by Carly Marino
Light shot from my hands. The stream of zaffre-blue lit the entire field, including the shadow. The figure flickered, their human form fading in and out. I didn’t wait to see who was attacking me. I fired whatever was flowing from my hands forward.
The light cut through the tall plants, creating a path. I ran, legs screaming and breath huffing from my chest. Street lamps illuminated the edge of the field. I stumbled, practically falling out of the curtain of grass. Get to the light. I just had to get to the light.
“Cole, run! He’s here! Run!”
My foot caught on a railroad tie, closing in an old park. I skidded across the sand, and the light-force extinguished from my hands. I sat up, coughing and spitting sand from of my mouth. The itchy grains burned in my eyes and stuck to my lashes.
The shadow yelled my name in a drawn-out tone. I cowered. Folded my body into a little ball, and like a child hiding from monsters under her blankets, I prayed he wouldn’t see me.
Gentle hands scooped my body and cradled me on a lap. “Thea, I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have—”
Cole stared at me with concern.
I choked. “He was out there. He—he chased me. I tried to run— I tried, but…”
Cole set me down and stood up. He strode to the rusted merry-go-round and put his hand on one of the metal rails. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that. I wanted to prove a point. I guess, I thought I could scare some sense into you. I—” He blew out a breath. “But, wow, Thea. You defended yourself. I wasn’t expecting that.”
“Wait? What are you—” Trembling, I narrowed my eyes. “It was you? You just scared the living daylights out of me! Why the hell would you do that? To get me to leave?” I wiped the tear-caked sand from my cheeks. “That was … how could you? Do you have any idea what I’ve been going through? Do you?”
I shoved him. He lifted his hand to react but instead let me shove him again.
“I have no idea how to protect myself from these monsters. You disappeared on me after throwing me into all of this. Then you have the audacity to tell me to just go it alone because apparently everyone around me will die if I don’t. Why did you come here? I was okay with my life.”
His brows tightened. “You had no idea who you were? Not to mention you’ve been living a lie for the past, shit, I don’t know how long. Who even knows? If anything, you should thank me. And yeah, scaring you out there was probably a dumb idea, but guess what, Thea, you reacted. You saved yourself. You used your essence.” The anger in his eyes softened. “Almost knocked me on my ass with it.”
I couldn’t withhold a smile. “Well, you deserved it.”
“I guess I did.” He massaged the nape of his neck. “I’m sorry for telling you to leave … and for scaring you. I wanted to see if your natural instincts would kick in under pressure. If you didn’t…” He blew out a breath.
I nodded, understanding and unable to say the words out loud. I’d have to leave my life behind.
He hopped onto the merry-go-round and reached out a hand to me. The rainbow-colored, metal platform creaked when I climbed up. I sat down on a metal pole. He sat across from me.
I adjusted my body, avoiding his peering eyes. I could feel them studying me. Questions flowing through his mind about what I was.
“So that light thing, why is mine zaffre-blue and yours is a blazing yellow?”
He laughed, which sounded more nervous than anything. “Zaffre? I was going to say blue.”
“True blue is lighter, less vibrant.” I peeled a loose piece of red paint from the metal bar. “I’m a painter.”
“Ah, I see. I’m not really sure why yours is a different color. Every Inflexaen I’ve come across has the same as mine.”
“So how does it work?” I flinched, staring at my palms, afraid a light would shoot me in the face.
“We can use our light as a weapon after we charge. It’s an energy build up, so to speak. Exhausts you quick, though, so we can’t use it too often. I’m”—he rubbed his forehead—“kinda stumped how you did it. I figured you’d go into shadow form. Typically, that’s what our bodies do when threatened. Wasn’t expecting that. Harnessing essence isn’t easy. How do you feel?”
“I feel fine. Why? Should I feel bad?”
He shrugged. “Usually.”
“Oh.” I didn’t press. His one-word answer made me think he didn’t want to hash it out right now. “Um—I have a question?”
He smiled, the worry from earlier draining from his eyes. “Shoot. Ask me anything.”
