A Strange Coin (Three Trinities Haven Church)

[Tatyana]

Tatyana had misunderstood Zeke’s question, but it was alright. Perhaps he wanted to help her learn to control her power. She’d rather that than going to the dancers at Kallisti. At least here she knew where things stood. ”Im not sure…” she said but her voice trailed off in thought.

The fight had been exhilarating. Tatyana had been telling the truth. Have three opponents had at least made it a challenge. The three clearly hadn’t known how to fight, but the odds weren’t great against that many - especially since she had been coming down from her high then. Despite being in danger, she had felt relatively calm, but there was more. Inside she had felt different. Like she was all warm inside. She searched for the words to describe it.

”When I did it - I felt - different. Warm - every thing seemed - more intense. There was a glow - I felt warm inside. Kind of like I do right now…” and it hit her. She had found that glow again. How had she found it. She looked at her hands and around the church. Everything seemed brighter. She could smell the joint that Zeke smoked more intensely. The cushions she sat on felt softer. She smiled. ”I didn’t fight it. It was like…” she searched for the words. ”Like the moment- right before you get high. You know it’s there, and you just fall into it. You…surrender to it.”

The glow pulsed within her and she wanted to give it shape. She wanted it to flow through her and do something with it. She thought again to what she had done the day before. And this time. She could see something - it appeared to be a thread. She found she could move it and manipulate it. She had done this the day before. She had wrapped that thread around her opponent and yanked him away from her. This time, she wrapped it around the joint in Zeke’s hand a pulled it, bringing it to her. She plucked it from the air and held it in front of her. Taking another drag she passed it back, feeling a little bit shocked that she had done so.

[Ezekiel]

Zeke watched her work through it, curious in his observation. He could see nothing of the process, of course; just the expressions on her face as she plumbed the depths of her mind for her own answers. Admittedly he wasn’t actually interested in those answers himself – he didn’t care how she came to her epiphany, just that she did. But listening created an intimacy, as sharing truth was always wont to do between two people. Right now, Zeke was the only one in existence who knew what Tatyana was going through. The only one who cared enough to sit and listen.

His expression only flickered briefly when she plucked the joint from between his fingers, and he did not retaliate despite the storm he momentarily felt shift in his own chest. Shivers against his skin preceded the act, and he was aware she was simply exploring the magic he had encouraged her to find. There was no intention behind it, and certainly no provocation. But he did not appreciate the method. “Don’t do that again,” he said. The words were not sharp, they were velvety and firm – a reminder of who Zeke was. A boundary set. She would not use that power on him.

He sat up to accept the joint back after her drag, all smiles and charm returned, like he simply expected her to accept the force of his will. A surrender to her new gift was also a surrender to him, which was only natural. He wasn’t angry. “There’s a club I want to take you to. I think you’ll like it.”

[Tatyana]

Zeke listened to her. He really listened. That wasn’t something she hadn’t felt since her father had died. The Vasiliev’s hadn’t listened - not really. Grisha had occasionally, but no one had stepped up to defend her when Sophia had orchestrated her downfall, and they hadn’t been interested in listening to her attempts to defend herself. But Zeke did. He cared enough to listen and help her understand her. For that she was grateful.

At Zeke’s words, she didn’t flinch, but there was a reaction as she sat back and nodded in complete understanding. She had overstepped. Zeke wasn’t angry, but he was firm, and Tatyana understood that it hadn’t just been the act of taking his joint without permission. She had directed her magic at him, and she wasn’t to do that. She would take that to heart.

”I wont use it against you ever again. I promise,” she said, vocalizing her understanding.

It was then that he mentioned he wanted to take her to a club. A club? Why? Two years ago she might have fit in at one, but now? But Zeke said she might like it. There was apprehension there, but it was overshadowed by her intrigue. Part of her wanted to ask, but part of her wanted the surprise of not knowing. She just hoped it wasn’t Nebasa’s Gate.