by S M Olivier
Any sane person would have questioned that alone, but I know they spoke the truth and I know that odd energy I had felt with Mr. Jace must have been our connection. The way I could speak to Jax over the years could only be explained by what they had told me this afternoon.
The guys were silent for most of the ride to my job. It was fine by me. I didn’t know what to say. I didn’t know how to act now; I felt awkward and out of my element. It was absurd to think I can transition into a life where I could be intimate with two men at the same time. On the other hand, I didn’t want to harm them or take anything from them if Mr. Bell was telling me the truth, and somehow, I knew he was
I didn’t fully trust him yet, but I felt like maybe he was a different man than the man my father knew or the man that I remembered. Maybe time had softened him. Maybe the death of his friend was an eye-opener.
The one thing I knew I could trust is the guys would never allow anything to happen to me. With the help of my dream, I remembered that they had been very protective of me, and I instinctively knew they had remained protective of me. They would protect me even if it was from their father.
I gave the guys a small wave as I got out of the car and walked into the bar. This would probably be one of my longest shifts ever. It was going to be a catch twenty-two. I needed it to keep me busy and to stop dwelling on the things I had learned today; however, I wanted more answers. I wanted to know what they expected me to do now.
I knew without a doubt I would have to control this thing. Its energy had been more prevalent lately, and I didn’t want to hurt anyone if it could be helped. I also wanted to use it at will. I didn’t want it to fail me as it had in the past. I needed to control my own destiny.
The moment I walked in the door, it was clear that I was needed right away. I threw my coat and bag into the locker and immediately headed out to my section; waving at some of my favorite cooks as I walked by.
I liked being busy. I hated some of the customers that darkened the doorstep, but at least they tipped well. I seemed to have gotten lucky with most of the crowd for most of the night until a group of three gentlemen came walking in the door near the end of my shift and sat in my section. Immediately, I could sense that something was different about them, and it wasn’t just their clothes. They were dressed similarly to the way Mr. Jace and his friends dressed.
“Welcome to Werewolf’s Den,” I said as I walked to them and plastered on my best fake smile. “Can I get you guys something to drink?”
“I’ll take a Jack on the rocks,” the oldest gentleman said.
“Water for me,” the second man said grittily.
“Coke,” the third man said shortly.
“Okay, I’ll be right back with your drinks. Just to let you know, we have half price wings on special tonight. We have hot, mild, fireball, teriyaki, lemon pepper, and BBQ.” I said the mandatory spiel and turned to walk away.
I got to the bar to wait for my drink and started pouring the other two. Then I typed out an angry message to Mr. Jace.
Me: I don’t need a babysitter. Tell your friends they can go.
I didn’t have to wait long before I got a response.
Mr. Jace: Everyone’s here. I didn’t send anyone.
I rolled my eyes, stuffed my phone back into my apron, and grabbed my drinks. I’ll let him believe I bought his lie. I felt my phone vibrate several times and ignored it.
I placed the drinks down as one of the guys reached out to touch me. “Thanks,” he said, and I winced as pain shot through my body.
I felt a blinding light behind my eyes.
The guy who touched me whispered an expletive. “She’s strong.”
The oldest of the three looked at me. Hello, Amanda. It’s been a long time. Uncle Roger can’t hide you anymore, can he? What surprises me is that crack whore of a stepmom has kept you hidden for so long.”
I knew immediately he was gifted. There was a niggling feeling in the back of my mind. A memory that wanted to surface, but it seemed blocked.
“Who are you? What do you want?” I hissed past the pain still coursing through my body.
“It hurts,” he said as he gave me a wounded expression, “…that you don’t remember me. After all, it was I who found you in that hovel that they called a foster home. It was I who cared for you like one of my own before your Uncle Roger took you.” He stroked my cheek. “I think it’s time you came home with me. Sleep,” I heard him mutter before everything went black.
The next few minutes were a haze. I don’t remember how or what happened; all I knew was that I was laying on the cold, hard ground. I could hear a commotion not too far from me. I tried to orientate myself as I sat up, rubbing my temples. I was in extreme pain. I noticed I was in the alley I was accosted in days ago. Deep in the shadows.
