The World Walkers: Shael: Malandra: Sanctuary (part 2)

[k_a_webb]

Part 1

“I have to admit that makes a lot of sense, although I don’t believe it was the fae who created me.”

“Who did?” Malandra asked, wondering who else had the ability to do something like that, because she’d been told it was only the fae who had creation magic.

“No one.” The house sounded amused. “Like many things within the Web I evolved, because I was needed, and as a sanctuary I am meant to be as hidden as possible. If I could tell you exactly where you were then there is a chance you might pass that information on to someone else, someone who’s hunting for one of the people I protect or who might wish me harm if they realised what I was. That doesn’t mean I don’t wish to know, but I know it’s better that I don’t, so I do my best not to feel too unhappy that I am lacking certain information.”

“That happens?”

“Yes, Malandra, it does. The worlds provide, as best they can, what their inhabitants need, and there are plenty of people who have desperately needed a safe place at times of trouble. I am one of them, although not the only one. Should the time come that you decide to leave then I am able to open a door for you, which should take you to wherever you want to go, but that can only happen after you have been here for at least one full year, to give you a chance to learn more about yourself, about the worlds, and about whatever magic it is you might wield.”

She shook her head. “I don’t have any magic.”

“Everyone who is brought to this house has magic of some form, but most don’t know about it. The whole reason you were kicked out in the first place was due to the worry that you might have an ability that your step-father is terrified of, as he only recently found out who your birth father was, and I can teach you how to use it, if that is what you wish, or how to remove it entirely.”

“How can you do that? I thought it was impossible to remove magic.”

“Normally it is, but being here means you have certain options that you wouldn’t have anywhere else. Most people are happy to keep their magic, once they have learnt about it, although there are a few who think it would be much better for them if they remove their magic, so I walk them through the ritual and warn them once again that it can be dangerous. Fortunately they all made it through safely.”

“Dangerous?”

“If you happen to do something wrong the ritual can either break your mind or kill you. Even though I make certain that you know it as well as I do there is always a chance that someone might forget a word or a gesture and that is something that terrifies me every time. You must make your won choice, that I accept, but I wished every time that I could talk them out of what they were doing.”

Mirrored from K. A. Webb Writing.