The Promise by Mahlatse Mokone (best ebook reader ubuntu txt) 📖

this ring.” He said and I was starting to notice a pattern here. “My Mom gave me this necklace, she said its been in her family for generations.” I said, “How could she not tell me this?” I said more to myself.

“Maybe even she was not aware of its power, my uncle said there are some who go through life never knowing.” He said. Had I not met him, I would’ve been one of them. “Or maybe she did and she just wanted to protect you, there are dangers to wielding this power.” He said with a frown.

“How come I can’t do what you did,” I asked, I was aware now.

He smiled “Your ability to control your necklace has to be triggered, either through self preservation, fear or sheer force of will.” He said.

“What triggered your own?” I asked “I willed myself to, my uncle helped me.” he said “The one you like hiking with?” I asked and he nodded.

“We’re normally linked to the person who passes the power onto us.” He said and I frowned “You mean I’m linked to my Mom, how? Like emotionally?” I asked and he nodded again “How you feel will affect her and visa versa.” He said then suddenly I remembered that day I came home from the dance and found her looking lonely on the couch. I was able to hold it together until I saw her and I started crying.

I fell silent for a while trying to process everything “I know it’s a lot to take in.” he said stroking a strand of my hair, “No kidding.” I said meekly.

“There’s one more thing.” He said and I looked at him “These things are our lifeline, we can never take them off even if we try or we die.” He said.

 

 

After a long shower in my room I came down the stairs with a mission to get some answers. I knew Mom had them. I only found Dad on the couch reading his Sunday newspaper, he looked up from it and smiled.

“Hey angel.” He said “Hi Dad, where’s Mom?” I asked, “She just went outside.” He said and just then Mom entered the great room from the back.

“Hi sweetie, how was your sleepover?” she asked and I paused a little “It was great. Fun.” I said and she nodded as she settled next to Dad.

I decided to cut to the chase, not bothering to sit down “Though the weirdest thing happened to me earlier in the day, I was told that I can wield some magic with my necklace.” I said and I watched them both tense. This is interesting.

Mom looked at Dad with wide eyes and I knew I was right. She knew the necklace’s power and decided to keep me in the dark and somehow Dad’s in on it too.

“Who told you that?” Dad asked with an eerie calm voice and I suddenly felt like I shouldn’t mention Brandon “Some fortune teller at the pier, at first I didn’t think much of it but judging from both your reactions there’s some truth to it.” I said then looked at Mom “So why don’t you tell me the truth?” I asked, feeling anger bubble up inside of me. Mom paused then stood up facing me, her green eyes wary.

“Its true, your necklace contains magic you can wield once you come into your full powers, but there a chance that might not happen.” She said, “I didn’t tell you because I wanted to protect you sweetie.” She added suddenly looking a little pale. I threw my arms up.

“By keeping something like this from me? How is that protecting me Mom!” I was almost shouting now. “Watch your tone Katelyn,” Dad admonished, his tone terse. “You knew about this too Dad and neither of you thought to tell me, I had a right to know!” I said more quietly.

I saw Mom reel and Dad jumped off his seat to steady her “Calm down angel!” Dad mildly shouted at me now, which shocked me until I remembered what Brandon said to me.

We’re normally linked to the person who passes the power onto us.

“Mom?” I asked hovering over her too, my initial anger forgotten. She held up her hand “I’m fine.” She said to both of us but neither of us took her word for it.

“What’s going on here?” we all looked up to see JT standing a few feet away, watching us with a look of worry.

“Lets go outside.” Dad said to JT then he kissed Mom’s forehead, “You, better watch yourself angel.” He said to me “You do something like that again I’m grounding you for the rest of your life.” He added and I nodded then he stood up and JT followed him out the glass doors with confusion.

I looked back to Mom, some color was returning to her cheeks “Can I get you anything?” I asked “Water.” She said and I fetched it quickly, feeling a little guilty, I didn’t know what I was doing to her in my tirade.

“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sweetie but I’d be lying if I said I regret it,” She said then she told me some things Brandon already covered last night.

“You can’t blame me for trying to spare you all of this.” She said “That necklace nearly killed me once.” She added and my eyebrows shot up.

“Its powers are not to be wielded carelessly.” She added.

“How did you come about controlling yours?” I asked and her gaze narrowed “Mine were triggered by fear, your father was in grave danger.” She said with a tone what said she wasn’t going to elaborate; I decided to let it go.

“Be careful sweetie, I don’t want anything to happen to you.” She said and I hugged her as a sign of peace. “I know Mom, I’m sorry about that, its just all very—” she stopped me with a small smile “I know.”

 

 

I sat with Brandon on the floor of his bedroom; facing each other. He had his arms locked around my waist and my legs were on both sides of him. I was feeling much better now that I was with him.

