"Outwitted (Part 20)" an original work of fiction for the #365dayso...

This is today's offering (day 186) for @mydivathings' #365daysofwriting challenge (click here to see her current post)

Today's picture prompt (below) is a Photo by Xuan Nguyen on Unsplash

“It is too dangerous,” Pewds said, his forehead creased with worry, when I told him of my plan in the ship’s cabin, over lunch one day. The ship, laden low with artifacts bought or stolen from the Desert Lands, was traveling slower than I wished. My frustration was eating at me. I must discover my sister’s secrets: I needed to know how to use the power to travel.

“Besides,” he said taking a bite of a biscuit, so hard the noise it made when he bit it sounded like a tooth breaking. He prodded his teeth and, apparently satisfied they were undamaged, continued. “You are too weak. I forbid it.”

I laughed at that.

“Who are you, old man?” I said, feeling anger and resentment boiling inside my chest. “Who are you to presume you can forbid me to do anything?” I stood up and leaned across the table, my face in his. “You are not my father. You are not my master. You are not even my intellectual superior. How dare you!”

Pewds sat there, blinking away the droplets of spit that flew from my mouth into his face. He looked as though he might cry, and - for a moment - I almost felt sorry for him.

“I-” he began.

“I have no interest in your opinions,” I said, crossing the room and pausing by the cabin door. “You have served me well enough, Pewds,” I said. “But I think our time together will end when the ship docks, and the cargo is transported to my home.”

I left him sitting there, his face white and worried. Outside, the wind was strong, it whipped at my cloak and my hair. Good. Perhaps the strong wind would help propel us home, faster. Who knew what my sister was doing whilst I was stuck on this infernal boat! I used the hand rail to steady myself. I was still weak. But I would not let Pewds describe me as such. Once I held the key to my sister’s secrets I would have all the strength I needed. Nothing would stop me.

I leaned against the rail and looked out across the grey churning waters of the ocean. Another five days on this ship, and then I would be free of the man. He had been useful. But his time had come. He was slowing me down. My mother was dying. I had control of the family fortune. I could employ someone else to help me in my quest for power.

I heard the door to the cabin open and the creak of the boards and Pewds came to join me. I did not look at him.

“I am sorry,” he said, after a moment. Staring into the distance, I nodded.

“All things come to an end, Pewds,” I said. “It is time you retired. Live out the rest of your life in your family's home in the country.”

“No,” Pewds said. “You misunderstand me. I am sorry, I ever helped you along this path. You are impetuous, dangerous even. You mistake my cautiousness for weakness, my carefulness for stupidity. I may not be the greatest scholar, but at least I know my limitations. You,” I felt him turn to look at me. “You are arrogant. You don’t know your limitations and that is dangerous. If you don’t know how, or aren’t able, to control the power it will control you. And it will not only destroy you, it will potentially destroy everything.”

I felt the anger grow inside me again. His insulting words burned me. I reached for the power and took hold of him, lifting him off his feet, holding him in the air. He struggled, his feet kicking against empty air, his face contorted with pain.

“Let me go!” he cried.

I smiled and used the power to lift him, higher still, and then out over the rails of the ship. His eyes widened and I thought I saw him mouth my name, but if he spoke the wind stole his words from his lips.

“As you wish,” I said, and released the power. I watched him tumble soundlessly into the grey water below, his body sucked quickly beneath the ship.

I held on to the rail, my head lightheaded, my body tingling, and closed my eyes and let the wind caress my face. I revelled in the same euphoria I had felt in my sister’s garden, after the death of the serving girl. After a while, I returned to the cabin and finished eating.

Later, in my dreams, my sister came to me again. She danced with a bright circle of power, wielding it easily as if it were an extension of her very being. I watched her move, marvelling at her skill. After a few minutes she stopped, turned towards me and smiled sadly.

“Brother,” she said. “I am worried for you. You are changing. Come to me. Let me help you.”

And then she was gone, I was suddenly awake, perspiring - hot but cold at the same time - and breathless. It took me a moment to realise where I was: alone in the ship’s cabin, the ocean waves rolling beneath me.

I reached for some water and drank deeply. I leaned back into the pillows on the bed, damp with my sweat.

Oh, don’t worry, dear sister. I am coming.

...

Part 21: @felt.buzz/outwitted-part-twenty-one-an-original-work-of-fiction-for-365daysifwriting-challenge

"Outwitted (Part 20)" an original work of fiction for the #365daysofwriting challenge