Mel's Prompt Story

Mel’s Prompt Story

Prologue

When Lorwyn entered the dorm she knew that something was wrong. It was eerily quiet, there was always a group of boys up planning pranks of some sort. With a wary eye, she checked the ceiling or buckets and the floor for mouse traps. She'd been the subject of their jokes for the past month and it was started to wear on her. Moving slowly and with extreme stealthiness she made it to her room with three other girls.

"Mara? Do you know what's--"

As the door opened she stopped short. Mara and two other bodies were on the floor or half out of their beds. Lorwyn swallowed and finally registered the dark figure, standing with the stillness of the dead. The panic that flooded Lorwyn increased dramatically as he turned to her and showed her his face, cold and unashamed.

"Brecc?" Her heart jolted to a stop. She couldn't believe what she was seeing. "Brecc, what are you--?" Her mind was muddled, trying to combine her image of her best friend with this cold blooded murderer. Her eyes went to his clothes and hands. Blood. Knives.

"You killed them." No matter how much she loved and cared for him, her mind could not deny her eyes.

Dread settled within her and purred contentedly. He wouldn't hurt her, she could talk to him. There had to be a logical explanation. Calmly Lorwyn squared her shoulders to Brecc and asked matter-of-factly, "What now?"

Brecc's dead eyes stared into her. Gently she probed him with her own mind, trying to make any sort of connection with the boy she knew, but he was securely guarded.

And then a smile twisted onto his stone features.

Lorwyn had never been so terrified in her life. This was not her friend, this person wasn't even human. This was a maniac who would hurt anyone who got in his way. Instinctively she stepped back, frozen like a deer about to take an arrow to its heart.

Brecc lifted a knife to eye level, still grinning and started to walk toward her. When he spoke it was slow and softly, as if he had all the time in the world. "Now...Now, I'm going to leave you, alive and well. And for years to come, you are going to play this scene over and over again. You were too trusting Lori. Naive little Lori, you trusted me, your roommates, your superiors, anyone who greeted you kindly without giving it a thought." He paced around her, flipping the knife around as if trying to decide where to cut. "So weak, so submitting, so easy to manipulate." His grin widened as he placed a knife to her throat. "That's all your good for. Isn't that right? Entertainment, that's your roll. The butt of all the jokes." He laughed. Lorwyn shuddered, it wasn't his laugh. He jerked his face close to hers. "Poor, poor little Lori, can't protect your friends, can't beat me, can't protect yourself. Can't even use her powers to see that her friend is a killer." He shoved her away like trash.

After sheathing his stained knives he touched his forehead in a mocking farewell and lit a match. "Enjoy the rest of your existence."

It took a full twenty seconds for Lorwyn to realize that Brecc had left and the dorms were now in flames, her roommates were dead and her best friend had just betrayed everything they had believed.

Hurt and anger swirled together and tears pricked her eyes. She was going to kill him. She was going to find him beat some answers out of him and then kill him. When she finally came to herself, she was surrounded in flames. Gritting her teeth against the heat, Lorwyn locked on to the nearest window. Three floors up. It was either a couple of broken legs or being burned alive. With a hoarse scream, she rushed through the flames as searing pain licked her skin eagerly. Thunking into the wall, she coughed unable to get clean air into her lungs and kept her eyes tightly shut against the flames. By feel she found the latch and heaved the window open, crying against the pain and hurt. The cold air only seemed to make the burning room hotter. Lorwyn leapt and counted to two before she hit the ground her legs crumbling under her, she tipped herself forward and rolled.

The heat followed her, on her hands and knees she crawled through the grass until she could feel the damp dew. All the time keeping her eyes tightly shut, crying silently. She didn't want to open them. Inside she was screaming, her skin was screaming. Alternating between coughing out smoke and her body wracking with sobs, Lorwyn felt like a wreck and she was sinking fast. When she finally had control of her voice she knelt and screamed to rival the roaring fire.

Chapter 1

Lorwyn ducked into the street and wove through the crowd, not the easiest task but it was managable. Above her the skies were clear and the day was warm. Once she was clear of the throng she took a deep breath in and let it out slowly, reveling in the heat. It reminded her of home, something that she was longing for more and more lately.

Chimes brought her attention to the large and extravagant bell-tower in the middle of the central square several blocks down the crowded street. It was ten til eleven, if she didn't hurry, she'd be late. Unbidden anxiety welled up in her belly. Instead of dwelling on the source of her anxiety she dove into the crowd, out-letting her adrenaline into movement. After a strenuous "walk" down the lane, she found herself flushed. Twisting, slipping, prodding and in some cases shoving was not what she had been looking forward to when she got out of bed this morning.

