Awakened (18 page)

“That we don’t mind that you’re weird,” Sykes said with a smirk.

I laughed. I knew they minded but I appreciated the fact that they were trying to spare my feelings. “Thanks, guys.”

“Do you know what time it is?” Kenta snapped from the doorway of the training room.

I pulled my hands from the guys’ and hurried inside the training room.

***

An hour and a half later, I flipped on the light switch and entered the room I used with Mrs. Deveraux. She wasn’t there yet. Even after a week of coming in here, the multi-colored foam blocks and bright blue gym mats still jarred my senses.

I kicked off my shoes, flopped onto the blue mat and glared at the ceiling. I was exhausted. The session with Kenta and the trainees had started on a wrong note and gotten worse. I couldn’t relax; and worse, he paired me with Kim during our sword practice. Did I push her? I was relentless. When we were done, her behind was on the floor. I offered her my hand, which she sneered at before teleporting away from me. Argh, I couldn’t stand that girl.

I punched the air with my fist.
Whoosh.
The colored foam blocks flew into the air as though pushed by an invisible force.
Thump-thwack-thump.
They landed back onto the gym mat. I repeated the same movement then slashed sideways, causing them to bounce off the walls.

Was I ever going to fit in with the trainees? Every time I thought we were a team, something happened to ruin it. I sent the blocks flying to the ceiling.
Thump. Thwack.
I guess I understood why they’d be wary of an empath. I just hated the way Kim brought it to my attention. And why had they reacted to my telekinetic abilities? I froze
omnis
with that ability, didn’t I?

“Well done,” Mrs. Deveraux said from the doorway.

I didn’t stop manipulating the blocks. I suspended them in mid-air and sat up.

“Very impressive. How long have you been practicing?” She came forward and knelt beside me.

“With the blocks?”

“With telekinesis in general.”

I shrugged. “Since Monday.”

“Wonderful. You’re mastering your powers fast. Let’s try something new. Keep the blocks in place, and slowly…lower this.” She pressed my extended hand down until it rested on my lap. The blocks wobbled a bit then steadied. They stayed suspended. “With your powers, you don’t need to point at anything to move it. All you need is an image. Just look at it. Now move the blocks up and down without dropping any.”

By the time I finished with Mrs. Deveraux, I was more than ready to go home. I was beyond tired, physically, mentally and psychically. I hurried along the hallway to the practice room to retrieve my hoodie.

Kenta and the other instructors were in one of the rooms. I hoped the other trainees were gone. I didn’t feel like seeing or talking to them. My stomach growled, and I looked at my watch. Almost seven. No wonder I was starving.

The training room was in darkness, but a shaft of light fell on its floor from the weaponry room. I heard mumbled voices before words registered. I slowed down to a stop and frowned.

“Don’t you think it’s weird she can freeze
omnis
and cause an electric storm?” Kim asked in a low voice.

“I think it’s awesome,” Remy answered.

Kim clicked her tongue in annoyance. “You know I’m right. There’s something not right about her.”

“Why? Because she beats you at sword fights?” Sykes asked with a laughed.

“No, she doesn’t.”

Sykes snickered. “Does too. Even when you cheat. Now cork your envy bottle and leave her alone.”

“How about you start using your head around her instead of drooling like an idiot?”

“Bite me.”

“You wish.”

Silence followed, and I held my breath. I didn’t know whether to butt in or leave. Eavesdroppers never hear anything good about themselves. Still, I had to know what else about me bugged Kim.

“Izzy?” Kim asked.

“I hate to draw conclusions about anyone, but Xenithian records have no entry of an Energy Guardian causing electric storm, let alone a Psi. Not even Cardinal Moira has ever pulled that trick. Again, the records have no entry of a Cardinal who can stop
omnis
.”

“The Kris Dagger—”

“We’re not talking about
that
,” Izzy cut Remy off. “What are her powers anyway? Energy or psi? What are the chances she can control time, air and earth, too?”

“Exactly,” Kim said. “I swear she created a vortex of air under me this evening and made me lose my balance.”

“Was that before or after you did the same thing to her?” Sykes asked.

I frowned. If I knocked her down, it was an accident. Besides, I couldn’t control air. Or could I?

