Awakened

by Ednah Walters

  “Wow. So are you, like, seriously into swimming?”

  I made a face, but she gave me a perfect opening for the excuse I came up with. “No, martial arts. Grampa already found a local dojo for me to join.”

  “Which one?” Kylie asked.

  “C12. Have you heard of it?”

  “Who hasn’t? Is that what you were discussing with Kim and the others?”

  I blinked at how fast she made the connection. I nodded though my cheeks warmed at the lie. “Grampa talked to the dojo yesterday.”

  Her eyes widened. “Wow, you must be good. I know students who trained at C12, but none of them have ever made the elite team. Kim and her friends perform during pep rallies right after the cheer squad and the Hi-Los. They’re really good. I hear they win lots of tournaments at the nationals. They even go to international events.”

  My stomach sunk. Would they expect me to perform as well? Or pretending to go to tournaments was a cover? “I had no idea.”

  Amelia, Cade and Zack arrived while we were still discussing sports. Zack had a ball under his arm. “Nikki couldn’t come…violin lessons,” he informed everyone then pulled off his sweatshirt and jumped into the pool with a big splash. “Ready for water polo?”

  “Not today,” Amelia yelled as she pulled off her jeans and placed her glasses on a poolside table. “Let’s play something else.”

  I heard their exchange, but my gaze was locked on Kylie and Cade. As soon as he slid into the water, she swam into his arms for a hug. And boy had that hug developed into something deeper. They kissed as if they hadn’t seen each other in weeks, instead of just hours. Cade’s hand cradled the back of Kyle’s head, kneading through her wet hair.

  Bran’s face flitted through my head, and I swallowed, my mouth going dry. What would it be like if he kissed me like that? Heck, what would it be like if any boy kissed me like that? I was sixteen and never been kissed, never had a boyfriend. I pushed the image of Bran away and turned from the kissing couple only to find Zack and Amelia watching me with knowing smiles. My cheeks grew warmer.

  “They do that a lot, so you’d better get used to it,” Amelia warned.

  She was right. The couple stole kisses for the next hour as we played water games. When two families with younger kids and an older couple entered the pool, we moved to the hot tub.

  Zack watched me, his gaze drifting to my chest. I fought back a blush until he said, “I swear I’ve seen that shape before somewhere, Lil.”

  I gave him a weak smile. “Grampa gave it to me.” By the time they find out that Kim or Izzy each have one like mine and that Remy and Sykes have similar amulet on their bracelets, I’d be an irrefutable elite member of C12 dojo.

  “What are those writings on it?” Amelia asked, peering at the amulet.

  I glanced down. The symbols at the corners, I’d concluded, stood for the powers of the six Cardinal Guardians, but that wasn’t something I could share. “I don’t know what….”

  My voice trailed off when the pool house door opened and Bran walked inside. Our gazes connected and my heart started a crazy dance. What was he doing here? I searched his handsome face for clues, then frowned. What happened to his bruises? It was as though they were never there to begin with.

  He moved toward the hot tub, and I remembered my conversation with Grampa. But how could I avoid Bran in here? And why did I feel the urge to ignore Grampa’s warnings again?

  There was something about this guy that got to me every time I saw him. Even now, my insides did jumping jacks with excitement as he drew closer to us. All of a sudden, I felt self-conscious in my one piece swimsuit, which was ridiculous. I hadn’t felt awkward around Cade and Zack. I struggled to breathe, act normal.

  “Sorry to interrupt, guys,” he said, squatting a few inches from me, his pine scent teasing my heightened senses. Then he turned to me. “Hey.”

  His voice had gone soft, sending a shiver through me. I performed the introductions and was annoyed when my voice sounded breathless. Kylie must have noticed because she winked at me and grinned.

  “Are you joining us, Bran?” she asked.

  I scrunched my face at her then glanced at Bran to see whether he’d noticed. He hadn’t. I hoped. Instead, a wistful expression settled on his features as he gave our group a sweeping glance. “Maybe some other time. I just want to steal Lil for a few minutes.”

  I found myself studying his lips as he spoke.

