The power of thunder

I sat in bed, still in shock. That feeling… the feeling of having lightning in my veins hadn’t gone away. A minute ago, a sage had visited me in my dreams and told me to use my awakening for doing good. Then I felt a rush of adrenaline and electricity push through me and it woke me up. 

It had made a hole into a wall. The power. If I could use it, I could live without fear. I could eat. My stomach growled. Maybe I wouldn’t starve to death after all.

“What do you think you’re doing here?! You aren’t allowed to enter the main hall while your brothers are dining.”

Mother raised him to placate him. “She must’ve forgotten Harold.. forgive the child.”

When father seemed to calm down a bit at those, mother reached out to me. “My dear child, don’t you know it’s not good to be greedy? You must not eat. You don’t want to be a bad child now, do you?”

I slapped her hand away. She looked surprised that I even had the strength to do that. I got boiled. Her sugar-coated words had manipulative intent carefully hidden under them. It disgusted me to think that if I hadn’t gotten my power, I would have lived in ignorance and fear my whole life.

“I am going to eat when I want to, and where I want to.” My voice was low and dangerous. It left no room for argument. A small pause followed my statement. Then mother laughed as if to diffuse the situation.

“Lola, you shouldn’t joke about such matters. We could’ve taken it seriously! We would’ve thought that you were no longer willing to be part of our wonderful family!”

Father shook his head and composed himself. “Yes, it is unbecoming of you to jest so carelessly when it could be the potential cause of a mishap-”

I saw it before I heard it. The white streak of lightning, arced through the air and hit the place between us. The thunder was followed by alarmed shouts and panicked cries.

“Soldiers-!”

“There’s no need,” I spoke over the static, making my voice as loud and clear as possible. “It was me who did that. It’s a small warning. I am going to eat when I want, where I want. Kindly don’t make me repeat myself.”

Mother, who had fallen back onto the floor in alarm, shook with rage. “Y-you, h-how.”

I smirked. “Oh, this? These are my newly acquired powers. I will make good use of them so don’t you worry mother.”

I brushed past father, who stood still in shock, eyes wide and fearful. It gave me huge comfort. I headed into the hall, ignoring my brother’s startled questions and protests. They hadn’t bothered to come out of the dining hall even after hearing the commotion outside. They didn’t care if anyone was in danger or if someone was suffering as long as their work remained undisturbed. They weren’t fit to be contestants on the throne. They weren’t fit to eat.