I looked up and thought I was in a comic book all of a sudden. I saw flashes of light come from a man’s hand. I didn’t know who it was, but the silhouette was definitely of a man. Then I saw a blast of ice. Was I dreaming?
I snorted at myself in derision. I could control people; I could compel people. Nothing at this point should surprise me.
I started in surprise as I noticed one of the men that came into the bar standing a few feet away from me. I looked up and I could see his hands on his temples. He was concentrating hard.
“Blake!” I heard Jax’s terrified voice in my thoughts. “Where are you?!”
“I’m in the alley,” I responded immediately. I knew he was nearby. His voice no longer came to me muffled; it came as clear as if he was standing next to me.
I saw a dark shadow enter the alley.
“I’m not alone,” I warned him quickly.
I saw the man beside me take menacing steps toward Jax; his hand producing what appeared to be a taser.
I felt my panic rise. I had to protect Jax. I tried to tap into that calming place I felt when my gift came to me, and I felt the energy flow, stronger than it ever had.
“Stop,” I growled.
I saw the man freeze, and suddenly Jax was by my side. He knelt next to me. “He had you cloaked. Are you okay?”
I nodded, surprised I didn’t stiffen or freeze when he embraced me. He suddenly felt safe to me. “Who are they? What do they want?”
“It’s Horatio and a few of his strongly gifted, his Tens, and he wants you,” he said as he caressed my cheek.
I looked at him in surprise. “Why me?”
“He wants to convert you to his side. He wants you to work for him,” he explained gently.
“How are we going to get out of here?” I asked, looking at the man still frozen a few feet from us.
“Well, there’s seven of us and ten of them. We have to think quickly. The guys are getting tired, and Dad has Horatio occupied at the moment.” Jax said as he crept to the mouth of the alley.
Suddenly, I felt protective of these guys. I didn’t know why, but I knew they were the better option of the two. I knew at that moment I needed to control my gift, and I would need their help. There was no use hiding or denying it any longer.
“Dance for me.” I felt perversely vengeful as the man started gyrating his hips. “No, be a pretty-pretty ballerina.”
The man began doing pirouettes and leaping. The man was on the thicker side, almost portly. Watching a man that was approximately five feet seven or five feet eight poorly imitating a ballerina dancer was quite amusing to me.
Jax let out a bark of laughter as he looked over at me in shock and amusement. “You have a twisted sense of humor.”
“You haven’t seen nothing yet,” I muttered with a grim smile as I joined him at the mouth of the alley.
I could see better now and saw that Jax was correct when he said the guys were getting tired. Troy was the closest to me as he launched another fireball at a man wielding ice. It occurred to me they all battled silently except the occasional expletive or yelp of pain.
I looked in confusion at Jax. “Why aren’t they vocal?”
&nbs
p; He gave me a lopsided smile. “It comes with control, you’ll learn,” he said reassuringly. His brows knitted. “Maybe you should stay here.”
I shook my head emphatically. “I’m done being the victim.”
There was too much adrenaline coursing through me to hide. I looked at the ice wielder and tried to find that place again. I tapped into my instincts as I said, “Bite your rear.”
Suddenly he was making biting motions with his mouth towards his rear as he spun in circles. Then he began to scream as he started swatting his butt.
Jax smiled at me. “I made sure he could see the fleas too.”
Troy gave us a thankful smile as he turned towards Mr. Jace and Drake to help them out. Drake had a weird blue force field around himself and Mr. Jace as they fought off four men. One man appeared to be trying to scream tree-bending wind at them. The other man looked like he was trying to crash into the field with enough force to knock over a car. The third man was curled up in a fetal position crying as Mr. Jace stared him down. While the last man was uncontrollably laughing.
Troy started throwing fireballs at the two men that were actively using their gifts. I took a step beside him.
“Time to play patty-cake, boys.”
The man that was screaming and the man that had been trying to crash into the force field turned towards one another and started clapping their hands.
“I know you guys know a song or two, sing it,” I said as I tapped from my place within.
One man started singing off-key, “Patty-cake, patty-cake, baker’s man, bake me a cake as fast as you can, roll it, pat it, mark it with a B, put it in the oven for Billy and me.”
