by K J Bell
I understood exactly what he was saying because I was conflicted too. I was sure my
heart belonged to Brent, but I did have feelings for Logan that went a little farther than friendship.
“I understand Logan.”
He smiled gently, eyes bright amber and folded my hands in his.
“I know you do, Claire. I can feel it when you’re near me.”
“I think it’s our seals. That is one of the things I want to ask Omni about,” I said, looking down at our joined hands. It felt like I was doing something wrong. I instantly regretted my decision to come here without Brent.
“I don’t need Omni to tell me, Claire. I know how I feel about you.”
Before I could protest, Logan was kissing me and I was kissing him back. It was soft, sweet, and I enjoyed it. What I didn’t expect was the complete lack of excitement. He didn’t take my body hostage the way Brent did. There was no raging desire to have more of him, and I knew immediately that while I cared deeply for Logan, he was not matched to me completely the way Brent was. Oh my God, Brent. I made a huge mistake. I left him again and he would be hurting.
Logan pulled away, looking at me benevolently. He knew as I did. “It’s not you.”
“No, it’s not. I do love you, Logan, but I’m sealed to Brent. I belong to him.” He nodded. “But, I know who you’ll end up with.”
Placing my head on his, I showed him Layken’s beautiful smile just before he put his lips on hers. As the image panned out, it revealed a crowded church. The two of them stood before everyone as Mr. and Mrs. Marshall. They held hands weeping joyful tears, before the vision came to an end.
“Thank you,” he whispered.
“He’s the reason you’ve been shutting me out?” The broken words sliced through my heart as easily as scissors through paper. How long had he been watching us?
Logan stood up quickly. “It’s not what you think, Brent,” he defended, while I sat on the bed frozen, gaping at the two of them.
Brent must have used his ability to jump to get here so quickly. Or, Logan woke him when he left. He had probably seen everything, thinking I betrayed him.
“No offense, Logan, but you should stay the hell out of it,” Brent roared. He looked so irate, like he did the day in the hall when Logan shoved me.
“You’re probably right, but I care about her too,” Logan argued insistently.
“Obviously,” Brent agreed vociferously, scowling at Logan.
Speak before they kill each other.
I rose from the bed, still unsure of what I wanted to say.
I shot Brent a disgusted look. “Don’t speak to him like that, Brent, he didn’t do anything wrong.” I felt guilty the second the words left my mouth. Brent didn’t do anything wrong either, I did. He loved me and I had hurt him.
Brent came closer to me. His face was warped with betrayal. Feeling his heart breaking was excruciating.
“Is that what he told you? That he wasn’t doing anything wrong. How could you trust him enough to come with you, but not me, after everything he’s done to you?” Brent asked, his words digging deep, making me feel even guiltier.
“He followed me here, Brent. I didn’t ask him to come.”
Brent turned, glowering at Logan. “Did you tell her, Logan?” Brent asked. “Did you tell her you read all of her thoughts, just as I did? Did you tell her you knew she believed you could also be her Paramour?”
The room was silent for a moment as Logan and I exchanged glances before Brent continued.
“It looks like you made your choice, Claire.” Brent’s voice was hoarse.
“What are you talking about, Brent?”
“Exactly what I said, Claire. We both knew you thought you had two Paramours. Logan jumped at the chance to prove you right. And it looks like he did. I hope you’re both very happy together,” he said, the hurt in his voice clear.
They both knew the entire time.
I felt regret in my chest as I tried to breathe, a surprise, as I expected anger for their intrusiveness. Brent knew I was conflicted about the role the two of them had in my life and I had been shutting him out to explore those feelings. Then he walked into this room to find me in Logan’s arms. What did I do? I wished Maggie was home. I wanted to run into her room and cry on her shoulder. My inexperience with love and trust was catching up to me.
I turned to Logan.
“You knew before you got here?” I asked, disappointed he hadn’t been completely honest with me.
Logan nodded, and then added, “I had to know if you were right, just as much as you did, Claire.”
