Chapter 45 - Learning Control

As soon as Irvin and Edmond were off to work and Nora went somewhere she was heading almost daily, Abel led Zadkiel out of the woods. He guided him to the place which he vaguely remembered the direction to but he didn’t tell Zadkiel about it.

Finally, when he saw the big oak tree, he exhaled a breath of relief because they weren’t far from the cave now. They walked only 3 minutes from there before a small cave made of big rocks that looked like some animal’s home came into sight.

Once in the cave, Zadkiel removed his backpack and took out a bottle of water. Abel did the same because it was one hell of a walk to here. They both took time to catch their breath before setting their backpacks aside.

“Now what?” Zadkiel glanced at Abel.

“I think the most important power is mind control. You need to know when and how to do it so that the other person doesn’t suspect you. People don’t like when someone plays with their mind so, be careful.” Abel warned.

“Yeah, tell me about it,” Zadkiel mumbled remembering Irvin and his fight.

“Try to make me do something. First, we’re gonna figure out how exactly it works before actually starting working on doing it without being obvious.” Abel sat before him, nodding his head for Zadkiel to start.

“Uh… alright.” Zadkiel nervously stated, looking at Abel weirdly.

He looked at the backpack and thought of making Abel bring it for him. He was feeling so stupid for just repeating in his head “Bring me the backpack” while biting his lip to hold the laugh back.

“Not working.” He sighed after a while.

“It’s because you’re not concentrating.” Abel rubbed his temples. “Tell me what were you doing when you accidentally mind-controlled someone before?” He asked.

“Uh… you were asleep and I was massaging your scalp as I told you to wake up.” Zadkiel decided not to mention that one time he mind-controlled Irvin accidentally because that would be too embarrassing.

“No, speaking is an obvious one. You can’t speak. If moon goddess has given you these powers so, they must have a less obvious way to use them.” Abel was talking to himself at this point.

“Let me try like that once and if I succeed this way, we’ll think about the next step,” Zadkiel suggested.

“Don’t speak it out loud though. Just say it under your breath or think of it in your mind.” Zadkiel nodded, agreeing to it.

He placed his hand in Abel’s head and focused on the backpack he wanted Abel to bring to him. Abel stayed still but Zadkiel didn’t give up. He remembered that every time he mind-controlled someone, it was something he really wanted. So, he focused on the backpack as if he was wounded and the tool to save his life was in the backpack resting few feet away from them.

Bring me the backpack.

He repeated it in his mind like it was some spell that was needed to do the magic and when Abel stood up without even uttering a word and ran towards the direction of the backpack, he knew the magic worked.

As he thought of an alarming situation in mind, Abel responded just like that. He didn’t casually walk to the bag to bring it, he actually ran to it and brought it back, running at the speed of a bolt as if someone was really dying.

As soon as the bag was in Zadkiel’s lap, it was like Abel snapped out of his trance. He stared at the bag in Zadkiel lap with wide eyes before looking up to meet Zadkiel’s gaze.

“I knew what I was doing. I just had no idea why I was doing it. I just knew you really needed it.” Abel informed him. Zadkiel smiled.

“I did it.” Zadkiel couldn’t be happier about it.

“Yeah but hand placement is obvious. Maybe, try to do with your eyes. Like they did in Vampire Diaries.” Abel suggested.

“Those were vampires. I’m a mix of wolf, human and some odd magical creature.” Zadkiel rolled his eyes.

“Just try it, Zadkiel. There must be a less obvious way to do it.” Abel deadpanned at him.

“Fine!” Zadkiel huffed, staring straight at him in the eyes as Abel stared back. They stayed in the position for a while as Zadkiel was trying his best to do it but he couldn’t. Abel sighed.

“I think I’m falling in love with you because of your eyes. Why are they so captivating?” He muttered, shaking his head. Zadkiel laughed.

“Wish I could say the same about yours.” Zadkiel teased. Abel gave him an unimpressed look.

“Try again and this time believe, that you can make me do whatever you want,” Abel advised as he settled before Zadkiel.

They locked their eyes and Zadkiel thought of something he wanted Abel to do for him. This time he wanted Abel to stand up, starting from simple. He stared at his eyes for 3 minutes before Abel stood up, huffing.

“This shit isn’t working!” He said in frustration.

Zadkiel’s eyes widened as he also rose to his feet. He placed a hand on Abel’s shoulder and when their eyes locked, he thought of making him sit. This time, Abel sat immediately.

“Let’s give it a try one more time.” He sat cross-legged.

Zadkiel smiled because he knew it was working but he didn’t tell Abel right away as he sat before him, giving it a try one more time for confirmation that it was he who was making Abel do these things.

