Her Immortal Love (Brides of the Vrakken #2)

4. Alina

4

ALINA

I huddle with the other humans, our fear palpable as the sounds of battle rage in the distance. The clash of weapons and otherworldly shrieks echo through the air, each new sound making me flinch. My mind races, trying to make sense of this alien world and the creatures that inhabit it. How did I end up here? One moment I was in Greece, the next... this nightmare.

Suddenly, a group of gray-skinned beings with pointed ears rushes towards our enclosure. Their eyes gleam with malice, weapons raised high, catching the eerie light. Panic surges through me, my heart pounding so hard I can barely breathe. Without thinking, I thrust my hands out in a desperate attempt to ward them off, a scream caught in my throat.

A rush of energy explodes from my palms. It's like nothing I've ever felt before - hot and cold at the same time, crackling with power that makes my skin tingle and my hair stand on end. The air around me shimmers and distorts, forming a translucent barrier between us and our attackers. I gasp, stunned by what I've done, but I don't dare lower my hands.

The gray-skinned creatures slam into the barrier, their expressions changing from bloodlust to shock. They bounce off, stumbling backward. Some fall to the ground with grunts and curses, while others regain their footing and retreat, casting fearful glances over their shoulders. I stand there, trembling, my hands still outstretched, wondering what the hell just happened and how long I can keep this up.

I stare at my hands in disbelief. They're tingling, small sparks of energy dancing across my fingertips. "What the hell?" I whisper, my voice shaking.

The other humans around me gape, their eyes wide with a mixture of fear and awe. I feel their stares boring into me, and it only intensifies the surreal nature of what just happened.

My mind struggles to process this new reality. I'm a scientist, trained to observe and analyze, but this defies all logic. Magic isn't real. It can't be. Yet the evidence is right here, literally at my fingertips.

I flex my fingers, watching as small arcs of energy jump between them. It's beautiful and terrifying all at once. Part of me wants to explore this newfound ability, to understand its limits and potential. The rational part of my brain screams that this is impossible, that I must be hallucinating or dreaming.

But the adrenaline coursing through my veins and the residual tingles of power tell me this is all too real. I've just performed magic. Me, Alina Nakamura, biotechnology student from Munich, has somehow channeled mystical energy to create a forcefield.

As the implications start to sink in, a mix of emotions washes over me - fear, excitement, confusion, and a strange sense of exhilaration. Whatever this power is, whatever it means, I know my life will never be the same.

I glance around furtively, making sure no one's watching. The other humans are huddled in small groups, whispering amongst themselves. Perfect. I slip away to a secluded corner of our enclosure, my heart racing with anticipation and nervousness.

Taking a deep breath, I hold out my hand, palm up. "Okay, Alina," I mutter to myself. "Let's approach this scientifically. Hypothesis: I can create energy at will."

I focus, trying to recreate the tingling sensation I felt earlier. Nothing happens. Frowning, I shake out my hand and try again. This time, I close my eyes, picturing the energy flowing through my body and out through my fingertips.

A gasp escapes my lips as I feel a warmth spread from my chest to my arm. I open my eyes to see a small, pulsing ball of light hovering above my palm. It's beautiful, casting a soft glow on my skin.

"Hypothesis confirmed," I whisper, grinning despite myself. "Now, let's test the variables."

I spend the next hour experimenting. I discover I can change the color of the light by focusing on different emotions. Anger turns it red, calm makes it blue. I can also alter its size and intensity with concentration.

Next, I try to manipulate the energy in different ways. I manage to form a thin, whip-like strand that I can control with my thoughts. It takes several attempts, but eventually, I succeed in using it to lift a small rock.

"Fascinating," I murmur, my scientific mind racing with possibilities. "The energy seems to respond to mental commands. But what's the source? Is it drawing from my own body's energy, or tapping into something external?"

I decide to test my limits. I form the largest energy ball I can, sweat beading on my forehead from the effort. It grows to the size of a beach ball before I feel a sudden drain, like all my strength is being sucked away. The ball dissipates, and I slump against the wall, panting.

"Note to self," I gasp, "there's definitely a physical toll. Need to be careful not to overexert."

As I catch my breath, I start formulating a research plan in my head. I need to document everything: the sensations, the effects, the limitations. If only I had my lab equipment...

A noise startles me, and I quickly compose myself as one of the other humans walks by. I can't let anyone know about this yet, not until I understand it better.

As I rejoin the group, my mind buzzes with questions and theories. This power, this magic - it's real, and it's mine to explore. Despite the fear and uncertainty of our situation, I can't help but feel a thrill of excitement. There's so much to learn, so much to discover.

And maybe, just maybe, it could be our key to survival in this strange new world.

I shift uncomfortably as I feel the weight of expectant gazes turn to me. The other humans in our makeshift encampment gravitate towards me, their eyes filled with a mixture of hope and desperation. It's unnerving, to say the least.

"You! You stopped that creature. What do we do now?" a middle-aged man asks, his voice trembling slightly.

I open my mouth to respond, but the words catch in my throat. What can I possibly say? I'm just as lost and scared as they are. The only difference is this strange new power I've discovered, and I'm far from understanding it myself.

"I... I'm not sure," I admit, hating how uncertain I sound. "We should probably stay alert and try to gather more information about our surroundings."

A young woman steps forward, her eyes wide. "But you protected us! That barrier you made... Can't you do more?"

I feel a flush creeping up my neck. "I don't really know how I did that," I confess. "It just... happened."

Murmurs ripple through the group, and I can sense their disappointment. It makes my stomach churn with guilt. These people are looking to me for answers, for safety, and I have no idea how to provide either.

"Look," I say, trying to inject some confidence into my voice, "I know we're all scared and confused. But we need to stay calm and work together. Maybe if we pool our knowledge and resources, we can figure out a way to survive here."

A few nods greet my words, but I can still see the doubt in their eyes. They want a leader, someone who knows what they're doing. And I'm painfully aware that I'm not that person.

As the group disperses, I find myself cornered by an elderly woman. Her wrinkled hand grips my arm with surprising strength.

"You have a gift, child," she whispers, her eyes boring into mine. "Don't be afraid of it. Embrace it."

I swallow hard, unsure how to respond. Her words echo my own conflicted feelings about this newfound ability. Part of me wants to explore it, to understand its limits and potential. But another part is terrified of the responsibility it might bring.

Or something even worse.