“Here’s something for you guys to think about,” Remy cut in, sounding bored. “There’s one other person in the history of our race that had the powers over all elements.”

Sykes laughed. “Yeah, Xenia. You know what people say. One day, someone with her powers will come back to rid this world of demons. I think she chose well. Lil is tough, but she listens. She’s hardworking but is not afraid to ask for help. Sounds like a leader to me.”

I shook my head. Sykes didn’t mean that I was—

“Oh please. Xenia would never choose someone with questionable ancestry as a conduit,” Kim retorted.

“Uh, you don’t want to go there, Kim,” Izzy warned.

“Why not? Her Grampa married a gypsy woman and brought the wrath of the CT on his head. Maybe her Grandmother wasn’t a gypsy.”

Why was she talking about Grandma? My hand fisted, and my breathing quickened. I took a step forward but stopped when Sykes spoke.

“Everyone knows their marriage was sanctioned, Kim,” he snapped.

“He’s right,” Izzy added. “If there was something fishy about her, the CT would never have allowed the Cardinal to marry her.”

“Then why were she and her child forbidden to set foot on Xenith? My mother said Tatiana found out the truth and lost it. She probably joined
the other side
.”

My breath caught in my throat. Forbidden? Mom and Grandma? And what did Kim mean by Mom joined the other side? I shook my head to clear my thoughts.

“Girl, you’re punch drunk from too many swordfights,” Izzy said. “You don’t say such things about a Guardian, Cardinal or Civilian.”

“It’s true. My mother said she disappeared for years and came back with a baby,” Kim said. “Now that Lil has these extraordinary powers, everyone wants to know who her father is. He can’t be a Guardian or we’d know who he is. And he can’t be human which leaves….” Her voice trailed off when she saw me.

“What?” I snapped.

One by one, the others turned to look at me.

“Lil,” Sykes said and got up. He shot Kim a nasty look, his eyes flashing. Remy wore an apologetic expression even though he had no reason to be sorry. Kim stared at me, red spots on her cheeks while Izzy’s eyes connected with mine then drifted away.

“He could be what, Kim? And what do you mean by
the other side
?”

“What were you doing skulking in the dark?” she shot back.

“I wasn’t. I came back to get my….” Why was I defending myself to her? I wanted to hurt her, make her take back everything she said. The pressure built behind my eyes, and a ringing started in my ears, but my eyes didn’t leave hers.

Her eyes narrowed and I felt a sharp pressure in my psyche. No, she just didn’t prod at my psi. I might not have had two years of training like she, but I was a powerful psi. I pushed back. She winced and blinked. I wasn’t sure whether her reaction was caused by surprise or pain.

“Lil,” Remy warned as though he realized what was going on.

“What beings on this planet can cause electric storms and control demonic energy balls, Kim?” I yelled.

She didn’t answer, but a weird expression settled on her face, a cross between defiance and pain. I redirected my rage elsewhere. The sound of breaking glass filled the air as the light bulbs exploded around us, until a solitary light at the farthest end of the room now lit up the silent room.

“Oh, let me guess. Demons? Is that what my father is?”

Kim’s face grew redder. I didn’t bother to check what the others were doing, but I heard Izzy say, “Oh crap.”

I took a deep breath then another. “Wouldn’t that be cool? To have the daughter of a demon training with the mighty Cardinal Guardians.” My voice shook toward the end, and I bit down hard on my lower lip. I glared at her. “Next time you have something to say to me, have the guts to say it to my face.”

I turned to leave the room and stopped. The instructors jammed the doorway. How long had they been standing behind me? Not that I cared. They stepped aside, their expressions hard to read. I grabbed my hoodie and gym bag, left the room with my head held high.

But the anger stirred inside me like a giant whirlpool. I didn’t know who to direct it at—me for believing I could belong anywhere, or Grampa for keeping more secrets from me. How could he not tell me about Mom and Grandma? And there would be no more evading the topic of my father either. Who was he?

“Lil, wait up.”

I glanced back to see Remy and Sykes gaining on me, behind them was Kenta.

Keep going or stop? Since I couldn’t give them the satisfaction of knowing how much Kim’s words had hurt, I slowed down.

“We apologize for what Kim said,” Remy said. He flanked me on one side while Sykes positioned himself on my other side.

