Bleeding Hearts

Chapter 29

*Aaliyah's P.O.V*

Zero eventually sets me down, rubbing my back as I cling to her. She hums slightly, a small sigh escaping her as she lets me cuddle into her legs.

"What are you doing silly? You want to be attached to my wife or something?" Miachel asks, making me whine. I hadn't even known that he had approached, now he was teasing me when all I wanted was to cuddle with Zero.

"She's not in a good mood right now," Zero says as she lifts me back up, patting my bottom slightly as I cling to her like my life depends on me. She rocks me, humming as I let out a miserable whimper.

"What happened?" Miachel asks, immediately being on the defensive as a growl escapes him. I turn my head slightly, looking at him as he stares at me with concern.

"She's just upset about her scars and having to explain to the doctor what caused them," Zero says as she continues to sway slightly, letting me hide my face into her shoulder after she spoke to him. She bounces me slightly, swaying in place as she hums slightly.

"I'm sorry Aaliyah, that must have dredged up a lot of old memories," Miachel says as I feel his hand gently brush through my hair. I knew it was his hand because it's bigger than Zero's and also he isn't as good at avoiding the tangles in my hair as Zero was.

"Is fine, should be used to it by now," I murmur, keeping my face hidden.

"You shouldn't have to be used to dealing with traumatic memories of being tortured. That's not normal and it's okay if you aren't used to it. I don't think very many people would be, especially if those people were also trapped in the body of a small child who probably has no emotional control," Miachel says, making me huff at how stupidly smart he sounds. He had very valid points but I still felt silly for struggling to cope with how I felt about my scars.

"Wow, I didn't know you had a brain under that blonde mop," Zero teases him, making me giggle at her words. I found it funny when she teased him since he rarely had a response or would just act all offended. Which I thought was super funny since he usually had a sharp tongue when speaking to anyone but her.

"I'm going to file assault charges on you for bruising my ego just now," Miachel says, making me giggle even more. Zero bounces me slightly, adjusting her hold on me so that I'm sitting high up on her hip.

"Do you find that funny? I'll list you as an accomplice," Miachel says, poking my side lightly which earns a squeal from me. I swat his hand away, jerking when I feel magic wrap around me. My magic lashes out in response, breaking the teleportation spell that had been cast on me.

"Well, I didn't think your magic would still be so strong with how little you are little flower," Grandpa's voice makes me lift my head, smiling at him as I reach for him. He walks down the hall to Zero, holding his arms out to me instead of trying to use magic again. I squirm as Zero carefully hands me over, getting situated in his arms before I'm even properly tucked against his chest.

"Magic is always strong, like a guardian," I explain, making him hum in appreciation. He had told me stories when I was younger, about the magic guardians and their connections to nature. How they had splintered more and more as more witches were made, a little piece of them going to each witch to protect them.

"I can feel your power, we'll have to go out on the training field tomorrow since it's getting so strong," Grandpa says, rubbing my back.

"I thought she was magically exhausted," Miachel says, making me pout slightly.

"Her capacity for magic is exhausted, currently it's a dried up pond with only sprinkles of rain being able to fill it. And part of that reason is because without practical spell casting, the power of the magic can become so potent it evaporates as soon as it starts to build. Powerful magic is a potent thing and can often be damaging if the person with it is not a practical spell caster," Grandpa explains.

"And what is practical spell casting?" Zero cuts in, sounding very interested.

"Well, for someone like Aaliyah, it would be using her blood to perform spells. Spells and not summonings," Grandpa says, making me huff as I realize that Keturah had definitely told them about me summoning her. I knew she had but a small part of mind had completely forgotten about it.

"So something like blood wards?" Miachel asks, earning a choked noise from Grandpa.

"Gods above, no! Only masters of their craft should mess with wards, they're so volatile. Practical magic would be using her blood magic to detect things around her with her eyes closed or to seal old scrolls so that only those of her bloodline can touch them," Grandpa says.

"Sealing scrolls is just you giving me something to keep busy! Practical magic can also be something my magic isn't perfect for, like fire magic. It takes a little more magical energy but it also takes more power," I explain, peeking my head out of his chest to look at Miachel.

"Smart girl, you've stayed up to date on your studying," Grandpa praises, kissing my forehead which makes me blush as I hide my face again.

"Anyways, I'll steal you away to practice your magic later. For now I just wanted to invite the three of you to breakfast with me and my wife. Rana will also be there," Grandpa says. I perk up at the thought of having breakfast with them, since it had been so long.

"I think we could manage that," Zero says. I grin at that, not hiding my face so that I can look at her and show how happy I am at the idea of having breakfast with my grandpa. Ashia was going to be there too but grandpa was the only person I cared about. Especially since his fire magic meant that everything was perfectly cooked! That was the perk of fire magic, something many people didn't realize. I did though and soon Zero and Miachel would as well. I rest my head on my grandpa's shoulder as he carries me, smiling at Zero and Miachel the whole time since they're walking behind him.