With a hand she fanned herself and looked up at the imposing building before her. Huge letters were chiseled over the massive columns, "Paxsalvador Center of Operations." After taking several deeps breaths, not only slow her breathing but to control her wild emotions, she smoothed her loose robe-like blouse and checked her hair. With a satisfactory nod she straightened her shoulders and strode into the main lobby.

Here she found herself surrounded by desks and desks filled with clerks, marble columns and rich wood doors that led to small offices and hallways. She had only been to this specific building twice since beginning her assignment in the city. Her city, she corrected herself mentally, although it did no good. She could never come to see Yevic in a possessive light. Yevic was the third largest city in the Noland Empire, a center of trades and craftsmanship. It was also a pain to look after.

A clerk passed too close for comfort and Lorwyn backed away apologetically, realizing that she had loitered inconveniently right in the doorway. Slightly embarrassed she went to the main desk and gave the clerk a quick smile. There was no reaction from him as he waited for her to state her business. Lorwyn was itching to get inside of his head, but she was surrounded by too many gifted and the chance that she would be discovered was too great. For all she knew that was why they were calling her in. She was going to be stripped of her title and privileges and sent to some hell-hole where she would be guarded and under constant supervision.

She smiled against the panic and rampant imagination. "Hello, my name is Lorwyn, telepath of Yevic. I have a meeting with the Head Clerk."

This time the clerk bent over his papers and shuffled out the one he wanted. "This is a form you will need to fill out by the end of the day. The Head Clerk is right through those doors and is ready for you." The little man spoke quickly and succinctly. A man of business, Lori guessed as she entered the Head Clerk's office knocking softly to alert him of her presence.

"Come in." Came the command even though she was already half way into the office.

In the split second between opening and closing the door Lorwyn examined the Head Clerk. He was young, much younger than she had expected. From the way that he kept his desk and shelves, he was meticulous and obsessively organized. Thick hair--cut short--, small nose, swallow face and big brown eyes.

"Sit down."

And commanding... Lorwyn sat but remained silent. She still had no idea as to why she was here and she wasn't about to offer any information, good or bad. It was always better to analyze the situation first than act prematurely. The Head Clerk didn't look at her as he continued to fill out what she assumed was a report of some kind.

Due to this, silence filled the room and allowed her to examine him more carefully.

A plaque caught her eye. It had been awarded just last month. Ahhh, he was new. No wonder he flaunted his power, now she could see the tell-tale signs: The way that he draped himself proudly over his desk and chair, like it was a throne of some kind. The way he held himself, full of power and self-importance.

Before she could determine anything more he raised his head and smiled thinly at her, then proceeded to air out the document he had just finished. "You must be Lorwyn, the city's telepath?" He asked as he waved the page up and down, blowing on it for good measure.

At this point Lorwyn didn't think that speaking was a good idea. He seemed like the type of man who would criticize her for anything that came out of her mouth. So she simply nodded and hoped it was an acceptable response. At least no one was yelling at her for breaking her covenants yet.

"You should have been given a form at the front desk, it should cover any medical or criminal records you may have accumulated during your time in Yevic. Anything of the sort must be recorded in order for you to be promoted. You understand-"

Lorwyn began to cough, loudly. "I'm sorry, I swear I heard you say "promoted."" Promoted?! That couldn't be right, she had remained carefully notice free. Anyone who looked at her record would see a very nondescript telepath with no skills, awards or any sort of mark of recognition. Her entire career was carefully free of error and acknowledgement.

"Yes, promotion. You've been promoted to High Inquisitor. Obviously, the clerk who wrote your notice was not clear... I'll have to make sure to send out a message... we can't have this kind of slackness..." The Head Clerk scrolled something down on a pad of paper with elegant binding.

Still trying to process the information, Lorwyn took on a sort of dazed expression. In all honesty she wasn't sure what she preferred, prison or promotion. She had worked so hard to stay out of the lime-light, waiting for her chance...

"As a High Inquisitor you will be assigned not to a city but to an entire area, I believe that you have the twenty-seventh district. You will be under a man named Hurst. He will direct you and guide you through the basics." The Clerk stamped several papers. "Sign here, if you please."

Obediently Lorwyn signed and kept her mouth firmly closed. Something was wrong and she didn't like it one bit, but as she was in no position to do anything, simply followed instructions.