I removed the photo of my parents from my back pocket. “I know you saw this already in my memory, but can you look again? Maybe you’ll recognize them? It’d help me figure out why … why I’m the way that I am.”
Cole leaned forward to retrieve the photo. Our fingers brushed, and a tingle hugged my heart.
He studied the picture. His index finger flicked the edge, before his eyes reconnected with mine. “The man kinda looks familiar. But, sorry, I’ve never seen them.”
“Is there anyone we can ask? Maybe they’ll recognize them. I know you said—”
“Thea, we can’t. Not yet. It isn’t safe. Think of your aunt.”
I slumped my shoulders and let out a heavy sigh. I understood his concern. We had no idea what I could do. I couldn’t defend myself or my aunt, and prying would only warrant more trouble for us. But someone out there had answers. How long would I have to wait to find them?
I returned the photo to my pocket.
Cole jumped off and gave the merry-go-round a hard push. A tickle in my stomach dissolved my disappointment, as well as any leftover tension in my body. I laughed. Wind brushed my cheeks, and I closed my eyes, listening to the creak of the rusted metal.
“Wanna head back?”
I opened my eyes, getting a quick glimpse of Cole before spinning past.
“Yeah.” Standing on the still moving platform, I wobbled and hopped down. “Before I go anywhere with you, I need you to promise you’ll teach me everything I need to protect myself. I know I can do this. I’m a fast learner and— ”
“A persistent pain in the ass?” His mouth curved to the side, and then he headed toward the eroded railroad ties.
“Ha, ha. I’m serious.” I stumbled through the sand until we reached the edge of the park. “And no more sudden tests. I don’t need to pee my pants in order to concentrate.”
“Did you pee your pants?” A cute laugh escaped his mouth as his eyes slanted to the front of my jeans.
I parted my lips, mortified. “Oh my God. No. You know what I mean.”
“Yeah, I’ll train you. At least now we know where to start.”
“What do you mean?”
“That, my dear, was your baseline.”
“Baseline?” I crossed my arms. “What? Cowering in the sand like a terrified crab?”
Cole touched a piece of charred grass where my light had burnt a path. Wafts of ash and smoke still lingered in the air. “After this, I think you more than proved you’re ready. Tomorrow after school we’ll start lesson one: Masking.”
Chapter Ten
Wynter was relentless today. To my dismay, Cole had parked his shiny sport cars next to Ethan’s this morning, revealing he was my mystery guest. All day I’d dodged her many questions about why he’d stopped over my house last night. Since I’d skipped, she didn’t buy one of them, which made my million excuses why I couldn’t go homecoming dress shopping even harder to pull off. Luckily, Wynter’s dream of us double dating superseded my non-love life. With a sly look and a megawatt grin, she released me from the interrogation to: “study.”
Cole said to come to Nora and Drake’s house around five for my first real Inflexaen lesson. To avoid more endless questions from both Wynter and Aunt Karen, I decided to go early and park around the block to review my “Inflexaen 101 notebook.”
I opened it to the last page I’d written on.
Masking:
* An invisible field or ‘mask’ created to block
Inflexaens and Resparés from reading or manipulating thoughts, memories, or emotions.
Finally, I could protect my prized possessions. My secrets. I flipped to the beginning. Each page had a different word written at the top with bullet points underneath. I studied them. If I went inside as blind as the last time, Nora would give me hell. Something I decided to avoid at all costs.
Page One:
Inflexaen
* Aliens from Inflexus - a planet destroyed a long-ass time ago.
* Apparently I am one.
*There are four types: Listed on the following pages.
Page Two:
Cortcor
* Inflexaens who can read thoughts.
* Cole is half Corticor or Cor
I was thankful Cors couldn’t erase or manipulate thoughts. Mind control scared me. All of these abilities frightened me. We already messed with people’s free will by changing their pasts and emotions. At least that was how I saw it. Doing the same with their thoughts … yikes.