  “Lil?” he asked, yanking me back to the fact that I was ogling him and fantasizing about kissing him.

  Kylie and Cade’s cuddling had put ideas in my head. And there was no way I was getting up and waltzing across the deck in a swimsuit with Bran watching. I don’t know where the thought came from, but once it sunk in, I couldn’t get past it either. My heart hammered in an uneven staccato.

  I pointed at the chairs where we left our things. “Could you pass me my robe, please?”

  He stood and walked away. When he came back holding my robe up, ready for me to slip it on, his dimples flashed as though he’d read my thoughts and was suppressing a smile. I narrowed my eyes at him. His expression became indifferent, like our interaction bored him.

  Still, my legs weren’t steady when I got out of the tub. I pushed my arms through the sleeves, tied the sash and pulled the hood of my robe on to cover my hair.

  “I’ll be back,” I told the others with a wave as we walked away from the hot tub. Bran was close enough that I could feel his warmth through my robe.

  I stopped and turned to face him, my arms crossed over my chest. “So what do you want?” I asked. Disobeying Grampa made me very uneasy.

  His emerald eyes darkened. “I’m here to say goodbye, Lil.”

  6. BIG BROTHER

  My heart dropped, my eyes flying to his gorgeous face. “Good…bye?” I whispered, cleared my throat and added with a firm voice, “Where are you going?”

  “Home. I wanted to thank you.”

  I couldn’t get past what he’d said about leaving. That was good, right? “Thank me for what?”

  “Talking to your grandfather. He said you even told him the jadeite didn’t work on me.” He glanced at the amulet on my chest then looked over his shoulder at the group in the hot tub. “Let’s find a more private place to talk.”

  I shook my head. No matter how much I wanted to, I couldn’t ignore Grampa’s warnings.

  Bran’s eyes shadowed with disappointment. “I’d never harm you, Lil.”

  Why was he always in tune with my thoughts? Did he lie to me about not reading my mind? I studied him, trying to see behind his eyes. Instead, those emerald depths drew me in. I had to force myself to look away.

  “I promise I won’t keep you too long from your friends,” he whispered, his tone begging.

  I nodded at the chairs at the other end of the pool, far enough away to not be overheard, but still in clear view of my friends. “Over there.”

  Questions whipped through my head as we walked, and I kept glancing at him from the corner of my eye. He’d changed into a jungle-green polo shirt and tan slacks, his hair looked washed and brushed. Instead of garbage and sweat, his fresh scent, a mixture of pine and sandalwood, tickled my nose. The urge to lean closer to him and sniff stole through me. I studied his chiseled face, the adorable dimples that appeared when least expected. And those sculptured lips, how would they feel…?

  This was insane. I shook my head. Watching Kylie and Cade this evening had some weird effect on me. I shouldn’t be having these crazy thoughts, I didn’t know Bran. I searched my brain for something to talk about and stop fantasizing about him. “What happened to your bruises?”

  “I heal fast.”

  “How?”

  He shrugged. “It’s just something I do.”

  Before I could pull out a deck chair, he already held one out for me, his expression solemn. I sat then watched him as he took a seat and faced me. For a moment, we just stared at each other. I had so many questions and didn’t know where to b
egin.

  He chose you because you’re of least threat to him. Grampa words rang in my head. Should I ask Bran? If Grampa agreed to help him, why was as he going home? Emotions I didn’t understand wrapped around my chest, making it hard to breathe. Oh, what was the point of asking him questions? He was leaving, and he’d soon forget I existed. I looked at my hands. I still gripped my hoodie.

  “Don’t shut me out, Lil.”

  Why not? I didn’t trust him.

  “Trust me, please.”

  I glared at him. “Did you just read my mind?”

  “No.”

  “Then how do you know I don’t trust you?”

  For a moment, he refused to meet my eyes. “I can, uh, tell by your expression and body language.”

  I had a feeling he meant to give a different reason. “Really?”

  “Really. Even now, you’re sitting on the edge of your chair, ready to bolt. I’d never hurt you, Lil.”

