Dacia Wolf & the Prophecy

by Mandi Oyster

  I didn’t answer. He pulled me to a sitting position and wrapped his arms around me. “It’s okay, Dacia,” he whispered softly in my ear while combing his fingers through my hair.

  “I’m … I’m, so, so sorry,” I finally managed to say. As I regained my composure, my hysteria turned to embarrassment. “I’m sorry.”

  He dropped his hand from my face, and his body tensed. “Quit. Saying. That!” Softening his voice, he pleaded, “Please tell me what’s going on. Let me in on what you’re going through, but don’t keep apologizing.”

  I took a deep breath and tried to still my trembling lip. “Do you remember the night I woke up with my face covered in blood? Of course, you do. What a stupid question,” I mumbled to myself. “Anyway, that’s how my dream started. We were sitting by Falcon Lake, nobody else around, just enjoying each other’s company. I freaked out. I knew I would glance over at you and see Bryce sitting in your place. I just—” my words caught in my throat “—I just panicked.”

  He pulled me close and whispered in my ear, “Dacia, I’ll always be here for you. I’d never hurt you.”

  “I know.” I clutched the hair on the top of my head. “That’s why I feel so bad.”

  “Don’t. You’re going through a lot. If I were in your shoes, I may’ve done the same. It was a scary night for all of us.” He brushed his thumb along my cheek. “Can I kiss you now?”

  I brought my lips to his in response. Cody pulled me onto his lap. His hands slid to the small of my back. Electricity sparked inside me. I wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling myself closer. His lips left mine, kissing a trail over my chin and along my neck to my collarbone. I nudged his head with my nose. He crushed his lips against mine, needing me as much as I needed him. The kiss softened. I laid my head against his shoulder.

  “We should go.” He kissed my temple. “It’ll be dark soon.”

  Cody stood, pulling me to my feet. He retrieved Sarah’s journals, and we walked back to campus. The sun hadn’t set, but the trees blocked most of the light. I ignited a small fireball in my palm, hoping I wouldn’t weaken myself too much by using more of my powers today.

  An eerie feeling stole the breath from my lungs. Something big was going to happen. But what and when?

  Chapter 23

  Lightning Crashes

  I sensed Cody’s presence and opened the door. He stepped in, swinging me into his arms. My gasp made him chuckle, low and raspy.

  “I missed you,” he whispered. His lips skimmed across mine.

  My heart did an unexpected flip. I slid my hands up his chest and wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling him closer to me. I doubted I would ever get used to Cody kissing me, but I hoped to spend a long time trying. I wanted him to hold me in his arms forever. I felt safe there, like nothing could go wrong as long as I was in Cody’s embrace.

  “Ready for class?” he asked.

  “I’m ready, but I don’t want to go.”

  “Me either, but we’ve already missed two days—”

  “—so another won’t hurt.”

  Cody snickered. “More along the lines of … so we need to go today.”

  “I knew you’d say that. That’s why I’m dressed, my hair is combed and my teeth are brushed.” I grabbed my backpack and left the room with Cody’s arm around my shoulders.

  His fingers brushed my neck, and he lifted up the necklace. “I noticed this yesterday, but where did it come from? It looks ancient.”

  I smacked his hand. “Because it is. Sarah gave it to me to help protect me from Nefarious.”

  We were almost to the Quartz Building when the cat’s eye started glowing blue. “Cody—” I stopped and pointed at the amulet “—look.”

  Cody spun in a circle, scanning the area for danger. “Why?”

  Nefarious here. No, no, no. I doubled over. I can’t do this now. I’m not ready.

  Cody rubbed my back. His strength seemed to seep into my body. I straightened up, flipped my hair over my shoulder and continued to class.

  As we got closer, I noticed the Potato Heads waiting outside. My eyes danced from them to Cody then back again. “What are they doing here? They’re supposed to be suspended.”

  Cody moved his hand to my neck, massaging it. “Just breathe.”