It was all so much to take in. Why had my abilities come on later in life? If I was born this way, like the others, I’d have learned to control them by now. I exhaled and continued reviewing.
“Fectors,” I read aloud. Nora and Drake were Fectorus. More importantly, Nora was Fectorus. “Inflexaens, who can read, erase, and manipulate emotions. A smile that can calm others.”
I shivered. I’d never look at a smile the same again. “Memnyus: Inflexaens, who can read, erase, and manipulate memories. Cole is half, and I am half…” I sighed. Half human.
“Wait.” I paused and turned back to the first page. “There are four types? Did I miss one?”
I skimmed through each bullet, again, repeating them aloud before going on to the next. I’d only listed three types. “Huh?” Had Cole mentioned a fourth type? I couldn’t remember. I’d have to ask him later.
Great. Another reason for Nora to make me look like a moron.
I started my car, drove to the iron gate, and leaned out my window to press the intercom. The gate creaked and rattled open.
Driving down Nora and Drake’s driveway gave me heart palpitations, sweaty palms, and an itchy neck, which also meant my skin burned an attractive blotchy red. I groaned. I wanted to get this over with. Learn to protect myself and go about my normal—somewhat normal—life.
“Please, Nora don’t be home,” I muttered as I climbed from my car and trudged up the stone steps. The moment my knuckles hit the door, it opened. Nora stood on the other side, eyebrow cocked and hand cupping her hip.
She wore a silk canary-yellow gown that hugged her curves. The neckline scooped into a sharp V just above her belly button. She wore her chest-length dreadlocks half down. A silver and gold, jeweled flower barrette secured the front section over her left ear. A few loose pieces framed her face, bringing out her gorgeous eyes.
She looked stunning and would’ve stayed that way if she hadn’t opened her mouth. “What the hell are you doing here? I thought I told you to leave us alone?”
I craned my neck to see around her. “I’m … Well … Cole said—”
“Noralee, didn’t Mum ask you to grab her white pocketbook from the upstairs closet? We don’t want to be late meeting them for dinner.”
She groaned, flinging the door. “Whatever.”
Drake stopped the door with his foot before it could slam in my face. He smiled. Never in my life had I loved and hated a smile at the same time. His pearly whites were definitely a first.
He wore a charcoal-gray suit. “Come in. How are you?”
I shrugged. “All right, I guess. You both look nice. You must be headed somewhere fancy.”
He nodded. “We’re meeting our parents for a dinner party in San Fran at eight.”
“San Fran? That’s like a ten-hour drive. Are you flying?”
Drake winked. “Personal jet.”
Figures they’d have a jet. “Sounds amazing.”
He chuckled. “Trust me, it isn’t. These dinners are mostly business.”
“Business? Like the business you had this week?”
He stopped briefly. “This week?”
Maybe I wasn’t supposed to know. “Never mind.”
Drake nodded, and his face softened. “Oh, Cole must not have told you. I came down with a bit of a bug. I hope Cole and Nora’s banter didn’t bother you too much while I was ill. I’m typically the mediator between those two.”
Cole and Nora’s banter? Meaning Cole didn’t go with Drake, and his absence had nothing to do with him or his alleged business. I channeled my irritation elsewhere, nervous Drake would pick up on it.
Too late.
“Something bothering you? I’m sensing— ”
“Irritation?” I forced a smile. “Probably just left over from Nora.”
He adjusted his cufflinks. “She tends to have that effect on people.”
We strolled around the columns separating the entry from the sitting room. The shades were drawn, but the Tiffany lamps illuminated the room with faint shades of red, green, and blue. The warm camel-tone, leather sofas faced the fireplace.
Cole dropped his feet from the ottoman and hopped up. “I didn’t hear you come in.”
He wore dark jeans and no shirt. No shirt? Seriously? I attempted to look anywhere except his carved chest and abs. Or the V-cut muscles peeking out of his waistband. This guy was a walking, talking, paranormal cliché. A hot, flawlessly-cut, outer space being, standing in perfect lighting without a shirt.
