that looked heavy and dragged behind him when he walked. I wondered what he was going to do to me or if I wanted to know.
He had kissed my hands when he bought me, was I going to be a romantic partner? Perhaps I was just adopted? From appearance alone, he hadn't seemed like the adopting type.
These ideas were quickly diminished as I remembered what I said to the ponytailed man.
"I don't care what they do to me. I don't care if I'm needed dead or alive."
A heavy feeling rested in my stomach, a wave of sickness as the weight of what I was doing dawned on me. The realisation made me sad. Just as suddenly as the feeling came, it left, and I was nothing more than a shell staring at their shadow.
Then another thought came to me. I felt energy surge through me, a real sense of panic that made even my hair stand on end. "Five million dollars?!"
Who is he to want to spend so much money on me?
Someone knocked on the door three times before opening it, and I was greeted by the ponytailed man once again. "You did well, kid," he said, "Five million is a good haul, even for living creature exchange." I took his word for it but did feel slightly better, assuming five million wasn't considered expensive. "Your new owner is fixing up some paperwork for you. Once he's done, you'll be going with him, and whatever happens after that is entirely up to him." His voice was level and professional, and his happy expression was just as fake as when I signed the contract. Still, he was slightly agitated, taking extra care to hide something from me, however, failing as his hand clutched the doorknob tightly.
The two of us had a moment where he realised I knew he was concerned, and his false smile was replaced by a genuine half-grin. "You have one hell of an owner, girlie." He sighed as he pinched at the bridge of his nose.
I picked up the loose chains sprawled on the floor and held them out to him. He almost jumped back when he saw this, a flash of worry coming across his face. "You do realise what you've done, haven't you?"
I nodded slowly again. "You have no responsibility for whatever happens to me," I assured the contract maker.
The man hesitated with me, eventually taking the chains and smirking in amusement. "You really don't care what happens to you, do you?" he asked.
I dropped my hands, my expression remaining the same. I offered no answer for the man. Instead, I walked past him, tugging at my chains for him to lead the way.
Every hallway we walked down seemed like something out of a book about churches. Each had walls lined with either colourful stain-glass windows or flawless portraits of grumpy looking priests. Eventually, people littered about in the hallways, usually in pairs and all dressed in thick grey cloaks, their faces obscured by their hoods. As we passed, some of them turned to each other and whispered. I knew it was about me, but I wasn't bothered to try and listen to them.
I wondered if I was in the same building I was in when I signed the contract; the air seemed sweeter. Being exposed to so many strange things in a few days has thrown everything I knew and assumed into question.
We approached a high set of dark wooden doors, the man grabbing one and pausing, "He will now meet you and decide whether or not to follow through with the buy. It's my suggestion you don't talk unless spoken to," he said, "Say yes if you understand."
I sighed, "Yes."
With that, he pushed the door open with ease.
The man was sitting at the desk, having placed his coat on the back of his chair. I could see him. He wore all black, like the suited men that surrounded me, except he didn't wear a tie, or a bow tie, or anything. It was just a loose shirt under a black jacket. His legs stretched under the table as he slouched in his chair, doing strange tricks with the pen as he seemed in deep thought.
I couldn't guess how old he was. But he had curious red eyes and a kind enough face, despite his otherwise dark persona. When the door creaked, everyone turned to face us.
"Ahh lovely," my owner said, throwing up his arms and sitting up straight in his chair, "You're here!"
His sudden enthusiasm frightened me. "How attached to your name are you?" he asked.
My mouth hung agape, unsure how to respond as I looked to the ponytailed man for some sort of confirmation.
The man that stood by my owner replied, "Her opinion doesn't matter if you wish to change it."
"It matters to me. That's why I asked." He folded his arms as he cocked his head to the side and offered a smirk, "How would you like it if I changed your name to something ludicrous? Like Vagus or Salami?"
He turned to face me, resting his elbows on his knees as he leaned close to me. "How attached to your name are you?"
"Why is that relevant?" the ponytailed man asked.
