“Cheyenne, stop it!”
I blinked as he stared down at me, and the realization hit. I had been about to give total freedom to the crimson-eyed creature. My body relaxed, and Callon loosened his hold. I lowered my head.
“Just leave me alone.” My voice shook. I pushed away and headed back towards the estate.
What was happening to me? I was completely out of control. This wasn’t like me at all. I’d always had a temper, but to be so willing to lash out…what if Callon hadn’t stopped me? How many others would I have harmed or even killed?
I rubbed my eyes. Why should I feel guilt for Maes, or any of them, really? They were the ones who treated me unfairly. Telling me that grieving for Colt was wrong, that I had to marry Callon and destroy Marcus. That my own heart and free will meant nothing. It’s not like they’d even told me how I’d destroy Marcus. What difference did it make if I followed their wishes or the beast’s? Maybe the best thing I’d done was giving it total and complete control.
Gravel crunched close behind me, but I knew it wasn’t Callon. I twisted. Clayton was there, slightly out of breath.
“I’m sorry, Cheyenne. They asked me to follow you back.” He sounded afraid. “I—I—”
The beast growled, and I clenched my fist. Callon had sent someone else to take care of me. Once again I’d been pushed to the side. Once again he could have made a difference, could have talked with me, but he left me alone. Left me alone with this thing gnawing away further at my resolve. How could he say he wanted to help find me when he wouldn’t come searching himself?
I didn’t respond, and instead made my way up the terrace steps and to my room. Clayton stayed in the sitting area, waiting to make sure I had returned.
As I changed, leaving my wet clothes in a pile on the bathroom floor, I was surprised the cold hadn’t affected me much. A massive difference from when Colt had dunked me in the river to cool my fever.
Before those memories could be dredged up, I headed for the balcony. I couldn’t afford to get distracted. The group was still at the lake’s edge, staring out at the water.
Today’s events had only confirmed what I’d known to be right. I had to stay away from everyone. I was bad luck. Andre had only wanted to keep an eye on me. Instead I’d let her get caught and almost killed by whatever was in the lake. And for all my powers, I’d been helpless to protect her. Like I’d been helpless to protect Colt.
Maybe Maes was right. I’d be better off with Marcus.
My fingers clenched the railing. No, Marcus was what drove the beast inside. The hatred for all he’d taken away from me fueled it. Marcus would never have me; I’d never allow it. I’d die trying to kill him first. I’d see him suffer in hell for all that he’d done, both to me, and my family.
A soft knock caught my ear, and then my bedroom door opened. I didn’t bother to turn as soft footsteps neared. Wouldn’t they even give me a little privacy?
“Cheyenne?” Lilly said quietly. “Are you alright? I rushed off with Andre, and I feel horrible for not checking on you.”
“There’s nothing to check on. I’m fine.”
Lilly moved closer.
“Cheyenne?” She hesitated. “You seem upset. Do you want to talk about it?”
I turned, my face completely void of emotions. “How’s Andre?”
Lilly blinked. “She’ll be fine. Just a little shaken up, is all.”
“Did she tell you what happened?” I asked.
“A little. She said something grabbed her leg and began dragging her under the water. She couldn’t see anything, but she got the impression that it was black and scaly…”
I nodded and pushed past her, heading towards the stairs. I couldn’t let this continue. For too long I’d run away and hidden in my weaknesses. I’d relied on everyone else to defend me, and never stepped up for my own sake. No more.
Somehow I was going to prove my worth. How I was going to do it was another question all together.
Chapter 6
I entered the sitting room. Everyone’s eyes focused on me.
“Cheyenne?” Clayton stood up. I quickly passed him. “Um, Callon wants you to stay here…” I ignored him, heading for the terrace doors. He followed.
Nakari was already there, her auburn hair fluttering in the breeze. Her green eyes caught mine as I hurried down the steps.
“Cheyenne, please,” Clayton begged. “You need to stay here.” His fingers brushed my elbow. I twisted out of his grip.
