Prints by A N Martin

Author:A N Martin [Martin, A N]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2017-12-11T22:00:00+00:00

~11~

DEFENSE

Legs crossed and eyes closed, Dominaze sat in silence. There wasn’t much surrounding her besides miles of salt. The sun had just peeked over the tallest mountain and her black demon markings absorbed its warmth. With her eyes shut it was easier to feel the millions of individual salt particles. Each molecule of its structure vibrated silently. Dominaze had memorized the mountains, cliffs, and valleys that surrounded their camp. While attempting to clear her mind and meditate, she could feel everything around her. Running her fingers over the rough salt surface, she grabbed a hand full and threw it into the air, then listened as each piece crashed back onto the ground.

Hemrick’s voice was no surprise. “Is there a reason you’re sitting out here for anyone to see you?”

“Please,” Dominaze kept her eyes shut, “Hemrick, there’s nothing out here. I hope you weren’t planning to hunt today, because the biggest thing for miles is the size of a mouse.” Dominaze took a deep breath. “It’s completely still. The Demon in me is safe for now.”

Hemrick rolled his eyes, but as if to confirm what Dominaze said, a small field mouse scurried away toward the mountains.

“Great.” He sat down next to her. “How far can you feel?”

She didn’t answer. Hemrick had been quick to change his outlook on the Demon Print after Dominaze had told him what Zapora’s father had said about the Demon Print being born to return balance to the worlds. Hemrick admitted to being ignorant to the pain and hardship the Elect caused for so many Prints and Manicks. According to Hemrick, if a single Demon Print was born to bring balance to the entire earth and all its worlds, Dominaze should be able to feel everything at once. Secretly, Dominaze had no intention to expand her authority. The first chance she got, she was planning to turn herself over to the Elect. She just hoped it would be before someone else died in her place.

“How far?” he repeated.

“I can’t.” Opening her eyes she looked at him. “I can’t feel anything more than a few miles each way, not even Caba.”

“You just need to focus and work it like a muscle.”

“No Hemrick,” Dominaze stood up. “I really don’t think that’s how it works. It’s been weeks of this ‘spread your mind’ nonsense and I’m pretty sure it is what it is. Can you feel the winds around the world?” She pursed her lips and glared at him.

“No,” he answered flatly.

“Then why in the world are we still here?” Dominaze threw her hands into the air. “There’s nothing here unless I accidentally make it.”

“That’s why.” Hemrick pointed at her. “There is nothing here, which means no Prints either. It’s the safest place for you to practice.”

“Practice?” She laughed hysterically. “Practice making salt sculptures and mini rock houses? Practice warming rocks so we don’t freeze at night and growing apple trees in the barren ground so we don’t starve? For some reason I don’t feel like this is broadening my authority or making me stronger.

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