07-12-2025, 04:37 PM
Emily began to probe again - looking for the spot Jared mentioned. Then she tried it again. She tried to grab her power through Jared - and hit a wall. ”Damn it,” she said. Releasing her power. ”Let’s break for a moment. I need to think.”
Jared nodded. ”I’ll go get you some water,” Jared said standing and helping Emily to her feet.
Emily began to walk around the gym, contemplating as she did. She was feeling enough to believe that this was possible. She just was doing something wrong. She had hit a wall. Perhaps Jared was shielding himself somehow. Protecting his power from being taken. Or maybe it was something else.
Jared came down a moment later and handed her a glass of water. She leaned against the wall and took a sip. ”What are you thinking?” Jared asked calmly.
”That this is possible, but we’re doing something wrong,” she looked at him curiously. ”You aren’t blocking me somehow - with the power or otherwise?”
Jared shook his head. ”Mind is completely clear. This is why I thought it would be better for two people who trust to do it. And I’m doing nothing with the power.”
Emily nodded. It was the answer she had expected. A wall. Perhaps his power was that wall. ”Are you holding the power? Jared shook his head. ”Dont seize it. Not yet.” Emily tried to draw the power through him again. But there was nothing. No wall, but no power either.
Emily grimaced. She was so close. Then a thought came. If not holding it was too little and holding it was too much, what if he was reaching for it. What if he brought himself to the cusp of holding his power. ”Bring yourself right to where you can almost grab it, but don’t.”
Jared nodded and Emily reached out. Suddenly a fury was coursing through her. She saw Jared’s eyes widen. He had felt the change too. Jared had described his power to her. A molten river of fury. Surrendering to it would get you killed. You had to fight it. She realized now that was an understatement. ”How does it not burn you alive?” she gasped. ”I can’t do anything with it? Can you?”
Jared nodded. ”I’ll go get you some water,” Jared said standing and helping Emily to her feet.
Emily began to walk around the gym, contemplating as she did. She was feeling enough to believe that this was possible. She just was doing something wrong. She had hit a wall. Perhaps Jared was shielding himself somehow. Protecting his power from being taken. Or maybe it was something else.
Jared came down a moment later and handed her a glass of water. She leaned against the wall and took a sip. ”What are you thinking?” Jared asked calmly.
”That this is possible, but we’re doing something wrong,” she looked at him curiously. ”You aren’t blocking me somehow - with the power or otherwise?”
Jared shook his head. ”Mind is completely clear. This is why I thought it would be better for two people who trust to do it. And I’m doing nothing with the power.”
Emily nodded. It was the answer she had expected. A wall. Perhaps his power was that wall. ”Are you holding the power? Jared shook his head. ”Dont seize it. Not yet.” Emily tried to draw the power through him again. But there was nothing. No wall, but no power either.
Emily grimaced. She was so close. Then a thought came. If not holding it was too little and holding it was too much, what if he was reaching for it. What if he brought himself to the cusp of holding his power. ”Bring yourself right to where you can almost grab it, but don’t.”
Jared nodded and Emily reached out. Suddenly a fury was coursing through her. She saw Jared’s eyes widen. He had felt the change too. Jared had described his power to her. A molten river of fury. Surrendering to it would get you killed. You had to fight it. She realized now that was an understatement. ”How does it not burn you alive?” she gasped. ”I can’t do anything with it? Can you?”