by Cait Vaughn
A strange thought came to me. “Would mom have died if we were supes? Could someone like Serenity have healed her?” It got very quiet. Dad gave me a piercing look, “Yes your mom could have been healed. We couldn’t risk it. Every time power is used it leaves a trace. The darks have trackers whose sole job is to follow power trails. We couldn’t go back to the community because we didn’t want to be found as humans there. That would have been more suspicious. Our only way was to be completely human and we have been. Don’t think we ever regretted it because we didn’t. We wanted you to have a normal happy life. If you are the child of light, or worse, if they think you are the child of light, then they will stop at nothing to destroy you, and anything you care about.”
Ri sat down on the coffee table facing where I was on the couch and said, “We have a bigger problem now. Somehow your power is leaking out and it’s drawing them to you. Now that your powers are bound and they are after you, you’re just a sitting duck. We have to take you back to the compound and unbind your powers, and train you and figure out how to make you safe.”
My dad jumped up and got in Ri’s face. “Says you,” he said, “I have seen no proof of her powers leaking out. Maybe the trackers are just after you and they see your interest in my daughter and they think to take her out because of you.” This was crazy, my dad was never aggressive but he looked like he wanted to lay Ri out and Ri looked like he was fighting for control.” Ri was clenching and unclenching his hands when he responded in my dad's face, “I told you our seekers detected a faint trail coming from her and were alarmed and sent me to investigate. The other night at the party I watched a bounty hunter try to end her and if I hadn’t been there he would have succeeded. You need to start thanking me instead of criticizing me at every turn. I’m sorry you failed. I wish it could be different but you should have known her power would be too big to contain.” My dad's face was all red, “Oh yeah well you need to-“
It was too much. I literally jumped out of my seat and started pacing while I had a mini meltdown. “Everybody just shut up. I mean, come on, I’m the one who was almost killed along with my best friend who already had the worst day ever. I’m the one who had her whole perfect life flipped upside down, and if I am this child of light I may never have any kind of life at all. You,” I said as I poked my dad in the chest, “ act like you had the right to hold this from me my whole life. And you, “ I said as I poked Ri in the chest which made him grin in amusement, which just made me madder, “Act like you had a right to expose these secrets.”
I continued, “The time for overbearing males is over, it’s time for me to decide what is best for me, does everybody got it?”
Everybody was looking at me like I lost my mind, but I think it had more to do with the fact my foot was tapping like crazy rather than my outburst. Speaking of outburst I felt like I had chugged three cups of coffee, like I needed to move and couldn’t quit moving. “What’s happening to me, what’s wrong with me?” This definitely felt unnatural.
Serenity looked at me guiltily. “See because of our powers Supes tend to be really healthy. Naturally we burn a ton more calories and eat cleaner and are just not as gunked up as humans. I haven’t healed a human before but I’m guessing you were probably a little messed up from normal, human, teenage, living. I basically healed and made perfect every cell in your body so you are going to feel really healthy and energized now, but I’m sure it will go back to normal in a few days.” I gaped at her, “A few days!” I felt like every part of my body was twitching uncontrollably and she was saying she mojo’d me and couldn’t fix it. “Are you crazy? I can’t just twitch or whatever for days, you have to figure something out.” She quickly glanced at Ri who shook his head and she headed off to the kitchen mentioning something about her special chamomile tea.
My dad laughed. I sent him the death stare. “Not funny dad.” He was trying so hard not to laugh. “I don’t know maybe you should run in place.” He said. This was actually a great idea and so I tried it and it felt much better to let the energy out rather than to try and contain it. “Ok this is good I’m going for a run.” My dad looked appalled. “No you can’t. What with all the powers flying around us you’re unsafe now.” Ri stood up. “It’s ok we’ll just go for a quick run and I won’t let anything happen to her.” He also seemed to be amused from my predicament and I couldn’t tell which one I wanted to slap more.
Chapter 13
We set out running through the woods in the back of my house. I had never been a runner but I felt like I could climb Everest. Ri was obviously in amazing shape and seemed to have no problem. “I’m sorry you have to run with me after saving my life and everything, I must be a pain in your side creating so many problems.” I said. He seemed serious and he said, “It’s not like that at all. Listen I needed to talk to you alone.” This sounded bad.
“I know about your dreams Trinity, at the beach house. I am the guy from your dreams. It’s called dream walking. I don’t know a lot about it but you are able to go wherever you want in your sleep and take others with you, like astral projection. We are really there when you do that but it’s in your mind, your subconscious, so it's not us being in the real, physical place, but a dream version. The beach house is where Serenity lives. Where our compound is. We have really been talking all these months. It’s a rare thing and I knew who you were because we are a close community and everyone knows about you. I knew what it meant for you to be doing that, and that your powers were getting out somehow. In the dreams when the weather changes, it’s because of something you’re doing. I can feel you doing it when you get upset. That doesn't mean it’s your power, necessarily, just that you control the dream world we are in. I tried to talk to your dad but I wasn’t able to tell him about the dreams so he wouldn’t listen. So I kept an eye on you. I need you to tell him about the dreams but not tell him about me being in them. Just tell him that I described your uncle's house and you realized that was where you had been going in your sleep and that’s how they found you. I know it’s a lot to ask but I swear I mean no harm and I need you to trust me.”
