by Alicia Fabel
“I’m not a complete imbecile.”
“I can think of a dozen people who would disagree with that statement.” Annessa jammed the helmet on. “I’m kinda sorry that Zoom will miss out on this now.”
“Says who?” Ian whistled and the wisp slunk out of the bike’s shadow. “He’s been following me around for the last twenty minutes. I think he knows what time it is.”
“Zoom!” Annessa bent down and ran her fingers over the shadow. “Does Axton know you’re here?”
Zoom shook his head and then seemed to shrink a little.
“I won’t tell if you don’t,” Annessa whispered and Zoom perked up before attaching to the bike’s shadow for his ride.
Ian was staring at her.
Annessa squirmed. “What?”
“Nothing. You’re just really weird.”
“Says the psychic.”
“Exactly. So that’s saying a lot.” Ian stuck his hand into his pocket and pulled out an apple. “Now let’s go see a moose about an apple.”
“How’d it go?” Elion’s mom asked when he appeared in her office doorway.
“Like she was a norm,” he reported.
His mom set down her pen. “No time-hiccups?”
Elion stood up from the mat where he’d been lost in thought since Ness left. “None.”
“That doesn’t mean there won’t be other issues.”
“Do you remember what it was like when you started training me?” Elion asked.
“Of course I do.” His mom leaned a shoulder against the doorframe. “It was like working with a human strobe. You popping in and out all over the place. I still get nauseous just thinking about it.”
“Precisely. So don’t you think that if Ness was going to have ‘issues,’ I’d have noticed?”
“Perhaps,” she said. “Time shall tell.”
And in the meantime, Elion would make sure that time didn’t mean forever. He wouldn’t let them trap Ness here over this. “Have you made the arrangements I asked for?”
“I have spoken with an overseas team,” his mom replied.
“Where are they going to set her up?”
“Honestly, I didn’t ask,” his mom said. “I don’t want to know.”
Elion didn’t like that answer much. “Which team is arranging it?”
“I’m not going to tell you that.”
Elion digested that for a moment. “Okay.”
“Really? I expected shouting or something.”
“Are you disappointed?”
“Maybe a little.” The corners of her eyes creased a little.
“I can throw something if that would make you feel better.”
“No thank you.” His mom turned back toward the stack of papers on her desk. “I’m already on Wilfred’s shit list after he found all of those broken flower pots. I don’t need the maintenance crew angry at me too.”
“How long before you can get Annessa out of here?” Elion asked before she successfully sidestepped the topic.
His mom sighed. “Has she talked any more about her time with the Phyton? Or remembered anything they may have said to her that would make her a security threat?”
“You scanned her mind,” Elion pointed out. “Twice. If she knew anything that would put us at risk you would’ve found it already.”
“Then for now, we keep training her in private, and you let me know if anything unusual happens.”
“For how long?” Elion pressed.
“I’ll let you know,” she replied shortly.
Elion didn’t care if she was getting irritated. He wouldn’t let this go. “Our deal was that I work to master my arts, and she only has to stay until the first opportunity for her to leave. Well, she has a shadow now.”
“Your shadow,” his mom snapped. “That was not how this was supposed to play out.”
“But it did.”
Her eyes narrowed. “Did you see it coming?”
Elion’s mouth fell open. “You think that if I had seen it coming, I wouldn’t have stopped it?”
“Would you? Because right now, Annessa has a shadow. Just like you wanted her to have, so she can leave.”
“She was tortured!”
“But in the end, she got what you both wanted,” his mom replied unmoved. “And once she’s gone, what will keep you from going back on our arrangement?”
“So you are planning to keep her here to leverage me,” Elion concluded.
“No.” His mom leaned back tiredly in the chair. “I just want to make sure this new development won’t expose our people to danger.”
“I get that, but you have to give me a timeframe. How long does she need to be monitored? If you give me that, I give you my word that I will not go back on our deal.”
“Two months,” his mom shot out.
