by Hayden, Sean
I did use my speed to take the stairs three at a time, and I caught up to her at the top. “Jess! Wait! Please…”
She stopped running, but didn’t turn around, continuing on her way toward American Government without looking back at me.
I reached out my hand and put it on her shoulder as I fell into step behind her. “Please,” I whispered again.
She stopped. She still didn’t turn around, but stopping was a good sign. “What?”
I could hear the anger edging her voice like a sharp knife. I knew it was sharp, because it had already cut my heart. “I owe you a very large apology.”
That got her to turn around. My heart went from cut to shattered with one glance at her face. Tears streaked her face, smudging her makeup, highlighting the sadness in the depths of her eyes. She collapsed against me, burying her face in my chest and sobbing uncontrollably. Wrapping her in my arms, I did the only thing I could do, I held her tight.
“No… You don’t. I’m the one who’s sorry,” she managed to blurt out between sobs.
“For what? I should have just let you kick her ass. God knows she deserves it.”
“Why?”
“Why what?”
“Why does she have to want you? We were so happy. Why you?”
“Well, I am awfully sexeh…” I let it hang out there to let her know I was joking.
“Not funny,” she said and rubbed her face against me some more.
“Gasp! You don’t think I’m sexy?”
“Connor, you are like the hottest guy in the school. When I first saw you, my jaw dropped open. I can’t believe you were single when I met you. I mean, why does she have to make a play for you now?”
I pulled Jess away from my chest and tilted her head up so I could look into her eyes. “It’s probably my fault. You have no idea how much shit I took from her in the past. I think she knew I should hate her for it, but I felt sorry for her. When she was having a bad moment, instead of taking advantage of it and making her feel worse, I was actually nice to her. I should have kicked her when she was down. I think she misinterpreted that as interest.”
“Are you?”
“Am I what?”
“Interested?”
“In spending the rest of my life with you? Yes. In ever spending another moment of time in her presence? I think I’d rather be dragged by a taxi over a mile of thumbtacks.”
That earned me both an awww and a giggle. I kissed her lips gently, ready for her to pull back if it was too soon. It wasn’t. She wrapped her arms around my head and mashed her lips against mine. “I don’t know what’s wrong. I haven’t been myself lately.”
My mind flashed to the trail of feathers she left in her wake when she ran from me in the courtyard. I needed to talk to her dad. I didn’t have one doubt in my mind that she would be sprouting wings at any time.
I gave her my best reassuring smile. “No jokes. Please… Please believe me when I tell you I have zero interest in anybody but you. You are my reason for waking up in the morning. You are my reason for coming to school every day. I would never do anything to betray you, hurt you, or even make you sad.”
The tears started flowing freely again, but this time, they were accompanied with the cutest little lip quiver and the brightest smile I had ever seen.
“I love you, Connor Sullivan.”
“I love you, too. Future Mrs. Sullivan,” I said with a wink.
Her eyes went a little wide. “Um…”
“Jeez, Jess. I’m not talking next week. You know. In a decade or so. When we’re old and grey.”
“Okay,” she said with a relieved smile.
“Sweet. I’ll post the engagement in the paper next week. Maybe that will give Shannon the hint.”
“If that doesn’t work, there’s always the crowbar in my dad’s trunk…”
I reached out and tilted her chin back up to me. “She is sooo not worth the effort, sweetie. You stay away from her and hopefully she’ll stay the hell away from both of us.”
“Fine. I will.”
I didn’t like the sound of that. “What?”
“Nothing,” she said with an impish smile. I rolled my eyes and gave her another hug, just as the bell behind us rang. The sound caused Jess to jump in my arms, bringing her knee in contact with my lower extremities, yet once again. It caused me to hiss and wince in pain. I took an involuntary step backward and bent over, just a little.
Jess gave me one look and knew exactly what was troubling me. “Oh, my God. I am sooo sorry! How the hell were you running after me after what I did to you?”
“Cuz the thought of losing you hurt worse. Now it’s catching up to me…”
“Let me go get you some ice!”
She turned to run and I reached out and grabbed her hand. “It’s okay. I’ll be fine in a minute.”
The fact of the matter was, I should have already healed. I thought I had until the slight brush of Jess’ knee brought a wave of pain rushing back. I guess it didn’t matter if you were immortal or not, the boys were just gentle no matter what species you were.
Chapter 18
Raven attacked before I even swung my leg over my scooter. Albeit, I was moving a little slowly from my earlier groin injury, but didn’t the rules of battle etiquette demand waiting until your opponent was ready or something chivalrous like that?
I only had one option. I rolled off the side of my scooter and kicked her away from me while pulling my blades from nothing.
“Good! Although, I will admit, I could have struck you down just then.”
“Yeah. I had my mind on something else and I wasn’t expecting you to attack me while I still had the motor running.”
“A sword waits for no one!” She charged and swung low. I used one blade to defend and took the initiative to attack with my other hand. This time I didn’t swing, I pictured my hand moving instantly from where it was to her shoulder. When the blade sliced into her flesh, I gave a gasp and dispelled my blades.