A second later Nakari blocked my way. She’d jumped. I stopped, staring at her indifferently.
“Callon’s asked that you remain here, Cheyenne,” she said coolly. I frowned. I didn’t need to take orders from her.
I took another step, and she latched onto my arm. A smirk rose on my lips. Before she could stop me, I drew on her power. Goosebumps rose on her arm, and she let go. A second later, I was in the middle of the field; two seconds later, I was at the lake.
Callon and the others were there, staring into the water. I attempted to walk past them, when suddenly Callon turned on me. His hands clenched into fists.
“What are you doing here, Cheyenne?”
“I know what happened.”
“Oh?” Maes snorted. “How come it’s suddenly clear to you when half an hour ago you couldn’t speak?”
Koda pushed his way forward, blocking my view of the green-eyed dog.
“What happened, Cheyenne?” he asked.
“Andre said something grabbed her leg and tried to drag her to the bottom of the lake. When I was underwater searching for her, something brushed over my forearm. Something that resembled tentacles.”
Callon frowned. “Something touched you?”
“Probably a fish,” Maes snarled.
“It wasn’t a fish!” I shot back. “It was different.”
“I’ll take a look,” Skylar added. Moments later he disappeared into the lake. I attempted to move closer to see what he doing, but Callon stuck out his arm, keeping me back.
“What’s he doing?” I asked.
“Searching,” Callon replied.
“How? I couldn’t see anything down there. It was too dark.”
“Skylar doesn’t need light to see,” Callon answered.
“Huh?” I asked.
“Skylar’s power is something special,” Koda explained. “He’s good in the water.” He flashed a smile, and my breath caught. I cast my gaze out to the lake again, trying to forget the image. He wasn’t Colt, he wasn’t Colt…
“So he can hold his breath for a long time?” I asked.
“It’s more than that, Cheyenne,” Callon said. “He has other abilities as well.”
“Like?”
“He can detect things invisible to the naked eye.”
“Like underwater sonar?” I asked.
“I guess you could look at it that way.”
I nodded. Out of nowhere Daniel landed beside me, and I flinched.
“Sorry,” Daniel said, shoving his hands in his pockets. “Andre’s doing fine, Callon.”
“Dex and Lilly are still with her?” Maes’s eyes focused in.
“Yeah, she’s resting.”
Maes nodded.
“Cheyenne!” Nakari screeched.
I didn’t look back; her tone of voice said it all. Still, while I hadn’t meant to upset her, it was nothing less than she deserved. It was her own fault for thinking she could boss me around.
“Should have warned you to not mess with Nakari,” Daniel whispered.
“She doesn’t scare me,” I muttered under my breath. Sighing, I turned to face her, but the irritation I’d heard didn’t show on her face. It was as if she’d lost her momentum. I narrowed my eyes, glancing at Callon. He was staring at her; an unspoken warning to back off. His hazel eyes switched to me, admonishing.
“Don’t do that again, Cheyenne.”
“Why’d you stop her, Callon? Still don’t think I can fight my own battles?” I scoffed.
“No,”
Callon said. “You need to get a grip and calm down. You’re completely out of control.”
The beast flared within. I was out of control? The wind picked up, tossing my hair out of place. I raised my hand to brush it back, and before I knew it Callon was in front of Nakari, watching my every move. My chest tightened.
“Callon, do you honestly think I’d hurt her? That I’d hurt any of you?”
No reply came.
“Oh, I get it,” I sneered. “You want me to trust you, but you won’t do me the same favor?”
He stood immobile. Nakari touched his wrist, and he glanced at Daniel. Moments later Daniel jumped us further up the field, towards the forest. Anger rose in my throat, stirring the beast, and I swallowed it down. Once again I’d been proven right. I wasn’t a human being, I was merely a weapon. A highly uncontrollable, volatile weapon.
“Chey,” Daniel spoke softly. He made to wrap his arm around me, but I pushed him away. “You can’t keep this up. This isn’t you.”