"Excellent. I'll need that form done by the end of the day. Tomorrow at eight you will meet your Mentor and you will receive the training you need for your new position." He paused and shifted the forms he had filled out together. "Do you have any questions? You seem a little dazed, no doubt you're speechless, eh?" He winked at her conspiratorially.

"Yes... ummm, no. Actually can you tell me how I got the position?"

Now the Clerk looked confused.

Lorwyn tried to word it in a way he would understand. "Why me and not another telepath? What qualifications did I have that allowed me to be promoted over another?"

He frowned and opened a drawer and quickly filed through the massive amounts of paper held there. With unnerving efficiency he pulled out a paper and read it over. "It seems that several positions have opened up in the last month, you had the required years of experience." He held out the sheet for her to look at.

Taking it from him, she looked it over quickly. He was right. She frowned and gazed and the paper with more fervor as if it would reveal it's secrets under her glare.

"If you don't mind, I have another meeting coming in soon. I'll need you to leave."

"Of course." Lorwyn muttered absently, her mind still entire focused on the sheet before her. According to it, High Inquisitor positions had been opening up regularly since earlier that year. It was like they were rotating them out, but that didn't make sense. It took time and money to train gifted and a High Inquisitor was always an exceptionally gifted person who could manage an entire district. They couldn't retire at this rate which meant they were being fired and if the higher ups were firing High Inquisitors...

A light bulb went off in her mind. The High Inquisitors weren't being fired and they most certainly weren't retiring. They were being killed off, one by one.

Brecc.

It had to be. It was like he had come back, taunting her. Lorwyn's hand clenched, destroying the flimsy paper. She'd kill him, if she ever saw him she'd tear off his head. Hot anger was beating through her now and she wanted to hit something. In a whirl of faces and heat, Lorwyn found herself back at her loft. As she closed the front door, she began tugging off her light top and baggy pants, designed for the heat. Within minutes she was dressed and her hands were padded with long strips of cloth. Still in an anger ridden daze she went to her back room.

On one wall was a map of the three countries, Tredan, The Noland Empire and nestled on the western edge, Paxsalvador. Small pins and ribbons littered the map and desk. Notes, scrawled in her handwriting were attached in certain places. On the other three walls were boards, knives, short swords, and a bow. In the center was a padded dummy. Without hesitation, Lorwyn twisted and brought her heel down on the dummy neck and shoulder, following up with several solid punches to the gut and head.

When she found Brecc, she would be ready for him.

Chapter 2

When Lorwyn woke the next day she realized that she'd completely forgotten to turn in the form that the Head Clerk had wanted. For a full two seconds she worried about it and then shoved it aside. What was done was done, there was nothing that she could do about it now. She rolled out of her cot and groaned as she hit the floor. Her workout yesterday had been too extensive, she should have held back a little. Now she'd waddle around for a few days until her legs felt normal again.

She sat on the hard stone floor and made herself stretch her stiff muscles and continued to groan. This wasn't getting her anywhere, she'd have to get her muscles warm again. Dragging herself to her feet she did basic exercises to work her legs, arms and shoulders. After about thirty minutes she stretched all over, wishing painfully that she hadn't worked her entire body.

When she felt herself again she grabbed a fruit to munch on and pulled the form closer. Upon examination she found it was just a check-up. They wanted to make sure she hadn't injured herself in anyway to prevent her from doing her job. Several of the questions asked about symptoms that could eventually lead to serious health problems but they didn't apply to her. She flipped the form over, on the backside were clearly worded questions about certain laws that would prevent her from being trusted in court or allowed to work. She snorted. Being part of the law made this sort of... unnecessary. There hadn't been any huge accidents that she had to report to the officials and nothing was on her record. And she wasn't about to confess to invading innocent's minds on a daily basis.

Taking a big bite she held the fruit in her mouth while she did a cursory job of filling out the form, then she pulled her hair out of her face and in a band, threw on the same thin, baggy material she had worn yesterday and ran down the stairs to the street. A quick glance at the clock tower told her she had twenty minutes before she had to report in. Juice ran down her chin and she wiped it away with her sleeve trying to figure out the best way to utilize the extra time she had. With a shrug she went to the fountain were most of the dead-beats hung out. It was an area of high traffic and a good place to start surveillance.

