Exposed
The Broken Soul Series
By
Jenny Phillips
Copyright © 2018 Jenny Phillips
All rights reserved.
Cover design by Breakaway Designs
Amazon Edition, Licensing Statement
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Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form is forbidden without expressed written permission from the author.
This book is a fictional work by Jenny Phillips. All names, characters, places and events are either the product of the authors' imagination or are used fictitiously; any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
This book is dedicated to my father who has always taught me to question what’s real, investigate what may go bump in the night, and never give up on your dream no matter how long it may take to complete.
Chapter One
“What day are we supposed to have our test again?” A warm breeze blew my blonde hair in my eyes and I pushed it back waiting for Maggie’s response.
“Tuesday,” she replied, shifting her backpack to her other shoulder as we crossed campus. I had on capris and a UNH T-shirt and Maggie was in shorts and a floral top. Summer still lingered but the threat of fall was in the air.
“Thanks,” I said. “I don’t know where my head’s been lately.”
“I do.”
“You do?” I was surprised anyone had any insight into what had been going on in my head lately.
She let out a sigh. “Morgan, I think anyone in your position would be nervous about this Ball.”
“I wish Chase saw it the same way.” I had to bite back my snippiness. I loved my boyfriend but we definitely did not agree on the Council’s decision to go through with their big Gifted Ball or their indifference toward Nolan’s … situation.
Maggie’s amethyst eyes shone in the afternoon sunshine. Her short blonde hair had grown out a bit and she had it pulled back with bobby pins. “How do you know he doesn’t?”
“Because!” I cringed at my own voice taking on an elevated pitch, and I lowered it to a more suitable level. “Because, he hasn’t missed a beat with helping his parents plan this whole thing and he keeps attending all of these Council meetings.”
“Honestly, it sounds like he’s participating more out of duty. Does he even realize you’re protesting the Council?”
“I’m not protesting!”
Maggie eyed me. “What else do you call it, Morgan?”
I opened my mouth to shoot back but snapped my lips together instead.
“Right …” She raked her hands through her short, blonde hair. “If you want my advice, I’d say talk to him and really tell him how you feel. Don’t nag. Converse.”
“Okay,” I agreed, and linked my arm with hers. “No more heated discussions. I’m stressed enough. Let’s go grab a coffee and talk about our plans to study for this test.”
She laughed. “You’re really worried about this test?”
“Kinda!”
We laughed and caught up on nonsense for a while over some frozen ridiculously basic form of what was once coffee. It felt great sitting in a coffee shop with one of my closest friends just being an average eighteen-year-old girl. I silently made myself promise to spend more time hanging out with Iris and Maggie doing silly girl things and stop feeling obligated to protect the world. If the Council was determined to have a Ball they had to feel it was safe, right?
My grandfather, Stephen, still lurked in the shadows, I was sure of this. However, he hadn’t reached out to me or showed any signs of even existing to me in months. Maybe he’d decided to run off to Tahiti and set up shop there?
“Are you going to the Council meeting this weekend?” I asked.
“Yeah,” Maggie replied. “My parents are expecting me.”
“Maybe I’ll see you there.”
“Really?” She came close to squealing.
I shrugged. “I’m not 100% yet but I’ll think about it.” My fingers found my Gran’s locket under my shirt and I flipped it on the chain absently.
My phone rattled on the table, the vibration making it dance across the glass tabletop. Nolan’s name popped up on the screen.
“You need to get that?” Maggie asked.
“Nah. It’s just Nolan.” I hit the button to dismiss the call and texted him instead. Coffee with Maggie. What’s up?
Setting the phone back down, I asked Maggie what time her next class started.
“Pretty soon actually. I have about ten minutes before I need to start walking.”
“I can walk with you.”
I grabbed my phone just as it buzzed with what was probably Nolan’s response.
How is she? Not a huge problem, but Glamour gone wrong …
I rolled my eyes and showed Maggie the phone.
“Tell him I’m good.” I could’ve been wrong, but thought I may have detected a blush.
I couldn’t hide my own smile. “I guess I’m going to go check on him. I wonder what it could be this time.”
“See ya later!” Maggie called over her shoulder.
She and I had gotten much closer over the summer. She had decided on UNH so she would know a few friendly faces when starting college. I’d finally gotten her to open up about her own Gifts. She was like Iris in that she was only half Gifted. Maggie’s mom had met her father, a non-Gifted, before she’d found her soul-mate. Her biological father had taken off and left her mother pregnant and alone. The man everyone else knew as her father was in fact her stepfather. He loved her as her own and together they kept her secret from the Council. She had been a little guarded about her Gifts when I’d first met her in one of Uncle Spencer’s sessions, but after I’d earned her trust she had finally opened up.
I texted Nolan back. She’s good. What did you do this time? Want to meet at my apartment?
Yes, was the only text I got in return. I walked briskly to my car, enjoying the warm fall day.