“Two weeks,” he countered.
“One month.”
“Three weeks.”
His mom glowered. “You’re a pain in the ass. Just like your father.”
“We have a deal?” Elion asked.
“One question first.” His mom scrutinized his face closely. “Can you gaze anything about how this will play out in the bigger picture?”
“No. I can’t gaze her timeline. Or sense where she is. Nothing.”
“Oh, I can tell you where she is,” said his mom with a sly gleam in her eyes. “She’s with Ian. I saw her ride off, but he assured me they were staying on campus.”
Elion tensed but made sure to keep his mind empty. His mother was fishing for any sign that he was growing attached to Ness. Like he’d ever stopped being attached to her. But he wouldn’t give her any ammo.
“Three weeks,” his mom agreed finally before turning her back to him. “I have a lot to do before my next class. I’ll see you tonight.”
“Can’t wait,” he muttered.
Elion walked steadily from her office and down the quiet hall. And he kept walking until he hit the horse trail that led to the stables. The whole way there, he told himself he was an idiot, and he needed to go find Ax. Or chain himself to his dorm wall. But he didn’t listen.
“Whoa, what’s up with all the people?” Annessa shrank back.
“This place is a classroom and animal hospital in one,” Ian reminded. “There are always people.”
“I’ve never seen this many before. And they’re all staring at me.”
“Listen to you, Miss. Conceited.” Ian clicked his tongue. “What makes you think they’re looking at you?”
“Good point.” Annessa patted his arm. “I forgot your face looks like hamburger right now.”
Ian scowled, but his eyes flashed with amusement. A black bear lumbered around the corner and roared. The students darted into one of the barns.
Annessa grabbed the back of Ian’s jacket. “Please tell me that’s Henrietta.”
“Why would that make you feel better?”
“Because she’s tame?”
Ian tipped his head curiously. “What makes you think that?”
“Umm…because she follows that one guy around like a puppy,” Annessa pointed out.
“You mean Wilt, the stable master? Just because that beast likes Wilt, doesn’t make her tame.”
Henrietta looked them over with beady black eyes and then turned to lumber away.
Ian continued, “Wilt uses her as a hall monitor so students aren’t tempted to linger and come into class late.”
“Doesn’t the Academy worry she’ll maul one of the students?”
“Nah. And if she did, they could probably heal the person anyway.”
“Probably?” This place was a death trap.
Ian climbed off the bike. “You staying there?”
“Uh, yeah. I plan to stay far away from Bruce, the mountain shark.” Annessa looked around. Where was he? A huff of air disturbed the back of her hair. Her eyes widened but she didn’t move. Ian had to have known Bruce was coming up behind her, and he’d not said a flipping word.
“You must smell now,” I
an announced.
“Give him the apple,” Annessa gritted.
“This apple?” Ian held it up so Bruce could see it and then tossed it into Annessa’s lap.
Bruce dipped his head and sucked the apple into his mouth. Juice spattered Annessa’s face and hands. The moose proceeded to lick it all off her. Annessa slipped off the bike, putting it between her and Bruce.
“What are you doing?” Ian asked, sounding worried for the first time. “Don’t use my bike as a shield.”
“I’m more worried about my fingers right now than your bike.”
Bruce stared at her with his big puppy dog eyes. And all of a sudden, Annessa felt like a butthead.
You should. Ian chuckled in her head. You’re hurting his feelings.
I really am though, aren’t I? Annessa steeled her back and lifted a tentative hand. Bruce pushed his nose against it. You’ll tell me if he decides he doesn’t like me, right?
How should I know what he likes or doesn’t? Ian asked. I can’t read animals. Wait, my bike! “Nooo,” Ian cried out as Bruce decided to go through the bike in order to get cuddle access to Annessa. He huffed into her hair, and she laughed trying to fend off his advances. And then he stopped moving. Because he was frozen in time.