My voice cracked, unable to hide the emotions. “This is who I am, Daniel. Everyone had a part in creating me.” And I now even disliked myself for what I was becoming.
Splashing caught my attention, and I glanced back to the lake. Skylar had returned.
“Did you see anything?” Maes demanded.
“Not really, but there’s definitely something down there,” Skylar replied. “I felt it.” He shook the water from his hair.
“What do you mean you felt it?” Koda asked, kneeling beside him.
I attempted to move closer to hear better, but Daniel stopped me.
“There’s some kind of presence, but I couldn’t see or make sense of it.”
So Skylar had felt the same thing I had.
“I don’t want anyone in the water until we figure out what attacked Andre,” Callon ordered. He turned towards me, and my jaw clenched. There was nothing but coldness in his eyes.
I took a step forward, only to find myself further away from the group on the shore. Daniel had a hold of my arm. I yanked it away and made for Callon again, but Daniel was quicker and jumped me even further away. I just wanted to help.
“Daniel, stop it!” I growled, trying to force my arm free again, but he didn’t relent.
“No, Chey, I won’t let you become this thing you say I helped in creating. If I helped in making it, then I’m sure gonna help get rid of it.”
“Let’s go for a walk,” Koda’s voice boomed behind me. He’d jumped up with Nakari, whose powers were restored. She didn’t make eye contact as she released Koda and disappeared back to Callon.
“I was trying to go for a walk.” I pulled my arm free again and glared at Daniel. “But Daniel won’t let me.”
“You were heading in the wrong direction,” Daniel snapped.
Koda pointed towards the stables.
“It’s really not safe to be around me,” I muttered under my breath. I found the narrow path and began walking. It was obvious no one felt safe around me, and that frightened me.
Why was Callon doing this to me? He kept saying he wanted me whole, and yet he was the one continually hurting me. He’d brought in Koda, the one man identical to my Colt. The one man who would constantly bring up Colt’s memory every time he laughed, smiled, and joked with Daniel. He’d surrounded me with strangers when he knew I coped best with faces I was familiar with.
Why was he so intent to destroy me?
My pace quickened as the emotions poured forth. Dusk was approaching, and I swallowed. The shadows would be coming out. They would join with the creature inside me and have their merry way with my heart. Filling my head with lies and destruction…
Soon my legs took over, and I began running.
My fingers tightened into fists. Callon had thought I was going to attack Nakari. He probably thought I’d already hurt Andre. A few tears escaped, and the beast growled at my weakness. I wasn’t weak. I was hurting. I was hurting because I just couldn’t let go. Why did I still want to hope even when I was so willing to give up?
I was out of control, spiraling into that black vortex, and I didn’t know how to climb out.
I stopped running and threw my hands out to the sinking sun. I began twisting them above my head like a conductor directing a symphony. I closed my eyes and felt the crimson-eyed beast creep to the surface, but I kept it from coming out.
The anger, rage, fury at what was taking place around me tightened its noose around my heart, trying to crush it further. This wasn’t me, I knew, but I couldn’t find my way back, not without help. The only help I wanted was Callon’s, and he kept abandoning me every time the seas became turbulent.
My hair was now whipping against my cheeks, and I pulled the winds in tighter so it felt like it was suffocating me, draining the life from my limbs, but I held on, pushing more out until finally I couldn’t breathe any longer.
I fell to the ground, gasping for air.
“Are you done now?” Koda asked as he knelt beside me.
I couldn’t reply.
“Daniel, start a fire,” he ordered.
I remained limp on the grassy meadow, staring up at the darkening sky, wishing Colt were here with me. Wishing I had something to bring me comfort. Words were worthless. I needed his touch, and that could never be.
The fire crackled and its light began to chase the shadows away. Koda sat across from me and began stoking the flames. Daniel sat beside me.
“I won’t run away from you, Chey,” he said. “There’s nothing you can do that would be so awful that I’d leave. Nothing.”
