Page 21 of Lost and Bound
“Death is sometimes the kindest thing that can happen to those beings,” he says seriously. “Imagine living physically here, but your mind is trapped in a constant vision. More often than not, though, the power will tip them over the edge and drive them crazy. Like full deranged and out of control, rampaging crazy.”
I throw my hands up. “Orion, can you stop now? You’re not selling this as something I want to deal with.”
“Well, the good news, Maya, is that you’re a Nom. You’ll never hold the kind of power that kills or drives a being mad. And, that is why we have Kleises.”
“Pardon?”
“Pardon what?”
I jab a finger into his thigh, prompting him to stop messing around and start filling in gaps. He shifts a snooty gaze to my finger still pressed down before he looks at me. I lift my finger, smiling innocently, and he restarts.
“Kleis aren’t a designation, they are uniquely their own. Their origins are a mystery still to this day but that’s probably due to Council having such a hard-on for them.”
“Why?” I ask not following.
“A Kleis can absorb another being’s power without being affected by it.”
I interrupt him, “Which sounds kind of ordinary when you compare it to a shifters strength or their ability to shift, or the way a magikal can make actual magik, or how a vampire can live forever. I’m missing something, right?”
The look he gives me confirms I am. His voice drops lower, and he leans in closer, “It’s what they do with the power they took that makes them so revered.”
Orion pauses doing a quick sweep of the area, perhaps to check no one is listening or to add drama of the moment. I urge him on again.
“They can hold the power, then direct it to another being in the unit for them to use.”
Or they could fucking steal it. Perhaps I’ve watched too many crime documentaries, or maybe it was living under the mantle of a corrupt and power-hungry government, but either way, I’m stunned and wonder if anyone else has seen the issue. Until I remember Orion’s earlier comment and jump to another conclusion.
“Which is why Council has a hard-on for them.”
The way tension radiates as Orion looks from one side of the room to the other suggests I’m onto something. But also, that I need to be more mindful of the environment.
“Let’s shelf this chat for now.” I go to start eating but stop, a sudden question I have needing to be answered first. “Could you or I ever be a Kleis?”
Orion shakes his head, “No. You’re either a Kleis, or not.”
“So, we’re Nom’s forever?”
“We are.”
“And Nom’s have visions?”
“Some. The cool ones don’t, just saying,” he says, grinning and pointing to himself.
“I seriously thought I was losing my mind when it happened,” I admit, blowing out a breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding.
“I promise I won’t let you lose anything. Now, grab whatever you want off your tray, we need to get you to your first lesson.”
CHAPTER EIGHT
SO MANY FIRSTS
“Welcome to Alignment, Roles, and Responsibility. I’m Professor Calista Drummond. It’s nice to see you again. If you’re new, welcome to my class.” Her eyes move to me before she goes back to looking at all her students. “ARR is a core subject at Thales, and you will be a student of mine until you graduate.”
Professor Drummond is small in stature, but she’s one of those women who radiates confidence and commands respect.
The lecture hall is full, but no one is fidgeting or talking. It’s either the subject, the teacher, or perhaps both, that are making them act like entirely different beings than those I saw at breakfast. Admittedly, I’m being judgmental as heck, and maybe this is how everyone acts in class.
She holds up a textbook in her hand. “For those who have recently joined us, this book is the only reference material you need. Period. I encourage you to read it from cover to cover, irrespective of what year level you are in. Our time together is essentially us working through each and every page because this is the reason you are a student at Thales.
