He grabbed my arms as if he wanted to shake some sense into me, but he was the one who needed it knocked into him. Not that I could give him any clearer explanation. I was as clueless as the next how I would accomplish this feat.
“You gave Marcus the Consilador’s powers. Our clans are on the verge of destruction! You’d risk our lives like that without even asking? Without even warning us?”
I shoved against his chest till he released me. He breathed heavily, his eyes focused.
“And how would you have liked me to warn you? A carrier pigeon? How the hell was I supposed to let you know when I only figured it out right before the ceremony? How do you think it made me feel that I was right all along? That I was created as nothing more than a weapon.”
He stepped back, his gaze lowering.
“You should’ve found another way before charging in without thinking.”
“I didn’t charge in, but you refuse to see that.” I shook my head. “I told you before, my destiny was planned out way before any of us knew about it. It was thought out, and not just by you.”
Jade-rimmed eyes met mine.
“I want to trust what you’re saying, but I can’t.”
“Because betrayal runs deep. You have no more trust for me because all I’ve ever done is let you down. I’m the one who can fix this whole mess, so just leave me to it.” I pushed past him and headed down the deer trail.
“I—I don’t want to lose you,” he said quietly.
“You already lost me…”
My legs couldn’t take me fast enough away from him, and away from the falls. I was tired of explaining myself. Tired of being reminded that I was as unsure as they were how I’d accomplish this task. I was never going to get their approval. What was done, was done. I needed to start concentrating on how I was going to kill Marcus, how I was going to end it once and for all for everyone.
Maes didn’t follow me. By the time I’d reached the outbuildings again, a light drizzle had started. I headed for the shed I’d cleared out. The door creaked as I opened it, and the gloominess outside darkened the small space. I cranked open the potbelly stove and tossed a few logs in. Reaching over to the workbench, I grabbed the matches and lit one. A flicker began as I carefully lit the kindling. I blew on the flames, causing them to grow. Closing the stove door, I pulled the rickety stool closer.
It was better this way. Maybe it’d be best if I slept out here. It wasn’t like anybody would miss me. They’d probably be happy I was gone.
I rubbed my arms. The fire wasn’t warming up quickly enough to chase out the chill in the room. But then again, more than the chill in the air was bothering me.
How do you plot another’s demise knowing it could be your own?
I rubbed my temples. Maes was right. The clans were falling apart, and it was because of me. Callon had always been the one who held them together, and even when I said I’d step up, it was met with disbelief and disapproval. But then again, I was never meant to lead. After all, I was the weapon to destroy Marcus—would I even be around afterwards?
Callon should have been here to help me figure this out. Where was he? Did anyone know? I couldn’t believe he would abandon his family like this. Was he in contact with the others, but refused to show himself to me? Was Colt’s promise just something to keep me busy? To keep my focus away from the others who knew his whereabouts? Nakari had been distraught when he left and now she focused all her anger on me. Had he been contacting her? Was he even alive?
I shook my head. No, I refused to believe he was dead, but Nakari had said he’d been through things before. My gut told me she’d been the one to bring him out of the deep pit of despair. They had a connection, like Colt and I did.
A bout of curses caught my attention. I stepped outside and peered around the corner. Brogan was gutting a deer; droplets of blood were spattered across his unshaven cheeks. Dex came up from behind him and they began talking. Lilly must have sent Brogan out hunting. It was well beyond our time to eat; yet I wasn’t hungry. Timeless could easily go several days to a week without food.
“We need to go out tomorrow, Dex,” Brogan said. “I’m growing tired of waiting for Maes’s contacts. You and I both know something is up. We haven’t caught sight of any Trackers or Tresezes.” He shook his head. “It’s like they’ve given up or something, which makes absolutely no sense.”
Dex scratched his chin. “I have to agree. In all the years of battling Marcus, he’s never pulled back unless he has a trick up his sleeve.”
Their conversation continued, but the wind shifted so I couldn’t hear any longer.
