by Amanda Miga
I rub the back of my head. Is it that obvious? “She’s nice.”
“That’s why this is your window. And that..,” Dash points to across the room. “…is really your entrance.”
“Right and I have wings on my back.” Like that makes sense. “So, are you done?”
Dash backs away from the door and shakes his head. “You’re not getting rid of me that easily. I’m just getting started.”
“Great.” I give Violet a quick glance and then shut the door. It's weird if she hears Dash in my room. He might be right about the window thing. I like to watch before she turns out the light or closes the door. Sometimes when I look out of the window I imagine flying over the forest. How does he know this?
“This box.” Dash points to the wooden box on my nightstand. I recognize from my dream but hadn’t seen it before in my room until Dash pointed it out. “Did you open it?”
"You tell me?" I challenge.
"There's a lot going on in that thing." Dash puts his face really close to it.
I take the box and open it to show Dash it's empty inside.
"See? Nothing."
"No, it's there." Dash walks away.
I look again and shrug. There's nothing inside the box, although in my dream there was a glowing ball inside of it. When I touched it, I absorbed it. "What do you see?"
Dash doesn't answer. He's preoccupied by the bed. His fingers touch the sheets and to my surprise he sits on it. His forehead looks like the leather journal when its spine wrinkles.
“I’m sorry.” His eyes flutter close.
“About what?”
Dash pulls his fingers off the bed and folds them between his knees. He takes his glasses off and rubs his face. I wonder what my bed has to do with being sorry.
“You can sleep in a bed again.”
Air staggers out of my mouth. The embarrassment kicks me the chest. He can see that.
Dash eyes move up from my sneakers to my face. I never noticed how different Dash's eyes look without his glasses. His dark green eyes somehow make him look older. Something about them reminds me of Red. Something behind those eyes can see deep into me. It scares me.
"You're still worried about me, aren't you?"
"What do you mean?" I'm really nervous all of a sudden. Like the air in my lungs was stolen.
"You're afraid of me."
“Afraid. I wouldn’t call it that.” I give him the same dose of vagueness. My fingers fiddle with the pen from the desk.
Dash smiles. "I'm not like your human friends."
“I don’t have any friends.” I don't need reminding of that.
“I am. We’re Hybrids so—"
“So what.” I don’t mean to be so abrupt. Dash is starting to get on my nerves. He knows too much and it's too late to take it all back. It's too late. He's in my room sitting on my bed, checking out my shit; knowing all of my business. "Being Hybrid has nothing to do with it. Just because we have that in common doesn’t mean anything.”
“I thought—"
“You thought wrong. I can’t be friends with anyone. It’s impossible. You should know that from what you’ve already seen.”
“I told you I’m not like other people.”
I wish I can forget about my problem. It seems I can never escape a conversation about it. Every person I've become friends with end up hurt or they've hurt me. Dash isn’t any different. The signs are there. His eyes continue to scan me. I'm sick of being the object of his attention.
"You expect me to believe that after Red’s room." I unhitch from the desk. "Why are you really here, Dash?"
"I told you."
"Right." I take my journal and wrap the leather strap around it. "I'm not stupid.” I toss it back on the desk. “And you're wrong if you think I'm going to let you ruin my life here with Violet. This is supposed to be a sanctuary. I'm supposed to feel safe, away from people like you."
"People like me?" Dash stands. "I'm sorry you feel that way. We're Hybrids. We can be friends. The rules are different—especially here. I don’t see why we can’t—"
“You’re right about one thing, Dash. You’re not like my human 'friends', you’re worse.” His ability allows him access to me in more than just the five senses. I insist all the signs are there. Dash is using his ability for pleasure because I've affected him.
“I don’t understand what you mean?” He doesn’t look me in the eye. His hair moves across his forehead when he looks down—he's hiding.
"Of course you do. You happen to use your ability at my expense. I can see how much you like getting off entering my space, teasing me, and putting yourself in my personal space on purpose. I'm just a challenge to you; a project. You think you can romance me. Is that what friends do?"
A sound escapes Dash’s mouth, but he reforms a new sentence while straightening his shoulders. "So what?" He moves his hair away from his eyes.
I'm surprised at his confident tone. Is he confessing?
"I thought we both needed something real. I know you're lonely. So am I. I thought maybe I could show you how use your ability; how it’s far from a burden and more like a gift. You have no idea how special you are."
I snicker. "You've got to be kidding me."
"No, Gabriel you're perfect. I could show you how amazing you really are." Dash takes a step toward me. "How perfect you are. I see it here." He motions to my room with his eyes glued to mine. "Red obviously thinks highly of you, I can see why."
Delusional. "How can you say that knowing how fucked up my life is?" I approach Dash carelessly. “I’ve let so many people take advantage. So many people hurt me and now you’re telling me some bullshit about how perfect I am.”
Dash’s breathing is uneven and my aura slips, but my anger anchors me. I had enough. I will defend this new home of mine from people like Dash.
“Look at you. Admit it. You’re affected by me and you love it. Even now you can’t even be a real friend. So what is it Dash? Lust or envy? You either want me or my ability. Maybe you're greedy and you want it all. Go ahead Dash take it. You wouldn't be the first."
