Revelations (The Revelations Series Book 1) (22 page)

“I can try. But, before we do that, I need to know; did you feel anything in your body before the fire erupted?”

Jenna thought back to the night on the beach and just now before the fire had started. “There is a tingling sensation that starts in my hands; then they start to get hot. That’s when the fire starts.”

“That’s good, you know when it’s about to start. So, now all we have to do is find a way for you to turn it off. Do you think you could put it out?”

Jenna raised her hand over the flame; she took a deep breath and commanded the flames to disappear. They flickered then vanished; leaving no trace they had ever even started. Jenna smiled, her eyes widened with excitement. She then looked over at Alex to see a grin appear on his face.

Jenna couldn’t believe she would soon be able to control all four elements. “That was easy. Should we try it again?” she asked. This was the last element she needed to learn how to control; then she would be able to summon all of them.

“If you want to?” Again, Alex added kindling to the pit and stood back. “Now, think of something that gets you angry. You have to learn how to summon it on your own without someone else getting you mad.”

Jenna thought for a moment of the one memory that upset her the most; her mother’s death. Immediately her palms began to tingle, then burn. The fire roared to life, the flames higher and hotter than before.

“I did it!” she exclaimed as she ran and hugged Alex.

“That’s great. Now, the hard part. We need to figure out how you can shut it down when someone pisses you off. So, if anger makes it start then I bet a happy memory will help you control it.”

Jenna thought for a moment, and then decided on a memory of her and her mom at the beach. Alex taunted her again until she felt the sensation, then she brought up the memory. But, it didn’t work. The fire started.

“Whatever memory that was, wasn’t a happy enough one for you. Think of another one,” Alex insisted.

They practiced for what seemed like hours. Each time she failed to control it and the fire would start. She tried every happy memory she could think of. All the ones with her mom and her friends but none one of them worked. Then she thought back to the dream when her mom told her that love was a very powerful emotion. She had one idea left.

“I think I have it,” she said. “Get me mad again.”

“You know, Jenna, I can see why your father left you and your mother. I wouldn’t have stayed either,” Alex mocked.

Jenna could feel the tingling sensation start, then as Alex continued insulting her the burning started. She pushed his words out of her mind and thought of Dylan and roasting marshmallows. She remembered how good it felt when he put his arms around her, and how she wanted to kiss him as his hand touched her face. Before she knew it, the burning sensation was gone and the tingling was subsiding. “I did it, Alex. I controlled it!” she exclaimed as she ran and jumped into his arms.

“I knew you could do it,” Alex told her as she let go and stepped back. “Are you ready to go, I’m starving.”

Jenna nodded and followed Alex out of the clearing and watched in amazement as the bushes conformed back together to cover up any sign they had even been there.

“So,” Alex asked as they started down the hill. “What was the memory?”

Jenna smiled. “It was just one with my friends and me last summer at the pep rally.” She didn’t want him to know it was of Dylan. She wasn’t ready to tell him she was beginning to have feelings for him.

“It must have been a fun day.”

Jenna left it at that. She knew she needed to find Dylan and talk to him about last night. And, after lunch that was the first thing she would do. She was determined to make things good with Dylan. He had after all taken the time to show her around and introduce her to his friends. Sure, falling for him wasn’t what she wanted right now, but maybe, just maybe, it was what she needed.

JENNA
and Alex came through the back door just as the front doorbell rang.

“Perfect timing,” Arlene said as she thrust the plunger into the sink again. “Could you get that, I’m trying to unclog this stupid drain.”

“No problem,” Alex replied as he headed for the front door.

“Want some help?” Jenna asked Arlene as she watched her try to unclog the sink.

“Please.” Arlene gestured towards the sink. “I’ve been trying to get it to drain all morning.”

Jenna walked over, waved her hand over the sink and the water began to drain immediately.

“How did you do that?” Arlene asked as the last of the water swirled down the drain.

“I can control the elements,” Jenna said smiling. “Water is one of them.”

“Really, that’s awesome,” Arlene said as she put the plunger back under the sink. “I can see you’re going to be one handy girl to have around,” Arlene laughed.

Jenna smiled as she grabbed an apple out of the basket on the table and sat down. “Do you need help with anything else?

“Not unless you care to do the laundry,” Arlene joked.

“I can do that. I used to do it all the time.”

“Are you sure? It would be a big help. The tractor broke so I need to go into town and get a part for it. Dylan should be here any time with the piece I need to pick up.”

Jenna stirred uneasily in her chair at the sound of Dylan’s name. She knew she still needed to talk to him, but she had no idea what to say. “Not a problem. I’ll get it done today,” she told Arlene as she stood up. She started to leave the kitchen to gather up the laundry when Alex came into the room with Dylan.

“Here’s the part you need to get,” Dylan told Arlene as he handed her what looked like an old rusty cylinder. He glanced at Jenna, and then looked away quickly.

“Thanks,” Arlene said. “I’m on my way into town now, so I’ll stop and pick it up. Think you can check the brakes for me? If they need replacing, give me a call and I’ll grab them too.”

“Sure, I’ll do that now.” Dylan headed out the back door without even acknowledging Jenna was in the room.

“Do you guys want to come with me?” Arlene asked as she grabbed her keys off the counter.

“No, it was a long morning. I think I’m going to crash in front of the TV.” Alex grabbed a couple of oranges out of the basket and a napkin and headed for the living room.

