Hidden power 2

Carol was coming; so were some of the others. They'd heard what I said.

"I've killed the Nine," I said. "And I've taken their powers."

I could feel Carol stop; she was making connections that I didn't want her to make, wondering if I was actually Mirtis and if I'd been playing them the entire time. I needed to divert her attention and redirect her thoughts.

"I think I can help Mark," I said.

"What?" she asked.

"One of the Nine had a secret power," I said. "One that can be used to help Mark. It's not a Master power, but I think it offers some hope for him to get better."

Mark's depression wasn't just a biochemical thing; part of it was from not being able to control Carol's worst impulses. He could see her coldness to Amy and her preference for Vicky, but he felt helpless to change anything, and that made him withdraw into himself. The fact that he wasn't helping his daughters only made him feel like a terrible father, and that made him feel more depressed, which gave him even less energy.

It was a vicious cycle that was difficult to get out of, especially since there were natural ebbs and flows to depression, and sometimes he would get better on his own, which would give them hope, but it wouldn't last. He hated himself.

***

Strategy