My owner made a strange growling noise as he stood up, moving so quickly the chair moved backwards. "Because Antionette Erin Hayhurst, while a pretty and elegant looking name, is impossible to spell on the first go and writing it down gives me hand cramps," he confessed, flexing his gloved hand.
I sucked in my cheeks. I liked my name. I thought it was unique and uncommon. When I didn't answer straight away, he made a thinking face. "This may be more difficult than I thought," he admitted.
"Sir, you still need to fill out the paperwork."
"I'm well aware."
My chains were rattled as my chauffeur dropped them to the ground and told me to sit in a chair. I looked at where he gestured and obeyed, sitting down and listening as the adults conversed.
"I never thought I'd see you at this auction," the ponytailed man inquired. "For future reference, however, we must ask you to follow the rules. We can't have you wandering onto the stage-"
He was cut off by my owner. "I don't need your lecturing nor small talk. You have my money, and this paperwork is tedious," he informed matter-of-factly.
"You still must fill everything out," the ponytailed man informed.
I lifted my eyes to watch him consider the paper again, flipping the pen between his fingers before quickly jotting something down. Was that my name? It didn't seem like he wrote down enough letters to be my real name.
He stood from his chair, an aura of authority that overpowered all the other men in the room seeming to rise off him as he grabbed his coat from the back of his chair. In one swift motion, his jacket was on, and his hat appeared from the folds of his jacket. He started walking for the door, only stopping to turn his head to me and merely instruct, "You, come."
I took in a deep, shaky breath as I slipped off the chair, my eyes cast to the floor as I approached his shoes. My neck and head were suddenly jerked forward as he grabbed the chain attached to my neck and forced it up, the movement startling me as I stared with wide eyes. "Stop slouching," he demanded in the same low voice he had when he walked on stage, "Have some pride. Stand tall and look forward. Understood?"
There was a touch of sincerity in his voice, in the way he held the chain that made me lift my head, in the way his eyes locked onto mine and made it impossible to rip away from. "Yes."
He dropped the chain, the sudden weight pinching at my skin.
"I need to use a spare room," my owner informed.
"By all means," the ponytailed man replied. He was flicking through the contract before picking up a cheque and nodding.
*
When they opened the doors, we ventured down a different hallway from when we entered. While the other had natural light through colourful window art, this hallway had no windows, merely periodic wooden archways stretching down the hall. We were led into a room dominated by darkness, the only light coming from large display cases of animals, ranging from the blonde mermaid I saw earlier to strange yellow creatures the size of a housecat that could fly.
"Remarkable things to witness, Flying Mossles," my owner stated as some flew by us, "Beautiful and content with a simple life." A door appeared on the dark wall, hidden by the lack of light but, when found, glowed with an outline of Fluro blue. I was unable to withhold my gasp as I watched the door's blue form a maze-like pattern to the middle of the door, where a flower symbol formed.
My owner produced a small blue light in the palm of his hand and waved it over the centre of the flower. From the inside out, the colours started to retract, audible clicks sounding as the blue continued back through its maze until the door turned back into its original dark appearance and it opened.
The rooms were jarringly different from each other, this one offering a cozy study nook and golden candlelight. My owner held the door open for me, waiting for me to enter the room. I scanned the room as I walked in, seeing walls dedicated to bookshelves and finding a fireplace on the opposite wall, making the place an uplifting warm and smell like ambers and paper.
"Allow me to introduce myself," he said as he closed the door behind him. "My name is Theodore. Theodore Doldrum." He took off his hat and offered me a bright smile as he held his hand out, "Nice to meet you."
My arms tensed up as I reached for his hand, hovering slowly over his fingertips before finally taking his hand in mine. His gloves were smooth and warm against my skin as his thumb drew circles on my fingers. A gradual heat started running up my arm. When I attempted to pull away, his grip tightened. The warmth spread to my shoulder and stretched across my chest, I could feel my heart warm-up, and my nerves begin to tingle.
"I was lucky to get you," he said, his eyes glued to my hand, "You possess both great power and sight. How fortunate."