“What about you?” Arlene asked.

“No, I have something I need to do, but don’t worry I’ll get the laundry done later.” Jenna hurried out the door after Dylan.

“Dylan, wait,” she called as she tried to catch up with him. “I need to talk to you.”

Dylan stopped, turned around and waited for her to catch up. “Does Arlene need something else?” he asked as she stopped in front of him.

“No,” Jenna said as she shook her head. “I came to apologize for running off last night. I’m sorry. It was nice of you to do that for me.”

Dylan rubbed the back of his neck, and then looked her in the eyes. “Can I ask you something and get an honest answer?” he asked. “You at least owe me that.”

Jenna nodded and braced herself for what he was about to ask.

“Did you feel anything when I touched you, or was it just me? I mean, I thought we had something starting at the beach that night too.”

“We did. It’s just that...”

“It’s just what, Jenna,” Dylan asked running his hand through his tousled hair. “Last night you couldn’t get away from me fast enough. And now you’re here telling me you’re sorry and admitting you have feelings for me. So, what is it?
Do you
, or
don’t you
want to be with me?”

Jenna looked away from Dylan. “The last time I was close to someone, there was… an accident and they died because of me,” Jenna paused. She wanted to tell Dylan it was her mom who had been killed but knew he would have more questions then she could answer. “And, I couldn’t stand it if it happened again with you.”

Dylan stood silent for a moment before he spoke. “Jenna, I’m sorry. I wish I had known.” Dylan took Jenna’s hand into his. “But, that won’t happen again. There’s something about you. I don’t know what it is, but I just can’t shake this feeling that we need to give this a try. You know, to see where it goes. If it’s easier for you, we can take it slow.”

“I’d like that.” Jenna took a step closer to Dylan as his cell phone began to ring. He grabbed it out of his pocket and shook his head as he read the caller ID then sent it to voicemail.

“Jeez, that girl just doesn’t stop,” he mumbled. “She keeps calling and yelling about some kiss and how could I do that to her. I don’t know how to get her to understand it’s over between us.” Dylan shoved the cell back into his pocket and reached for Jenna.

Jenna took a step back and bit her lip “Yeah, about that.” She’d forgotten all about her encounter in the store with Sandra.

“Do you know what she’s talking about?” Dylan asked.

“Well, to be honest, I do. And, it’s my fault she keeps bothering you. I really shouldn’t have done it, but I couldn’t help myself.”

Dylan shook his head. “What did you do that has her acting so crazy?”

“I was in the store the other day with Arlene and she was there. I overheard her telling some girl she was with that I was the bitch you were dating now. I knew girls like that in my old school and there’s only one way to deal with them.”

“Jenna, stop beating around the bush and just tell me.”

Jenna took a deep breath. “I sort of told her that after the party when you brought me back home we took a ride on your quad and you… kissed me.” Jenna stared at Dylan trying to get a clue from his expression as to whether he was mad, but his face was blank. Then, to her relief, he shook his head and smiled.

“It’s about time someone stood up to her. But, I don’t think she’s going to get over it any time soon. She kept asking for a ride on the quad but I never took her.”

Jenna’s knees went weak as Dylan took a step closer; his arms encircled her, one on the small of her back and pulled her close. His fingers caressing the small of her back as a smile appeared on his face. “But, I’d hate for you to be labeled a liar. I think we need to add some truth to that story of yours.”

Butterflies erupted in Jenna’s stomach as a sly grin formed on Dylan’s face. She couldn’t resist any longer. She reached up and wrapped her arms around his neck. “So how do we do that?” she whispered.

Dylan leaned down and gently kissed her, their lips lingering for a moment. “There, now she can’t say you were lying.”

Jenna smiled. She was shocked at her eager response to the touch of his lips on hers “I’m glad you could help with that. But, be warned; that is definitely something I plan on repeating multiple times.”

Dylan kissed her again, sending her heartbeat soaring. “I have no problem with that. But, before we continue this, I have work to do before I get fired.”

“I understand. I promised Arlene I would do some chores too.” Jenna shifted her weight. She was so happy she couldn’t contain herself.

“I should be done by five. How about we go to Charlie’s tonight? Jasmine and Carla have been bugging me to bring you out again.”

“Sounds good to me. I could use some fun,” Jenna said

Dylan quickly kissed her again. “I could get used to this,” he whispered in her ear. “I’ll pick you up around seven. I need to go home and take a quick shower before we go.”

“I’ll be ready. Now, go do your job before Arlene labels me as a bad influence on you.”

Dylan headed for the barn looking back over his shoulder and smiling at her. Her stomach was still in knots, but she couldn’t help think that it wasn’t fair to her mom to be this happy so soon after her death. Then she remembered the dream and how happy her mother had been when she told her about Dylan. That was the memory she would hold onto, not the one where she felt guilty for being happy. If her mother was right and love was something she needed on her side then she needed Dylan, because she truly believed he was someone she could fall in love with.

****

Sheena watched as the Nephilim kissed the boy. This wasn’t good for their plan to turn her. Jonas told her he had everything under control, and she believed him. Now, she wasn’t so sure. He had to know that allowing the girl to fall in love would surely hurt their chances of ever getting her to join them. Evil could overcome a lot of things, but love; that was the hardest of all. It seeped its way into every inch of a human’s core until there was no room for hate. And, by the looks of what she just saw, the Nephilim was falling in love.