Penetration

Penetration
By Lord Fintan

"Something's wrong with you," Sir Lawrence said for what must've been the tenth time.

Many people tell me that. I'm not normal. I never will be ordinary.

"I'm sorry, Sir," I said. "I wish I could control--"

"But you can't, can you?" Sir Lawrence asked hotly. "You never will be able to. You freak. Now get out of my classroom. Now!"

I was hurt a bit. Sir Lawrence was my Telepathy mentor. He was very angry with me, like always. I had always been great friends with him. Once I manifested as a Telepath, I was so excited I got to spend more time with him. But when he found out he couldn't read my mind, he was livid. There was no way to teach me if he couldn't enter my mind. That was what made me a freak. No one could read my mind, not even the best of probes.

I stormed down the halls of Foxfire, up to Study Hall to do my homework. It was thirty minutes early, so I hoped I wouldn't run into any mentors. But I also hoped I could finish my homework before the others came up, so I could leave.

I had social problems. And no one liked me. So what was I supposed to do? I was the creepy kid, with the freaky abilities.

My name is Anthony Ward, and I'm a Telepath and a Shade. I have black hair that comes down to my shoulders, with nearly black eyes and light olive skin. I'm normal-sized for my age.

By the time Study Hall officially started, I was already gone. I had finished my homework and was headed home. As much as I hated my house, I hated school more.

I hated my parents. They were really sweet and caring. But there was nothing they could do. They are both Talentless. They cannot sympathize for me. You see, they tell me I'm adopted, but they don't know who my parents are.

I wanted to go upstairs to my room, but my dad was blocking my way at the front door. He wouldn't move.

"What is it?" I asked.

"Anthony," my dad said. "We just got word of something."

"Wow, you got news," I said. "That's a first."

My dad sighed. "There's a girl. Angela Foster."

"Dad, you think I'm interested in a celebrity?" I asked.

I knew Angela from school. She was a beautiful girl, but I had never talked to her or really been near her. She WAS a celebrity in Foxfire and the Elvin world. Her mom was the lady who saved the world, Sophie Foster!

"Just listen to me for one second," my dad said. "She's a very powerful Telepath. And she's an Empath. You know how no one can read your mind?" I nodded. "Well, Angela says that she believes she can."

"What do you mean?" I asked. "No one can read my mind!"

"She wants to be Cognates with you."