  I poked him in the ribs. “Don’t you get it?”

  “What?”

  I pointed at the Potato Heads then at the amulet. “They’re here, and this is glowing.”

  Cody’s eyes widened, and his head jerked back. “So they really are—”

  “—under Nefarious’ control.” Even though I’d expected it, I hadn’t wanted to believe it. I took a couple steps back. It can’t be. I can’t do this.

  “Come on, Dacia.” Cody held his hand out. “They can’t do anything here.”

  I tucked the amulet under my sweater. It felt hot against my skin. I wrapped my arm around Cody, clenching his sweatshirt in my hand.

  “Well, look who’s here. It’s the freak and gimpy,” Alvin bellowed. “How ya feeling Cody?” The four of them laughed.

  How can they not see Cody’s fine?

  Cody’s arm tensed, but he replied in a steady voice, “I’m fine. Thanks for asking.”

  As we got closer, their laughter died one by one. The confused masks they wore almost brought a smile to my face, almost.

  “You don’t even have a bruise.” Bryce’s face scrunched up in confusion.

  Cassandra’s sails hung limply without the wind behind them. “I … I don’t understand.”

  Was that fear that flickered in her eyes?

  “You shouldn’t even be out of the hospital yet.” She looked at him then at her friends as if expecting an explanation.

  “I’m a quick healer.” Cody shrugged one shoulder like she wasn’t worth the effort of a two-shoulder shrug. “Don’t you have a hearing to attend?” He led me past them, his hand pressed against my lower back.

  Once in the building, my breath leaked out like air escaping a balloon. “How did you handle that so well? They weren’t even talking to me, and I wanted to punch them. It has to be eating at you.”

  “They’re not worth it. They’ll never change.” He looked over his shoulder toward the door and shook his head. “If they think I’m afraid of them, they’ll keep coming after me. If they think they’re not bothering me, maybe they’ll back off.”

  I sat at my desk. “I guess that’s a good way to look at it, but if they’re possessed, they won’t stop until this is over.”

  “We can’t give up.” He pressed the back of my hand to his lips. “Be careful.” Cody walked to the door.

  “Cody—” I ran to him, grabbing his arm and jerking him back “—go out the back door.”

  His nod was nearly imperceptible. “Do. Not. Leave. Without. Me.”

  

  I relaxed. The wind whipped my hair around my face, blowing the smell of fresh pine my way, birds sang and fish jumped in the lake. This is where I want to live after college. Now all I had to do was go out and find this place. The only time I had ever been there was during my relaxation techniques. I didn’t even know if this exact spot existed.

  “Okay, Dacia,” Sarah’s voice blew in from across the lake. “I want you to find your way back here, rejuvenated and ready to begin.”

  I opened my eyes. “I love the relaxation part of my lessons. It’s the only time I can let go. I get some sleep through the night, but not as much as I’d like.” I twirled my hair between two fingers. “The premonition thing has me worried. Since last night, I’ve had the feeling something bad’s going to happen. I can’t shake it.”

  “It may be nothing.” Sarah tried to sound optimistic, but I could tell she was concerned.

  “As long as I’m telling you about my problems, the a
mulet glows around Cassandra and them.”

  Sarah’s forehead scrunched up. Her eyebrows disappeared behind her hair. “I feared this would be the case.” She pulled lint off her pants. “Unfortunately, their hearing went as I suspected.”

  “Crap.” I sat there for a minute, pulling on the sleeve of my shirt and fidgeting nervously. “I don’t think anything other than being hospitalized will get them to stay away from us.”

  She stood in front of me with her hands behind her back. “You’re not thinking about putting them there, are you?”

  “Oh, no, no I’m not.” My eyes widened, and I shook my head. “Wednesday, I wanted revenge so bad I could taste it, but now that Cody’s okay, I don’t want to hurt anybody.” I pulled my hand through my hair. “I was just pointing out that they’re never going to back down. I will have to watch for them until after my fight with Nefarious.”

