Love Bites

LOVE BITES Chapter 15 : Shattered Reflections

No, you're doing it wrong, arms! You're suppose to be elegant, I chided myself.

Seconds passed and still nothing was happening. Unable to take it any longer, I stomped my foot and sulked angrily, "Daddy, I can't do it!"

If Mommy saw me, she'd certainly be angry by my actions but I was just so, so, so angry!

Daddy threw his head back and laughed. It was a deep rumble and only made me more angry. He came to stand behind me and unfolding his arms, put them on my shoulders. "Yes, you can, Nikki. Just focus."

I gestured to the teddy angrily. "I am focusing but it won't move! I've told it and told but it's being stupid and not listening to me!"

"Patience, child. You can't expect a perfect result when you've never used your powers before."

"I don't care!" I whined. "You can do it. Mommy can do it. Alastair can do magi too. It's no fair that me can't do it!"

Daddy laughed again and this time, I got so angry I snatched up the bear and threw it across my room. Before it could hit the wall, it froze midair. Gasping, I turned back to Daddy. He was grinning, his finger lazily pointed in the air towards the soft toy. With a flick, the bear was thrown back towards me, landing perfectly in my open palms.

"That's no fair," I grumbled.

Looking at me with his dark grey eyes, Daddy said, "Why are you getting so upset, Nikki?"

I played with the teddy bear in my hands, making it slap itself in the face. "Because," I grumbled.

"Because why?"

Returning the bear to its rightful place on the wooden post at the foot of the bed I answered, "Because I don't have magi like everybody else."

"Nonsense," he scoffed. "Of course you do." Crouching to my level, he gently grabbed my chin and turned my face towards his. "You're very powerful, Nikki. You're the daughter of two Imperials which means you have the same blood flowing through your veins as we do. That blood carries the powers we have."

"Alastair doesn't have those powers, does he?" I asked.

"Not quite, child. But no more changing the subject. Try to move that soft toy again but this time, believe that you can."

"But Daddy..." I whined.

He flicked his finger and with an invisible force, I was spun around on the spot. My hair flew over my face and I had to pull it out of my mouth. Once again, I was forced to face my enemy. I glanced over my shoulder and gave Daddy a pitiful look. Why can't he understand that no matter how hard I try, I can't do it?

"Go on," he encouraged and crossed his arms over his chest.

I puckered my lip. "Can I go play with Alastair?"

"Nikki," he warned, his voice low. "Get on with it. You have to learn to use your abilities. The world is a dangerous place despite how resilient we are. Without your powers, you're defenceless. Do you understand that?"