The Trait Wielder

Introduction

                                                                    

        “Then-then she let me have it.”

        “Did she?”

         “Uh-huh.”

      Light crept under the stark white door, only reaching so far until it could no more while the remainder of the room was dimly lit from the light posts edging the street. The occasional drone of a passing vehicle was heard, the headlights scanning over the room briefly like a lighthouse would the sea. It revealed hidden stuffed animals on shelves, toys from a cereal boxes here and there, and the lined up children’s books behind them.  Wide ruled papers were taped to the walls with drawings that looked like nothing more than multicolored brail, yet the images could still be made out. Behind the closed door was the muffled voice of Erin Burnett laying out the news of Isis.  Such urgency, for just a moment, can be ignored.

         On the bed the sheets ruffled and embraced the child underneath as it stilled, falling back ever so slowly as it settled. Contrasting from the fuchsia covers a little girl no more than five held fair skin and brown disheveled shoulder length hair. Soft freckles dotted across her nose and cheeks while her blue eyes held a spark that so many lose while still in their early stages of life. What better company than a child whose presence couldn’t be sprightlier?

            “You are going away?” poor child was visibly distraught, her eyes wide and mouth hung open as she awaited the desired reply.

            “No. Not yet."

            It was then that her face lit, “Oh! Ok! Can you show me the magic again?”

            “What? I’ve already shown you five times tonight."

          “But,” suddenly she paused, no doubt formulating some sort of convincing excuse, however she had came up with nothing, "But can you do it again? "

        A baritone chuckle followed, "I'm afraid not. I'll be willing to tell a story though. What would you like to hear?"

          "How did you get your magic?"

          "Well, I was born with it?"

          "When you were a baby?" 

          "... Precisely."

          The night carried on with the long tale of the guest's forthcoming followed by answers until the child and her guest noticed the lack of sound from the living room. They, too, fell quiet as soft padded steps neared, casting a shadow over the light that seeped under the door. Then it was still, and the doorknob twisted gingerly and soundlessly. In peeked a woman, evidently the mother, who was either checking on her daughter or concerned by the voices that eminated from the room. Her dark eyebrows kneaded togther in both suspicion and inquiry. By nine in the evening one would think their toddler was sleeping, but this one was found talking to herself- or at least what appeared to be talking to herself. The girl's guest was somehow hidden in plain sight. 

        "Mandy.. Who are you talking to?" the mother advanced into the room and she folded her arms loosely over her chest, daring to look around the room. Of course she had her doubts, but just in case. The front door was locked and there was no back door unless someone had somehow climbed up to their balcony. 

        "Mister Orlitt. He was showing me magic," with this Mandy even pointed to the man who was sitting at the edge of her bed. "And- And he said he had magic since he was little," she added, the words tumbling from her lips as if she couldn't get it out fast enough. That given, the mother's shoulders fell as she sighed with a soft yet cynical smile, mouthing an 'O.K'. Like the majority of adults the woman was subject to her own knowledge, but then again this particular guest didn't allow her to see him. He wouldn't be so welcomed then. He would love to babble about, tell how her daughter was phenominal and talented. Now how was that going to play out? A man knows her daughter from the inside out and she'd been given no input about it whatsoever? Hah. He wouldn't dare.

        The man, Mister Orlitt so to say, remained quiet and at the edge of his seat as he waited for the opprotune moment to leave. 

        Mandy's mother expression turned to that of earnesty, "Well can you tell him goodnight so you can go to sleep? You have school tomorrow morning."

        "Uh-huh," Mandy nodded though she was quick to change her response when her mother tossed her a look. "Yes ma'am."

        After getting the confirmation the mother spun on her heel and started back towards the door, letting off a light warning, "You better be asleep when I come back or I'll tell Mister Orlitt that he can't come over anymore."

        Being so charmingly gullible Mandy had believed her and gaped, "Noo!" Quickly she threw the sheets over her head, but abruptly threw them back to say, "Goodnight!" And with that she was buried under the sheets refusing to make even the slightest movement. Surely she wanted to look convincing by the time her mother came back. If she ever came back. That one bribe to take away Mister Orlitt seemed to be enough.

        A grin placid on his lips, the man stood and said his own silent goodnight with the dip of his head. His dark cobalt hair brushed his jaw and his bangs masked over his auriferous eyes until he stood straight again. He had a well- rounded face that wasn't as defined as most due to his softer features and he had a sort of youthful brightness felt in his pressence. Under the yellow glow of the window he appeared just a tad dark because his complexion lied on the more.. olive side. This had most definitely made his golden eyes pop if they hadn't already. Beneath his maroon vest and long sleeved white dress shirt it could be told that he was between athletic and lean. Well proportioned if that was the proper way to put it. 

        From there everthing was utterly still. The man hadn't left through the door nor the window. He was simply there one moment whereas the next moment he was not.