Gifted

by Andy Lewter

  "His turning happened many years ago. He has plenty of experience and can guide you to master your gift." She stopped rocking her chair and leaned slightly forward, making our eye contact more serious.

  "Once you become known in our world, Valens are going to seek your guidance. Not only because of your bloodline, but because of who you are. My gift helps me see. I can see when humans turn to Valens. There's a light that emanates out of each of you — it's fascinating. I've had my eye on you for quite some time Lady Everett, and the light that's around you has continued to grow brighter as the days pass.

  "Sitting with you now, I can see the light that radiates from you is much brighter than this glorious afternoon sun we're enjoying together." She motioned her hand toward the sun that was raised directly over us.

  "Your light, or aura, is one of a leader. Only leaders express light of such magnitude — and great leaders at that. You, my dear, are going to change the world of Valens as our Queen."

  Chapter 11

  "You have got to be joking. I mean, how can I possibly be a leader of something that I had no idea existed ten minutes ago? I'm not sure where you got your theory, but you've obviously made a mistake," I snapped. "And you know what? I call bull when I see it. Miles, I'm leaving. And if you don't take me, I'm going to walk." I abruptly stood from my chair and stamped toward the sliding glass door that led into the house.

  "Oh, the recklessness of a newly turned Valens," Navi said calmly.

  I could've sworn I heard amusement in her voice.

  "What's that supposed to mean, you old hag?"

  "Abby!" Miles cried. He rose from his seat with clenched fists.

  Navi smiled. My outburst apparently pleased her.

  "It means you're newly turned. You're not acting any different than any other new Valens. Don't worry dear, you'll be able to control it in no time." She smiled calmly.

  I glared. "Nice try. I've always been like this. I'm done here." I turned and slid open the glass door.

  "Abbs—" Miles took three large steps and was instantly at my heels, grabbing the inside of my arm as I stepped inside. "Come with me."

  I ripped my arm away from his grasp. "I don't want to go anywhere with you, and I don't want to hear what anyone else has to say — I'm done here!"

  "Fine — I can handle difficult." He glowered.

  The next thing I knew, he was violently pushing me down the hallway. I tried to fight back, but he blocked everything I threw and pushed me further down the hall.

  "What is your problem, Miles?" I cried and winced from the last blow to my shoulder.

  Man, he's strong.

  "This would've gone a lot smoother if you weren't so stubborn," he grunted. He gave me one final shove that sent me flying into his bedroom and then slammed the door behind him.

  I fell pathetically on the ground and grabbed my shoulder. "Oww… what did I do to you?"

  "You being yourself is enough for me to handle." He took in a frustrated breath and leaned over to help me up. "Are you okay?"

  I refused his hand and got myself up, never letting go of my shoulder.

  "What do you want with me?" I found a seat at his desk and swiveled in the chair to where I pointedly wasn't facing him.

  "What do I want with you? I want to help you Abbs. That's what I've always wanted — and you won't let me. You can refuse to believe what my grandmother said out there," his voice cracking with anger as he pointed in the direction of the back porch, "but every bit of it's true. You have enormous potential, and I can help you get to your prime faster than the average Valens. But you may not need my help, given your bloodline."

  I turned and met his eyes expectantly.

  "You're an Elite Valens, Abbs. You have strong gifts that run in your blood. Your Great Grandfather Liam wasn't recognized just for his leadership — he was recognized because he had more than one gift. The average Valens only specializes in one — specializing in more than one gift is extraordinary. No one had ever heard of such a thing until he came along. Some people saw him as a threat, but everyone else saw him as a saint — which is why he became a King."

  "What exactly does Elite mean?" I asked quietly as I crossed my arms. He observed me for a moment and must have noted my change in attitude.

  "Elite means a Valens with a powerful gift. The rulings of Elite titles have faltered since there is no leader at the moment." He glared pointedly at me. "So Valens stopped seeking out the public for new and useful gifts after your grandfather's passing. Once there's Elite in your bloodline, all posterity will automatically inherit the title. And since your Great Grandfather acquired multiple gifts, Valens insisted he become their leader." He said matter of fact.

  "Okay… so what gifts did my great grandpa have?"

  "He could sense danger, and he could also tell when people lie," he stated, quirking an eyebrow like he just revealed something obvious.

  "So these… gifts, they're all in people's heads?" I asked, trying to piece everything together.

  "We live by a motto — "Through the mind, the possibilities are endless". We are encouraged to explore our gift, to understand and master it. Of course, there's always a line that can be crossed when people have power."

  "What do you mean?"

  "You see" —he blinked and leaned toward me, an intense light in his eyes making me shiver— "that's the two parties my grandmother was talking about. It's only natural that people crave power… Valens like us pose a serious threat to humans. We have more power than humans would ever dream of — and not just with our minds." He reached his hand out to my arm and lifted it, examining all of the defined muscle that protruded slightly under my skin.

  "When Valens turn," he explained, never letting go of my arm, "our minds, our bodies — even our behavior shifts into something more powerful. We have three times the strength of a human."