Then the other man started singing, “Ms. Mary mac, mac, mac, all dressed in black, black, black…”
“How long will they keep that up?” Drake asked with a ghost of a smile. I couldn’t help but notice how much more attractive he was when he smiled, with his wireframed glasses, light brown hair and sparkling blue eyes.
I shrugged. “I’m not sure. I’m kind of new at this. Or should I say I’m no longer in denial and aware of my gift?” I suddenly felt drained and tired. I wondered if I used my gift too much tonight. I felt myself stumble, but strong arms were there to catch me before I could fall.
“We should probably get going,” Mr. Jace said as he took off his jacket and draped it over my shoulders. “Dad and Remy can take care of the rest of this.”
I didn’t realize how scantily dressed and cold I was until I was enveloped in his jacket. Immediately I was pleasantly assaulted by his nice scent. “I have to get my bag,” I stated, “and explain to my boss why I left early at the end of my shift.”
“It’s taken care of,” Mr. Jace explained. “Jax already cast the illusion that you were finishing your shift, and anyone that may have seen this believes we’re filming for a top-secret movie.”
“How often does this happen?” I asked, stunned.
He grimaced. “Not often. We try to keep our gifts in a controlled environment if we can help it.”
I nodded and started following him to a Cadillac Escalade. I had my hand on the door when I suddenly felt that same blinding pain as earlier. I crumbled to the ground; the feeling was so intense.
“Stay here,” I heard Horatio’s voice in my head once more.
“Screw you,” I said between clenched teeth.
“Blake!” I heard several exclamations around me.
“One day I’ll make you come to me,” I heard him once more.
Suddenly, I was accosted with flashes of another person’s life. At first, I thought it was me as I saw a pretty little girl with long black curls holding the hands of an older boy; he looked like he was protecting her. I recognized his pale blonde hair and sapphire blue eyes. On closer inspection, I saw the girl’s eyes were more hazel than green. Another flash showed me the same girl years later in a strip club dancing on a pole. Another flash and she was lying on a hospital bed, begging someone over the phone to come get her child. Another flash was of my dad and me together. Another flash was my father’s car in the bottom of a ravine.
Using my gifts that night and the flashes of memories from another was too much. I felt myself fall into the blackness once more.
Chapter 7
I woke up in a room I wasn’t familiar with. There was light streaming through the blinds, and I was in one of the most comfortable beds I have ever laid in. The mattress seemed like it wanted to swallow me whole it was so soft, and the sheets felt decadent against my skin. I noticed in dismay that I now wore a pair of soft cotton pajama bottoms and a matching tank top. Suddenly, I was plagued with many questions. Where was I? Where was Ella? What happened?
I looked down at my watch and was shocked to see it was well past eight. I was late for school, but for once I didn’t care. I got up and stretched, looking around for my clothes, but I couldn’t find them. I felt self-conscious without a bra on, but my curiosity outweighed my modesty. I left the room and immediately recognized the interior of Mr. Jace’s house. I walked down the stairs and heard the sounds of soft male murmurings.
I rounded the corner and stopped short. Drake was standing at the stove, cooking once more. Mr. Bell and Mr. Jace sat in front of a laptop on the counter. Noah and Jax were nursing cups of coffee on the large wrap-around couch. Troy and Remy were sitting at the eat-in kitchen table with a girl. I would guess she was around my age, and she was perched on Troy’s lap with her feet on Remy’s lap. She was beautiful; she had pin-straight, long, light brown hair with pink highlights throughout it. When she stood up with a wide smile, I saw she was several inches taller than me and had beautiful blue eyes. Did these guys only associate with people that looked like models?
“Good morning, Blake!” she exclaimed. “I’ve been eagerly waiting to finally meet you. Well, formally meet you; I don’t count getting you undressed and dressed. Nice boobs, by the way, I’m still waiting for mine to grow in.” She looked down at her chest. She was a hugger I realized moments later when she drew me into a tight hug.
Although she was on the smaller side, I would never consider her flat chested. I blushed furiously; my question now answered. Most of the guys groaned while a few laughed.