  I saw the sincerity in his eyes. Or maybe I wanted to see it there. It didn’t matter. I knew I shouldn’t trust him, but I wanted to. “Are you a dem…a Hermonite, Bran?”

  “Yes.” He didn’t flinch or apologize.

  I swallowed and pressed my back against my chair. “Do you steal Guardian’s powers?”

  His lips pressed. “No, Lil. I don’t roll like that. I’m here because I need help for my family, period.”

  Our gazes locked. The moment stretched. I believed him. Call it intuition or my fascination with him. I just knew he wouldn’t lie to me. Still, I needed to confirm it. No matter what he said, I knew he could read my mind. It was only fair that I read his. “Show me how to link minds.”

  “What?”

  “Telepathy. Show me how to do it.”

  He shook his head. “It’s not for me to teach—”

  “Please.”

  He hemmed, studied me for a long moment then sighed. “You don’t play fair.”

  “Is that a yes?”

  A rare smile curled his lips. “Yeah.”

  I grinned, checked the other end of the pool to make sure my friends were still there. The older couple had joined them in the hot tub. The families were still in the pool, some of their children playing together. I focused my attention on Bran. “Okay, I’m ready.”

  “Close your eyes.”

  “Why?”

  “If you ask questions, we won’t get anywhere.” He sounded annoyed. “Give me your hands.”

  I took a deep breath then placed my hands in his. A thrilling heat shot up my arms and spread through my body. His eyes glowed with unusual intensity as though he felt the same zing. Or that was wishful thinking on my part. The emotion I felt from him was wariness.

  I didn’t mean to say, “Don’t be afraid,” but I did it anyway, then blushed when he raised an eyebrow.

  “I’m not sure what you’ll do once you know how to get inside my head. You have an insatiable curiosity.” He scowled. “It’s very, uh….”

  “Good?”

  “Maddening. I meant to come here and say my goodbyes then head back home, yet here I am. I’m stuck with a girl who demands answers instead of one who does what she’s told and leaves well enough alone.”

  He looked so irresistible when he sulked. “Stuck is such an ugly word.”

  “Stuck, ended up with…. You want to discuss semantics or learn telepathy?”

  He sounded so disgruntled I laughed.

  His adorable dimples flashed. “Close your eyes and relax.”

  I did as he instructed, but all I felt was light on my eyelids.

  “Take deep breaths,” he ordered.

  I let my shoulders droop, leaned against the back of my chair, and deepened my breathing. The sounds of children splashing in the pool, conversation from the adults all receded to the background. The light on my eyelids dimmed in intensity. I sank deeper into the darkness.

  Then I saw it, an iridescent orb. It moved closer, pulsing with energy, blinding me with its brilliance. I stiffened, remembering last night and the dry storm. “The light’s going to explode,” I whispered.

  “No, it won’t. That’s my psi energy,” Bran said, his hands tightening on mine. “Look around you.”

  I did and gasped. There were more energy orbs, hundreds of them, maybe thousands, but unlike last night’s, they didn’t move or coalesce. They stayed stationary, unblinking. A few of them were brilliant, but most were dim, insignificant. Then I noticed something else. The brilliant ones were connected by narrow beams and formed a three-dimensional matrix. A beam shot from one of them and swept past the dimmer orbs.

  “Are the brighter ones Guardians?” I asked.

  “Yes, their communication beams are linked. Sometimes, they only send out beams when they want to communicate then break the connection once they’re done. And the dimmer ones are humans. Their psychic powers are non-existent. If you link to them, you can hear their thoughts.”

  “How? I can’t see myself.”

  “I can. You shine brighter than everybody, Lil.”

  I couldn’t help asking, “Even you?”

  He chuckled. “I wouldn’t know. Now reach out like you would when you want to touch someone…will it with your mind. Translate the need into action. Start with the humans.”

  I looked at the dull orbs and concentrated on one of them.

  Nothing happened.

  I tried again.

  No sweeping beam, no connection. This wasn’t going well, darn it. I took a deep breath and let the need to link fill me. Then I projected that need at the orbs.