When he said those fatal words “trust me” I stopped in my tracks. I recognized his voice from my dreams and I knew he was telling the truth. Wow, my dream guy was real. My dreams were real. Ri was my dream guy. No wonder I felt connected to him we had been talking for months. It all just overwhelmed me at once because it meant this was all my fault. Sharp pain hit me right in the chest. I began to cry. “What you’re saying means that because of me my mom sacrificed her life and my dad sacrificed my mom and it was all for nothing because I am causing all of this pain to happen, and Courtney almost died because of me.”
It was all too much and I just doubled over in sobs. It was all my fault, somehow I was doing all of this. I was also thinking of how horrible I must be to have pulled Ri into all of this, for no reason that I understood. I took this nice guy and tore his world apart too. Ri grabbed me and wrapped me in his arms. He was rubbing my arms as I cried on his chest and I noticed the pain began to dull and I felt calmer and more at peace. He was working his voodoo again. My body was calmer too and I didn’t need to be moving anymore.
“Wow, so if you can calm my body too, why didn’t you just do that when I started twitching?”
He smiled wryly and said, “Yeah that’s something we need to not tell your dad either. This needs to be our secret for a little bit. I promise I’ll explain everything better later but it wouldn’t be good right now. People would just get hurt,” I thought that sounded right and like I hurt everyone who cared for me. Everything was so crazy and a part of me was still in denial about everything. I felt better though that I wasn't alone. Ri was my friend and even though he made me really crazy, I knew he could be sweet and helpful when he wanted. I also knew that I wanted my powers so that I could kick some serious butt for ruining so many people's lives that I loved.
When we got back my dad was in his study and I went in to tell him everything the way Ri said to. I
hated keeping things from him. I just thought, Ri saved my life and I was sure he had a reason for the secrecy. When I was done he said, “Well this changes everything.” He looked so sad and defeated. “What do you mean daddy?” He sighed, “Since you are leaking power then I’m going to need you to go to the compound with Ri and Serenity.” He rubbed his nose under his glasses, which he did when he was stressed and he held my hand and got a serious look on his face.
“Trinity, listen, I can't go with you right now. My powers are like Grandpa Ray’s kind of. We are both really great at finding information and hidden things. Also, when I was younger, I went through a rebellious stage and thought about joining the darks. I have connections and I need to go do some digging and find out what they know about you.” He tried to give me a reassuring smile and squeezed my hand, but it was all wrong. I stood and paced.
“What are you talking about? You’re human now. You can't just go undercover. That's ridiculous, I need you with me, send someone else.” He gave me his determined look and shook his head. “I’m sorry Trinity. I know it's scary but a special tea and a magic spell and bibbity bobbity boo I won't be human anymore. I know I don't look like much now but believe me, I'm a very strong supe and I can be pretty formidable.” I crossed my arms and rolled my eyes. “Excuse me dad but it's hard to believe you could be some tough guy when you use words like formidable. Can’t someone else do it?”
“None that have my connections, I’m afraid. Even if I did know someone I wouldn’t trust them to dig around safely about my daughter. I know what I’m doing you don’t have to worry about me and the compound is the safest place for you right now we would have left tomorrow to go there anyway, I will just meet you there later ok?”
“So, it's no big deal, to get your powers back?” I asked.
He shook his head, “No our powers had already been activated, so we just covered them with a simple spell. They are there and I can always feel them, it’s just like there is a lid I have to open and I can do it myself. Your powers were stopped from ever coming to pass, making you essentially human. It’s much trickier with you.”
I was so upset. “How can we just leave? What will I tell my friends, will we ever come back?” He looked so sad, “I talked to Courtney's mom at the hospital after I talked to Ri and I told her you and I were going away on a vacation for some father daughter bonding and to make sure you weren’t an out of control teenager. Your accident and Courtney being drunk is a big deal to parents and she understood. She said Courtney would be double grounded and probably not even able to use the phone for a while. This is the story we will use and you need to prepare your goodbyes tonight because we are leaving in the morning. Now scoot, I’ve got some phone calls to make. I think Serenity is making lunch and then we need to pack.”
I wanted to ask about the compound but didn’t want to blow the story Ri had worked out so I just moped into the kitchen where Serenity was pulling garlic bread out of the oven and it seemed like she had spaghetti made on the stove. “There you are, did you have a good run?” She was so cheerful and I was so not. Ri was already sitting at the kitchen table and he looked at me expectantly. “Ri found out that I’ve been dream walking and I told my dad and he says we have to leave for the compound in the morning.”
She squealed and rushed over to give me a hug. “Oh, yay, we are going to have so much fun. It’s going to be great, you’ll see. We have a beautiful house on the beach, and everyone wants to meet you and it’s going to be awesome.”