I stopped struggling to pull my hands away, all my energy suddenly sapped from me, and the heat disappearing, replaced by bitter cold. I was unable to stop my lip from quivering as my eyes started to sting. "F-fortunate?" I ripped my hands from his and backed away from him, hanging my head to cast my hair over my eyes so he couldn't see me cry. "I've never been fortunate!"
My wave of hysteria passed, replaced by a moment of shock as I pressed my hands against my mouth. "I'm sorry… I didn't mean to yell at you," I snivelled.
I felt pressure on the top of my head. I gasped as I lifted my eyes, watching as Theodore patted me on the head. It wasn't an elegant, comforting gesture like he probably intended but looked mechanical and awkward as he kept himself at arm's length and continuously tapped me on the head like one would a dog. "Does this help?" he asked, "Is this how humans comfort each other?"
I couldn't tell if he was serious, but the idea of it made me snort in amusement.
Theodore mimicked my smile as he took a step closer, resting his hand on my head and making the awkward gesture immensely comforting in a single motion. "I'm sorry you feel that way," his voice became sombre but still calming, "But let's see to it that you feel fortunate to have the gifts that you have."
Newfound awe enveloped me as I looked up to Theodore. Even if I wanted to speak, I couldn't find the words.
He retracted his touch, "Now then." His other arm flicked aside the trail of his coat, revealing a golden walking stick with a rounded handle and intricate etchings. "I paid good money for you-" He started rolling his walking stick on his hand, his movements somehow making a sparkly presence as he spoke, "-And pretty dolls are lovely, but I can't have you being helpless." Whatever influence he had blown back his hair and trench coat, like energy centred around him pushing outwards. "Together, my dear apprentice, we shall change that." His walking stick made a final tap against the ground as he struck a pose, a circle of blue light forming around him.
I could feel his pulse against my skin, powerful energy radiating off him that declared dominance in the room, sapping all the warm colours and replacing them with the cold light.
He held his hand out to me.
The tingle that came with the sudden cold from earlier still assaulted my senses, and the heat's memory remained. I didn't trust what I was seeing. But as I stared at my owner's outstretched hand, I wanted nothing more than for him to do something to me; destroy me, kill me, care for me.
I took his hand in mine, and he pulled me into the circle of blue. He kneeled before me again and rested me there, one hand on my back and the other resting on my cheek, so I looked him in the eye. Up close, his eyes were mesmerising to ponder, and he smelt of cinnamon. I watched his eyes examine mine briefly before saying, "I suggest you close your eyes, duckling." His hand weaved its way through my hair and rested at the back of my head, pulling me close to his chest as he embraced me, "This may make you sick."
I didn't obey straight away. It felt like the ground had shifted. That something from the field up was erupting as the circle of light he stood in glowed a magnificent pale blue. "Ring of holy, shadows of darkness, harness your powers, and our incarnates!"
I gasped in amazement as I watched sparkles and streams of light float around us, an invisible force sending my hair up as if by a high wind. I tried to pull away from him to get a better look at the circle, but his grip around me tightened. "Hold on."
The light became too overwhelming as I clung onto his jacket, screwing my eyes closed and digging my face into his chest. I whimpered against him; the moment I did, I felt his chest drone slightly from a silent chuckle.
It was strange what I felt next. I could tell when something had happened. My body felt light, as if gravity vanished for a split second, only to return but twice as heavy, leaving my body in a state of motion sickness.
Despite this, I took a deep inhale past Theodore's sweeter smell; the air was remarkably clean. The atmosphere was also colder, not freezing like what I felt earlier, but as if we were outside. I was curious, but I dug my face into his coat, eyes still closed. He patted me on the back, "You can open your eyes, now."
When he took his arm from me, I realised I was trembling. My eyes fluttered open, momentarily dazzled by the natural light, and shaded my eyes. Once I blinked away the glare, I saw green. Endless fields of green with large trees sprouting from random patches of grass. The air was clean and dewy; the scent of wet grass and tree stumps lingered in the air.