So they hadn’t seen anything of Marcus yet. Why? What was he up to? I watched for a little while longer, trying to catch their words with no success. I was scratching my brow when the familiar tingling began in my fingers. My eyes grew wide when I saw the blue hue glowing in my palms.
“No!” I hissed and tried to slam my hands down. Without warning, the bolt snapped to life before I’d reached the ground. What sounded like a whip crackling echoed in my ears, and Brogan’s curses could’ve rivaled a sailor’s.
I looked up, my palms firmly planted in the wet soil. The lightning had struck his deer, exploding the carcass everywhere, including over him and Dex.
His eyes met mine and then darkened. He rose, breathing heavy, and stalked towards me. I scrambled to my feet and shoved my hands in my pockets as I pushed up against the wooden structure. I had no idea if I was going to explode again. This time it had come closer than the last.
“What the hell did you do that for?!” Brogan bellowed, blood and chunks of deer dripping from him.
I didn’t reply as he towered over me.
“Cheyenne,” Dex said and pushed Brogan back. His hazel eyes narrowed and then moved to my hands. “Why are your hands in your pocket?”
“They’re cold,” I said quickly. I needed to get away from them before it happened again.
“Let me see them.”
“No.” I tried to inch further away.
“Cheyenne Alexis.” His lips straightened into a thin line, and his fatherly tone had come out.
I tried to slide around the corner of the building when Dex caught my arm.
“I didn’t mean to do it,” I protested. “It just happened.” I gripped the inside of my pockets tightly. If something happened again, it would hit me, not them.
“Sure, like we’re to believe anything you say, princess,” Brogan sneered.
Dex eyed me carefully. “Let me see.”
“I don’t want to hurt anyone.”
Dex looked over his shoulder. “Go get cleaned up, Brogan, and then have Maes go with you to get another deer.”
“Have our princess go hunting.” He wiped the blood from his mouth.
“Brogan, I’m not going to ask again,” Dex ordered.
Brogan’s upper lip bent in a snarl, but he turned and left us.
“Tell me what’s going on, and don’t hold back, Cheyenne.” Dex pointed towards my shed, and I led the way.
What was I going to tell him? I didn’t know what was happening, and if the past weeks were any clue, he wouldn’t believe me.
I sat in the rickety chair near the stove while Dex leaned against the workbench, his arms crossed.
“What do you mean it just happened?” Dex questioned.
“I can’t explain it,” I replied.
He sighed and shook his head.
“You’re not sixteen anymore, Cheyenne. Explain ‘just happened’.”
I pulled my hands from my pockets and warmed them over the stove. I might as well tell someone before this got out of control. At least Dex was willing to listen, and he’d more than likely offer the best explanation.
“A few days ago, I was sitting in the meadow when my palms began to glow, and then without warning, power shot from them.” I hesitated, unsure what he’d think. “Today while I was with Colt, power randomly shot from me again, narrowly missing him.”
“And now with
Brogan and me,” Dex finished for me.
“Yes. I can’t explain it. It’s like I have too much power running through me, and it needs a release.” I looked up at him.
He frowned and rubbed his chin. He too had grown whiskers; our supplies were limited.
“I’m not sure what to make of this…” he said. He began pacing back and forth. “What happened before this power shot from you?” He paused a moment, waiting for my reply.
“Nothing, just normal everyday stuff.” Except the vision I’d had the other day…
He raised a brow. “You’ve never had normal everyday stuff, Cheyenne.”
I rolled my eyes.
“Does something happen before it shoots from your palms?” He went back to his pacing.
I decided to focus in on what I knew for sure, not the unknown.
“My hands begin to tingle, and my palms get a bright blue hue to them.”
He stopped again, but this time his eyes were distant, like he was focusing in on a memory. He headed for the door.
“Stay here until I come back,” he said and nearly ran Daniel over as he passed him. “Stay away from her, Daniel.”