I wished I could share her enthusiasm but I couldn’t help but think about everything I was losing. Today just seemed to be a never ending day of new things happening and pain and I just wanted it to stop, instead I had to pack and leave for a whole new life. Dad came out of his study and we all sat at the table to eat lunch like a family, or a super freak family I guess.
Chapter 14
“Well, I talked to Marcus, that’s your uncle.” He said this to me. “It seems he wasn’t fully aware of your twos recognizance mission.” This he directed to Ri and Serenity.
Ri responded, “He told us to check it out but not to interfere unless necessary. I forgot to fill him in on the accident what with all the excitement.” I looked at Serenity. “So why did you come?” She smiled. “Well, Ri thought it would be wise to have a healer tag along. Plus I always wanted to meet you. It was also good in case we were discovered that we had the back up story of me being your cousin. In case you were going to stay human.”
The way she put that kind of grated on me. I felt like a naïve little girl who had lived in a bubble and my bubble burst. It also really upset me that if my power hadn’t been leaking out they would all have been involved in a cover up to keep me ignorant. I thought how Matt would love all the conspiracy.
The spaghetti was amazing truly magical and I wondered if there was anything they weren’t perfect at. All of a sudden Serenity stopped with a bite halfway to her mouth and got this spacey look on her face. “Yay,” she said. “Jason’s done and he wants to know if he can shimmer.” My dad gave her a stern look as he took his plate to the sink. “Oh sure,” he said. “Let’s just paint a bigger target on our back.” She rushed to reassure him. “It’s ok Jason is a seeker he has an invisibility charm standard issue.” She gave him a beaming smile.
Dad threw his hands up. “Whatever, I’m going to pack. Trin, when you’re done eating you need to pack and tell whoever goodbye. I left your phone on the coffee table it’s been going off like crazy.” He shook his head and walked out. I couldn’t believe it was not 24 hours ago that the mess happened with Matt and I thought how if all this wasn’t going on it would be my biggest problem today.
I looked back at my food and then BAM, there was a strange boy standing in my kitchen in a black hoodie and camo pants and he appeared out of thin air! “EEEk” I screamed and jumped up and was starting to run away but then Ri grabbed my arm and turned me into his chest rubbing on my bare arm with his calming voodoo. “Shhh, it’s ok you're safe he’s one of us.” Score another, ‘I feel stupid’ point for me. I realized this must be Jason and that must be shimmering or whatever. I turned back to the table to sit down and my mouth dropped open in shock. Jason and Serenity were standing by the table devouring one another's mouths.
“Ahem,” I said loudly. She pulled her face away but stayed plastered to his side. “Sorry,” she said even though she was smiling and didn’t look sorry. “We haven’t seen each other for three days!” She said this like it was a huge deal. I thought it seemed very strange. She grabbed his hand and pulled him to the table scooting their chairs super close and not letting go of his hand. I thought, wow pda much?
I looked at the new arrival. “So you’re Jason, I presume.” He shook my hand with the one not holding Serenity's and then started serving himself a huge plate of spaghetti. He was also tall and amazingly built with blonde hair that was buzz cut and deep brown eyes. He looked boyish, charming, and mischievous. “I am,” he said, “and you’re the biggest news the supernatural community has ever talked about. I can’t wait to see everyone freak out over you back home.”
I ignored his pleasure at my expense and turned to Serenity.
“You said he wanted to know if he could shimmer, how did you know that?” She beamed the brightest smile.
“Jason is my bond mate. See, in the supe community we all have our fated partners. You usually know you’re bond mate from an early age and realize it’s your bond mate because there’s like this intense pull. It feels like magnets, a gravitational pull that you can’t ignore, not that you would want to. You can’t stay away from them. When we turn 17 we can link with our bond mates. It’s this ritual where you link hands and minds you become fused together. It only works when both parties are 17 or older and it bonds you forever. Then you can read each-other's minds and share powers. Also, your powers get stronger and a lot of other cool stuff. It’s so much bigger than human marriage we are literally two halves of one whole and when we are apart we feel empty.
Jason and I have only been bonded for 3 months so it’s especially hard on us.”
This was possibly the most shocking news of the day. I don’t know why but it bothered me. I was thinking about mom and dad. “Does everyone do it this way, or do some people not bond?”
“Everyone in the supe community only gets married by bonding. It’s rare for it to happen where the bond mates don’t know each other but it happens like that sometimes.” She got serious like she understood my thoughts. “Your mom and dad were bonded too.”
I was overloading again. This stranger was sitting here telling me my mom and dad had some out of this world soul mate connection. I knew it was true I could remember all the times it seemed they shared a private joke or were speaking to each other with their eyes. It hurt too much. I was the reason my dad didn’t have his soul mate. Then I thought, what about me, would I have one or not, because my powers were bound? Then I felt selfish for thinking that. When I looked up three sets of eyes were focused on me. Ri and Serenity looked concerned and Jason just looked like he thought I was crazy.
I was sick of all of it. I needed to get away.