“I like the power I feel, Daniel,” I whispered, vaguely aware of what I was saying. “It makes me strong.” I sat up, and he tilted his head. Surely this would open his eyes. “I don’t feel weak anymore. I just feel angry. Angry at everything that’s been dealt to me.” Yes, this was it. Strength from anger.
“It’s alright to feel angry, Cheyenne,” Koda said, “but using that anger to have power is wrong.”
“No, it’s a gift. It’s a way for me to grow stronger.”
“No, it’s a way for your destruction,” Daniel argued. His shoulders sagged, and he lowered his head. “You used to love everything, and now…”
“And now I hate.” I finished the sentence, feeling his pain. “Run away while you can, Daniel, and forget about me. Forget the old Cheyenne.”
He shook his head, and his weary eyes met mine. “I won’t give up on you—ever.”
“You should. I’ve given up on myself.”
“That’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard!” Koda snapped.
I sat up straighter. “Easy for you to say. You haven’t felt half the pain I have! You haven’t had the ones you loved ripped away from you!”
The beast burst forth, and I stood twisting my wrists, turning the small fire into an inferno. Koda leapt back, his stance growing wider, ready for battle.
“Cheyenne, no!” Daniel yelled and leapt for me. I thrust my hand out and sent a burst of air, toppling him over.
I pushed the flames higher, but kept them tight within my hold, ready to move them when needed. Koda dodged to the left, and I moved the inferno, but suddenly he changed direction. Before I could react, he had knocked me to the ground. The fire dispersed.
He and Daniel stood towering over me as I caught my breath.
“Why are you fighting Koda?” Daniel pleaded. “You’re supposed to be friends. You’re breaking this family apart, Chey.”
My chest tightened. “I—I…”
My family…
“You’ve got to stop.” Daniel gripped my shoulders. “You can’t live with all this anger inside you. You have to let it go!” He drew me in closer, his arms wrapping around me tightly, and I didn’t fight him.
“I’m sorry,” I murmured, “I’m so sorry.” His hold grew tighter. I couldn’t live like this. I’d eventually break apart everything that I held dear—my family.
“Colt wouldn’t have wanted you to be this way,” Koda said. “I know you do
n’t want to hurt anyone.” He moved closer, kneeling beside us. “Even with the small glimpse I caught of you, I could see the love and compassion you hold. You don’t need to draw power from your anger. Instead draw it from your love, the love of your family.”
He was right, but I was so far gone now. I needed to be strong, and I didn’t know how to do it without the rage driving me.
“We’ll help you,” Koda said, as if he was reading my mind. “But you’re going to have to do your part as well. It can’t be one-sided.”
“I love you, Chey,” Daniel whispered. “I’d never let anyone take you away from us. You’re the reason our family came together again after so many years apart. You’re one of us, now, my sister.”
He drew back, smiled down on me, and eventually moved over. Koda sat on my opposite side, and we stared at the fire. It was the calmest I’d felt in a long time. Maybe it was because Koda reminded me so much of Colt, or maybe it was because I felt I had a piece of Colt still with me. Or maybe it was because I was finally realizing what I’d been doing.
Koda began fiddling with his stick. “What do you call a boomerang that doesn't work?”
I raised a brow. Where had this come from?
“A stick!” He began chuckling.
I stared, dumbfounded.
“What do you get from a pampered cow?” he asked.
I shrugged.
“Spoiled milk!”
Daniel began laughing, and I couldn’t stop my lips from twitching into a smile.
“What lies at the bottom of the ocean and twitches?”
“Uh, I don’t know,” I replied.
“A nervous wreck!”
I couldn’t help myself. A snort came forth, which caused Daniel to laugh harder and drove Koda on.
“One day a blond was driving on the highway and got pulled over by a cop. The cop said, ‘Why do you keep swerving?’ The blond replied, ‘I turn one way and there's a tree, I turn again there's a tree, and then there's a whole bunch more trees popping out of nowhere.’ The cop replied, ‘You dork, that’s your air freshener!’” Koda began chortling loudly, and I started to giggle.
Daylight, a Timeless Series Novel Page 8
