Current Impressions Read Online Free PDF Page B

blue, velvet
dress, cleared her throat, and then held her hands out, palms up.
“Place your hands on mine.”
    I did as she said. Her hands were cool and
dry. My skin tingled where it touched hers. For the first time, she
gave me a real smile. “You have great power, Meara. I can feel so
much untapped potential.”
    “Uh. Thanks?”
    Her smile vanished. She must have realized
that she paid me a compliment. Her brows knit together. “Do you
know why I’m the first one to teach you? Why I was chosen to show
you protection?”
    “No.”
    “I am the strongest shielder here. No one
can enter my mind unless I want them to, and I never do. I can show
you how to block your thoughts. I can show you how to read
another’s. It’s simply a matter of reversing the process. Do you
want to learn?”
    I was scared, but it didn’t stop me from
responding. “Yes.”
    “Good. Close your eyes and picture your
brain. Picture the fluid in your head that coats your brain and
runs down your spine, protecting your thoughts. Now, imagine that
fluid becoming liquid metal, a flowing shield. Do you see it?”
    “I do.” My voice sounded far away. I
concentrated on the image before me. In my mind, my shield glowed
bright silver. It was beautiful to behold, a calming presence and a
protective force at the same time. I heard Brigid’s breath rapidly
increase, but I didn’t open my eyes until she let out a loud
whoosh.
    She looked pale and a little out of breath.
I hadn’t seen shock on her face before, but if I had to guess at
the emotion, that would be it.
    “I blocked you, didn’t I?” I didn’t mean to
sound smug, but it came out that way.
    Her expression soured, and then she
relented. “You did. It was quite… good for your first time.”
    I knew it cost her to say the words. She was
being almost nice to me. If she kept this up, she’d ruin her
reputation.
    “I will not!” she snapped. Anger darkened
her eyes.
    “You read my thoughts?” I didn’t know why it
surprised me, but it did. Shouldn’t I be able to feel her presence
if she was in my mind?
    “I did.” She shrugged like it was no big
deal. “I told you that you simply reverse the process.” I stared at
her. I had no idea what she meant. She sighed as though I was slow.
“You take your shield and you project it into another’s brain.”
    I was bracing to try it when she dropped my
right hand and held up two fingers. “Before you begin, you must
know two things. First, when you project your shield out, you are
vulnerable yourself, and second, you can only see the other’s
immediate thoughts. Nothing in the past, nothing in the future. If
they’re strong-willed and focus on—let’s say—a rock. Well, then a
rock is all you’ll see. Understand?”
    “Yes.” As I spoke the word, I projected into
her mind, hoping to catch her off guard. It worked.
    I heard her thinking, She’s more skilled
than I thought , before she blocked me with an image of the sky.
The cloud she pictured looked like a floating duck. A sharp pain
pierced my forehead. She’d pushed me all the way out.
    Panting, she said. “That’s enough for
today.”
    She turned and walked back to the fortress.
Her back was rigid, her shoulders straight, but I noticed a little
unevenness in her step. I had unnerved her. Instead of feeling
pleased, I was scared. This was only my first lesson. What else was
I going to learn?
    I sat on the ground and let my feet dangle
over the short cliff that overlooked the cove. The soft moss
tickled my forearms when I leaned back. I stared into a bright blue
sky and let the sun warm my face. My eyes closed, and the sound of
waves grew louder. Gulls cried around me.
    Footsteps told me someone approached. By the
light sound of them, I guessed it was Ula. My guess was confirmed
when her shadow blocked the sun as she leaned over me.
    “Want to go for a swim?” Her grin was
infectious.
    “Can we?” I wanted to play in the water. My
first time changing had been all