“Well, now we all know!” Brent stormed from the room without even a backwards glance. His heavy footsteps rattled my door as he made his way down the stairs. I bolted from the room. I had to tell him the truth, wanting him to know there was nothing between me and Logan. My heart, now and for eternity, belonged to him.
As I swung the door open, I saw the rest of the group in the hall way. They were pretending not to listen. Taking the stairs down two at a time, I wondered how long they had been there but didn’t stop to ask. Needing to talk to Brent was more important.
I ran down the hallway towards the front door, sliding on the hardwood floor as Brent fell to my feet in front of me. He wasn’t moving and I wasn’t entirely sure if he was breathing. Anything that happened prior to this moment was infinitesimal. Here and now would decide our path forever.
Kace stood in the doorway glaring at me, hatred oozing from his heartless stare. He slammed the door and ambled towards me, emitting arrogance. I wanted to call for the others so we could wipe the smug look off his face, but I needed to know if Brent was okay. I fell to my knees, hovering over Brent protectively. He started to stir and I pulled him into my arms, using all of my energy to heal him.
“Thank God,” I sighed. Brent looked up at me, obviously shaken and I kissed his lips gently. “There was never a choice, Brent. It’s always been you,” I cried, feeling his body healing beneath me, his strength growing as I kept whispering how much I loved him.
“I’m sorry, Claire,” he said, squeezing me tightly “I shouldn’t have pushed you so hard. I should have stayed out of your thoughts when you asked me too. I know Logan’s important to you. I should have trusted your love.”
None of it mattered now. I loved Brent, unconditionally.
“No. Please, Brent. I was selfish. I was stubborn, and you were right, I was scared. I’m the one who is sorry,” I whimpered.
“Aww, isn’t that sweet,” Kace teased, standing over us. His voice was condescending – twined with hate – or was it more than that? He was envious. I heard it when he spoke. He had this kind of love once – with Cecilia. Was she his seal’s match?
Brent and I rose from the floor when the others pounded down the stairs. They stood silently behind me and Brent, watching Kace defensively, and prepared to fight.
“The gang’s all here I see, but minus one, aren’t you?” Kace inquired.
“Mandy didn’t make it. You already knew that, Kace,” I answered unemotionally.
“Sad, isn’t it?” Kace taunted in that haunting voice I’ve learned to associate with him when he’s playing on my emotions. I didn’t say anything. I wouldn’t let him use my emotions against me this time. “It was foolish of you to come here, Claire,” he said coldly.
I responded just as coldly. “It saves us the trouble of having to find you.”
“Oh, the little flower is blooming and growing stronger, isn’t she?”
“I have all the strength I need in my friends,” I told him confidently.
Kace narrowed his eyes until the whites disappeared behind his lids.
“That’s sweet Claire, but friends aren’t eternal,” he said, taking a step towards me.
Kace thought he had me. A few days ago he might have. The inability to make friends had always been a weakness for me, but not anymore, now knowing I shared a piece of my seal with the group standing behind me.
“My friends are
eternal, Kace,” I defended, narrowing my eyes back at him.
Kace laughed at my faith. “I thought that once too. It’s amazing how fast your friends drop out of your life when you bed your brother’s wife. One by one they sided with him. Even my closest friend who I entrusted with what my brother did to Cecilia. How my brother beat and abused her, but they judged me for my sin and not his.”
I balled the sleeves of my sweatshirt in my hands, rubbing the fabric tensely between my fist and thumb, calming the anxiety I felt.
“I’m sorry about how your friends treated you. That must have been very hard for you. Perhaps they were never really your friends to begin with. But I have faith in my friends and the strength they provide me,” I argued, taking a brave step forward. Brent stepped with me.
Kace circled Brent and I and we spun with him, keeping our eyes glued to him. He was silent for several turns before he stopped and spoke again.
“Do you really think they would die for you, Claire? Children in your generation are spoiled and selfish. They only care about themselves and what people can do for them. They don’t actually care about you or their silly purpose,” Kace countered, glaring at me questioningly.