When she reached the fountain she threw a very sticky pit in a can designated for trash only. The fountain itself was a work of art that spoke of the city's talent. Huge statues of women, horses and warriors, decorated the city, but the twin goddesses of Diane and Theresa that mounted the clean water struck a chord with the tradesmen in the city, for Lorwyn, however, it had always been something more bittersweet. Diane and Theresa were sisters and represented the sort of brotherly, or sisterly in this case, love that a people could reach while working together. She gazed up at the fountain for just a moment, thinking of her many brothers and how they had given her a sort of reluctant security and love. Lorwyn sighed in relief, knowing that if all else failed; there was her family to go back to.

Turning she sat at the edge of the fountain and began to gaze vacantly in the distance and listened. There was always the steady buzz. Now she closed her eyes and listened to the deep emotions. One of the silliest things about human nature is the constant silent shouting. Always yelling but too insecure, polite, or angry to say anything. Behind the words are emotions and at the end of the day the words don't matter, feelings are what directly lead you to action.

Lorwyn had always wondered what other telepaths felt when they intercepted shout-thoughts, which were very different than the thoughts more hidden and secret. The strongest ones were chaotic pain or a desperate lash out at the world. It was draining, but Lorwyn had always felt it was important to monitor the people she lived with and to keep an eye out for red-flags. Over the years she'd gotten better at pin pointing suicidals, those with killing-intent and most importantly those who reeked from finding joy in causing pain and doing evil, but there were always the exceptions. The human mind was complex and people's thought processes more varied and confusing than anything else Lorwyn had ever encountered.

The bell chimed. Lorwyn's eyes snapped open and she tore her mind from the thoughts and troubles of others, breaking into a run. Only after she had stopped did her legs protest very, VERY loudly at her sudden sprint. Chest heaving she bent over and stretched again, feeling the burn in the backs of her thighs.

"Aaaggghhhh..." She groaned vocally.

"It hurts that much?"

Lorwyn stopped mid-groan and straightened to find herself face to face with a monster of a man. At least six foot four and not in anyway thin or lanky. He was like a bear. Stepping back, Lorwyn finally was able to see up into his face which could only be described as leathery and tough. If Lorwyn knew any better she would have thought it was the bark on a tree, it was so dark and lined. His eyes were light blue in deep contrast to his skin and his hair was long, thin and greying, with a shorter, thick beard growing wildly on his face.

At first his eccentric appearance shocked and even concerned Lorwyn, but there was something about the steady calm in his deep voice and in his expression that made her stay where she was.

He spoke again, this time a smile breaking his face in two. "My name is Hurst." He held out a hand in offering. Lorwyn took it and was again taken aback by the roughness of his hands and their grip. "I'm assuming that you are Lorwyn, my new understudy." He looked her up and down. "I didn't expect you to be so young... and are you always late?"

Lorwyn chuckled, surprising herself. It was clear by his tone that he was reprimanding her but it was the kindest chastizment ever given. "I lose track of time easily and I apologize. It's not something I do frequently, I promise. Had I known my Mentor was a giant I would have made sure to get here on time."

Hurst laughed appreciatively and Lorwyn again had to stop and replay what had just happened. She had just cracked a joke, albeit a horrible one, but a joke nonetheless. A frown crossed her features without her realizing it as she followed Hurst into the huge columned entrance.

Hurst noticed. "What are you so concerned about, my little Inquisitor?"

Lorwyn raised an eyebrow. "Just because I am a foot shorter than you does not mean that my height is so unbelievable. You are just too big." Lorwyn used the time she had gained to decide whether to come clean with her new mentor. She was uncomfortable with the fact that she was so comfortable around him. "If you don't mind me asking, sir--"

"Hurst. You will never call me 'sir'."

Lorwyn eyed her Mentor again not sure what to make of him. "Hurst..." and then realized she couldn't NOT add some sort of title of respect blurted out. "sir. " He glared and she pointedly ignored it. "What is your gift? If it's not too intrusive."

"I'm glad you asked actually, I'm a Healer. One of the best." His eye disappeared in the folds of his skin as he winked at her. "I can help you with that soreness if you'd like."

Relief saturated Lorwyn. A Healer was by far better than a Sniffer or someone with Foresight. They were trained solely on the manipulation of the mind to heal the body. In reality anyone could be trained to be a Healer but there were always those who had the perfect balance of persuasion and the raw power of joy. Plus the fact that he was a Healer explained why she felt so comfortable around him. It was just his nature.

"If you can take away this pain I would be in your debt." Lorwyn said quietly but earnestly.

Hurst promised to give it a try and then motioned her into a small office. As Lorwyn stepped in her eyes were drawn to the walls. There she found an array of colors and textures, feathers, paintings, shiny trinkets, small weapons, artifacts, pieces of art made out of wood and ebony decorated his desk. On one wall was a large map of their world. There was a large bookcase chock full. All in all it felt very, homey, lived in and somewhat cluttered.