The drive to my apartment from UNH was pretty quick. I could’ve used my Gift of speed to run home a lot quicker, but during the day there were just too many witnesses to pull that off. I had to keep my Gifts as discreet as possible. Nolan was sitting on the curb outside of my complex with his elbows on his knees and hands propping up his head.
“Iris isn’t home?” I asked, trying not to laugh as I pulled my backpack out of my backseat.
Nolan stood and dusted off his jogging pants. “I didn’t even buzz up.”
“Come on up.” I unlocked our front door and led him up to our second story apartment. “So how did this, um, happen?” I asked shoving my key into our lock.
“I don’t know. I’m terrible at this.”
“Nolan—”
“No, I am though, Morgan. I really am. I have tried all of your Gifts and nothing really clicks you know?”
“Like how does it not ‘click’?”
He stepped into my apartment and crossed the tiny space to sit on the couch. Pretending to look interested in a magazine on our coffee table, he pulled it into his lap.
“It’s just that nothing is easy for me.”
“Honestly, Nolan, nothing was easy for me in the beginning, either.�
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“I don’t mean that kind of easy.”
Taking the seat next to him on the couch, I waited for him to continue.
“It’s like nothing fits right. I can barely execute any of your Gifts.”
“I’m sorry.”
“I’m not looking for sympathy,” he said. “I really just want to understand what I even need … I don’t know … It’s like I have no clue what I’m doing. I can feel there’s something different. That it lays just beneath the surface but I have no way of accessing it or even beginning to understand it.” Rising abruptly, he tugged at his dark hair with both hands. “I’m just frustrated is all.”
My own head slumped and I can’t help but feel the weight of his predicament.
“Morgan, I don’t regret getting these Gifts. That’s what I’m trying to make you understand. I just wish I could use them is all.”
“I want to help.”
“You are!” he said, coming back to the couch. “You and Chase are both helping. It’s just frustration on my own part. Like I’m stupid and can’t figure out how to access these abilities.”
“It takes a while to really get them under control, Nolan. I spent years thinking there was something wrong with me because mine were so out of control. Before I came to MAC and Chase brought me to the Council I tried to hide mine because I thought there was something wrong with me.”
“Really?” He looked at me doubtfully while he pointed at his neon blue hair.
I couldn’t suppress my laugh any longer. “Yes, Nolan! I can’t tell you how many times my hair turned colors!”
He relaxed a little. I got up and grabbed his wrist, pulling him to the little bathroom off of our living area.
Pointing in the mirror, I instructed, “Now I want you to concentrate. Visualize how your hair looked before or how you want it to look.”
“You don’t think I’ve tried that? We’ve done this before, remember?”
“Do you want me to help or not?”
Shutting his mouth, he gripped the counter and leaned into the mirror.
“Now, don’t stop visualizing it until you get the results you want.” I waited a few minutes, watching Nolan’s now slightly reflective eyes narrow in concentration. “Do you feel the tingles?”
I took his silence as confirmation. Nolan’s arms strained for a second before I started seeing the transformation. The blue changed to brown slowly, very slight and faded at first until all of the blue tint was gone and the brown deepened.
“There!” Smiling big, I put my hand on his arm. Nolan smiled in return as relief washed over him. “It’s just going to take a while to get it all down. It’s a big change, Nolan, and I really am sorry about putting you through all of this.” I swallowed the lump that formed in my throat every time I thought about cursing Nolan with these Gifts that he’d never asked for.
“It’s—” Nolan began, but stopped as we both Sensed someone Gifted. I knew it was Chase.
The biggest change of the last few months was the relationship between Nolan and Chase. They’d grown closer and I’d even say developed a camaraderie. I’d suspected Chase volunteered to help Nolan in the beginning just to keep him away from me but that wasn’t the case anymore. They were actually friends now.
Chase knocked and I opened the door before he was able to even get the second knock in.
“Hey!”
“There’s my girl.” He kissed me. Not one of his usual deep kisses but kind of quick like he was preoccupied.
Chase walked past me just as Nolan came out of the bathroom.
“You didn’t answer when I tried to call back,” he said to Nolan.
“Oh, man, sorry, I must’ve left my phone in my car.”
I see how it is. Nolan texted Chase to help him, and when he didn’t answer … only then did he text me. Boys.
Chase couldn’t keep the laughter out of his voice. “What did you do this time?”
“My hair was blue.”
Chase lost the battle and let loose with a deep laugh. “It gets easier.”
“That’s what Morgan told me, too.” Nolan headed toward the door. “I have to get to class. I’m probably going to be late as it is.”
“All right. See ya later.” Chase nodded.
“Bye Nolan,” I said. “If you have any problems this weekend just remember to stay calm, breathe, and concentrate until you start to feel the tingles.”
“You won’t be around this weekend?” Nolan looked confused and I stole a glance at Chase’s almost identical expression.