I took another half a step forward, dangerously close to him, displaying confidence.
“Perhaps that is where you misjudged them? These are not children, Kace, nor are they perfect. None of us are, but I have no doubts about what they would do for me if I needed them,” I said dauntlessly.
“Hmmm, let’s see about that, shall we?” Kace threatened, lifting his arm and cupping his hand so it formed the letter C. He held it out in front of him, pointing it at me. His grip was strong around my neck while he squeezed the C together, even though he was not actually touching me. He slowly lifted his arm, simultaneously lifting me off the floor. I heard a collective gasp. I struggled to find a breath, feeling the heat beneath the skin of my cheeks as the blood rushed to the surface. I clawed at my neck in a futile attempt to get him to release me. He held firm as his ebony stare threatened to end my life.
Kace stumbled backward as if he was intoxicated. My body moved back and forth with his movements causing my own wave of motion sickness. He released me and was briefly confused and disoriented. I glanced over at Brody because I knew he was causing it and saw him smiling proudly. Kace gained his bearings, looking angrily toward the group.
“Well, an Inducer. That’s a start, but I hope that’s not all you’ve got,” he snarled.
Kace wiped saliva running down his chin before aiming a hand at Brody, sending a ball of electricity towards him. The ball thundered into Brody’s chest before any of us could react. Brody flew through the air, crashing into the wall with a hefty thud, causing the thin drywall to collapse around him.
“That got rid of his self-righteous smile,” Kace mused.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Riley go to Brody. I grinned knowing what Kace didn’t. I watched as Brody’s chest pumped up and down more rapidly as Riley healed him.
Layken’s song began to play, filling the room smoothly as she made her way to Kace.
“Perhaps you should just listen to what Claire has to say, Kace,” Layken suggested, with precision in her tune.
Kace seized a lock of Layken’s golden hair and began twirling it in his fingers. The merciless look on his face was worrisome.
“The Siren’s song is indeed beautiful, but I am completely immune to its trance, foolish girl. You’re far too weak to seduce me, darling,” he said, jerking Layken’s hair more aggressively, crashing her body into his. Her back was to him and she eyed us, pleading for help. Kace positioned his fingers in front of Layken’s neck, applying pressure with the energy from his hand. He didn’t actually need to touch her to. The energy he used would force asphyxiation. Layken’s sun-kissed cheeks briefly lost all color. Soon the pasty white was replaced with deep purple. I heard a sudden gasp for air but it didn’t come from Layken.
Kace released Layken and clutched his own throat. He was coughing, sucking in huge gulps of air. He stood, looking at us to see who was doing it. I observed his agitation grow when he couldn’t figure it out.
I knew it was Brent without him saying anything. Brent had the ability to trap Kace’s power and use it. Now Brent used it against Kace.
I watched Kace’s eyes narrow as he stared at Brody who stood with us, completely unharmed by Kace’s attack.
“Obviously, one of you is a Healer. Very interesting.” Kace drew out the last word as though he found it trivial. “Which one of you is the Trapper?” he asked more demandingly. None of us replied and I was keenly aware of the fact his question brought with it a hint of fear.
“Who is it?” he commanded louder this time, his glare quickly turning to a glower. We remained silent. “Enough of this game,” he hissed, turning his stare on me.
Kace pounded toward me just as I heard a roar so loud the walls vibrated. Kace’s eyes pulled sideways as he came to a stop. I saw fur from an animal in my peripheral vision. Slowly, I turned my head to see a massive male lion standing next to me. The lion was at least three times the size of a one that was full grown. Brent was still on my other side, not looking surprised in the least by the animal. Quickly, I scanned the room.
“Reese?” I asked looking into the eyes of the beast. The lion brought his head to my shoulder, nuzzling my neck and purred. I saw in the soft grey eyes that it was Reese. I knew he could change his semblance but always assumed it was only to people. I never considered an animal a possibility. I assumed Brooke was enhancing the ability creating a larger version.