He motioned to a cushioned chair. "Please, sit. This will take all day and you might as well make yourself comfortable." Lorweyn did so but continued to examine the hundreds of souvenirs. Hurst grinned at her wide eyes. "I'm glad you like my collection. I spent most of my earlier career with the Caradoc people overseas in Tredan. They were having a hard time adjusting to new rule."

Secretly Lorwyn was very impressed. The Caradoc people stuck to more primitive ways and were not easy to get close to and it looked as if Hurst had gone native in his attempts to help them make an easier life for themselves.

"Now let's get down to business. Your new position..." He sat back in his chair and searched for the right words to begin. "I don't need to tell you that being High Inquisitor is not an easy position, you'll have up to fifty gifted under you command depending on the cities and the demand. Your job is to gather reports from each of them, make sure they are doing their job, visit the cities every once in a while and watch the outer regions with a careful eye as they aren't under constant care. Every month you'll send your report to the Central Agency in Paxsalvador. Every six months you'll take your physical self and report directly. They'll scrub your mind for any information they think is relevant."

Panic stabbed at Lorwyn. "Am I allowed to keep... certain things to myself? More personal information, that isn't relevant."

Hurst shrugged. "I've never bothered to try and block their telepaths, they are very thorough and I don't have the right training. All I can say is if you block something be prepared for a serious interrogation. You know how they can get."

Oh, Lorwyn knew, and it was never pretty. While everyone said "report" what they really meant was "download." Everything you knew was handed out like flags at a parade. At the University you were trained to trust your superiors and teachers, they knew what was best and you didn't question their orders. If they said jump, you jumped. If they said give us all your secret hopes and dreams so we can crush them, you did. 

Brecc had made her see that. You couldn't trust just anyone. When someone said "scrub your mind" it wasn't just to get an accurate report, it was a way to control you. They had their little fingers in your life. You couldn't do anything without them knowing at one point or another. Silently she cursed Brecc for killing the Head Inquisitors and the pale Head Clerk who had passed on the promotion "opportunity." Refusal had never been an option and Lorwyn knew it. She had taken careful precautions to prevent this sort of thing and it had all been for naught.

"Are you alright, Lorwyn?" Hurst asked, deep concern lining his face.

"I'm fine, I'm sorry, my thoughts wandered off." she assured him at the same time reprimanding herself. She would've never made this mistake in front of another official. Just because you feel comfortable doesn't mean you can get sloppy. If anything she had to be more on guard than ever.

Hurst sighed. "Well, your mind obviously has been on other things all day. You were late and now you can't seem to focus. Lorwyn," he sat up in his chair and leaned on his desk worry written all over his face. "is there something that you want to talk about? I've checked your files. You're a perfect member in the Paxsalvador Agency. I have never seen a cleaner slate and this just doesn't seem like you."

Lorwyn remained silent and looked down at her hands. Inwardly she was grasping at an answer. "It's just a lot of responsibility and I don't know if I can do it."

Hurst laughed. "Oh, this will be a breeze for you. In fact I'm surprised you weren't promoted sooner, but it all worked out in the end. You are a very mature individual, Lorwyn." She made the mistake of looking up into his light eyes and seeing the love there. It made her uncomfortable. "Anyone can see that you are very capable and I just want you to know if you ever want to talk. I'm here. It's what I'm here for." After a short silence that seemed to bother only Lorwyn, Hurst sighed and stood. "I think we'd better call it a day. You seem unfocused and you obviously need rest."

Hurst went to his bookcase and selected a freshly bound book and handed it to her. Lorwyn accepted it. "What is it?"

"It's some of the more detailed rules and obligations of a High Inquisitor. When you have the opportunity I suggest you study it. I think it will ease your concern. You'll find that High Inquisitors have many perks. You get to travel, even out of your district if you want and times are quiet enough. No matter where you are, you are treated as a royal guest with the best food and best rooms." He grinned. "I think you'll find you can come to enjoy this kind of life. It's not all hard work." He opened the door and motioned her in front of her. "Now go home and get some rest. I'll see you bright and early tomorrow."

Lorwyn walked home in a daze. The Head Clerk had to track her down for the form that she had forgotten. He huffed a lot and stormed away but Lorwyn didn't care. She couldn't believe what she'd just heard.

She could travel, she could get out Yevic.

She could find Brecc.