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Theo gasped as euphoria rushed through him. He always forgot how the magic crashed against his senses, stifling his mind with its power. It was as strong as a wave from a stormy sea, as hot as a forge. The magic burned out of the Vessel’s body and into Theo’s, setting every single nerve on fire. He had to get it out of his body, otherwise it would consume him.
Theo threw out his hand towards the enemy army. The magic swept towards the soldiers, taking the form of a cloud of flame. Theo could hardly hear their screams over the rushing in his ears. This Vessel had more magic than he had ever worked with before. Theo closed his eyes as his limbs trembled and his skin burned hotter and hotter.
He couldn’t control it.
But if he didn’t give it somewhere to go it would kill him.
He screamed as the magic burned up the side of his body. He had to act now.
Just as the magic was about to overwhelm him he released it all at once, a wall of flames shooting out from him in all directions. His vision went white as the remainder of the magic rushed through his body to find its freedom, no longer content to be bound by flesh.
He collapsed to the ground, chest heaving as his skin cooled, limbs twitching and fingers tingling. His ears rang and his vision was blurry. He took one deep breath, then another, each one filled with the stench of smoke and smoldering flesh. That’s when he realized that his hand was still on the hilt of the knife buried in the Vessel’s chest.
Theo scrambled back with a cry, bloody hands shaking. He couldn’t look away from the corpse of the Vessel he had just killed, his glazed eyes staring blankly at the sky. This was wrong. Wrong. He couldn’t think, couldn’t remember why he had killed that man. His mind was muddled, his thoughts scattered.
He couldn’t think, he couldn’t think.
“You’re okay, Theo,” a voice said. Theo spun around. There was a man crouched before him, his clothes dark and black beard closely trimmed. Theo’s eyes caught on the peak of a tattoo at his wrists.
The man was a Reaper. But he couldn’t for the life of him remember what a Reaper was.
“Who-who are you?” Theo asked.
“Simeon. We’re friends, don’t you remember?”
Theo shook his head, eyes drifting back to the corpse. To the knife in its chest. The knife he had put there. A lump gathered in his throat.
“Are you alright, Theo?” Simeon asked.
Theo burst into sobs. “No,” he finally managed to choke out, “I just murdered a man.”
Simeon shook his head. “No, Theo, you’re confused,” he said softly. “That thing you killed was a monster, not a person.”
Theo stared at the corpse, his brow wrinkling. The body looked human.
“You always get confused after the magic, remember? I have your medicine right here, it’ll help.” Simeon pulled a pouch out of his jacket and loosened the drawstring. Fear slammed into Theo. The medicine was bad. He couldn’t remember why, his thoughts were still too jumbled, but he knew that he didn’t want to take it.
“I-I don’t want it. Please. I don’t want to take the medicine,” Theo said, panic building.
The Reaper sighed. “This is why I hate it when you use a lot of magic,” he muttered. He moved towards Theo.
“No!” Theo yelled, throwing out his hands in front of him instinctively. To his shock, weak sparks shot from his fingers, the final dregs of the dead Vessel’s magic. Simeon cursed and leaped forward, pinning Theo to the ground. He was larger than Theo, stronger too. Theo thrashed around as the last of the magic fizzled out, trying desperately to get away from this man.
“No! No! Please Simeon please I don’t want it please!” Theo screamed. Tears streamed down his cheeks. He didn’t want it, he didn’t want it. His memories were coming back, he knew that once he ingested the drug he would be helpless. Then, Simeon would hurt him.
Simeon dug his fingers into the sides of Theo’s jaw. His grip was painfully tight and he forced Theo’s mouth open. Theo let out a scream of terror. He gagged as the Reaper poured a handful of the bitter white powder into his mouth and shut it.
Within seconds a wave of calm washed over him and Theo’s whole body relaxed, his limbs heavy.
“There you go, that’s better,” Simeon said. Theo smiled up at him, dazed. He couldn’t remember what he had been so upset about before. Whatever it was, it mustn’t have been important. Simeon ran a thumb along Theo’s cheek. “I’m here, Theo, you’re safe with me,” he said softly. Theo yawned, suddenly incredibly sleepy.
Simeon helped him to his feet and Theo swayed dizzily. The Reaper caught him against his chest and Theo giggled.
“I feel funny,” he slurred.
Simeon ran a hand through his hair and Theo melted into the touch.
“You’re so cute when you’re high on the smoke plum,” Simeon said affectionately, ruffling Theo’s hair. Theo looked up at him with adoration. “Let’s get you cleaned up.”
Theo nodded lazily. He leaned against his Reaper as they made their way back to camp, all thoughts of the man he killed forgotten in the haze of the drug.