The Real You

15. The Growling 'Man'

"It's so hard to memorize your powers! So, Rochelle and Carter - both of them can read minds??"

Delan chuckled, "Yes. But Rochelle just reads minds when you are thinking of it strongly. Otherwise, it's silence. Carter can hear every thought and even plant his own thoughts in others' heads."

"And you can see shadows like your mother?"

"Yes" He agreed, "Even Aunt Sasha does that"

"Wow"

"Victoria?"

I tried to remember what he told me about her.

"Fire"

"Right!" He clapped and asked, "And what does that mean?"

"She can throw fire balls from her hand whenever she wants."

He appreciated me again. The most interesting power was Victor's. He could make people laugh uncontrollably. Imagine you are planning to attack someone on the enemy's side but you can't stop laughing, giving an easy 'in' for your enemy. He can also lift the mood of people who are unnecessarily dull. Explains why he is always cheerful even when the times are dire. Not just that, he can manipulate every emotion a being goes through.

"Are you tensed?" I asked him. He knew what I was talking about. The coronation was only a few hours away. The King told the council and the family that the coronation will be preponed for security reasons and no one would know about it until the grand bell will be rung to intimate the citizens. It shouldn't be a problem. It need not be a magnificent affair as long as every person in the kingdom is able to attend it. 

"Yes" he said without hesitation, "KK is going to flip after the whole drama"

"You will manage it."

We were on the topmost floor of the palace, in front of a wide window, gazing at the night's stars. We were sitting on the window sill and the light night's breeze was comforting.

"You are also tensed" he stated.

"Will your KK behead me?" I asked.

"No" He laughed, "Females are respected here unless they do something to deserve punishment. Not wanting his elder son because you like the younger one is not a sin"

I stayed quiet. I don't like Noah. I mean, I like him like a dear friend. Maybe if he didn't fight with me like a fool, I'd even hangout with him like I was doing with Delan. But things have changed and I was avoiding Noah even when he tried to talk to me once or twice. I know it is frustrating him and he'd even asked Delan to drop in some good words about him. I and Delan are staying together more often, not just to show off to the people but because we were liking each other's company. He remains to be an asshole but it doesn't seem rude or mean anymore. It feels like...Delan. I guess I got used to him. 

"I had a question," I said, wondering if I should ask him or not.

"Shoot"

"How will Noah duel with you? If he challenges you for the throne?"

Delan turned to me and smiled, amused, "You mean how will he duel with no powers?"

I shrugged.

"He can take help from others. As in, because he is a powerless Royal, a rarity but not impossible, he can ask someone else to lend their powers to him or support him."

"So, who is he planning to ask?"

Delan didn't speak for a while. I thought he had dropped the topic but he suddenly said, "There won't be a duel. I will hand him the throne"