  At first there was a gentle hum, which soon became whispery, jumbled thoughts. Just like in the voices that had haunted me the last two weeks. Next, a flood of words came from everywhere, some loud and harsh, others whiny and shy. They grew in volume. I pulled my hands from Bran’s and slapped them on my ears.

  “You know that won’t block them. Focus on one,” he instructed, pulling my hands down and holding them.

  The mumbled voices increased until my brain felt like it was going to explode. My breath came out in spurts, the noise so overwhelming. A sob escaped me, then I heard Bran’s voice, soft and soothing. I became aware of his hands caressing mine.

  “You can do it, Lil. Focus…focus…you can do it….”

  I tried harder. The other sounds grew faint then disappeared all together as a link became solid. Exhilaration washed over me as I locked on a student thinking about a report he needed to finish before Friday, then a girl daydreaming about a boy in her class. I focused on closer orbs, realized I was listening to the kids playing in the pool right beside me.

  Swimming is fun…I’m gonna get her…I’m hungry…

  I need a real vacation, one of the mothers thought with a sigh.

  How can she be so skinny after five kids? Another one mulled.

  I lost interest in the family and locked on my friends in the hot tub. I tuned them out, my eyes snapping open. That was wrong on so many levels. So Zack liked Amelia even though he was dating Nikki. As for Cade and Kylie…whoa, such intense feelings.

  I turned to Bran, cheeks burning. “Remind me to never, ever lock on my friends.”

  “Does that mean I’m off the hook?”

  I rolled my eyes. “Like I could ever read you.”

  He grimaced. “Actually, you can. As a Psi, your mental abilities are beyond those of the other Guardians. You can read anyone with or without their knowledge and shield them from your thoughts.”

  No wonder Grampa could read me so easily. “Even you?”

  “If you want to, yes.”

  I grinned. Hmm, tempting. His expression grew uneasy. “It’s okay. Like I said, I won’t read my friends.”

  “Does this mean we’re friends?” His voice was gentle, hopeful even, and his expression almost broke my heart.

  Had he never had a friend before? Before I could answer, he reached out, pushed aside a lock of my hair that dangled on the side of my face. The touch was slight, but the effect on me was immediate. Pleas
ure zipped through me and I trembled. Whoa, what was wrong with me? I never reacted like this to any boy.

  “I think so,” I said, grateful my voice didn’t quiver.

  He cocked an eyebrow. “You think so?”

  “Don’t make me regret not reading your mind.” I frowned at him, pretending to be angry.

  He raised his hands in mock surrender. “Okay. Any more questions?”

  Amazing how he switched from teasing to serious in the blink of an eye. I wish I had that much control. “Must I always close my eyes to find you or the others?”

  “No. As you get better at tuning in, you won’t even need to. Think of yourself as a radio getting sounds from different frequencies. Tune in on one frequency after another. After a while, you know exactly where to go when searching for someone. For humans, you’ll recognize their voices. For Guardians, you’ll recognize their energies, like I recognize yours. Try to find me now.”

  I closed my eyes, felt his presence right away. Then his orb reappeared, breathtaking and larger than life. I noticed something else that had escaped my attention before. Unlike the other Guardians, his had red flares on its edges that came and went. The closer his orb got to mine, the warmer I felt. A slight overlap of our powers, and I sucked my breath. A feeling I couldn’t explain shot through me, making my tummy tighten with feelings I couldn’t put into words.

  “That wasn’t linking,” I whispered, my voice breathless.

  “No.” His voice sounded different, too.

  I opened an eye and studied him. He was watching me, a pink tinge on his cheeks. “What was that?”

  “It’s nothing. Find me.” He spoke between gritted teeth.

  He was blushing. How fascinating. He looked even more angelic and once again, I wondered what it would feel like to touch his face, those dimples, to kiss him.

  “Lil,” he growled.

  I pushed aside my curiosity for now. This time, I sent out a communication beam and searched for his energy. I knew when I made contact. He was thinking the same thing over and over—you can do it, Sunshine.

  Thank you.

  Congratulations on your first lesson, he telepathed.

  I had a wonderful teacher.