Daniel stopped outside the doorway. His brow puckered and then his eyes saddened. I turned away.
“Chey,” Daniel implored.
“Listen to Dex, Daniel, and stay away from me.”
I peeked over my shoulder. Daniel was slowly walking away. Every time I saw him, he looked more and more fearful. I’d caught Bree and Nakari’s worried stares. They wanted to help him, but were unsure what they could do. His ever-present smile had disappeared. Even his touch, one that had always brought me peace, now brought me uncertainty, fear, and regret. I already had enough of that myself. I didn’t need to add to the growing pile.
I opened the stove and added another log. It was getting warmer, but I’d made a poor choice in buildings. This was going to be a long, cold, lonely winter…
The room darkened, and I glanced back to see Colt standing in the doorway. I rubbed my hands over the fire again.
“Dex said you’re to stay away from me, Colt.”
He moved further in the shed, ducking to miss a beam. He raised his arms and lifted down an old dusty chair from the rafters. He planted it next to the stove and sat beside me.
“I’m sorry,” he said quietly.
I didn’t reply, but instead focused on warming myself.
“I shouldn’t have pushed you. And I should’ve believed you when you said it just happened on its own.”
“You should stay away from me, Colt. I don’t know when or if this will happen again.”
“I’m not leaving you ever again. I did it once, and it was the biggest mistake of my life.”
It was the biggest mistake of his life…he’d delivered me to Marcus. He’d tormented me, and he’d been the one who caused me to find my mother’s journals. None of which could be taken back.
He reached over and grasped my hand before I had time to react. I pulled back, but he refused to let go.
“Colt, please, I don’t want to hurt you,” I pleaded.
Determination set in the planes of his face. “You’re not going to hurt me, and I’m not going to fear your powers. You can control this. We’ll work on this together. This is why I’m staying.”
“What if I can’t? What if I really cause harm?”
“Those were minor blasts compared to what I’ve seen you do before. Yes, they’d be painful, but survivable.”
“You don’t have your powers anymore to defend yourself,” I countered.
“No, but I am Timeless.” He tapped his chest and winked. “Harder to kill. And I’m not as weak as you think I am.”
A damp blond lock fell into his eye. He wasn’t weak, just not as strong as he had been, and it would hurt him in the end. I needed to figure out a way to get the Consilador’s powers back. And I needed to do it now.
It couldn’t help but bring my thoughts back to Callon.
“Have you heard from him?” I asked quietly and twisted my Servak ring on my index finger. I knew Skylar and Clayton were going to search, like he’d said earlier, but I couldn’t help but wonder if he knew anything else.
“No.”
My chest tightened, and I lowered my lids. It shouldn’t have been this way. I shouldn’t have broken his heart like I had, but what was I to do when the truth lay before me?
“Have you been using your powers outside of these outbursts, Cheyenne?”
Colt and I turned. Dex was standing in the doorway. He stepped inside, continuing. “Outside of what you did for Nakari?”
“Once,” I replied. Colt squeezed my fingers.
“When?”
I looked at Colt, his gaze steady.
“On my hike earlier.”
“Was it large or small?” Dex asked.
I hesitated a moment. Should I tell him about my vision in the meadow? If anyone could help me figure out the meaning, it’d be Dex. But then again, they’d told me not to try and regain the Consilador’s powers. So was that what happened? Had I actually made a connection with Marcus?
“Small, but...”
He rubbed his whiskered chin and stepped closer.
“But what?”
I looked up at Colt’s reassuring eyes. Once I brought this out to Dex, I was sure others would have their opinion as well.
“I had a vision the other day, the day I was out in the meadow, right before Lilly came to me.”
He stilled, waiting for me to go on.
“It was odd. I was sitting there in the meadow, and then in the next moment I was in what appeared to be memories.”
“What did these memories look like?” he asked.
“They were figures, misty figures using their powers.”
I held back the part where I’d heard Marcus’s voice. I wasn’t sure if that had been real or a figment of my imagination.