“Holy shit, Raven! Are you okay?”
“It will mend in a moment. Call back your blades!”
She actually seemed excited. I knew the Fallen were pretty weird, but this took the cake. If someone had sunk a blade halfway into my arm, I’d be crying like a little girl. But I did as she asked and called my blades back just in time.
Raven didn’t hold back, nor did her injury seem to impede her ability in any way, shape, or form. My eyes could barely see her movements and I concentrated on her forearms like I had before.
She was graceful, amazing, and scary. Everything I wasn’t. I felt choppy and inadequate every time we faced off. I took a deep breath while I blocked three of her well-placed attacks and pictured my movements flowing like water instead of just moving parts of my body. Instead of hacking, I started swishing. It worked.
Raven increased her speed.
I flowed to match.
“Incredible!” The smile that had found its way onto her stony face was almost…attractive.
“What?”
“Do you realize you are moving double of what you were last week?”
My eyes went a little wide. To be honest, I couldn’t tell, nor could I possibly understand how she knew. “Are you sure?”
“Youngling, I have fought aged warriors who couldn’t move this fast. I admit, I am most impressed with you!”
“Probably not as much as I am.”
She gave a short bark of laughter. “I would say our time together from this moment would be short, but I am rather enjoying myself.”
“It is kind of fun.”
“Then I shall teach you to dance!”
“Exqueez me? I don’t…dance.”
“And a short time ago, you didn’t swordfight either. Follow, youngling.” And with that she crossed her one foot over the other and turned, forcing me to do the opposite or leave my side open to attack.
The whole time she moved, her blades never stopped their blurring parries and slashes. Two turns to the left a
nd one to the right and we would begin again. I could almost hear the symphony in my head as we weaved and bobbed in a deadly dance. The whole time, the smile never left Raven’s face.
Finally it drew to a close and her attacks slowed until her hands came to rest at her sides. She beamed at me in appreciation.
“Thank you.”
“For?”
“That. It has been a long time since the teaching of others has brought me even a modicum of joy. In fact, when I was asked, I almost turned down the role. Something nagged at my conscious this time and so I agreed. I am not disappointed.”
I blushed furiously. “Thank you, Raven.”
“That is enough for today. Do you still wish for me to be your mentor? I admit, I have little else to teach you in the way of the blade.”
“Yes. Definitely.”
“Good. Practice does make for perfection.”
“Actually, there is more to it than that.” I had to tell her about being able to throw fire. It was a power that I shouldn’t have, but that seemed to be the norm lately. I don’t know what drove me. I had secrets I didn’t want learned, yet I trusted her implicitly. She just had that effect on people. Or demons. Whatever. Somehow I knew she wouldn’t give me away.
“What is it?”
“After we finished the other day…” I paused. Not knowing where to begin.
“I know.”
“Huh?”
“I watched you from the edge of the trees. I wish I could say I was surprised, but I wasn’t. I was more surprised that you had the foresight to keep your ability to yourself. I was going to mention it earlier, but I respected your right to privacy. In fact, I would counsel you to keep doing just that.”
“Really?”
“Yes. You already remind the others a little too much of another Fallen, to add to that might not be wise.”
“But it doesn’t bother you?”
She laughed again, this time it felt more natural, like she was getting used to it. “Not in the slightest. I knew the Usurper very well. While you two might be akin in power, you couldn’t be more apart in disposition.”
I sat down on the closest rock. “What was he like?”
“Arrogant. Headstrong. Willful, Prideful, and a host of deadly other things. His intentions might have been noble, but his reasoning behind it became warped and twisted, just like we have become. You on the other-hand. You are shy. Inquisitive. Caring. No, young one. You do not remind me of him in the slightest. I trust the power that lies within you is much safer for all of the realms than it was within him.”
“And you’re not worried that I might become twisted?”
“Not in the slightest. You have too many people around you who care about you deeply, who will guide you, nurture you, and scold you when you screw up!”
She had no idea. Even my enemies seemed to take great pleasure in the scolding. “Thanks, Raven.”
“You are more than welcome.”
* * *
I pulled my scooter into my driveway just as the sun set, plunging my little world into the soft glow of twilight. I smiled as I slid off the seat, no longer in pain. My shitty day had turned out okay.
Caelyn opened the door to the kitchen almost as if she had been waiting for me to get home. I think that might have been the most uncharacteristic thing she had ever done. It set a sense of dread shivering down my spine.
“What’s wrong?”
She looked at me curiously. “Why do you think something’s wrong?”
I pulled my cell phone out of my pocket and hit the home button. No alerts popped up on the screen, so I didn’t miss any calls or texts, so maybe there was no emergency. “You’re waiting for me…”
“No I wasn’t. Mom told me to take out the trash, but then I saw you were already out here.”
“Hahaha. Very funny. Brat.”
She gave me the usual grin she had when she made a funny. Usually at my expense. “Just kidding. I saw you pull up while I was raiding the fridge. I heard about the blow up at school. Just checking to make sure you were alright. Are you alright?”
“Better actually. Things turned out okay.”