I tugged on the hems of my shirt sleeves. “I’m surprised.”
Cole gave me a side smile before he glanced at Drake. “Why?”
“Noralee.”
Cole rolled his eyes. “Don’t worry about Nora.”
“I don’t.” I did, but I couldn’t tell him that.
“Good. Drake, you guys leaving soon?”
“Yeah, in a few.” Drake leaned over and kissed my cheek. I sucked in a breath as his lips lingered for a minute. “Thea, a pleasure as always.”
I froze, afraid to blink. His harmless goodbye gave me an unexpected chill. Not sure why. As Nora had said, her brother was like Buddha. Pleasant, calm, very … zen.
Cole’s piercing gaze trailed Drake until he left the room.
I cleared my throat. “Um—are we going to do this?”
He opened his clenched fists. “Yeah, get over here.”
“What was that about?”
He moved couch pillows to the side. “What?”
I dropped onto the leather sofa. “The clenchy fist and angry eye thing?”
“No clue.”
Another lie. I added that one to my internal list. At this rate, I might have to write them down. I frowned.
Cole sat next to me. “All right, let’s do this.” He rubbed his hands together. “You have to learn to mask one ability at a time. Since I can only work with you on thoughts and memories, Nora or Drake will have to test your emotional mask.”
“So masking will help me control my ability?” I grinned, a rush of adrenaline sweeping through me. Finally.
“Not exactly, that’s an entirely different skill. Masking keeps others from reading you. It’s why at the party you couldn’t read my memories.”
I hated that I wouldn’t learn to control my ability first, but at least I could keep him, Nora, and Drake out of my head and heart. As much as I wanted to, I still didn’t trust them. And after Cole’s recent lies . . . my suspicions had grown.
Cole held his hands out between us. “Okay, close your eyes and put your palms on mine.”
I angled away from him, tilting my head. “I think you need to put on a shirt first.” Heat crawled up my chest. Why did I say that?
He waggled his brows. “To hard for you to concentrate?”
“No!” I said too quickly.
“The pink on your neck gives you away, you know.” His mouth twisted to the side. “Give me a sec.”
He left the room. When I heard a door close, I moseyed to the fireplace. Even
in Nora and Drake’s sitting room, they had no photos of their family. Expensive statues decorated the mantle instead. Without personal effects, the fireplace did little to warm this room.
A door slammed. I jumped and scurried to my seat on the couch.
Cole came in, with a shirt this time. “Better?”
“Much.”
He went back to his position facing me, palms up. “Put your hand on mine.”
I did. His fingers closed over my hand. I wanted to sigh, but I held my breath. His skin comforted me somehow. More so than anyone I’d ever touched. Something about him produced a nostalgic warmth in my gut. Not in a crushing-on-a-hot-guy kind of way, but in a friendship way. I peeked at him. Or at least a mix of the two.
He withdrew his hands and chuckled softly before returning them. I studied the faint brush of pink along his cheekbones. Is he blushing? A tingle swept from the base of my neck to my face, sending wildfire-like heat to my ears. Had he read my thoughts?
Despite my mind wanting to convince me he hadn’t, the rolling in my stomach revealed the truth. He one hundred percent had. Awesome.
He coughed into his hand. “As you know, Inflexaens and Resparés can only use their abilities through touch. In order to keep them out, you need to encase your skin in a protective field of sorts. I want you to close your eyes. Start at the tips of your toes and work your way up, building an armor around your skin.”
I inhaled slowly, envisioning hard metal linking piece by piece from my feet to my neck. With each click, my muscles tensed, then released. I could feel the invisible field wrapping my body in safety.
“When you reach your head, tighten the armor. Go within your mind. Lock your memories and thoughts inside.”
I imagined the armor building upon itself a layer at a time. My mind became a vault to which only I had the key.
“Hold the armor in place. Don’t let the field crumble. Think of something else.”
His thumb rubbed the inside of my wrist, sending tickles up my arm. I wanted to sit closer. I wanted to—
His hands removed from mine. “Let’s try that again.”