No more than a second later, the lion lunged at Kace, slamming him to the floor. The lion began to claw and bite at Kace’s skin. I watched Kace’s skin rip from the force of the lion’s claws and teeth as they tore into him. Bright yellow light shot out from each tear. The two separated, engaged in a stare down, waiting to see what the other would do. Not surprisingly, the wounds fresh in Kace’s skin sealed almost instantly.
The lion crouched, and then leapt through the air headed for Kace. Kace moved lightning fast, sending the lion crashing into the wall. The lion hit the floor hard, landing on all fours completely unaffected, growling deep in his throat. Kace smirked as the lion bounded towards him.
“Reese, no!” I shouted, realizing that Kace could not be harmed. He was no more than light under the shell of skin and could heal himself. There was nothing we could do to hurt him physically.
It was too late, the lion pounced again. Kace threw his hands out, sending a wave of energy toward the lion, sending the animal through the air into the staircase. Splinted wood sailed out around us and I ducked to avoid a piece. Brooke’s scream alerted me that the lion’s semblance returned to Reese. I whipped my head around to see if he was okay. Reese whimpered before tumbling down the remaining stairs, landing solidly at the bottom. Brooke and Riley ran to him. Their proximity to Kace made me nervous but Riley needed to heal him.
I was frozen. Shock had a firm grip on my feet, though my brain told me to go to him. I heard Brent’s voice in my mind.
Reese is okay, Claire. Riley will heal him. Don’t let your guard down.
He squeezed my hand reassuringly.
“One more time,” Kace commanded. “Who is the trapper?”
All of us remained silent, refusing to answer. Kace reached down and snatched Brooke by the back of the hair, tugging her into his chest. Kace withdrew a knife from his boot and held it to Brooke’s throat.
Kace figured out one of us was a Trapper and could trap his abilities if he used them. So Kace chose not to use his abilities on Brooke – opting for a human method – this way Brent could not borrow his power and turn it on him.
Kace kept the blade just above the skin on Brooke’s neck. Reese whimpered, not yet healed, but jumped to his feet and stepped in Kace’s direction with a murderous look.
“One more step and I will kill her,” Kace declared. Reese stepped back with his hands up in abeyance.
“Tell
me who the Trapper is or she dies,” Kace demanded, his expression serious.
Brent stepped forward, surrendering to save Brooke.
“Let her go,” Brent told him. “I’m the one you want. I’m the Trapper.”
Kace shoved Brooke to the floor. Reese rushed to her.
“No, Brent. No!” I reacted with abandon, throwing myself in front of Brent.
Pain surged through me, sparking every cell before I saw the electricity. A loud hum rang in my ears as waves of energy rolled through me. It wasn’t painful. It felt familiar – the same feeling I got when I would lay in bed at night after spending a day in the ocean, lying there completely still but feeling the waves carrying me deeper and deeper into the water. I could feel the shove as a wave crashed through me, and then pulled harshly as the next wave released the first back to the deep abyss. The waves grew more subtle. Now, I was falling, white surrounding me in streaks. Flailing my arms, I tried to find a surface to stop my fall, but there was only air. For a moment, I thought I was in the clouds, using wings to fly. I was content. It seemed like I should have hit the bottom already but my descent continued without a landing, peacefully. My direction changed and I felt like I was going up. Then I stopped, floating in my sea of white and I knew – Kace had won – I was dead.
“Claire,” Omni’s hypnotic voice surrounded me, easing my worry.
“Omni,” I called to him, but I couldn’t see anything beyond the thick white streaks around me.
“You have not completed your purpose, Claire. You must go back,” he said softly. I barely heard his words.
“I can’t do it. I failed. You have the wrong person. I was never the one to do this,” I cried.
“Believe, Claire. Use the power you reflect in others. You are the source,” he hummed.
My journey started again. This time I rose then fell. I saw Cecilia as energy and light before me.
“Bring him to me, Claire. Ben and I have missed him,” she pleaded. I noticed a man next to her that I assumed was Kace’s son. The light faded. I wanted to ask her how I was supposed to do that but she was gone.
