Leo shakes his head, “I have no idea. I don’t know how to react.” They look at Victor, who still hasn’t noticed their confused and concerned expressions.
Victor’s eyes areglowing white.
A moment later, Victor’s eyes glow brighter. Then, the fireball is extinguished, and the bubble pops. A huge smile grows across his face. He looks up at Leo and Karl.
“I did it!” Victor says proudly. When he looks over at Leo and Karl, he notices the bewildered and startled expressions on their faces. He shifts his eyes between them, but they do not respond to Victor’s joy. Victor turns around to see if there is something behind him, but there is nothing.
He looks back at them, his eye returning to normal, and begins to worry, “What’s wrong?”
Chapter Fifteen
Victor looks at Karl and Leo, then turns around to see if there is anyone behind him. He looks back at them and realizes, “Why are you looking at me like that?”
Karl and Leo look at each other, then glance back at Victor.
Leo opens his mouth but closes it when trying to figure out what to tell Victor. Finally, “Your eyes . . . they were glowing.”
Victor’s eyebrows pinch together as he tries to understand what he just heard. “Glowing? What do you mean? My vision was fine. I saw nothing shining in front of me except that blue fireball.”
Karl pierces his lips together as he takes a deep breath through his nose. As soon as he exhales, he speaks. “I’ve never seen this before. Not with seers. Not with telepaths. And not with empaths. But your eyeswereglowing.”
Victor starts to feel uncertain and confused. “Has no one ever had their eyes glow before?” Karl and Leo shake their heads.“Not even elders or superiors?” Karl and Leo look at each other and stare before shaking their heads in unison. Victor starts to feel dizzy. Karl notices, uses his Air Magic, and pulls a chair over to Victor.
Victor takes the chair and sits down carefully. “I . . . I don’t know how to process this.” Victor stares off, trying to understand what just happened. He thinks to himself,How could my eyes start glowing? I didn’t see anything glowing in front of me. Is there something wrong with me?
Karl conjures a water ball over his palm and offers it to Victor. “Drink some water.” Victor doesn’t know what to do with a ball of water. He leans in and starts to suck in the water as if drinking through a straw.
Leo pulls out his phone and makes a call. “I’ll be right back,” he says as he walks away.
Karl puts his free hand on Victor’s shoulder as Victor slowly drinks the water. “How are you feeling?”
Victor pauses for a moment, “I think I’m okay. The room isn’t spinning anymore.” He looks into Karl’s worried eyes. “Are you serious, though? You’ve never seen someone’s eyes glow before?”
Karl slowly shakes his head. “No, my young empath. Never.”
“I think I’m good with the water,” Victor says, leaning back into the chair. Karl flings the water ball away, almost hitting Leo.
“Watch it!” Leo exclaims.
Karl looks over his shoulder. “Sorry about that.”
Leo returns to Victor and crouches beside him. “We are going back to the hotel now. Karl, come with us.”
As Victor slowly stands up, he becomes dizzy again. He holds onto the back of the chair until the room stops spinning. They slowly make their way outside and get into the town car. A quick drive later, they return to the hotel and head to their rooms. Asthey enter Victor’s room, Akisha, Madame Jeanette, and another woman await inside.
“Akisha, Madame Jeanette, what are you doing here?” Victor asks.
Akisha stands and walks over to Victor. “How are you feeling, Victor?” She places her hands on Victor’s shoulders and looks into his eyes.
“I’m fine,” Victor responds. He looks at the third woman, who has whitish-blonde hair with touches of grey streaks and is dressed in a black-and-white suit and blouse. She wears a matching black necklace and bracelet, along with a diamond ring on each hand.
“Hello,” Victor says to her.
“Victor, this is Superior Jackie Campbell,” Akisha says. “She’s heard about you from my superior and wanted to meet you.”
Superior Jackie stands up and walks over to Victor. Akisha steps to the side to allow her to stand before Victor. “Good evening, Empath Russo,” Superior Jackie says as she curtsies. “I hope that you are feeling well. I heard what happened during your lesson.”
Victor is taken aback by Superior Jackie’s gesture. He looks around and notices everyone’s eyes are on him. “I-I’m fine right now, thank you. And you don’t have to curtsy. I don’t think that’s necessary.”