Dash snickers. His breathing slows and evens out. “My heart is pounding. I feel dizzy. You’ve let yourself out completely. But I’m still standing right here. What did you expect to happen?”
My aura is out, but he's somehow holding back. No one has ever been able to control themselves.
I step away. My anger is shrinking but the need to devour is growing within me. I started a domino effect.
“Who can’t control themselves?” Dash takes a step toward me. “Remember what I said. You can pull it back.”
“I can’t. Once it starts..." My voice shakes. "I’ll hurt you. Go. Get out!
“You can’t hurt me. And I'll never hurt you."
My fingers ball up. "Idiot, I can't hold it any longer. Just Go! Before I—"
Before the words come out, Dash presses his lips to mine.
My body is frozen as Dash kisses me. I hold the aura tighter than I've ever held it before. Dash slowly and gently moves his lips. The sensation teeters on the edge of heaven and hell. Only I have a choice I've never had before; use what Dash taught me or not. My aura is clawing to get out full force, but my nerves keep it aura at bay for Dash’s sake. I can't believe it.
Dash pulls away too soon to fully feel out the experience. In response, my aura pushes out and I lean in for another kiss. I'm not about to lose the heavenly emotion of my first real kiss.
My first is not what I expected—it's better. I can't tell if it’s Dash's first kiss from how cautious his lips move. Maybe it's because he's a guy. My aura is making him breathe heavier. Our warm bodies replace the dead wasted space between us. I can hear him trying to hold back and not fully come apart. Because of this, Dash isn't like the others. For the first time someone is thinking about how I feel. He isn't thinking of one thing. He is taking the real me in consideration.
I'm startled when Dash takes one of my hands. He squeezes to let me know he's tryin
g not to come undone. We break away and our hands unlock.
Dash backs away, raking his hair back. "Holy shit."
"Why did you do that?" I touch my lips.
"I-I wanted to." His breath hitches.
I'm not sure what happened. I like the way a real kiss feels and it’s something I've never felt before. Kissing is usually a way to eat the person before I devour them with the other parts of my body. Dash has left a different feeling; not a need, but a desire for more. I wouldn't mind doing it again. I don't know if it will happen again and I'm not sure if it’s okay. I'm in love with Violet and it seems that Dash is just a distraction. I don't want to give him the wrong idea.
Dash is watching me closely again.
"You don't have to label anything. I'm not one for labels." Adjusting his glasses back on, he’s the old Dash again. A smile tugs at the corners of his mouth as he runs his fingers through his brown hair.
"I'll see you tomorrow." He leaves with a mischievous smile.
All I can do it nod. I don't want him to leave.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Violet
I sit by the lake admiring the evening sun's reflection off the water. My emotions well up in my throat. I'm not sure if this place would disappear if Red dies. A cool breeze brushes my face erasing such a frightening thought. Red is still very much alive.
This place is him. Everything you see is a part of him, Grey's words remind me. I'm hypnotized by the sound of summer buzz in the tall blades of grass as they sway in the breeze. The scent of flowers is carried out taking my attention with it across the rippling lake.
A few peaceful moments pass before I feel a presence sit beside me. I turn to find the most incredible green eyes I've ever seen stare back. The eyes blink and rest of his face comes to view; inky black hair, fair blemish-free skin and young face with a smug expression I don’t recognize.
I move away from the pretty boy. “Gabriel? This is dangerous. How could you be so..." But there is no pull. There is no energy moving between us. I place my arm out and feel nothing.
His smug smile widens.
“How?" I cautiously inch toward him.
"Dash, fixed me."
A tingling sensation moves down my spine slowly like spiders crawling on my skin.
"He was right. He taught me to transfer my energy to something else. I can hold it here." He taps his chest.
With every word spoken the more the sensation spreads down my neck to my limbs. Similar to the pull, my ears want him to keep talking. His voice is tricky like Red’s.
I'm stunned. This can't be true, could it? I shift toward him; still keeping in mind my own aura. Nothing but the breeze is felt between us. I settle beside him. It’s strange because I have never been this close to him. He looks so different up close. His limbs look longer, he's sits taller and he looks older with that confident smile. His presence is real than the seemly absent one before; he's a boy who was always too far away. The details of his face still resemble Red; too terribly cute for his own good. I can't help but smile.
"How did Dash—"
"Hey, did I hear my name?" Dash joins us in the grass and sits on my other side.
"How did you guys do this?"
Gabriel's eyes dart away.
"Promise you won't get mad?" Dash pushes up his glasses.
"Why would I get mad?"
"I read some of Red's journals. I ...took a few home with me. That's how I found that Gabriel's problem can be helped. Red told me in my dream I could read them. Please don't be mad." Dash looks to Gabriel who exhales deeply.
"He wanted you to read them?"
"Yeah, I think he knew I would do this."
I don't know what to say. Red wanted him to read the journals. What else did Red want them to do? Why didn't Red tell me? Why didn't Dash tell me?
"Violet? I’m sorry. I should have told you.” Dash twists his body so he’s facing me. “It’s just that you didn’t trust me, so I took them. I had to—“
"It's not that.” I bring my legs to my chest.
