Chapter 74 (1/2)

From the very first moment that Dan had discovered his veil, he had been enamored with it. It was the most obvious expression of his power, the most visible, the easiest to manipulate. It was where he had focused all of his efforts in learning and growth. It was his power, as far as Dan was concerned, or at least the primary function of it. Everything else was secondary.

So, it was somewhat predictable that he was utterly blindsided by Matilda's 'revelation'. It was something that he knew, but had never thought to consider. He'd known it from the very beginning, from that first trip to Earth. Of course his power took initiative; it took it from him. The how, the why of it, these things had never entered his mind.

”What are you implying?” Dan ground out in the face of Matilda's manic enthusiasm. The woman looked like Christmas had come early. Excitement was plain on her face, as honest an expression as he'd ever seen.

His question widened her smile. ”I imply nothing. It was merely an observation of fact.” Crow's feet deepened as her eyes curled with glee. ”Implications come later, once we've established a cause.”

Dan frowned, shaking his head in annoyance.

”Explain,” he demanded tersely. ”Be concise. Use small words.”

The older woman leapt at the chance. ”We can establish two things from this test.” She held out her index finger. ”The first: Your teleportation actively avoids obstacles.”

The sentence was slightly inaccurate, though Dan did not correct her. It was missing the phrase ”when he desired it to.” Which... eased his mind, actually. It confirmed what he already knew, that his power obeyed him. Whatever other strangeness it carried, it obeyed him. Nonetheless, he listened as she continued her explanation.

”By what mechanism it does this, I cannot say,” Matilda admitted, without a hint of hesitation. ”It is clearly not your eyes, as we've just ruled that out.” She smirked at him. ”Indeed, I doubt it uses any of your natural senses, seeing as your official range is measured in miles.”

Dan could agree with that assessment. It was technically possible that he had some sort of hidden sense, but it had to be one that only his power perceived. He certainly could not imagine any of the traditional six senses being capable of reaching across the vastness of space. Not without the information upload violently disorienting him at all times.

No. More likely it had something to do with t-space. His power navigated the sightless abyss as easily as Dan did his own apartment. If there was an answer, it would only be found there.

Though he was quite curious as to what else Matilda would come up with, lacking such pertinant knowledge.

”Regardless, knowledge of the exact mechanism is unnecessary,” Matilda continued easily. ”It is enough to know that this trait exists, at least for our purposes.” She raised a second finger. ”The second point of note: unlike a standard short-hop, you are capable of teleporting with inexact coordinates.”

”It sounds a lot less worrying when you phrase it like that,” Dan pointed out, still keeping his distance from the older woman.

She snorted. ”It shouldn't. It changes nothing. You do not have complete control over your own ability.” Her eyes bore into him. ”Can you say that it will always function how you wish? That it moves according to your will? Truly?”

”Yes,” Dan replied without hesitation. There was no doubt in his mind, despite this new development. It raised questions, many questions, and the implications made him uneasy, but Dan was no fool. His power hadn't changed, only his perception of it. It was his power, and it had never led him astray.

His conviction seemed to take Matilda aback. With furrowed brow, she asked, ”How can you be so certain?”

Dan considered the question, considered himself, then shrugged. ”Instinct, I guess. I just know.”

This did not make the woman any less frustrated. ”You can't possibly know!”

”Of course I—” Dan paused, taking in the sight before him. Matilda's fists were clenched at her side, her teeth were gritted, all excitement had fled her form in favor of a more volatile emotion.

It wasn't the first time he'd inadvertently pissed someone off, but it was the first he'd done it while actively attempting to avoid such a response. Did she think he was lying? It was a possibility, though he couldn't imagine what had given her that impression. Dan was doing his best to avoid being actively hostile, and relatively honest. So... why?

Why was she so angry?

”Your arrogance is astounding,” Matilda said, unknowingly answering Dan's question. In her frustration, she abandoned all pretense. ”Few Naturals ever learned to control their powers perfectly, and I imagine fewer still would have made such a bold, unsubstantiated claim.” Her knuckles whitened and her hands clenched, then slowly loosened. Her face relaxed, falling into a sort of detached superiority. The visage of a teacher, a learned mentor. ”But I suppose it's to be expected. You couldn't know better. You've never had a teacher. Your power is tame on its surface, so you haven't yet experienced the danger that carelessness brings.”

He had a teacher, a good one, if a little insane. More than one, really. Abby had taught him more than she'd expected, despite her own insecurities. He wanted to spit that fact in Matilda's face, laugh at her assumption; ten minutes of experimentation, a few questions, and she thought she understood his power better than he. Maybe if he was one of the locals, indoctrinated to fear his own—

At which point, Dan remembered that he was supposed to be playing the role of a local. A meek Natural, oppressed by his own culture, afraid of his own power. That was what Matilda had expected from him, going into this. She must have hoped for her revelation to terrify him. To make him doubt himself. To make him unsure.

Was it a trick, then? A lie, to make him more pliable? Or a truth, twisted to her own purposes? She was a devious one; he knew that now more than ever. Whatever trust they might have built between them had been lost with this revelation, even if only Dan knew it to be so.

Matilda wanted him afraid. Of himself, of his power. He would fear, and she would wait in the wings with guidance. The veteran, the teacher, who had taught all of this before. A sympathetic ear and a wise mind. What Natural would not have fallen for her words? The world told them to fear themselves. It should have worked.

But Dan was not from around here.