This time when he locked his gaze with Abel he thought of making him lie down because even if the other two times, Abel just stood up and sat down on his own, why would he lie down on the dirty ground.

But Abel did lie down on his back, shaking his head.

“I’m tired. There must be a way to do it without being obvious.” He muttered, looking up at Zadkiel who was smiling. “Why aren’t you saying anything? Why are you smiling?” He questioned Zadkiel in frustration.

“I think I found a way to be less obvious while mind controlling someone,” Zadkiel smirked at him. Abel shot up.

“What?” he questioned in excitement.

“You were literally dancing on my fingers a few seconds ago. Dude, you literally stood up, sat down and lied down on the dirty ass ground in matter or a minute because I made you do so.” Zadkiel told him, giving him the smirk.

“Are you sure? Because I did it on my own. I didn’t feel like you wanted me to do it.” Abel's face turned into a focused frown.

“Positive.” Zadkiel nodded. “You do realize that I did it without you realizing that I was mind-controlling you?” Zadkiel was so much proud of himself.

“Yeah. I’m proud of you, son.” Abel patted his shoulder dramatically but Zadkiel slapped his hand away.

“Now we need to work on the timing. You have to do it fast. You can’t take too much time. You have to be quick.” Abel stated.

“Yeah, but can we do that tomorrow? I don’t know why I feel tired.” Zadkiel closed his eyes and rubbed his temple.

“Sure.”

They both sat down and took few sips of water. Zadkiel was thinking and counting the powers he possessed that others lacked. He had excelled in the healing power, he was better at mind control, he need to work on mind-reading and visions. Though in his opinion, he could never fully get a hold of the visions because they were random and were related to the people or objects.

“Do you really think that you’re not just a werewolf?” Abel questioned, looking at Zadkiel and bringing him out of his thoughts.

“Been thinking about it for a while. I don’t think I’m just a part human and a part wolf. I can’t be with all the things I can do. It’s almost magical. There is something in me that’s different from others.” He honestly admitted. He had been thinking about it since the day he envisioned Edmond and Nora’s talk. Edmond was scared of him even when he was a baby, not just because of the prophecy but because of the abilities he had. How did he know that Zadkiel possessed the powers when he was just a baby? There must be something he was missing and only one person could answer that.

“Abel…” He called his best friend who was also thinking about what Zadkiel could be other than a werewolf?

“Yeah?”

“I didn’t tell you one thing. I don’t know why I kept it secret from you but I just didn’t want to talk about it.” Zadkiel sighed, looking carefully at Abel.

“What is it?”

“My mother… she came to the pack headquarters searching for me.” Zadkiel kept his voice in a murmur because he didn’t know how Abel would react.

“Your mother? Oh my god! Zadkiel, you’re so lucky.” Abel jumped up.

As much as Zadkiel hated his parents for leaving him, Abel always adored those who had parents. His parents died in a plane crash when he was 5 years old. Nobody in his family took custody of the baby and sent him to the orphanage. There he met shy 3 years old Zadkiel and he couldn’t be more grateful that his relatives didn’t take custody of him.

“I wish I was,” Zadkiel mumbled.

“Where is she now?” Abel was too excited for his own good.

“Irvin gave her a place to stay as long as she wants to. I don’t know where she is. I haven’t talked to her after that day.”

“Zadkiel, are you serious? Do you understand how blessed you are? Your mother is alive and she wants you but you’re here, not talking to her?!” Abel glared at him.

“You lost your parents. The parents who didn’t leave you on a roadside when you were a baby, with just one note. They loved you but tragedy happened. You were blessed to have them. My parents didn’t want me!” Zadkiel snapped at him.

“After what you know, you still think they left you because they didn’t want you? Edmond massacred your pack. Maybe, something happened.” Abel gave him a logical reason.

“That’s not the whole point. That woman was alive. She was out there living her life while I was dying in an orphanage. She could’ve come for me sooner but she didn’t.” His eyes final gave up and let the floodgates open.

“I don’t know why it happened but I think she must have a good reason for it too. Zadkiel, she can help us in achieving the information we need.” Abel scooted closer to Zadkiel who was silently sobbing and rubbed his back.

“I’m not going to talk to her.” He spoke, giving Abel a look that said it was his final decision.

“Then, let me talk to her.” Abel understood Zadkiel’s condition but talking to his mother seemed important.

“I won’t believe a word of that woman,” Zadkiel spoke with so much hate in his tone that Abel gave up the idea of talking to her.

“Alright. As you wish..” Abel shrugged.