  She sat back down. “I’ve instructed your teachers to keep the four of them away from you, Cody and Samantha.”

  I shot her a look that asked, Do you really think that’ll do any good?

  She closed her eyes and shook her head. The hopelessness in her action made my stomach plummet.

  She studied me for a while before saying, “I’ll be right back.” She went into her office, and when she came out, she was carrying a football and a basketball. She sat down. “I want you to try to crush one of these. Try to recall the emotions you felt when Bryce and Alvin attacked Cody, and use that energy to smash one of the balls.”

  “Okay, I’ll see what I can do.” I sat upright, closed my eyes and concentrated on squashing the football. I could tell nothing was happening. I tried to draw on the guilt and fear I felt that night. I could hear some air expel from one of the balls. When I opened my eyes, the football was gripped by an invisible force. It looked like somebody was clutching it in mid-air.

  “That was good, Dacia, but it lacked intensity,” Sarah said as she watched the ball drop back onto the couch beside her.

  A bright flash and a loud clap of thunder sounded outside. Both Sarah and I jumped. There had been no distant rumbling forewarning a storm, but one was upon us.

  I looked out the windows at the ominous black clouds that had moved in. “Those aren’t mine.”

  “Good to know.” Sarah pointed to the basketball. “Imagine something happening to the ball.” She shrugged. “Maybe whatever you imagine will happen.”

  “It’s worth a try.” Once again I straightened up, closed my eyes and let my imagination go to work. I pictured the basketball hovering in the air. Then another loud clap of thunder startled me.

  “Oh, my God,” Sarah exclaimed. I opened my eyes to see the charred remains of the basketball. “A bolt of lightning struck the ball. I can’t believe you did that.”

  “You told me to imagine something.” I twisted my mouth into a lopsided smile. “That loud clap of thunder made me think of lightning striking the ball.”

  “The electricity made the hair on the back of my neck stand on end, but that was all I felt. I would tell you to try again so you could watch, but I think conjuring lightning is something best suited for outdoors.”

  “Yeah,” I agreed. “I just want to know what all I can do. I’m going to try to look through the journals this weekend to see if they give me any ideas. I think I would like to skip my lesson tomorrow, but if I need to, can I call you Sunday?”

  “That’d be fine.” Sarah nodded in agreement. “I think a day off would be good. Do you have something planned?”

  “Tomorrow morning I plan to look at the journals. Then Samantha, Cody and I are going to spend the rest of the day in Althea.”

  “Be careful in town, but try to have a good time.” Then out of the blue, she asked, “What did you ever find out about your truck?”

  “I should have it back late next week. The general consensus is that I was very lucky. I saw all of the blood on the airbag and seats, so I already knew that.”

  “Well, maybe it will keep you from going out by yourself,” Sarah said.

  “Yeah, it’s a good deterrent.”

  “Cody should be here any minute,” Sarah said, realizing how late it was. “Time flies when you’re having fun, huh?”

  “Yep.” I glanced out the window at the monsoon. Rushing rivers flowed down the sidewalks. “I don’t mind walking in the rain, but the way this is coming down, I’ll drown before I get back.”

  “Look on the bright side. You shouldn’t have to watch your back.”

  Cody showed up a few minutes later, sopping wet. He stood in the hallway to keep from dripping on Sarah’s carpet. “Dacia, you ready?”

  I stood up and threw my jacket on. “As ready as I’ll ever be.”

  “Do you want an umbrella?” Sarah asked.

  “No, it won’t hold up in this wind.” Cody shivered. “It’s brutal.”

  She pointed at the fireplace. “Would you like to come in and get warmed up?”

  “No.” His words were distorted by the chattering of his teeth. “I’d like to get some dry clothes on. I’m freezing.”

  “Have a good weekend, Sarah,” I said.

  “You too, Dacia … be careful.”

  We stepped out into the pouring rain. I don’t want to get drenched.