“How are you feeling?” he asked resting his forehead against mine, I breathed out

“I’ve had better Sundays.” I said and he smiled apologetically.

“I confronted my parents about my necklace.” I asked and he lifted his head in surprise “You did? How did it go?” he asked and I grimaced “Not so well, I even made my Mom sick.” I said, “That’s not your fault.” He said and I shrugged.

“It sure felt like it, but she ended up telling me everything. Which put things into perspective.” I said and he gave me a questioning look.

“I want to wield my powers too.” I said and his eyebrows shot up “Help me.” I added and he paused for a moment frowning. “Katelyn maybe that’s not such a good idea, your Mom was right to try and protect you.” He said “I only told you because I didn’t want to keep this a secret from you, but unfortunately that meant you knowing about yourself too.” He added.

“And I’m glad you did, I’m going to be fine, I just want do it too, please.” I beseeched and he shook his head, resolved.

I pouted, “If you don’t help me, I’m not going to let you touch me again.” I said and he raised an eyebrow at me then his hand went into my hair and he grabbed the back of my head tilting it back.

“Are you blackmailing me?” he asked “That’s a cheap shot princess.” He added.

“You’ve left me no choice Eddie.” I murmured and he let me go. He buried his head in the crook of my neck “You smell heavenly, I could just eat you up.” He said with a gentle bite to my shoulder. I stifled a giggle because it tingled a little and I pulled back the strap of my tank top.

“Help me and you can.” I said boldly and he raised an eyebrow then rolled his eyes “Why resort to such devious means? Why not flutter your pretty blue eyes at me, I’m pretty sure that’ll be just as effective.” He said and I smiled.

“You don’t say?” I said then did just that “Will you pretty please help me?” I asked and he sighed, “You’re not going to let this go, are you?” he said and I shook my head “Fine.” He said.

“Lets try to trigger them by will.” He said then he took my hands in his and told me to close my eyes. When I did he told me to calm myself and concentrate deep inside me.

“Focus on moving something or yourself, but will it with your mind.” He said, I closed my eyes tighter and tried to make the guitar by his desk move. When I felt nothing out of the ordinary I opened my eyes and groaned. “Its not working.” I grumbled, “Try again, harder.” He said his own eyes still closed, “You have to believe you can do it first, your subconscious still refuses to believe in the existence of magic, break through that wall first.” He added.

I did it again, but nothing worked. He opened his eyes “Can’t you trigger them for me, with your own or something?” I asked and he shook his head.

“You have to do it yourself. And willing it out of you wont work” He said then he frowned and stood up. I watched as he went to his desk; he looked for something in there and walked back holding a wooden handle.

He sat down and flipped it, revealing a small dagger; my eyes widened “What are you doing?” I asked with a high-pitched voice.

“You love me don’t you princess?” he asked and I looked at him then at the knife, starting to panic “Yes, you know that, why are you even asking that?” I said quickly and he lightly stabbed his neck with the sharp point, “Brandon!” I screamed in horror, I instinctively reached out to him but was stopped by that invisible wall, my eyes widened as I realized that he’s doing this on purpose.

Mine were triggered by fear; your father was in grave danger

“Brandon, stop this!” I shouted at him “Break through the shield Katelyn.” He said then he flinched running the blade slowly down his neck opening the cut a bit more. I screamed when more blood pooled to his shirt, hot tears streamed down my face and a strange feeling coursed through me, it felt like adrenaline, only supercharged. I banged my hands at the wall and it was gone.

“Oh my God Brandon.” I cried; taking the dagger from him and throwing it aside, my hands were covered by his blood trying to figure out how to help him. “We have to get you to a hospital.” I tried to stand up.

“No Katelyn, its okay, I’m fine.” He said stopping me and I looked at him

“What do you mean you’re fine, you’re bleeding,” I wailed but was silenced when I watched the wound slowly close, then it was completely gone. I gaped at him, lost for words.

“We can heal ourselves, among other things.” He explained slowly, he means to say he was never in any real danger. Anger exploded inside me and I repeatedly pushed at him “You crazy, reckless bastard!” I shouted at him and then jumped to my feet walking away “Come on Katelyn, don’t be like that.” He said grabbing my arm. I snapped and turned sharply to slap him across the face.

“Okay, I deserved that.” He said slowly turning back to face me “It was the only way.” He added. “The only way!” I scoffed “I was scared for your life.” I added. He smiled causing me to look at him dumbfounded “True and that was effective.” He said, “Katelyn, you did it.” He added as if I was missing something vitally important.

“I did it?” I asked, testing the words as though they were foreign and he nodded excitedly.