Theodore placed me on the ground. Through my socks, sharp edges of loose stones and clumps of dirt stabbed me. I took some wobbly steps, the earth crunching under my feet and sticking to my socks.
"Just as I'd hoped. I didn't need to make two jumps." My owner took off his hat and ran his fingers through his hair, appearing fatigued, "That would've been such a hassle."
I had never seen so much open space before. I wondered where the buildings were, the shops, the cars on the concrete roads. When I looked, either way, I couldn't see any neighbouring houses or approaching cars, the only home I was able to see was across the meadow surrounded by a wooden picket fence.
"Are we on a farm?" I asked, looking at Theodore. When I turned, my attention went to the house in front of us. It was a sizeable pale brick cottage with ivy and moss coating the corners of the brick walls. The front garden was lined with half walls made from similar brick, and garden beds were overflowing with bunches of flowers and bushes of berries. On one side, the buds were so plump and large they could reach over the wall and dangle, a beautiful bluebell flower prominently swaying with the breeze. In contrast, the other side had more controlled flowers, sections for roses and sunflowers and elegant looking flowers I didn't know the names of.
I gasped as I marvelled at the cottage. "Is this your home?" my words were barely a whisper.
"It is also your home, starting today," he assured, turning to me. Everywhere was so colourful and bright, but when I looked at him, he seemed dark and out of place, his shadow once again appearing to flicker in the daylight. "I know this is quite an adjustment, my little duckling, but I hope that this place is to your liking."
"To my liking…" I mumbled. My eyes travelled to the top of the cottage, noticing a small chimney with smoke billowing out the top. "Umm… where are we? How did you get us here from inside that building?"
"Farm and bushland of rural England," he took a quizzical glance around before half-heartedly pointing, "I think London is that way somewhere."
"England…? London?!" I went to press my hands to my face but accidentally whacked my nose with the shackles. I groaned in pain as I pushed my fingertips against where I hit.
Theodore chuckled in surprise as he leaned over me, taking my hands from my face to examine my face. "Here," he retracted his hand and held out his walking stick, "You won't be needing those anymore." He tapped it against the ground, a snake-like string of blue slivering along the ground and connecting to my shadow. A force entered the soles of my feet and travelled up my spine, shaking my bones and causing my nerves to tingle again. The sudden energy came into my hands and throat, a sudden cracking sound radiating in my ears. I looked down at my wrists and watched small fractures form in the metal, growing bigger and broader until they shattered, pieces of the metal falling to my feet.
The energy surge had left me, leaving me once again feeling exhausted.
Although my hands felt tired, I lifted my hands to the restraint around my neck and was surprised to feel it crumble under my touch. When the brace clattered to the ground, I pressed my hands against my neck, noting warm patches where the metal rubbed against my skin.
"You are now a mage's apprentice," Theodore informed, folding his arms. With his hat still in hand, his short black hair was left to wave with the breeze.
"Mage?"
"You may know us under the title wizard," he informed, "We are a dying old-fashioned breed, my dear. We're the manipulators of the natural world, using the energy and flow of living beings and world materials to do as we please." As if to make his point, a stronger breeze washed over us, picking up loose leaves and plucking some flowers from their brushes to twirl them between us in a small whirlwind.
I reached a hand out to the small tornado, the dust and leaves and petals running through my fingers. My owner turned back to the house, the slight wind dying down and dropping everything it picked up in a small spiral at my feet.
"I welcome you as my apprentice, Anya," he looked over his shoulder.
Anya? I thought, Is that my name now?
"I hope you don't mind that name," he called as he approached the house, "I thought it suited you because it was cute."
"Umm…" I didn't know what to say in response to that, but I felt my cheeks flush.
"Now come, Anya. There is much to discuss and do," he informed, his coat barely touched the dirt ground, giving him a strange stalking appearance.
The way my new name rolled off his tongue made the title seem oddly familiar to me, as if it were my name. I followed him into the quaint cottage.
Estado de energía semanal
-- Ranking de
Poder 
-- Piedra de
Poder