Page 72 of Dark Princess Ascending
After several tries and guidance from Amanda, Morelle managed to pull individual strings of power from Brandon and Jasmine and used them to move small objects a short distance.
The question was whether she'd be able to isolate Kian's massive power from the grid and use only that to power a major telekinetic feat.
Brandon moved to the far corner of the room,watching as Morelle closed her eyes in concentration.
The air seemed to thicken with potential energy, and then the laundry basket shot across the room like it had been fired from a cannon, hitting the opposite wall with enough force to make the house shudder.
"Sorry!" Morelle winced. "That was more than I meant to use."
"You're getting stronger," Brandon said. "That throw had more force behind it than all of your earlier attempts."
"I'm just more confident," Morelle admitted. "Fear was holding me back from pushing more power into the objects, and Kian's energy is particularly potent." She winced and glanced at Syssi. "Sorry. That didn't sound right. I hope you know that I didn't mean it that way."
Syssi waved a dismissive hand. "Don't worry about it. I'm not the jealous type, and I know that my Kian is exceptionally potent." Her cheeks pinked when she said that, but she didn't look shy at all when she winked at her husband.
"The readings support that," Amanda said, studying her tablet. "The energy output is increasing rather than decreasing with repeated use."
Morelle looked a little uncomfortable. "That's also because I'm not using any of my own power.I'm just channeling what I draw from others. It's easier now that I've got a feel for it."
"Try me now," Syssi said. "I'm more sensitive to energy fluctuations than most, so I might be able to provide better feedback about how it feels."
Kian frowned. "Are you sure?"
"Absolutely." Syssi stepped forward. "Just promise to catch me if I faint."
Brandon retrieved the laundry basket while Morelle turned to face Syssi, and this time, when she channeled the power, the basket barely lifted a few inches off the ground before floating a couple of feet away.
Syssi swayed, and Kian was at her side instantly, propping her up. "I need to sit down," she murmured.
"I told you not to do it," Kian grumbled under his breath. "Why do you need to be so stubborn?"
She chuckled. "If I weren't stubborn, you would put me in bubble wrap before letting me out of the house." She leaned over to kiss his cheek. "Coffee might help, and maybe a cookie or a cracker?"
"Coming right up." Brandon hurried to the kitchen to get the coffee carafe and some energy bars he kept in the pantry. When he returned, Syssi already looked better, though Kian had his arms around her as if they could restore her depleted energy stores.
"That was fascinating," Syssi said between bites. "I could actually feel the energy being drawn out. Itwasn't painful. It was just like I was a balloon, and there was a tiny hole through which my energy was draining."
Amanda scribbled on her tablet, her stylus making rather pleasant scratching sounds.
"I want to see what happens when I draw from Ell-rom." Morelle turned to her brother.
He shifted uncomfortably. "I'm not sure that's wise. We don't know what might happen if you try to channel my ability."
Brandon tensed. He still didn't know exactly what Ell-rom could do, but given everyone's careful handling of the subject, it had to be something either dangerous or very powerful.
Kian glanced his way and let out a sigh. "I guess it doesn't make sense to keep Ell-rom's ability a secret from you any longer, but what I'm about to tell you needs to stay absolutely confidential. I want to wait to inform the council until we understand more about both twins' abilities."
Brandon nodded. "Their secrets are safe with me."
"Ell-rom can kill with a thought," Kian said without much preamble for such a shocking revelation. "We don't know how he does it or what the limitations are in regards to distance, line of sight, and other factors. He just wishes someone dead, and the person drops dead with no apparent clinical cause."
The implications hit Brandon like a physicalblow. Morelle could draw and channel power from others. Ell-rom could kill with a thought. Together, they were the perfect killing machines.
A terrible suspicion began forming in his mind. These weren't random abilities. This level of destructive potential couldn't be coincidental.
Had their father and the Kra-ell queen deliberately created living weapons? Ahn had access to the best genetic labs on Anumati. Had he and the Kra-ell's royal heir apparent conspired to create offspring capable of destroying the Eternal King?
Brandon looked at the twins with new eyes.