Shoot. She hadn’t meant to do that. If someone saw… Annessa willed the moose to resume time again. No one could find out that she’d lost her norm card, or she’d never be allowed to leave. Move, buddy. Annessa let out a breath when Bruce slipped back into time. She darted a look toward Ian, working to shield her mind. But he wasn’t watching her. He was looking down the road. At Elion.
“You froze Bruce’s timeline just because he’s getting more lip service than you?” Ian asked Elion.
Elion stuffed his hands into his pockets. “I thought he was attacking her.”
Wait. Elion did that? Oh thank goodness... Annessa cut off the rest of the thought before Ian caught it. Huh, she was actually glad that Elion was there. Because that meant it wasn’t her… She had to stop thinking about this. Lavender’s blue dilly, dilly. Lavender’s green…
Ian rolled his eyes “Good thing he wasn’t on the attack, since you only managed to hold his timeline for what, two seconds?” Ian offered Elion a patronizing smile. “Oh that’s right, you’re having a difficult time right now.” Are you really singing that? Ian asked her.
It just popped in my head.
Well turn it off, Ian groaned. I don’t want it in my head.
Sorry. I’ll try…
“What brings you out here, by the way?” Ian asked Elion.
“I was just taking a walk.”
“You’re really going with that?” Ian didn’t hide his disbelief. Humming the tune is not turning it off.
I’m trying. But it really was stuck in her head.
Ian rubbed his temples. “You know what? Why don’t you walk Annessa back to the mansion?”
Annessa gaped at him. “You’re leaving me here?”
“It’s a five-minute walk. Maybe you’ll get that out of your head by then.”
Please don’t.
I’m doing this for you, Ian insisted.
What are you talking about? Doing what? Just then one of the memories she’d accidently shared with Ian reared up in her head. Annessa’s mouth fell open as her cheeks flamed. What the heck was he doing?
Ian grinned. You, my friend, look very sweet when you blush. And now that song is gone too.
This is not funny.
Man, if Elion’s dad could see you right now, Ian mused. Ever wonder what a lust aura looks like? Ian climbed on his bike. Good thing your boy here didn’t take after his papa. That would make things awkward right now. He pulled a second apple from his pocket and tossed it toward the far tree line. Bruce took off after it.
You could’ve done that earlier and gotten Bruce off of me, Annessa accused.
Ian winked. Have fun. Oh and don’t leave his side. Henrietta doesn’t know you.
And then the bastard rode away. But not before making sure she was blushing again from a new memory he pulled to the surface. In all the crazy, she’d completely forgotten about Zoom. He lay in a puddle between her and Elion. Like he wasn’t sure what to do. After a moment, he gave her an apologetic shrug and zipped after Ian. Traitor.
As soon as Ian was gone, Annessa practically raced into the timber with Elion on her heels. Ian’s talk about lust auras swirled in her head. She had no idea who back at the stables could see auras, but she did not want anyone getting the wrong idea if they saw her standing there like that with Elion… Of course if anyone saw her and Elion tear into the woods together, that wouldn’t be any better. She was going to kill Ian.
“Ness, wait.” Elion called after her. “What’s wrong? Are you hurt?”
Annessa plunged ahead until Elion snagged her hand.
“Please. You’re worrying me.” He inspected her face and arms. “Are you okay?”
Annessa shook her hand loose. “I’m fine,” she snapped.
Elion frowned. “Did I do something wrong? I mean other than the obvious matter of screwing up your life and being the worst possible friend in the world.”
That hit her like a slap. “We are not friends.”
“Maybe not, but I still care about you,” he replied.
“Go care about your Barbie lap warmer and leave me alone.” Annessa whipped around so Elion couldn’t see her face. She couldn’t believe that had just come out of her mouth and
decided to brave the snow banks rather than ask if he knew how to get to the road from there.
“Whoa. Hold up.” Elion hurried to get in front of her. Which meant hopping backward through the snow. He tried to force her to look at him. “What are you talking about?”