“Eh, I think I may actually attend the Council meeting.”
“Seriously?” Chase almost squeaked.
“I told Maggie I’d keep an open mind about it all.” I shrugged it off, moving into the kitchen for a bottled water.
“Good for Maggie!” Chase said. “I haven’t been able to get you to go in months!”
“And on that note, I’m out,” Nolan remarked, pulling us back from a potential fight.
“See ya,” I said just as the door closed.
Leaning up against the kitchen counter, I folded my arms across me. “I’m still not happy with the Council,” I started. “It’s just that Maggie gave me that outside perspective.”
“Outside.” Chase leaned against the counter opposite me. “As in not my perspective.”
“Not what I said.”
“No, but that’s the meaning there. My parents are too close to the Council and you don’t trust my view because it reflects theirs.”
I didn’t answer right away. His words almost reflected an earlier conversation exactly. “I don’t want to fight with you. I thought going to a Council meeting would make you happy.”
“It does!” He rubbed his face with both of his hands. “I only wish I could’ve convinced you to go. It’s … silly, I guess it’s my ego getting in the way. I’m happy you’re going.” He crossed the small kitchen and kissed my forehead. “Dinner tonight?”
Wrapping my arms around his mid-section, I buried my head in his chest. “Yes.” His arms enfolded me the rest of the way and I inhaled his scent. His T-shirt smelled like a mixture of his cologne and soap. “Let’s just stay like this.”
“Wouldn’t it be nice? Pretend like the rest of the world doesn’t exist.”
“Iris won’t be home until late tonight. It’s Thursday, her late night,” I reminded him.
He mumbled into my hair, “Perfect.”
We decided to stay in instead of going out. The beauty of our relationship was that Chase loved me no matter what. Which meant I could throw on sweats and pull my hair into a ponytail and he’d still think I was beautiful. We scoured our cabinets for anything we could put together for a meal. Finally settling on alfredo, I started on the pasta while Chase tossed a salad.
The quiet contentment of simply being in each other’s presence was a normal routine for us now. Most nights we’d trade off and on who would stay at the other’s apartment. My nights obviously depended on Iris’ schedule. School and work kept her pretty busy. I didn’t see her as much as I thought I would since we shared an apartment. We did reserve a day for catching up every once in a while for some much needed girl time. Chase had his own job, and of course, his newfound friendship with Nolan.
After dinner, I laid my head in Chase’s lap while we binged on his favorite TV show. He was comfortable, warm, safe …
The goosebumps traveled from the base of my back up to my scalp, raising the hairs on my head. His hand lightly ran over my bare arm. “Morgan, why do you fight it?”
“I don’t understand.”
“What exactly don’t you understand?” Rylan smirked. He was baiting me.
“Any of it. Fight what? You shouldn’t be here.” I ran my own hands up my arms to calm the raised flesh. “You’re not my soul-mate.”
He stepped away and studied my face. “You’re so sure of that?”
“Ugh. Why do you keep appearing in my dreams?” I yelled.
“That’s it, Morgan. Get ang
ry. Fight.”
“Fight what?” I lost the fire in my voice but the desperation was still there.
“Everything! Use it, use your Gifts, stop hiding them!” His gold eyes flickered, so fast I almost missed it. Almost. “You know I’m right or you wouldn’t be questioning the Council.”
“I—” I stopped myself because I wasn’t so sure he wasn’t right about that last part. “Rylan, why are you here?”
He lost the amusement on his face. “We’re coming for you.”
“We?”
“Yes, we won’t be long. You need to be ready.”
“Ready for what?”
My once soul-mate looked at the ground to speak, “Anything.”
“You need to tell me what you’re talking about. Does this have to do with Stephen?”
Reaching out, he grabbed my hand and cupped it in his. “I want you with me.” He raised my hand to his mouth. His lips grazed my knuckles delicately. “Everything will be answered soon enough and then I promise we will talk.”
“How? How is this possible?”
“Morgan … do you really not know the answer to that? Or are you just looking for confirmation?”
It was true. Deep inside of my soul I knew the answer. I’d known all along.
“I’ll see you soon.”
“Morgan!” Chase was close to my face, alarm creasing his features. “Are you all right?”
“Hmmm?” I wiped my sweaty face with the back of my hand.
“You were flailing around and making these noises.” Chase shook his head. “It just reminded me of—” Wiping his own face, he replaced his worry with a smile. “I’m glad you’re okay.”
“I’m fine. It must’ve been a nightmare.” I sat up and reached for my phone to check the time. “How long was I asleep?”
“I don’t know. Probably a half hour.”
“That’s it?”
“You’re sure you’re okay?”
I rubbed my eyes. “Yeah, it just felt like longer is all.” I stood up, stretching. “Are you staying the night?”
He joined me in stretching. “No, I think I’m going to head home tonight so I can pack for the weekend.”
Exposed (The Broken Soul Series Book 3) Page 1