  As soon as I thought it, it was like Cody and I stood inside a clear plastic bubble. The rain fell, but where we stood was as dry as could be. We started moving, and the bubble stayed around us, keeping us dry. Rain pummeled the ground around us, but where it hit the protective sphere, there was no sound.

  “Cool. I could’ve used this on the way to pick you up.” He went to throw his arm over my shoulders.

  I dodged and smiled at him. “You’re soaked.”

  “And, you should be.” He laughed and grabbed me around the waist, pulling me into him.

  I giggled and held onto him. I could handle being wet if it meant being closer to Cody. “Do you want to go to your room to get some dry clothes?”

  “Nah, I dropped some off.” He reached his hand out, and the bubble extended. “You’re the best umbrella ever.”

  I ran ahead, but Cody caught up to me quickly, grabbing me around the waist and pulling me against him. He put his head on top of mine and put his feet outside of mine. “You’re not getting away that easily.” I heard the laughter in his voice and felt his chest vibrate against my back.

  Without ever letting go, he stepped beside me. I laid my head against him. I wanted to slow down and enjoy this time alone with him, but he was still shivering.

  We opened the door to find Samantha at the computer. Books and notebooks spread out across the desk. I couldn’t help but think she needed to get out and enjoy herself instead of spending all her time studying.

  “Jeez, Cody,” Samantha said. “How did you get soaked? Dacia’s hardly wet at all.”

  “I used him as an umbrella.” I flexed my arm muscles and laughed.

  “Unfortunately, Dacia wasn’t with me on the way.” He grabbed his clothes and went to change.

  “What was that supposed to mean?” Samantha asked, looking at me like Cody spoke Greek.

  “I didn’t want to get rained on, so we didn’t.” I had no idea where all of these new powers were coming from, but I hoped something in the journals might help me understand what I was going through.

  “That reminds me. When Cody dropped off his clothes he told me to ask what you did at your lesson yesterday.”

  I tilted my head. Why was I so tired yesterday, but I’m not at all today? Shouldn’t I be zapped from being an umbrella?

  “Uh … Dacia?”

  “Sorry. I was thinking.” I held my palm up. A small spark ignited, growing into a fireball.

  Samantha couldn’t tear her eyes away from the flames. “Awesome!” I heard her whisper.
When ice began flowing from my fingertips, you could’ve heard a pin drop. “That is so cool!” she said as she watched the ice devour the flames.

  When Cody knocked, my concentration was broken. The globe fell to the floor and shattered. “That was wicked,” Samantha said before she opened the door.

  Cody stepped in wearing dry blue jeans and a blue sweater that accentuated his eyes. I’d always liked the way he looked when he wore that sweater, but now that he was mine, I liked it even more. “Looking good.” I wagged my eyebrows at him. Then I reached my arms behind his neck and pulled his mouth down on mine.

  “This is no time for kissing,” Samantha said. “Dacia just showed me what she can do. It’s amazing.”

  Cody pulled away and wrapped his arm around my shoulders, leading me to the chairs. “You weren’t too tired?”

  “No,” I said. “I’m going to have to figure out my limitations.”

  “But first we need to get dinner ordered.” Food was always on Cody’s mind. Samantha and I were sure he had a hollow leg.

  While we waited for our food, we sat and talked about the kinds of things college students should talk about.

  “What are you going home for?” Cody asked Samantha.

  “I haven’t been home for a while. Mom called me yesterday and asked if I remembered where I live, so I decided I should go visit them.”

  “Since I started college, my parents have turned into quite the social butterflies.” Now that they don’t have to worry about me burning down the house, they can get out more. I wonder if they even miss me.

  A serious expression came over Cody’s face. “I’m just glad Sarah couldn’t get hold of mine.”

  “You didn’t call them?” I asked.

  “I did, but I didn’t tell them I was calling from the hospital.”

  “Won’t they figure it out when they get the bill?” Samantha asked.

  “Nah. Sarah told the hospital to bill the school since it happened here.”