“Nothing. I was just… Nothing. Let me go.”
“I can’t do that,” he replied and then stopped.
With the snow up to her calves, Annessa couldn’t exactly swerve around him, so it was either stop or collide with him. Standing in front of him, shaking like a Chihuahua, she wished she knew what was wrong with her. She’d sounded jealous, but to be jealous she had to care. Heck to the no. “What do you want from me, Elion?”
“I want… I don’t know what I want,” he admitted, stuffing his hands into his pockets.
“Shocking.”
His brows pinched. “What do you mean by that?”
“That you never know what you want. And you don’t care that you twist people into knots with your back-and-forth games.”
Elion’s jaw flexed. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Oh, I’m an expert on the subject,” Annessa retorted. “Was it fun for you? Like bending a plastic ruler back and forth to see how long before I broke?”
“I never wanted that.”
“Yeah,” Annessa sneered. “Because once the ruler breaks, all the fun is over.”
“Ness.”
“I’m cold, Elion.” But when she tried to turn and leave, he wouldn’t let her go. The warmth of his breath washed over her cheek. “Let. Me. Go.”
“Ness, no…”
Annessa shoved him.
Only they were too close and when he went down, she fell with him. Elion kept her from face-planting in the snow but only by using himself as a cushion.
Beneath her, Elion shook with silent laughter. At first, he attempted to keep his face neutral, but when Annessa pinned him with a glare, he broke into a shameless grin. The hard edges of his face softened, and his eyes glinted. Her stomach flipped at the memory of Elion chasing her down the beach after she’d dumped a bucket of seawater over his head. She’d squealed with laughter when he’d caught her up in his arms from behind and carried her into the chilly surf. His eyes had looked just like that when he’d turned her body around to face his. Right before his head bent toward hers, the waves lapping at their waists.
Annessa swallowed hard, shoving the memory away. The next morning he’d left her confused and devastated. That’s what she needed to remember
. “What is your problem?” Annessa smacked a hand to his chest and tried to untangle herself so she could get up.
“There’s a drop off that way,” Elion announced. “So unless you want to fall off the mountain, we need to go the other way.”
“Why didn’t you just tell me that?” She braced a hand against the snow to push herself up, but her foot and hand sank into the bank when she put weight on it. The fact that Elion’s laughter grew louder did not help her mood.
“I tried, but the conversation kind of went sideways.” He chuckled. “And then downways.” When Annessa didn’t crack a smile, he nodded solemnly. “Yeah, this isn’t funny, is it?” Elion gasped, eyes flying open as he flailed beneath her. “Snow is going somewhere it should not.”
Annessa turned away, but he caught her smile.
“Now it’s funny to you?” he said with mock outrage.
It took some struggling, but they both climbed to their feet. By the time Annessa was upright, she couldn’t feel her fingers. They were bright red with bits of snow and ice clinging to them. Elion shook snow from his jeans and trademark hoody. Then he pressed her hands between his. She tried to pull back, but Elion held on to them.
“Let me warm them up for a second,” he scolded. “They’re turning purple.”
Annessa relented but only because they were burning like crazy, and she would have stuck them in Bruce’s mouth to warm them up at that point. Elion rubbed her hands while he reoriented himself, twisting his head around, like he could tell the trees apart.
“I’m not trying to upset you,” he said. “But what do you have against roads exactly?”
“Nothing,” she glowered.
“You’ve said that word a lot in the last five minutes,” Elion pointed out. “And every time you do, it does not mean nothing.”
Annessa ignored him. She tugged her hands free and headed in the direction of the mansion. Or so she thought. Elion corrected her course a couple of times. Apparently, he could tell the trees apart. Her toes burned in her wet sneakers by the time they came to the drive leading to the mansion. She’d never been so happy for pavement in her life. Elion stomped until the snow fell from his shoes.
“You’re shivering,” Annessa observed before remembering she was not talking to him.