  He pulled me up out of the chair and placed me in front of his closet mirror. His hands held onto my shoulders as he stood behind me, looking down at me through the reflection.

  "For our bodies to have such strength, our hearts need to pump a higher volume of blood through our systems, which in turn adds more oxygen to our muscles and increases the hormones that help keep us balanced. That's why our skin is so vibrant," he explained as he lightly brushed my cheek with the back of his hand.

  I instinctively placed my hand over my heart and watched my eyes grow wide in the reflection. "With my heart working harder, won't I have a heart attack?"

  He smirked and shook his head. "No, your body was made for this transformation. Now that you've successfully turned, you will live a long healthy life full of strength and mind power."

  I scowled in confusion. "What do you mean successfully turned? Are there people that fail at turning?"

  He quirked a small smile and released my shoulders. I felt awkward staring at myself in the mirror, so I turned and found my seat at the desk again.

  "Why do you think the mental institutions are so full?" he asked with amusement.

  "Wait — all those people are Valens that failed at turning?" I felt my jaw drop.

  "Not all, but some of them, yes. Women turn later than men — but when your body finalizes the process you are introduced to your gift at full force. Whether your mind can handle the gift determines if you completely turn or not. Those that can't handle the power sort of snap in a sense — which is why they end up in a mental institution."

  I blinked and brought my thoughts back to what happened in Mr. Varner's classroom. That must have been the moment I'd turned — the magnitude of the emotion I felt was nearly unbearable. I understood why some people couldn't handle the transformation. But Miles said I had signs of turning…

  "How — how did you know I was going to turn?" I stammered.

  He was sitting at the end of his bed studying his hands, appearing to be deep in thought. "Ever since I'd met you… I had a feeling. The transformation takes time — you were always so different than your sister. You never craved the c
ompany of other people, you didn't care about popularity contests — Valens naturally have an advantage at learning since our minds are capable of so much. That's why all of your studies come easily for you." He turned his face up to mine and chuckled deeply. "Well, except trigonometry," he teased. "And then your sudden anger spouts proved that your turning was imminent." He said, rubbing the shoulder I had punched in his truck like it still hurt.

  I gave him a haughty look. "So that's what the signs are? Being independent and smart?"

  "Sort of — Valens attract each other, in a way. We kind of find one another without knowing what we're looking for… and we all share a deep understanding of one another, sometimes without knowing exactly why. That's why you and I became friends so fast — I was already Valens and you were in transition. My dad has always said that since humans got involved with the Everetts that the Elite in your blood would be washed out, that all the Everetts' posterity would eventually have human blood. No magic."

  "You mean like my mom?" I scoffed, crossing my arms. I wasn't sure why this offended me — maybe because he just kindly called my human mother inconsiderate.

  "Not just your mom, but your grandma too. Your grandfather didn't take the roll his father left him lightly. He was intimidated by it. Being the great King Liam's son left all the Valens looking to him for guidance. Eventually, he wished he never was one of the Royal Elite and that he didn't have his extraordinary gifts — which is why he married your grandmother… a human.

  "He wanted the Everetts' magic to wash out — to not intimidate his offspring the way it did him. He feverishly watched your father as he grew older, watching his every move for signs that he might be turning. When that day never came, your grandfather rejoiced. Your father never did become Valens. Which is why your turning is so intriguing…" he said as he tilted his head to one side, analyzing me with curious eyes.

  "You said my grandpa was intimidated — did he crack under pressure? Or was he afraid of the people that followed him?" I asked. I could understand if being handed over a royal throne frightened him.

  "A little of both, actually. The natural being craves power. Having gifts like us brings an abundant amount of temptation, which is why being an Elite Valens, or better yet, an Elite Valens with multiple gifts, is that much more threatening. Can you imagine having not only an advantage on humans, but on Valens as well? Corrupt Elite Valens can lead the world to tragedy. Elite Valens in the past had great plans that involved leading countries for humans with our gifts. Can you see how that could be dangerous?"

  I thought quietly for a moment, tapping my foot on the hardwood floor. "No — we can help them. Clearly Valens are at the top of the food chain… what would be the problem in trying to protect them?"

  "Because Abbs, can't you see? There will never be enough power. Let's say the world is ruled by Valens. There will always be that one country's leader with a more efficient gift than the next — no one will stop until the whole world has one leader. It's corrupt — it's wrong."

  "Isn't that a little far-fetched? I mean, who's to say that will really happen?"

  "It's happening right now Abbs — and humans are the ones doing it to themselves. Those that are involved with the government manipulate the system so the average citizen has to rely on those in power to survive… see the connection? Can you imagine how quickly things can turn if Valens started to be our countries' leaders?"

  I shook my head. "I guess — but it still sounds crazy."

  "It's been a long day for you, and it's only noon." He sighed, smiling lightly.

  "So you're saying that my grandpa struggled as an Elite Valens because he wanted to rule the humans?" I wanted to know at least this much.

