Should Have Let Me Die

I turned from Markeye to the sound of my wives coming up the stairs. Nina was the first up, and she rushed to me, jumping into my arms, and I pulled her in close. The smell of the forest was in her hair, and I breathed her scent in, kissing her forehead and then squeezing her.

Arrentia and Mishka we're up next followed but Addel, Kalita, and Kyra. Alex and Kadence were missing, but there were probably talking alone. That was ok; these would be more than enough once they saw my new change.

"I have something to show you all. I'm sure you all know how Kadence's magic has evolved."

"It was more than just her magic Great Mas..."

"Wait, yeah, I know it was more than that; a bit before we go on, I order you all to address me as Hyde from now on or whatever name you are comfortable with."

Something changed in the air. I could feel it and see it spreading across the faces of each woman. I hadn't just lifted the need to call me Great Master; I gave them free to contact me whatever they wanted. I guess it was easy for me to overlook something like this, but my talk with Markeye helped me understand this world just a bit more.

"As you were saying, Mishka, Kadence had more than just a magical change. The same thing happened to Mesh when he changed."

I watched Mishka as I said this, and her face started to run through a storm of emotions. I knew that she would react this way and maybe Arrentia, but I was more concerned with Mishka. I was already was walking to her, and I took her hands; this might be the moment.

"I know what your thinking; that isn't what you want, right? You want what Kadence received, right?"

She shook her head as tears started to leak from her eyes. I let go of her hands and took her into my arms and press her head into my chest and let her cry. Coming from a life where she was to be used as a tool to help keep her race alive, she didn't want to go back to anything resembling that.

"My magic allows my followers to reach their dreams and hopes. Mesh wants to be something more than he was, but Kadence's dream was different and had different results. Your passions are what drives the magic. I think that when you do change, you will not be disappointed, okay?"

"Mmhm," Mishka sniffled and then pulled away wipe her eyes since my bare chest wasn't much good at soaking up tears.

"Alright, now!"

I took a step back from the girls and lit my thoughts aflame. My pants ignited with flames, and Mishka squealed, running back to me. I let her come and touch my burning pants, knowing the fire couldn't hurt anyone that followed me, just like their magic couldn't hurt me.

The rest of the women started to crowd around, but I walked over to Kalita, who seemed to be lost in thought. I scooped her up into my arms and started to run across the deck. Kalita didn't cry out, but she gripped me tighter, good girl!

I ran straight for the edge and planted one foot on the railing and jumped high into the air. Light it up! Flames burned out my pants and we shot out across an open section of land we were passing and it arced up into the air. I stopped about fifty feet in the air and we could both see the women standing at the railing watching us.

"What do you think?"

"I like it, it really is you, hehe. Although, next time, saved the theatrics for one of the more excitable ones so you can get a better reaction."

"Haha, that's why I did it with you! I knew only you or Kyra could keep cool like this."

I leaned down and shared a kiss with Kalita, then started to descend back to the deck and dropping the last ten feet and sliding. I put Kalita down and then I was flooded by the rest of the girls. They each asked for a turn and I had to ask to wait for their turns.

I took Kyra first and flew at breakneck speeds, just barely missing a flying bird. I flew back around to apologize to the bird with Kyra's help, but it pissed of Kyra, so I pointed the finger at it and hit it with a small ball of fire. We laughed as we raced to catch the half-cooked bird, grabbing it, but the one-eighty I performed almost made both of us sick.

I took her back after, shooting myself up the side and landing on the deck when I cleared the railing letting the flames go. I noticed that Alex and Kadence had made it up top now so after putting Kyra down, I walked over to them.

"So, how was your little meeting?"

"We talked about things," Alex said while giving me an off-handed smile, but she didn't say anything more.

I looked to Kadence, but she gave me a more stricken smile that had an apologetic look to it. That meant whatever they have been deciding about, Alex had won, but neither would tell me. Nope, I don't fucking care, if it was important they would tell me.

"Hey before I forget, I order you to call me Hyde or whatever you want from now on, both of you, okay?"

"Oh? Did you do this for the others?" Kadence asked with curiosity.

"Yeah, why wouldn't I?"

"No reason why 'YOU' wouldn't, but I still am always amazed when you do things like this for all of us. It so easy to forget your not from here because you look just like anyone else, but then you do these things that show just how different you are from the rest of us."

"Hmm... Yeah, I kinda get it, but it's just the way I am."

Kadence came over to hug me and then gave me a quick kiss.

"Good, keep it that way!"