“Then what’s wrong?” Gabriel looks to Dash who removes his glasses to pinch the bridge of his nose.
"Shit." Dash mumbles.
“Am I missing something here?” Gabriel asks.
I shut my eyes. Dash knows about me. He must know everything about me. How embarrassing.
"Violet." Dash puts on his glasses and leans into me like he’s going to reveal a secret. “We could teach you."
I feel sick. Whatever he read was because Red had written it. Why do I feel left out of Red's plan? Dash knows more about me than I do.
"You know about her?" Gabriel's tone confirms he knows about me, but the knowledge wasn't shared.
“Oh, my God." I teeter in the spot I'm sitting. My eyes are on the brink of tears.
"Violet, it's nothing to be embarrassed about." Dash's voice is close to my ear. He must know about my aura. He must know more than me. "Matter of fact it explains a lot about you and Grey. You and Red."
I shoot up and head toward the cabin as quickly as I can. Why do they know my business? Gabriel knows more about how to handle the ability than I do. Dash was able to teach him from Red's journal. How come Red hadn't bothered to teach me?
***
Gabriel
"Shit." Dash covers his forehead.
"You know about her?" I shouldn't be surprised, but I am. He must know everything.
"How do you know about her?" Dash glares at me.
"I just know. Why didn't you tell me?" I can feel myself letting go, like a leaky balloon. My emotions trip and the front of my body start to heat up. Dash is pissing him off.
“Violet happens to share the same ability as you, only Red hadn't bothered to show her how to manipulate her energy. She was left thinking she had to live with her ability as is. For Red, he left her untrained so that her ability would draw Grey and her closer together.”
"What else do you know about her?"
"Almost everything." Dash rubs his thighs nervously. "Gabriel, your aura..."
"Too bad. Spill it." I snarl. I'm testing his will power. As much as his body should obey the gravity, Dash doesn't move.
"Alex and I have been having our own readings."
I can’t look at him. I might punch his lights out. "When were you going to let me in on that?"
"It would have been hard considering you live here now. Violet wouldn't have let me read the journals. You saw her the first day; how nervous she was when you asked about them."
Dash and Alex have been secretly reading Red's journals. Every detail about Violet and Red's life—their history; information about them would shed some light on my own life, on my own powers.
"The information could've helped me, Dash."
"I know and it did."
I gain control over my aura. Dash’s shoulders relax.
“Every time you do that I don’t know if I’m relieved or sad."
I ignore him. "She's embarrassed, you know. She'll probably never come near me."
"I have no idea how I'm going to fix this." Dash throws a stick in the lake.
"Easy. Find Red. And she won't have to deal with any of us ever again, right?"
Dash massages his forehead. "Right."
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Gabriel
"Let's go out tonight. It's Friday and Gabriel's trained." Alex kicks back on the sofa.
"I heard that." I come down the staircase and give him the finger while Violet settles next to him. I hate that she always chooses the seat next to him. Alex grins and leans a little closer just to annoy me.
"What did you guys have in mind?"
To my contentment, she moves over a few inches. I collapse on the loveseat. She looks worried. I want Alex to forget about it. I don’t think I go out anyway.
Shut up! His voice startles me. She needs to leave this place. You guys aren’t hermits you know. Dash said you're good.
I liked it better when you didn't talk to me. I scowl.
/> “Gabriel, are you okay?” Her voice is so sweet. I want to sit beside her, but I'm not feeling so confident at the moment. The idea of leaving the Sanctuary makes my stomach hurt.
"He’s fine. Concert. Ever been?" Alex scoots closer to Violet's side.
What are you doing? You aren’t her lap dog.
Since when did you get so brave, asshole? Alex places his hand on the sofa back behind Violet.
I’d have to ask the same about you. I grind my teeth.
"I wouldn't remember." Violet folds her hands.
“Sorry Violet. Alex must have forgotten about your amnesia.” Dash sits beside me. The heat to my left side alerts me he's too close. I shift over a few inches, but his hand slides closer to me.
"You'll love it,” Alex turns his entirely body to face her. He looks ready to take her hand. If he touches her, what will happen? Will she react like I do when I'm touched? Alex would love that. I will his hand not to touch her.
“Let's face it; you need to get out for a while." Alex's smirk is meant for me.
Violet's hands nervously find their home under her legs. She's not sure. He should leave it alone.
Going out is really bothering her. Alex commentates. She’s worried about something bad happening—monsters or something. She’s been sheltered in this place way too long. “We’ll all be together and it’s for a little while.”
“I think I've hear that before." She smiles. "What about Gabriel?" Her gaze lands on me. "Will you be comfortable?” Her big brown eyes make me want to throw myself in her lap.
“Ah—"
Dash’s hand pats my thigh. “He’ll be fine. See?”
It isn’t entirely true; I won’t be comfortable in a crowd of people.
“Gabriel, I’m not going unless you’re comfortable.” She confesses.
Alex rolls his eyes. Say yes, idiot. She wants to go. Alex glares at me.
“I’ll be fine.” I take Dash’s hand and toss it aside. “See?”
***
Gabriel