“Really, Jemmy,” Drake groaned as he turned with a spatula in hand. “Can you use your filter every now and then? Blake, how do you like your eggs?”
“Umm, over easy,” I said quietly, crossing my arms over my chest; hoping none of the guys noticed I was braless.
Jemmy rolled her eyes. “You’re such a prude. It still amazes me that you’re my brother.” Then, with a mischievous smile, she said. “Boobs, penis, sex, foreplay.”
Drake went back to cooking eggs, but he was red.
Jemmy turned her perfect smile back at me. “I think we’re going to be best friends. We need to go shopping. I saw the few clothes that you brought.” She wrinkled her nose. “You don’t need to hide anymore. You’re in good hands now. Today we shop for your fresh start in life. It’s time to reinvent yourself. Jace. Card. Now. Or Jax. Who’s it going to be?” She held out her hands with that mischievous smile once more.
She was a bit excessive and over the top—someone I normally avoided. She talked a mile a minute and reminded me of a Tasmanian devil. I liked her. I wondered immediately if she was gifted with the gift of charm. Was there such a gift? And what the heck was she talking about? Shopping? New life?
Mr. Jace gave her a patient, but exasperated smile. “Can you let her wake up and wait until we have a discussion with her first?” He stood up and came over to look at me. I shifted under his gaze. I could tell he was checking me over to see if last night’s ordeal had any lasting effects on me. “Coffee, Blake?”
“You’re no fun,” I heard Jemmy murmur before resuming her seat on Remy’s lap, this time, with her feet in Troy’s. Both men didn’t even look up as they continued flipping through papers in front of them, and absently embraced her and rubbed her feet.
“Yes please,” I murmured.
&n
bsp; Two strong arms engulfed me from behind, and I was unceremoniously carried to the couch. I stiffened until I realized it was Jax that had picked me up. I was slightly flustered when I realized he was shirtless and only wearing a pair of flannel pajama bottoms. The waistband of his boxers drawing attention to the deep-v of his abdomen.
“Good morning, honey,” he whispered in my ear. “How did you sleep?”
“Really, Wonder Boy,” I muttered, still flustered by his attention. I never had a boyfriend in the true sense of the word. I held boys hands before. I even had a few kisses, but I never dated anyone where I felt comfortable embracing, cuddling, or making out with them. “Must you manhandle me?”
“I’m an affectionate guy, you better get used to it,” he mocked growled. “Plus, you scared me last night!” he said with a mock pout.
I rolled my eyes and tried to leave his lap, but realized my resistance was futile. He wasn’t going to let me up yet.
“Seriously, Jax,” Mr. Jace said as he handed me a cup of coffee. “What happened to us agreeing to allow her to ease into all these new situations?”
Jax gave his brother an impish smile and said, “You handle things the way you want to handle things, and I’ll handle things my way.”
“Jax,” Mr. Bell said with warning in his voice.
Jax looked somewhat chastised as he threw Mr. Jace a mutinous expression and reluctantly placed me on the couch. Although, I realized he wouldn’t let me move far as he threw an arm around my shoulders and pulled me in close. I found myself sandwiched between Noah and Jax.
I cleared my throat as Mr. Bell and Mr. Jace took seats on the ottoman across from me, Noah, and Jax. “So, what happened last night and where’s Ella?”
“You used too much power and Horatio mentally attacked you. He’s very powerful, and until you learn how to control your powers and build your barriers, you’re vulnerable. We took Ella to school this morning, and we will pick her up today. We figured you needed the extra rest, plus we have a lot to discuss about your future.” Mr. Bell explained.
“We were hoping that you would accept a place at Knight’s. The school was created for people like us. It’s not a typical school. You will be required to do physical training five days a week as well as Gift training. You’ll also continue your school workload, but you aren’t required to carry the same class load as you do now. Some of those classes look great in normal college requirements but aren’t necessary unless that’s a career path you choose to pursue,” Mr. Jace said. When I went to open my mouth, he quickly continued. “Ella can come as well. The school has all forms of education. We have a daycare on campus as well as preschool, elementary, middle school, high school, and college. We made sure to create an environment the gifted can feel comfortable attending.”
