Taking power

Marcus lets out a strangled gasp as your hand is suddenly around his throat. You lift him up and slam him down on the nearby workbench. His eyes are panicked as he grabs your wrist with both hands, but your grip is iron hard. “Now, Marcus, it’s my turn to talk. You haven’t paid attention to what I am.”

You hold up your left arm in front of his wide eyes. “When the demon lord tried to kill Sadie, he used black fire. Black fire binds with a person’s essence, very similarly to magical ability. In order to save her, I had to absorb it.”

You lower your hand, squeezing his throat with the other. “Do you know what that means? You should. You should have seen the potential back when you were just consulting with me as a member of the AWIO. It means that I can absorb magic from a person. It hurts, a lot.”

You wince as you begin to pull at his magic with your mind, and he writhes in pain under your grip. All that time training has paid off, however, and you’re far stronger than he is, physically. Blood drips from your nose as you drag out the magic you’re looking for.

You glare at him as he struggles. “Now, if I wasn’t so angry, I’d just take what I needed to get Lynn out and go. But here’s the thing. Of all the people in my family, you chose her. The kindest, gentlest soul I know. An terrorized her. As bait. So instead, I’m taking everything.”

Marcus makes panicked sounds, staring at his own hands as the runes there begin to vanish. The weight in your mind is immense, and you continually discard unneeded magic as more and more pours in. Blood is running freely from your nose, but you maintain eye contact, your voice strained as you speak. “I’m not going to kill you. You’re going to live, but as a normal, mundane human. I imagine that is far more painful for you than any punishment I could devise.”

You feel his magic gutter out, like a candle without a wick. Releasing him, you step back. Marcus falls onto the floor, scrambling backwards and staring at his hands. You turn and wave a hand at the cage, which vanishes.

Lynn leaps to her feet and runs over to hug you, burying her tear stained face in your chest. You hear her sobbing as she clings to you, and you gently brush her soft brown hair comfortingly. You glance over to Bast, and with another wave, his chains fall away.

You nod as he approaches, and hug Lynn tightly. “I’m sure we have a lot to talk about, but for now, I need to get her home. Can you deal with that guy?”

Bast nods somberly. “I’ll do you one better. I’ll send you home, so you don’t need to strain yourself any more. We will talk soon.”

He snaps his fingers, and you vanish with Lynn. In the dim light of the lab, Bast turns towards the cowering figure of Marcus. “Now, I do believe it’s time I repay you for your months of hospitality, don’t you think?”