  "He struggled with many things, but that was one of them. Being Valens, you feel strong and powerful. Some Valens feel like they could use their gifts for good — to protect and serve, so to speak. But playing with fire surely leads to a bigger fire." He paused and blinked at the muddled expression I must have held on my face.

  "Given this," he continued, "Valens and only a select few humans have agreed to work together. Humans won't reveal us as long as we don't get involved with their government. We can't become police, governors — anything that involves power above humans. We even have our own island we can dwell on if we wish to fully practice our gifts. Most go there and learn to master their gift before moving back to civilization. But we can talk more about that later," he winked.

  I released a breath and placed my face in my hands. "I think I have a headache," I said through my fingers.

  He chuckled and leaned back, relaxing on an elbow. "So, have you figured out what your gift is?" His voice was light and curious. It was a nice change from his serious tone.

  "Oh — umm, it's hard to explain," I mumbled quietly.

  "Try me." He gave me an arrogant grin and cocked his head to the side.

  I ran my fingers nervously through my hair. "I umm… I think I can detect people's feelings and emotions. Like when they're scared or overwhelmed. I haven't been able to do it on command. I just notice it when someone's really worked up over something."

  I cleared my throat and glanced down, attempting to disguise the sudden aching reminder of Nicholas that rose in my chest. It throbbed with my beating heart, aching more with each pounding thump. I thought back to the moment when Nicholas and I shared our connection — reminded of every touch, every kiss. I closed my eyes and took in a desperate breath, hoping Miles hadn't noticed.

  "Wicked," he exclaimed breathlessly. "Do you know how beneficial that can be? You really are a true Elite. I could have sworn you'd have been an Elite liar — or a convincer, so to speak…"

  I didn't answer. I was focused on taking in my breaths, praying that he wouldn't notice my internal war.

  "I'm a lie detector," Miles announced confidently after a few moments, puffing his chest out and lowering his voice.

  If I didn't know any better, I would have thought he was showing off.

  "So does that make you an Elite too?" I asked lightly.

  "Yes, my gift is a powerful one — one that could be of good use. But it doesn't matter if it wasn't. My grandmother is Elite so that inevitably makes my mother and me Elite, too."

  "What about Damian? I remember Navi saying that gifts are only inherited by the first born."

  "Damian is human, but he helps protect us, and you. He likes to call himself a ninja since he does so without being noticed."

  I smiled at the thought of his kid brother acting like a ninja. It reminded me of when I was trying to sneak around my house undetected. Changing the subject helped me push the ache in my chest back down faster than I had expected. Which was good — I didn't think I could talk about Nicholas with Miles just yet.

  "Let's get outta here… we can go for a walk or something." Miles smiled. He lent his hand, beckoning toward the door. His kind eyes were alluring — green and vibrant. I couldn't help but smile.

  "You're done holding me hostage in your dungeon, captor?" I teased.

  "If you consider this torture then I'd hate to see you really locked up." He rolled his eyes. We laughed in unison as we walked together out of his bedroom. It felt good to have a light-hearted turn of events. But that was apparently wishful thinking. I glanced up and noticed Navi staring intently in my direction at the end of the hallway.

  "Umm… I'm sorry for what I said," I apologized quickly as we reached where she was standing. Her serious expression made me feel uncomfortable.

  Her kind smile returned. "Oh, dear — there was nothing to forgive." She took a small step toward me, closing the small space between us.

  "But I want you to always remember this." She pulled me toward her, whispering in my ear, "You, and only you, are the keeper of your destiny. It's up to you to choose your own path. No one but you can make that choice." She took a step back, brought in a light breath and shifted her attention to Miles standing beside me.

  "Oh, Miles dear — it's far past my nap time. I shall see
you later this afternoon," she said gently. She turned toward me and bowed her head slightly before parting. "Lady Everett." She walked cautiously around us and gracefully turned into her bedroom, closing the door quietly behind her.

  "What the — "

  He laughed loudly and grabbed my inner arm, directing me toward the sliding glass door that led to the backyard. "I think you've had it for reality checks today, Abbs. How about we get the ol' truck out and wreak some havoc?"

  I tilted my head back to meet his eyes and unleashed a dangerous smile.

  "Excellent."

  We ripped through endless puddles from the recent rain, splashing mud and water up and over the tall truck numerous times. We laughed and yelled — it was the perfect distraction from the intense conversation from earlier. Until something Navi said clicked.

  "Is this part of it? Being reckless?" I asked curiously.

  Miles bellowed in laughter. "Yup. That's why I thought it was contradictory that you were so cautious and responsible. I knew it was only a matter of time before you'd come around." He winked.

  "How long have you been protecting us?" I asked him seriously, all joking aside.

  He noted my change in attitude and veered the truck over on the gravel road, using the e-brake to pull us to a halt.

  "For awhile. We kept our distance. I was in college and Damian was homeschooled when you lived in Palmdale. But after things turned for the worse and you moved here, we thought it would be best to interact with you instead of just keeping watch."

  "College? How old are you, Miles?"

  A sarcastic smirk crossed his face. "Remember when I said you'll live a long, healthy life full of strength and mind power?"