“There’s no need to. Kim is entitled to her opinion.” There was nothing I could do about my curt voice. It was either keeping my emotions tight or letting it all go. I refused to bawl in front of these guys.

“We don’t know what’s come over her. She’s never like this,” Remy added.

They must wear blinders when it came to her. I didn’t hold a grudge against these two, but right now anything to do with Guardians just ticked me off. I walked a little faster. “I’ve got to go.”

“Can we drive you home?” Sykes asked.

I pushed strands of hair that had escaped my ponytail away from my face. “No thanks. I’m fine.”

“We could teleport you home if you like?” Remy asked as we reached the dojo’s foyer.

I stopped, incensed despite their good intentions. “Listen, I just want to be alone.”

They nodded, both of them frowning.

If I spoke again, I would end up crying. I hurried through the entrance of the dojo and raced down three flights of stairs. My anger not lessening with each step and each breath I took. By the time I reached the truck, tremors shook my frame. I yanked the door with more force than necessary and got inside. Gripping the steering wheel, I dropped my head low to rest on it.

Deep inhale…hold and count…exhale…. A week of pranayama and I still couldn’t calm myself down. The urge to cry still streamed through me.

Lil!

I jerked upright, blinked. Bran appeared on the passenger seat, his raven-black hair in disarray, emerald eyes stormy.

13. FIRST DATE

“Are you okay?” he yelled, eyes darting across my face as though searching for injuries, hands gripping my shoulders.

I opened my mouth to speak, but no sound came out. I nodded. What was he doing here? Was his meeting with the CT successful? Not that it mattered. He was here, right when I needed a friend.

He cupped the back of my head, closed his eyes and pressed his forehead against mine. A deep sigh escaped him as though some weight had been lifted off his shoulders. “You’re okay.”

His presence, the whispered words of concern, the gentle way he touched me was too much. The tears I’d been fighting crested in my eyes and rolled down my face. Sobs raked my body. Strong arms drew me to a warm masculine chest. I bunched his shirt with my hands and burrowed into his neck.

I drenched his shirt, savored his soothing words and gentle rubs on my back. His thoughts and feelings flowed into me. There was tenderness and concern, protectiveness and longing to ease my pain.

My tears slowed down to a trickle then stopped. I became conscious of many things at once, the rhythmic beat of his heart, the special pine scent I came to associate with him, his lips brushing my forehead as he sang to me. Like an angel. Then I felt it—the loneliness underlying his other feelings. It was so deep and vast, a bottomless pit filled with despair. He didn’t feel like he belonged anywhere, neither with us nor with the demons.

I wrapped my arms tight around him.
You belong with me.

He didn’t respond, but for a brief moment, images of me flashed in his mind—at school, by the pool, in our trailer. Beautiful and elegant, yet strong with a core of steel. Was that how he saw me? I delved deeper, needing to see more. He shut me out and leaned back, forcing my arms to fall to my lap.

For a moment we just stared at each other without speaking, his face unreadable, mine burning. “Sorry,” I whispered.

“Are you?”

I wanted to say no because I now knew how he felt about me, but I had done what the trainees were afraid of, tapped into his feelings without his consent. I looked away from his face, tears threatening to fall again. I hated feeling this helpless. “I’m sorry. I don’t know how to control my empathic abilities or powers, and had no right to invade your privacy and see things you’d rather—”

“Show than tell you,” he finished and lifted my chin with his forefinger. His emerald eyes sparkled. “I don’t care that you’re an empath, Lil. Or that you can read my mind better than I could ever read yours.”

My eyes widened. “You don’t?”

“No.” He brushed drops of tears from my cheek with his knuckles, then reached down and took my hand in his. “What do you feel from me right now?”

My chin trembled and I bit my lower lip to control it. I closed my eyes and absorbed his feelings. “You’re happy, optimistic about the future and excited.” My eyes snapped open. “Did the CT sanction the mission?”

He laughed. “Yeah.”

“When?”

“Whenever. It’s up to the Cardinals now.”

“That’s wonderful news.” Then something else registered. His clothes were different. Bran favored expensive, soft shirts, a leather jacket. The drab black pants and shirt, and the long coat had Cardinal Guardians written all over them. I stiffened. “Why are you dressed like this?”