“Jessie still hate you?”
“No. She apologized and we made up right after it happened.”
“Good. She’s the best thing that has ever happened to you. I’d hate to see you lose her because you were stupid.”
“Hey, that’s not very nice. Or true,” I said as I walked up the steps and into the kitchen, Caelyn closing the door behind me. “It wasn’t even my fault.”
“Yes it was. Never call a girl crazy, even when they are. First rule of living a longer life.”
“When did you get so smart and how the hell did you know I used the word crazy?”
“I asked Claire. She could hear your whole conversation.”
“Nice,” I said and opened the fridge. “What’s for dinner?”
“We ate meatloaf. Mom left you a plate in the microwave.”
“Meatloaf!” I punched in two minutes on the keypad and hit start on our ancient microwave without even looking at the contents.
“Stop!”
I hit stop and spun on my sister. “What?”
“Mom covered it in tinfoil. Take it off before you set fire to the house, dumbass.”
“Oh. You scared me. I woulda saw the sparks. No need to yell.”
Unfortunately the damage was already done. Mom came running into the kitchen. “What?”
“He hit start on the microwave without taking the tinfoil off.”
“Connor. Look before you think.”
“Huh?”
Mom sighed realizing she wasn’t making much sense, at least to me. “Just pay attention to things around you,” she clarified and went back to wherever she was before she decided to impart her words of confusing wisdom upon my fragile head.
I shrugged and popped the door open, reached in and removed the tinfoil before hitting start.
I leaned against the counter as my food spun, merrily zapping my dinner with flavor-giving heat and radiation. I happened to glance over at my sister who seemed to be waiting patiently for me at the kitchen table. Something was on her mind and she wasn’t spilling it. Nervousness replaced hunger.
Instead of just asking her, I waited patiently for my food, grabbed it and some silverware, and sat down across from her. I sprinkled a bunch of salt on without tasting it. Most people would yell at me for this, but I knew my mom’s cooking. She never used salt. I took a bite and let it melt on my tongue. Very few things could make me as happy as Mom’s meatloaf.
“What’s on your mind, Cae?”
“Huh?”
“Come on. You were by the door when I got home, you waited for me to heat up dinner, and now you’re sitting with me while I eat. Either you want something or you want to talk about something. I’m all yours. Which is it?”
She sighed heavily. I could see her trying to bolster her confidence and just spit it out. “It’s– Hell, I don’t even know how to start.”
“How about the beginning?”
“Yeah. It’s just taking that first plunge. Give me a minute.”
I nodded and started in on my dinner a little more earnestly. After a few mouthfuls, the silence started getting to me. I had no idea what could be bothering her unless it had to do with something vampiric. “Is it fang related?”
“Kind of.”
“You know I’m no expert. Is this something you should be talking to Elizabeth about? Unless it’s about Jenny?”
She shook her head. “No.”
“Cae, you know you can ask me anything.”
“I need your help.”
“With?”
“I don’t want to be a vampire anymore.”
It didn’t surprise me. Truly, I wished I could wave a magic wand and make it all better, make it the way it used to be, but it wasn’t possible. I thought Cae understood that. “You know there’s nothing I can do, right? That’s not how it works. Trust me. I tried. I t
ried to give Jessie her sight back months ago.”
“I know. I had a little talk about things other than you with Clarisse.”
My stomach knotted. “What exactly did you two talk about?” I already knew what had been said. I could feel hope coming off my sister in waves.
“On how the Fallen’s magic works. On the price of having your wishes granted…”
“No. Absolutely not. Trust me. Learn from my mistakes. Nothing is worth the price of your soul. Don’t you think I would go back and undo what I did in heartbeat if I could?”
“But you won! You got to keep your soul. I talked to Clarisse about what happens when you die. What happened to Jenny when she died. What exactly is the difference? I get to be human again and the Fallen get my soul when I die.”
“No. Absofrigginlutely not!”
“It’s a price I’m willing to pay.”
“It’s not what I’m willing to pay. Cae, I will fight with everything I have to keep you safe and your soul yours. Don’t argue with me on this, I won’t give in.”
“It’s my decision.”
I could feel the anger well up inside me. Caelyn slid her chair away from the table. She looked ready to fight. “No, Cae. It is not,” I said and stood up from the table, leaving the rest of my meal untouched.
“Don’t walk away from me!”
She was around the table and blocking my way in the blink of an eye. Maybe a half a blink. I tried to ignore and walk around her, but her hands gripped my arms. It became a problem when I felt her talons start to pierce my flesh.
“That hurts,” I said calmly and pulled her hand off my left arm.
She looked down at her hands and gave a little gasp. “Connor…”
“What?”
“I’m wearing my orb.”
Chapter 19
I sat back down at the table. Cae stared at her hand incredulously. I reached up, took it, and pulled her down into the chair next to mine. “Cae, your powers are…for lack of a better word, extraordinary. I have the same problem. When they first turned me into one of the Fallen, I wore an orb. Then my power started leaking through. I don’t know if you’re going to be able to wear it for much longer.”