Dex studied me for a few moments more and then shook his head.
“I don’t understand it. For all my knowledge from Timeless powers to medical treatments, this shouldn’t happen.”
He’d completely overlooked my vision.
He began pacing again. “If I had access to the O’Shea library and if Callon were…” he trailed off.
He didn’t need to finish his sentence. I knew exactly what he wanted to say.
“If Callon were here he’d know…if Callon were here the clans wouldn’t be divided.” I stood, pulling away from Colt as they stared at me. “If Callon were here, he’d make everything right, and if Callon were here, I’d be banished.”
I made for the door. Callon wasn’t here because of me. I was the cause of all these problems. I was their greatest failure, and I was staring them in the face.
Chapter 5
The drizzle soon turned to a steady rain, and I was drenched. A shiver escaped me, and I wrapped my arms tighter around my chest.
It was my fault; I shouldn’t have left my shed. I should have just kept my mouth shut and my feelings to myself. They would have eventually left, leaving me to have my own pity party. But I had to say something—what if Dex knew something that would help me figure out my powers?
I hadn’t wandered that far. I was sitting under a large pine just at the edge of the meadow. I could see Colt and Daniel’s figures in the doorway. They were waiting for me to come back. A part of me wanted to, but the other part of me was unsure of my new powers.
Dex had no explanation; obviously he’d never encountered anything like it. And he’d completely ignored my revelation about my vision. Leave it to me to have all the dangerous and difficult transformations. I was a ticking time bomb, and this time it wasn’t because I couldn’t control my anger. This time it was because I couldn’t control all this power running through my veins. I hadn’t hurt anyone yet, but if this kept up, the odds increased in its favor.
A flash of red appeared in the meadow, only to reappear a few feet away. Nakari’s icy green eyes locked on mine for the first time sinc
e Callon’s departure.
“Dex wants you back,” she said coolly. It was clear she didn’t want to come, but had to. She looked away, fiddling with the hem of her jacket.
I didn’t move. She stepped closer, annoyed.
I picked up a small twig and began playing with it between my fingers. She rolled her eyes. It was clear she wasn’t going to leave until I returned with her.
“Go away, Nakari.” I stood, but lowered my head to clear the branches, and headed towards the forest.
She jumped in front of me, and I stared her down.
“I really don’t think you want to do this.” I gave her warning. I didn’t want to hurt her if I had another episode.
“I don’t want to do this,” she replied.
“Then go.” I shooed her with my hands.
“I won’t leave until you come back.” She crossed her arms.
“Come back and hurt someone, Nakari? It’s best if I stay away.” I crossed my arms as well. I could be stubborn too. “What do you care, anyway? You think I’m a worthless—”
She cut me off. “You’re not worthless, Cheyenne. Just selfish.”
I should have reminded her of my selfish act when I removed her bands. Surely I had only been thinking of myself and what I could benefit from her powers…like her ability to jump, which was why she was now in front of me, demanding I return.
“Well then, leave me to my selfish ways.” I stepped past her, but this time she didn’t follow. I glanced back; she remained still, watching me walk away. No, letting me depart.
It was odd. The rage I’d felt towards her when I’d woken from my nightmare weeks ago had all but disappeared. Granted, we didn’t like each other, but the only other time I’d felt such hatred towards her was in Ireland after I thought she’d kissed Callon…and awoken the beast. This anger, it was different somehow, and vanished just as quickly. I shook it off. I didn’t need to concentrate on Nakari right now, not when bigger threats were on the horizon.
The rain dissipated, and glimpses of the sun began to peek through the clouds. Soon the rain would turn to snow, and the bitter chill of winter wouldn’t allow me to escape like this, at least not for long periods of time. The shed would be cold, even with the stove…I’d have to find a new place. One where they’d just leave me be till we—I—could figure out how to end this. I just needed more time and resources, but I might not have that option.
Awakening: A Timeless Series Novel, Book Four Page 6
