#witchhero

[jaynerose]

Dream Magic and Mind Control (P.2)

(First part of the story is here, part one witch hero and telepath supervillain, also thanks to @writing-is-a-sin for wanting a continuation and for the words of encouragement, it is appreciated. ) 

Hero was the only witch, to her knowledge, that had dream magic this powerful. Her mind existed in two worlds. 

One, where fantastic castles, slayable monsters, and wonderous landscapes were at her fingertips to explore. And another where she was often weak, often tired, and often fighting monsters who maybe weren’t as monstrous as she’d feel comfortable with.

This second world, although more painful, was solid. The people that lived her were true and real. Made of blood, bone, and a spark of life that didn’t originate from her. 

Living like this was difficult. That is why, to her knowledge, all the other women she had researched with this power died on or before their eighteenth birthday. Either the people around them were afraid of the gift, striking it down before it got too strong, or they were consumed by their own nightmares.

For these reasons, and these reasons more than Supervillain’s dubious ethical code, Hero was hesitant. 

“Hero?” His voice took her out of her thoughts. That happened sometimes, zoning out was a hazard of hers.

“This magic that I have, it’s- well it’s dangerous. I’m not sure if I even can teach you, and if I did it might kill you.” She tested the words out. Unsure. “It almost killed me, and I’m suited for it, it chose me in a way. I don’t know what it might do to you.”

Supervillain straightened, his eyes shone with a determination and stubbornness she had seen before. Usually before he won. “I’ll risk it.”

A moment passed between them. The only movement came from the steam that was whirling out of Hero’s forgotten coffee cup.

Hero’s shoulders slumped. “Ok.”

“Ok? Great! Let’s get started as soon as possible, how abou-” 

“Wait, we need to get some things clear first. We need to have rules.” This would need to be done as safely as possible. Somehow. 

Supervillain paused, “I don’t know how much attention you’ve paid to me, but I don’t really do rules anymore.” 

“Well, I can’t have you using any of this against someone and I can’t let you use it to hurt yourself on accident so this is how it has to be.” 

Hero got up and moved over to one of her shelves that featured a variety of oddities. Mostly mason jars with various spell ingredients. She pulled out a long scroll of paper and returned to her seat before furiously scribbling with a Powerpuff Girl pen. 

She almost jumped out of her seat when she noticed Supervillain had moved directly behind her. Watching her writing carefully. “What’s this?”

“It’s Fae paper, it has magic imbued within it. I’m writing us a contract. That way we will be bound to an agreement that cannot be broken.”

“What if I don’t want to sign?”

“Then I cannot teach you.” Hero continued after seeing a dark look begin to cross Supervillain’s face. “Listen, it won’t include anything bad, it’s just a basic agreement that you won’t end up like murdering puppies, or something else evil with my magic. I feel like that is a pretty low bar for you to step over.”

Supervillain smiled slightly, “Is that what you think I do with my time?”

“Well, no that’s an exaggeration, but still.”

“Fine. What are the rules.”

“Well, number one, you may not use whatever I teach you to harm another living being. You may only use it to protect yourself.”

Supervillain hesitated only slightly before sighing, “Yes, agreed.”

“Ok, next, you may not use whatever I teach you to gain access or control of my mind and thoughts.”

“You think I could do that with this magic?”

“I don’t know, dream magic is weird and very bendable. Most of the magic I do is less rigid than people think, usually I’m winging it and hoping for the best.”

Supervillain snorted. “Fine, yes agreed to that too.”

“Last rule, and this is somewhat complicated. I’ve never taught anyone this stuff before, and most of it is things I had to figure out on my own.” Hero paused, trying to verbalize her thoughts, “If- if I manage to teach you, you may see things that you won’t like.”

“What kinds of things?”

“Nightmares. Once you become aware of them, they will become aware of you. I can help, but it means I might see some things you’d rather I didn’t.”

“So, what’s the rule?” Supervillain kept his face void of emotion.

“It’s actually for the both of us. The third rule, is that we can not use what we see, dreams or nightmares, against one another. We may not speak of them to any outside person.”

“Why would you want to make a rule like that? Wouldn’t that kind of information help you fight me in the long run?” 

Hero thought a moment. “I wouldn’t feel comfortable using that against someone, anyone. I’ve had my fair share of nightmares, and although they can’t frighten me anymore, I remember what that fear did to me.”

Hero and Supervillain looked at each other. Considering.

Supervillain’s eyes had a shade of understanding when he spoke again. “Alright, agreed. When do we begin?”