GOD OF WAR WITH POWERS

Chapter 10

Felicia sat at the table, her hands folded tightly in her lap, staring blankly at the flickering candles. Ethan could feel the weight of her thoughts from across the room, the underlying pain she tried to bury with every breath. It was becoming unbearable for him, not to help, but to witness her suffering.

He approached her, each step measured but gentle, and when he reached her side, his voice broke the silence.

"Felicia," he began softly. "How are you feeling?"

She blinked, startled, her gaze lifting to meet his. The faintest of smiles tugged at her lips, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes. "I think I’m alright," she said, her voice small, uncertain.

Ethan’s eyes narrowed slightly as he assessed her. His appraisal power surged, digging deeper into the layers of her pain. He could see it, plain as day—the trauma, the years of manipulation, the fear that had clung to her like a shadow.

"I know it's not alright," he said gently, sitting beside her. "But we can fix this. We can heal it, Felicia."

Felicia looked at him, uncertainty clouding her expression. "How? How do you fix something that's been broken for so long?"

Ethan’s gaze softened. "It’s not about fixing it, Felicia. It’s about healing. Rebuilding what’s been lost."

Felicia shook her head, a bitter laugh escaping her lips. "How do you heal something that’s been shattered into so many pieces? You can’t just glue it back together."

He smiled, but there was an edge of steel in his eyes. "You’re wrong. It’s all still there. I can feel it. I can help you find it."

Felicia’s voice trembled. "You don’t know what I’ve been through. You don’t know what they did to me."

Ethan’s hand reached out, his fingers brushing against hers. "I know more than you think. I see it all. Every wound, every scar. But you’re not alone anymore. I’m here."

Felicia hesitated, but then her shoulders sagged, and she gave a small, reluctant nod. "Okay," she whispered.

He stood, his voice low and steady. "Come with me. I’ll show you."

Felicia followed him down the hallway, her movements slow, unsure. As they reached the door to the private chambers, Ethan paused, his eyes meeting hers.

"Are you ready?" he asked.

She hesitated for a long moment before answering, her voice barely above a whisper. "I think so."

Ethan pushed the door open and gestured for her to sit in the chair by the window. She settled into the plush seat, glancing around the room as if trying to find some comfort in the stillness. Ethan moved to the center of the room and faced her, his presence commanding yet calming.

"I need you to trust me," Ethan said quietly, his gaze unwavering.

Felicia looked up at him, her face tight with uncertainty. "I do trust you, Ethan. But I don’t know if I can trust myself."

"You don’t need to trust yourself just yet," he said gently. "Let me help you."

He held out his hand, and after a moment of hesitation, she placed hers in his. The moment their skin touched, a surge of energy passed between them—subtle, almost imperceptible.

Felicia stiffened, but Ethan’s voice soothed her. "Just breathe, Felicia. Let go."

As she exhaled, the tension in her body began to ease, though her mind still raced. The healing energy began to wrap around her, soft at first, like a gentle current, but then more forceful, digging deep, unraveling the layers of pain.

Ethan closed his eyes for a moment, his powers working in tandem. His appraisal ability painted a picture of Felicia's inner world—the emotional scars, the suppressed fears, the deep well of untapped strength. He could see everything in sharp detail, each fraction of her past laid bare.

"You’ve been carrying so much," Ethan murmured. "It’s all here. But you don’t need to carry it anymore."

Felicia's breathing hitched, and her voice was barely a whisper. "I don’t know if I can let it go. It’s all I’ve known for so long."

"You can," Ethan said firmly. "You just have to let me help you."

Felicia squeezed his hand, her eyes brimming with unshed tears. "I don’t even know who I am anymore, Ethan. I don’t know how to let go of all of it."

"You’re not alone in this," Ethan replied. "You’re stronger than you think. You just need to remember who you truly are."

Felicia’s eyes closed tightly, and for a moment, she felt herself slipping into a place of quiet calm. The past—her past—was still there, but it felt distant, faded. Ethan’s energy surrounded her, and with each breath, she felt lighter, as if the weight of years of suffering was being lifted from her shoulders.

"Good," Ethan whispered. "Let it go. Let it all go."

The room grew still as Ethan’s power continued to flow into Felicia, but it wasn’t just his energy that was shifting her—it was her own. Beneath the layers of fear and pain, something stronger, older, began to rise.

Felicia’s eyes fluttered open, her breath catching in her throat. "What’s happening?"

Ethan smiled, his eyes soft with understanding. "You’re awakening. Your true power has always been there, Felicia. You just needed someone to help you see it."

Felicia’s eyes widened, and she pulled her hand away from his, staring at the space between them. "I… I feel something. It’s like—like a fire inside me. It’s burning."

Ethan nodded slowly, his voice steady. "It’s your strength, your true self. Your potential. It’s always been there, buried beneath the surface."

Felicia stood, her legs shaking as she felt the pulse of power in her veins. "I don’t know how to control it."

"You don’t need to control it," Ethan replied. "You just need to embrace it."