Alec noticed that Adam hadn't specified how he could have been more civil. He hadn't denied that Alec had tried. His efforts hadn't been enough and now he had to act like a servant to please Adam.
Walking past the priestess, he kept his eyes averted, trying not to think about what he was about to do. He'd never tried to leave or even thought of trying to get close to the gates. The powers that protected this reality might not like the guardian ordering the gates to open when he was supposed to stay within the grounds. This might not end well, but this was now his duty.
Standing in front of them, he called all the power that he had been given to protect the temple and focused it on the gate. "The priestess wants to leave."
As Alec expected, the gates didn't budge. The priestess had told him to force open the gates so that might be the only way to open them. The cats milled around, obviously picking up on his unease. Alec wasn't sure what would happen if he touched the gate.
But he'd been given an order. He had to follow it. Wrapping his hands around two of the bars, he ignored the energy he felt humming beneath his palms. He'd be all right as long as he didn't try to leave.
It wasn't until he tried to push them open that the hum turned to something more unpleasant. The more he attempted to force the doors open, the stronger it became. The hum turning to something sharper, like hooks sinking into his flesh. The sword had the same power, but it'd never been this intense when he'd touched that relic. Biting his lip to remain silent as pain worsened, he kept pushing against the force keeping the them closed until his hands slipped and he almost stumbled into the gates.
Taking an unsteady breath, Alec backed away from the gate, and then fell into the old soldier posture that had always been safe when he had been criticized. Keeping his hands behind him, he waited for Adam to decide if his effort had been good enough.
no subject
Walking past the priestess, he kept his eyes averted, trying not to think about what he was about to do. He'd never tried to leave or even thought of trying to get close to the gates. The powers that protected this reality might not like the guardian ordering the gates to open when he was supposed to stay within the grounds. This might not end well, but this was now his duty.
Standing in front of them, he called all the power that he had been given to protect the temple and focused it on the gate. "The priestess wants to leave."
As Alec expected, the gates didn't budge. The priestess had told him to force open the gates so that might be the only way to open them. The cats milled around, obviously picking up on his unease. Alec wasn't sure what would happen if he touched the gate.
But he'd been given an order. He had to follow it. Wrapping his hands around two of the bars, he ignored the energy he felt humming beneath his palms. He'd be all right as long as he didn't try to leave.
It wasn't until he tried to push them open that the hum turned to something more unpleasant. The more he attempted to force the doors open, the stronger it became. The hum turning to something sharper, like hooks sinking into his flesh. The sword had the same power, but it'd never been this intense when he'd touched that relic. Biting his lip to remain silent as pain worsened, he kept pushing against the force keeping the them closed until his hands slipped and he almost stumbled into the gates.
Taking an unsteady breath, Alec backed away from the gate, and then fell into the old soldier posture that had always been safe when he had been criticized. Keeping his hands behind him, he waited for Adam to decide if his effort had been good enough.